М.К. Гулканян, Г.Ш. Гимранова

МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

КАЗАНСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ АРХИТЕКТУРНО-СТРОИТЕЛЬНЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

 

М.К. Гулканян, Г.Ш. Гимранова

 

GENERAL ENGLISH

Учебное пособие для студентов очной формы обучения всех специальностей и направлений подготовки

 

Казань

УДК 802.0 (075)

ББК 81.2 Англ

 

Составители: М.К. Гулканян, Г.Ш. Гимранова

General English: Учебное пособие / М.К. Гулканян, Г.Ш. Гимранова. – Казань: Изд-во Казанск. гос. архитект.-строит. ун-та, 2016. – 82 с.

 

ISBN

 

Печатается по решению Редакционно-издательского совета Казанского государственного архитектурно-строительного университета

 

Учебное пособие предназначено для студентов-бакалавров 1 курса дневной формы обучения всех специальностей и направлений подготовки.

Основная цель учебного пособия – развитие и совершенствование навыков устной коммуникации и письменной речи в рамках предложенной тематики.

 

Рецензенты

Кандидат педагогических наук, доцент кафедры иностранных языков / Институт экономики и управления в строительстве / КГАСУ

Р.К. Ахметгареева

 

Кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры теории и практики перевода/ отделение Высшая школа иностранных языков и перевода / Институт международных отношений, истории и востоковедения / КФУ

И.И. Кузнецова

 

 

© Казанский государственный

архитектурно-строительный

университет, 2016

 

© Гулканян М.К., Гимранова Г.Ш., 2016

 

 

CONTENT

PART I ………………………………………………………………......
Unit I	General Information on Education …………………………...
Unit II	Kazan State University of Architecture and Engineering …….
Unit III	Institutes. Specialties. Courses. ………………………………
Unit IV	Aims. Teaching metods. Entry requirements. …………….....
Final test ………………………………………………………………...
PART II ………………………………………………………………....
Unit I	The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland...
Supplementary reading ………………………………………………...
Unit II	London ………………………………………………………..
Supplementary reading ………………………………………………...
Unit III	The Political system of the UK ……………………………….
Supplementary reading ………………………………………………...
Unit IV	British Economy ……………………………………………...
Unit V	Education in Britain ………………………………………….
Supplementary reading ………………………………………………...
Unit VI	Culture and Traditions ………………………………………..
Supplementary reading ………………………………………………...
Questineer ……………………………………………………………….

Предисловие

Данное учебное пособие предназначено для студентов 1 курса дневной формы обучения всех специальностей о направлении подготовки. Структура пособия представлена следующими темами: Kazan State University of Architecture and Engineering и The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Все разделы учебного пособия имеют единую структуру и включают следующие блоки: Before you start (введение), Reading (тексты), Language (формально-тренировочные упражнения), Speaking (коммуникативно-содержательные упражнения), Writing (задания, направленные на формирование навыков письменной речи), Vocabulary (базовая лексика каждого раздела).

Базовые тексты представлены описательными текстами, которые тематически связаны друг с другом и касаются различных сторон темы или расширяют ее. При подборе текстов авторы исходили из методической концепции неразрывности процесса познания и развития навыков работы с текстовым материалом и навыков устной и письменной речи, а также опирались на принцип реализации междисциплинарных связей.

Текстовый материал, предтекстовые и послетекстовые задания направлены на совершенствование речевых навыков студентов неязыковых специальностей путем обучения восприятию и осмыслению прочитанного текста, активизации словарного запаса и речевых структур в процессе репродукции информативного содержания текста.

Все задания построены на активной лексике раздела, часть заданий построена на связных текстах небольшого объема, которые являются дополнительным источником информации по теме раздела. Помимо языковых заданий, даются задания на развитие навыков устной речи. Задания, предлагаемые в блоке Speaking, носят творческий характер и направлены на формирование коммуникативных навыков в условно-заданных речевых ситуациях, а также творческого мышления и умения формулировать собственное мнение.

Целью заданий блока Writing является формирование навыков академического письма.

	PART I
Unit I
General Information on Education

I. Read and translate.

Education.

Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, values of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through discussion, teaching, training, and /or research. Education may also include informal transmission of such information from one human being to another. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of others, but learners may also educate themselves (autodidactic learning). Education can take place in formal or informal settings.

Formal education.

Formal education occurs in a structured environment whose explicit purpose is teaching students. Usually formal education takes place in a school environment, with classrooms of multiple students learning together with a trained teacher. On successful results of secondary education a person receives a Certificate of high secondary school education, which gives him the right for entering any higher education establishment.

