Орлова Г.Д. и др. Английский для бакалавров. Часть II

Подождите немного. Документ загружается.

139

The first significant advance over Roman methods, however, was the invention

of the ribbed vault. The ribs were built independently of the wall and supported the

stone-vault web.

London bridge, finished in 1209, took thirty-three years to build. It consisted of

nineteen irregular pointed arches, its piers resting on broad foundations designed to

withstand the Thames' current.

The use of pointed arches was another advance upon Roman methods, yet the

medieval bridge was not as great an engineering achievement as was the cathedral.

Providing for only one-way traffic, the typical bridge was narrow. It was not adapted

to heavy vehicles.

I. Make sure you know the following words. If you don’t know any of them,

consult a dictionary:

to date from; to drain off; waste water; to conduct; to estimate; to resurface; to

dig; to drain; to support; to withstand; to adopt; to rest; to design; pavement;

semicircular; span; to reflect; steep; vault; rib; web; pier.

II. In each of these sentences a word is missing. Provide a word from the list

below and translate the sentences.

1. Tunnels were … through hills.

2. Many ancient Roman roads had coverings of … .

3. Typical Roman style was … arch and short … .

4. The ribs supported the stone vault … .

5. London bridge consisted of nineteen irregular … arches.

6. The original purpose of Rome’s sewers was … waste waters.

7. The Romans didn’t invent … roads.

Prompts: web, pavement, to drain off, dug, semicircular, paved, span, pointed.

III. Read text B without a dictionary and say whether these statements are true

or false. If they are false correct them.

1. The great drain of Rome was built in the sixth century A.D.

2. Steel pipes were used to conduct water to houses.

3. The Romans invented paved roads.

4. At first the Romans built stone roads.

5. Typical Roman style was the ribbed vault.

6. The invention of the ribbed vault belonged to the Romans.

7. The use of the pointed arches was one of the Roman methods of construction.

8. London bridge consisted of nineteen semicircular arches.

9. The medieval bridge was as great an engineering achievement as was the

cathedral.

Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

140

IV. Suggest a few headlines to text B. Choose the best one among the headlines

suggested by your fellow students.

Text C. FROM THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

The history of architecture aims at displaying clearly the characteristic features of

the architecture of each country by comparing the buildings of each period and by

studying influences — geographical, geological, climatic, religious, social and

historical — which have contributed to the formation of a particular style. The best

way to learn about architecture is to study actual buildings and museums which

provide excellent opportunities for examining details of style. The analysis of the

characteristic features which resulted from solving certain structural problems

enables to visualize clearly the main factors which brought about changes in each

style.

Architecture is the art with which we all are in daily contact for it shelters us,

gives us "home". Finally, architecture is the mother of the arts of sculpture, painting,

and the allied decorative crafts.

Architecture, with all its varying phases and complex developments, must have

had a simple origin in the primitive efforts of mankind to provide protection against

inclement weather, wild beasts and human enemies in rock, caves, huts and tents.

Here then, in caves, huts, and tents we find the three primitive types of human

dwellings, the three germs of later architectural developments.

The history of architecture is a record of continuous evolution. A glance along the

past ages reveals architecture as a history of social condition progress and religion

and events which are landmarks in the history of mankind; for as architecture is in all

periods connected with national life, the genius of a nation, is unmistakably stamped

on its architectural monuments.

I. Read the text ‘From the history of architecture’. Find the answers to the

following questions:

1. What is the best way to learn about architecture?

2. What is architecture?

3. What origin does architecture have?

4. Why is architecture considered a history of social condition progress?

II. Find the key words in the text and write them out.

III. Make up the plan of the text. Retell the text according to your plan using the

keywords.

Text D. CONCRETE FACTS

Researchers at the University of Illinois have compiled some modern facts about

the centuries-old material, concrete. In one study, portland-cement samples, exposed

Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

141

to carbon dioxide at pressures up to 250 atmospheres, produced two surprising

results. First, the mixture needed about one-fifth the water normally required. Second,

some samples achieved a strength in 10 minutes that usually required seven days of

curing. Rapid-curing concrete, if the process can be developed, would speed the

production of precast concrete parts. It would allow the use of more waste products,

such as the slag from steel and aluminum production, to be used in concrete. Fast-

curing would also drastically reduce the number of footprints and initials in freshly

poured sidewalks.

