Страноведение: Первые племена и народы на территории Британии. Тексты с заданиями на английском языке

UNIT 1 THE DAWN OF BRITISH HISTORY

Words to remember:

At the dawn of their history the peoples of this planet lived in primitive societies. These primitive peoples wherever they lived, began their long path of progress with stone tools, but they did not reach the same level of civilisation at the same time in different countries.

The ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome were already in existence when the people living in Britain were only at the first stage of social development.

The Greeks were the first to mention the British Isles in their books. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who is called the father of history, wrote that in the 5th century BC the Phoenicians used to come to the British Isles for tin, which is used for making bronze. The Greek called the British Isles the Tin Isles.

The very first stages of the existence of people on the British Isles are frequently described as prehistoric and referred to as unwritten history of Britain.

The geographical position of the land was both a blessing and a problem: on the one hand the insular position protected the country from invasions; and on the other – the lowland facing the continent always invited invasions.

Tasks:

Indicate the correct variant:

1. At the dawn of their history the peoples of this planet lived in ………….

1. well-organised groups
2. B. big towns
3. C. primitive societies

2. The primitive peoples began their long path of progress with ……………… tools

1. bronze
2. B. stone
3. C. metal

3. The level of civilisation ………… the same at the same time in different countries.

1. was
2. B. was not

4. Which of these statements is correct?

A. The ancient civilisation of Rome was already in existence when the people living in Britain were at the last stage of social development.

B. The ancient civilisation of Britain was already in existence when the people living in Greece and Rome were only at the first stage of social development.

C. The ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome were already in existence when the people living in Britain were only at the first stage of social development.

5. Write the statements correctly:

UNIT 2 IBERIANS

Words to remember:

Not much is known about the first inhabitants of Britain. About three thousand years BC many parts of Europe, including the British Isles were inhabited by a people who are known as the Iberians. Their descendants are still found in the North of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula. Some historians believe that they moved over from the Continent to Britain at the end of the Ice Age, when climate changes caused changes in the hunting situation on the Continent, so the Iberians had to look for new places to hunt.

We do not know much about these early people because they lived in Britain long before a word of their history was written, but we can learn something from their skeletons, their weapons and the remains of their dwellings which have been found. The Iberians used stone weapons and tools. The art of grinding and polishing stone was known to them and they could make smooth objects of stone with sharp edges and points.

From 6 to the 3d century BC the Celts spread across Europe from the East to the West The Iberians were unable to fight back the attacks of the Celts, who were better armed with metal weapons, so most of the Iberians were slain in the conflict; some of them were driven westwards into the mountains of what is now Wales.

Tasks:

Indicate the correct variant:

1. the Iberians inhabited many parts of Europe, including the British Isles, about ………… years BC.

1. 5000
2. B. 3500
3. C. 3000

2. Their descendants are still found ……………

A. in the South of Spain on the Iberian Island.

B. in the North of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula

C. in the North of Italy on the Iberian Peninsula.

3. They moved over from the Continent to Britain…………..

A. at the end of the Ice Age

B. at the beginning of our era

C. after the Great Flood

4. The Iberians had to look for new places to hunt when…………

A. new hunting laws were adopted

B. new lands were discovered to the north-west of Spain

C. climate changes caused changes in the hunting situation on the Continent

5. The Iberians …………….

A. hunted or gathered their food

B. did not breed animals, or tame them

C. did not till soil.

6. The Iberians used ………….. weapons and tools.

A. metal and stone B. stone and bronze C. stone

7. They knew the art of

A. grinding and polishing stone

B. making bronze tools

C. building huge structures

UNIT 3 CELTS

Words to remember:

During the period from 6 to the 3d century BC the Celts spread across Europe from the East to the West. Several Celtic tribes invaded Britain. Among them were such tribes as the Picts, the Scots, the Britons. The Iberians were unable to fight back the attacks of the Celts, who were better armed with metal weapons: spears, swords, daggers, and axes. Some of the Celtic tribes were quite large and fighting was common among them. Julius Caesar wrote that they were tall and blue-eyed. The Celts wore long flowing moustaches but no beards. They charged fiercely in the battle, and they also used war-chariots on the battle-field. The chariots were drawn by two or four horses, and were large enough to hold several warriors in each. Standing in their chariots they rushed along the enemy’s lines waving their spears and uttering loud cries. So most of the Iberians were slain in the conflict; some of them were driven westwards into the mountains of what is now Wales, others probably mixed with the Celts.

