Read the text. Retell it.12
The first Westminster Palace was built by Edward the Confessor in about 1050 and was used as a royal residence, then as the seat of Government and finally, after 1547, as the meeting place for Parliament. The fire of 1834 destroyed most of the original buildings. The new building for Parliament was designed by Sir Charles Barry in 1840. The general style is gothic. There are two “Chambers" or "Houses" of Parliament — that of the Commons and that of the Lords. The more important and powerful of these is the House of Commons, whose members are elected by the public. The Prime Minister and most of the Government are Members of the House of Commons. The House of Lords is made up of Lords who have inherited their titles and the right to sit in the House, and "life peers" who are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Government of the day. Half of the building of Parliament is used by the Commons and the other half by the Lords. At the Westminster Bridge end is the residence of the Speaker, who presides over meetings of the House of Commons and at the other end is the residence of the Lord Chancellor, who presides over the House of Lords. Parliament's most important function is the making of laws. Before a new law (or Bill) can come into effect, it must pass through three stages in each House and be given the Queen's approval. It then becomes an Act of Parliament. 7. Give the idea of the text in English: После более чем десяти лет споров по поводу того, стоит ли допускать телевидение в британский парламент, лорды, наконец, разрешили установить камеры в своей палате. Однако палата общин отказывается принять такое, же решение. Один из основных противников телетрансляций заседаний парламента — премьер-министр М.Тэтчер. Она оправдывает свою позицию тем, что подобные передачи потребуют слишком больших затрат. Но, как считает лондонский корреспондент американской газеты «Крисчен сайенс монитор», причина, упорного сопротивления Тэтчер кроется в нежелании делать достоянием гласности критические выступления в адрес ее правительства. А как заявил во время недавних дебатов лорд Уайтлоу, немалую проблему представляет и тот факт, что многие парламентарии на заседаниях попросту спят. Появление на телеэкранах дремлющих законодателей отнюдь не послужит росту их авторитета.
TEXT. SOME MORE GLIMPSES OF LONDON London is one of the biggest and most interesting cities in the world. Traditionally it is divided into the West End and the East End. The West End is famous for its beautiful avenues lined with plane trees, big stores, rich mansions, expensive restaurants, hotels, theatres and night clubs. The East End used to be a poor area filled with warehouses, factories, slums and miserable houses. Quite a lot of people lived from hand to mouth here. For the recent years this area including Dockland has turned into a new housing development. The heart of London is the City — its commercial and business centre. Here is situated the Tower of London that comes first among the historic buildings of the city. If you want to get some glimpses of London it's just from here that you had better start sightseeing. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. Now it is a museum of armour and also the place where the Crown Jewels are kept. In present days, just as many centuries ago, the Ceremony of the Keys takes place at its gates. Every night when the guard is changed at each gate there is the cry: "Halt! Who goes there?" Then the guard replies: "The Keys." "Whose Keys?" "Queen Elizabeth's Keys!" "Pass, Queen Elizabeth's Keys! All's well." And so the Tower of London is safely closed for the night. A twenty minutes' walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building — St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It was built by a famous English architect, Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723). St. Paul's Cathedral» with its huge dome and rows of columns is considered to be a fine specimen of Renaissance architecture. In one of its towers hangs one of the largest bells in the world, Great Paul, weighing about 17.5 tons. Wellington(The Duke of Wellington (1769-1852): a famous British general whose army defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815), Nelson (Nelson, Horatio (1758-1805): an English admiral who won the battle of Trafalgar (the Atlantic coast of Spain)) and other great men of England are buried in the Cathedral. Not far away, in Westminster, where most of the Government buildings are situated, is Westminster Abby. Many English sovereigns [‘sovrins], outstanding statesmen, painters and poets (Newton, Darwin, and Tennyson among them) are buried here. Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat of the British Parliament. Its two graceful towers stand high above the city. The higher of the two contains the largest clock in the country and the famous bell Big Ben that strikes every quarter of the hour. If now we walk along Whitehall, we shall soon come to Trafalgar Square. It was so named in memory of the victory in the battle of Trafalgar, where on October 21, 1805 the English fleet under Nelson's command defeated the combined fleet of France and Spain. The victory was won at the cost of Nelson's life. In the middle of Trafalgar Square stands Nelson's monument — a tall column with the figure of Nelson at its top. The column is guarded by four bronze lions. The fine building facing the square is the National Gallery and adjoining it (but just round the corner) is the Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum — the biggest Museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of different things (ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc.). The British Museum is famous for its library — one of the richest in the world. In its large circular reading room Marx, Engels and later Lenin used to work. And now, even if you have almost no time left for further sightseeing, you cannot leave the city without visiting Hyde Park or "the Park" as Londoners call it. When you are walking along its shady avenues, sitting on the grass, admiring its beautiful flower-beds or watching swans and ducks floating on the ponds, it seems almost unbelievable that all around there is a large city with its heavy traffic. TEXT. SIGHTSEEING
— Is it possible to see anything of London in one or two days? — Well, yes, but, of course, not half enough. — What do you think I ought to see first? — Well, if you are interested in churches and historic places you should go to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's and the Tower. Do you like art galleries? — Rather! — Then why not go to the National Gallery and the Tate? — I'm told one ought to see the British Museum. Do you think I shall have time for that? Well, you might, but if I were you, I should leave that for some other day. You could spend a whole day there. It's much too big to be seen in an hour or so. — I suppose it is. What about going to the Zoo? — That's not a bad idea. You could spend a couple of hours there comfortably, or even a whole afternoon, watching the wild animals, birds and reptiles. You could have tea — I'll do that, then. How do I get there? — Let me see. I think your best way from here is to walk across Regent's park. — Is it much of a walk? — Oh, no, a quarter of an hour or so, but, if you are in a hurry, why not take a taxi? — I think I will. Ah, here's one coming. Taxi! The Zoo please.
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