From the history of England

1. Practise using the verb tenses. 1) Read the text and fill in the gaps with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.

THE CELTS

Between the sixth and third century B. C., the British Isles______________(1) (to invade) by Celtic tribes who______________ (2) (to settle) in Southern England. They originally ______________(3) (to come) from central Europe. Their culture______________(4) (to go) back to about 1,200 . . Between 500 to 250, they_______(5) (to be) the most powerful people north of the Alps. Originally they_______ (6) (to be) pagan, with priests known as Druids. They later____________(7) (to convert) to Christianity. It was Celtic missionaries who (8) (to spread) the Christian religion through Scotland and northern England. The Celts ____________(9) (to be known) as excellent artists for their wonderful jewellery, decorated crosses and illuminated manuscripts. 2) Read the text and fill in the words from the box. a) built d) invaded g) capital b) were built e) was h) had c) became f) had to i) were destroyed

j) stopped k) was built

THE ROMANS
In AD 43, the Romans __________(1) southern Britain. It_________(2) a Roman colony called Britannia. The Romans set up their___________ (3)in London _________ and_______________(4) major cities in Bath, Chester and York. The cities _________ (5) beautiful buildings, squares and public baths. Fine villas _________________(6) for Celtic aristocrats who accepted Roman rule. The Roman invasion_________________(7) not completely peaceful. In AD 60, three cities, including London,______________(8) by one of the British tribes. And the Romans _______ (9) stop it brutally. The tribes of Scotland also never ______________(10) fighting against the Romans. In AD 122, a long wall to defend the border between England and Scotland__________(11) by Emperor Hadrian. 3) Read the text and choose the correct form of the verb (, , ) from the table below.

THE SAXONS, THE JUTES AND THE ANGLES

From about AD 350, Germanic tribes_________________(1) invading south-east England. The tribes _________ (2) from what is now northern Germany, Holland and Denmark. The first to come ______(3)the Saxons, joined later by the Jutes and the Angles. The Angles_____ _ (4) England its name. Britain____________________(5) the protection of only a few Roman legions. The native people _______________(6) not stop the new enemy, known as the Anglo-Saxons. The Celts_____ ___________(7) north and west taking their ancient arts and languages with them. Celtic languages have_________________(8) from most of Europe, but are still_________________(9) in parts of Walls, Ireland and Scotland. The Anglo-Saxons in southern England were (10) _______ to Christianity. As Christianity spread, churches and monasteries (11)_______ all over England. 1) 2) 3) 4) A begin come are gave began coming were give C begun came have been were giving

5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 4) Read the

have has can could went gone disappear disappearing speak spoke convert converted built had built text and choose the most appropriate verb (a, b).

had must go disappeared spoken converting were built

THE VIKINGS
About AD 790, the Vikings 1) (a. start / b. started) to invade England. The Norsemen, who 2) (a. went / b. came) from Norway, mainly settled in Scotland and Ireland. The north and east of England were 3) (a. settled / b. settling) by the Danes. The Vikings were excellent traders and navigators. They 4) (a. bought / b. traded) in silk and furs as far as Russia. In 1016, England 5) (a. become / b. became) a part of the Scandinavian empire, under King Knut. In 1066, England 6) (a. was / b. had) again facing invasion from the north and the south. In September, King Harold II marched north to 7) (a. defeat / b. defend) his half-brother, the king of Norway. Just three weeks later, he himself was 8) (a. defeated / b. defeating) and killed at Hastings by another invader of Viking origin, William, Duke of Normandy, from northern France. He was 9) (a. crowned / b. crowns) King William I in London on Christmas Day, 1066. 2. Work in pairs. STUDENT A same information. Ask and You and your partner have got some answer information about the Norman questions to complete the Conquest sentences. in your cards, but you do not have the _________ (who?) now same information. Ask and answer became King of questions to complete the sentences. England, establishing a new The Duke of Normandy, known as AngloWilliam the Conqueror, now became Norman state. England ________(what?), establishing a became_______ new Anglo-Norman state. England (what?). Castles appeared all became a strong country under over military rule. Castles appeared_____ England to enforce Norman (where?) to enforce Norman rule. rule. England has never been invaded __________ (has...?) been since invaded since 1066. William was ________ (what 1066. kind?): William was a harsh ruler: he he destroyed many villages to make destroyed sure the English many villages __________ people did not rebel._______(whose?) (what for?). power was absolute and the language The Normans' power was of new rulers, Norman-French, has absolute and had a the language of new rulers, lasting effect on English. NormanFrench, has had a lasting effect STUDENT on English. You and your partner have got some information about the Norman Conquest in your cards, but you do not have the 3. Check comprehension. 1) Answer the questions.