 

Higher education.

Higher education generally involves work towards a degree-level or foundation degree qualification. Higher education is therefore very important to national economies, both as a significant industry in its own right, and as a source of trained and educated personnel for the rest of the economy.

University education includes teaching, research, and social services activities, and it includes both the undergraduate level (sometimes referred to as tertiary education) and the graduate (or postgraduate) level. Universities are generally composed of several Institutes. A number of career specific courses are now available to students through the Internet.

Higher education is provided by state and private accredited higher education institutions (universities, academies, institutes, etc.) Education in state universities is often free of charge - mostly for those students who show higher results at entrance exams. However, approximately one-third of the students pay tuition fees. In private higher education institutions all students have to pay for tuition.

Higher education in Russia is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the accreditation and licensing of educational institutions and for developing and maintaining the state educational standards.

There are three levels of higher education: Incomplete higher education (2 years at least); Basic higher education (4, 5 or 6 years) leading to a 1. Bachelor's, 2. Specialist's or 3. Master's degree; Postgraduate education.

 

Answer the following questions:

 

1. What is education in its general sense?

2. What does university education include?

3. How many levels of higher education do you know and what are they?

4. What institutions is higher education provided by?

5. Whom for is education free of charge in state universities?

Postgraduate courses

When you complete your first degree, you are a graduate. (In the US, students also use this word as a verb and say they “graduated in chemistry”, for example). Some students go on to do a second course or degree (postgraduate course / postgraduate degree). These students are then postgraduates. There are usually three possible degrees:

§ MA (Master of Arts)or MSc (Master of Science); usually one year

§ MPhil (Master of Philosophy); usually two years

§ PhD (Doctor of Philosophy); at least three years

§ DSc (Doctor of Science); at least three years

When people study one subject in great detail (often to find new information), we say they are conducting / doing / carrying out research; e.g.

I’m doing some research into / on the languages of different tribes.

School vs. university

At school you have teachers and lessons; at university you have lecturers and lectures. When a lecturer gives / does a lecture, the students listen and take/make notes (=write down the important information), but do not usually say much, except to ask occasional questions.

 

Exercises

What do we call?

2. The money some students receive when they get to the university…

3. The qualification students get at the end of university…

4. The name we give students during this period at university…

5. Teachers at university…

6. Students when they have completed their first degree…

7. Students studying for their second degree…

8. The talks that students go to while they are at university…

 

Learning foreign languages.

Foreign languages in modern society are necessary for people. There are many reasons why we begin to study foreign languages. One studies foreign language to be able to communicate with other people, others study it for future carrier. If we are planning to travel to other countries we can communicate with people there and understand what they are saying to us.

If we work in any branch of science, we naturally want to read scientific books and journals in other languages to raise our professional level. Making business nowadays also means the ability of speaking foreign languages.

The ability of speaking one or two or even more languages helps people from different countries to develop mutual friendship and understanding. We can also make our intellectual and cultural horizons wider through contacts with people of another culture.

It is also very interesting to read foreign literature in its original form. We can also read foreign newspapers and magazines and understand films in foreign languages without any help and translation.

It is very important to speak at least one foreign language either English or German or French and Spanish or any other one.

There is a saying: the more languages you speak, the more times you are human being.

8. Questions on the text:

1. Are foreign languages necessary for the people nowadays?

2. Why do we begin to study foreign languages?

3. Where can we use our knowledge of foreign language?

4. What are your abilities in English?

5. How many languages do you know?

6. What sayings and proverbs on language do you know?

9. Discuss the problem to make a decision: is it necessary for a future engineer to study a foreign language? Give reasons for your decision. Use the expressions given below:

To express your opinion: I think…; Speaking for myself…: I believe…; I suppose…; I am sure…; In my opinion….

To agree with somebody: Yes, indeed. I quite agree with you. That’s true. You are quite right. I think so too. Certainly. / Sure.

To disagree with somebody: I don’t agree with you. I disagree. I don’t think you’re right. It’s not true. You’re wrong. I don’t think so.

