N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (doc) (798446), страница 16
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Tasks:
1. Answer the following questions:
a. What types of universities are there in Great Britain?
b. When were Cambridge and Oxford universities founded?
c. What is the supreme governing body of the university?
d. What can you say about the Open University?
2. Speak about: a. London University; b. your University. 4. True or False?
a. british Universities are centers of research as well as teaching;
b. Ural Universities are centers of research as well as teaching;
c. colleges form an important part of higher education system, don4 they?
TRADITIONS
Some British customs and traditions are famous all over the world. Britain hats, tea, talking about the weather for example. From Scotland to Cornwall, Britain is full of customs and traditions. A lot of them have very long histories. Some are funny and some are strange. But all of them are interesting. They are all part and parcel of the British way of life.
One of the traditions is the "Trooping of the Color".
The Queen is the only person in Britain with two birthdays. Her real birthday is on April 21st but she has an "official" birthday. It is on the second Saturday in June. And on the Queen's official birthday, there is a traditional ceremony called "The Trooping of the Color". It is a big parade with brass bands and hundreds of soldiers at Horse Guard's Parade in London, a "regiment" of Queen's soldiers, the Guards trooping the colour, march in front of her. At the front of the parade is the regiment's flag or "color". Thousands of Londoners and visitors watch Horse Guard's Parade, and millions of people watch it on television at home.
The changing of the Guard. This happens every day at Buckingham Palace, the Queen's home soldiers stand in front of the Palace. Each morning these soldiers (the "guard") change. One group leaves and another arrives. In summer and winter tourists stand outside the palace at 11.30 every morning and watch the Changing of the Guard.
The state opening of Parliament. Parliament, not the Royal Family, controls modern Britain. But traditionally the Queen opens Parliament every autumn. She travels in a golden carriage, the first Irish state Coach. In the Houses of Parliament the Queen sits on a "throne" in the House of Lords and reads the "Queen's Speech".
The Queen's Christmas speech. Now here's a modern royal custom. On Christmas Day at 300 in the afternoon, the Queen makes a speech on radio and TV. It's ten minutes long. In it she talks to the people of the United Kingdom. It was filmed a few weeks before. The Queen spends Christmas with her family in Windsor.
Lord Mayor's Show. The Lord Mayor of London is chosen every year in No*
vember. The new Mayor travels in a golden coach through the city. He goes from
the Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand street.
The Tower of London. It was the custom for each monarch to lodge in the Tower before his coronation. The oldest military ceremony in the world is the Ceremony of the Keys, which has taken place every night at the Tower of London, for more than 700 years. At seven minutes to ten, sergeant of the guards with the «eys accompanied by four soldiers dressed in uniform and carrying rifles appears jp turn at the four main towers.
A soldier who keeps watch (sentry) shouts "Halt. Who comes there?" The sergeant says: "The Keys". "Whose Keys"? "Queen Elizabeth's Keys". "Pass, Queen Elizabeth's Keys" - says the sentry. Then the escort of the Keys passes through the archway.
DOMESTIC TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
There are lots of domestic customs, which go centuries back. There is the English custom of afternoon tea. It is about 300 years old. The British drink their 5 o'clock tea round the fire in winter and out in gardens on sunny summer's days.
Another tradition is sitting at a fire-place, which is found in every home. For many months of the year they like to sit round the fire and watch the dancing flames. Above the fire-place there is usually a shelf, on which there is often a clock and framed pictures.
Pubs are an important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet friends and relax and listen to good music. They are open at lunch time and again in the evening but they close at 11 p.m.
The word "pub" is short for "public house". Pubs always serve food and beer. British people sometimes lift their glasses before they drink and say "cheers!" This means "Good luck!" Pubs' names often have a long tradition. Some come from thirteenth or fourteenth century.
Shaking Hands. Hundreds of years ago soldiers began this custom. They shook hands to show that they did not have a sword. Now, shaking hands is a custom. In Britain they don't shake hands with friends and family. But one must shake hands when one meets a person for the first time.
Parties. It's the custom to have a party to celebrate a person's birthday, new house, an engagement, a wedding, Christmas and New Years Eve. "Happy Birthday to you" song is known all over the world.
Talking about the weather. The British talk about the weather a lot. They talk about the weather because it changes often.
Advertizing. The British like advertizing and some of them depend on it in their daily lives. There are many ways for ads. Ads are carried by newspapers, magazines, ^oducts are announced on TV and radio. TV and radio ads are called "commercials". Even short films and video-films are produced for ads. Consumers often fall victims to ads. People buy well-advertised products, but they are not always good.