a) Was Britain invaded by many different peoples in early times? b) Where did Britain's invaders came from? c) How did each invasion change Britain? d) Has your country ever been invaded? When? How did it influence its development?

2) After reading the texts, make up a chronological table of Britain's early invasions. 4. Read the text and put the verbs in the correct tense form.

FROM THE HISTORY OF LONDON

London is where the invading Romans first (1) (to cross) the River Thames. They (2) (to build) a city a square mile in size, (3) (to surround) it with a wall and (4) (to call) it Londinium. This original site of London (5) (to call) now the City of London and is Britain's main financial centre. The City is only a very small part of London. In the eleventh century, London (6) (to begin) to expand beyond the City walls, when King Edward the Confessor (7) (to build) a huge abbey at Westminster. Even today, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, as well as all the shops, cafes, theatres and cinemas of the West End, (8) (to be) in the City of Westminster and not in the City of London. 5. Practice using "used to...". Littletown High School is having a school reunion for its ex-students. Can you match the ex-students to the facts about their lives when they were younger? Peter (dentist) Karen (businesswoman) Steven (policeman) Nicolas (comedian) There are three facts for each student. A. He used to brush his teeth five times a day. B. She used to get 100% in her mathematics and economics tests. C. The teachers didn't like him because he used to copy the way they spoke and tell jokes in their classes (apart from physics classes). D. He used to be good at biology and physics (but especially biology). E. He used to have a punk hairstyle but now it's not possible with his hair. F. She used to sell the answers to homework. G. She used to be in love with Peter until he wouldn't buy her a book called "How to Be a Millionaire for Christmas 1976". Now she thinks that he is boring. H. He used to dislike wearing school uniform, but now he has to wear a uniform for his job. He didn't like doing his homework. He used to prefer reading joke books all night. J. When he arrived home from school, he used to take off his school uniform and put on something more "radical". K. He couldn't pass the physics exam because he didn't know any of the answers he used to sleep in the classes.

L. He used to be in love with Karen until they had an argument because he wanted to buy her the book "Love Story for Christmas 1976". At the reunion, the ex-students and Mr Sparks, the physics teacher, are going to sit together at dinner. Decide which you think is the best seating arrangement. Mr Sparks Peter Karen Steven Nicholas Peter Nicholas Mr Sparks Karen Steven Karen Steven Nicholas Peter Mr Sparks

THE ORIGIN OF TOWNS

The origins of towns and cities differ according to race and circumstances, but it is possible to find some common features. When the Romans came to Britain, they found it a land of forest and swamp. In order to move their troops about rapidly, they built roads. Camps for soldiers were constructed at road junctions. These sites of Old Roman camps became centres of trade and today still exist as towns or cities. Roman influence is always evident in names of towns ending with -caster, -Chester, because "castrum" in Latin denoted a fort, and "castra" a camp. The Romans were fond of warm water baths, and the city of Bath owes its origin to the possession of a naturally warmed spring. When the Romans had departed (in 410 . .) the English swept over the country and destroyed almost all the civilization, which Rome had established. The Anglo-Saxons disliked living in towns. They lived in small agricultural villages and in houses mainly built of wood. When the English became Christians, abbeys were built in different parts of the country. Later, they became centers of trade, and towns grew up around them. Then, the English had to fight the Danes. Under Alfred the Great and his successors, each county of England was ordered to fortify one place as a centre against attack. Around the large medieval estates, many towns began to develop. The Normans built castles inside old boroughs. Round other Norman castles towns appeared. Ports were established, too, on the South Coast. Listening Comprehension Activities. The Origin of Towns. 1. Before you listen, study the following vocabulary. Match the words with their definitions and guess their meaning. a) soft wet ground b) self-governing area c) feel that you should do something for the person because that person has done something for you d) the beginning; the start of something e) a large piece of land in the country that one person or family owns. f) one of the parts of Great Britain g) the facts that are true when something happens

h) the power to change what somebody believes or does i) of the years between about 1100 and 1500 in Europe 1) origin 2) circumstances

