А.Л. Дорняк, И.А. Дорняк.

г. Гомель (Белоруссия)

 

1999, № 6, с. 69-72

Sights of London

(Continued from No 5, 1999.)

 

The interior of the cathedral is decorated with the paintings and mosaics from the life of St Paul, beautiful pictures and monuments, such as the monument to the Duke of Wellington. In the Crypt of the cathedral there are many famous tombs including Wellington's, Nelson's and Wren's. On Wren's tomb you can see the inscription "Reader, if you would seek a monument, look around you." And that's true, because the whole life of Sir Christopher Wren was devoted to the creation of one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world.

An outstanding sight of London is the British museum, which is one of the great museums of the world, showing the works of man from prehistory to the present day. It was founded in 1753 after the death of Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753), the Museum's founding benefactor. He was a physician, scientist, antiquarian and President of the Royal Society. His extraordinary collection of 80,000 objects such as antiquities, books, manuscripts and natural history specimens led to the foundation of the British Museum. Today its galleries total 4,5 km in length.

The collection is big in size and variety. It was a wonderful art gallery and unique collections of coins and medals, sculpture, ceramics, drawings and paintings of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and many others peoples. It also has unique collections of Italian drawings with Leonardo da Vinci's works, English and French prints and so on. And of course, the British Museum is the most important place of archaeological study in the world with unique prehistoric collections. When you are in the museum, make sure you don't miss the objects of special interests such as the Magna Carta, the Rosetta Stone, the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Lewis Chessmen, the Sutton Hoo Treasure, etc.[26] Also the British Museum is proud of its great library, one of the largest in the world, with about 6 million books in it. Admission to the museum is free, but many people make donations to it. Visitors who make a donation of 20 pounds or more receive the handsome British Museum Donor's Medal with the image of Sir Hans Sloane, as a mark of appreciation of their generosity.

The Natural History Museum is the finest museum of nature in the world. It is very popular with children as well as with adults. The museum is divided into Life and Earth Galleries, where you can see exhibitions of the natural world, such as the collections of animals, plants, fossils, minerals. The highlights there are the dinosaur exhibition, human biology, mammals, and ecology in the Life Gallery and sights of Earth in the Earth Gallery. There you can find many answers to the questions you are interested in. So the Natural History Museum is famous all over the world for its scientific research and wonderful collections.

221 b Baker Street, London. This address is famous all over the world as the greatest detective Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his friend Doctor Watson lived there for 23 years from 1881 to 1904. The house itself was built in 1815. It is a two-storied building. The rooms are exactly the same as they were when Sherlock Holmes lived and worked there. The Sherlock Holmes museum was opened on March 27, 1990. In every room in the museum there are exhibits reminding visitors of various stories. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote 60 Sherlock Holmes adventures – four long novels and 56 short stories. It is allowed to examine every item and take pictures everywhere in the museum. The role of Mrs. Hudson (Sh. Holmes1 landlady) has not been forgotten. On the ground floor there is Hudson's old English Restaurant serving traditional English food. The museum is absolutely remarkable. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle helped us to see the brilliant detective and also the late 19th century life-style of professional gentlemen through the Sherlock Holmes Stories.

Another interesting museum, which is also at Baker Street, is Madame Tussaud's. It contains life-size wax figures of famous people, both living and dead. New models are made occasionally as people become famous. You can see there the British Royal Family, Princess Diana; politicians, such as W. Churchill, V. Lenin, M. Gorbachev, B. Yeltsin; famous actors and actresses like Marilyn Monroe, Joan Collins; singers, such as M. Jackson or The Beatles; sportsmen and women, for example, Olga Korbut, and others. There is also a mediaeval torture gallery there. The most exciting thing is to take a small tram and go through the whole history of Great Britain, where all the epochs are depicted very vividly and colourfully.

Covent Garden is a very exciting place too. Many years ago it was a big fruit and vegetable market. It is a tourist shopping centre now. It attracts a lot of shoppers both from Britain and abroad. Seven days a week you can buy anything there, from food to small antiques, including shoes, Eastern goods, Waterford crystal[27], Irish hand-knitted sweaters, etc. You can also find there health foods such as peanut butter, honeys, mustards, different kinds of cheese, chocolate, and so on. There are a great variety of cafes and restaurants where you can relax and have a good time. There you can find some attractions especially for the young people. The Royal Opera House, one of the principal world centres of both opera and ballet, is also situated here. It has been a theatre for almost 250 years. The present building was opened in 1858. The repertoire of the theatre consists of the great 19th-century classics and modern masterpieces.

