Англійська

Unit 5

and health resorts, and the Highlands with an unspoiled natural environment and strong historical traditions. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh.

Northern Ireland occupies the north-east section of the island of Ireland. The territory of Northern Ireland is 5,462 sq.miles and it has a population of 1.5 m. It has a typical maritime, oceanic climate and is an agrarian-industrial region. On the coast, the chief occupations are ship-building and fishing. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast.

London’s history begins about the year 43 A.D., when it was founded by the Ro­ mans as a military base. In the late 11th century London became the capital of Eng­ land. Ever since the beginning of the 14th century, the reign of King Edward Ш, it has continued to increase in importance as a centre of commerce. In the 17th century the plague and the Great Fire of London almost ruined the city. However, it soon recov­ ered and continued to expand and prosper.

The U.K. is defined as a constitutional monarchy. The British Parliament is the oldest in the world and is known as the “mother of parliaments”. It came into being in the late 13th century and consists of two chambers - the House of Commons, consist­ ing of 635 elected Members of Parliament (MPs), and the House of Lords, a mainly hereditary upper house. The political party which gains a majority of members in the House of Commons in popular elections forms the government. In recent history, the government has been in the hands of one of the two major parties, Labour or Conser­ vative. The party in government introduces proposals for new legislation (known as “bills”) to Parliament. If, after three “readings”, i.e. debates, a bill is approved by a majority of MPs, it then goes before the House of Lords. If the Lords accept the bill it is placed before the Queen for the formal signature of approval and becomes an Act of Parliament (it becomes law). Otherwise, the bill returns to the Commons for further debate. However, if it is passed a second time by the House of Commons, the House of Lords may not veto it and the bill becomes law. Any MP may introduce a bill, includ­ ing members of the opposition parties.

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain. The traditional industries of coal-mining, metal working textile manufacture and engineering, which were concentrated in the Midlands and Northern England are now in decline. Even the more modem branches of industry such as electronics face strong competition from abroad and service industries are gaining in importance in what is known as the “post-industrial society”. Great Britain has made major contributions to science, art, literature and culture.

[Based on Elizabeth Laird, Faces of Britain, Longman, 1986.]

Section I. Exercise 4

Exercise 4. Cloze Test

1)Great Britain is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.

2)Great Britain is separated from Europe by the North Sea and the English Channel.

3)The British Isles are known to have a mild/cool/humid/temperate climate.

4)Wales is a peninsula surrounded on three sides by the sea.

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5)The British Isles consist of Great Britain and Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

6)The mainland of England can be divided into Northern England, the Midlands,

7)Scotland occupies an area of 78,800 square kilometres and has a population of 5.2 million.

8)On the coast, the main occupations are ship-building and fishing

9)London’s history begins about the year 43 A.D., when it was founded by the Romans as a military station.

10)In the 17th century, the plague and the Great Fire of London almost ruined the city. But it soon recovered.

11)The political party which wins a majority in the House of Commons in popular elections forms the government.

12)Any M.P. may introduce a Bill.

Section I. Exercises 5-7

Aural Comprehension Text 2:

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The United States is located in the central part of the North American continent between two great oceans - the Atlantic to the east and the Pacific to the west. It is bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. Two of the world’s largest rivers are found in the USA, namely the Mississippi and the Missouri. The United States occupies an area of 9,363,200 sq.km. and has a population of 265,284,000. The USA is a federal republic consisting of 50 states.

The United States was formed on July 4th, 1776. It was on that day that the Conti­ nental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jeffer­ son. The form of government in the USA is based on the Constitution of 17th Septem­ ber, 1789. It comprises’ three coordinated branches, the legislative branch, which makes new laws, the executive, which ensures that laws are carried out, and the judici­ ary, which ensures that the laws and the actions of the other branches conform to the Constitution. The US Congress is composed of the Senate and the House of Repre­ sentatives. The seat of the Congress is the Capitol.

