Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

There was actually more than one Temple of Artemis: A series of several altars and temples was destroyed and then restored on the same site in Ephesus, a Greek port city on the west coast of modern-day Turkey. The most fabulous of these structures were two marble temples built around 550 B.C. and 350 B.C., respectively. The former was designed by the Cretan architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes and decorated by some of the most celebrated artists of the ancient world. The building burned on July 21, 356 B.C., according to legend the same night that Alexander the Great was born. About six years later, the building of a new temple to replace it was begun. The new building was surrounded by marble steps that led to a more than 400-foot-long terrace. Inside stood 127 60-foot marble columns and a statue of Artemis. Archeologists disagree as to whether the building had an open-air ceiling or was topped with wood tiles. The temple was largely destroyed by Ostrogoths in A.D. 262, and it was not until the 1860s that archeologists dug up the first of the ruins of the temple’s columns at the bottom of the Cayster River.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Located in what is now southeastern Turkey, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a tomb built by Artemisia for her husband, Mausolus, the king of Carnia in Asia Minor, after his death in 353 B.C. Mausolus was also Artemisia’s brother, and, according to legend, she was so grief-stricken at his passing that she mixed his ashes with water and drank them in addition to ordering the mausoleum’s construction. The massive mausoleum was made entirely of white marble and is thought to have been about 135 feet high. The building’s complicated design, consisting of three rectangular layers, may have been an attempt to reconcile Lycian, Greek and Egyptian architectural styles. The first layer was a 60-foot base of steps, followed by a middle layer of 36 Ionic columns and a stepped, pyramid-shaped roof. At the very top of the roof lay the tomb, decorated by the work of four sculptors, and a 20-foot marble rendition of a four-horse chariot. The mausoleum was largely destroyed in an earthquake in the 13th century and its remains were later used in the fortification of a castle. In 1846, pieces of one of the mausoleum’s friezes were extracted from the castle and now reside, along with other relics from the Halicarnassus site, in London’s British Museum.

Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus was an enormous bronze sculpture of the sun god Helios built by the Rhodians over 12 years in the third century B.C. The city was the target of a Macedonian siege early in the fourth century B.C. and, according to legend, the Rhodians sold the tools and equipment left behind by the Macedonians to pay for the Colossus. Designed by the sculptor Chares, the statue was, at 100 feet, the tallest of the ancient world. It was completed around 280 B.C. and stood for sixty years until it was toppled in an earthquake. It was never rebuilt. Hundreds of years later, Arabs invaded Rhodes and sold the remains of the statue as scrap metal. Because of this, archeologists do not know much about the exact location of the statue or what it looked like. Most believe that it depicted the sun god standing naked while he lifted a torch with one hand and held a spear in the other. It was once believed that the statue stood with one leg on each side of a harbor, but most scholars now agree that the statue’s legs were most likely built close together to support its immense weight.

Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was located on a small island called Pharos near the city of Alexandria. Designed by the Greek architect Sostratos and completed around 270 B.C. during the reign of Ptolemy II, the lighthouse helped to guide Nile River ships in and out of the city’s busy harbor. Archeologists have found ancient coins on which the lighthouse was depicted, and from them deduced that the structure had three tiers: a square level at the bottom, an octagonal level in the middle and a cylindrical top. Above that stood a 16-foot statue, most likely of Ptolemy II or Alexander the Great, for whom the city was named. Although estimates of the lighthouse’s height have ranged from 200 to 600 feet, most modern scholars believe it was about 380 feet tall. The lighthouse was gradually destroyed during a series of earthquakes from 956 to 1323. Some of its remains have since been discovered at the bottom of the Nile.

Tell about any wonder you like.

