Англійська мова для студентів технічних ВНЗ

London is renowned as a world-class cultural centre, with some of the finest museums and art galleries to be found anywhere in the world, including the British Museum and the National Gallery. Londoners and visitors alike enjoy all that the West End has to offer, with its many fine shops, restaurants and clubs, as well as the wealth of plays and musicals offered by its many celebrated theatres.

Another huge draw is the traditional and colourful pageantry London is so good at, including the Changing the Guard ceremony and the Lord Mayor’s Show, two of London’s best free shows. But London is also a modern, forward-looking city, and many major new landmarks, such as the London Eye (a 137 meter observation wheel) and the Tate Modern (an exhibition centre of modern arts housed in a converted 1960s power station) take the capital well and truly into the twenty-first century. It is this mix of the traditional and modern which makes London such a fascinating and exciting place to visit.

Дайте відповіді на запитання.

1. How old is London? 2. Who founded London? 3. On what river does London stand? 4. What are the main historical landmarks to see in London? 5. In what part of London are most shops situated? 6. What is the London Eye? 7. In what building is the Tate Modern housed?

20.2. Письмові завдання

Вправа 1. Вставте артиклі, де потрібно. Прочитайте та перекладіть текст.

London, ___ capital of Great Britain, is one of ___ largest cities in Europe and the world. ___ population of London is about nine million. London is also one of ___ oldest cities in Europe. London lies in ___ valley of ___ Thames. Most of ___ streets are narrow. Oxford and Regent Streets are ___ busiest streets: there are ___ lots of shops, department stores and offices there. There are many beautiful old buildings in ___ centre of London. There are also ___ modern buildings there. Most of ___ buildings house ___ offices and hotels.

Londoners are fond of ___ beautiful parks of their city. They spend their week-ends in ___ parks. They come there with ___ children and take ___ lunch baskets with them.

20.3. Читання

London Museums and Art Galleries

Active Vocabulary:

a fortress – фортеця; a manuscript – рукопис; contemporary – сучасний; armour – лати; twofold – подвійний; garrison – гарнізон; custody – зберігання.

The best London museums and art galleries are in the West End.

The British Museum in Russel Square comprises the National Museum of Archeology and Ethnography, the richest collection of prints and drawings and the National Library. It was founded in 1753 and opened to the public on the 15th of January, 1759. The Library of the British Museum is one of the largest collections of books and manuscripts in the world.

The National History Museum in Cromwell Road is the home of the national collections of animals and plants, and of minerals and rocks from which the Earth is built up. It has a twofold function: to increase man’s knowledge of the animal, plant and mineral Kingdom as an institution for scientific research, and to spread knowledge of natural history as widely as possible.

The Tower of London was once a fortress. Kings of England, when the battle turned against them, often found safety in the Tower. From Norman days the Tower had been a state prison; it had been a place of torture and execution. Continuously from the 11th century the Tower has held a military garrison. Arms and armour have always been stored there and today it contains the National Collection of them. Nowadays the Tower is a museum visited by tourists. As it was the strongest fortress in the land, the safe custody of the Crown jewels has been entrusted to it since the time of Henry III.

The National Gallery offers a wonderful variety of pictures. Everyone can find some kind of picture to enjoy. It was opened to the public in 1824 and in 1836 after series of troubles the collection of pictures of the National Gallery was established at Trafalgar Square.

The Tate Gallery from the very beginning was intended as a collection of contemporary British painting only. It became the national collection of British painting of all periods, and in addition – the national collection of modern foreign painting and of modern sculpture, both British and foreign.

The Science Museum exhibits machinery, scientific instruments and devices for research and educational purposes.

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