A glimpse of London
London is the capital of Great Britain. It is situated on both sides of the Thames and stretches for nearly 30 miles from east to west and for nearly 30 miles from north to south. London is one of the largest cities in the world. Its population is more than eight million.
London is a very old city. It is more than 20 centuries old. The history of London goes back to Roman times. Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other.
The heart of London is the City its commercial and business centre. The Stock Exchange, the Royal Exchange, and the Bank of England are all there. The centre of the country's judicial system the Old Bailey is also in the City. Few people live in the City, but over a million come to work here.
Two famous historic buildings are located in the City the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. The Tower of London was built in the 11 -th century. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. Now it is a museum of armour and also the place where Crown Jewels are kept.
A twenty minutes' walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building St Paul's Cathedral. It was built in the 17th century by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren. Wellington, Nelson and other great men of England are buried in the Cathedral.
Westminster is the centre of government and justice. Here we can see the Houses of Parliament with the famous clock "Big Ben" on one of the towers. All government offices are in Whitehall. The official residence of the Queen is Buckingham Palace. The residence of the Prime Minister is at 10 Downing Street.
Opposite the Houses of Parliament stands Westminster Abbey. From Norman times British monarchs have been crowned here and since the 13th century they have been buried here. Many
other famous people are also buried in Westminster Abbey including statesmen, musicians and writers.
The West End is the name given to the area of Central London north from The Mall to Oxford Street. It includes Trafalgar Square, the main shopping areas of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, and the entertainment centres of Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue. Its name is associated with glamour and bright lights.
Trafalgar Square was built early in the last century to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. Admiral lord Nelson's statue stands on top of a column in the middle of Trafalgar Square. The square makes a good place for people to meet coaches pick up parties of visitors, marchers unite for protest meetings, and at Christmas time carol singers gather round a huge Christmas tree which is sent to Britain from Norway every year. Behind Nelson's Column is the National Gallery, an art gallery in which you can find many old masters. Not far from the National Gallery is the British Museum. 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.
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Most of London's big department stores are in Oxford Street and Regent Street. Piccadilly Circus is the centre of nightlife in the West End. To the north of Piccadilly Circus is Soho, which has been the foreign quarter of London since the 17th century. Now it has restaurants offering food from a variety of different countries, as well as "adult" entertainment.
London is famous for its live theatre, and there are over thirty theatres within a square mile. Naturally there is a great variety of shows to choose from: opera, musicals, drama and so on. If you want to know what is on in London, the best place to look is in a newspaper.
The East End is an industrial district of London. It is especially famous as the centre of the clothing industry. The Port of London is also in the East End.
A. Questions
1. What is the population of London? 2. What is the City?
3. When was the Tower of London built? What was it used for?
4. When was St Paul's Cathedral built? 5. What famous men are
buried in the Cathedral? 6. In what district of London are most of the Government buildings located? 7. What is Big Ben? 8. What famous building stands opposite the Houses of Parliament? 9. In whose memory was the monument in the middle of Trafalgar Square set up? 10. What kind of museum is the British Museum?
11. Where are most of London's big department stores located?
12. In what part of London is the Port located?
B. Speak about London, the capital of Great Britain.
C. Have you ever been to London? What did you do? Did you like the city?
'Washington
Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) is the capital of the United States. It became the capital on December I, 1880. It was named after George Washington, the first president, and Christopher Columbus (America was discovered by Columbus in 1492).
Spring is the best season in Washington, and it is the most popular with tourists. In the spring you can see the flowers on hundreds of cherry trees. The trees were given to the United States in 1912. They were a gift of friendship from Japan.
Washington has something for everyone historic monuments, interesting museums, beautiful parks, and excellent hotels and restaurants. Some of the most important and most interesting sights are:
The Jefferson Memorial. This monument is dedicated to the third president, Thomas Jefferson. It was designed by John Russel, and it was dedicated in 1943. Inside there is a statue of Jefferson by sculptor Rudolf Evans.
The Lincoln Memorial. This beautiful monument is dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. It is made of marble, and it was built in 1922. In the great hall I there is a huge statue by Daniel Chester French.
The National Gallery of Art. The National Gallery contains '. one of the world's best collections of European and American > painting and sculpture. The newest building, the East Building, ', is made of pink marble and glass. It was designed by I.M. Pei, and it was opened in 1978.
The Washington Monument. The Washington Monument was completed in 1884. It is dedicated to the first president, George Washington, and it is 555 feet high. You can take an elevator to the top or you can climb the 898 steps!
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The White House. The White House is the official home of the president. It was designed by James Hoban. The first building was burned by the British in the War of 1 8 1 2, but it was rebuilt in 1818. It was also first painted white at that time.
