Answer the questions to the text

1. What material was used in the construction of most of the Lincoln Memorial?

2. Why are there thirty-six columns?

1. What other buildings can be seen from the Memorial?

2. When is the Memorial open?

3. Why are there thirty-six outer columns?

4. What materials were used for the Memorial?

5. What is inscribed in stone?

6. What does a mural above each inscription represent?

London: places of interest

There are a lot of places of interest in London. Among them are the world famous buildings and architectural masterpieces: Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul s Cathedral and others. Here you will find their descriptions.

Westminster, now the political centre of London, was until the 11^th century a sacred place. King Edward the Confessor decided to build a great abbey church here. It was consecrated in 1065, but a week later the King died and was buried in the abbey. His tomb became a popular place of pilgrimage. William the Conqueror was crowned in the Abbey and since then all Coronations have taken place here.

The Abbey contains many royal tombs, memorials to eminent people. But the most popular ones are those to writers, actors and musicians in Poets’ Corner.

Alongside the Abbey Edward the Confessor had a palace built. The palace of Westminster was the royal residence. Until the 19^th century it was also the country’s main court of law, and Parliament has met there since the 16^th century.

The present Houses of Parliament were built after the old palace burnt down in 1834. The building contains the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two chambers where parliamentary business is debated. On the corner next to Westminster Bridge stands St. Stephen’s Tower, which houses the famous bell, Big Ben, which chimes the hours.

Buckingham Palace built in 1702-1705 is the Queen’s official London residence. In front of the palace you can see London’s most popular spectacle - Changing the Guard. It lasts about 30 minutes.

St. Paul’s Cathedral as well as Big Ben are Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpieces. The construction of the Cathedral started in 1675 and was not finished until 1709. The magnificent classical structure is crowned by the dome. Inside the dome is the famous Whispering Gallery. There are many memorials in the Cathedral including these to heroes such as General Wellington and Admiral Nelson.

The Tower of London has been closely associated with many important events in English history. It has served as citadel, palace, prison, mint and menagerie. The White Tower was built in 1078 by William the Conqueror to protect the city. The Tower is guarded by the Yeoman Warders popularly known as “Beefeaters”, clad in their traditional Tudor uniforms.

Windsor Castle, standing on a rock overlooking the river Thames, was founded by William the Conqueror and was later fortified and enlarged by almost every monarch since the Norman Conquest. Charles 11 and later monarchs continued to make alterations to suit the needs and fashions of the day, including the laying out of the Great Park as their personal estate. Nowadays Windsor Castle is a comfortable country place within an hour’s drive from the capital, where the Royal family can relax.

Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court is a royal residence which is associated with Henry VIII. Cardinal Woolsey, Henry’s friend and adviser, was a brilliant politician and diplomat. He began building this grand palace in red brick in 1514. In 1526 Woolsey presented the unfinished palace to his king, and Henry continued the work until Hampton Court was one of the largest brick buildings in Europe.

Like many English old castles and palaces, Hampton Court is haunted. According to a legend, one of the galleries is haunted by Henry’s fifth wife Catherine Howard, who was executed on a charge of infidelity. Another legend says that Jane Seymour, his third wife, also walks here in the palace where she died giving birth to the future Edward Y1. Some legends tell that the ghost of Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife who was executed, sometimes walks along the ramparts of the Bloody Tower. Henry himself, however, rests quietly: his ghost has never been seen by anybody.

The Barbican Centre is an enormous complex which contains two theatres, an art gallery, a library, three cinemas, two restaurants and two exhibitions halls.

The building itself is very interesting: it is built on eight levels. Four of these levels are underground. On the fifth level there is a lake, complete with 45 fountains and air terrace where you can have coffee.

The Centre has been finally opened after seventeen years’ discussion and planning. The construction of the Centre was started in 1970. At that time it was expected to cost 190 million. At last on the 3^rd of March 1982 Barbican Centre was opened by Queen Elisabeth herself. At that time the final cost of the construction was 150 million.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-24