Climate and weather in great Britain

The climate in Great Britain is mild and temperate due to the influence of the Gulf Stream.

The British often say: "Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather." The weather in Britain is very changeable. A fine morning can change into a wet afternoon and evening. And a nasty morning can change to a fine afternoon. That's why it is natural for the British to use the comparison "as changeable as the weather" of a person who often changes his mood or opinion about something.

The British also say that they have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon or when it rains all day long.

The weather is the favourite conversational topic in England. When two Englishmen meet, their first words will be "How do you do?" or "How are you?" And after the reply "Very well, thank you; how are you?" the next remark is almost certain to be about the weather. When they go abroad the

British often surprise people of other nationalities by this tendency to talk about the weather, a topic of conversation that other people do not find so interesting.

The best time of the year in Britain is spring (of course, it rains in spring too).

The two worst months in Britain are January and February. They are cold, damp and unpleasant. The best place in the world then is at home by the big fire.

Summer months are rather cold and there can be a lot of rainy days. So most people who look forward to summer holidays, plan to go abroad for the summer — to France, Spain or some other place on the Continent.

The most unpleasant aspect of British weather is fog and smog. This is extremely bad in big cities and especially in London.

The fog spreads everywhere, it is in the streets and it creeps into the houses. Cars move along slowly, but still street accidents are frequent in the fog. People cannot see each other. They creep along the houses touching them with their hands not to lose their way or not to be run over by a car.

Names

Gulf Stream ['длК strhm] Гольфстрим the Continent ['kontinant] континент (так англичане

называют Европу)

Vocabulary

climate ['klaimit] климат

mild [maild] мягкий

temperate ['temprit] умеренный

due to ['dju: tu:] благодаря, вследствие

influence [Influans] влияние

changeable ['tjeind3abl] изменчивый,

неустойчивый

nasty ['na:sti] мерзкий, противный

comparison [kam'paerisn] сравнение

mood [mu:d] настроение

opinion [a'pinjan] мнение

remark [ri'ma:k] замечание

to go abroad [a'bro:d] поехать за границу

nationality [jiaeja'naeliti] национальность

tendency ['tendansi] тенденция

damp влажный, сырой

fire [faia] камин

to look forward ['fo:wad] to с нетерпением ждать

aspect ['aespekt] аспект, сторона

fog туман

smog (smoke + fog) смог

extremely [iks'titmli] чрезвычайно

to spread [spred] (spread) распространять(ся),

расстилать(ся)

to creep (crept) ползти, красться

accident ['asksidant] несчастный случай

frequent [fitkwent] частый

to lose way заблудиться

to be run over by a car попасть под машину

Questions

1. Why is the climate in Britain mild?

2. The weather in Britain is very changeable, isn't it?

3. What comparison do the British use when they want to describe a person whose mood and opinion changes very often?

4. How often does it rain in Britain?

5. The weather is the favourite conversational topic in England, isn't it? Do you find this topic of conversation interesting?

6. What is the best time of the year in Britain?

7. When do the British prefer to stay at home by the big fire?

8. How do the British spend their short British summer?

9. What do you know about London fogs?

10. What kind of weather do you like best of all?

11. Where do you get the weather forecast (['fo:ka:st] прогноз погоды) from? Do you always believe it?

12. Which do you like better: when it's cold or hot?

13. What is the weather like today?

14. Do you know the weather forecast for tomorrow?

15. What is the weather like in Russia in winter (summer, autumn, spring)?

LONDON

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It's one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million.

London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world.

Traditionally it's divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epochs.

The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre.

Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Few people live here, but over a million people come to the City to work. There are some famous ancient buildings within the City. Perhaps the most striking of them is St Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of British churches. It was built in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren. 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 palace and a prison. Now it's a museum.

Westminster is the historic, the governmental part of London.

Westminster Abbey has more historic associations than any other building in Britain. Nearly all English kings and queens have been crowned here. Many outstanding statesmen, scientists, writers, poets and painters are buried here: Newton, Darwin, Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Kipling.

Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, or the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as "Big Ben".

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen.

The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It's the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there. There are splendid houses and lovely gardens belonging to wealthy people.

Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson's victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson's Column stands in the middle of the square.