A. Questions
1. Who was Washington, D.C. named after? 2 Where did the cherry trees come from? 3. How tall is the Washington Monument? 4. When was the White House painted white? 5. Who is the Jefferson Memorial dedicated to? 6. Who designed it? 7. What is the Lincoln Memorial made of? 8. Who designed the statue of Lincoln? 9. What does the National Gallery of Art contain? 1 0. What is the East Building made of?
B. Speak about the most interesting sights in Washington.
C. Have you ever been to Washington? What do you think of it? Answer your friends' questions about the city.
New Yourk
Everyone knows something about New York the Statue of Liberty, the skyscrapers, the beautiful shops on Fifth Avenue and the many theatres on Broadway. This is America's cultural capital, and her biggest city, with a population of nearly eight million. In the summer it is hot, hot, and in the winter it can be very cold, but there are hundreds of things to do and see all the year round.
There are five "boroughs" in New York: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Richmond. Only one of them, the Bronks, is not an island.
Manhattan, the smallest island in New York, is the real centre of the city. When people say "New York City" they usually mean Manhattan. Most of the interesting shops, buildings and museums are here, and Manhattan is the scene of New York's night life.
In 1605 the first Europeans came to Manhattan from Holland. They bought the island from the Native Americans for a few glass necklaces, worth about $26 today.
Only 1,500,000 people live in Manhattan, but five million people work here every day. Many live in the suburbs and come to work on the subway.
Wall Street in Manhattan is the financial heart of the USA and the most important banking centre in the world. It is a street of "skyscrapers", those incredible, high buildings which Americans invented, and built faster and higher than anyone else. Perhaps the two most spectacular skyscrapers in New York are the two towers of the New York World Trade Center. When the sun sets, their 110 floors shine like pure gold.
Like every big city, New York has its own traffic system. Traffic jams can be terrible, and it's usually quickest to go by subway. The New York subway is easy to use and quite cheap. Take a look at the map. The subway goes to almost every corner of Manhattan. But be careful. It's better not to go by subway late at night.
You see more, of course, if you go by bus. New York buses are also easy to use. The "Shoppers' Shuttle" (Monday to Friday) and the "Culture Loops" (Saturdays and Sundays) stop at some of the best known stores and tourist places. You can get on and off as many times as you like in one day with only one ticket.
There are more than 30,000 taxis in New York. They are easy to see, because they are bright yellow and carry large TAXI signs. Taxis do not go outside the city but they will go to the airports. People give the taxi driver a "tip" of 15 % extra.
If you really have to drive in New York, remember that nearly all the east-west streets and most of the north-south streets are one way only. This can be difficult for the visitor who does not know his way. Try to get a map that shows the direction of the traffic, and good luck!
A. Questions
1. What do many people know about New York? 2. What is the population of New York? 3. What is the weather like? 4. What are the five "boroughs" in New York? 5. Which of them is not an island? 6. What is the real centre of the city? 7. Who was the first to come to Manhattan? When? 8. How many people live in Manhattan? 9. How many people work there? 10. What street is the financial heart of the USA? 11. What are the two most spectacular skyscrapers in New York? 12. What is the New York traffic system like? 13. What colour are the taxis in New York?
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B. Speak about New York.
C. Has anyone in your group visited New York? Answer your friends' questions about New York.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain, and is located right in the centre of the country. It's also the largest city in Spain, with over three million residents.
Madrid is a centre for government and finance, and is an important manufacturing centre for the automotive and aircraft industries. In addition, it's one of the major publishing centres for the Spanish-speaking world.
The people of Madrid are called Madrilenos. Many Madrilenos work from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then, at two o'clock, many stores and offices close. The custom started so that people could take an afternoon nap or siesta. Those who take a siesta go back to work again from five to eight o'clock. However, recently, many businesses have stopped closing for siesta; instead, they follow the semanta inglesa, or English week, and stay open from nine to five o'clock. Nevertheless, many people still work late, until eight in the evening. Like many people throughout Spain, Madrilenos eat dinner late, usually between 10p.m. and midnight, and theatres and cinemas begin performances late. The local style is to keep late hours, especially in the summer. During the hot months of July and August, the temperature is often over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit, or thirty-eight degrees Celsius. But Madrilenos have a variety of ways to stay cool. For example, they stroll up and down the streets or sit and talk at outdoor cafes; they can also go to discos that have an outdoor swimming pool.
Madrid has many attractions. Soccer is the most popular sport in Madrid, and the city has two major soccer teams. In addition, the largest bullring in Spain is located in Madrid. It's called Las Ventas, and it's the place where all novice bullfighters get their start. And, of course, there are world-famous art museums, such as the Prado Museum, which is the home of masterworks by artists such as El Greco and Goya.