Unit 9 Travelling

Active vocabulary

board борт
to board a train (a plane) садиться в поезд (на самолет)
airliner, airplane самолет
steamer пароход
to take off взлетать
sign знак, символ
notice объявление
to fasten застегнуть
seat-belt ремень безопасности
stewardess стюардесса
arrow стрелка
to switch on включать
to switch off выключать
to touch down / to land приземлиться
danger опасность
to sink тонуть
to sail плыть (о корабле)
customs таможня
customs inspection таможенный досмотр
customs limitations таможенные ограничения
citizenship гражданство
valuables ценности
weapons оружие
the purpose of the visit цель приезда
business or pleasure командировка или отдых
private visit частная поездка по приглашению
length of stay срок пребывания
to pay the duty уплатить пошлину
to declare декларировать
suitcase чемодан
luggage / baggage багаж
baggage tag бирка на багаж
harbor гавань, порт
railway station железнодорожный вокзал
train поезд
entrance вход
exit выход
waiting-room зал ожидания
cloak-room камера хранения
booking-office билетная касса (на поезд, самолет)
arrival прибытие
to arrive (in) приезжать, прибывать (в город)
refreshment room буфет
to stay (in) останавливаться
departure отправление, отбытие

 

Task 1. Read the text, translate, retell.

Travelling

People on our planet can’t live without travelling now. Tourism has become a highly developed business. There are express trains, cars and jet-air liners all of that provide you with comfort and security.

What choice to make? It’s up to you to decide. There is a great variety of choice available for you.

Those who live in the country like going to a big city, visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City-dwellers usually like their long-awaited holiday by the sea or in the mountains.

Most travelers carry a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them — the sights of a city, old churches, castles, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds. Later they will be reminded by the photos of the happy time they have had.

If you travel for pleasure you would like all means to enjoy picturesque areas you are passing through, you would like to see the places of interest in the cities, towns and countries. Travelling gives us a good opportunity to see wonderful monuments, cultural and historical places, to learn a lot about the history of the country you visit, about the world around us, to meet people of different nationalities, to learn a lot about their traditions, customs, culture. In other words, you will broaden your mind.

Nowadays people travel not only for pleasure but also on business. You have to go to other countries to take part in different conferences, to sign contracts, to participate in different exhibitions, in order to push the goods produced by your firm or company. Travelling on business helps you to get more information about achievements of other companies which will make your own business more successful.

There are a lot of means of travelling: by sea, by plane, by car, on foot. Tastes differ. That is why it is up to you to decide which means of travelling you would prefer. All means of travelling have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans.

No wonder that one of the latest means of travelling is travelling by plane. It combines both comfort and speed and you will reach the place of destination very quickly.

Before boarding the plane you must check in at the airport. You are required to have your baggage weighed. Each passenger is allowed 20 kilograms of baggage free of charge. But if your baggage is heavier you must pay an extra charge.

Before the plane takes off the stewardess gives you all the information about the flight, the speed and altitude. She asks you to fasten the belts and not to smoke. She will take care of you during the flight and will help you to get comfortable in your seat. Inside the cabins the air is always fresh and warm. During the flight you can take a nap or have a chat, you can read and relax. In some planes you can watch video or listen to the music.

When the plane is landing or taking off you have an opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery and landscapes. While travelling by plane you fly past various villages and cities at the sight of which you realize how majestic and tremendous our planet is. No doubt, travelling by air is the most convenient and comfortable means of travelling.

But if you are airsick the flight may seem not so nice to you. Unfortunately, sometimes the flights are delayed because of unfavorable weather conditions, and one more inconvenience is jet-lag.

The railway is still one of the most popular means of communication and, besides, it is one of the cheapest. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure combined, you can enjoy the beauty of the changing scenes that fly past you.

Many people enjoy travelling by sea. They say it is the most pleasant means of travel which combines speed and comfort. You feel as if you are walking on good solid ground when you are on board the big ocean liner. You can enjoy fresh sea air, the sights of the sea and the sky. But some passengers may be unhappy when they feel sea-sick, and then travelling by sea becomes a real torture for them.