On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum - - the biggest museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc, and is famous for its library.

The East End was once the poorest district of London — with lots of factories and docks, narrow streets and unimpressive buildings. Today, the district is changing very fast. There are huge offices and new blocks of flats in the East End.

Names

the Bank of England Английский банк

the Stock Exchange ['stok iks^Jeindj] Лондонская

фондовая биржа

the Old Bailey [,auld 'belli] Центральный уголовный

суд, находящийся в Олд-Бейли

St Paul's Cathedral [sant,po:fc ka'0i:dral] собор

св. Павла (главный собор англиканской церкви)

Sir Christopher Wren [sa:,kristafa теп] Кристофер

Рен

the Tower f'taua] of London Лондонский Тауэр

Julius Caesar [.djuMias 'si:za] Юлий Цезарь

William the Conqueror j^wiljam da 'kot)kara]

Вильгельм Завоеватель, Вильгельм I

(первый король из норманнов в Англии)

Westminster Abbey [,westminstar 'aebi]

Вестминстерское аббатство

Newton ['nju:tn] Ньютон

Darwin ['da:win] Дарвин

Chaucer ['t|o:sa] Чосер

Dickens ['dikinz] Диккенс

Tennyson ['tenisn] Теннисон

Kipling ['kiplirj] Киплинг

Westminster Palace [,westminsta 'paelis] (the Houses

of Parliament) Вестминстерский дворец (здание

английского парламента)

Big Ben "Биг Бен", "Большой Бен" (колокол

часов-курантов на здании парламента, бой

которых передается ежедневно породив как

сигнал точного времени)

Buckingham Palace [.bAkigam -paelis] Букингемский

дворец (главная королевская резиденция в

Лондоне)

Trafalgar Square [tra,faelga 'skwea] Трафальгарская

площадь

Nelson's Column [,nelsnz 'kolam] колонна Нельсона

(памятник адмиралу Нельсону)

the National Gallery [,naejanl 'gselari] Национальная

галерея (крупнейшее в Великобритании собрание

картин)

the National Portrait [ po:trit] Gallery

Национальная портретная галерея

the British Museum Британский музей (один из

крупнейших в мире)

Vocabulary

commercial [ka'rra:Jal] торговый

population население

to belong [bi'loo] принадлежать

epoch f'i:pok] эпоха

financial [fai'nsenjal] финансовый

numerous ['nju:maras] многочисленный

firm фирма

ancient ['einjant] древний

striking f'straikio] поразительный, замечательный

church [t}3:tj] церковь

to found [faund] основывать

to rebuild [,ri:'bild] перестраивать

fortress ['fb:tris] крепость

royal ['roial] королевский

palace ['paelis] дворец

prison ['prizn] тюрьма

governmental [,g/vvn'mentl] правительственный

association [a,sausi'ei/n] ассоциация

to crown [kraun] короновать

outstanding [auf staendirj] выдающийся

statesman ['steitsman] государственный деятель

scientist f'saiantist] ученый

painter ['peinta] художник

to bury ['ben] хоронить

tower ['taua] башня

official residence [a,fijal 'rezidans] официальная

резиденция

wealth [weie] богатство

wealthy [\ге!9!] богатый

symbol ['simbal] символ

luxury ['lAkJari] роскошь

restaurant ['restraint] ресторан

splendid ['splendid] великолепный

in memory of в память о

column f'kolam] колонна

to contain [kan'tein] содержать

priceless ['praislis] бесценный

manuscript ['msenjuskript] рукопись

coin монета

sculpture ['skAlptJa] скульптура

to be famous for быть знаменитым..., славиться

dock док

narrow ['naerau] узкий

unimpressive [yyiim'presiv] невпечатляющий,

невыразительный

huge [hju:d3] огромный

Questions

1. Is London the largest city in the world?

2. What's the population of London?

3. Traditionally London is divided into several parts. Can you name them?

4. What do you know about the City?

5. Who was St Paul's Cathedral built by?

6. Who founded the Tower of London? When was it rebuilt?

7. What is Westminster Abbey famous for?

8. Where does the British Parliament sit?

9. What is Big Ben?

10. Why was Trafalgar Square named so?

11. Why does Buckingham Palace attract so many tourists?

12. What are the most famous London museums and art galleries?

THE USA

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometres. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-boarder with Russia.

