The london dungeon

Would you like to see the guillotine in action? Or listen to Anne Boleyn (one of Henry VIII’s unfortunate wives) before her head is cut off by an executioner? Or meet Jack the Ripper? Then the London Dungeon is the place for you!

It is said that the London Dungeon was created after someone’s child didn’t find Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors frightening enough. The museum shows the most chilling periods in British history. The opening exhibit gives a taste of what’s to come. Scary was models show how grim it could be to live in medieval times. You can find out what happened if you stole a piece of bread to feed your hungry children (you could be hanged) or spoke against the king (you could lose your tongue with the help of one of the torture instruments displayed here).

People could be hanged for lots of crimes in Britain, for example stealing a handkerchief and begging. Beheading was introduced by William the Conqueror, but only for those who were of noble birth. Among the kings and queens who lost their heads are: Mary Queen of Scots, Lady Jane Grey, Anne Boleyn and Charles I.

But this is only the mild beginning of your tour. The actor-guides take you from one historical drama to another and go out of their way trying to scare you. Then you find yourself in a courtroom where the judge sentences you to death (even if you are not guilty of any crime). Then you are taken on your “last journey” along “the Thames” to the place of your execution.

The exhibits also include Jack the Ripper’s London (probably the most shocking of all). The Great fire of London and The Torture Chamber of course.

You may think that the museum is too nightmarish, but strangely enough, there are always long queues of people eager to get in and be scared out of their wits.

Task 1. Search the text for the words and word combinations of the word fields "Court” and “Crime”. Translate and memorize them.

Task 2. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following nouns and give their singular and plural forms.

Очереди, носовой платок, ребенок, кусок хлеба, зал суда, «последний путь», экспонаты, язык, казнь, пыточные инструменты, смерть, музей, люди, короли и королевы, времена, судья, леди, жены, преступления, актеры-экскурсоводы.

Task 3. Find examples of the Present and Past Simple Passive, translate them. Try to use the Active instead of the Passive where it is possible.

For example: Ann Boleyn’s head is cut off by an executioner (Present Simple Passive). → An executioner cuts off her head (Present Simple Active).

Task 4. Paraphrase these sentences using synonyms from the text.

1. I’d like to see how the guillotine works.

2. Some people aren’t scared very much at Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors.

3. The first exhibit shows what you can expect of the museum.

4. William the Conqueror was the first to use beheading.

5. The actor-guides do everything possible to frighten visitors.

6. The judge says that the criminal must die.

7. He is not innocent.

8. There are also such exhibits as Jack the Ripper’s London and the Torture Chamber.

9. Many tourists want to visit the London Dungeon very much.

10. They are extremely scared.

Task 5. Are these statements true or false? Can you correct the false ones?

 You can see a lot of scary things at the London Dungeon.

 Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII’s mother.

 The London Dungeon isn’t as frightening as Madame Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors.

 The London Dungeon shows gruesome periods in British history.

 The actor-guides at the museum try to scare its visitors.

 In medieval times people could be hanged only if they spoke against the king.

 In Britain, beheading was used only for people of noble birth.

 On the London Dungeon tour the judge sentences visitors to death only if they are guilty.

 This museum is too nightmarish, so it isn't very popular.

Task 6. Answer the questions.

1. How can you describe people who like the London Dungeon?

2. What does this museum offer its visitors?

3. Do you agree that life was quite good in Britain in medieval times? Why / why not?

4. What kinds of crimes and punishment are mentioned in the text?

5. Do any of them exist nowadays?

6. What is the job of the actor-guides at the London Dungeon?

7. Where do they take visitors after the judge sentences them to death?

8. Which of the exhibits mentioned in the text do you find the most frightening?

9. What do you know about the exhibits of this museum (e.g. the Great fire of London, Jack the Ripper, Anne Boleyn)?

10. Why are there always long queues of people to this nightmarish museum? What do they want?

11. Are there similar museums or exhibitions in Russia?

12. Are you eager to visit such a place?

Task 7. Translate the following sentences into English using the vocabulary from the text.

1. Вам хотелось бы посетить музей мадам Тюссо?

2. Экспонаты в London Dungeon показывают самые ужасные периоды британской истории.

3. Жизнь в средневековой Англии была достаточно мрачной, не так ли?

4. Первый экспонат дает представление обо всем музее.

5. Если человек украл кусок хлеба или носовой платок, его могли повесить.

6. Судья может приговорить его к смертной казни.

7. Кто находится в зале суда?

8. Актеры-экскурсоводы стараются изо всех сил, пытаясь «до смерти» напугать посетителей музея.

9. Виновна ли она в этом преступлении?

10. Если ты выступаешь против короля, то можешь потерять язык.

11. Я считаю эту выставку орудий пыток кошмарной.

PART 4