Conversational formulas. 3.1. Dialogue: «We are in London»

3.1. Dialogue: «We are in London»

Remember the set expressions.

That’s why I’d like to make a trip. – вот почему я хотел бы путешествовать.

The air is full of spring smells. – воздух полон весенних запахов.

In the roadway there is a constant stream of cars, taxis, buses. – на дороге постоянный поток машин, такси, автобусов.

We have left-hand traffic. – у нас левостороннее движение.

Look right! – смотри прямо!

Here it is, on the left. – он здесь, налево.

Practice reading the dialogue, translate it into Russian. Learn the dialogue by heart.

– Here we are in England. I’m glad the trip is over.

– How long are you planning to stay in London?

– Only three days. That’s why I’d like to make a trip through the streets of London right now to get a gene impression of the city.

– Let me accompany you. I know the city well. And weather is so fine.

– Oh, that’s the first surprise of mine. We used to think that there are fogs or rains in London nearly every day of year. But the weather is very good today. A slight wind blowing and the air is full of spring smells.

– We’ll see more of the city if we take a bus and begin the West End.

– Now we are moving along Oxford Street. You can see numerous shops, banks, restaurants on both sides of the street, The pavements are crowded with people. In the roadway there is a constant stream of cars, taxis, buses. It's dangerous to cross the road until the traffic is stopped.

– An unusual thing is that your drivers keep to the left.

– Oh, yes. It’s very important. We have left-hand traffic here. Remember this while crossing the street.

– And your buses differ greatly from our buses. They are all red and double-decked. Are there also trolleybuses and trams in London?

– Yes, in some parts of the city.

– Don’t you find it's too noisy in the street?

– Oh, yes. The noise lasts till midnight. But people get used to it very soon.

– Look right! Isn’t it the building of the Houses of parliament? I recognize it from the pictures.

– You are quite right. It is the Houses of Parliament, the place where the Government has its seat. And can you recognize Westminster Abbey?

– Unfortunately not.

– Here it is, on the left. I recommend you to come here tomorrow and to see the Poets’ Corner.

– Sure I will. I’d like to visit the British Museum, the National Gallery and Buckingham Palace to watch the ceremony of the changing of the guard.

– But there’s bus stop just over there. We’ll ask the conductor to put us down at Trafalgar Square and we'll see the National Gallery.

– OK. And then we'll spend the rest of the day in some of the parks nearby.

– We are in Hyde Park, aren’t we?

– Yes, it’s the famous Hyde Park.

– It's splendid here! There are a lot of old trees, green lawns and a few ponds. The ducks are swimming in the pools. People in light spring clothes are walking around. To my surprise they are walking not only along the paths but also across the grass.

– Oh, people are allowed to do everything here. You can sing, or dance, or cry, or preach and nobody will make you a remark.

– I’ve heard a lot about the Speaker’s Corner.

– It’s a big open place where a man can stand on a chair, or on a platform, or on the ground and speak everything he likes. You can listen to him, ask questions or you may pass him by without any reaction.

– By the way, are there any other parks in London?

– Quite a lot. Except Hyde Park there is Queen Park, Kensington Gardens, St. James Park and others. People call them «lungs of London».

– Really, it’s a wonderful place to spend time in.

3.2. Text: «London»

Practice reading the text, translate it into Russian.

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the world (together with Tokyo and New York) and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million.

London is situated on the river Thames. The city is very old. It has more than 20 centuries old history. Traditionally, it is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other.

The City is the oldest part of London, its financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are concentrated here, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Few people live in the City but over a million come to work here. Two masterpieces are situated within the City: St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. St. Paul’s Cathedral was built in the 17th century by Christopher Wren. The Tower of London was built in the 11th century. It was used as a fortress, a palace and a prison. Now it’s a museum.

Westminster is the aristocratic official part of London. It includes Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives and the Houses of Parliament stretching for nearly 1000 feet along the north bank of the Thames.

The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as «Big Ben». Westminster Abbey is the place where coronation of nearly all kings and queens has taken place. Many of them are buried here as well as some other famous people of the country (G. Chaucer, Tennyson, Newton, Ch. Dickens, T. Hardy, R. Kipling, etc.).