Read pros and cons given below:

PROS CONS

1. Can read foreign scientific research journals	1. It takes a lot of time to study foreign languages
2. Can speak foreign colleagues if necessary	2. Sometimes the results are rather poor
3. Can read foreign books and watch films	3. It is not interesting to study foreign languages
4. Can find more about the world	4. Can turn to a translator if it is necessary
5. Can find a job abroad	5. It is useless in my life

 

10. Translate the proverbs and find Russian equivalents:

1. Never offer to teach fish to swim.

2. You can’t teach an old dog new trick. Don’t teach dog to bark.

3. Failure teaches success.

4. Live and learn.

5. You are never too old to learn.

6. Learn to walk before you run.

7. Fools learn from their mistakes.

8. The more we study, the more we know.

9. Genius must be born, never can be taught.

 

9. Translate from Russian into English:

1. Как правило, у студентов занятия по английскому языку два раза в неделю.

2. Обычно они проходят в языковых кабинетах.

3. В них имеется доска и современное оборудование.

4. На прошлом занятии студенты изучали новый текст, учили слова и делали упражнения.

5. У них также была письменная контрольная работа.

6. Никто не сделал много ошибок, и все получили хорошие и удовлетворительные оценки.

7. Студентам нравится изучать английский язык.

8. Они хотят хорошо говорить по-английски.

9. В институте есть курсы английского языка для всех студентов.

10. Кафедра иностранных языков готовит высококвалифицированных специалистов-переводчиков.

	PART I
Unit II
Kazan State University of Architecture and Engineering

I. Read and remember these words and word combinations:

1. University campus	Университетский городок
2. Underground crossing	Подземный переход
3. Covered bridge	Крытый переход
4. Purpose-built workshop	Специализированная мастерская
5. Well-equipped laboratory	Хорошо оборудованная лаборатория
6. To establish	Основывать, устанавливать
7. A site	Территория, строительная площадка
8. To link (to connect)	Соединять, связывать
9. To get a start in life	Получить путевку в жизнь
10. To imagine	Вообразить, представить
11. To create	Творить, создавать
12. An economic prosperity	Экономическое процветание
13. A forge of highly qualified specialists	Кузница высококвалифицированных специалистов
14. An academic building	Учебное здание (корпус)
15. Students’ health centre	Профилакторий
16. Students’ residence	Студенческое общежитие
17. To have at one’s disposal	Иметь в чьем-то распоряжении
18. To contain	Содержать, вмещать
19.To provide	Обеспечивать
21.Take part in	Принимать участие в
22.Up-to-date	Современный
23.Assistant professor	Доцент
24.Research work	Исследовательская работа
25. In addition to	Кроме, помимо
26. Canteen and café building	Здание столовой и кафе
27.Within easy reach	В пределах легкой досягаемости

Text 1.

Kazan State University of Architecture and Engineering is one of the best and prestigious higher schools in Russia.

Our University was established in 1930. It’s even difficult to imagine how many young people have got a start in life and how much they have done and created for the economic prosperity of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The University is widely known as a large scientific center and a forge of highly qualified specialists for construction industry. A high quality education is provided by the teaching staff - members of Academy of Sciences, doctors and candidates of sciences, professors and assistant professors.

There are many student clubs and scientific societies at our University. Students take part in the scientific and engineering work; develop their creative abilities in the laboratories. Every year many students report about the results of their research work at the University Scientific Conference. The best works are published.

The University is a real University campus on the site of more than 35 sq.km. There are 5 large academic buildings next to each other linked by underground crossing and covered bridge, the sport complex, including a gym-hall building with a sport ground and a tennis court. There are also some purpose-built workshops and well-equipped laboratories, canteen and café building on the site of the University campus.

The complex of 3 students’ residences for more than 1000 students, situated not far from the academic buildings, contains the students’ health center provided with up-to-date medical equipment.

So our University has at its disposal educational and laboratory base, a library with 4 reading halls, 3 residences, 3 gym-halls, a sport ground, a tennis court, a sport camp on the Mesha river, a canteen, a café and students’ health center.

So our University is located in Zelyenaya St. close to the city center, within easy reach to the city libraries, art galleries, the Big Concert Hall, theatres, cinemas and the Sports Centre. In addition to the canteen and café there are pubs, bars to eat and to have a good rest close to the University in Vishnevskiy Street.

 

Read the phonetic drills.

[ɑ:] architecture, start, large, far, art, are, bar, Tatarstan

[ʌ] construction, underground, covered, republic, pub

[æ] Kazan, campus, establish, academy, academic, candidate, cafe, camp

[ɔ:] forge, sport, court

[ɔ] crossing, laboratory, economic, doctor, complex, concert

[i:] people, equipment, reading, easy, eat

[aɪ] higher, life, widely, scientific, sciences, site, provided, library

 

2. Answer the questions using the table:

1 How large is the territory of the University campus?

2 What structures does the University campus consist of?

 

University campus	Academic buildings	Students’ residences	Reading Halls	Gym-halls	Students Health centre	Refectory and café building
24.000 sq. m.