With a motor car one can travel quickly, cheaply and comfortably for long distances without getting too tired. You can go as slowly or as fast as you wish, stop when and where you choose. But it is not pleasant when you ride on a bumpy road or get a flat tire or still worse, when your car runs out of petrol.

 

Task 2. Speak individually or arrange a discussion on the following:

1. Why is the whole world open now?

2. Do people travel only for pleasure?

3. What attracts people in the idea of travelling?

4. How can we get to the place of our destination?

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of various means of travel?

6. What way of travel do you prefer?

7. Is the romantic aspect of travelling still alive in our time?

 

 

 

Task 3. Learn the dialogue by heart.

Booking air tickets (Dialogue I)

Traveller: Good afternoon. I’d like to book two air tickets from Moscow to London please.
Travel agent: Certainly. When are you travelling?
Traveller: We want to take the flight next Saturday.
Travel agent: Single or return?
Traveller: Two return tickets. We are planning to come back in 3 weeks.
Travel agent: On the 9-th of July and 30-th of July.
Traveller: That’s right. Do we have to change?
Travel agent: No, it’s a direct flight. First class or economy class?
Traveller: Economy class.
Travel agent: Two adults?
Traveller: Yes.
Travel agent: And your name is ... ?
Traveller: Ivanov. I-V-A-N-O-V.
Travel agent: Initials?
Traveller: V.V.
Travel agent: And the other passenger?
Traveller: S.N. Ivanova.
Travel agent: It will cost you 60000 rubles, total price.
Traveller: Do you accept credit cards?
Travel agent: Certainly. Thank you. Could you sign here, please. Here are your tickets. The code Y is for economy. The baggage allowance is 20 Kg. These are for the outward journey− Moscow to London by flight 189 at 9.45 on the 9-th of July. And these are for the return journey − London to Moscow by 190 at 13.30 on the 30-th of July. Don’t forget to be at the airport two hours before departure time.

Task 4. Learn the dialogue by heart.

Booking air tickets (Dialogue II)

Travel agent: Good morning, sir. May I help you?
Traveller: Good morning. I’d like an air ticket from London to Paris, from Paris to Madrid and from Madrid to London.
Travel agent: When are you planning to travel?
Traveller: On August, 1-st from London to Paris, on August, 10-th from Paris to Madrid. And on August, 15-th from Madrid to London.
Travel agent: First class or economy?
Traveller: Economy, please.
Travel agent: It will cost you 400 €, total price.
Traveller: That’s fine with me.
Travel agent: Is the ticket in your name, sir?
Traveller: Yes, please. My name is L.S. Smirnov.
Travel agent: Here is your ticket, sir. There are three coupons for each leg of your journey. The carrier is British Airways.
Traveller: Thanks.

Task 5. Make up similar dialogues and stage them with your fellow-students.

Home Reading

“No,” said Harris, “if you want rest and change, you can’t beat a sea trip.”

I objected to the sea trip strongly. A sea trip does you good when you are going to have a couple of months of it, but, for a week, it is wicked.

You start on Monday with the idea implanted in your bosom that you are going to enjoy yourself. You wave an airy adieu to the boys on shore, light your biggest pipe, and swagger about the deck as if you were Captain Cook, Sir Francis Drake, and Christopher Columbus all rolled into one. On Tuesday, you wish you hadn’t come. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, you wish you were dead. On Saturday, you are able to swallow a little beef tea, and to sit up on deck, and answer with a wan, sweet smile when kind-hearted people ask you how you feel now. On Sunday, you begin to walk about again, and take solid food. And on Monday morning, as, with your bag and umbrella in your hand, you stand by the gunwale, waiting to step a shore, you begin to thoroughly like it.

I remember my brother-in-law going for a short sea trip once, for the benefit of his health. He took a return berth from London to Liverpool; and when he got to Liverpool, the only thing he was anxious about was to sell that return ticket.

