There are a lot of places of interest in London. One of them is the Tower of London. Thousand of tourists visit it every year to see the Crown Jewels and the famous Beefeaters**. There is not only one tower of
the site. You can notice several towers with different names: the White Tower, the Bloody Tower, the Green Tower and others. There is much to see in the Tower of London. Natasha and Jane are there now.
Natasha: Well Theres so much history here. Everything is so impressive, almost terrifying.
Jane: Exactly. Lets have another look at the White Tower, which is 900 years old.
Natasha: And who are those men in the striking uniforms, Jane?
Jane: You see, those are the beefeaters, the wardens. There are a lot of them here. I suggest coming here tonight. A very interesting ceremony will take place at 10 oclock here. The Ceremony of the Keys**.
Natasha: Very well, lets come tonight. There must be very many stories about the Tower.
Jane: Oh, sure! Quite a lot. Generally speaking there are also a lot of books and films about it; and they are about English kings and queens at the same time. And the Tower Bridge Isnt it beautiful?
Natasha: Certainly its beautiful and quite unique in design. And as far as I know Tower Bridge is the most spectacular of the bridges crossing the river Thames. The roadway is raised to allow the ships to pass through.
Jane: It goes without saying. But there are lots of bridges over the Thames and they are all different. I suppose wed better make a trip on the Thames in one of the water buses one of these days instead of wandering about the city.
Natasha: Thats a good idea! And how many palaces are there in London, Jane? One?
Jane: You must be joking! There are two main ones Buckingham Palace and St. Jamess Palace and also there is Kensington Palace with the Russian embassy quite near.
Natasha: I think the palaces are far from each other, arent they?
Jane: They are rather. But you should see them all, all the same. Theres a lot to see. In Buckingham Palace there is the Queens picture gallery and in Kensington Palace the London museum.
Natasha: Oh, how interesting!
Tasks: 1. Read the dialogue and translate it.
2. Retell the dialogue, as if you were one of the participants.
3. Reproduce the dialogue.
Dialogue B.
Chernov, an engineer of the Russian Trade Delegation, met Borisov at the airport and took him to the Embassy Hotel, which is in the centre of London near Hyde Park. On the way to the hotel some things impressed Borisov: bright advertisements, red London buses (double-deckers), left-hand traffic and terraced houses**.
Chernov: Good afternoon!
Receptionist: Good afternoon, sir. What can I do for you?
Chernov: Im from the Russian Trade Delegation. We have reserved accommodation for Mr. Borisov at your hotel.
Receptionist: Wait a minute please. Ill check it. Yes, thats right. One single room, with private bath from today. The room is on the third floor. No 301.
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Chernov: Thank you.
Receptionist: Will Mr. Borisov check in?
Borisov: What shall I write here?
Receptionist: Your name and address, please. (Borisov fills in the form.)
Thank you, Mr. Borisov. Heres your key.
(Now Chernov and Borisov are in the room.)
Borisov: Ive only caught a glimpse of London on the way to the hotel. But frankly speaking this city has made a great impression on me.
Chernov: Yes. They say one cant judge about the country without being in London and I entirely agree London is the largest and the most beautiful city all over the world.
Borisov: You are quite right. So in such a case there must be many interesting places to see.
Chernov: Of course! Here are some photos. Look! This is Madam Tussauds museum.
Borisov: I see, but what is it?
Chernov: Oh, you dont know? Shame on you! Madam Tussauds has one of the largest collections of wax models of famous people in the world.
Borisov: You dont say so! I should never have thought that such things can exist. Its very exiting!
Chernov: And have you ever heard about Canary Wharf? Its a huge business complex on the north bank of the River Thames. Its served by its own railway.
Borisov: I must confess that the more I learn about London the more I am astonished. But look! I believe this castle is the largest one in the world.
Chernov: Its Windsor Castle, that is a famous home of Queen Elizabeth II of England. You see there are many sights and memorial places a visitor will want to see. But to tell the truth I have no time and I must go. See you later.
Borisov: See you.
Task: Read the dialogue and translate it.
Dialogue C.
A: Im afraid of failing the exam in history.
B: Why? You cant be serious! You are a top student.
A: Thats one way of looking at it. But I dont remember the history of London at all. Neither history nor modern time.
B: Oh! Cheep up! Ill help you. I think what you need is to collect your wits.
A: Of course! But Im so excited and thats why everything has slipped out of my mind.
B: OK! Lets begin with
Task: Complete the dialogue, using the text
Explanatory Notes.
AD anno domini (.) .
Cockney ,, -.
The people of the Abyss -
Beefeaters , .
Edward the Confessor -, .
The Ceremony of the Keys .
Terraced houses , .
Vocabulary
1) a conqueror ee
2) to found
3) to defeat , e ee
4) to suffer
5) to survive
6) a heap of ashes e
7) to insist on
8) winding
9) to associate with
10) slums
11) an abyss e
12) an entertainment ee
13) to destroy
14) a crypt e
15) a chapel , e
16) to save ,
17) a tower
18) royal e
19) a burial ground e, e ee
20) a sovereign
21) a fortress e
22) a prison
23) a cathedral
24) a church e
25) a raven
26) to settle e
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27) to fortify
28) to turn into e
29) impressive e
30) a warden e
31) an embassy
32) spectacular
33) to pass through eee
34) on the way to e
35) a double-decker
36) left-hand traffic eee ee
37) to catch a glimpse of something e - e
38) to make an impression on somebody e eee
39) wax
40) huge
41) a wharf ,
42) a castle
43) financial
44) commercial ee
45) to be famous for e e-
46) a column
47) a statue
48) a fountain
49) an abbey
50) a palace e
51) bright advertisements
Conversational formulas:
It goes without saying ee.
Thats one way of looking at it .
Frankly speaking e .
You dont say so !