A. Do you remember what the speaker says on each of these topics?
population
industry
life-style
weather
entertainment
B. Speak about Madrid, the capital of Spain.
C. Choose an interesting city or place to give a talk on. Speak about the cost of living, employment, housing, industry, location, population, size, weather, etc. Be ready to answer any questions about the place you are talking about.
Mr Brown in Edinburgh
Mr Brown was in Edinburgh on business for his bank. He had caught a train from King's Cross Station in London at ten o'clock that morning and now he had arrived in Edinburgh. It was five o'clock in the evening. He had enjoyed a comfortable journey and had had a good lunch on the train. He had booked a room at the Queen's Hotel a few days before, so when he got out of the train at Waverley Station, he took a taxi straight to the hotel.
When he got to the hotel he signed the book, the clerk told him the number of his room and the porter gave him his key. He went up to the third floor in the lift and the lift-boy showed him to his room. It was a comfortable room with a good bed. That night Mr Brown slept well until the maid brought him some tea at seven-thirty next morning.
Mr Brown had not been in Edinburgh for many years, and he was looking forward to seeing the city again. So when he had finished breakfast he decided to go for a walk before keeping his first appointment at 11 o'clock. He came out from his hotel into Princess Street, one of the widest and most beautiful streets in the world. It has fine shops on one side and gardens on the other, with Edinburgh Castle high on its Rock and Arthur's Seat beyond. The Scots are very proud of their capital city. As Mr Brown walked along, he remembered some of the exciting events that had happened here and some of the great men who had walked along these same streets the things they had done, and the books they had written. He was surprised when he looked at his watch and saw that it was almost eleven.
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His first appointment was with an old friend John Macdonald, the manager of the Edinburgh branch of his bank. Mr Macdonald
spent some time showing him round the city. During the three days he was there, Mr Brown saw most of the places of interest. He visited St Giles' Cathedral and the royal palace which is called Holyroodhouse; he walked along the narrow streets of Old Edinburgh and up to the grey castle. He found, too, that Edinburgh does not live only in the past. New Edinburgh has modem houses and wide streets. His friend told him that every year in September a Music and Drama Festival is held, to which people come from all over the world; new plays can be seen and new music can be heard, and visitors can meet people from other countries and talk about the things that interest them.
When at the end of his visit, he sat in the train which was carrying him south to London he made up his mind that he must come back soon to spend a holiday in this city in which the past comes so close to the present.
A. Ask and answer questions on the text.
B. Take turns asking each other about an interesting city or place you have visited. Use these questions or other questions of your own.
What's an interesting city or place you have visited? How big is it? What's the weather like there? Is there much unemployment? And what about industry? What's the transportation like? Is there any pollution there? What's the cost of living like? What kind of housing do people have? Are rents expensive? What can you do there? Are there many tourist attractions? What's good to buy there? What's the nightlife like? What else do you like about it?
C. Write about your trip to an interesting city or place.
Small Towns and big Cities
Today, people all over the world are moving out of small towns in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.
In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories or
businesses have been built in or near a city, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area nearby, where the factory workers can live. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and stores, so more people come to live in the area to provide these services and so a city grows.
In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this is usually in the downtown area of the city. It is here that you can see the huge skyscrapers containing many floors of offices. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial and business areas. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big yards. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores in shopping malls where you can buy all you need.
But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Maybe not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns.
A. Decide whether these statements are true or false according to the passage.
1. Many people from small towns go to live in big cities.
2. Urban areas contain mainly hills, mountains, rivers and streams.
3. Many people go to live in urban areas to find work.
4. Factories are built inside residential areas.
5. Business districts are usually in the downtown area of the city.
6. Workers often live in skyscrapers in the suburbs.
7. The suburbs of a city usually contain more trees and parks than the downtown areas.
8. The movement from country to city will definitely continue in the future.
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B. 1. Do you live in a rural area, a town, or a big city? 2. Where would you like to live? Why?
Living in the City
Living in a city has both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it is often easier to find work, and there is usually a choice of public transport, so you don't need to own a car. Also, there are a lot of interesting things to do and places to see. For example, you can eat in good restaurants, visit museums, and go to the theatre and to concerts. What is more, when you want to relax, you can feed the ducks or just sit on a park bench and read a book. All in all, city life is full of bustle and variety and you need never feel bored.
However, for every plus there is a minus. For one thing, you might have a job, but unless it is very well-paid, you will not be able to afford many of the things that there are to do, because living in a city is often very expensive. It is particularly difficult to find good, cheap accommodation. What is more, public transport is sometimes crowded and dirty, particularly in the rush hour, and even the parks can become very crowded, especially on Sundays when it seems that every city-dweller is looking for some open space and green grass. Last of all, despite all the crowds, it is still possible to feel very lonely in a city. In conclusion, I think that city life can be particularly appealing to young people, who like the excitement of the city and don't mind the noise and pollution. However, many people, when they get older, and particularly when they have young children, often prefer the peace and fresh air of the countryside.