Tasks:

Indicate the correct variant:

1. the Celts spread across Europe from the East to the West ………………century BC

1. in the 6^th
2. B. after the 3^rd
3. C. from the 6^th to the 3^rd

2. Among the tribes, which invaded Britain were …………….

1. the Britons & the Scots
2. B. the Britons & the Picts
3. C. the Picts, the Scots, & the Britons.

3. Is the story correct?

The Britons penetrated into the mountains of the North; some of them crossed over to Ireland and settled there. The Picts settled in the North in such big numbers that the name of Scotland was given to that country. Powerful Celtic tribes, the Scots, held most of the country, and all the southern half of the island was named Britain after them.

4. The Iberians were unable to fight back the attacks of the Celts because ………….

A. they were peaceful farmers who had no weapons and were not used to fighting.

B. the Celts were better armed with metal weapons: spears, swords, daggers, and axes.

C. on the battlefield the Celts also used war-chariots drawn by two or four horses, and large enough to hold several warriors in each.

5. The military leaders of the largest tribes were sometimes called ……….. and stood at the head of detachments of warriors.

1. kings
2. B. chiefs
3. C. knights

UNIT 4 THE WAY OF LIFE OF THE CELTS

Words to remember:

The Celts lived in villages, were acquainted with the use of copper, tin and iron, they kept large herds of cattle, cultivated crops, especially corn. They used light ploughs as well as horses and grew their crops in small, square fields. The Celtic tribe called the Britons was more civilised than the others, their clothing was made of wool, woven in many colours while the other Celts wore skins. The improved tools brought about important changes in the living conditions of primitive man. The Iberians gathered or hunted their food, but the Celts began to tame and breed animals, to till the soil. Iron ploughs could cut the soil deeper, and so they could cultivate also the rich heavy soil in the valleys. They grew more and more corn, they began to build dwellings and to make clothing.

They were ruled by chiefs whom all the tribesman obeyed. The chiefs were military leaders and some of them were very powerful. The military leaders of the largest tribes were sometimes called kings, they stood at the head of detachments of warriors. In primitive society there was no private property, therefore there were no classes, no state system, that is no armed forces, no prisons, no courts, no government bodies. In the last centuries B.C. and in the first centuries A.D. the Celts were in a period of transition from primitive to class society. The elders, military leaders and their warriors made up the tribal nobility.

The Celts worshiped nature. They believed that the sky, the sun, the moon & the earth was ruled by beings like themselves, only much more powerful.

Tasks

Indicate the correct variant:

1. Chose the correct statement:

A. The Celts lived in villages and small towns, were acquainted with the use of wood, glass and iron, they kept large herds of pigs, and cultivated crops, especially potatoes.

B. The Celts lived in villages, but they didn’t know the use of copper, tin and iron, though they kept large herds of cattle, and cultivated crops, especially wheat.

C. The Celts lived in villages, were acquainted with the use of copper, tin and iron, they kept large herds of cattle, and cultivated crops, especially corn.

2. The Celtic tribe called ………… was more civilised than the others, their clothing was made of wool, woven in many colours while the other Celts wore skins.

1. the Picts
2. B. the Britons
3. C. the Scots

3. The Celts grew more corn because ……………….

1. they were not so lazy as the Iberians
2. B. they were brighter
3. C. iron ploughs could cut the soil deeper

4. They began to build dwellings and to make clothing as ……………..

1. they had more free time
2. B. their crops were very good
3. C. they were made to do so.

5. In primitive society there ………………….

A. was no private property, therefore there were no classes, no state system.

B. were no armed forces, no prisons, no courts, no government bodies.

C. lived only happy people, because life was much easier

6. Is the statement correct?

In the first centuries B.C. and in the last centuries A.D. the Celts were in a period of transition from class to primitive society. The elders, military leaders and their warriors made up the tribal nobility. But still the communal way of life predominated.

