From the history of London

Like all large cities, London has a lot of different parts and river joins them together.

The oldest part of London is the City of London. There was already a town here when the Romans came. The Romans built a new city with a bridge and a city wall. It became an important part with many industries. Today the City is an international financial centre, full of offices and banks. Over two million people work in the City during the day, but only a few thousand live there.

London hasn't always been the capital of England. The first capital was Win­chester. But London has always been the richest city. The kings of England often needed money. So they moved their capital close to London. But they didn't want to live in London itself. It was dirty, smelly and dangerous. So they made their capital at Westminster. At first the two cities of London and Westminster were separate and there were fields between them. But slowly they grew together into one city. Until the twentieth century most people and goods travelled between the different parts of Lon-don along the Thames. It was quicker and safer to travel along the river than along the roads. The kings built their city of Westminster to the west of the City, because the prevailing wind in Britain is from the west. This wind blew all the smells from the port and the factories in London towards the east. As the city grew, the rich people lived in the West End and the poor people lived in the East End. This is changing now, because the docks and a lot of the industries in the East End have closed. Now Dockland is becoming a new financial centre and a fashionable place to live.

Decide which of the statements are true and which are false. Mark + the true statement, - the false ones.

1) The oldest part of London is Westminster.

2) Today the City is an international financial centre.

3) London has always been the capital of England.

4) At first the two cities of London and Westminster were separate.

5) The rich people lived in the West End and the poor people lived in the East End.

6) Now Dockland is becoming a fashionable place to live.

Answer the questions:

1) What is the oldest part of London?

2) Why did the kings of England move close to London?

3) Why didn't they build their palace inside the City of London?

4) Why did they build their capital in the West End?

5) Why has the East End changed recently?

6) What do you know about the history of the capital of your country?

Add the sentences:

1) The oldest part of London is__________.

2) The Romans built__________.

3) Today the City is__________.

4) The first capital of England was__________.

5) The kings of England made their capital at___________.

6) Until the twentieth century most people travelled along___________.

7) The rich people lived in the___________.

8) The poor people lived in the___________.

9) Now Dockland is a __________.