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1. A talisman for luck
2. The wildlife of the country
3. The modern side of the country
4. Useful in many ways
5. A country profile
6. A false stereotype
7. Opportunities for different sports
8. The national sporting event
A. Thanks to television and films, Scotland is often seen by the rest of the world as a magical country, a land of misty mountains and the home of a lake creature called Nessie. This is the image most people have in mind. The truth, however, is completely different from the way the world thinks of Scotland. You may be surprised to find out that most Scots live in the lowlands and don’t believe in Nessie.
B. Scotland is much more than green hills and picturesque valleys. It’s dynamic and cosmopolitan, with a colourful history of invention and innovation. It’s the home of big businesses and a centre of new medical and scientific development. Each year, it hosts the world's biggest contemporary arts festivals. Scotland is an exciting place to live in, particularly for a young person.
C. Scottish heather, a small bush with flowers, is the floral symbol of the country. The colour of the flowers usually varies from purple to lilac, but they can also be white. In the past, the Scots believed that they would never be captured by enemies and would win victories if they wore white heather. Today, when getting married, girls add white heather to bouquets to bring fortune to their family.
D. Heather has grown in Scotland as far back as its history goes. This has turned it into a kind of household good. Heather honey is rich in minerals, and was traditionally used in medicinal drinks. Thousands of years ago, dried heather was used to make perfumes, and the tough stems were used to make ropes. On many of the northern Scottish islands, heather played a major role in the construction of houses.
E. Scotland is an excellent destination for open-air activities all year round. Its lakes and coastline are ideal for boating and rowing and have some of the best sea-kayaking in the world. The rivers are perfect for fishing and the mountains are wonderful for hill climbing and skiing. Scotland is also good for walkers. You can enjoy easy family walks or more difficult mountain hikes.
F. The Highland Games in Scotland date back to long before Scotland’s written history. The various athletics allowed men to demonstrate their physical power and the skills needed for battle and survival. The Games today still include the athletic competitions in their original form together with dancing contests. All the competitors wear kilts. Traditional bagpipe music accompanies all the events.
G. Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Edinburgh, the country's capital and second largest city, is one of Europe's financial centres. The population of the country is a little over 5 million people. The currency is the pound sterling although the Bank of Scotland issues its own notes and coins.
1. Shop and travel
2. They don’t want to change anything
3. A shop for the rich
4. Shopping on water
5. Children's dreamland
6. Shopping alone
7. A taste from the past
8. Not new but good and cheap
A. Hamleys is the best toyshop in the UK. It has seven floors of toys, games and sweets. The shop assistants often dress up in costumes of famous characters from fairy tales and stories. Because of this the place looks like a magic land. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the shop really has everything young ones could ever want.
B. Harrods, perhaps London's most famous department store, is named after Charles Harrods, who opened a family grocer's shop on the site in 1849. The little shop has grown and become a symbol for expensive and glamorous shopping. It contains over 300 departments selling luxury items, from furniture and ladies fashion to sports equipment. Harrods continues to astonish customers from around the world with first-class service and product quality.
C. The Old Umbrella Shop is one of the shops that hasn’t changed from the early twentieth century. Inside it looks exactly as it was years ago. There are old telephones, shelves, shop windows and an umbrella museum. What's more, it still sells umbrellas and doesn’t want to specialize in anything else. The shop has faithful clients who have been coming there for years.
D. Muara Kuin is an unusual river market in Indonesia. With the sunrise people from local villages arrive here by boat with fresh fruit and vegetables. Buyers get to the market in the same way. Nobody goes on shore, all business is done from boats. If you wish to get a cup of tea, there are special motor boats selling drinks and cookies.
E. The city of Dongguan in China has the world's largest shopping mall. There are seven zones in it, which are designed to look like world's cities and regions. In no time you'll get from Paris to Amsterdam. Take a lift and it will take you from Europe to Canada. There's even a small river with boats, where you can relax and take a trip after shopping.
F. Hope and Greenwood is a sweet shop in London. It offers traditional British sweets. They were popular in the 50s and 70s. Now you can’t find them anywhere else because chocolate factories use new modern recipes and ingredients. This shop offers a unique opportunity to try the desserts of the previous century.