UNIT 5 DRUIDS

Words to remember:

The Celtic priests were called druids. In Celtic the meaning of this word is "Knowing [or Finding] the Oak Tree". The druids lived near groves of oak-trees, which were considered to be sacred places. In the early period, Druidic rites were held in clearings in the forest.

The Druids were members of the learned class among the ancient Celts. The earliest known records of the Druids come from the 3rd century BC.

The druids were sometimes even more powerful than the chiefs. The Celts believed in their magic power, they believed the druids could foretell the future and they were often called upon to settle disputes. The druids could give orders to begin a battle or to put down arms and stop fighting.

The druids were the teachers of morality as well as of religion. They were also the men of science and learning of their age. Three classes of Druids existed: prophets, bards, and priests. They combined the functions of the priest, the scholar, the physician. Their teaching was oral and their literature (if such a word may be used in this case) was preserved solely by tradition. Their history consisted in traditional tales in which the heroic deeds of their forefathers were celebrated. Once a year the Druids assembled at a sacred place in the territory of the Carnutes, which was believed to be the centre of all Gaul (situated not far from Paris, in France).

The druids taught the existence of one god, to whom they gave a name “Be’al” which means “the life of everything” or “the source of all beings”. They believed in another life after death, they thought that the soul was immortal and passed at death into the body of a new child. The Druids offered human sacrifices for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle. Though the Druids preferred to sacrifice criminals, they would choose innocent victims if necessary.

Archaeologists believe that the Druids used dolmens (a group of upright stones supporting a large flat piece of stone, built in ancient times in Britain and France) as burial chambers in their religious rites. Dolmens are particularly numerous in Ireland and Wales and in the English counties of Devon and Cornwall; in northwest France, especially in Bretagne; and in Spain. They are also found in northern Africa, in Syria, and in other countries ranging as far east as Japan.

Tasks

Indicate the correct variant:

1. The Celts were pagans and worshipped Nature. They believed ……………..

A. that the sky, the sun, the moon & the earth were ruled by beings like themselves, only much more powerful.

B. in many nameless spirits who lived in the rivers, lakes, mountains and thick forests.

C. that vampires, ghosts and evil spirits watched their every step and punished those who misbehaved.

2. The Celtic priests druids …………..

A. combined the functions of the priest, the scholar, and the physician;

B. were members of the learned class among the ancient Celts: they studied ancient verse, natural philosophy, astronomy, and the lore of the gods, some of them spent as much as 20 years in training;

C. taught the existence of one god, to whom they gave a name “Be’al” which means “the life of everything” or “the source of all beings”;

D. believed in another life after death and thought that the soul was immortal and passed at death from one person into another.

3. The druids offered human sacrifices ……………

A. for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle.

B. every time they needed assistance from their gods

C. though they preferred to sacrifice criminals, they would choose innocent victims if necessary.

D. only once a year during their druidic rites

4. The druids lived near groves of oak-trees, ……………..

A. which were considered to be sacred places.

B. and in the early period their druidic rites were held in clearings in the forest.

C. later under Roman influence sacred buildings began to be used.

D. and once a year the Druids assembled at a sacred place in the territory of the Carnutes, which was believed to be the centre of all Gaul

5. Is the story correct?

The druids were very important and powerful, but not so powerful as the chiefs. The Celts believed in their magic power, they believed the druids could foretell the future but they were seldom called upon to settle disputes. The druids could not give orders to begin a battle or to put down arms and stop fighting.

The druids were the teachers of morality as well as of mathematics, and we can gather that they held and indicated many very noble and valuable principles of conduct. They were also the men of science and learning of their age. Their teaching was oral and their literature (if such a word may be used in this case) was preserved in many valuable manuscripts. The German writers admit that “they paid much attention to the order and laws of nature and investigated and taught to the old under their charge many things concerning the stars and their motions, the size of the world and the lands, and concerning the might and power of the immortal kings”.

Their history consisted in traditional tales in which the heroic deeds of their descendants were celebrated.

Additional material:

Stonehenge: Two video films for Cambridge English for Schools (Part 4)