Unit 5

Grammar in use

Professor, when did you first become interested in astronomy?	play_circle pause_circle
Well, one of my earllest memories is seeing a shower of shooting stars. I was about five or six at the time. I thouth it was the most magical thing I had ever seen.	play_circle pause_circle
How beautiful!	play_circle pause_circle
Yes, it was. I couldn't stop talking about it so my father bought me a telescope. It was the best present I've ever received.	play_circle pause_circle
Were you good at science at school?	play_circle pause_circle
Yes, I was. I was terrible at history and not mush better at geography. I was even worse at languages! And as for art, that was the worst of the lot! No, the only subject I was interested in was science - and astronomy in particular.	play_circle pause_circle
How do you become an astronomer?	play_circle pause_circle
Learm to love the night sky. That's the first step. Get to know the stars, the constellations and the planets. And buy a good telescope!	play_circle pause_circle
Can we see your telescope, Professor?	play_circle pause_circle
Of course! It's a bit bigger than the one that I had when I was five!	play_circle pause_circle
Listen 5 times	play_circle pause_circle

Lesson 2: Conversation

What sort of books do you like reading Ross?	play_circle pause_circle
Mm … Let me see. I like reading detective stories. They're the most interesting. How about you?	play_circle pause_circle
Well, to be honest, I don't read many books. I prefer magazines. Specially, fashion magazines. They're the best.	play_circle pause_circle
What do you like watching on TV?	play_circle pause_circle
Well, I don't watch TV very much. But I like programs about animals.	play_circle pause_circle
Did you see professor Bolt program about the night sky?	play_circle pause_circle
Yes, I did. Fantastical world. He's such an interesting man.	play_circle pause_circle
Do you like films?	play_circle pause_circle
Oh yes, I go to the cinema a lot. I like comedies you know funny films.	play_circle pause_circle
I think adventure films a better. They're more exciting.	play_circle pause_circle
How about music? Do you like music?	play_circle pause_circle
Of course, who doesn't? I've got loads of music on my phone.	play_circle pause_circle
Who's your favorite singer?	play_circle pause_circle
Casey Jones. He's Canadian.	play_circle pause_circle
Do you play computer games?	play_circle pause_circle
Sometimes robust in space two is great. Do you know it?	play_circle pause_circle
Yes, but it's not as good as robust in space one. That's funnier.	play_circle pause_circle
I don't think so. But the music is good in that one.	play_circle pause_circle
Yes, it's amazing.	play_circle pause_circle
Listen 5 times	play_circle pause_circle

Lesson Heading

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom	play_circle pause_circle
Victoria's early life	play_circle pause_circle
Princess Alexandrina Victoria was born into the British royal family on 24th May, 1819.	play_circle pause_circle
Her mother was extremely protective and the princess grew up under strict rules.	play_circle pause_circle
She was never allowed to be alone.	play_circle pause_circle
Her mother, her tutor or her governess was always with her.	play_circle pause_circle
She shared a bedroom with her mother.	play_circle pause_circle
In her playtime, her only friends were her dolls and her little dog, Dash.	play_circle pause_circle
When she was older, she described her childhood as rather sad and lonely.	play_circle pause_circle
At the age of seventeen she was introduced to a handsome young German, Prince Albert.	play_circle pause_circle
She liked him at once but she was not yet ready to marry.	play_circle pause_circle
A new queen	play_circle pause_circle
The princess was 18 in 24th May, 1837.	play_circle pause_circle
Less than a month later, her uncle, the king, died and she became queen on 20th June, 1837.	play_circle pause_circle
Her first two requests were to have an hour by herself and to have her bed removed from her mother's room to a bedroom of her own.	play_circle pause_circle
She did not want to be called Queen Alexandrina.	play_circle pause_circle
Instead she asked for her second name, Victoria, to be used.	play_circle pause_circle
Marriage	play_circle pause_circle
Victoria was crowned on 28th June, 1838, and she made Buckingham Palace her home.	play_circle pause_circle
Because she was not married, her mother also lived in the palace but Victoria often refused to see her.	play_circle pause_circle
She met Prince Albert several times over the next two years.	play_circle pause_circle
Finally, she asked him to marry her and their wedding took place on 10th February, 1840.	play_circle pause_circle
Victoria adored her new husband from the start and she relied on him for advice and support in her role as queen.	play_circle pause_circle
She had to meet the prime minister, listen to his ideas for government and make decisions about matters of state.	play_circle pause_circle
Family life	play_circle pause_circle
Their first child was born in November, 1840, and over the next seventeen years tehy had eight more children.	play_circle pause_circle
Family life became important to Victoria.	play_circle pause_circle
With Prince Albert's guidance she became a better daughter to her mother.	play_circle pause_circle
When her mother died in March, 1816, Victoria was at her bedside.	play_circle pause_circle
In December of the same year, Prince Albert died after a short illness and Victoria was devastated.	play_circle pause_circle
She wore black for the rest of her life.	play_circle pause_circle
She continued her government duties but she did not live in London.	play_circle pause_circle
She stayed in her castles in the south of England and in Scotland.	play_circle pause_circle
Because of this, she was not so popular as before.	play_circle pause_circle
She was advised to be seen in public more often and gradually she appeared at more public events.	play_circle pause_circle
The British Empire	play_circle pause_circle
During Victoria's reign the British Empire expanded.	play_circle pause_circle
Mush of India came under British rule and from 1st May, 1876, Victoria was also named Empress of India.	play_circle pause_circle
In her opinion, the expansion of the British Empire helped other countries and protected people from cruel rulers.	play_circle pause_circle
Other countries did not have the same point of view andsaw Britain as a threat.	play_circle pause_circle
Britain was often at war for the Empire, which was more powerful than it had ever been before.	play_circle pause_circle
The Voctrian period	play_circle pause_circle
Victoria's reign was known as the Victorian period.	play_circle pause_circle
Famliy life was important to everyone.	play_circle pause_circle
Bad behaviour was not allowed and children had to be obedient.	play_circle pause_circle
It was time of industrial progress.	play_circle pause_circle
Factories, railways and bridges were built. Cities expanded greatly.	play_circle pause_circle
For those who had good jobs and comfortable homes, life was pleasant, but fot poorer people who lived in the worst houses, life was hard.	play_circle pause_circle
Work in the factories was exhausting and often dangerous.	play_circle pause_circle
Many people spoke out against the harsh conditions and the well-known writer, Charles Dickens, wrote about them.	play_circle pause_circle
Final years	play_circle pause_circle
Victoria's reign of 63 years, 7 months and 2 day was longer then the reign of any king or queen before her.	play_circle pause_circle
She had become immensely popular.	play_circle pause_circle
Her children had married into European families and she had more than thirty grandchildren.	play_circle pause_circle
She was known as 'the grandmother of Europe'.	play_circle pause_circle
When she became ill and died on 22nd January, 1901, aged 81, the whole population was deeply saddened.	play_circle pause_circle
She was buried next to her husband, Prince Albert.	play_circle pause_circle
Listen 5 times	play_circle pause_circle