The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The population of the country is more than 270 million.

If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains.

The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska.

America's largest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA.

The climate of the country varies greatly. The coldest regions are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part is continental. The south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.

The USA is a highly developed industrial country. It's the world's leading producer of copper and oil and the world's second producer of iron ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, armaments, furniture and paper.

Though mainly European and African in origin, Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations, including Chinese and native Americans.

The largest cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San-Francisco, Washington and others.

The United States is a federal union of 50 states, each of which has its own government. The seat of the central (federal) government is Washington, DC. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches: the executive, headed by the President, the legislative, exercised by the Congress, and the judicial. The Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

There are two main political parties in the USA: the Republican and the Democratic, though there's hardly any difference between their political lines.

Names

the United [ju:'naitid] States of America

Соединенные Штаты Америки

Russia [tAja] Россия

Canada ['kaenade] Канада

China ['tjaina] Китай

North America Северная Америка

the Pacific Ocean [pa,sifik 'aujn] Тихий океан

the Atlantic Ocean [a,tlaentik 'aufn] Атлантический

океан

Alaska [a'laeska] Аляска

Hawaii [ha'wai-i] Гавайи

Mexico ['meksikau] Мексика

District of Columbia [.distrikt av ka'lAmbia] округ

Колумбия

Washington ['wofirjtan] Вашингтон

the Rocky Mountains Скалистые горы

the Cordillera [,ko:di'jeera] Кордильеры

the Sierra Nevada [si,era nivaeda] Сьерра-Невада

Mount McKinley [,maunt ma'kinli] гора Мак-Кинли

the Mississippi [,misi'sipi] Миссисипи

the Missouri [mi'zuari] Миссури

the Rio Grande [,г\:э(и)'дгхпй] Рио-Гранде

the Columbia [ka'lAmbia] Колумбия

the Great Lakes Великие озера (5 озер: Мичиган,

Онтарио, Гурон, Верхнее озеро и Эри)

the Gulf of Mexico [,дл№ av 'meksikau]

Мексиканский залив

Florida ['florida] Флорида

Los Angeles [bs 'aend3ali:z] Лос-Анджелес

Chicago [fitegau] Чикаго

Philadelphia [,fila'delfia] Филадельфия

Detroit [di'troit] Детройт

San-Francisco [.saenfran'siskau] Сан-Франциско

the Congress ['koggres] Конгресс

the Senate ['senit] Сенат

the House of Representatives [,repri'zentativz |

Палата представителей

the Republican [ri'pAblikan] and the Democratic

Ldema'kraetik] parties Республиканская и

Демократическая партии

Vocabulary

to occupy ['okjupai] занимать

southern ['злдап] южный

to stretch тянуться, простираться

to include [in'klu:d] включать

total area [.tautl 'earia] общая площадь

to border [ bo:da] on фаничить с

sea-border морская граница

federal ['federal] федеральный

lowlands [laulandz] низменность, долина, низина

to be located [lau'keitid] находиться, быть

расположенным

to vary [veari] меняться, варьировать

arctic ['a:ktik] арктический

continental [,kont'rnentl] континентальный

subtropical [,sAb'tropikl] субтропический

typhoon [tai'ftrn] тайфун

coast ['kaust] побережье

highly developed [divelapt] высокоразвитый

copper медь

oil ['oil] нефть

iron ore ['aian,o:] железная руда

coal ['kaul] каменный уголь

manufacturing [,msenju'fsektjarir)] промышленный

aircraft ['eakra:ft] самолеты, самолетостроение

textile ['tekstail] текстиль

armament ['a:mamant] вооружение

origin ['orid3in] происхождение

Chinese [tfai'nhz] китайский; китаец

according [a'kotdirj] to в соответствии с, согласно, по

powers f'pauaz] полномочия

branch [bra:ntj] ветвь

the executive [ig'zekjutiv] исполнительная власть

the legislative [,led3is'leitiv] законодательная власть

the judicial [d3u:'dijal] судебная власть

Questions

1. Where is the USA situated?

2. What's the total area of the country?

3. What countries does the USA border on?

4. How many states does the USA consist of?

5. What is the capital of the country?

6. Can you name any other cities in the USA?

7. What is the population of the United States?

8. What mountains in the USA do you know?

9. What are the largest rivers?

10. What can you say about the climate of the country?

11. What does the USA produce?

12. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches. What are they?

