London

London is an extremely old town. It was a Roman strong hold and trading centre, but even before the Roman conquest of Britain in 55 before our era there was a native settlement on the Thames where London now stands. In the Middle Ages it was a very rich independent, walled city, even with its own army. Its citizens supported the King of England or not according to their own decision. It was the custom whenever the king came from Westminster, where he generally lived, to the City of London, that the Lord Mayor of London should meet him at the gates and present him with the keys of the city. This ceremony still takes place whenever the present king of England passes through the city on official business, for example the opening of Parliament, even though the walls and gates of the City of London have since been pulled down.

The City of London nowadays contains mostly business and newspaper offices, banks, etc. The Royal Exchange and the Bank of England are here too. Very few people live there, so that if you walk through the streets of the city in the evening or on a holiday you can meet very few people in the streets while in other parts of London people are seen everywhere.

6. Перепишите следующие вопросы и дайте письменные ответы.

1. What was the London in 55 before our era?

2. Where did the king generally live?

3. What is the City of London nowadays?

4. How many people live in the City of London?