Quiz answers part 3

Places to visit in Britain

21. What is the Tower of London? Which part of the Tower was built the first? What will happen if the ravens living in the Tower leave this place?
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, in accordance with the belief that if they are absent, the kingdom will fall.
22. What do you know about Big Ben? Where is it situated? Describe this symbol of London in details.
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well. The main bell, officially known as the Great Bell, is the largest bell in the tower and part of the Great Clock of Westminster. The bottom 200 feet (61 m) of the Clock Tower's structure consists of brickwork with sand coloured Anston limestone cladding. The remainder of the tower's height is a framed spire of cast iron. The tower is founded on a 49-foot (15 m) square raft, made of 9.8-foot (3 m) thick concrete, at a depth of 13 feet (4 m) below ground level. The four clock dials are 180 feet (55 m) above ground. The interior volume of the tower is 164,200 cubic feet (4,650 cubic metres).The original bell was a 16.3-tonne (16 ton) hour bell, cast on 6 August 1856 in Stockton-on-Tees by John Warner & Sons. The bell was named in honour of Sir Benjamin Hall, and his name is inscribed on it. Cast in 1856, the first bell was transported to the tower on a trolley drawn by sixteen horses, with crowds cheering its progress. Unfortunately, it cracked beyond repair while being tested and a replacement had to be made. The bell was recast on 10 April 1858 at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry as a 13.76-tonne (13½ ton) bell. This was pulled 200 ft (61 m) up to the Clock Tower’s belfry, a feat that took 18 hours. It is 2.2 metres tall and 2.9 metres wide. This new bell first chimed in July 1859. In September it too cracked under the hammer, a mere two months after it officially went into service. According to the foundry's manager, George Mears, Denison had used a hammer more than twice the maximum weight specified. For three years Big Ben was taken out of commission and the hours were struck on the lowest of the quarter bells until it was reinstalled. To make the repair, a square piece of metal was chipped out from the rim around the crack, and the bell given an eighth of a turn so the new hammer struck in a different place. Big Ben has chimed with an odd twang ever since and is still in use today complete with the crack.
23. What is Oxbridge? How do other universities differ from Oxbridge?
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status. In addition to being a collective term, Oxbridge is often used as shorthand for characteristics that the two institutions share:
They are the two oldest universities in continuous operation in England. Both were founded more than 800 years ago and continued as England's only universities until the 19th century. Between them they have educated a large number of Britain's most prominent scientists, writers and politicians, as well as noted figures in many other fields.
Because of their age, they have established similar institutions and facilities such as printing houses (Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press), botanical gardens (University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Cambridge University Botanic Garden), museums (the Ashmolean and the Fitzwilliam), legal deposit libraries (the Bodleian and the Cambridge University Library), and debating societies (the Oxford Union and the Cambridge Union).
Rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge also has a long history, dating back to around 1209 when Cambridge was founded by scholars taking refuge from hostile Oxford townsmen,[10] and celebrated to this day in varsity matches such as the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Each has a similar collegiate structure, whereby the University is a co-operative of its constituent colleges, which are responsible for supervisions/tutorials (the principal undergraduate teaching method) and pastoral care.
Both universities comprise many buildings of great beauty and antiquity, sited on level terrain ideal for cycling, near slow-moving rivers suitable for rowing and punting.
They are the top-scoring institutions in cross-subject UK university rankings, so they are targeted by ambitious pupils, parents and schools. Undergraduate entrance is very competitive and some schools promote themselves based on their achievement of Oxbridge offers. Combined, the two universities award over one-sixth of all English full-time research doctorates.
Oxford and Cambridge have common approaches to undergraduate admissions. Until the mid-1980s, entry was typically by sitting special entrance exams.[15] Applications must be made at least three months early, and, with only minor exceptions (e.g., Organ Scholars), are mutually exclusive for first undergraduate degrees so, in any one year, candidates may only apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both. Because most candidates are predicted to achieve top grades at A level, interviews are usually used to check whether the course is well suited to the applicant's interests and aptitudes, and to look for evidence of self-motivation, independent thinking, academic potential and ability to learn through the tutorial system.