3) 4) 5) 6)

influence owe county estate

7) medieval 8) swamp 9) borough

2. Listen and say where the suffix caster has come from. 3. Listen again and complete the sentences with the most suitable phrase. 1) When the Romans came to Britain, they saw... a) how beautiful it was. b) it was a land of swamps and forests. c) large medieval castles all over the country. 2) The Romans built roads in Britain in order to... a) build fortresses. b) start the war. c) move their troops about rapidly. 3) The Romans constructed camps for soldiers... a) at road junctions. b) near the big cities. c) in small agricultural villages. 4) When the English became Christians, a) they had to fight the Anglo-Saxons. b) they had to build churches. c) they built abbeys in different parts of the country. 5) In 410 . . the Romans... a) left England. b) destroyed the English towns. c) built the city of Bath. Q 6) The Normans built castles... a) around the large medieval castles. b) inside old boroughs. c) near the ports. 4. Answer the questions. 1) What did Britain look like when the Romans landed on the island? 2) Where were the centers of trade situated? 3) What did the word "castra" in Latin mean? 4) Who destroyed almost all the civilization after the Romans had left? 5) Where did the Anglo-Saxons use to live? 6) Where did the English use to build their towns? 7) Where were the first ports built? 8) Where was the city of Bath built? 9) Who and what influenced the development of Great Britain? 10) Can you tell now what new facts from the history of Great Britain you have learnt while listening to the text? 5. Complete the sentences. 1) After the Romans' departure, the English destroyed____________________________ . 2) The Anglo-Saxons didn't like living__________________________________________. 3) The Anglo-Saxons lived in_________________________________________________. 4) Their houses were built

of_________________________________________________. 5) When the English became Christians, ______________ were built all over Britain. 6) Around the large medieval estates,__________ ________ began to develop. 7) On the South Coast______________ were established. 8) Towns appeared round the Norman _______________ .

used to
/. In this exercise you have to complete sentences with used to... Example. The baby doesn't cry so much now but she used to cry every night. 1. We live in Nottingham now but we_____________in London. 2. When I was a child I_______ice-cream but now I don't like it now. 3. She___________my best friend but we aren't friends any longer. 4. Now Tom has a car. He _________ a motor-cycle. //. You have to write some sentences about the present Remember that there is no present tense of used to. Example: Steve used to study hard but now he doesn't study very hard. 1. Tom used to play tennis a lot but now...... 2. Ann never used to drink coffee but now... 3. Jack didn't use to be fat but now 4. Jill didn't used to go out much but now.... III. Say what the Britons used to do. Example: Make everything of wood. - The Britons used to make everything of wood. Eat simple food; Wrap themselves in the skin; Eat acorns and berries instead of bread; Have the primitive way of life; Build their towns on the tops of high hills; Build high fences round their houses. IV. Match pairs of words to get word-combination. The Celtic The primitive In the middle On the tops Wooden Simple Before Instead of Wild V. For poor pupils: Fill in the gaps with suitable words. About 2,000 years ago________was known, as_________, and the people who lived there were called the________. They belong to the_______and spoke the_______language. Their way of life was very________. Their towns were in the middle of the woods or on the way of life of the woods language bowls animals era food of high hills bread

______of the high hills. There were high _______round their houses to keep wild animals from coming in the yard. The Britons made everything of_________: wooden_______to sit on, wooden benches for beds, wooden cups to drink out of. They used to wrap themselves in the skins of the wild animals which they killed with their_______and_______. Their food was simple too. Most of the people ate______and berries instead of bread. They drank milk. They could make cheese. VI. Find irregular verbs and give me three forms.( to be, to speak, to make, to keep, to hold, to eat) Combine pairs of antonyms: Wild Primitive Wrap in A top High Before unwrap after complicated low a bottom domestic