A. Ask and answer questions on the text.
B. Give the synonymous words from the text to the following:
in spite of pros and cons
another point is that one advantage is that all things considered for instance to sum up in my opinion
one disadvantage is that especially
moreover finally
C. 1. Do you live and/or work in a city? Is it very big? How many advantages and disadvantages of city life can you think of?
Write them down.
2. Write about the pros and cons of living in the country.
3. Discussion: Advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city and in the country.
4. Write a few lines about your hometown
Conversation Practice Listen, read and practise.
1.
My hometown.
Woman: So tell me about your hometown, Joyce.
Joyce: Well, it's a real small town...
Woman: Really? What's it like there?
Joyce: Oh, I think it's a very boring place.
Woman: Why?
Joyce: Well, there's nothing exciting to do. No good restaurants. No nightlife of any kind. I really get bored there.
Woman: Oh, that's too bad.
Joyce: Yeah, but lots of people love it there because it's so pretty.
Woman: Yeah?
Joyce: Uh-huh. It has lovely scenery lots of mountains, rivers, lakes, trees...
Woman: Well, I don't know, Joyce, it sounds like a nice place!
Joyce: Well, yeah, if you like to go hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. But, you know, I'm not the outdoor type! I'm a real city person!
2.
Woman: Do you come from a big city, Lou?
Lou: Oh, yes, I do. It's pretty big.
Woman: What's it like there?
Lou: Oh, it's a really great place! It has some fantastic art museums, and wonderful theatres, and terrific restaurants of all kinds... like Greek, Russian, French, Thai, Japanese...
Woman: Ah... really? And how are the prices? Is it expensive?
Lou: Yeah, yeah, I guess so. Food costs a lot... both in the supermarket and in restaurants. And apartments!
They're so hard to find... and the rents are pretty high. Woman: Yeah, I guess it's expensive everywhere these days.
3.
Man: Hey, Nick. Are you going home for the holidays?
Nick: No way!
Man: Oh, why not?
Nick: I don't like my hometown. Too many people, too many buildings, too many factories. It's big and it's ugly! IH-" ke places that are small and quiet. Like here!
Man: Is your hometown as bad as that?
Nick: Yes, it's pretty bad. It doesn't even have any good restaurants.
Man: No, c'mon, Nick! No interesting theatres or nightlife?
Nick: No, not really.
Man: It sounds like a terrible place.
Nick: Yeah, it really is.
A. What do they say? Write Yes or No.
Interesting Big Expensive Beautiful 1.Joyce 2. Lou 3.Nick
B. Talk about your hometown. Ask questions like these and other questions of your own.
What's your city or hometown like? Is it an interesting place? Is it safe? What's shopping like there? Is it expensive? Is the transportation good? Does it have good restaurants? What are the things you like most about your hometown? What are the things you don't like about it?
C. Have a conversation about your hometown.
4.
Linda: Whereabouts in Canada are you from?
Steve: I'm from Toronto.
Linda: I've never been there. What's it like?
Steve: It's a great city! It has good museums and wonderful
restaurants. And the nightlife is exciting, too. Linda: Really? Is it expensive there? Steve: Well, it's not bad, but apartments are fairly expensive. Linda: Toronto sounds like a nice place. I've heard it has a
good subway.
Steve: Oh, yeah. It's excellent. And the buses are good, too. Linda: And what about shopping? Steve: There are some great shopping centres and department
stores. Do you know the Euton Centre? Linda: The Euton Centre? No. What's that? Steve: Huh! It's one of the biggest shopping centres in the
world. It has everything, and the prices are pretty good,
too.
Linda: Well, I hope some day I'll get a chance to go there. Steve: I hope so, too. If you ever go, I'll show you around the
city...
Linda: You will? Great! Thanks! Steve: OK.
A. Questions
1. Where is Steve from? 2. What does Steve think of Toronto? 3. What does Steve say about the transportation and shopping in Toronto?
B. What places of interest would you show your foreign guest if she/he came to your hometown?
C. Situation: Your friend from London has come to your hometown. At the moment you are showing him/her around the town. You are a good guide, you know your hometown very well.
5.
Andy: Whereabouts are you from, Carla?
Carla: I'm from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Andy: Oh? What's it like there?
Carla: Well, it's a beautiful little tourist town, and the climate's great. Actually, it's a centre for American Indian culture, and there are also lots of artists there. Georgia O'Keeffe, the famous painter, used to live there.
Andy: Really? It sounds like an interesting place! I'd like to go there sometime.
Carla: Yeah, you'd enjoy it, Andy. And whereabouts in England are you from, Andy?
Andy: I'm from Bath.
Carla: Really? Where's that?
