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From time to time the question if the nation should pay for that undemocratic institution is raised. Monarchy is indeed a very expensive institution. The Queen gets an allowance of about two million pounds a year, secured from inflation. All the members of the Royal Family also get considerable annual allowances, known as the Civil List, which is free of tax.
In addition to the Civil List there are some expensive items paid for by the taxpayers: the Royal yacht "Britannia", a floating palace and a hospital ship with 250 men making its crew and the team responsible for the upkeep, costing the taxpayers 9,2 million pounds. There is also a Royal train, two helicopters and three planes. But the majority of people wish to have something stable and sacred in this constantly changing world.
The debates about the role and cost of the Monarchy have always existed and will go on. In cases of upheavals and sharp criticism of the Monarchy the opponents are being reminded that 7 million pounds spent on it equals the sum of money spent on advertising washing powder, which only cleans and whitens clothes, while the Monarchy serves to clean and whiten the whole social and political system of the country.
Queen Elizabeth II is 40th monarch (since 1066), the oldest and longest-ruling monarch.
Notes to the text:
Civil List – цивильный лист (сумма на содержание лиц королевской семьи)
upkeep – содержание (в исправности), ремонт
Task 19. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations: поднимать вопрос, налогоплательщик, годовое содержание, свободный от налогов, ответственный за, священный, переворот, быть равным, рекламировать.
Task 20. Define the tense and the voice of the predicates in the following sentences:
1. The debates about the role and cost of the Monarchy have always existed and will go on.
2. In cases of upheavals and sharp criticism of the Monarchy the opponents are being reminded that … the Monarchy serves to clean and whiten the whole social and political system of the country.
Task 21. Answer the questions:
1. What is the British people’s attitude to the Monarchy?
2. Is it a very expensive institution?
3. Do you see any advantages or disadvantages of having a monarchy?
UNIT 3
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