24. What is so mysterious about Stonehenge? What is the precise purpose of Stonehenge? Where is this monument situated?
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 2.0 miles (3.2 km) west of Amesbury and 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds. Stonehenge was produced by a culture that left no written records. Many aspects of Stonehenge remain subject to debate. This multiplicity of theories, some of them very colourful, are often called the "mystery of Stonehenge". There is little or no direct evidence for the construction techniques used by the Stonehenge builders. Over the years, various authors have suggested that supernatural or anachronistic methods were used, usually asserting that the stones were impossible to move otherwise. However, conventional techniques using Neolithic technology have been demonstrably effective at moving and placing stones of a similar size. Proposed functions for the site include usage as an astronomical observatory, or as a religious site. More recently two major new theories have been proposed. Professor Geoffrey Wainwright and Professor Timothy Darvill, have suggested that Stonehenge was a place of healing – the primeval equivalent of Lourdes.
25. Where is one of the most famous ancient remains of the Normans dating back to 127 AD situated? What is it? Why was it built? What can you see nowadays?
I need help with this one.
26. How can you describe the Lake District? Why is this place associated with English literature? Name at least one of the Lake Poets.
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes, and, often adjectivally, as Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains (or fells) but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth and the other Lake Poets.
27. Is Buckingham Palace worth visiting? Why? What is there in the palace?
Buckingham Palace is a great place to visit. It’s the official residence and office of the British monarch. The state rooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September, as part of the Palace's Summer Opening.
28. What is the second name of the Palace of Westminster? What is the main function of this place?
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parlament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
29. What is the most democratic place in London and why? How many royal parks are there in London? What do you know about them?
A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London. There are nine royal parks in London: Hyde Park, Richmond Park, The Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park, St James's Park, Bushy Park, Green Park, Brompton Cemetery. Millions of Londoners and tourists visit the eight Royal Parks for free each year. The 5,000 acres of historic parkland provide unparalleled opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and healthy living in the heart of the capital. A simple walk or a picnic in the park, sport, top quality entertainment, community and education projects - all waiting for you.
If it's history and architecture you're after, the Parks have hundreds of buildings, statues, and memorials, giving a fascinating insight into London's heritage.
30. What place is famous as the "heart of London"? What is there in the middle of this place? Describe this place.
Trafalgar Square is the heart of London for different reasons for different people. A 145-foot-high monument, bearing a statue of Lord Horatio Nelson guarded by lions, marks the spot considered the center of London. Managed by the Greater London Authority, Trafalgar Square is a landmark in central London enjoyed by Londoners and all visitors alike.
31. The place where you can meet a lot of celebrities together is called...Who can you meet here? What do you about this unusual sight?
Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London with branches in a number of major cities. It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud. Madame Tussauds is a major tourist attraction in London, displaying waxworks of historical and royal figures, film stars, sports stars and infamous murderers. There you can meet the royal family, David Beckham, Mohammad Ali, Charles Dickens, Albert Einstein, Bruce Willis and many more.
32. Where can you find the Whispering Gallery? What is this place famous for?
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. The Whispering Gallery runs around the inside of the dome 99 feet (30.2 m) above the cathedral floor. It is reached by 259 steps from ground level. It gets its name because of the acoustic effects peculiar to domes; a whisper against its wall at any point is audible to a listener with an ear held to the wall at any other point around the gallery.
33. Name the highest library and the biggest library in London? What do you know about these libraries?
Let us start with the highest library in London, the Capitular Library of St. Paul’s Cathedral. To reach it, you must be prepared for a long climb, for it is situated right up near the Whispering Gallery which encircles the base of the cathedral dome.
The origin of the library dates back to the seventh century, but all its books, with the exception of some books printed before 1500 and six manuscripts were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The archives, however, were preserved. The Library was refunded after the Fire and the collection was built up again by gift and purchase during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The Library is open to everyone who has a genuine need to use its collections. Anyone with a permanent address who wishes to carry out research can apply for a Reader Pass; they are required to provide proof of signature and address for security purposes.
34. Name one of the most famous Scottish lochs. What strange mystery is connected with this place? Where can you see "Nessie"?
Lake (loch) Ness. People believe, that there lives a monster. Unfortunately Nessie can’t be seen very often. Usually it’s hiding.