Exercises

1. Watch videos (placed below) and describe what you have seen.

2. Answer the questions.

1. What is Trafalgar Square used for in London?

2. Whose idea was to call Trafalgar Square so?
3. Why is the square a popular place for tourists and Londoners?

4. What monuments and statues are situated there?

5. Who is the architect of Nelson’s Column?
6. What does it commemorate?

7. Has Trafalgar Square undergone many changes?

8. Whose statues on plinths were added during the nineteenth century?

9. What events are held on the square?

10. What were the fountains for when the square was laid out in the 1840s?

3. Fill in the prepositions.

When the square was laid … in the 1840s, the fountains' primary purpose was not aesthetic, but rather to reduce the open space available and the risk … riotous assembly. They were originally fed … water pumped from an artesian well by a steam engine sited … the National Gallery. … the late 1930s it was decided to replace the stone basins and the pump. The new fountains were built to a design by Sir Edwin Lutyens at a cost of almost Ј50,000. The old fountains were bought … presentation to the Canadian government, and are now in Ottawa and Regina. The present fountains are memorials … Lord Jellicoe (western side) and Lord Beatty (eastern side).

4. Read and learn the dialogue by heart. Make up your own dialogue.

 A: Oh! At last we are on Trafalgar Square.

B: Trafalgar Square, National Gallery on the north side, Whitehall to the South… I’ve seen it many times in pictures and now I can see it myself.

A: Let’s walk around the column. I want to film it.

B: OK. If you want I can say some words. It’s difficult to film and speak at once.

A: Great. If you can, please, say some words about Nelson, his life… I’ll try to add some information, too.

B: Well. Can I start?

A: Yes, you can. I’m ready.

B: Horatio Nelson, viscount Nelson was born on the 29 of September in 1758.

Nelson is a legendary British admiral. He led his fleet, against the French in a series of campaigns.

A: Please, say some words about Trafalgar Battle. When did it take place?

B: OK. At Trafalgar Battle on the 21 of October in 1805 Nelson defeated the French fleet.

A: He was wounded and died of his wounds.

B: By the way, he was wounded many times. His right eye was lost at Calvi (Corsica) in July 1794, then the loss of his right arm at Tenerife, a head wound on the Nile in August 1798…

A: Nile… I’ve read about this battle. As far as I remember he was given a baronetcy after his victory on the Nile and advanced to viscountcy after Battle of Copenhagen.

B: You’ve forgotten about your film! Let’s continue.

A: OK.