PRACTICE YOUR RENDERING SKILLS

Task 1

Translate the text from Russian into English with the help of a dictionary.

Соединенное Королевство (сокращенно от "Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии") – это официальное название государства, которое состоит из Англии, Шотландии, Уэльса и Северной Ирландии (иногда называемой Ольстером). Великобритания – это название острова, состоящего из Англии, Шотландии, Уэльса, в то время как Британские острова – это географическое название всех островов северо-западного побережья европейского континента. В ежедневном употреблении слово "Британия" означает Соединенное Королевство.

Task 2

Translate the text from Russian into English with the help of a dictionary.

Флаг Соединенного Королевства, известный как Юнион Джек, состоит из трех крестов. Вертикальный красный крест на белом фоне – это крест Георга Первого, святого покровителя Англии. Желтый диагональный крест на голубом фоне – это крест св. Эндрю, покровителя Шотландии. Красный диагональный крест на белом фоне – это крест св. Патрика, покровителя Ирландии. Уэльский флаг, называемый Уэльским драконом, представляет собой красного дракона на белом фоне.

Task 3

Translate the text from Russian into English with the help of a dictionary.

День св. Георгия выпадает на 23 апреля и считается национальным праздником Англии. В этот день некоторые англичане-патриоты прикалывают розы к пиджакам. Красная роза – это национальная эмблема Англии со времен войн между Розами (XV столетие). День св. Эндрю (30 ноября) считается национальным днем Шотландии. В этот день некоторые шотландцы вставляют в петли для пуговиц чертополох. Чертополох, по-видимому, использовали в качестве национальной эмблемы Шотландии в XV веке как символ защиты.

UNIT 3. LONDON

PART 1

PRACTICE YOUR TRANSLATION SKILLS

Text 1

Read the article using a dictionary and say which of the sentences below gives the message of the text.

To manage London's brand image carefully means:

a) to preserve London's traditions, historic sites and ceremonies;

b) to enlarge the number of internationally recognised events;

c) to strengthen London's international character;

d) to integrate all the features of the city;

e) to develop modern forms of communication.

It is far from being a question of historic sites and ceremonials – important though these are. London is a 24-hour city with nightlife, clubs, restaurants and internationally known events. It plays the role of any great city throughout the ages – bringing together in one place a critical mass of economic, scientific, cultural and intellectual possibilities.

But a key question is how to unite these elements physically. What makes this possible is London's combination of tradition with its status as the world's most internationalised. Both are rooted in the city's unique history – for several centuries London was the world's major port. This made it possible to bring together "tradition", in the sense of a long uninterrupted history, and the greatest multicultural centre in the world.

Since London became the greatest melting pot in the world, diversity and the most modern forms of communications are integral to London's character. That creates the city's unique character and attraction. If London is to continue to develop its tourist industry, this requires an integrated approach in policing, transport, culture, and business.

In short, strengthening London as one of the world's greatest tourist centres is not going to lessen the attraction of the city for its inhabitants. What makes London a great place for tourists is not only its tradition, but that it is a modern, "lived-in" city.

Fill in the gaps in this summary of the text, using the words from the box.

The author thinks that tourism is one of London's 1)... industries. London's 2)... for tourists is not only its 3)… but the fact that it is a modern, "lived-in" city. At the moment a key question is how to 4)... these elements. For London to continue to develop its tourist industry will require an 5)... to all sides of life in the city. According to Ken Livingstone, strengthening London as one of the world's greatest tourist centres is not going to lessen the 6)... of the city for its inhabitants.

Text 2

Read the text using a dictionary if necessary and get ready to answer the questions.

LONDON

London is the capital of Great Britain. The full name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. London is an ancient city. It grew up around the first point where the Roman invaders found the Thames narrow enough to build a bridge. They found a small Celtic settlement then known as Londinium and by A. D. 300 they had turned it into a sizeable port and an important trading centre.

Over 8 million people live in London. The city dominates British life. It is the home of the nation's commerce and finance, the main centre of its legal system and the press. It has the largest university and the greatest possibilities for entertainment and for sport in the country. London is one of the most famous capital cities of the world, and every year it attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad. They come to explore its historic buildings, to see its museums and galleries, its streets and parks, and its people.

London is a city of great contrasts. Its western part is the richest part of the town with its cosy mansions, beautiful avenues, shops, restaurants and hotels. The East End is the district inhabited by the poor. Quite an army of people live from hand to mouth in its slums and miserable houses lining dreary narrow streets. Industry is chiefly found in that part of the city, grey with soot and smoke.

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. St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches, is situated not far from the Tower. Not far away, in Westminster, where most of the Government buildings are situated, is Westminster Abbey. Many English sovereigns, outstanding statesmen, painters and poets are buried here. Walking around London one can also see and admire Westminster Palace, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, the British Museum and many other places in the city.

Questions:

1. What is London?

2. When was London founded?

3. Who turned London into a sizeable port and an important trading centre?

4. Why is London one of the most famous capital cities of the world?

5. Is London a city of great contrasts?

6. What part of London is the richest one? Why?

7. What district is inhabited by the poor?

8. Where is industry chiefly found?

9. What is the heart of London?

10. Where is the Tower of London situated?

11. Where are outstanding statesmen, sovereigns, painters and poets buried?

Text 3

Translate the paragraphs and get ready to answer the questions after each part.

MYSTERY IN THE TOWER

The princes disappear

On 9th April, 1483, King Edward IV of England died. He had two sons – Edward, aged 12 and Richard, aged 9. The boys' uncle, also called Richard, was asked to look after them and govern the country until Edward was old enough to be king. This never happened. Uncle Richard put the princes in the Tower of London to "protect" them, and they were never seen again. They simply disappeared. Meanwhile, their uncle took power and became King Richard III of England.

1. There are two Edwards and two Richards. How are they all related to each other?

2. Why didn't Prince Edward become king?

Richard III is killed

So what happened to the princes? Nobody knows. But later that year, the stories began. People said that Richard had murdered the boys. A lot of people were against Richard and rebelled. Richard's enemy, Henry Tudor, had spent some time in France, but now he returned to England and the rebels joined him. On August 22nd, 1485, their two armies fought at the battle of Bosworth Field. King Richard was killed and Henry became King Henry VII of England.

3. Why were people against Richard?

4. How did Henry become king?

A forced confession?

Were the boys really dead? Many people thought they were still alive, and perhaps Edward could become king. But King Henry was quite clear: Richard had killed them. In 1502, Richard's friend, Sir James Tyrell, confessed. He had murdered the boys on Richard's orders – although he didn't say what had happened to their bodies.

5. Was everybody sure that the princes were dead?

6. In 1502, people thought the mystery was solved. Why?

History is written

In 1674, the bones of two children were found under the stairs of the church in the Tower of London. Now it seemed clear: Richard III had ordered Sir James to kill the princes in the Tower and put their bodies under the stairs. In Shakespeare's play, Richard III, Richard was an evil monster, a murderer with a deformed body. The most famous painting from that time shows that Richard had one shoulder bigger than the other. At that time, people thought that a deformed body was a sign of an evil mind. And so history was written. The story was complete. Or was it?

7. Who do you think the bones belonged to?

8. The picture showed Richard was deformed. Why was that important?

PART 2

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