Exercises

Text

One day the group went to Madame Tussaud's, one of London's most popular tourist attractions, receiving well over a million visitors a year.

Madame Tussaud was born Marie Gresholtz in Strasbourg, France, in 1761. She spent her childhood in Paris with her mother and her uncle who, when she was rather young, took Marie to help mould the heads of the Revolution victims.

In 1802 Marie fled Paris, and arrived in Britain with her macabre collection, first touring the country. Then she set up an exhibition of historical figures, living and dead, in London in 1835. The collection moved to Marylebone Road, the present location of the museum, in 1884. Madame Tussaud died in 1850 at the age of 89.

The Great Hall of the museum shows the present royal family, kings and queens of England, present royals of other countries, public figures, pop stars, writers, famous sportsmen and other figures.

Some time after the group visited the museum David Hill asked one of the participants about his impressions:

David: Well, Ivan, and how did you like the museum?

Ivan: Oh, it's great. I heard so much about it. But the mu­seum surpassed all my expectations.

David: It's really fantastic. And were you photographed with your personal hero or any celebrity?

Ivan: Oh, yes. With Arnold Schwartzenegger, Yeltsin, the Beatles and some others. And I wished my son could be with me when I enjoyed the Spirit of London.

David: Do you mean the ride through the old city in a car in the museum?

Ivan: Yes, quite so. It was superb. The historic sights of the past, sounds and smell of the city.

David: By the way, do you know how much all these innova­ tions could cost?

Ivan: No idea.

David: About 21 million pounds.

Ivan: Quite a lot. But it 's very impressive, especially for chil­dren, I mean the Spirit of London. As to the wax fig­ures they are unforgettable for all, to my mind.

David: I agree with you.

Words and expressions

attraction		привлекательность, прелесть
over		свыше
well over 1 million		намного больше 1 миллиона
to be born		родиться
to spend (spent, spent)		проводить (время)
child		ребенок
children		дети
childhood		детство
mother		мать
uncle	[анкл]	дядя
to mould		отливать форму
head		голова
victim		жертва
to flее (fled, fled)		бежать, спасаться бегством
macabre		мрачный, ужасный
to set up (set, set)		организовывать
exhibition	[эксибишн]	выставка
to live		жить, житие
living		жизнь
life		жизнь
dead		умерший, мертвый
to be dead		быть умершим
She is dead now.		Она умерла.
to die		умирать
She died in.		Она умерла в..
location		месторасположение
age		возраст
at the age of		в возрасте
royal		королевский
king		король
queen		королева
public figure		общественный деятель
writer		писатель
famous	[фэймес]	известный
impression		впечатление
to impress		производить впечатление
What impressed you most?		Что произвело на вас наибольшее впечатление?
to surpass		превосходить
to expect		ожидать
expectation		ожидание
It surpassed my expectations.		Это превзошло все мои ожидания.
hero	[хироу]	герой
celebrity		знаменитость
I wished he could be with me.		Жаль, что его не было вместе со мной
spirit		дух
ride		поездка
sound		звук
innovation		нововведение, новинка
to cost		стоить
to forget		забывать
unforgettable		незабываемый

1. Translate into Russian:

It is one of the most popular touiist attractions receiving many visitors.

receiving well ovei a million visitors a year

Her uncle who, when she was rather young, asked her to help him …

who took Mary to help mould the heads of the French Revolution victims

In 1802 she fled Paris

... her macabre collection...

She arrived with her collection, first touring the country.

She set up an exhibition of famous figures, living and dead.

2. Complete as in the text:

Madame Tussaud's is one of London's.... attractions.

Madame Tussaud was born... She spent her childhood... When Mary was still rather young her uncle took her to help mould... In 1802 Mary fled Paris and... collection, first touring the country. Then she set up... in 1835. The collection moved to Marylebone Road... in 1884. Madame Tussaud died... at the age of ….

Дата добавления: 2014-12-26