It was offered round the town at a tremendous reduction, so I am told; and was eventually sold for eighteen pence to a bilious-looking youth who had just been advised by his medical men to go to the sea-side, and take exercise.

“Sea-side!” said my brother-in-law, pressing the ticket affectionately into his hand; “why, you’ll have enough to last you a lifetime; and as for exercise! why, you’ll get more exercise, sitting down on that ship, than you would turning somersaults on dry land.”

He himself – my brother-in-law – came back by train. He said the North- Western Railway was healthy enough for him.

Another fellow I knew went for a week’s voyage round the coast, and, before they started, the steward came to him to ask whether he would pay for each meal as he had it, or arrange beforehand for the whole series.

The steward recommended the latter course, as it would come so much cheaper. He said they would do him for the whole week at two pounds five. He said for breakfast there would be fish, followed by a grill. Lunch was at one, and consisted of four courses. Dinner at six – soup, fish, entree, joint, poultry, salad, sweets, cheese, and dessert. And a light meat supper at ten.

My friend thought he would close on the two-pound-five job (he is a hearty eater), and did so.

Lunch came just as they were off Sheerness. He didn’t feel so hungry as he thought he should, and so contented himself with a bit of boiled beef, and some strawberries and cream. He pondered a good deal during the afternoon, and at one time it seemed to him that he had been eating nothing but boiled beef for weeks, and at other times it seemed that he must have been living on strawberries and cream for years.

Neither the beef nor the strawberries and cream seemed happy, either – seemed discontented like.

At six, they came and told him dinner was ready. The announcement aroused no enthusiasm within him, but he felt that there was some of that two-pound-five to be worked off, and he held on to ropes and things and went down. A pleasant odour of onions and hot ham, mingled with fried fish and greens, greeted him at the bottom of the ladder; and then the steward came up with an oily smile, and said:

“What can I get you, sir?”

“Get me out of this,” was the feeble reply.

And they ran him up quick, and propped him up, over to leeward, and left him.

For the next four days he lived a simple and blameless life on thin captain’s biscuits (I mean that the biscuits were thin, not the captain) and soda-water; but, towards Saturday, he got uppish, and went in for weak tea and dry toast, and on Monday he was gorging himself on chicken broth. He left the ship on Tuesday, and as it steamed away from the landing-stage he gazed after it regretfully.

“There she goes,” he said, “there she goes, with two pounds’ worth of food on board that belongs to me, and that I haven’t had.”

He said that if they had given him another day he thought he could have put it straight.

So I set my face against the sea trip. Not, as I explained, upon my own account. I was never queer. But I was afraid for George. George said he should be all right, and would rather like it, but he would advise Harris and me not to think of it, as he felt sure we should both be ill. Harris said that, to himself, it was always a mystery how people managed to get sick at sea – said he thought people must do it on purpose, from affectation – said he had often wished to be, but had never been able.

 

Jerome K. Jerom

“Three Men in a Boat”

 

 

1) Do you know similar stories about travelling or travellers?

Tell one of them.

2) Tell this story as if you are a steward of the ship: try to characterize different types of passengers.

Unit 10 Great Britain

Active vocabulary

island остров
coast побережье
to separate отделять
to be separated отделяться
conquer завоевывать
surface поверхность
valley долина
to connect соединять
territory территория
nature природа
channel канал
resource ресурс
symbol символ
nation нация
industry промышленность
administration администрация
climate климат
geography география
continent континент
government правительство
fog туман
power власть
the Houses of Parliament здание парламента
the House of Lords палата лордов
the House of Commons палата общин
the Congress конгресс
mountain гора
hill холм
lowland низменность
weather погода
to rain идти (о дожде)
spring весна
autumn осень
summer лето
winter зима
monarchy монархия
ocean океан
lake озеро
agricultural сельскохозяйственный

 

Task 1. Read and translate the text.