G. Oxfam is a chain of shops all over the world, which sells very cheap things. Its aim is to attract shoppers by offering them many second-hand and donated things of good quality. Also anyone can come and bring the books or clothes they no longer need. Oxfam takes everything: from stamps to furniture.
1. A holiday tradition
2. All kinds of entertainment
3. It’s a must for any tourist
4. Going back in history
5. A city of contrasts
6. The name meaning
7. The green spots
8. Not for everyone
A. The population of London grew in the 17th century. Many houses were built during that period. It was needed after the Great Fire of 1666. In the 19th century the city suffered from pollution and epidemics. The German bombings during World War II destroyed the historical centre of London. After the war the city was reconstructed and now it is one of the most beautiful European capitals.
B. Each year in December, the people of Norway send a present to Londoners. It is a very big Christmas Tree, which is put in Trafalgar Square. In this way they thank Britain for help during World War II. This tree becomes one of the unforgettable sights of London, especially when it is lit by hundreds of fairy lights. Londoners often group around the tree and sing Christmas songs.
C. Trafalgar Square is situated in central London. It is one of the greatest and most famous tourist attractions. Any visit to the capital usually begins with this place. It’s absolutely necessary for every tourist to see Nelson’s Column. Everyone should admire the lovely fountains of the square. Also, you can’t say that you’ve been to London if you don’t take a picture of yourself in the square.
D. London was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD and called Londinium. There is a common theory that the word “Londinium” comes from the name of a Celtic village. Also, the adjective “lond” meant “wild” in the Celtic language. Perhaps, it characterized the river Thames, on which the city was started. So, most scientists think that London is a “village on the wide river”.
E. In spite of being an important industrial and business centre London is known for its parks and open spaces. In every part of the city, you can find at least one park. It can be just a small pool with surrounding trees or a big and magnificent park like Hyde Park or Regent’s Park. They are all loved and visited by Londoners all the year round.
F. The liveliest part of London is West End. There are a lot of pubs, clubs, shops, theatres and cafes there. All kinds of pastimes are offered to tourists. Most of them choose shopping in Oxford Street with its stores, boutiques and gift shops. It’s a pleasant experience because the choices are great.
G. Big Ben is one of London's best-known sights. The name “Big Ben” actually refers not to the clock-tower itself, but to the thirteen ton bell hanging within. The tower is not open to the general public. A tourist from abroad can’t visit it. The citizens of the UK are luckier. They can write a letter to a member of Parliament and ask to allow them to tour the clock tower. Usually, the permission is given.
1. A false stereotype
2. An unlucky symbol
3. A colourful present
4. A world famous journey
5. One and the same name
6. The national food
7. A talisman for luck
8. Old holiday traditions
A. When you think of the Irish, you often picture a red-haired person dressed all in green. However, it's just a popular myth which has grown into a tradition, particularly in the United States. It's customary in Ireland to wear green clothes only on St. Patrick's Day. Lots of people are tricked by this cliché. However, originally, the colour associated with Saint Patrick was not green, but blue.
B. In Ireland, the colour green was long considered to bring bad fortune. The reason is that in Irish folklore green is the favourite color of the Good People (the proper name for fairies). Myths run that they are likely to steal people, especially children, who wear too much of the colour. In the past, a girl would never wear anything green on her wedding day.
C. Christmas is a very important celebration in Ireland. After dinner on Christmas Eve, it is common for families to leave milk and bread on the table as a sign of friendliness and kindness. Another custom is to leave the door unlocked. A lit candle is left in a window during the night. It represents help for any traveller who is passing by.
D. Potatoes form the basis for many traditional Irish dishes. They are eaten boiled, mashed, fried and baked. Potatoes are mixed with cabbage or green onions to make traditional Irish dishes. They are also made into potato cakes and used in soups or stews. It’s common to find potatoes cooked in two different ways on the same dinner plate.
E. The shamrock is still a popular sign of good fortune in Ireland. It is believed that anyone who possesses one will be blessed with fortune in everything, even in gambling, and will be saved from the evil of witches. There are certain conditions to be met so that its power remains effective: the owner of the shamrock must keep it away from the public eye and never give it to anyone else.
F. The name Gulliver is known to everyone due to the book or the film about the fantastic trip of the English doctor. However, not all of us remember the name of the author undefined Jonathan Swift, an Irish writer, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1667. In his book Gulliver’s Travels a man went to an island where strange tiny people lived. His life there was full of adventures and dangers, he met there friends and enemies.