So Covent Garden is something very special for Londoners. It is always changing, always lively, always new.

In Oxford Street you can also buy a lot of different things. It is a most beautiful and splendid street with a lot of small shops and huge department stores. The goods there are of top quality, though very expensive. They are mainly for rich people. You can find there a great number of restaurants, cafes, and bars with a wide variety of food.

Piccadilly with its clubs, big hotels and shops is also very popular. For example, London Store is one of the best shops for exclusive hand-made British knitwear. At Number 139 lived the famous English poet Byron, and his daughter was born there.

Piccadilly Circus is the point at which four streets merge. It is famous for its fountain and a statue. It was officially unveiled in 1893 in memory of Lord Shaftesbury (1801 – 1885), politician, philanthropist and social reformer. The winged figure, which is known as Eros, represents the "Angel of Christian Charity"[28], but people call it "God of Love". Maybe because of that Piccadilly Circus attracts a lot of people, especially young. It's bright with flower-sellers in daytime and with electric advertisements at night; Piccadilly Circus is the centre of London's theatres and concert halls.

There are a lot of them in London, for example the Haymarket, the, National Theatre, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elisabeth Hall, Royal Albert Hall, etc. You can find opera, ballet, comedy, drama, musical comedy, and variety there. Most theatres date from the second half of the 19th century, some date from the last war. The performances start at about eight and finish at about eleven. Outstanding productions are always on offer in theatres. Some of them run for years. But the real treasure of the theatres is their brilliant actors and actresses. So spectators always enjoy watching their idols perform.

Londoners also enjoy their parks and gardens, as London is very rich in them. The air in the parks is full of scents of flowers and plants, between the trees you can see the glittering water. Royal parks are all around London.

St James's Park is one of the most beautiful parks with its graceful trees and flowerbeds. You can see pelicans and ducks thm\ Green Park was bought in 1667 by Charles II and soon became very popular with aristocracy. It's called 'green' because there are no flowers there, only trees and grass. Regent's Park was opened to the public in 1838, it was named after the Prince Regent (later George TV). The main sights of this park are a large lake, the Queen Mary Gardens, the Open Air Theatre (where performances of Shakespeare's plays are given in summer), the Mosque, and London Zoo which was founded in 1829, and it's the biggest in London.

Hyde Park was opened to the public in 1637; it was a former deer park and royal hunting ground. There is a beautiful lake there divided by a bridge into the southern half called the Serpentine and the northern half called the Long Water. In the park there are green lawns and flowerbeds, beautiful soft grass and ancient oaks, fountains and avenues. Hyde Park is famous for its Speaker's Corner. Here on Sunday morning you can see a number of people. They stand on a box or a small platform and make speeches about different things they believe to be very important. People in the park listen to them, argue and ask questions, then they move to another speaker. Londoners think that it's a very democratic park. They enjoy it and are very proud of London with its beautiful sights, parks, customs and traditions.

Exercises

I. Recalling the facts.

1. What can you say about the history of London?

2. What two great misfortunes took place in England in the 17th century?

3. What's the population of modern London?

4. What parts of London do you know?

5. What are the main styles in London's architecture?

II. Do you remember?

1. What is the most ancient building in London?

2. How was the Tower of London used?

3. Where do they keep the Crown Jewels?

4. What is the most famous sight of London?

5. What does the legend say about the Ravens?

III. Do you know?

1. How is Westminster Abbey employed?

2. In what part of Westminster Abbey are the most famous people buried?

3. What are their names?

IV. Can you tell?

1. What is the seat of the British government?

2. Why is Big Ben, the finest timekeeper in the world, called so?

3. Where is the official residence of the Prime Minister situated?

V. (A) Are the following statements true or false?

1. Buckingham Palace is the official home of the British Royal Family in London.

2. Every week at 11.30 a.m. you can see the beautiful ceremony of the changing the Guard.

3. The ceremony of celebrating the official birthday of the Queen is called Trooping the Colour.

(B) Speak about the most popular, ancient and mysterious ceremony (Trooping the Colour).

VI. What facts do you know about...

1) the construction of Trafalgar Square?

2) the column with a statue of Admiral Lord Nelson?

3) the popularity of Trafalgar Square among Londoners and tourists?

VII. (A) List all the Fine Arts Museums in London.

(B) Can you answer the following questions?