3. Answer the following questions:

1. What are you? What higher school do you study at?

2. When was our University established?

3. What is it nowadays?

4. Why can we call our University a real University campus?

5. What does our University have at its disposal?

6. Where is the University located?

7. What led you to the decision to enter our University?

8. Whom is a highly qualified education provided by?

9. Where do students report about the results of their research work?

 

Circle the odd word.

1 University	Higher School	Institute	Sport Centre
2 Academician	Doctor of Science	Student	Candidate of Science
3 Gym-hall	Sport complex	Lab	Tennis court
4 Canteen	Café	Food shop	Refectory
5 Laboratory	Health Centre	Workshop	Scientific Centre

6. Translate the sentences:

1. Хороший студент – это высококвалифицированный специалист в будущем.

2. Любой университет состоит из нескольких учебных зданий.

3. Кроме специализированных мастерских у нас есть хорошо оборудованные лаборатории.

4. Наш ВУЗ широко известен как кузница высококвалифицированных специалистов для строительной промышленности.

5. Инженер-строитель – это мирная профессия.

 

Read and retell the joke.

At a certain university examination the teacher handed out the question papers to all the students and then looked on her watch. It was exactly 9 o’clock. The students began to read over the questions; they had two hours in which they were to write full answers to all of them. At 10 o’clock the teacher noticed that one of the students was not writing anything but was still reading the question paper.

“Is any question troubling you?” she asked the student. «Not at all,” he answered, “not at all. It is the answers that are troubling me”.

 

Fill in appropriate words.

 

1. It connects buildings.

2. When you have something and can do everything with it.

3. “Furniture” in labs.

4. The condition of being successful.

5. Structure where people live, work, study.

6. Area in another word.

7. ___________________

Text 2.

Kazan State University of Architecture and Building Engineering registers more than 7000 students including full-time students, correspondence students, over 100 post-graduates and some foreign students. Today’s students of our higher school are the future specialists of the most peaceful and authoritative profession on the Earth.

Our University consists of five Institutes: the Institute of Architecture and Design, the Institute of Transport Structures, the Institute of Economics and Business Management in Construction, the Institute of Building Construction, the Institute of Building Technologies, Engineering Systems and Ecology.

Students must attend all the lectures, classes, seminars and laboratory works. The first year students study general engineering subjects. They also study social subjects and foreign languages. The second year students begin to study special subjects. The study of theory and academic process is accompanied by practical training and field trip.

Our University offers a broad range of subjects: higher mathematics, physics, chemistry, building materials, strength of materials, theoretical mechanics, surveying technology, computing, a foreign language, descriptive geometry, history, drawing, basics of architectural design and many others.

The levels of professional qualifications are Bachelor of Science, Certificate of Engineer, Master of Science, and Post-Graduate Courses.

The students acquire knowledge in the following main specialties: architecture and design, building construction, IT in Construction, highway and aerodrome construction, road construction, construction machinery, building technologies, environment conservation, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), water supply and sewerage systems, economics and business management in construction, housing and communal services and municipal economy, examination and valuation of real estate, etc.

Examinations and record tests are taken by students twice a year at the end of each term. Final assessment of the student’s performance is based upon the diploma work. Diploma certificate is awarded upon completion of the training course and defense of the diploma design.

Our University is one of the largest universities in our country training highly qualified specialists not only for construction (architects, economists and civil engineers) but also for other branches of industry.

 

Exercises

Circle the odd words.

 

1 Tutorial	Lecturer	Laboratory work	Seminar
2 Architecture	Economist	Engineer	Architect
3 Course	Academic process	Term	Semester
4 Physics	Foreign language	Math	Construction

 

7. Imagine that you are discussing some courses of lectures with a friend of yours.You highly appreciate them; your friend criticizes the lectures. What would you both say? Speak using these statements: I agree/disagree; you are right/wrong; I think/don’t think so.

1. The professors speak (from notes, from a written lecture, from memory, use IT Technologies).

2. Lecture courses are valuable because the professors who teach them (are specialists in their fields, great enthusiasts, and real orators). Their lectures (are over detailed, instructive).

