Практичне заняття № 7

Тема. Великі містa Великобританії та США. Cities of Great Britain and USA

Мета: ознайомитися з великими містам країн, мова яких вивчається. Обговорення теми.

1. Read and translate the text and answer the questions that follow:

Westminster

"Westminster" means an abbey located in the west. The old city of Westminster began to grow a mile and a half upstream to the west of the minister of the monks of St. Peter's. Under Edward the Confessor it was rebuilt and gave birth to Westminster Abbey, the main church of England.

Westminster was then (961) on an island, standing above the level of the shallow lagoons which dotted the marshy ground upstream from the city's western wall. In 1060 a vast area became available for redevelopment and soon Edward the Confessor moved to a new royal residence at Westminster. It was a splendid palace with noble stone walls, painted chambers and rows of offices, kitchens and cellars. And for the last thousand years, Westminster has been the centre of political and religious power in England.

Besides Westminster is one of the two historical centers of modern London. It's well-known that the Romans built a bridge across the Thames and their encampment grew up on the north bank of the river. The principal fort of it was on the site now occupied by the Tower of London. The Roman fort gradually turned into the City of London, the city of trade and the Merchant Guilds. And further to the north was the other centre, focused on Westminster Abbey, and the Royal City of Westminster.

The two towns grew up side by side. At first the Thames was the most important means of communication between them. Later the chief road link was along the Strand (originally mean­ing a sandy shore), now a famous street in London.

It's strange to imagine now how much Londoners and men of Westminster distrusted each other. Quarrels and disputes between tradesmen, friendly wrestling contests often ended in ferocious fights. It took a lot of time for orders and proclamations, issued both by the king and the city authorities, to bring those outbreaks of violence to an end.

The classical view of the modern building of Westminster Palace as the seat of British Parliament is a true visiting card of London. Its foggy silhuette against the Thames was subtly cap­tured by Claude Monet, the famous French impressionist.

1) Questions:

1. What did Westminster look like in early days?

2. How did Westminster Abbey start?

3. What was the Westminster Palace of Edward the Confessor like?

4. What does Westminster stand for now?

5. How was the first historical centre of London founded?

6. What was the second historical centre of London focused on?

7. What means of communication linked the two towns?

8. What marked the life of the Londoners of the Middle Ages for many years?

9. What helped bring the outbreaks of violence in London to an end?

10. Who captured the classical view of Westminster Palace in painting?

2) Express your opinion:

1. What do you think about the location of Westminster in early days?

2. What periods of Westminster's history do you suppose are most worth remembering?

3. Is there a historical centre in Moscow, your native town or in any foreign capital you have visited? Speak about the cultural and educational value of historic places.