1. What is your favourite gallery? Why?

2. What famous English painters do you know?

3. Do you like the pictures of Impressionists and post-Impressionists? What do you like in them?

4. Did you see these pictures in the Fine Arts Museums in Russia? Where?

5. What is your favourite picture?

(C) What do you know about...

1) the National Portrait Gallery?

2) the National Gallery?

3) the Tate Gallery?

4) the Courtauld Gallery?

VIII. Speaking about St. Paul's Cathedral.

1. Talk about the history of the cathedral.

2. Explain what English Baroque is.

3. List the major ceremonial functions that took place there.

4. Describe the interior of the cathedral.

5. Speak about the architect Sir Christopher Wren.

IX. Speaking about the British Museum.

1. List its unique collections.

2. Explain what "Magna Carta" means.

3. Talk about the Rosetta Stone and the Lindisfarne Gospels.

4. Explain what Sutton Hoo Treasure is.

X. Is it true that...

– the Natural History Museum is a museum of paintings?

– the Museum is divided into Life and Earth Galleries?

– you can see collections of animals.

plants and minerals there?

– you can see collections of stamps and

corns there?

XI. Answer the questions.

1. Who lived at 221 b Baker Street?

2. When was the house built?

3. When was the museum opened?

4. How many novels and stories did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle write?

5. What do you know about Sherlock

Holmes and Doctor Watson? 6. What books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did you read? What films about Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson did you see?

XII. Speak about Madame Tussaud's.

XIII. Are the following statements true or false?

1. Many years ago Covent Garden was a bic meat and fish garden.

2. You can buy only food there.

3. The Royal Opera House is situated in Covent Garden.

4. Covent Garden is something very special for Londoners.

5. You can buy a lot of things in Oxford Street.

6. All the goods are not expensive in Oxford Street.

7. Piccadilly is very popular, because of its clubs, big hotels and shops.

8. Burns and Byron lived in Piccadilly.

9. Piccadilly Circus is famous for its fountain and statue.

10. People call Eros "God of Love".

XIV. What do you know about London's theatres and concert halls?

XV. Speak on:

– St. James' Park;

– Green Park;

– Regent's Park;

– Hyde Park.

XVI. Imagine that you are a guide. Speak about the most interesting sights in London.

 

N. I. PETROVA, Moscow

 

1999, № 6, с. 84-88

 

Travelling to Britain and in Britain

ARRIVAL

Stage 1

How to get to Britain? You can try hitchhiking, but Britain is an insular state and part of your way you'll have to sail or take a ferry.

The quickest and probably the most reliable way of travelling to Britain is by air. The major British air company is British Airways, or BA. If you come to Britain by air, you'll see Heathrow, one of the world's biggest airports. Its official name is London Airport.

Heathrow is London's major airport. It was opened in 1929 as a small base for flight tests, and it became an international airport in 1946. Over 44 million people pass through Heathrow each year and 1,000 aircraft a day land and take off there. Heathrow is to the west of London. There is a direct underground rail link which takes an hour to reach Central London. There are many robberies from passengers' luggage at the airport, and it is sometimes called "Thiefrow".

Gatwick is London's second airport after Heathrow. It is to the south of London. Over 21 million passengers pass through the airport every year, and in summer about 700 flights land and take off there every day.

Stansted is London's third airport. It is to the north of London. It was opened in 1942 as a base for the American Air Force during the Second World War. In 1966 Stansted became a passenger airport. It takes over 3 million passengers a year, many of them holiday-makers.

There axe two more important airports in Britain: Luton Airport (near the town of Luton, 30 miles northwest of London) and London City Airport which handles a growing number of European flights.

A: Is Heathrow and London Airport one and the same thing?

B: Yes, the official name of Heathrow is London Airport.

A: Is it the only Britain's airport?

B: It's Britain's most important airport for passengers and air freight, but there are also Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City airports.

A: Are these airports much smaller than Heathrow?

B: Gatwick is also one of the world's busiest international airports. Stansted, Luton and London City airports are not among Britain's major airports but they are quite important.

 

Stage II

The British Isles are surrounded by water and one can reach the country by sea. There are more than ten major ports in Britain, London being the most important of them. International sea passengers can use roll-on-roll-off[29] ferries, hovercraft,[30] hydrofoils[31] and high-speed catamarans.

In 1994 there occurred a sharp change in traffic connections between Britain and Europe (or the Continent, as Britons say). The railway underwater tunnel, the Channel Tunnel, was opened. It is also called the Chunnel or Eurotunnel. It takes only 35 minutes to travel by train from Britain to France.