13. How many chambers does the Congress of the USA consist?

14. What are the main political parties in the USA?

15. Who is the US President now?

WASHINGTON, DC

Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It's situated in the District of Columbia and is like no other city in the USA. It's the world's largest one-industry city. And that industry is government. The White House, where the US President lives and works, the Capitol, the home of the US Congress, and the Supreme Court, are all in Washington.

Washington was named after the first US President George Washington.

He selected the place for the capital and Pierre L'Enfant, a French engineer, designed the city.

Washington was first settled in 1790 and since 1800 it has been the federal capital.

Washington is one of the most beautiful and unusual cities in the United States. In the very centre of it rises the huge dome of the Capitol — a big white dome standing on a circle of pillars. The 535 members of the Congress meet here to discuss the nation's affairs. It's easy to get lost in this huge building, full of paintings and statues.

Not far from the Capitol is the Library of Congress, the largest library in the States. It contains more than 13 million books, more than 19 million manuscripts, including the personal papers of the US presidents.

The White House is the official residence of the US President. He works in the Oval Office.

One can hardly find a park, a square or an open area in Washington without a monument or a memorial. The most impressive and the best-known ones are the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

There are some important museums in Washington where you can see all kinds of things: famous paintings and sculptures, the dresses of Presidents's wives, the original of the Declaration of Independence, the largest blue diamond in the world, etc.

There are 5 universities in Washington.

There are no skyscrapers in Washington, because they would hide the city's many monuments from view. No building in the city may be more than 40 metres tall.

Thousands of tourists visit Washington every day. People from all parts of the United States come to see their capital.

Names

Washington ['woJiQtan] Вашингтон

the District of Columbia |,distrikt av Кэ'1лтЫэ] округ Колумбия

the White House Белый Дом (резиденция

президента США)

the Capitol ['kaepital] Капитолий (здание

конгресса США)

the Congress ['korjgres] Конгресс

the Supreme Court [su:(sju:),pri:m 'ko:t]

Верховный суд

Pierree L'Enfant [pi,ea la:n'fa:nt] Пьер Ланфан

the Library of Congress Библиотека конгресса

Oval ['auvi] Office Овальный кабинет (рабочий

кабинет президента США)

the Lincoln Memorial ['liQkan mi'mo:rial] памятник

Линкольну

the Washington Monument о белиск в честь

Джорджа Вашингтона

the Declaration of Independence [,dekle'reijn av

Jnda'pendans] Декларация независимости (приня-

та 4 июля 1776 года вторым континентальным

конгрессом в период войны за независимость

Северной Америки (1775—1783); провозглашала

Отделение колоний от метрополии и образова-

ние самостоятельного государства — США)

Vocabulary

to design [di'zain] проектировать, создавать

to settle ['sell] поселять, заселять

huge [hju:d3] огромный, колоссальный

dome fdaum] купол

circle ['S3:kl] круг

pillar f'pila] столб, колонна

affair [a'fea] дело

to get lost заблудиться

to contain [kan'tein] содержать

manuscript ['maenjuskript] рукопись

personal ['рз:зпэ1] papers личные бумаги

official residence [a,fijl 'rezidans] официальная

резиденция

ibmpressive [im'presiv] производящий

впечатление, впечатляющий

original [a'rid3inl] оригинал

diamond ['daiamand] алмаз, бриллиант

skyscraper ['skai,skreipa] небоскреб

Questions

1. Where is Washington situated?

2. Is Washington a typical American city?

3. It's the world's largest one-industry city, isn't it? What kind of industry is it?

4. What important government buildings are situated in Washington?

5. Where does the US president live and work?

6. Who selected the place for the capital of the USA?

7. Is there a monument to George Washington in the city?

8. When was Washington first settled?

9. Who designed the capital of the USA?

10. What places of interest in Washington do you know?

11. How many universities are there in Washington?

12. Why aren't there any skyscrapers in Washington?