N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (doc) (798446), страница 13
Текст из файла (страница 13)
From the streets in the centre of the city you can see the ships coming to Edinburgh from different countries of the world. The highest hill, called "King Arthur's Chair", is 300 metres above sea level. In the "Old Town" the narrow houses with narrow windows are climbing up by narrow streets towards the ancient Edinburgh Castle. This building on the Castle Rock 150 metres high is one thousand years old.
The modern town is in the valley. The streets are straight and well planned, so that you can easily go about the town. Scotsmen say that St. Petersburg and Edinburgh are the only cities in the world with such a splendid layout. The main street, Princess Street, is a mile long with beautiful houses and a monument to Walter Scott. A road bridge over the river Forth was opened in 1964. It is now the fourth of its kind in the world.
Edinburgh has a busy cultural life. Every year, in September, the International festival takes place. Musicians, actors and singers come from all over the world and thousands of visitors fill the city. In the evening, the opera house, the theatres and the c°ncert halls are full. In cafes and pubs small groups sing, act and read poetry.
No wonder, that Edinburgh is sometimes called "the Athens of the North".
MANCHESTER
Manchester is the second biggest city in Lancashire after Liverpool. It is the industrial capital of the North of England. It has a climate, which is neither cold nor hot.
The highest summer temperature is 270°C, the lowest winter temperature is 6°C.
Manchester is the fifth largest port in Great Britain although it is 56 km away from the sea. It is connected with the sea by the Manchester Ship Canal. The city ^as founded in the Roman times. In later history Manchester was the centre of the cotton trade not only in Great Britain, but in the whole world. At present its ffljlls and factories produce different electronic machines, chemical and plastic materials, rain-coats and other things. Manchester has a large and rich industry, jtalso produces different foods, clothes, soap and perfumes.
The population of Manchester is about 680,000 people. It was the first city in England, which built its own airport in 1919. Now the Manchester airport connects the city with different foreign countries. Manchester is also an important cultural centre. It is famous for publishing books and magazines, and it has many good libraries, museums and art galleries. The famous Hall Orchestra is in Manchester, and it gives concerts two times a week. Manchester has good theatres and they often invite the Royal Ballet from London and the Royal Shakespeare Company from Stratford-on-Avon to come and perform in Manchester.
Manchester has a distinctive atmosphere brought about by physical characteristics of the Victorian age. The manufacture of cotton goods was responsible for changing the town into the great city it became in the last century.
The first thing the visitor notices is the number of the enormous warehouses and factories, railway stations and markets, offices and banks, municipal buildings and museums. All seems to be very grand, well-built and magnificently solid.
BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham is a surprizing place. That's because there are so many different aspects to it. Historically, of course, it was a manufacturing city which grew up in the Industrial Revolution. But in the 1990s, although manufacturing industry and commerce were still vital to the prosperity of the region and made it a very exciting and energetic centre. But there are other signs due to which Birmingham has confirmed its position as a major European city.
The National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham International Airport bring visitors to the city from all over the world. The massive International Convention Centre, Symphony Hall - the acclaimed home of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are all evidence that there is an optimistic and imaginative mood in Birmingham. The National Indoor Arena is the venue for major sporting events and concerts.
The Birmingham Royal Ballet is based at the Hippodrome. There are three Professional theatres in Birmingham. The City Art Gallery has an outstanding eolation of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.
The City is at the centre of the national motorway network. There are coach and rail services all over the country, and if you're going further, Birmingham International Airport has direct flights to European cities and connections all over ths world.
But Birmingham, Britain's "second city", is the most important industrial town Because of the great variety of its industries people call it" The City of 1,500 Frades" in the district called "Black Country".
All the pins and needles in English households are probably of Birmingham I make. The pens that people write with, the spoons and forks they use for dinner and the glasses which they drink out of are mostly products of Birmingham indus try. It is quite possible that motor-cars, the bicycles, the railway-carriages and the rails they run on in England, the radio and television sets, etc., have come from Birmingham.
Birmingham is a busy, thriving and exciting city.
STRATFORD-ON-AVON
Stratford-on-Avon, famous the world over as the birthplace of William Shake-speare, is situated in the heart of England. Shakespeare's birthplace is a small house with small rooms in the centre of Stratford-on-Avon. When Shakespeare became successful in London he bought the biggest house in Stratford-on-Avon called New Palace to retire to.
The Royal Theatre was opened on Shakespeare's birthday in 1879 and destroyed by fire in 1926. The present building designed by Elizabeth Scott was completed in 1932. The theatre is now one of the most comfortable and best equipped in the world, with its own workshops, a library, a picture gallery and a restaurant. The whole season the Theatre gives only Shakespeare's plays. It's a great pleasure to see there "Romeo and Juliet", "Twelfth Night", "Hamlet" and many others. They are on not only in the Royal Theatre, but all over the world.
The Shakespeare Centre was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth (1556). The Centre serves a dual purpose. It is the headquarter of the British Trust which administers properties and memorials of the poet and provides facilities for educational and academic work.
