DISCUSSION

Exercise I. Read the texts Introducing London and Some More Glimpses of London and choose the right answer:

1. The Serpentine is…

a) a shady avenue in Hyde Park c) a canal in Hyde Park

b) a circular road round London d) London Zoo

2. The Serpentine is called so, because it resembles…

a) an elephant c) a branch of the fir-tree

b) a very big snake d) Christmas tree

3. The name of Trafalgar originally belongs to…

a) a big Spanish townc) a French island

b) a Portuguese village d) a cape of Iberian Peninsula

4. On top of the column in Piccadilly Circus there is a statue of…

a) Eros c) Apollo

b) L. L'Amour d) AIDS

5. Rotten Row is…

a) a famous market place c) a wasteground outside London

b) an ancient street in London d) a spot for horse-riding in Hyde Park

6. The name of Threadneedle Street is usually associated with…

a) East End seamstresses c) Westminster fashion styles

b) West End department stores d) financial centre of the City

7. "Whitehall" often stands for…

a) the Royal Family c) the Government of the UK

b) British Parliament d) British public opinion

8. … is considered to be Britain's most respectable newspaper.

a) The Times c) The Daily Express

b) Time d) The National Geographic

9.St. Paul's Cathedralwas built by…

a) Edward the Confessor c) William the Conqueror

b) Sir Christopher Wren d) Michelangelo Buonarrotti

10. Due to its geographical position London is always in danger of…

a) floods c) Great Fire

c) conflagrations d) simooms

11. For most Londoners a double-decker is…

a) an old man-of-war c) a bed in a jail cell

c) a bus d) a bed for two persons

12. The Beefeaters are…

a) Muslims who don't eat pork c) guards of the Tower

b) carnivorous animals d) frequenters of restaurants

13. The name of Fleet Street used to be associated with…

a) the Royal Navy c) the Church of England

b) the Merchant Fleet d) British Press

14. Hyde Park was originally…

a) a royal hunting ground c) the largest park in London

b) the famous woods of Robin Hood d) the place to hide the Crown Jewels

15. Little Venice bears its name because…

a) it is little c) it resembles Venice

b) only poor people live there d) only rich people live there

Exercise II. Read supplementary texts on p.p. 99 and 100. Try and find some more information about London and Great Britain in order to answer the following questions: A.1.How old is London?

2. Did Julius Caesar conquer it?

3. How long were the Roman legions stationed in Britain?

4. Why did the country change its name for England?

5. What Anglo-Saxon kingdom did London belong to in the early Middle Ages?

6. Who built Westminster Palace and Abbey? When was it?

7. How did Duke William of Normandy get his name of the Conqueror?

8. What do you know about the Battle of Hastings?

9. Whose idea was it to build the Tower of London? What was the reason for that project?

10. What was the official language in England after the Norman Conquest? In what ways did it influence further development of English?

B.11.When did Parliament emerge in England?

12. How did the Church of England come into being?

13. What do you know about Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth of England?

14. Who were the Jacobites?

15.What main historic events are usually associated with the name of Queen Victoria?

16. When did they start the Underground in London?

17. Where are the main burial places for the leading British generals and intellectuals? Can you name some of those outstanding personalities?

18. What London museums are known best all over the world?

19. Could you describe the part played by Londoners in the Battle of Britain?

20.What is, in your opinion, the best way to see London quickly and efficiently?

Exercise III. Choose the best answer:

1. What is the meeting place for Parliament?

a) Westminster Palace c) The Tower of London

b) Westminster Abbey d) The Capitol

2. What are the functions of Lord Chancellor?

a) He heads the Government c) He leads Her Majesty's Opposition

b) He presides over the House of Lords d) He is responsible for

Her Majesty's household

3. Who bears the title of Prince Consort?

a) The Queen's eldest son c) The former King after abdication

b) Prince of Wales's next brother d) The husband of the reigning Queen

4. When was the present-day building for Parliament designed?

a) By Sir Christopher Wren in 1720 c) By James M. Barrie in 1880

b) By Sir Charles Barry in 1840 d) By Peter Pan in 1940

5. Which are the leading parties in modern Britain's political life?

a) The Tories and the Wigs c) Labour and Conservative

b) Liberal and Democratic d) Republican and Democratic

6. What is the highest legislative authority in the UK?

a) The House of Lords c) Queen in the Parliament

b) The House of Commons d) Cabinet of Ministers

7. The United Kingdom is usually referred to as a constitutional monarchy. When was the Constitution adopted?

a) Magna Carta in 1215 c) The Bill of Rights in 1689

b) Declaration of Independence in 1776 d) The UK does not have any written

Constitution yet

8. The Prime Minister is appointed by…

a) the party that wins general election c) the House of Commons

b) the Queen d) by both Chambers of Parliament

9. Members of the House of Lords fall into four categories. Which of them have the right to vote?

a) Princes of Royal Blood c) Life Peers

b) Hereditary Lords d) Spiritual Lords

10.What does the title "Chamberlain" mean?

a) A rank at the Royal Court c) Deputy Head of the Cabinet

b) Queen's valet d) The Speaker of the House of Commons

19. Which definition actually refers to London's Cenotaph?

a) A war memorial c) Half-man, half-horse of old Greek myths

b) An artifact from Egypt, brought d) Any tomb with no body inside

to England by archaeologists