3. Lecture halls are usually (rather small, quite large, very small, bright, dark).

8. Act the scene. Introduce yourself and try to find out as much as you can about your group mates:

Age

future plans

sports

living place

interests

family

books

hobbies

9. You are talking to a student of our university about the university:

Institutes, Departments, his studies, his schedule, favourite subjects, his future profession etc. What questions would you ask him?

10. Match the following words and word combinations:

	scientific centre	A	подземный переход
	prestigious	B	специализированная мастерская
	University campus	C	общежитие
	academic building	D	столовая
	underground crossing	E	учебное здание
	covered bridge	F	крытый переход
	purpose-built workshop	G	студенческий профилакторий
	well-equipped laboratory	H	престижный
	refectory	I	научный центр
	health centre	K	университетский городок
	Students residence	L	хорошо оборудованная лаборатория

Game time

Here are some words but the letters are mixed up. Try to answer the questions:

Letters	Correct word	Translation
WNKEELDG	KNOWLEDGE	ЗНАНИЯ
NRIEGFO ANGAGEUL
BEJCUST
AEDTCOUNI
ENTRONVIENM
CEDACAIM SOCESRP
ENEINGRIGEN
TOSRCTINOCUN

Text 3.

 

Aims. The aims of the course are: to provide a broadly based education in planning and construction which gives students the ability to think clearly, to reason logically, to undertake systematic research and to communicate facts and ideas to other people.

To equip the graduate not only to undertake planning work but also to be creatively responsive to a rapidly changing world in which economic development and job and wealth creation are important.

Students are expected to research fully and analytically in order to develop the best possible solution of design problems. Students are expected to maintain a highly interest in current design trends and developments through reading and study and to increase their confidence and commitment to achieve high standards of professional skill.

Teaching methods. At present it’s quite evident that our University is moving away from its traditional methods. It is tending to organize more realistic courses to cope with the changing and emerging conditions in the practice of architecture and construction industry that requires graduates with a modern approach to construction. And the University tries to give its students the contemporary education in compliance with the requirements of modern market economy.

Communication skills are essential for future specialist. Students are placed in realistic situations requiring problems to be solved and decisions to be made. Providing liberal and practical education our teaching staff tries to develop the creative and critical potential of each student.

Entry requirements. Before entering university applicants think a lot, attend Welcome Day which is generally held in winter and spring, surf the Internet and then make their decision.

For entry any higher school you should have General Certificate of Secondary Education and Unified State Examinations Certificate. USE is taken by all the pupils in Russia. There are 2 compulsory exams (Mathematics, Russian Language and Literature) and any number of optional exams.

On Welcome Day applicants are given the opportunity to visit the relevant Department and to assess the University and its facilities.

1. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the aims of the courses?

2. What do you know about teaching methods in our University?

3. What education should you have to enter our University?

4. When you entered the University who was the first to congratulate you?

5. What are the entry requirements for applicants?

6. What is your purpose in learning English?

7. What should you do to acquire a good knowledge of English?

8. Where would you like to work in future? Why?

9. Was it difficult to realize your dream – to become a student of chosen specialty? If so, why?

Choose the correct word.

E.g. A graduate /An undergraduate has a degree.

1 She did an English course/term.

3 I want to do/make a degree in maths.

4 I’ve got a BA/BSc in physics.

5 I study a lot in the library/bookshops.

6 You can do research in the laboratory/library.

 

8. Writing. Write an article for a newspaper advertising our University.

9. Speaking. A delegation of foreign students is on a visit to your University.

 

You are asked to tell the guests about it. Present information on:

 

a. The name of the University;

b. The place it is situated;

c. The Institutes there are at your University;

d. The time the complete course of studies lasts;

e. The subjects you study;

f. T he equipment the University is provided with;

g. The exams you take;

h. The residence where students from other towns (non-local) live in;

i. The specialties offered by the University;

j. What you like and what you don’t like about your University.

 

10. Let’s go on excursion! (plan is on p.31)

START

Museum	Library	Canteen	Covered Bridge
5th academic building	Check point (Kalinin St.)	Rector’s Office	Students’ Council
Health Centre	Students’ residence	Sport Complex “Builder”	Check point (Zelenaya St.)

FINISH

Final test

II. Supplementary reading.

Present-day Britain

Some people find it difficult to distinguish between such names as British and English, between Britain and England, and the names the British Isles and the United Kingdom add to the difficulty. What exactly does each of these names mean?