G. Ireland is known as the native land of limericks – short humorous poems that have five lines. They make people laugh and are easy to remember! Lots of poets and writers were fond of limericks. The word ‘limerick’ probably comes from the Irish town of Limerick. The short poem has made the town known all over the world.
1. Capital expert
2. A place to see history
3. Popular tourist routes
4. Named after its form
5. An easy way to pay for the trip
6. A healthy form of transport
7. A contrast to the dark city
8. Why driving on the other side
A. The London Underground is the quickest and easiest way of getting around the city. Today it is as important a landmark of the capital as Big Ben or the London Eye. The underground is often called the Tube because of its shape: tube shaped tunnels, stations and trains. The Tube became an official name for the first time in the early 1900s, after the Central London Railway (now the Central Line) was named the Twopenny Tube.
B. In 1956 the red London double-decker bus appeared on the London streets for the first time. At that time, the London buildings had gone black because of smoke from the coal used for heating. What’s more, due to the local climate and lack of wind, there was always fog in the city. Under such gloomy circumstances, the bright-red London double-decker bus became a sensation! In the past 50 years, the red double-decker has become an icon of London.
C. Oyster is an electronic smart card ticket. Regardless of whether you live in London, or you are a tourist, a day trip visitor, or a regular visitor to the capital, the Oyster Card is definitely the easiest way to travel around the London Transport system. Simply touch the card on the yellow reader to get through the Tube gates or board other London public transport. The card doesn't even need to be removed from your purse or wallet to work.
D. The London Transport Museum is worth visiting. Entrance is not free but the price of £15 for a year pass is more than reasonable. The exhibitions displayed in the museum present London transport in its historical context. There are more than 80 vehicles, including a red London bus and the world's first Underground train. The galleries are full of interactive exhibits for young people to play on – including real buses and trains!
E. In London there are around 23 000 taxis. The taxi drivers know every corner of London because all of them have to take an exam, called the Knowledge. This exam supposes that the candidate driver can recognize most of the 20 000 London streets and knows how to choose the shortest route between two points. Each taxi driver should also know all the parks, cinemas, theatres and museums in the city.
F. Over the last few years, cycling around London has been getting more and more popular. The reasons are obvious - there is no ‘carbon waste’ and it prevents obesity and heart disease. For tourists, it is often also the quickest and the easiest way to see London, with the bonus of getting some exercise. The casual user hires a bike at one of the numerous bike stations, rides it where he or she wants and then returns it to any of the docking stations.
G. If you’ve ever been to Britain, one of the first things you will have noticed is that the British drive on the wrong side of the road. They drive on the left! The reason for this goes back to the days when people travelled on horses. Most people are right-handed and the left is the natural side to ride on if you are on horseback - you need your right hand to hold a sword in case of any trouble.
1. А small but important country
2. Sights for the brave
3. Mind your driving
4. You’ll never get bored
5. Difficult to predict
6. Traditional industries
7. Keeping the balance in nature
8. Helpful assistants
A. The history of Scotland is rich and varied, but most people would also describe it as violent and bloody. Scotland's history appears to be just an endless list of battles between the Scottish clans and their close neighbours, the English. But if you look carefully at the history of Scotland, you will be surprised by the great influence that this small nation has had upon the development of Western civilization.
B. Of all the scary places in Scotland, the castles provide us with the most terrifying stories. You need courage to visit them. The castles are known for numerous murders and cases of violent death. Edinburgh castle is at the top of the list. According to the legend, there is the ghost of a headless drummer and the ghost of a piper, whose music can be heard even above the noise of Edinburgh's traffic.
C. To decide on what to wear for a walk can be a challenge in Scotland! This tiny country is surrounded by so much water that Scottish weather can change at any moment. In fact, sometimes you feel as though you've experienced three (or even all four) seasons in just one day! This may explain why Scots are fascinated by the weather, and follow daily weather reports very closely.
D. Scotland has 30,000 miles of roads. Travelling around Scotland by car can be challenging for foreign visitors. When travelling by car, tourists should be very careful. When they see something they wish to look at, they mustn't slow down as they could be hit by the car behind. Tourists should also remember that Scottish motorways have a speed limit of 70 miles per hour.
