Gruesome facts about london

 When the traitor was executed in London he was beheaded and cut into quarters. The heads were stuck on spikes at the gates in the city walls, at the Tower of London, at Westminster or on London Bridge. These heads rotted, of course, and were pecked by birds. So they were boiled in salt or painted with tar to make them last! This went on till 1746.

 Can you imagine that Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park was once a place of public execution? Yes, this is where the infamous Tyburn Tree, a triangular gallows, stood in old London. About 50,000 people were executed there. The triangular structure was so large that it could take 21 people at a time! Hanging days were public holidays, because it was believed that the sight of an execution would be a warning to potential criminals. The last person was hanged there in 1783.

 The Old Bailey, officially called the Central Criminal Court, is the most famous law court in the UK. Many notorious criminals were judged there in the past, including serial killers and traitors. The Old Bailey stands on the place where the notorious Newgate prison once stood. For nearly 800 years the prison was known for being a disgusting, smelly place. The smell was so bad that for centuries it polluted the whole surrounding area. Visitors to prison had to cover their noses with handkerchiefs soaked in vinegar to avoid being sick.

 Jack the Ripper was the infamous murderer who terrorized London in 1888. His identity remains unsolved to this day. There are special excursions for brave tourists who want to see the sites where Jack the Ripper murdered his victims. They usually start when it’s dark. Scary!

Task 1. Study the following examples from the text and determine, in which of them the Passive is used.

He was beheaded and cut into quarters; Speakers’ Corner was a place of public execution; the heads were stuck on spikes; they were pecked by birds; they were boiled in salt or painted with tar; the structure was so large; people were executed; hanging days were public holidays; it was believed; the last person was hanged; the prison was known; the smell was very bad; he was the infamous murderer; many notorious criminals were judged there.

Task 2. In each of the sentences underline who or what is doing the action (the agent).

For example: My neighbours were kidnapped by a gang.

Lucy was wearing a new dress at the party.

1. The traffic was all heading out of town.

2. The photo was taken by the police.

3. The water was pouring out of the hole.

4. A policeman was murdered by terrorists.

5. We were woken by the alarm.

6. The guide was leading a group of tourists around the castle.

7. The dog bit several people.

8. The postman was bitten by our dogs.

Task 3. Make one corresponding passive sentence or two, if possible, as in the example below.

For example: Someone handed me a note. → I was handed a note. / A note was handed to me.

1. Someone offered her a second-hand bicycle.

2. Someone suggested some interesting changes to me.

3. Someone awarded him a prize.

4. Someone announced the President’s arrival to the waiting journalists.

5. Someone mentioned the password to the thieves.

6. Someone sent him threatening letters.

7. Someone explained the changes to the jury.

8. Someone proposed improvements to the senators.

Task 4. Complete the sentences using the Past Passive of the verbs given in the chart, either positive or negative.

damage take steal show blow build invite repair give find

1. I saw an accident yesterday. Two people __________ to hospital.

2. - Isn’t this film old? - It __________ for the first time in 1965.

3. There was a fire on the ground floor of the hotel last weekend. However, the rooms on the upper floors __________.

4. - Where did you get these pictures? - They __________ to me by a friend of mine.

5. We didn’t go to the party because we __________.

6. My car __________ last week but the next day it __________ by the police.

7. The washing machine __________ yesterday afternoon.

8. There was a terrible storm last night but the old oak tree __________ down in the storm.

9. - How old are those houses? - I don’t know when they _________.

Task 5. Choose the correct verb forms (active or passive) in this news report about a storm.

Millions of pounds’ worth of damage (0) has caused / has been caused by a storm which (1) swept / was swept across the north of England last night. The River Ribble (2) burst / was burst its banks after heavy rain. Many people (3) rescued / were rescued from the floods by fire-fighters, who (4) received / were received hundreds of calls for help. Wind speeds (5) reached / were reached ninety miles an hour in some places. Roads (6) blocked / were blocked by fallen trees, and electricity lines (7) brought / were brought down, leaving thousands of homes without electricity. “Everything possible (8) did / was done yesterday to get things back to normal”, a spokesman (9) said / was said.

Task 6. Use the verbs given in brackets in the Past Simple Active or Passive to complete the gaps in the dialogue.

Last night a man (arrest) outside Buckingham Palace. The police (see) him climbing the walls.

A. Have you heard the news today?

B. No, why?

A. Well, the police (arrest) Ronald Bloggs last night!

B. Who is he?

A. He is a man who (rob) a train in Britain about thirty years ago.

B. Good Lord! I remember that. It was one of the biggest robberies ever. How much money (steal) then?

A. Millions. And it (not find). Bloggs (send) to prison but he (escape). Anyway, he (arrest) yesterday.

B. I remember he also (arrest) by the Brazilian police about twenty years ago. Apparently he (catch) shoplifting. He (put) something in his pocket and he (not know) that (notice) by the store detective.

A. I didn’t know that! What happened next?

B. Under Brazilian law he (send) back to Britain, but on the way he (escape) again.

A. So now he will have a criminal record, won’t he?

B. Yes, I think he’ll be imprisoned and have to finish his sentence.

Task 7. Who by? In pairs ask questions and try to find the correct answer choosing it from the information provided in the right column.

For example: penicillin (discover) →

- Who was penicillin discovered by? - I think penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming.

“Guernica” (paint) F. Dostojevsky

“Jaws” (direct) Andrew Lloyd Weber

the electric chair (invent) King John

“Crime and Punishment” (write) Agatha Christie

“Cats” (compose) Steven Spielberg

“Business Law” (publish) Pablo Picasso

“Murder on the Orient Express” (create) Thomas Edison

Macintosh computers (develop) Ferdinand Porsche

The Magna Carta (sign) Apple

The Volkswagen Beetle (design) Cambridge University Press

Task 8. Translate the following sentences into English, pay attention to the Passive.

Вчера Хелен написала письмо своей подруге. Это часть ее письма.

«В выходные наш дом взломали. Грабитель взял некоторые драгоценности. Но, к счастью, большого ущерба не причинил. Меня опрашивал очень милый молодой офицер полиции. Я не надеялась, что полиция сможет (could) поймать преступника. Но оказалось, что они нашли несколько отпечатков пальцев (fingerprints), и вор был идентифицирован с помощью полицейского компьютера. Этого человека потом арестовали и допросили. Но проблема в том, что драгоценности так и не нашли».

UNIT V

PART 1