The British Isles is the geographical name that refers to all the islands situated off the north-west coast of the European continent: Great Britain, the whole of Ireland (Northern and Southern), and all the smaller islands situated between and around them: the Isle of Wight, the Orkneys, the Hebrides, the Shetlands, the Isles of Scilly, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

 

Great Britain

This is the name of the largest island of the British Isles. It is historically divided into three parts which were once independent states: England, Scotland and Wales. The people who live in Scotland are Scots. The people who live in Wales are the Welsh. At the same time all these people are British because they live in Britain. As to the word Great in the name of the island, it was first introduced by the French to distinguish the island from the area in the north of France called Brittany (the French language has the same word for Britain and Brittany).

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (or the UK) is an abbreviation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which is the political name of the country consisting of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (sometimes called Ulster). Southern Ireland is a completely independent state: the Republic of Ireland (also called Eire).

It took centuries and a lot of armed struggle to form the United Kingdom. In the 15th century a Welsh prince Henry Tudor became King Henry VII of England. Then his son, Henry VIII, united England and Wales under one Parliament in 1536. In Scotland a similar thing happened. The king of Scotland inherited the crown of England and Wales in 1603, so he became King James I of England and Wales and King James VI of Scotland. The Parliaments of England and Wales were united a century later, in 1707.

The Scottish and the Welsh are proud and independent people. In recent years there have been attempts at devolution in the two countries, particularly in Scotland where the Scottish Nationalist Party was very strong for a while.

However, in a referendum in 1978 the majority of Welsh people rejected devolution, and in 1979 the Scots did the same. Nevertheless, most Welsh and Scots sometimes complain that they are dominated by England, and of course they don’t like to be referred to as the English.

The whole island of Ireland was united with Great Britain from 1801 till 1921. In 1921 it was divided into two parts. The larger southern part formed the independent Republic of Ireland (Eire), while Northern Ireland (Ulster) became a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Notes:

 

1. the Isle of Wight – остров Уайт

2. the Orkneys – Оркнейские острова

3. the Hebrides – Гебриды, Гебридские острова

4. the Shetlands – Шетландские острова

5. the Isles of Scilly – острова Силлы

6. the Channel Islands – Нормандские острова

7. the Isle of Man – остров Мэн

8. Brittanny – Бретань (провинция во Франции)

9. the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – Объединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии

10. Ulster – Ольстер

11. Eire – Эйре

Answer the questions.

1. What does the name the British Isles refer to?

2. What is Great Britain?

3. What three parts is Great Britain traditionally divided into?

4. What is the full name of the country situated on the British Isles?

5. Which four parts does the United Kingdom consist of?

6. What kind of people are the Scottish and the Welsh?

7. When was the island of Ireland divided into two parts?

8. What is Ulster?

 

Answer the questions.

1. What climate does Great Britain enjoy?

2. What are the characteristic features of this climate?

3. Which are the prevailing winds in Great Britain? What do they bring to the country?

4. Which are the wettest parts of Great Britain?

5. Which are the wettest seasons in Great Britain?

6. Why does Great Britain have warmer winters than any other district in the same latitude?

 

The Lake District

The Lake District is a mountainous area in the north-west of England, and it has some of England’s most beautiful scenery. Some admiring visitors called it “a paradise of mountain scenery and magical light”.

The Lake District is a National Park, which means that special care is taken to make sure that the beauty of the countryside is not spoiled. The peoplewho are responsible for preserving the Lake District’s natural beauty are members of the National Trust.

The National Trust is a public organization which is financed by ordinary people who pay to become members. The Trust was set up in 1895 by three people who thought that industrialization could spoil the countryside and ancient buildings of England and Wales. The National Trust members constantly keep an eye on famous gardens, whole villages, farms, windmills, lakes and hills, abbeys, prehistoric and Roman antiquities.

 

Notes:

1. the National Trust – государственная трастовая компания

2. the Ice Age – ледниковый период

 

Answer the questions.