Andy: It's near Bristol. It takes about an hour and a half to get there by train from London.
Carla: You know, I've always wondered why it's called "Bath". How did you get that name?
Andy: Because of its famous hot springs. Throughout history, people have gone there to bathethat's why it's called
Bath. Carla: Ah! Is it an old city, then?
Andy: Oh, yes. In fact, it's an old Roman city, with lots of lovely old stone buildings.
Carla: Andy, it sounds really interesting! I'd love to visit Bath some day.
Andy: Well, just let me know when you plan to come and my family and I'll take care of you.
Carla: Really? Thanks! And I'd do the same for you if you ever visit my hometown of Santa Fe.
Andy: OK, then, that's a deal!
A. Questions
1. Where is Carla from? 2. What's it like there? 3. Where is Andy from? 4. Where is Bath? 5. How did it get that name? 6. Is Bath a new or an old city?
B. Take turns talking about your favourite city. Talk about it like this and answer any questions other students may have.
My favourite city in North America is Santa Fe. It's in New Mexico. It's an old city with lots of interesting Spanish and Indian buildings. It's fairly small, and it's really beautiful...
'What's Mexico like?
David: Can you tell me a little about Mexico? Maria: Yes, sure. What would you like to know? David: Well, when's the best time to visit? Maria: Mmm, you should go in the winter or spring. The weather is nice then. It's not very hot.
David: Really? And does Mexico have good beaches?
Maria: Yes, the beaches are excellent.
David: Oh, good! And what places should I see?
Maria: Well, you should go to Mexico City. And you shouldn't
miss the Mayan ruins. They are very interesting. David: Great! I can't wait to go there.
A. Questions
1. When is the best time to visit Mexico? Why? 2. What are the beaches like? 3. What is worth seeing?
Tell Me about Brazil
Man: I'm thinking of going to Brazil next year, Maria.
Maria: Oh, great! I'm sure you'll have a good time.
Man: What places do tourists visit in Brazil?
Maria: Well, a lot of people go to Rio for Carnival. And nowadays, lots of people are visiting the Amazon to take river trips.
Man: Oh, really? That sounds interesting. And when's a good time to visit?
Maria: Well, I like Rio in the spring or fall because it's not too hot then.
Man: And what other cities are worth visiting in Brazil?
Maria: Well, I'd suggest Brasilia first.
Man: OK.
Maria: It's been the capital city of Brazil since nineteen sixty...
Man: Uh-huh.
Maria: It's not very big, but very, very modern. The architecture is very interesting. Most of the buildings were designed by Niemeier, a famous Brazilian architect.
Man: It sounds really interesting.
Maria: Yeah, it really is... and then there's Sao Paulo.
Man: Oh? Tell me about that.
Maria: It's the biggest city in Brazil and an important commercial centre. So lots of people go there on business... and there are not too many tourists.
Man: Oh! That's good!
Maria: It is! The restaurants are excellent great food and nightlife in Sao Paulo is out of this world!
Man: Sao Paulo really sounds great! You know, actually, I'd be very interested in seeing an old city, too. Uhm... where would you suggest?
Maria: Mmm... I think you'd enjoy Salvador in Bahia. It's on the northeast coast of Brazil and it's Brazil's oldest city.
Man: Oh-huh.
Maria: It has a lot of beautiful old Portuguese architecture, and it's also the centre of African culture in Brazil.
Man: Really?
Maria: And the food! My gosh, it's so good! Spicy, but delicious!
Man: Oh, I love spicy food. It sounds really interesting. I can't wait to go there! Do you know a good travel agent?
A. Ask and answer questions on the text.
B. A visitor wants information about your country. What places do tourists like to visit? Why? Roleplay a conversation like the one above.
Execellent Suggestions
Alex: You've been to Paris, haven't you?
Brian: Yes. As a matter of fact, I used to live in Paris.
Alex: Well, I'm planning to visit there soon. I was wondering if you could recommend some things to do.
Brian: Sure. You should definitely go to Notre Dame Cathedral. You also ought to see the Palace of Versailles. And you must visit the Louvre.
Alex: Those sound like excellent suggestions. Can you recommend any good places to eat?
Brian: Yes. Make it a point to eat at "Maxim's". And if you go there, I suggest that you order the duck. It's delicious.
Alex: That sounds good.
Brian: Oh, and one more thing. Be sure to have someone take your picture in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Alex: I'll do that.
Brian: Is there anything else I can tell you about?
Alex: I don't think so. You've been very helpful. Thanks a lot.
Brian: Send me a postcard, will you?
Alex: Okay.
A. Ask and answer questions.
B. Give a brief account of the conversation.
C. Roleplay the conversation.
D. Situation: Your friend has come to your hometown. /she wants to go sightseeing. You are telling your friend what is worth Seeing.
