ЕГЭ. Английский язык. Устная часть. Тренировочные тесты - Колоян Д.. Страница 2

More than 15 million people have travelled in the giant wheel. With its 135m high, it has 32 glass capsules attached to its external circumference which holds 25 people each of one. In addition it provides 30 minute of slow-moving “flight” over London. This attraction built by the British Airways began like part of city celebrations for the arrival of the New Millennium. For its construction, a floating crane was installed in eight platforms to raise the gigantic hoop of the wheel.

The most of their occupants are tourists, but there are pairs whom rent for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, when also chocolates and champagne are offered. In spite of the initial critics of those who considered that the wheel goes off key with its classic environs, the initial license by five years already was extended by two decades more. London Eye heads the list of ten more popular private monuments in the city.

Imagine that you are preparing a project with your friend. You have found some interesting material for the presentation and you want to read this text to your friend. You have 1,5 minutes to read this text silently; then be ready to read it out aloud. You will have no more than 1,5 minutes to read it.

3. Buckingham Palace is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. It serves as both the office and London residence of the Queen and also as the busy administrative headquarters of the monarchy. Probably it has the most famous and recognizable facade of any building in the world. It is the venue for great Royal ceremonies, State Visits and Investitures, all of which are organized by the Royal Household.

During summer, visitors can take a tour around the nineteen State Rooms, which are decorated with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, which includes paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey, exquisite examples of Sevres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.

The Changing of the Guard takes place at the front of the Palace. During the summer it is one of the popular events for visitors, occurs at 11:30 every day. Since 1660, Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces. The Queen’s Guard usually consists of Foot Guards in full-dress uniform of red tunics and bearskins.

4. Windsor Castle is one of the official residences of the British Monarch along with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. It is located in the English county of Berkshire and is the largest inhabited castle in the world. Queen Elizabeth II spends many weekends at the castle, using it for both state and private entertaining. You can see the Royal Standard flying on the top of the Round Tower when the Queen is living in the castle; there are four quarters on it, three lions represent England and Wales, the single lion to Scotland and the harp to Ireland; when the Queen is not there, the Union Jack is flown.

Throughout history of the castle, Kings and Queens of England, Great Britain and even Commonwealth realms have had a direct influence on the construction and evolution of Windsor Castle. Today Windsor Castle remains a working palace and the Queen’s official residence. Some of the finest artwork, armour and paintings in the world are in the State Apartments. Also there are masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Holbein and Van Dyck as well as magnificent French and English furniture and porcelain. Those areas which were damaged by fire in November 1992 have been beautifully restored by some finest British craftsmen.

5. Eden Project is located in a Kaolinite pit, 2km from the town of St. Blazey and 5 km from the larger town of St Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Dubbed like the “Eighth wonder of the World”, the area is a dramatic global garden housed in tropical biomes nestles in a crater of 30 football pitches size.

The attraction includes the world’s largest greenhouse and is considered one of the UK’s top Landmark Millennium projects created to tell the fascinating story of man’s relationships with plants. It is a non-profit making charitable scientific organization for the 21st century with a commitment to communicate with the public through entertainment, education and involvement.

This Living Theatre of Plants and People is a vibrant reminder of our place in nature and is a living demonstration of regeneration. The team transformed a clay pit into a stunning lost world reminding us that if we propose something we can do it. A number of domes house plant species from around the world, each of one emulating a natural biome. Three domes are made out of hundreds of hexagons plus a few pentagons that interconnect the whole construction together. The first dome emulates a tropical environment, the second a warm temperate and finally the third emulates a Mediterranean environment.

6. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the third structure by time in the Cathedral Square and is situated behind the Cathedral. The tower presently leans to the southwest at an angle of 3.97 degrees. At the beginning it intended to stand vertically but was impossible due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. Two different masses of cannon balls dropped of the tower to demonstrate that their descending speed was independent of their mass. So it’s considered an apocryphal tale because the only source for it comes from Galileo’s secretary.

A work of art that performed in three stages during 177 years, the construction of the first floor of the white marble campanile began on 1173, and is surrounded by pillars, classical capitals, leaning against blind arches. In 1178 the tower began to sink after construction of the third floor, the cause was a mere three-meter foundation, set in weak, unstable subsoil. Later the construction was subsequently halted for almost a century, the Pisans still engaged in battles with Genoa, Lucca and Florence, which allowed to the underlying soil to settle. In 1198 temporarily clock was installed on the third floor of the unfinished construction.

7. Blenheim Palace, a large and monumental country house, is situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. It is one of England’s largest houses and it was built between 1705 and circa 1724. In 1987, it was recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Site. This beautiful parkland with 2100 acres is surrounded by sweeping lawns, formal gardens and the magnificent Lake. Also it contains Fair Rosamund’s Well, near which stood her bower.