The House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey

The House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey

1) Occupy-занимать 2)Edward the Confessor-Эдуард Исповедник 3) successors-преемники 4) representatives-представители 5) House of Lords -Палата лордов 6) House of Commons -Палата общин 7) session-заседание 8) Westminster Abbey-Вестминстерское аббатство 9) buried-погребенный

The House of Parliament The House of Parliament occupy a magnificent building on the left bank of the Thames in a part of London called Westminster, that has long been connected with royalty and government.

King Edward the Confessor built a place beside the River Thames in the 11th century. His successors made the palace their main residence. Gradually Westminster became the centre of government. At first Parliament was organized to help the monarch rule the country. The monarch called representatives of different groups of people together; so the House of Lords represented the Church and aristocracy, and the House of Commons represented the rich landowners who expressed the views and interests of their own town or village. In the course of centuries, power gradually passed from the monarch to Parliament.

According to the long-standing tradition, the Queen still opens the new session of Parliament each autumn by reading the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords. Another tradition is that the Queen is not allowed to enter the house of Commons. This tradition goes back to the time of Charles I, more than three hundred years ago, and reminds everybody that the monarch must not try to govern the country.

Westminster Abbey.

Opposite the House of Parliament stands Westminster Abbey. A church has stood here since Saxon times, when it was known as West Monastery (Westminster), because of its position to the west of London’s centre.

Since William the Conqueror’s times British monarchs have been crowned there, and since the 13th century they have been buried there. Many other famous people are also buried in Westminster Abbey.

Questions In what part of London is the building of the House of Parliament situated? 2)Which two parts does British Parliament consist of? What English king built Westminster Abbey? What is Westminster Abbey famous for?

Prepared by student of 32 groups Gerasimova Kate