Going Places
Mike is planning to visit London. He is asking a Londoner for advice.
Mike: So, Mary, where are you from?
Mary: Well, I'm from Holland, originally... but now I live in
London. Mike: Oh, really? You know, I'm planning to go to London
on vacation some time next year. What time of the year
is best for sightseeing? Mary: Well... you should go either in spring or in autumn. You
see the weather is quite nice and warm then... Mike: Ah! Mary: In winter, it's just too cold and wet and in summer there
are too many tourists.
Mike: I see. And what do you think I should see in the city? Mary: Well, you must go to the theatre. Mike: Of course!
Mary: There are lots of West End shows... Mike: Mm hmm. Mary: You know, musicals... drama... Mike: Sounds great! What about other cultural events? Mary: Well, there's dance... ballet, modern dance, lots of international companies... Mike: Brilliant! Mary: and opera... and some very good London orchestras...
and often international ones, too. Mike: Uh-huh. What museums should I see? Mary: Well, you ought to see the British Museum a^d the
National Gallery. Mike: Yes.
: And then there's the Tate, if you like modern art. Mike: Definitely!.
Mary: They're all wonderful! And you must sample the restaurants!
Mike: Of course! Mary: Londoners love eating all different kinds of food... Greek...
Chinese... Indonesian... Thai... Mike: Can't wait!
Mary:...and some of them are really cheap! Mike: Good.
Mary: And then, of course, you should see the usual sight. seeing attractions... The Tower of London... StPaul's Cathedral... Big Ben... Mike:...and Oxford Street? Mary: Well, Oxford Street isn't very exciting these days. Soho
is much more interesting...
Mike: But is it true that... I mean, everyone says Soho is dangerous...
Mary: I don't think so, really. Mike: No?
Mary: It's not nearly as bad as you see on TV and in films. But all the same you shouldn't carry too much money on you, or walk around by yourself very late at night anywhere... just like in any other big city. Make: That makes sense! Thanks for the advice, Mary. I'm sure I'll have a great time.
. Questions
1. What time of the year is best for sightseeing in London? Why?
2. What is worth seeing in London?
B. Has anyone in your group visited an interesting country or city? Find out more about it. Start like this and ask questions like the ones below.
A: I visited Spain last summer. B: Did you enjoy it?
What's the best time of the year to visit? What's the weather like then?
What should tourists see and do there? What's the food like? What's the shopping like? What things should people buy? What else should visitors do there?
C. Situation: You have returned from a foreign country. Your friend is going to that country in a week. /she is asking you about the things to see and do there.
D. What are the most popular cities and places in your country for foreign visitors? What are the three places you would most like to visit in the world?
E. Bring to class the pictures of a city you visited. Tell your classmates about the city.
F. How many capital cities have you been to? Which do you like the most/the least? Why?
G. What are the problems facing the capital cities that you know? What is being done about these problems?
//. Think of a place you have visited recently or which you would like to visit soon. Imagine you are there now. Write a postcard to your friend. Be sure to cover all these points:
a) Say where you are and describe something you have seen or done.
b) What are your impressions of this place?
c) What do you like or dislike about it?
d) What are you looking forward to doing?
e) Think of a few words to write at the end.
Listening
A Quiet life
When Mr Brown retired, he bought a small cottage in a seaside village. The cottage was built in fifteen eighty eight, but was in very good condition. Mr Brown was looking forward to a quiet life, but in the summer holidays he got a shock. Hundreds of tourists came to the seaside village. Mr Brown's cottage was the most
interesting building in the village and many of the tourists came to see it. From morning till night there were tourists outside the cottage. They kept looking through the windows and many of them even went into Mr Brown's garden. This was too much for Mr Brown. He decided to drive the unwelcome visitors away, so he put a notice in the window. The notice said: "If you want to satisfy your curiosity, come in and look round. Price: ten pence." Mr Brown was sure that the visitors would stop coming but he was wrong. The number of the visitors increased and Mr Brown spent every day showing them round the cottage. "I came here to retire, not to work as a guide," he complained. In the end, he sold the cottage and bought a small modern house. It is an uninteresting little place and no one wants to see it. But it is certainly quiet and peaceful.
A. Questions
1. When was Mr Brown's cottage built? 2. Why had Mr Brown bought it? 3. Where was the cottage? 4. Why didn't Mr Brown like living there? 5. How did Mr Brown try to stop the visitors from coming? 6. What did Mr Brown do with the cottage? 7. What did he buy? 8. Why is he pleased with his small modern house?