E. There are many breeds of Scottish dogs. One of the most famous is the Collie or Scotch collie that comes from the Scottish highlands. It has been bred for many years to help shepherds. Some people say the name Collie comes from the Gaelic word for useful. The Collie is a dog that can do many jobs. The Collie can guard property as well as search for a missing chicken or drive sheep. The dogs can be taught how to open doors and gates.
F. Scotland is a country where tourism offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy nature at its best. As you explore the Scottish countryside, be sure to look out for Daubenton's bats. These tiny creatures with funny short ears weigh from 7 to 11 grams, but they are vital for the ecosystem as they keep insect populations in check, eating lots of small insects every day.
G. For active and curious people there is a lot to do in the Scottish Highlands! You can explore castles and visit museums. The famous Loch Ness is situated here and you'll find ancient castles, which can be visited. If you like something more adventurous, you might try horse riding, mountain biking, kayaking and sailing. There is no end of things to do in the Highlands, so you can be sure you'll enjoy yourself there.
1. The birthplace of the city
2. Multifunctional construction
3. The first traffic jams
4. A perfect location
5. Safety gates
6. Defeating pollution
7. Navigation season
8. The royal birds
A. Almost 2,000 years ago, the army of Ancient Rome landed on the coast of Britain and headed north. Soon they came to a wide, deep river. The army could neither walk across it nor find an alternative route. The only solution was building a bridge. The Romans found a place where the river was relatively narrow and built a bridge. Then they founded a settlement, which they called Londinium. Today it is known as London.
B. The Romans soon discovered that Londinium was an ideal site for a port. Their bridge prevented large ships from going up the river, so all trading ships had to stop and unload at Londinium. It made Londinium an important trading centre and stimulated the growth and development of the city.
C. The first London bridge over the Thames was built of wood – and then rebuilt time and time again. Later, a stone bridge was constructed. By the 1350s there were nearly 200 houses and shops on top of the bridge, and the road across it was very narrow. It was very difficult for carriages, horses and people to move across the bridge. They often couldn’t pass one another and had to spend hours on the bridge.
D. When the Thames flooded, it covered London with water. After a bad flood in 1953, people began to look for a way to control the river. In 1982 the Thames Barrier was opened. When its gates are raised, they form a steel wall more than half a kilometre long across the Thames. It prevents flood water from reaching London. More than 90 times, the Thames Barrier has saved the capital from flooding.
E. Nowadays, Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. The walkway between the two bridge towers provides a perfect sightseeing platform to enjoy a magnificent view over London. Inside the towers there is an exhibition, which tells the history of the bridge via photos, films, and other media. Tower Bridge also performs its original function of providing a road across the River Thames.
F. In Britain, swans have privileged status. Since the 1100s, all unmarked swans on any public lakes or rivers in the country have belonged to the Crown. The swans on the River Thames are called Mute Swans. They have a bright orange beak with a black spot on the top. Every July, a special ceremony called “Swan Upping” takes place on the Thames at Windsor. All the swans are caught and their markings are checked and recorded.
G. Nowadays, the River Thames is the cleanest river in the world that flows through a big city. This is a great achievement because only fifty years ago the river was so dirty and poisoned that it was declared biologically dead. Special plants to clean the water were built in the 1950s. Soon, special laws were issued to stop factories letting their dirty water go into the river. Strict government measures have saved the river.
1. Nobody lives there
2. A place to watch sports and purchase goods
3. Enjoy buying something from the past
4. Let big boats go under
5. A message to future generations
6. Getting a nickname after reconstruction
7. The most expensive construction project
8. Real-life help from a fairy tale
A. Tower Bridge, which is over a hundred years old, has become a symbol of London. It is the only bridge on the Thames that can be raised and lowered to allow ships to pass. The Tower drawbridges have been raised more than half a million times since it was built. Nowadays it takes only 90 seconds for the heavy drawbridges to be raised with electric motors. It is considered that watching the Tower Bridge opening brings good luck.
B. Portobello Market is among the most famous London street markets. It has been a market since the 1800s but became famous for its antiques in the 1950s. On Saturdays the place is crowded with Londoners and tourists. There are numerous stalls offering vintage and designer clothes, books, music and loads of antiques. It is a place where everyone can find something really unique.
