On the eve of their departure to Moscow the participants had some free time and Mr. Hill proposed they should make a trip to Oxford.
Oxford, first and foremost, is known for its University. The Uni¬versity began itself in the middle of the 12th century, and by 1300 there were already 1,500 students. At this time, Oxford was a wealthy town, but by the middle of the 14th century, it was poorer, because of a decline in trade and because of the terrible plague, which killed many people in England.
Relations between the students and the townspeople were very unfriendly, and there was often fighting in the streets. On the 10th February 1355, the Festival of St. Scholastica, a battle began which lasted two days. Sixty-two students were killed. The townspeople were punished for this in two ways: they had to walk through the town to attend a special service on every St Scholastica's day until 1825. Worse than this, the University was given control of the town for nearly 600 years.
Nowadays there are about 12,000 students in Oxford, and the University and the town live quietly side by side.
When the coach came to Oxford the participants bought some colourful books on Oxford, maps and some souvenirs. Then they went sightseeing and stopped near Trinity College.
Tatjana: The college looks great. I wonder how old it is.
David: I myself am an Oxford graduate but I don't remember when exactly it was founded. Let's look in the guide book. Oh, it was started in 1315.
Tatjana: Is it the oldest college?
David: Oh, no. Jesus College and some others are much older.
Tatjana It's very beautiful. I'd like to study here. Is the chapel open to the public?
David: Yes, it is. Let's go and look. The choir of this college is famous in England They sing on TV every year at Christmas
Words and expressions
university [jnvst] университет, институт
middle середина
in the middle of в середине
poor бедный
poorer беднее
decline снижаться
to kill убивать
townspeople горожане
to fight бороться
fighting сражение
Festival of St. Scholastica праздник студентов Средние века
to last длиться
to punish наказывать
nearly около, почти
quiet [kwat] спокойный
quietly спокойно
side сторона
side by side рядом, бок о бок
colourful цветной,яркий
Trinity Троица
graduate ['grdjut] выпускник
to found основывать
Jesus Иисус
choir [kwa] хор Exercises
1. Read as in the examples:
• Example the twelfth
the twelfth century the first
the second
the third
the ninth the sixth
the seventh
the eighth
the fifth the eleventh
the thirteenth
the fourth
the tenth • Example 1300
thirteen hundred 1400 1500 1900 2000 • Example 1,500
one thousand five hundred stu¬dents 1,300 2,500 3,700 9,800 • Example 12,000
twelve thousand students 13,000 25,000 36,000 48,000 • Example on the 10th February 1355
on the tenth of February thirteen fifty five on the 1st May 1267 on th 2nd April 1487 on the 3id December 1533 2. Insert prepositions:
The University began itself... the middle... the 12th century, and... 1300 there were already 1,500 students.
... this time Oxford was a wealthy town.
But ... the middle... the 14th century it was pooler, because... the terrible plague.
The plague killed many people... England.
Relations... the students and the townspeople were very unfriendly.
There was often fighting... the streets.
. . the 10th February 1355 the Festival of St. Scholastic a battle began.
Now they live quietly side... side.
Many colleges and chapels are open... the public now.
The choir of the University sing... TV every year... Christmas.
3. Translate into Russian:
Oxford is known for its University.
62 students were killed.
The townspeople were punished for killing 62 students.
The University was given control of the town.
The University was started in 1315.
We may also say it was founded in 1315.
4. Make sentences:
• Oxford
University
Cambridge
public school
Eton is known for its castle
Windsor
factories and plants
Manchester
Beatles group
Liverpool
visit Oxford make a trip to..
• Mr. Hill proposed that they should make a tour of.. go to... see... 5. Complete as in the text:
At this time Oxford was a wealthy town, but by... it was poorer because of a decline in... and the terrible...
On the 10th February the Festival.. a battle... two days.
Sixty-two...
The... punished... two ways.
They had to walk through... to attend the special... until 1825.
Worse than this, the University... for nearly 600 years.
6. Write out the sentences speaking about Oxford:
of the 12th century
of 1300
of the middle of the 14th century
of 1355
of 1825
of the present time.
7. Read the following:
• the college — an older college — the oldest college
the chapel — a taller chapel — the tallest chapel
the most beautiful building
the wealthiest town
I wonder how old it is.
I wonder when it was founded.
I wonder who the first students were.
I wonder how many people live here now.
I wonder if the students pay for then education.
8. Complete the dialogue and act out a similar one:
— The college looks... I wondei how old ... I myself am an Ox¬ford graduate but... founded. Let's look in... Oh, 1315.
— Is it... oldest...
— Oh no. Jesus... and others... older.
— It's very .. I'd like. Is the... open.
— Yes, it is. Let's The choir .
9. Sum up what you have learned about:
• Trinty College
• the history of Oxford
10. Role play
Imagine you are one of the participants of the Group. Ask the lecturer during an informal talk if he is an Oxford graduate. Then ask him a few questions about Oxford and tell him about our universities.
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