Scottish Humour
A Scottish gentleman was spending his holidays in Vienna. The town was very beautiful and his guide was a very beautiful young lady too. She was his guide in the town and in the country. "I will have the best memories of her," he thought. Before he left he decided to give her some present to thank her for her kindness. He wanted to be sure that the present was something that she'd like. And he asked her what present she'd like best of all. "You know very well," she said, "that I like to look beautiful and to put on beautiful things. Give me something for my neck, for my fingers or for my ears." Next morning the Scottish gentleman appeared with a present. A diamond ring? A golden bracelet? No, it was a piece of soap.
A. Questions
1. Where was the Scottish gentleman spending his holidays? 2. Who was his guide? 3. Did he like her? 4. What did he decide to do to thank her for her kindness? 5. What present did the girl want to have? 6. What did the Scottish gentleman give her?
The Mayor's Order
Long ago, when there were no street lamps in towns and cities, the mayor of a town ordered the people not to go out without lanterns. The next night he met a man in a street and said to him, "Do you know my order?" "Yes, I do," answered the man. "But you have no lantern," said the mayor. "Yes, I have," said the man. "But there is no candle in your lantern," said the mayor. "The order said nothing about candles," answered the man.
The next day the people of the town learnt a new order. The order said that people must put candles in their lanterns. In the evening the mayor met the same man. "Where is your lantern?" he asked. "Here it is," said the man and showed his lantern to the mayor. "But there is no candle in if," cried the mayor. "There is," said the man and showed the candle. "But you didn't light your candle," cried the angry mayor. "The order did not say that we must light the candles."
So the mayor gave a new order. It said that the people must light candles in their lanterns.
Reading
London
London has been a capital city for nearly a thousand years, and many of its ancient buildings still stand. The most famous of these are the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral, but most visitors also want to see the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace (the Queen's London home) and the many magnificent museums.
Once, London was a small Roman town on the north bank of the Thames, but slowly it grew into one of the world's major cities with more than eight million people. Fewer people live in the centre now, but the suburbs are still growing.
Places now in the heart of London, like Westminster, once stood in the middle of green fields. Many small villages, like Hampstead, Chelsea and Mayfair, became part of London, but they still keep some of their old atmosphere. Different areas of London seem like different cities. The West End is a rich man's world of shops, offices and theatres. The old port area is now
called "Docklands". The great ships have gone, and the area is changing very fast. There are huge new office buildings and thousands of new flats and houses.
Other parts of London are changing, too. Some of the poorer areas have become fashionable, and people with more money are
moving into them.
A hundred years ago, the river was crowded with ships, leaving for Java and Japan, New Zealand and New York, but now people travel by air, and London's main airport, Heathrow, is one of the
busiest in the world.
Like all big cities, London has streets and concrete buildings, but it also has many big parks, full of trees, flowers and grass. These parks are both in the centre of the city and further out. It is the central parks which are the most famous.
St James's Park was first opened 450 years ago. It is very close to Buckingham Palace, and to the government offices in Whitehall. St James's Park is one often royal parks in and around London which are owned by the Crown but are open to the public free of charge. It is very attractive, with a long, narrow lake, which is occupied by ducks and other water birds.
Each park has its own character. Hyde Park, for example, was originally a hunting forest and is still popular with horseriders. Now it's famous for the Serpentine the lake, and for Speakers' Corner, where you can listen to people giving their views on a variety of topics to anyone who will listen.
Kensington Gardens is next to Hyde Park, and it is very popular with both the old and the young. On warmer days there are always people at the Round Pond, where they come to sail their model
boats.
Regent's Park, which was originally a hunting park, is now the home of London Zoo, and an open air theatre which delights summer audiences with performances of Shakespeare's plays.
Many people live outside the centre of London in the suburbs, and they travel to work in the shops and offices by train, bus or underground. The trains are full and expensive and the roads are crowded with cars, but every day a million people make the journey. Some people come from far out of London, even from the coast, and spend up to four hours travelling every day.
Most people work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 8 until 10 every morning, and 4.30 to 6.30 every evening, the trains are crowded
with people, and after the morning "rush hour" the shoppers come. By day the whole of London is busy. At night, the offices are quiet and empty, but the West End stays alive, because this is where Londoners come to enjoy themselves. There are two opera houses here, several concert halls and many theatres, as well as cinemas, and in nearby Soho the pubs, restaurants and nightclubs are busy half the night.
Many people think that London is all grey, but in fact red is London's favourite colour. The buses are red, the letter boxes are red and the mail vans are all bright, bright red. London is at its best when people are celebrating. Then the flags, the soldiers' uniforms, the cheering crowds and the carriages and horses all sparkle in the sunshine if it's not raining, of course!
London has many large department stores, which sell everything: shoes and shirts, paper and perfume, footballs and frying pans. The most expensive department store is Harrods in Knight-sbridge. You can buy almost anything in Harrods, and you know you're getting the best.