I. Read the text ‘Concrete Facts’. Get its central idea.

II. Write out the words you don’t know. Look them up in the dictionary. Pay

special attention to the word ‘concrete’.

III. Make a written translation of the text ‘Concrete Facts’.

CONVERSATION

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND NORTHERN IRELAND

=====================VOCABULARY====================

coast, n побережье

British Isles Британские острова

separate, v отделять

conquer, v завоевывать

invader, n завоеватель

surface, n поверхность

temperate climate умеренный климат

gale, n шторм, буря, ветер

humidity, n влажность

fog, n туман

run, v управлять, направлять

govern, v править, управлять

government, n правительство

elect, v выбирать, избирать

power, n власть

appeal, n призыв, обращение;

апеллировать, обращаться

law, n закон

arbiter, n арбитр, третейский судья

amendment, n поправка (к резолюции, законопроекту)

Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

142

majority, n большинство

authority, n власть, полномочие, авторитет

the Houses of Parliament здание парламента

the House of Lords палата лордов

the House of Commons палата общин

hereditary, a наследственный

peer, n пэр

relic, n пережиток

survive, v выживать, выжить

alter, v менять, изменять

refuse, v отказывать (-ся)

inherit, v наследовать, унаследовать

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated off the

northwestern coast of Europe. The UK lies on the British Isles. There are some 5500

islands. The two main islands are: Great Britain and Ireland. They are separated from

the continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. The western coast of

the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, the eastern coast is

washed by the North Sea. The area of the UK is some 244100 square kilometres. Its

population is over 57 million people. English is the official language, but it is not the

only language which people speak in the country.

The United Kingdom is made up of four

countries: England, Scotland, Wales and

Northern Ireland. England is the southern part

of Great Britain. Birmingham is the Britain’s

“second city”. Rifles, pistols, various

machinery, railway cars, motor cars, electrical

equipment, scientific instruments and many

other things are produced in Birmingham in

great quantities. Sheffield is the city of steel.

The main centers of the textile region are

Liverpool and Manchester. Liverpool is the

second after London port of Great Britain.

Wales is one of the big mining districts in

Britain. The capital of Wales is Cardiff.

Scotland is the northern part of Great

Britain. Scotland is an agricultural country.

The old capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. Glas-

gow is the third largest city in Great Britain. It

is known the world over for its shipbuilding yards.

Northern Ireland occupies the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland. Its

capital is Belfast.

Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

143

Britain has been many centuries in the making. The Romans conquered most

part of Britain, but were unable to subdue the independent tribes in the west and in

the north. Other invaders were Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings and Normans. For

many centuries this country was known simply as England. It had strong army and

navy. It waged numerous colonial wars. In the modern world England was the first

country, where capitalism was established.

The surface of the British isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is

mountainous and is called Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys

and plains, is called Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but

all the rest – east, centre and south-east – is a vast plain. Mountains are not very high.

Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343 m).

There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn

is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the

world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and

navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.

The position of Great Britain gives it a temperate climate. Britain lies in the

eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is surrounded by the sea, which makes the

climate warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

The Gulf Stream influences the English climate greatly. It makes the sea warm.

The climate is not the same in all parts of England. The western part of England

is warmer than the eastern one and it also has more rains. The western hills and

mountains shut out some of the mild winds from the Atlantic. On the western coast

gales are always strong. The south-western part winds are the most frequent. They

usually bring mild weather.

There is much humidity in the air of England. Britain is well known as a foggy

country. The annual temperature in London is about 8 degrees.

British political system

Britain is a constitutional monarchy. That means it is

a country governed by a king or queen who accepts the

advice of a parliament. It is also a parliamentary

democracy. That is, it is a country whose government is

controlled by a parliament which has been elected by the

people. In other words, the basic system is not so different

from anywhere else in Europe. The highest positions in

the government are filled by members of the directly

elected parliament. In Britain, as in many European countries, the official head of

state, whether a monarch (as in Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark) or a

president (as in Germany, Greece and Italy) has little real power.

However, there are features of the British system of government which make it

different from that in other countries and which are not 'modern' at all. The most

notable of these is the question of the constitution. Britain is almost alone among

modern states in that it does not have 'a constitution' at all. Of course, there are rules,

Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

144

regulations, principles and procedures for the running of the country - all the things

that political scientists and legal experts study and which are known collectively as

'the constitution'. But there is no single written document which can be appealed to as

the highest law of the land and the final arbiter in any matter of dispute. Nobody can

refer to 'article 6' or 'the first amendment' or anything like that, because nothing like

that exists.