Now a traveller does not depend on weather. He can take a train from two international railway stations in London – Waterloo and St. Pancras. He can also drive his car to the station and together with the car take the Euroshuttle train near Folkstone. In 35 minutes he and his ear will be in Calais. Such a journey is called drive-on, drive-off service. Eurotunnel runs passenger shuttle services every 15 minutes.

The idea of building a tunnel between the Continent and Britain dates from the last century. First attempts at building the tunnel were made in 1882, but they were soon abandoned as there was a threat that the French could use the tunnel for invading Britain. Then, in the 70s of the 20th century, the project was resumed. But the work was stopped because of the lack of money. Finally in 1986 the governments of Britain and France signed an agreement on building the tunnel and in 1994 the tunnel was opened to traffic.

* * *

A: How can one reach Britain by sea?

B: One can use roll-on-roll-on ferries, hovercraft, hydrofoils and high-speed catamarans.

A: Is it dangerous to travel by train under water?

B: Well, 1 don't think so. I think it is a very reliable way of travelling. You don't depend on weather at all.

A: By the way, how long does the trip last?

B: As far as I know, it is a very short trip – a little more than half an hour.

A: I really think it's an adventure. I'd like to try this way of travelling. It's like travelling by magic carpet!

 

TRAVELLING BY...

Train

 

Stage I

Railway travel in Britain is not only a way of travelling, but it is also a very popular and favourite form of travel. For about 2 million British people railway is a hobby, second in popularity to collecting stamps. In fact, nearly at every railway platform one can see a teenager or an adult who is busily writing something down. These people know everything about trains. They are called train spotters or railway buffs.

The first rail service in Britain started in 1812 to carry coal. Passengers were carried for the first time in 1825, from Stocton to Darlington, two towns in the north of England. Railways were run by private companies until 1948 when the system was nationalized and named British Rail (BR).

The railway network is very wide. You can travel to many places by Inter-City trains.[32] When you buy a ticket, you can choose a smoker or a non-smoker carriage, you can choose a face to direction or a back to direction seat, you can also choose a window or an aisle. In some trains there are pay phones.

There are 8 railway stations in London at which the Underground trains also stop.

** *

A: Are trains popular in Britain?

B: Yes, they are. For many British people railway is a hobby, second in popularity to collecting stamps.

A: Can you travel to many places in Britain by train?

B: Yes, the railway network is very wide.

A: Do people smoke on the train?

B: Yes, they do. But you can buy a ticket for a non-smoker carriage.

A: And one more question, please. Can one phone from the train?

B: In some trains you can, there are pay phones in them.

 

Stage II

Travel by British Rail is fast, comfortable and easy. Air-conditioned Inter-City-125 services (travelling at speeds up to 125 miles per hour, or 201 kilometres per hour) link London with South and West Wales, the West of England, the Midlands, the North-East of England and Scotland. For example, you can reach Cardiff, Leeds and York, each in less than two hours.

New Inter-City-225 services link London with far-off parts of Britain in record time. It is now possible to travel from London to Edinburgh in as little as 3 hours 59 minutes.

Inter-City trains usually have a restaurant and/or buffet cars, where hot meals or, in the case of buffet cars, light snacks and drinks are served.

In the English language the word "miles" is often used in the meaning "much", "a lot". For example, you can see an advertisement of some dish which, as it says, "tastes miles better".

British Rail was once notorious for its poor food, and although this has now improved, it is still possible to describe bad food by saying "It was like British Rail food".

* * *

A: Why are fast Inter-City trains called Inter-City-125?

B: It's because of their speed. They travel at the speed of 125 miles per hour, which is 201 kilometres per hour.

A: So, if I'd like to travel to Cardiff, Leeds or York from London by train, how long will it take me?

B: It will not take you long, no more than two hours.

A: Do I have to change?

B: No. It's a through train.[33]

 

Stage III

Railway travel in Britain is expensive, more expensive than in Europe.

There are two classes of carriages in these trains: first and standard. First class carriages are more comfortable and the tickets are more expensive.

A one-way ticket is called a single ticket and a round-trip ticket is called a return ticket. If you are going to return on the same day, buy a day return which is considerably, or miles, cheaper.

A Railcard is a card sold by British Rail to certain groups of railtravellers, enabling them to travel at half-price or at specially reduced rates. Among such travellers are old age pensioners (OAPs), young people under 24 or disabled people. The. Railcard is valid for one year only.

