Text I Read the text, translate it

              A Few Facts from the History of Big Cities

London, the capital of Great Britain, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. When Julius Caesar crossed the English Channel and invaded Britain as far as the Thames in the middle of the first century B.C., people had already settled there and were living on both sides of the river.

Like many other very old cities, London was never planned. It grew around two centers – a fort the Romans built on one bank of the Thаmes, and an abbey, founded later on the other bank. As time went by, the place round the Roman fort developed into the City of London the country’s business center, the abbey is now known as Westminster Abbey.

By the middle of the first century A.D. London had already been in existence for about a hundred years. Road leading to other towns had changed into streets market grounds became squares.

At about the same time, in the year 1147, in a part of the world Londoners had never heard of, a town was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky on a site which he chose for its beauty and convenient in the middle of a magnificent forest, on the bank of a river called the Moskva. The river gave its name to the city which later, became the capital of the Russian state. When the first trade contacts were established between England and Russia, the English pronounced the name of the Russian capital their own way Muscovy. From this comes the modern Muscovite, a person living in Moscow.

Like London, Moscow was never planned. It grew up around its center, which had been surrounded by a wooden wall by the first residents. The wooden wall was later replaced by a brick one, and palaces, cathedrals and churches were built inside it, forming what is now known as the Kremlin.

Unlike old cities, such as London or Moscow, that grew by themselves, without any preliminary architectural plans, cities built later were planned by architects before construction started.

The best example of a Russian city built according to a plan is St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great. He wanted to found a new capital for his new Russia, and for this purpose chose a territory on the Baltic Sea that had been taken over by Russia after a war with Sweden. It was a swampy land on which it was extremely difficult to build anything, but a convenient place for a port that could give Russia an outlet to the seas and other countries. The city was built in the record time but it required an enormous effort and cost a large number of human lives. The city is famous for its wonderful planning, and its magnificent palaces, monuments, cathedrals, and other places of interest.

Find English equivalents in the text

в середине первого века до нашей эры;

подобно многим другим очень старым городам;

со временем, с течением времени;

деловой центр страны;

то, что известно сейчас, как…;

к середине первого века нашей эры;

примерно в то же самое время;

выбрал это место за его красоту и удобное расположение;

когда были установлены первые торговые связи;

произносим названия по-своему;

без предварительного плана;

с этой целью;

выход к морям;

в рекордные сроки;

это потребовало больших усилий;

славится замечательной планировкой;

Answer the questions

1)When did Julius Caesar invade the British Isles?

2)Were any people already living there at that time?

3)Did the Romans find any human settlement on the Thames?

4)Was London built according to an architectural plan?

5)Did it grow around only one center like most cities?

6)Do you think the Thames played an important part in its development?

7)Which city is older, London or Moscow?

8)How long had London been in existence when Moscow was founded?

9)Who was Moscow founded by?

10)How can you describe the place chosen for the construction of Moscow?

11)When were the first trade and diplomatic contact established between Russia and England?

12)What was built inside the wall and outside?

13)Why did Peter the Great want a new capital for Russia?

14)Why did the construction of St. Petersburg require enormous effort?

15)What can you say about the location of St. Petersburg?

16)What is St. Petersburg famous for?

17)Have you ever been there?

 1.8 Find the beginnings in the text

1)… people had already settled there and were living on both sides of the river.

2)… the abbey is now known as Westminster Abbey.

3)… on the bank of the river called the Moskva.

4)… which had been surrounded by a wooden wall by the first residents.

5)… is St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great.

6)… that could give Russia an outlet to the seas and other countries.

 1.9 Ask your friend

- if he has been to London;

- whether London grew around two centers;

- if Muscovite is a person living in Moscow;

- if the center of Moscow had been surrounded by a brick wall;

- whether St. Petersburg was built without a preliminary plan;

- whether Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg;

  2 Conversational Exercises

 2.1 Read and dramatize the dialogues

A.: According to the map, the museum isn’t very far from here.

B.: Let me have a look. Well, it’s most definitely somewhere down this road, but it may be a long walk. Look! There’s a policeman, let’s ask him.

A.: Excuse me, officer, can you tell us the way to the Museum of Modern Art?

P.: Certainly. Walk down this road to the third traffic light, cross the museum. It’s opposite the City Bank.

A.: Thank you very much. Is it a very long walk? Would it be a better idea to take the bus?

P.: Well. I don’t think so. It isn’t very far.

A.: Thanks again.

P.: Not at all.

 2.2 Read and dramatize the dialogues

A.: Excuse me, how do I get to Albert Road?

B.: Albert Road? Let me see… take the 24^th bus. The stop is over there across the road. The 24^th will take you as far as the New City Library. Get off there, and change to the 15^th bus, it will take you to Albert Road.

A.: Thank you ever so.

B.: That’s all right.

 2.3 К вам на улице подошел иностранец и попытался задать вам вопрос, пользуясь русско-английским разговорником. Узнав, что вы говорите по-английски, он попросил объяснить ему, как пройти к одной из достопримечательностей вашего города.

 2.4 Вы находитесь в Лондоне. Вам необходимо попасть из Лондонского Тауэра /5O/ в Сент-Джеймский парк /6G/. Пользуясь картой Лондона (см. Приложение), опишите свой маршрут.

  2.5 Из Лондонского Зоопарка /1Е/ доберитесь до Трафальгарской площади /5I/.

 2.6 Опишите один из возможных маршрутов от Музея Шерлока Холмса /2D/ до Вестминстерского Аббатства /7I/.

Taking a Taxi

London taxis carry meters indicating the fare to be paid. Drivers must charge the metered fare for the all journeys, within the London police districts, regardless of duration and distance, and including journeys to and from London airport Heathrow. Taxi drivers expect to be tipped for all journeys.

       2.8 Dramatize the dialogues

A.: West London Air Terminal, please. I have to be there by 11¹⁰.

B.: I can’t promise, but I’ll do my best. You’re just in time 70 p., please.

A.: Thanks a lot. Here’s 80 p. You can keep the change.

 

2.9A: Do you think you can get me to Victoria by half past?

B.: We should be OK if the lights are with us. You’ve still got five minutes to spare. 70 p., please.

A.: Thanks very much indeed. Here’s a pound, give me 20 p., please.

2.10 A: Picadilly, please. I have an appointment at 10³⁰.

B.: I think we can make it if we get a move on. Here we are, sir. 80 p. Please.

A.: Many thanks. Let’s call it a pound.

  2.11 A.: Paddington, please. I want to catch the 11¹⁵.

B.: We’ll be all right if there are no hold ups. This is it, sir. 70 p., please.

A.: Thank you. Here’s fare, and this is for you.

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