The activities of Parliament in Britain are more or less the same as those of the

Parliament in any western democracy. It makes new laws, gives authority for the

government to raise and spend money, keeps a close eye on government activities

and discusses those activities.

The British Parliament works in a large building called the Palace of

Westminster (popularly known as 'the Houses of Parliament'). This contains offices,

committee rooms, restaurants, bars, libraries and even some places of residence. It

also contains two larger rooms. One of these is where the House of Lords meets, the

other is where the House of Commons meets. The British Parliament is divided into

two 'houses', and its members belong to one or other of them, although only members

of the Commons are normally known as MPs (Members of Parliament). The

Commons is by far the more important of the two houses.

A unique feature of the British parliamentary system is its hereditary element.

Unlike MPs, members of the House of Lords (known as 'peers') are not elected. They

are members as of right. In the case of two-thirds of them, this 'right' is the result of

their being the holder of an inherited aristocratic title. The House of Lords is

therefore a relic of earlier, undemocratic times. The fact that it still exists is perhaps

typically British. It has been allowed to survive but it has had to change, losing most

of its power and altering its composition in the process.

The House of Lords (like the monarchy) has little, if any, real power any more.

All proposals must have the agreement of the Lords before they can become law. But

the power of the Lords to refuse a proposal for a law which has been agreed by the

Commons is now limited. After a period which can be as short as six months the

proposal becomes law anyway, whether or not the Lords agree.

The position of British Prime Minister (PM) is in direct contrast to that of the

monarch. Although the Queen appears to have a great deal of power, in reality she

has very little. The PM, on the other hand, appears not to have much power but in

reality has a very great deal indeed. The Queen is, in practice, obliged to give the job

of Prime Minister to the person who can command a majority in the House of

Commons. This normally means the leader of the party with the largest number of

MPs.

There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the

Conservative and the Liberal parties.

I. Read and transcribe the names of the following cities:

Belfast, Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow,

Liverpool, Newcastle.

Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

145

II. Fill in the table with the following words related to geography, industry and

political life:

chamber, channel, coal, island, kingdom, majority, ocean, manufacture, power,

sea, river, party, capital, monarchy, queen, lake, policy, shipbuilding, mountain,

continent, parliament, factory, government, minister, statesman, republic.

Geography Industry Political life

III. Say the following in one word using the essential vocabulary of the text:

1) a wife of a king or a woman monarch;

2) salt water that covers more than two thirds of earth surface;

3) the total of people in a country, region, city etc;

4) more than a half;

5) to send goods to another country;

6) to be situated;

7) a country headed by a king or queen;

8) black mineral used as fuel;

9) a land surrounded by water.

IV. Read the text ‘The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’.

Find the English equivalents for the following Russian sentences.

1. Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии

расположено на Британских островах.

2. Соединенное Королевство – высокоразвитая индустриальная держава.

3. Соединенное Королевство включает четыре страны: Англию,

Шотландию, Уэльс и Северную Ирландию.

4. Северная Ирландия занимает северо-восточную часть острова Ирландия.

5. Климат не одинаков во всех частях Англии.

6. Хотя кажется, что королева обладает большой властью, в

действительности она имеет очень мало власти.

7. Британский парламент работает в большом здании, которое называется

Вестминстерский дворец (общеизвестен как здание парламента).

8. Британский парламент разделен на две палаты, и его члены принадлежат

к одной или другой из них, хотя только членов палаты общин называют

членами парламента.

V. Fill in the blanks with the suitable words.

1. The Severn is the …… river, while the Thames is the …… one.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

146

2. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by …… and ……, the eastern

coast is washed by ……

3. The north of Scotland is …… and is called the ……, while the south, which

has beautiful …… and …… is called the ……

4. The climate of Great Britain is ……

5. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: …………

6. England is the …… part of Great Britain.

7. Sheffield is the city of ……

8. Glasgow is known the world over for its ……

9. Great Britain is a country governed by a …… or ……. who accepts the advice

of a ……

10. The British Parliament is divided into two …

VI. Read the text ‘The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’

and ask your fellow students:

1. where the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated;

2. what the area of the UK is;

3. what the population of the UK is;

4. who conquered Britain;

5. what countries the UK is made up of;

6. what capitals of these countries are;

7. what the climate of Great Britain is;

8. what influences the climate of Great Britain;

9. what the surface of the British Isles is;

10. if the UK is a highly developed industrial country;

11. what means that Britain is a constitutional monarchy;

12. if Great Britain has a constitution;

13. what activities of Parliament in the UK are;

14. what chambers the British Parliament consists of;

15. what chamber is more important;

16. what the main parties in Great Britain are.