A Travelcard (in full, a One Day Travel-card) is a special ticket issued at a reduced rate by British Rail for travel on a single day within the Greater London area by any train, including those of the Underground, and also some buses.

* * *

A: I understand that railway travel is rather expensive in Britain. Are there ways of reducing the price of a ticket?

B: Well, there are quite a few. The price of the ticket depends on many things.

A: Could you tell me which things?

B: Well, first of all the class of the carriage: a standard class ticket is much less expensive than a first class one.

A: And what is a Railcard?

B: Well, it's a card which enables you to travel at reduced prices if you are under 24 or belong to other special groups of passengers.

A: I think it's a pleasure to travel inside Britain.

 

Bus

Stage I

One of the symbols of London is the red double-decker bus. The first bus service was run in London in 1829 and motor buses were first used in 1899. However, the top level had no roof and passengers had to wait until 1925 for protection against the British weather. Smoking was allowed on the upper deck until 1991 and there is seating for approximately 70 people in the entire bus.

The double-decker bus is seen in all British towns. There are double-decker buses in many other countries of the world, for example in the USA, Australia, etc.

One can see a lot from the top level of the double-decker bus. The traffic may be slow on occasions, but it offers a wonderful opportunity for leisurely sightseeing. Many bus routes pass by London's most famous sights.

There are two types of bus-stop– the compulsory stop (which has a white background) and the request stop (a red background). The bus will stop without being nailed at the compulsory stop, unless it is full. At the request stop you must put your arm out to signal the bus to stop. Route numbers are listed on signs at bus-stops and the timetables framed at bus-stops list the places served.

On double-decker buses the price of the ticket depends on how far you travel.

* * *

A: Can one ride on double-decker buses only in London?

B: Red double-decker buses are a typical sight of London, but two-level buses run in many towns of Britain and one can see them in other countries of the world.

A: Would you like to ride on a double-decker bus?

B: Yes, I think one can see a lot from the top level of it.

A: Do bus routes pass by London's most famous sights?

B: Yes, most of them do. So travel by bus is one of the best ways to see London.

 

Stage II

On double-decker buses there are usually conductors who control the number of passengers allowed on and collect fares; on single-deck buses you give your fare to the driver as you get on. Always try and have a lot of change with you when you use buses so that you can tender the right sum of money. Passengers should keep their tickets until they leave the bus.

Single-deck one-man buses are seen more and more in Britain, especially in the country. In London fast single-deck buses called Red Arrows run non-stop between important places; the fare is fixed and passengers pass through an automatic gate which opens when the correct coins are inserted.

Buses operate from about 6 a.m. to midnight on most routes, including those connecting the main-line railway stations, and offer service in Central London and the suburbs. A network of special All Night buses runs through Central London serving Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch and many other parts convenient for theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

Each bus route is identified by a number which appears on the front, sides and back of each bus. The final destination also appears on the front and back and a short list of major ports of call on the sides. Bus-stop signs, which generally list the number of the buses which stop there, are displayed on a red or white background (as we have already mentioned above, the red background signs are request stops and the white background signs are compulsory stops).

You should always take your turn in the queue at a bus-stop – if there is one.

* * *

A: Do you pay the fare to the conductor?

B: Well, in a double-decker bus you pay it to the conductor.

A: And what about a single-deck bus?

B: In a single-deck bus you either pay to the driver or insert the coins in the slot machine.

A: Do buses operate at night?

B: Yes, indeed, there are special All Night buses and you can take such a bus after a party or a theatre performance.

 

The Underground

 

Stage I

There are underground rail systems in London, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow. The Underground in London is called the London Underground or, more often, the tube (as its tunnels look like tubes). Underground rail systems in other cities are called differently: in Glasgow it is called the Underground, in Newcastle – the Metro. London has the oldest underground train system in the world, Baker Street being the oldest station still in use. The Metropolitan line (the oldest one) started working back in 1863. Originally the trains had steam locomotives, so the tunnels weren't very deep and had holes at regular intervals to let the smoke out. Nowadays, the whole system is electrified.

The Underground is the backbone of London's transport system now. Many people choose to travel by the tube because it's relatively cheap, convenient and quick.

The system runs throughout the inner city, near all the tourist destinations and hotels, to Heathrow Airport, as well as out into the suburbs and even into the countryside.

The system covers 254 miles, with one tunnel being 17 miles long. The tube runs as deep as 221 feet underground.

