XX. a) Collect information on English traditions and customs.
b) Arrange a talk between Russian and English students on their national
traditions, customs and habits. (One of the students should conduct it: introduce the
participants to each other, make a short introductory speech on the subject, ask
questions, etc. to keep the talk running on, sum up the discussion.)
LABORATORY EXERCISES (I)
1. listen to the text "Introducing London".
2. Respond to the following using the suggested models.
3. Complete the sentences using the given suggestions.
4. Translate the sentences into English, using the Essential Vocabulary of Unit Three. Check
your sentences with the key.
5. listen to some text and write it as a dictation, check the spelling with the key. Retell the
text.
6. Listen to the text "The House of Commons" or some other text on the same topic. Retell
the text, add more Information on the topic.
TOPIC: CITY
TEXT A. SOME MORE GLIMPSES OF LONDON
London is one of the biggest and most interesting cities in the world.
Traditionally it is divided into the West End and the East End. The West End is famous for its
beautiful avenues lined with plane trees, big stores, rich mansions, expensive restaurants, hotels,
theatres and night clubs. The East End used to be a poor area filled with warehouses, factories, slums
and miserable houses. Quite a lot of people lived from hand to mouth here. For the recent years this
area including Dockland has turned into a new housing development.
The heart of London is the City — its commercial and business centre. Here is situated the
Tower of London that comes first among the historic buildings of the city. If you want to get some
glimpses of London it's just from here that you had better start sightseeing.
The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the
Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. Now it is a museum of armour
and also the place where the Crown Jewels are kept. In present days, just as many centuries ago, the
Ceremony of the Keys takes place at its gates. Every night when the guard is changed at each gate
there is the cry: "Haiti Who goes there?" Then the guard replies: "The Keys." "Whose Keys?"
"Queen Elizabeth's Keys!" "Pass, Queen Elizabeth's Keys! All's well." And so the Tower of London
is safely closed for the night.
A twenty minutes' walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building — St.
Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It was built by a famous English architect, Sir