2. Learn the key words and expressions.

announce – объявлять

assure – гарантировать

carry – проводить, нести

consequence – последствие

decision – решение

department – министерство

dissolution - роспуск парламента

issue – дело

receive the majority – получить большинство голосов на выборах

reinforce – укреплять

seek – искать

Shadow Cabinet – теневой кабинет

strength – сила

win the elections – побеждать на выборах

4. Check your comprehension.

1. Who realizes the executive power in the British Government? 2. Who appoints Ministers in the Cabinet? 3. How long does the Cabinet hold the office? 4. What gives great power in the hands of the Prime Minister?

TEXT 10

1. Read the following proper nouns correctly.

Edward the Confessor ['edwqd Dq kqn'fesq] – Эдвард Проповедник

Magna Carta ["mxgnq'kRtq] – Великая хартия вольностей (1215 г.)

Lord Mayor ["lLd'meq] – лорд-мэр

The Tudor and Stuart period ['tju:dq qnd'stjuRt] – период правления династий Тюдоров и Стюартов

Sir Christopher Wren [sE:'krIstqfq rqn] – Сэр Кристофер Рэн (английский архитектор 17-18 веков)

2. Read and translate the text.

London: a brief history (2, 000)

London has nearly 2,000 years of recorded history. It was founded, as Londinium, by the Romans, following their invasion in A.D. 43. They built the first, wooden, bridge and, in A.D. 120, began the construction of the defensive walls, fragments of which can still be seen today. The Romans left in the 5th century and the city was largely abandoned, though by the 8th century it was again a busy trading centre, and in the 11th century it became the capital of England.

Edward the Confessor built a palace and abbey at Westminster, thus creating twin centres which still exist today, the government being based at Westminster while the City, which developed largely within the old walls, is the commercial and financial centre. The Norman period saw the construction of the Tower, old St. Paul’s Cathedral and many churches and monasteries, as well as the first Stonebridge over the Thames.

Medieval London grew in importance as a trading centre and in 1215, with the sealing by King John of Magna Carta, its citizens won the right to elect their own leader, or Lord Mayor. Rapid growth during the Tudor and Stuart periods led to new buildings outside the walls in areas such as Lincoln’s Inn and Covent Garden.

The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed three quarters of the City and, although the rebuilding followed the Medieval street plan, the old timber houses were replaced by buildings of brick in order to reduce any future fire risk. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt St. Paul’s Cathedral and designed 51 new churches, of which 23 still stand. In the 18th century new wealth created by trade and investment led to further expansion into areas such as Mayfair, though the poor continued to live in appalling conditions. During the 19th century London spread rapidly into the suburbs, swallowing up villages and countryside, and new forms of transport were developed, such as buses and railways, including the underground railway system. Britain was then at the height of her Imperial powers and this confidence is expressed in buildings such as the Houses of Parliament and St. Pancras Station.

Large areas of London were destroyed by bombs during the Second World War and the rebuilding that followed was of mixed quality. Like all great cities, London refuses to stand still and new, often controversial, buildings continue to appear alongside the heritage of past centuries, mirroring the way the needs of the modern city co-exist with the traditions and pageantry.

Notes

1) Covent Garden – театр Ковент Гарден;

2) Mayfair – район Лондона;

3) pageantry – пышное зрелище.

3. Learn the key words and expressions.

abandon – покидать

abbey – аббатство

appear – появляться

brick – кирпич

defensive – защитный, оборонительный

destroy – разрушать

exist – существовать

inn – таверна

lead to – приводить к

medieval – средневековый

outside – снаружи; внешний

palace – дворец

reduce – сокращать; снижать

suburb – пригород

timber – лесоматериалы

twin – близнец

underground – подземный

wooden – деревянный

4. Check your comprehension.

1. Who built the first wooden bridge in London? 2. What was the role of Magna Carta? 3. When and why was London rebuilt? 4. What do you know about modern London?

TEXT 11

1. Read the following proper nouns correctly.

Westminster Cathedral ['westmInstq kq'TJdrql] – Вестминстерский собор

Cardinal Archbishop ['kRdInl 'RC'bISqp] – главный архиепископ

Early Christian Byzantium [bI'zxntIqm] – древне-христианская Византия

Stock Exchange ['stOk Iks'CeIndZ] – фондовая биржа

Royal Exchange ['rOIql Iks'CeIndZ] – здание лондонской биржи

Mansion House ['mxnSqn 'haus] – дом лорда-мэра в Лондоне

The Cenotaph ['senqtRf] – (кенотафий - пустая гробница) памятник, воздвигнутый в честь погибших во время первой мировой войны в Лондоне

Piccadilly Circus [pIkq'dIlI'sWkqs] – площадь Пиккадили

“The Hub” of the Empire ['hAb qv Dq qm'paIq] – «пуп» империи

Trafalgar Square [trq'fxlgq 'skwFq] – Трафальгарская площадь

Chief Commissioner of Works [kq'mISInq] – министр труда