The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It is a symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs, parks and houses are situated there. English aristocracy lives in this region. One of the busiest streets in the West End is Oxford Street. There are many various shops in it which attract customers from different countries of the world.

Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in the memory of Admiral Nelson’s victory at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson Column stands in the middle of the square.

Opposite the Nelson Monument is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. They contain the finest art collections in the world. Not far from the National Gallery is the British Museum famous for its rich library (about 7,000.000 books).

The East End is an industrial district of London. There are many factories and the Port of London there. It is very important to the country’s commerce. The region is densely populated by working class families. Old residents of the East End are proud to be called cockneys which means true Londoners, hereditary inhabitants of the area.

4.Self-control questions

What conversational formulas of politeness in the dialogues and in the text are used to express:

1. Willingness.

2. Gratitude.

3. Invitation.

4. Agreement.

5. Disagreement.

6. Advice.

Illustrate each point with examples from the dialogues.

5.Vocabulary drill

5.1. Find out the English equivalents of the following words:

традиционно, многочисленный, вдоль северного берега реки Темзы, почти, одна из самых оживленных улиц, покупатели, напротив, потомственные обитатели, старые жители.

5.2. Give Russian equivalents of the following expressions:

few people, to include, as well as, symbol of wealth and luxury, the finest art collection, densely, populated, true Londoners, to take place, at the battle of.

5.3. Find the synonyms in the text of the following expressions:

to be located, to vary, to be constructed, to be well-known, different, in honour of, to house, to be called, trade, territory, quite near, almost.

5.4. Choose the correct word in the brackets:

1) London is the (large/largest/larger) city in Europe.

2) The City is a market for (good/goods) of almost (all/every) kind from (all/every) parts of the world.

3) Not (most/more) than five thousand people live in the City.

4)You will find here great industrial areas than depend (from/upon/of) shipping.

5) (It’s/its) population is about 6 (million/millions).

6) Two masterpieces (are situated/are concentrated) within the City: St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.

7) The Tower of London (was built/was buried) in the 11th century.

8) The tall Nelson’s Column stands (in the middle of/not far from) the Trafalgar Square.

9) Old residents of the East End are hereditary (aristocracy/cockneys).

10) Numerous banks and firms are concentrated in the City (containing/including) the Bank of England and the Stock Exchange.

5.5. Finish the sentences:

1) The oldest part of London is ... .

2) The well-known people of England are buried in ... .

3) The place where Monarch lives is called ... .

4) The largest park in London is ... .

5) The Tower of London was used as ... .

6) St. Paul’s Cathedral was built in ... by ... .

7) The population of London is ... .

5.6. Make up the sentences:

1) 20, more, is, London, old, than, centuries.

2) N 10, Prime Minister, of, official, the, is, residence, the, Street, Downing.

3) the, with, associated, high, «West End», name, of, goods, riches, and, quality, is.

5.7. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1) Лондон – самый большой город в Европе. Он простирается почти на 30 миль.

2) Трафальгарская площадь – это то место, где традиционно проводятся различные демонстрации.

3) Картинные галереи Лондона – богатейшие в мире.

4) В Британском музее содержится большое количество древних рукописей, монет, скульптур.

5) Напротив здания Парламента находится Вестминстерское аббатство.

6) В Вестминстерском аббатстве похоронены многие знаменитые люди Англии, среди них – государственные деятели, музыканты и писатели.

6.Practice

6.1. Compose the dialogue «What do you know about London?». Ask your friend:

Знает ли он какие-нибудь достопримечательности Лондона; интересуется ли он церквами и соборами; что он думает о музеях Лондона; в какой части Лондона он хотел бы жить.

Take into consideration phrases given below: What do you think of ...?, Do you happen to know ...?, Are you keen on ...?, I wonder ... .

The answers begin with: Well, I think ... , Well, no, not really ... , Well, yes and no. On the one hand ... On the other hand ... , To tell the truth ... .

6.2. Agree or disagree with these statements.

6.3. Develop the situation from one of the given sentences or make up a short dialogue:

1. You are in London at first time.

2. You tell about your native town to your English friend.