Compose your own sentences with each English equivalent of the words or phrases given in exercise 28. Compare your variants with the sentences of your partner.

30. Give Russian equivalents to the following word combinations:

Constitutional monarchy; the powers of the monarch; Prime Minister; on the advice; the process of decolonization; to lose influence; head of the Commonwealth; historical events; symbolic significance; two chambers; real political power; coronation of a new monarch; to be supported; the main functions; to debate the major issues; general elections; political system; national affairs; to be appointed; to be abolished; the supreme control of government; to have no real political power

31. Work in pairs and decide whether these statements are true or false:

1. Great Britain is a federal republic.

2. Once the British Empire included a large number of countries all over the world ruled by Britain.

3. An association of former members of the British Empire and Britain is called the United Nations Organization.

4. Unlike the constitutions of most other countries, British constitution is not set out in any single document.

5. Parliament consists of two chambers known as the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

6. The House of Lords is the only true power in Great Britain.

7. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen, and all other ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister.

32. Translate the following sentences into English using a dictionary:

1. Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии состоит из четырех исторических национальных областей: Англии, Уэльса, Шотландии и Северной Ирландии.

2. Великобритания является конституционной монархией, во главе государства - королева Елизавета II.

3. Законодательная власть в стране принадлежит монарху и парламенту, состоящему из палаты общин и палаты лордов.

4. Исполнительная власть сосредоточена в руках правительства, возглавляемого премьер-министром.

5. Великобритания — высокоразвитая индустриальная страна, крупный поставщик готовой промышленной продукции на мировой рынок и крупный экспортёр капитала.

6. Культура Соединённого Королевства богата и разнообразна.

7. Великобритания имеет крепкие культурные связи со своими бывшими колониями, особенно с теми госудаствами, где английский язык является госудаственным.

8. Великобритания — страна удивительной красоты с богатой историей и вековыми традициями.

9. В числе разнообразных памятников культуры и истории - легендарный Стоунхендж — наиболее известный доисторический участок в Европе.

33. Read the text and give its brief summary:

Text 4 D

London

London is the capital city of the United Kingdom. The capital of the former empire, London is a leader in culture, communications, politics, finance, entertainment and the arts and has considerable influence worldwide. London is one of the four major global cities along with New York, Tokyo and Paris. London is the most populous city in the Europen Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7,421,328, and several million more living in the wider metropolitan area.

London’s population includes a very diverse range of peoples, cultures, and religions, making it one of the most cosmopolitan, vibrant and energetic cities on earth. Over 300 languages are spoken in London, making the capital one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world.

London is the home to many institutions, organisations and companies, and as such retains its leading role in global affairs. It has a great number of important buildings and iconic landmarks, including world-famous museums, theatres, concert halls, airports, palaces, and offices. It is also the location of many foreign embassies.

Historically, London referred to the square mile of the City of London at the conurbation’s heart, from which the city grew. Today, London usually refers to the conurbation known as Greater London, which comprises the City of London and the 32 London boroughs including the City of Westminster.

The dominant centre of activity in London is the City of Westminster including the West End which is the main cultural, entertainment and shopping district, the location of most of London's major corporate headquarters outside of the financial services sector, and the centre of the UK’s national government.

The City of London is the banking centre of the world and Europe’s main business centre. The headquarters of more than 100 of Europe’s 500 largest companies are in London. The London foreign exchange market is the largest in the world, with an average daily turnover of $504 billion, more than the New York and Tokyo exchanges combined. While very busy during the working week, most parts of the City tend to be quiet at weekends, since it is primarily a non-residential area.

London attracts very large numbers of visitors and tourists. Tourist attractions are mainly in Central London, comprising the historic City of London; the West End with its cinemas, bars, clubs, theatres, shops and restaurants; the City of Westminster with Westminster Abbey, the Royal palaces of Buckingham Palace, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea with its museums (the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and Victoria and Albert Museum) and Hyde Park. Other important tourist attractions include St Paul’s Cathedral, the National Gallery, London Bridge, Tower of London, the British Museum. There are many other museums and places of interest.

TEXT AND VOCABULARY EXERCISES

34. Give English equivalents to the following word combinations:

§ быть политическим, культурным и финансовым лидером

§ иметь значительное влияние

§ столичный

§ иностранные посольства

§ Большой Лондон

§ банковский мировой центр

§ привлекать большое число посетителей и туристов

§ достопримечательности

35. Give Russian equivalents to the following word combinations:

former empire; the most populous city; metropolitan area; very diverse range of peoples; leading role; global affairs; national government; banking centre; foreign exchange market; working week; non-residential area; important tourist attractions; places of interest

36. Choose the correct word from Text 4D to complete the sentences:

1. The capital of the former empire, London is a leader in culture, communications, politics, finance, entertainment and the arts and has considerable ___ worldwide.

2. London is the most ___ city in the Europen Union.

3. Over 300 languages are spoken in London, making the capital one of the most linguistically ___ cities in the world.

4. London is the home to many institutions, organisations and companies, and as such retains its ___ role in global affairs.

5. Today London refers to the conurbation known as ___ London.

6. The City of London is the ___ centre of the world and Europe’s main business centre.

7. London attracts very large numbers of visitors and ___.

37. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box:

London has a temperate 1___, with warm but seldom hot 2 ___, cool but rarely severe winters, and regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year. Summer temperatures rarely 3 ___ much above 33ºC (91ºF), though higher temperatures have become more common recently. The highest temperature ever recorded in London was 38.1°C (100.6°F), measured at Kew Gardens during the European heatwave of 2003. Heavy 4 ___ are almost unknown. In recent winters, snow has rarely settled to more than an inch (25 mm). London’s average annual precipitation of less than 24 inches (600 mm) is lower than that of Rome or Sydney. London's large built-up area creates a 5 ___, with heat stored by the city's buildings: sometimes temperatures are 5°C (9°F) warmer in the city than in the surrounding areas.

Check your answers on p.279.

38. Match each word in A with the Russian equivalent in B:

39. Translate the following sentences into English using the dictionary:

1. Лондон — столица Великобритании и крупнейший город на Британских островах с населением более 7 млн. человек.

2. Лондон играет ведущую роль в политической, экономической и культурной жизни Великобритании.

3. В городе находится международный аэропорт Хитроу, один из крупнейших в мире, речной порт на реке Темзе, многие всемирно известные достопримечательности.

4. Лондон - один из самых древних городов страны и мира.

5. Во времена Британской Империи Лондон часто неофициально называли столицей мира.