VII. Disagree with the statements. Avoid simple negation.

Model: - The British Prime Minister lives in Buckingham Palace.

- No, I don’t think that’s correct. The Prime Minister lives at 10

Downing Street. Buckingham Palace is the residence of the Queen.

1. The members of the House of Lords are elected by the people.

2. Leeds is the capital of Britain.

3. The population of Great Britain is about 8 million.

4. Manchester is the sea port in Scotland.

5. The English channel separates the British Isles from Scandinavia.

6. The main items of British exports are oranges, bananas and wheat.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

147

7. Britain imports coal, steel and aircraft.

8. Britain is a parliamentary republic.

VIII. Read the following selections and speak about the main cities in Britain.

Birmingham

In the heart of England about 112 miles north-west of London is Birmingham.

Birmingham is a city with the population of over one million. It is the centre of the

iron industry. The district around Birmingham is known as the Black Country. It is

the land of factories and mines. Steam-engines, motor-cars, railway carriages,

bicycles and agricultural implements are manufactured in the factories of the Black

Country.

Manchester

Great Britain lives by manufacture and trade. Its agriculture provides only half

the food it needs, the other half of its food has to be imported.

Britain is one of the most highly industrialized countries in the world: for every

person employed in agriculture, eleven are employed in mining, manufacturing and

building. The industrial centres of Great Britain are London, Manchester,

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and others.

Manchester is the centre of the cotton industry. With its large suburb Salford

Manchester has a population of nearly one million. Manchester has few ancient

buildings but few English cities have better parks of which there are over fifty. The

largest of them is Heaton Park. Manchester is rich in libraries and schools. The

University of Manchester founded in 1880 is famous for its studies.

Bristol

Bristol is not a very large port. It is smaller than Plymouth, Liverpool,

Portsmouth and Dover but it is very beautiful.

Bristol is divided into two parts. One of them is the port on the Avon with

narrow streets, old churches and half timber houses. It has a wooden eighteenth

century theatre untouched since those days.

This was the port from which many ships sailed in Elizabeth’s reign. The

eighteenth century stone houses climb up the hills past the beautiful and little known

cathedral to the second part of Bristol. This part is more modern and it has many fine

houses built of pink stone and many wonderful monuments and churches. Bristol has

a college named College Green, the University, the art gallery and some museums.

The University building has a very high tower from the top of which you can see

College Green, many churches and Park Street.

Oxford

Oxford is one of the finest and most ancient cities. Oxford has had its University

since the twelfth century. It contains twenty-eight colleges. Among the most beautiful

of the colleges are Magdalen with its lovely chapel tower and Christ Church. Most of

the colleges have big and well-ordered gardens.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.

148

Many years ago there was a city wall, built in the thirteenth century. Now it is

ruined but you can see a portion of this wall running through the garden of a new

college.

Oxford University is well known all over the world as one of the oldest

universities.

IX. Speak about Great Britain:

a) its geographical position;

b) its political system;

c) its industries.

D I A L O G U E S

I. Read the dialogues in pairs and reproduce them.

A. Is England the only name for that country?

B. No it isn’t. It’s also called Great Britain, or simply Britain.

A. So it has two names?

B. There is also a third name – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland, or just the United Kingdom.

A. But it sounds more official, doesn’t it?

B. Yes, it’s the official name for the country.

A. Is England a monarchy or a parliamentary republic?

B. Britain is a parliamentary monarchy.

A. How’s that?

B. It’s simple: there’s a King, or a Queen and there’s a parliament enjoying the

right to pass laws and elect the government.

III

A. The seats in Parliament are hereditary, aren’t they?

B. Not exactly. The seats are hereditary in the House of Lords, but as to the

members of the House of Commons, they are elected every 5 years.

A. Which chamber is more important and how many members are there in each

of them?

B. The House of Commons is surely considered more important. As far as I

remember there are 635 MPs in the House of Commons. But the number of peers is

considerably greater.

II. At a sitting of the university English-speaking club you discuss:

a) Britain’s economy today;

b) its international role in the modern world;

http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only.