BRISTOL
If a traveler wants to catch a glimpse of old and new together, he should go to Bristol. The story of Bristol is plainly told through its rivers and docks, through its sea faring past full of adventure. The Romans moored their boats at the edge of the River Avon, while the Norman's shipped wine and other goods into Bristol by sea
A few hundred years later in the gloomy Middle ages John Cabot and his son set sail in the Matthew and reached the North America. In those ages when so little was known about geography, Bristol merchants crossed the oceans, traded and brought back huge amounts of many expensive goods. Centuries later thousands of setlers went to the new land to find a brighter future.
The spirit of adventure and exploration is in the heart of Bristol. There are quite a few monuments in Bristol reminding of its historical past.
Words and Phrases:
to survive - выжить honour - честь
damage - повреждение to honour - удостоить чести
to damage - повреждать tailor - портной
to occur - происходить to retire - уходить в отставку
tremendous - огромный to stretch - простираться
to destruct - разрушать to resort - посещать, бывать
destruction - разрушение rush hours - "часы пик"
empty -пустой distinction -распознавание
Incorporation - объединение distinct - отчетливый, ясный
to contain - содержать distinctively- ясно, явно, определенно
abbey -аббатство distinctive -характерный
layout - план warehouse - товарный склад
Beefeaters - лейб-гвардейцы to climb - подниматься
to incorporate - включать, объединять
to thrive - процветать, преуспевать
Tasks:
1. Study the text about cities and towns.
2. Ask your group-mate whether she (he) knows anything about historical places in London.
3. Make up short dialogues about famous places of the British capital.
4. Situational practice:
a. Imagine that you are in Edinburgh: what places of interest would interest you most of all?
b. Imagine that you are in Stratford-on-Avon: what theatre would you like to visit and why?
5. Speak about: .
a. the history of Manchester;
b. Cardiff as the great commercial port;
c. the city of Birmingham; cultural life in Wales.
d. the main street of Edinburgh;
e. the story of Bristol;
"AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOME IS HIS CASTLE"
Everyone in Britain dreams of living in a detached house, which means a separate building. It is usually built of brick and slate. A detached house is of "non-classical" shape with a lot of little corners, which make the house very cosy. In front of the house there's always a beautiful garden with smooth lawn. The garage is hidden away so it doesn't spoil the rural feeling.
Every Englishman wants privacy. And a large, detached house not only ensures privacy, but it's also a status symbol. Such a house is a dream for most people. But even a small house with a garden is very dear to the hearts of many people in Britain.
Most people don't like blocks of flats, because they provide the least amount of Privacy. Flats are usually much cheaper. (In fact, flats are the cheapest kind of home). People who live in them cannot afford to have a house of their own.
Their dislike of living in flats is very strong. In 1950s, for example, millions poor people lived in old, cold, uncomfortable houses of the 19th century, with n°f bathroom. But when they were given new blocks of flats to live in, with centn heating and bathrooms, more comfortable and cosy they hated their new home! They felt lonely without their gardens and neighbours.
In Britain these "tower blocks" (or "high-rise blocks") were a complete failure because they didn't suit British attitudes; while in other countries people are veni happy in modern flats. Nowadays only 40% of the population live in high-rises.
Law and custom in Britain support a clear separation between what is public and what is private. To emphasize this division, people prefer to live in a house, set back from the road. This way they can have a garden in front of the house, which separates them from the world. This area may not be very big, but it allows people to have a low fence or a hedge round It. Such a fence announces that here the private property begins.
Flats don't give people enough privacy. Not having a separate entrance to the outside world doesn't suit British tastes. People like to choose the colour of their own front door or window frames. Besides, they can have a small garden of their own in front of the house, even if the outside territory is very small. English people usually have flower-beds with paths in between, or just patches of grass to express their individuality.
British houses are thought to be very cold, maybe the coldest in Europe. But it is not so. About 3/4 of houses now have central heating. The most important thing for British people is to feel cosy - that is to create a warm atmosphere (even if it's not warm in the house). In Britain many people have a great desire to have a "real fire". Afire-place is a traditional symbol of warmth. Nowadays, it may be an imitation of open fire with plastic coal. Most older houses have two living-rooms. It allows the front room to be used for formal visits while the family spend their time in the back room, hidden from public view. If there is one living-room in the house, then there is a hall into which the front door opens. Private houses usually have the back door for family or close friends.
In spite of peoples' great desire to have a house of their own they're not so much attached to the house itself. The house can be easily sold, if necessary and if the price is attractive. Most houses are sold on the open market by the "property developers" (these are private companies).
The desire to have a private house is great, but house prices are very high. About 70% of all the houses are occupied by their owners. Usually people borrow 80% of the price and then pay the money back month by month. Normally they pay the money back over the period of 20-25 years.
GARDENING
The love of gardens is deep-rooted in the British people. This is probably one reason why so many people prefer to live in houses rather than flats. Many people who have no gardens of their own have patches of land in especially reserved areas. Flower and vegetable shows, with prizes for the best exhibits, are immensely popular.
Every year,the British Queen holds several garden parties at Buckingham Palace. The guests are usually invited as a reward for their work or achievements, and it is considered a great honour.
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