London

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. Modern London is not one city that has steadily become larger through the centuries; it is a number of cities, towns, and villages that have, during the past centuries, grown together to make one vast urban area.

London is situated upon both banks of the River Thames. It is the largest city in Britain and one of the largest in the world. Its population is about 7 million people and one more million travel in each day to work. People who work in London and live in Suburbs are called commuters. They commute by train or bus from the suburbs because it is very expensive to buy a house or a flat neat the centre. In fact more and more people and firms move away from the capital.

London is a cosmopolitan, multicultural city. Every seventh londoner was born outside Britain. London dominates the life of Britain. It is a big port and most important commercial, manufacturing and cultural centre. There is little heavy industry in London, but there is a wide range of light industry in Greater London.

The City extends over an area of about 2.6 square kilometres in the heart of London. About half a million people work in the City but only less than 6,000 live here. It is the financial centre of the UK with many banks, offices and the Stock Exchange. But the City is also a market for goods of almost every kind, from all parts of the world.

The West End can be called the centre of London. Here are the historical places as well as the famous parks, Hyde Park with its Speaker's Corner is also here. Among other parks are Kensington Gardens, St Jame's Park. In the West End is the Buckingham Palace which is the Queen's residence, and the Palace of Westminster which is the seat of Parliament. The best-known streets here are Whitehall, Downing Street, Fleet Street, Harley Street. The name “West End” came to be associated with wealth, luxury, and goods of high quality. It is the area of the largest department stores, cinemas and hotels. There are over 40 theatres, several concert halls, many museums including the British Museum, and the best art galleries.

It is in the West End that the University of London is centred with Bloomsbury as London's student quarter.

References:

1. the City — 1) Сити (исторический центр Лондона; один ик крупнейших финансовых и коммерческих центров мира) 2) перен. Английский финансовый капитал, финансовая олигархия

2. Greater London — Большой Лондон (административно-территориальная единица, включает сам город и пригороды)

3. Stock Exchange — Лондонская фондовая биржа

4. Speaker's Corner - «Уголок оратора» (место в Гайд-Парке, где по воскресеньям и по субботам с импровизированной трибуны выступают ораторы на различные темы; в настоящее время превратился в одну из туристических достопримечательностей Лондона)

5. Kensington Gardens — Кенсингтон-Гарденз (большой парк в Лондоне, примыкает к Гайд Парку)

6. St. James Park — Сейн-Джеймс -Парк (расположен в центральной части Лондона)

7. Buckingham Palace — Букингемский дворец (главная королевская резиденция в Лондоне с 1837г.)

8. Whitehall — 1) Уайтхолл (улица в центральной части Лондона, на которой находятся важнейшие министерства и др. правительственные учреждения) 2) перен. английское правительство

9. Downing Street — Даунинг-Стрит (небольшаф улица в центральной части Лондона, на которой в доме № 10 находится лондонская резеденция премьер-министра); 2) Даунинг-Стрит, английское правительсво

10. Fleet Street — 1) Флит-Стрит (улица в Лондоне, на которой до 1980 г. находились редакции большинства крупнейших газет. В настоящее время большинство из них переехало в другие районы города) 2) перен. пресса и мир журналистики

11. Harley Street — 1) Харли-Стрит (улица в Лондоне, находятся приемные ведущих частных врачей-консультантов); 2) перен. Медики, медицинский мир

12. the British Museum — Британский музей (один из крупнейших музеев мира)

13. Bloomsbery — Блумзбери (район в центральной части Лондона, где находится Британский музей и Лондонской университет)

Exercises:

1. Say if these statements true or false:

1. London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom.

2. London's population is about 10 million people.

3. People who work in London and live in London are called commuters.

4. The City is situated in the heart of London.

5. The West End is the poorest part of London.

6. In the West End is the Buckingham Palace which is the Queen's residence.

2. Find in the text the English equivalents to the Russian words and word combinations:

1. London is расположен upon both banks of the River Thames.

2. Its население is about 7 million people and one more million travel in each day to work.

3. They commute by train or bus from the suburbs because it is very дорого to buy a house or a квартиру neat the centre.

4. It is a big port and most important коммерческий, промышленный and культурный centre.

5. The City extends over an территорию of about 2.6 square kilometres in the heart of London.

6. Самые известные улицы here are Whitehall, Downing Street, Fleet Street, Harley Street.