The history of London goes back to Roman times. Due to favourable geographical position, soon after the Roman conquest, a small town became an important trade centre. Actually, London can be divided into several parts: the City or Downtown of London, Westminster, the West End and the East End. The City is the oldest part of London with narrow streets and pavements. There are many offices, companies and banks in this part of London. The City of London is the financial centre of the United Kingdom. Only a few thousand people live there, but in the day-time it is full of people: as about half a million people come to work there. The biggest Banks and offices are concentrated in the City. The West End is the centre of London. It is full of richest hotels, largest supermarkets, best cinemas and concerthalls. There are a lot of beautiful houses and gardens. Only well-to-do people can live there. Another important district of London is Westminster, where most of Government buildings are situated. Westminster Palace is the seat of the British Parliament. Westminster Palace was founded in 1050. It is situated in the centre of London. Many great Englishmen were buried in the Abbey: Newton, Darwin and others. The Towers of the Houses of Parliament stand high above the city. On the highest tower there is the largest clock in the country which is known to the whole world as Big Ben. One can hear Big Ben strike every quarter of an hour. The clock «Big Ben» came into service in 1859. Big Ben is the biggest clock bell in Britain. The official London residence of the Queen is Buckingham Palace. It was built in the 18th century.
1. Every morning I force myself to do my morning exercises. Then I take a shower, have breakfast and go to work. I commute from the suburbs to Ekaterinburg five days a week. 2. Do you mind if I take your newspaper? - No, I don’t / Not at all. Here you are. The latest news is very interesting. 3. When was his nephew born? - 5 years ago, and tomorrow he has his birthday. I wonder what present he is going to give him? 4. Air the room, wash the floor and put all things in their places. The room is such a mess! 5. We used to be in a quarrel two years ago, but now we get along well with each other. We often quarrelled over mere trifles, but, as they say, the opposites attract each other. 6. The train arrives at the station in ten minutes. Hurry up! We have little time. 7. It takes him forty minutes to get to his cousin's house by bike. - And in winter? In Winter it takes him about two hours to get to it by bus. 8. You're late for classes for half an hour! Have you got an excuse this time? - My alarm clock didn't ring up/work, and I left the house at quarter to eight instead of seven o'clock. 9. The sooner you give your daughter in marriage the better. She still can’t keep her temper, and when she becomes older she may become hysterical. 10. They're not the twins. Denis is three years older than his brother. But they are as alike as two peas. They have taken much after their father. 12. My watch tells the wrong time. It needs cleaning and repairing. 13. My elder sister hasn't got a family of her own yet. Her friend is an engineer by profession, he graduated from University 5 years ago. As soon as he buys the apartment, he’ll propose to my sister. 14. She got finally divorced him - he was constantly bossy and always shouted at her. Now she's full of life and energy. 15. Who runs the house (goes shopping, tidies up the flat, washes the dishes, cooks, etc.) in your family?
If you want to keep fit you must go in for one kind of sport or another.
Sport is an essential part of my daily life. Every morning all the year round I do my morning exercises. Almost every day I do some training. In summer I go swimming or rowing. During my summer holidays I go on hikes. I usually spend my winter holidays in the country where I ski, skate or toboggan.
I also go in for track-and-field (athletics) events. Different sports and games are popular with my classmates. All my friends go in for different kinds of sport, such as water polo, gymnastics, horse-racing, wrestling, fencing, weightlifting, boxing, ice-hockey, speed-skating, figure-skating, football, basket-ball, volley-ball, etc.
We have fine teams at our school and different kinds of competitions take place there. The boys of my school are crazy about football, they play football and the girls are football fans. The girls never miss a single match played by school teams.
And now a few words about our physical training lessons. In winter our physical training lessons are held out-of-doors. We go skiing or skating. When it is cold outside P.T. lessons are held indoors, in our school gymnasium. We play different team-games such as basket-ball or volley-ball. Besides we have some training in gymnastics.
In autumn and in spring, when the weather is warm we have P.T. lessons at our school stadium. My school has a sports day once a year in late spring. On this day we have no lessons.
All the competitors change into their sports clothes, the spectators find their seats round the track ready to cheer. All the events take place at the same time. This day is a great success every year. Even if the weather is not warm, we enjoy ourselves just the same.
The history of London goes back to Roman times. Due to favourable geographical position, soon after the Roman conquest, a small town became an important trade centre. Actually, London can be divided into several parts: the City or Downtown of London, Westminster, the West End and the East End. The City is the oldest part of London with narrow streets and pavements. There are many offices, companies and banks in this part of London. The City of London is the financial centre of the United Kingdom. Only a few thousand people live there, but in the day-time it is full of people: as about half a million people come to work there. The biggest Banks and offices are concentrated in the City. The West End is the centre of London. It is full of richest hotels, largest supermarkets, best cinemas and concerthalls. There are a lot of beautiful houses and gardens. Only well-to-do people can live there.
Another important district of London is Westminster, where most of Government buildings are situated. Westminster Palace is the seat of the British Parliament. Westminster Palace was founded in 1050. It is situated in the centre of London. Many great Englishmen were buried in the Abbey: Newton, Darwin and others.
The Towers of the Houses of Parliament stand high above the city. On the highest tower there is the largest clock in the country which is known to the whole world as Big Ben. One can hear Big Ben strike every quarter of an hour. The clock «Big Ben» came into service in 1859. Big Ben is the biggest clock bell in Britain. The official London residence of the Queen is Buckingham Palace. It was built in the 18th century.