1. Where is the Lake District situated?

2. What is the National Trust? When was it set up?

3. What do the members of the National Trust do?

 

Before you start

1. Would you like to go to London? Why?

2. What things come into your mind when you think about London?

3. Does the British capital differ from other world capitals? In what way?

I. Read and remember these words and word combinations:

1. fortification	укрепленный пункт, оборонительное сооружение
2. to spread	распространять, простирать, раскинуть
3. outwards	наружу, за пределы
4. as a matter of fact	а) фактически, на самом деле; б) в сущности, собственно говоря
5. distinct	отчетливый
6. entertainment	развлечение
7. trade	торговля, ремесло, профессия
8. stock exchange	фондовая биржа
9. shares	акции
10. Lloyd’s	Ллойд (рынок страхования)
11. Insurance	страхование
12. Central Criminal Court	Центральный уголовный суд
13. the Old Bailey	Олд Бейли
14. Fleet street	Флит Стрит
15. wharf	верфь
16. warehouse	склад
17. Petticoat Lane market	рынок на улице Петтикоут Лейн
18. sight	достопримечательность, точка зрения
19. Trafalgar Square	Трафальгарская площадь
20. Regent Street	Риджент стрит
21. Soho	Coxo (район Лондона)
22. Piccadilly Circus	площадь Пикадилли
23. Leicester Square	площадь Лестер сквер
24. Shaftesbury Avenue	Шафтсбери авеню
25. glamour	чары, волшебство, обаяние, очарование
26. to commemorate	праздновать (годовщину), отмечать (событие), чтить память, служить напоминанием
27. whodunit	детективная пьеса
28. ВВС radio news (British Broadcasting Corporation)	радионовости Би-Би-Си (Британская вещательная корпорация)
29. chime	куранты, перезвон, бой часов
30. Westminster Abbey	Вестминстерское аббатство
31. royalty	королевская власть, королевское достоинство, величие
32. to bury	похоронить, погребать
33. to stretch	простираться, тянуться, растягиваться

London

London is the capital of Great Britain and is a very big city. It began life two thousand years ago as a Roman fortification. Around the town the Romans built a wall for defence.

Today not many people live in the city centre but London has spread further outwards into the country including surrounding villages. Greater London now covers about 1600 square kilometres. The population of Greater London is about 12 million.

It is difficult to speak about the centre of London as of one definite place. As a matter of fact it has a number of centres each with a distinct character: the financial and business centre is called the City, the shopping and entertainment centre is the West End, the government centre is Westminster, and the industrial part is the East End.

The City of London is the oldest part of the capital. It is just a small area but it is the centre of trade and commerce. It is one of the biggest banking centres in the world. Here you will find the Bank of England and the banks of many nations. Nearby is the Stock Exchange, which is like a busy market where shares in commercial companies are bought and sold. A little further is Lloyd’s, the most famous insurance company in the world.

The Central Criminal Court of the country is also to be found in the City. It is called the Old Bailey after the street in which it is situated.

Fleet Street is famous as the home of the nation’s newspapers but, in fact, only two of them – the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph – are still in Fleet Street. However, people still say Fleet Street when they mean the press.

The East End is an industrial part of London. It grew with the spread of industry to the east of the City and the growth of the port of London. It covers a wide area, and there are many wharves and warehouses along the river banks. The East End markets are famous throughout the world. Petticoat Lane market takes place every Sunday morning and has become one of the sights of London.

The West End is the name given to the area of central London. It includes Trafalgar Square, the main shopping areas of Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and the entertainment centres of Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Shaftes bury Avenue. The name West End is associated with glamour and bright lights. Most of London’s big department stores are situated in Oxford Street and Regent Street.

Trafalgar Square was built at the beginning of the 19th century to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. Admiral Lord Nelson’s statue stands on the top of a column in the middle of Trafalgar Square. The large square is a traditional place for people to meet: all sorts of protest meetings are held there.

Piccadilly Circus is the center of night life in the West End. To the north of Piccadilly Circus is Soho, which has been the foreign quarter of London since the 17th century.

London is famous for its theatres. In the West End there are over thirty theatres. They offer a great variety of shows to choose from: opera, musicals, drama, comedies, whodunits, and so on.

Every day, when people in the UK and overseas switch on their radio to listen to BBC radio news, they can hear one of the most famous sounds in London: the chimes of Big Ben on the tower of the Houses of Parliament.

The Houses of Parliament occupy a magnificent building on the left bank of the Thames in a part of London called Westminster that has long been connected with royalty and government.

Opposite the Houses of Parliament stands Westminster Abbey. A church has stood here since Saxon times. Since William the Conqueror’s times British monarchs have been crowned there, and since the 13th century they have been buried there. Many other famous people are also buried in Westminster Abbey.

The street called Whitehall stretches from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square. Whitehall is often associated with the government of Britain.

Downing Street, which is a small side street of Whitehall, is the home of the Prime Minister who lives at number ten.

 

II. Supplementary reading.

Royal London

When you are in London, you are always reminded of the city’s close connection with the Crown. There are royal palaces, royal parks and colourful ceremonies.