The tube carries over 2.5 million people each day, but is never as busy as Tokyo subways where they cram people into the cars. London now has the largest service, 470 trains run on 254 miles of track through 275 stations. The London Underground opens at 6 a.m. and closes at midnight. Smoking is prohibited in all Underground trains and stations.

* * *

A: In which cities in Great Britain are there underground rail systems?

B: Besides London, there are also underground rail systems in Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow.

A: Is the London Underground widely used?

B: Yes, it is. It's a very convenient and quick way of travelling around London. It runs on 254 miles of track and connects practically all parts of the capital.

A: Why is it called the tube?

B: It is called so because of the form of its tunnels. They are like tubes.

 

Stage II

There are eleven Underground lines, each with its own colour, which is helpful because if you can't remember the name of the line, all the signs also have the colour of it to help you remember which exit or escalator you want. The lines are called:

Bakerloo (light brown);

Central (red);

Circle (yellow);

District (green);

East London (orange);

Hammersmith and City (pink);

Jubilee (silver);

Metropolitan (dark brown);

Northern (black);

Piccadilly (dark blue);

Victoria (light blue).

Fares on the London Underground are not fixed, but are proportional to the distance travelled. The London Underground (and bus system) is divided into six Fare Zones, Zone 1 being the central city (roughly bounded by the yellow, or Circle Line), Zone 2 being the first ring around Zone 1, Zone 3 surrounding Zone 2, etc.

To get on and off the tube, you need to buy a ticket called a Travelcard. There are electronic gates as you enter and leave most stations and inspectors at the ones without them that insist that you have the correct ticket for getting on and off the system, so make sure you hold onto your ticket for your entire trip: you won't be able to leave your destination station without it. Also, if you are on a train without a proper ticket, a roving ticket inspector may fine you ten pounds.

If you're just going to use the tube once, and then only one way, buy a single ticket that covers the zones you need. If you're planning a round-trip, you'll select the return ticket, or a One Day Travelcard.

When you buy a Travelcard, whether it's a One Day, One Week or One Month card, you specify which zones it's to be good for, and then the card is good for the tube and buses, as well as British Rail trains as long as you stay inside the specified zones.

Tickets may be bought either from the station ticket office or from one of the automatic machines. Most machines list destinations and the cost of the journey.

* * *

A: Are there many lines in the London Underground?

B: There are eleven lines which connect most places in London.

A: How much is a ticket for the London Underground?

B: The fare depends on the distance you travel. The Underground system operates on a zone pattern: you pay more for every zone you cross.

A: Where can one buy tickets for the London Underground?

B: You can buy them either from the station ticket office or from an automatic machine.

 

Taxi

Stage I

London's black taxis are nearly as famous as its red double-decker buses. They are over 300 years old. It was in 1694 that the Parliament passed the act which gave the right to carry passengers to 250 hired carriages. Of course, they were horse-drawn carriages then. In their present form they appeared after the First World War.

The London taxi is one of the friendliest sights a visitor will see. The traditional colour is still black, though in recent years red, blue and yellow vehicles have appeared. Taxis are a salvation for those who get lost. Taxi drivers are a useful source of information as they know London inside-out – they have to, in order to get their licence.

London taxis can be hailed in the street if the yellow "For Hire" or "Taxi" sign above the windscreen is lit, hired from taxi-ranks, or called by telephone. Charges vary according to the distance covered and are recorded on the meter; additional charges are made for extra people, luggage and night journeys. For journeys over six miles – for example, from Heathrow Airport to Central London – you should negotiate a fare in advance.

* * *

A: Could you say that old-fashioned black taxis are symbols of London?

B: Yes, I think so, like London's red double-decker buses.

A: Are all London taxis black?

B: The traditional colour is black, but there are taxis of other colours.

A: Can you hire a taxi in London by hailing it in the street?

B: Yes, you can hire a black taxi in this way.

 

V. V. OSHCHEPKOVA, A. P. BOOLKIN (Moscow)

Учебник, с. 6-9

 

Сущность коммуникативного метода обучения говорению

 

Известно, что метод всегда направлен на определенную цель и должен быть адекватен этой цели, т. е. способен наиболее эффективно достигать ее. Коммуникативный метод, предлагаемый в данной книге, предназначен в качестве средства обучения говорению. Вполне понятно, что разработка коммуникативного метода как адекватного средства обучения требует четкого представления о том, какова цель обучения. Поэтому сначала проанализируем эту цель – иноязычное говорение с различных точек зрения (§ 1). Это поможет ответить на вопрос, почему необходим именно коммуникативный метод и что он собой представляет (§ 2).

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