London is one of the biggest cities in the world with a population of over 8 million. London's transport system has a rich history that developed with the capital. 200 years ago London was a compact city where most people got around on foot Streets were often crowded with pedestrians, only the wealthy were able to travel by horse. The River Thames provided a faster way of getting around. In 1900 almost every vehicle on the streets of London was horse-drawn. More than 300,000 horses were needed to keep the city on the move. Everything from private carriages and cabs to buses, trams and delivery vans was horse-drawn.
15 years later everything changed. Horse buses and horse trams disappeared in London, and motor taxis outnumbered horse-drawn cabs. Motor cars replaced carriages, but only for the wealthy. Motorbuses and electric trams were everywhere, they were used by everyone. Londoners more than doubled the number of journeys they made by bus and tram. However, horses were still used for most goods delivery.
In the 1920s buses overtook trams in popularity. Buses were more comfortable and also cheaper to modernise and maintain. Electric trolleybuses were introduced and remained in use until the introduction of diesel buses after the Second World War.
The black cab and the red double deck bus are iconic symbols of London. They were still on the streets of London at the start of the 21st century.
The London Underground carries more than three million passengers a day. Providing a safe and comfortable travelling environment for so many people is an enormous challenge to planners and operators of the network.
Lately the London transport system has considerably improved its service. Nearly 5% of Londoners have switched from private car use to public transport -unprecedented in a world city.
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2. Who's the most popular singer in your country?
3. The meal in this cafe cost less than I expected.
4. The cartoons with Tom and Jerry are the funniest for me.
5. Who is the best pupil in your class?
6. The weather was terrible, rather worse than on Monday.
7. I'm three years older than Mary.
8. The end of the year is the busiest time in my life.
9. I'd like to have a bigger car than my old one.
10. Three kilometers is the farthest distance I've ever run.
11. Among all the exams this one is the most difficult.
12. The greatest national holiday in our country is Victory Day.
13. Hard beds are healthier for the back than soft ones.
14. Which month is the shortest in the year?
15. This winter is warmer than usual.
This is one of the nerve-centres of London. It was named Trafalgar Square to commemorate the historical naval victory won on the 21st of October 1805 by the British fleet under the command of Horatio Nelson over the combined French-Spanish fleet commanded by Villeneuve. The battle took place at Cape Trafalgar in the mouth of the Straits of Gibraltar and lasted several hours. Nelson was fatally wounded by a shot which broke his backbone. He died on board his flagship the Victory, but not before being told that he had won the battle.
Nelson's Column, with the statue of Admiral Lord Nelson on top, rises in the centre of Trafalgar Square. This most impressive monument is 170 feet (about 52 m) tall. The statue of Nelson, placed facing towards the sea he loved, measures 17 feet (more than 5 m) in height.
Это один из центров Лондона. Площадь была названа Трафальгарской в ознаменование исторической морской победы английского флота под командованием Горацио Нельсона над смешанном франко-испанским флотом под командованием Вильнева 21 октября 1805. Битва произошла у мыса Трафальгар в устье пролива Гибралтар и продолжалась несколько часов. Нельсон был смертельно ранен выстрелом, который раздробил его позвоночник. Он умер на борту своего флагмана "Виктория", но не раньше, чем ему сказали, что он выиграл бой.
Колонна Нельсона, со статуей Адмирала лорда Нельсона на вершине, возвышается в центре Трафальгарской площади. Это самый впечатляющий памятник, он 170 футов (около 52 метра) высотой. Статуя Нельсона, стоит лицом к морю, которое он так любил, и её высота около 17 футов (более 5 м).