The smartest and most expensive shops are in Knightsbridge, but more people come to Oxford Street, London's most popular shopping centre. Most of the hundreds of shops sell clothes or shoes. The street is more than a mile long. There are several big department stores in Oxford Street. The best known are Selfridges, John Lewis and Marks and Spencer.
Oxford Street has the most shops, but in some ways King's Road in Chelsea is more fun. This is where fashionable young Londoners buy their clothes in the many small "boutiques".
You can buy what you like in the big shops, but the small markets have a lot to offer too. There are several big street markets in London, and many small ones. Some markets are open only one day a week. Go to Portobello Road on Saturday, or to Petticoat Lane on Sunday. Covent Garden market is open every day. Come here for antiques, old clothes, hand-made jewellery and many other rather special things.
British restaurants have not always been famous for their good food. Too often, they offered only fried food and chips with everything. But now, healthy food is in fashion and so is international cooking.
The British have taken good ideas from all over the world. You can eat Chinese, Indian, French, Italian and Greek food in
any big city, and in London there's a fantastic variety of restaurants.
Most British families only go to restaurants on special occasions, like birthdays, or wedding anniversaries. The restaurants' best customers are business people, who meet in them to talk business in a relaxed atmosphere away from the telephone. They can eat what they like because the company pays the bill! But when a man and a woman want to get to know each other better, they often go out to a restaurant together. After all, it's easier to talk in a quiet atmosphere, with soft music, wine and good food.
For visitors to London, eating out can be fun. Try Rules in the West End. The traditional menu and decor are just like they were in Queen Victoria's day, a hundred years ago. Or take a walk round Soho or Covent Garden where there are dozens of small restaurants.
But if you want that special London feeling, go to the Ritz in Piccadilly for tea any afternoon at about half past four. Too expensive? Then try England's favourite food fish and chips. Take it away and eat it where you like in the park, on the bus or while you walk down the street. That's what Londoners do!
Self check
I. First read these rather gloomy comments made by an unhappy town resident.
"Recently they've built a lot of skyscraper blocks here. I think they've made the town look ugly. And they're going to build more. They're going to demolish an area of terraced houses, and build flats, offices, a car park and a shopping area. In fact, when I walked past the area yesterday they were demolishing the first house. They're destroying the town, these council planners. People have sent in hundreds of protests, but it hasn't had any effect. They've taken their decision, and that's that. They're destroying the quality of life in the town."
Now, basing your answers on the passage, finish the sentences below, using the passive.
Example
More skyscraper blocks...
Answer
More skyscraper blocks are going to be built.
1. A lot of skyscraper blocks... 2. The town... 3. An area of terraced houses... 4. A shopping area... 5. When I walked past the area... 6. The town... by these council planners. 7. Hundreds of protests... 8. Their decision... 9. The quality of life in the town...
II. Insert the correct articles (if necessary).
Black Gold
A. For many years Aberdeen has been one of (1) most important towns in (2) Scotland. On (3) north-east coast, it has been important for (4) fishing and for its port for (5) long time. (6) Forestry, (7) paper-making and (8) textiles are also important, and so is (9) manufacture of (10) whisky.
In some ways it is similar to many other towns. But there is more. It has (11) old and famous university, one of (12) oldest in (13) Europe (1494), and some of (14) best scenery on (15) British Isles.
In 1969 Britain produced its first oil from (16) North Sea. Since then Aberdeen has changed. Between 1969 and 1981 (17) oil and gas industry brought more than 500 new companies into (18) city. Since (19) start of (20) oil industry (21) harbour has become larger and much busier.
For (22) last fifteen years or more Aberdeen has been (23) international city. You can hear (24) Americans and (25) Europeans in (26) shops and (27) hotels. (28) number of (29) air passengers has increased 540 per cent since 1973, and (30) port is (31) biggest in (32) world.
Since 1494 this city of (33) quarter of (34) million people has been (35) educational centre. It is now also (36) industrial and entertainment centre for (37) north-east Scotland, and more than that, it's (38) oil capital of (39) Europe.
B. Jim Stewart is returning to Aberdeen after twenty years. His old school friend meets him at (1) airport.
Jim: Am I in (2) wrong place? This doesn't look like (3) old airport. What's happened?
Friend: Eh, you've been away for several years, Jim. Since they
found (4) oil this place hasn't been (5) same. Jim: Ah, but you haven't changed a bit! Friend: I've got (6) bit less hair and (7) few more inches around
(8) waist. Mary's (9) good cook. Here, let's getyour bags... Jim: That building's new, isn't it? Friend: Yes, it's one of (10) new oil companies. It's been there
since, oh, I forgot (11) date. Anyway, for quite (12) long
time.
Jim: It's fantastic! Friend: Oh, I remember now. 1971. It's been there since about '71.
It was (13) old cinema before that. Jim: Oh, I remember that cinema. I took Fiona there...
