1. Lexics to the text:
• to strike the eye - броситься в глаза, привлекать внимание
• neat brick - аккуратные каменные дома
• a church - церковь
• a quaint-style - причудливый стиль
• to outlast - выстоять, выдержать
• to defy ( defied ) - не поддаваться, игнорировать
• to wend one's way to - держать путь к
• a cricket ground - крикетная площадка
• rivulet - речушка
• roots of water-plants - корни водных растений
• a punting boat - шаланда, лодка
• to look like -выглядеть, походить на что-то
• by means of - посредством
• a punting pole - весло лодки
• wield the pole - держать весло, управлять веслом
• to float - плыть на лодке
• willow trees - ивняк
• a lawn - поляна, лужайка
• a luncheon basket - корзина с едой (пищей)
• to have a picnic - устраивать пикник
2. Read and try to understand the text.
On arriving at Cambridge the first that strikes the eye is clean, paved streets, neat little brick-houses with gardens, some Sectarian churches in quaint styles, and wonderful old Colleges that have outlasted many a century and defied all changes of weather. The streets are crowded with students of both sexes, many of them on bikes, in smart tennis-suits, with the badge of their respective clubs, and a racket under their arm. Others carry cricket-bats or golf-clubs over their shoulders as they wend their way to the cricket ground or golf links.
Cambridge, just two hours from London, is named after the rivulet Cam, that flows through the place. It is not at all deep, and you can easily see the roots of the many water-plants that grow in it. Rowing is thus quite impossible; but some ingenious person invented another sort of craft, the "punting"-boat. A "puinting" trip on the Cam is considered one of the finest pleasures a student's life can afford.
A punting-boat looks like a Venetian bark, and is moved by means of a long pole, a "punting pole". One can only wield the pole standing. It is a lovely sight to see the nice crafts full of merry people, all in summer dress, drifting by. There is sure to be a supply of gay cushions on board, perhaps even a gramophone. While you are floating along, past old willowtrees, green lawns, wonderful Colleges, and under fine arched bridges, you may listen to all the latest music-hall melodies, with now and then a Vienna waltz interspersed. You pull into a lovely creek, take out your luncheon baskets, and have a real English picnic.
3. Answer the questions:
• What strikes the eye at Cambridge?
• How far is Cambridge from London?
• What is the finest pleasure for Cambridge's students?
• How does "a punting-boat" look like?
• How is the punting boat moved?
• What can you listen to while floating in .. "a punting boat"?
4. Translate into English:
• Чистые, мощеные улицы Кембриджа переполнены студентами.
• Кембридж назван по речушке Кем.
• Речушка неглубокая и вы можете видеть корни растений, которые растут в ней.
• Гребля по Кем невозможна.