UK test 6

1. The most popular public holiday in Great Britain is........

a) New Year b) St. Valentine's Day c) Christmas

2. Which country sends a Christmas tree to Londoners every year?

a) Sweden b) Norway c) Russia

3. Who gives the traditional Christmas speech to the UK and the

Commonwealth on television?

a) The Prime minister b) The Speaker of the Parliament

c) The Queen

4. Christmas dinner usually consists of....... and Christmas pudding.

a) turkey b) chicken c) goose

5. What symbolic New Year presents do Scots give to their friends?

a) sweets b) a piece of coal c) flowers

6. Guy Fawkes tried to blow up........

a) The Houses of Parliament b) The Tower

c) Westminster Abbey

7. Red Nose Day is a new tradition........

a) to have fun b) to earn money for business

c) to rise money for charity

8. When is Halloween celebrated?

a) December 25th b) February 14th c) October 31st

9. In Britain, if a black cat crosses your path it's considered:

a) good luck b) bad luck c) a sign of bad weather to come

10. What does a witch use for transport?

a) a hat b) a broomstick c) a motorbike

1. PLACES TO SEE IN BRITAIN

Stonehenge. The great stone monument of Stonehengeis the best known and most remarkable of prehistoric remains in Britain. It has been standing on Salisbury Plain for about 4, 000 years.

There have been many different theories, but still nobody knows why it was built. Some say (and some do not agree with them) that Stonehenge was a tribal gathering place. The other widely known theory suggests that it was a religious centre and it was connected with astronomical observations. Stonehenge is made up of large sandstone blocks (each is 4 m high) that form a circle 33 m in diameter.

Today tourists from all over the world wander among these giant stones, take pictures of them and try to imagine that Stonehenge had been here long before the pyramids in Egypt were built.

Oxford. The first written record of the town of Oxford dates back to the year 912. Oxford University, the oldest and most famous university in Britain, was founded in the middle of the 12^th century, and by 1300 there were already 1, 500 students. Oxford University has a reputation of a privileged school. Many prominent political figures of the past and present times got their education at Oxford.

Nowadays there are about 12, 000 students in Oxford and over 1, 000 teachers. Outstanding scientists work in the numerous colleges of the University, teaching and doing research work in physics, chemistry, mathematics, cybernetics, literature, modern and ancient languages, art and music, philosophy, psychology: E. Halley (an astronomer), Christopher Wren, J. R. R. Tolkien, L. Carrol, Adam Smith, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, T. S. Eliot, P. B. Shelly, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton and others.

Cambridge is one of the most beautiful towns in England. It has the second oldest university in the UK after the university of Oxford. It was founded in the 13^th century. Here you will feel the past, the present and the future at the same time. Today Cambridge is a system of faculties, departments, and 31 colleges which are separated from one another but are all parts of one institution of higher education.

The most famous scientist who worked and taught at Cambridge is undoubtedly Isaac Newton. Among famous graduates of Cambridge are the leader of the English Revolution Oliver Cromwell, the poet John Milton; the scientist and creator of the evolutionary theory Charles Darwin, the poet George G. Byron. Besides, all kings of the reigning Windsor dynasty studied at Cambridge.

The Lake District is mountainous area in the north-west of England, and it has some of England's most beautiful scenery. It is also associated with English literature of the 19th century.

The Lake District is a National Park, which means that special care is taken to make sure that the beauty of the countryside is not spoiled. The Lake District National Park is now a very popular tourist destination. Tourists can go climbing, cycling, horse riding, skiing or just walking there.

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 as William and his early successors needed to secure their military position. Nowadays Windsor Castle is a comfortable country place within an hour's drive from the capital, where the Royal family can relax.

Loch Ness is the third largest lake in Europe. It is the lake that never freezes. Some people say that it has underwater caves. There is a mysterious thing in the loch – the Loch Ness Monster! Some people think that there is no monster there. It's in people's imagination.

Stratford-upon-Avon is a small ancient town with a population of only 20, 000, but every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all countries come here because it is the birthplace of William Shakespeare – the greatest writer in history. The most famous place in Stratford (and may be one of the most famous places in the world) is the house where Shakespeare was born and spent his childhood. Another interesting house is the home in which Shakespeare spent his last year. He bought this building in 1597 when he already was a famous and rich playwright. Stratford is a home to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It was founded in 1960 and today the best actors and directors from various countries work here on Shakespeare's best plays.