The executive power is vested in the president, the legislative power is headed by the Congress and the Supreme Court heads the judiciary. In the USA there are two main political parties - the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

The US President is chosen by electors from each state and holds office for 4 years. Nowadays the President may be elected for two terms only. The President must be a U.S. citizen by birth, resident in the country for 14 years, and at least 35 years old. The presidential election is held every fourth year (leap year) on the first Tuesday in No­

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vember. The official residence of the US President is the White House, where he works in the Oval Office.

Washington, the capital of the USA, is situated in the District of Columbia, named after Columbus, the discoverer of America. The city is named in honour of the first President George Washington, who selected the location for the capital. The city was planned by the French engineer Pierre L’Enfant. Washington has been the capital of the USA since 1800.

The popular name of the United States flag is the Stars and Stripes (it consists of 13 alternate red and white stripes and 50 white stars on a blue background).

[Based on: С.Е. Eckersley, Essential English for foreign students, Book 4, Foreign Languages Press, Sofia, 1965. (Statistics updated from Whitaker’s Almanack, Stationery Office, London, 1998.)]

Section I, Exercise 8

1.Canada borders the USA to the north.

2.The longest rivers in the USA are the Mississippi and the Missouri.

3.The Constitution of the USA was adopted on 17th September, 1789.

4.The Capitol is the seat of the US Congress.

5.The US capital was named after George Washington, who selected the place for it.

6.The US Government comprises three branches.

7.The Supreme Court heads the judicial branch.

8.The President must be a U.S. citizen bom in the United States and at least 35 years old.

9.Washington, the capital of the USA, was planned by Pierre L ’Enfant.

10.The White House is the President’s residence.

11.The District of Columbia was named in honour of Columbus.

12.Washington has been the capital of the USA since 1800.

13.The popular name of the United States flag is the Stars and Stripes. •

14.The US Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Section I. Exercises 10-12

Aural Comprehension Text 3:

COVENTRY

The name of this English city has recently become quite familiar to students and staff of Lviv State Polytechnic University. Many LSPU students have come here dur­ ing the past few years to study at Coventry University for a term. LSPU teachers of English have visited Coventry University to undertake advanced training for a period of several weeks on the basis of Staff Mobility funding under a Tempus-Tacis Joint European Project.

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English-Speaking Countries

If you asked Ukrainian visitors to mention some characteristic features of the city, they would most probably highlight three main points. First of all they would tell you that Coventry is the city of Lady Godiva, centred on three medieval spires, St.Michael’s spire (293ft, 90m) exceeded in height only by those of Salisbury, .and Norwich Cathedrals. Then, for a century Coventry has been known as the city that pioneered the British motor-car industry. Finally, there is plenty of justification to call Coventry a phoenix-city that has risen from the devastation caused by the severe air raids of the Second World War.

Coventry is situated in the English Midlands, the only major British region without a sea-coast. It has been called “Britain’s most accessible city” because of its location in the middle of the country, near to motorways, on Britain’s busiest railway line and close to two international airports.

The first recorded event in Coventry’s history was the foundation of the Benedic­ tine Priory of St.Mary in 1043 by Leofric, the Saxon Earl of Mercia and his wife Godiva. The spirit of Lady Godiva is present everywhere, not only in the city centre as a bronze statue of a lady riding naked on horseback. The statue symbolises a legend which is one of the first things many people learn about Coventry and which hardly any visitor has failed to notice. The following is Daniel Defoe’s account of the legend in his “Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain” (1724-6): “The tale of the Lady of Godiva, who rode naked through the High Street of the city to purchase her beloved city of Coventry exemption from taxes, is held for so certain a truth, that they will not have it questioned upon any account whatever; and the picture of the poor fellow that peeped out of the window to see her, is still kept up, looking out of garret in the High Street of the city. But Mr.Cambden says positively nobody looked at her at all”.