C. Waterloo Bridge is a foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London. It was opened in 1817, on the second anniversary of the famous battle. A century later, in the early 1940s, the famous Bridge needed to be rebuilt. It was during World War II, and most men were away fighting. So the bridge was rebuilt mainly by women. The new Waterloo Bridge was opened in 1945 and got a second name, the ‘Ladies Bridge’.
D. Wembley Stadium is a football stadium located in Wembley Park, London. The stadium is the home not only to football. It also hosts concerts, rugby games and American football games. There is Wembley Market not far from the stadium. Unlike many London street markets this one is situated in an open space. A visit here is a good option for football fans to find club T-shirts, boots or accessories.
E. 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens in Paddington (just opposite Hyde Park) are fake houses built to hide the Tube line running underneath. The windows are painted on, there are no letter boxes, and behind the facade there is a railway. The first London underground trains were steam trains so they needed ventilation. Underground lines were planned with tunnels and open air sections so the trains could let out their steam and smoke, and that is what the house facades are hiding.
F. Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is situated at Russell Square, London, owns the copyright to Peter Pan, a story written by J.M. Barrie. The author had no children himself and gifted the rights to his famous literary pieces to the hospital in 1929. The hospital receives royalties from all films, cartoons and performances of Peter Pan. All the money is used to run the hospital.
G. Cleopatra's Needle, the obelisk on the Thames Embankment, was brought to London in 1819 from Alexandria, the royal city of Cleopatra. Underneath Cleopatra’s Needle there’s a time capsule from 1778 that’s said to contain copies of the Bible in several languages, a portrait of Queen Victoria, a set of British coins, cigars, a razor, a map of London, copies of 10 daily newspapers, and pictures of 12 best looking English women of the day.
1. Bilingual society
2. The creator of the famous building
3. The dominant colour of the island
4. The origin of the international word
5. The meaning of colours
6. Was it a real story?
7. In the heart of Dublin
8. Two things associated with the country
A. One of the informal names of Ireland is ‘the Emerald Isle’. This is because of its lush greenery and rolling hills. The country receives a lot of rain each year, which keeps the grass green and the plants blooming. Experts argue that the flora of Ireland demonstrates more than forty shades of green. The famous country singer Johnny Cash even wrote a song about it ‘40 Shades of Green’.
B. The most famous symbol of Ireland is undoubtedly the shamrock clover. However, the official emblem of the country is the Celtic harp. Ireland is the only country in the world to have a musical instrument as its national symbol. The harp has become Ireland’s national symbol not because it was created there but due to the collection of the oldest harps in the world which now can be seen in the museum at Trinity College in Dublin.
C. The national flag of the Republic of Ireland is a tricolour of green, white and orange vertical stripes. The flag was designed to reflect the country’s political situation. Created in 1848, the orange stripe represents Irish Protestants. Green is for Irish Catholics and white is for the hope that peace might eventually be reached between them.
D. According to the Constitution, Irish (Gaelic) is a national language of the Republic of Ireland. It used to be the primary language that was used on the island. Though at school children are still taught Irish, the language is losing its importance. Nowadays, most people speak English which is the second official language of the country. At the same time, many families who have lived in Ireland for generations understand and speak Irish.
E. The story about the world-famous vampire Count Dracula was written in 1897 by Bram Stoker, from Dublin. Count Dracula started the period of 20 years of vampire stories in Victorian literature. People believe that the author gathered inspiration from real life events of a Romanian ruler, called Vlad the Impaler. But Vlad the Impaler lived almost 400 years before Bram Stoker, so nobody actually knows whether it is true or not.
F. The White House, the official residence of the US President, was designed by an Irishman. James Hoban was born in Ireland and studied architecture in his homeland. In 1792, James Hoban won the competition for the construction of the President's house in America. He spent nine years supervising the building process. When in 1814 The White House was destroyed, James Hoban had to redesign the building.
G. The widely used word ‘boycott’ originated in Ireland. In 1880, a campaign of isolation against Charles Boycott, a land agent, was started. He threw out the farmers from his land when they complained that the rents were too high. After that, the local shops refused to serve him, his servants left and the boy who delivered his mail disappeared too. The surname of the land agent became a word which means silently ignoring. The word was adopted in English, French, Dutch, German, Russian etc.
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