The most important building in London, though not the most beautiful, is Buckingham Palace, which is the official residence of the Queen. It stands in St. James’s Park.

St. James’s Park is one of the so-called royal parks situated in or near London. These parks officially belong to the Crown but are open to the public free of charge. These large parks are very good places for people to escape from traffic jams, crowded shops and the city noise. Each park has its own character. Hyde Park was originally a hunting forest, and it is still popular. Regent’s Park, which was also originally a hunting park, is now the home of London Zoo, and an open-air theatre which stages Shakespeare’s plays.

 

Notes:

1. St. James’s Park - Сент-Джеймс парк

2. Hyde Park – Гайд-парк

3. Regent Park – Риджент парк

Answer the questions.

1. What places and ceremonies remind us of London’s close connection with the Crown?

2. Name three of London’s parks. What do you know about each of them?

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle, standing on a rock overlooking the River Thames, was founded by William the Conqueror and was later fortified and enlarged by almost every monarch since the Norman Conquest. William and his early successors needed to secure their military position. William put the castle to guard the river crossing at Windsor. Henry II built the Massive Round Tower, and his grandson Henry III added some fortifications. Later, the famous St. George’s Chapel was added by the kings Edward IV, Henry VII and Henry VIII. Henry VIII also added a fortified gateway. Charles II and later monarchs continued to make alterations to suit the needs and fashions of the day, including the laying out of the Great Park as their personal estate.

Nowadays Windsor Castle is a comfortable country place within an hour’s drive from the capital, where the Royal family can relax.

 

Notes:

1. Windsor Castle – Виндзорский замок

2. St. George’s Chapel – часовня святого Георгия

Answer the questions.

1. Who began building Windsor Castle?

2. What purpose did he build it with?

3. How far from London is Windsor Castle situated?

 

Knightsbridge

People say you can buy anything in Harrods, including wild animals. They even have a zoo which will sell you lion cubs as well as more common pets Knightsbridge is a part of London where you can find many foreign embassies, large glamorous hotels, and the department store that is a symbol of expensive and high-class living – Harrods.

 

Another place of interest here is the Albert Hall, a huge concert hall which gives concerts of popular classical music every summer.

Three of London’s most interesting museums – the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum – are also in this area. The Natural History Museum has exhibits of birds, animals and reptiles, as well as life-size reconstructions of prehistoric animals. The Victoria and Albert Museum includes exhibits from almost every place and period including theatre costumes and paintings. The Science Museum covers every aspect of science and technology, and its collections are constantly being enlarged. The museum is always crowded. In many rooms there are machines and computers which visitors can work themselves.

Answer the questions.

1. What is Harrods?

2. What festivals are held in the Albert Hall in summer?

3. Which are the three of London’s most interesting museums?

 

Role play.

A group of guides suggests possible sightseeing routes about London to their office director commenting on the peculiarities of different historical places. Each one speaks in favour of his/her suggestion trying to convince both the director and the guides that the route is the best. In the end the participants of the talk choose the most appropriate route.

	PART II
Unit III
The Political System of the United Kingdom

Before you start.

II. Supplementary reading.

Political system

Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. Officially the head of the state is a king or a queen. The power of the monarch is not absolute but constitutional. The monarch acts only on the advice of ministers.

The hereditary principle upon which the monarchy is founded is strictly observed. The monarch, be it a king or a queen, is the head of the executive body, an integral part of the legislature, the head of the judicial body, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the crown, the head of the Established Church of England and the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Notes:

1. the Established Church – англиканская церковь

2. the British Commonwealth of Nations –Британское содружество (наций)

Answer the questions.

1. Who is the official head of the state of Great Britain?

2. What does the hereditary principle mean?

3. Who is the commander-in-chief of the British armed forces?

The Constitution

Practically speaking, there is no written constitution in Great Britain. The term “English Constitution” means leading principles, conventions and laws, many of which have been existed for centuries, though they have undergone modifications and extensions in agreement with the advance of civilization. These principles are expressed in such documents of major importance as Magna Charta, a famous document in English history agreed upon in 1215 by King John and barons, which set certain limits on royal power and which was later regarded as a law stating basic civil rights; Habeas Corpus Act, a law passed in 1679, which guarantees to a person arrested the right to appear in Court of Justice so that the jury should decide whether he is guilty or not guilty; the Bill of Rights, an act of Parliament passed in 1689, which confirmed certain rights of people; laws deciding the succession of the royal family, and a number of constitutional acts, separate laws and agreements.

 

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