Snow on Christmas cards is according to traditions. Nowadays, a white Christmas snow on 25 December is rare on the British Isles. More usually it's "a Green Christmas" - no snow and little or no frost. Through the centuries winters in ^ British Isles have become gradually milder.
New Year Resolutions. What are your worst faults? Do you want to change them? What are your wishes? In Britain a lot of people make New Year Resold tions on the evening of December 31st. For example, "I'll get up early every rriorrv ing", "I'll not smoke any more", "I'll clean my shoes every day", "I'll not read while eating", "I will not eat cakes and ice-cream". But there is a problem. Most peop|e forget their New Year Resolutions on January 2nd.
TRADITIONS IN FOOD
In a real English breakfast one may have boiled or fried eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato and mushrooms. Then there is a toast and "marmalade". There is an interesting story about the word " marmalade". It may has come from the French "Marie est malade", or "Mary is ill". That is because in 17th century Queen of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots, liked it. She always asked for French orange jam when she was ill.
Roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding are eaten for lunch. It is a traditional Sunday lunch from Yorkshire. Pudding is not sweet. It's a simple mixture of eggs, flour, and milk, but it's delicious. Two common vegetables with a roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding are Brussels sprouts and carrots, and a thick brown sauce.
Pancakes are eaten by British people on Shrove Tuesday in February or March. For pancakes you need flour, eggs and milk. And then they are eaten hot with sweet sugar and lemon or savoury filling.
Every year Scots people all over the world remember famous poet Robert Burns (they call him Rabbie). They read his poems and eat haggis. It is a traditional food made of meat, onions, flour, salt and pepper. The haggis is boiled in the skin from a sheep's stomach. Tea is not only a drink. It's also a meal in the afternoon. But one can eat it with cucumber sandwiches and scones. Scones are plain cakes. One may eat cream and chocolate cakes too.
Christmas pudding. Some people make these puddings months before Christmas. A lot of families have their own Christmas pudding recipes. Some, for example, use a lot of brandy, others put in a lot of fruit or add a silver coin for good luck. Real Christmas puddings always have a piece of holly on the top for decoration also, some people pour brandy over the pudding and light it with a match.
Hot cross buns is an English Easter tradition. The first Christians in Rome made hot cross buns 2000 years ago. Britain is changing together with the rest of the world, but traditions and customs are not changed.
Words and Phrases:
bowler hat - котелок fire-place - камин
brass band - духовой оркестр shelf - полка
continuously - постоянно to shout - кричать
fortress - крепость regiment - полк
arms - оружие to shake hands - здороваться за руку
to lodge - ночевать sword - меч, шпага (оружие)
sergeant - сержант eve - канун
rifle - ружье advertisement (ad) - реклама
sentry - солдат, часовой Shrove Tuesday - вторник на масленой неделе
Trooping of the Color - вынос знамени holly - остролист (рождественское
domestic traditions - семейные традиции украшение)
framed pictures - картины, фотографии в рамках
Tasks:
1. Imagine that you are to make a report about customs and traditions in Great Britain. While preparing it use the main information. The plan must be available.
2. Ask your group-mate whether she (he) knows anything about such traditions as "Trooping of the Color" and the "Changing of the Guard".
3. Compare: a. domestic traditions in Great Britain and in Russia;
b. Russian and English breakfast.
5. Answer the following questions:
a. What do we have in common as far as domestic traditions are concerned?
b. Why do people shake hands?
6. Make up short dialogues about English and Russian traditions and customs.
ETIQUETTE
Englishmen are naturally polite and are never tired in saying: "Thank you", "I am sorry", "I beg your pardon".
If he follows anyone, who is entering a building or a room, he will hold a door open and they have saying "Ladies first".
Gentlemen always shake hands when they are introduced to each other even if they have to cross a room to do so. Ladies rarely shake hands, when introduced. When a gentleman is introduced to a lady, she generally smiles, bows slightly and says, "How do you do!" It is her place to offer her hand or not, as she chooses. There is a wide distance between rudeness and reserve. One can be Polite and at the same time reserved of matters.
Nearly all rules of English etiquette are to a certain degree elastic. For example, on formal occasions a hostess always stands at the door and a host nearby. Both shake hands with every arrival. On informal occasions they both rise and go forward to greet each guest.
When a visitor is ready to leave he or she simply stands but must not attract the attention °f everybody because his (her) going must suggest leaving to others and so start breaking UP of a party. She (he) must simply look for the host or the hostess and say good-bye.
English people don't like displaying their emotions of joy, sorrow. They seem *° remain cheerful under difficulties.
They are taught from childhood not to rush for seats in busses and trains, but take queues at bus stops in a quiet and orderly manner. Parents teach their children to sit gracefully.
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