By the 14th century Coventry was the fourth largest town in England. In the Mid­ dle Ages the city was famous for its cloth industry. Later on the ribbon-weaving in­ dustry developed, becoming the city’s major occupation by the middle of the 19th century. As old industries declined, the city rapidly abandoned them and adopted the growing ones. And it was in Coventry that the first British commercial motor-car was produced in 1896.

The automobile industry led to the development of many other related industries, which demanded more labour, and so the population of Coventry has grown from about 70,000 inhabitants in 1901 to about 300,000 at present. The city has also be­ come an important educational centre, with its two universities.

If you want to know about the city’s past and present in detail, probably the best way to start is to visit the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum housed in a new building in the city centre next to the Coventry University campus. The Museum’s exhibits of­ fer a comprehensive record of Coventry’s ancient and recent history. Here you can find evidence of the fact that you are not the first Ukrainian to come to Coventry. Among the exhibits representing numerous ethnic groups that have come to live in Coventry, Ukrainian Easter carvings and other articles are displayed. These objects have been donated to the Museum as a token of gratitude to the people of Coventry for

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giving refuge to hundreds of the thousands of Ukrainian refugees who were forced to flee their country during and immediately after the Second World War.

Modem Ukrainian newcomers to Coventry reflect the new realities that have changed Europe as it is getting ready to enter the 21st century.

[References: Coventry City Council (various information brochures); Daniel Defoe, A tour through the whole island of Great Britain; Henry Rees, The British Isles: a regional geography, 2nd. ed., Harrap, 1972; Kenneth Richardson, Twentieth century Coventry, Macmillan, 1972; Whitaker’s Almanack, The Station­ ery Office, 1998.]

Section I. Exercise 13

1.By the 14th century Coventry was the fourth largest town in England.

2.In the Middle Ages the city was famous for its cloth industry.

3.Later on the ribbon-weaving industry developed, becoming the city’s major oc­ cupation by the middle of the 19th century.

4.As old industries declined, the city rapidly abandoned them and adopted the growing ones.

5.And it was in Coventry that the first British commercial motor-car was produced in 1896.

6.The tale of the Lady of Godiva, who rode naked through the High Street of the city to purchase her beloved city of Coventry exemption from taxes , is held for so ceratin a truth, that they will not have it questioned upon any account what­ ever, and the picture of the poor fellow that peeped out of the window to see her, is still kept up, looking out of a garret in the High Street of the city.

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Unit 6

Introduction

to the Topic Travelling

Travelling means new continents and countries, different customs and traditions, unusual life styles, fresh impressions and meeting new people. Interview a few people of different ages and different backgrounds. Ask them what countries they have visited and what they can tell you about their travels.

Make a list o f different types of transport in order of your preference and describe their good and bad points, using words o f opposite meanings given below:

Compare your list with that of a partner/other students. How many of these types of transport have you used yourself?

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4.a) Aeroplanes inflict on us complicated journeys to the airport.

b)Aeroplanes are too slow for the pace of modem life.

c)Aeroplanes are inexpensive but uncomfortable.

5.a) After our year’s work we need to rest our eyes on unfamiliar horizons.

b)After our year’s work we can always afford expensive holidays in far-flung places.

c)After our year’s work we are unable to imagine what may be beyond our familiar territory.

Exercise 5. Written summary

Listen to the recording of the text and write a summary o f its content in approxi­ mately 40 words.

Text 3. THE BRITISH TRAVEL CENTRE

Exercise 6. Comprehension Test

Listen to the text about the British Travel Centre and give answers to the questions which follow:

1.Where does Mr. MacGregor work?

2.Where is the British Travel Centre situated?

3.What kinds of services are provided by the British Travel Centre?

4.Where can one buy maps and travel guides?

5.Is the Travel Centre open on Sundays?

Exercise 7. Comprehension Test

Listen to the recording again and confirm whether all o f thefollowing statements are accurate:

Text 4. AT A HOTEL

Exercise 8. Cloze Test

Listen to the dialogue entitled At a Hotel and then fill in the following blanks:

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