Make an outline of the text you have read.

Use the outline to summarize the text “ Belfast”.

23. Scan the following text and answer the question:

What is Oxford famous for?

OXFORD

Everybody knows Oxford as a University town. But Oxford was an important town even before the University came into existence. It is mentioned in the “Anglo-Saxon Chronicle” of 912 as “Oxenforde”, the ford where oxen could cross the river.

The University began to establish itself in the middle of the 12th century, and by 1300 there were already 1, 500 students. At this time Oxford was a wealthy town, but by the middle of the 14th century it was poorer, because of a decline in trade and because of the terrible plague, which killed many people in England.

Today, Oxford is not only one of the two oldest university cities of Great Britain where 12, 000 students study, but an industrial and commercial town as well. It is a center of Britain’s motor industry. Oxford is also an important centre in the world of medicine. It is the home of Oxfam (Oxford Famine Relief – Оксфордский комитет помощи голодающим), the charity which raises millions of pounds to help people all over the world. Oxford’s airport contains Europe’s leading air training school. Oxford is also famous for its architecture.

PLAY-ROLE

a) You have just arrived from the UK. You visited the capital cities of the country. Tell your friends what places of interest you visited. Use the following speech patterns:

Speech Patterns

First of all I would like to note …

Moreover …

In my view …

I’d like to add that …

Certainly…

In conclusion …

  b) Your English friends are going to visit Moscow. Tell them about our capital and what places of interest they can see there. Use the speech patterns given above.

c) Your English friends would like to know about your native town/city/village. Tell them about it.

It’s interesting to know

At MOMI, the Museum of the Moving Image, almost all the things on display move. You can see how the first film was made, listen to the latest stereo systems and watch the news from the 1960s. You can design your own cartoons, be made up for a screen test, read the news on TV and fly like Superman over London. The people who work in the museum are actors: those in the 1950s section are in 1950s costume and can talk to you about Marilyn Monroe, but if you mention a more modern actor, they will ask, “Who’s he? ” or “Who’s she? ”

 

If you want to widen your knowledge of the UK, visit http: //www.great-britain.co.uk./

UNIT 3                    NATIONS in GREAT BRITAIN

Using your background knowledge, answer the following question:

How do we call the inhabitants of the British Isles?

 

1. Read the following words and remember their pronunciation:

Celts [kelts], Europe ['juə rə p], Ireland ['aiə lnd], iron [aiə n], Isle ['ail], island ['ailə nd], Julius Ceasar ['dʒ u: liə s si: zə ], civilize ['sivə laiz], chariot [t∫ æ riə t], sacred ['seikrid], amorous ['æ mə rə s], gregarious [ɡ ri'ɡ eə riə s], monarchy ['mɒ nə ki], measure ['meʒ ə ], leisure ['leʒ ə ], tough ['tΛ f], wear [weə ], distinguish [distiŋ ɡ wi∫ ], ancient ['ein∫ ə nt].

Read the following text and write down Russian equivalents for the words and expressions in bold type.

The Celts

1. During the period from the 6th to the 3rd century В.С. а people called the Celts spread across Europe from the east to the west.

2. More than one Celtic tribe invaded Britain. From time to time these tribes were attacked and overcome by other Celtic tribes from the Continent. Celtic tribes called the Picts penetrated into the mountains on the North; some Picts as well as tribes of Scots crossed over to Ireland and settled there. Later the Scots returned to the larger island and settled in the North. They came in such large numbers that in time the name of Scotland was given to that country. Powerful Celtic tribes, the Britons, held most of the country, and the southern half of the island was named Britain after them. Today the words " Briton" and " British" refer to the people of the whole of the British Isles.

3. The Greeks were the first to mention the British Isles. The earliest writer from whom we have learned much about the country and its inhabitants was Julius Caesar, the famous Roman general, statesman and writer. In his Commentaries on the Gallic War, he describes the island and the Celts against whom he fought. He tells us that the Celts were tall and blue-eyed. They wore long moustaches but no beards. In their mode of life the British Celts differed little from the Celtic tribes who lived on the Continent. In the 1st century В. С. they lived in tribes, and were ruled by chiefs. The chiefs were military leaders and some of them were very powerful. The military leaders of the largest tribes were sometimes called kings.

4. The Celts had no towns; they lived in villages. They were acquainted with the use of copper, tin and iron and they kept large herds of cattle and sheep which formed their chief wealth. They also cultivated crops, especially corn. The Celtic tribes of the Britons who inhabited the south-eastern parts of the island were more civilized than the other tribes. Their clothing was made of wool, while the other Celts wore skins.

5. Some of the Celtic tribes were quite large and fighting was common among them. The Celts worshipped Nature. They imagined the sky, the sun, the moon, the earth and the sea, to be ruled by beings like themselves, but much more powerful. They also believed in many nameless spirits who lived in the rivers, lakes, mountains and thick forests. They sacrificed not only animals, but also human beings to their gods. They were taught by priests called druids. The druids lived near groves of oak-trees which were considered to be sacred places. The druids were very important and powerful, sometimes, more powerful than the chiefs. The Celts believed in their magic power. The druids were also teachers and doctors for they were wiser than the other tribes­men. Wise women were also considered to be very important. There were women prophets, and women warriors who trained young men in arms; some women were made tribal chiefs and called queens.

6. To this day the descendants of the ancient Celts live on the territory of the British Isles. The Welsh who live in Wales are of Celtic origin. They speak Welsh, a Celtic tongue. In the highlands of Scotland and in the western parts of Ireland the people speak a tongue of Celtic origin too.

 

Notes to the text

1. Celts – племена, выходцы из центральной Европы.

2. Picts – пикты (группа кельтских племён), населявших Шотландию. В середине IX века завоеваны скоттами (кельтское племя, переселившееся в VI веке из Ирландии на территорию нынешней Шотландии) и смешались с ними.

3. Druid – друид, жрец у древних кельтов.

 

Comprehension check

3. Answer the following questions:

1. Where did the Celtic tribes come to the British Isles from?

2. Who was the first to mention about the Celts?

3. Did the Celts live in towns or villages?

4. Whom did the Celts call “druids”?

5. Where do the descendants of the ancient Celts live now?

4. Which parts of the text “The Celts” correspond to the following headings? Put them into logical order.

1. The way of life of the Celtic tribes.

2. The Celts religion

3. The first mentioning of the British Isles and its inhabitants.

4. The invasion of Britain by the Celts.

 

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