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48
«Many forms and rules of parliamentary procedure date back to the beginning of the sixteenth century.
People outside Great Britain believe that if they elect the man to sit in the Parliament he has a seat there.
But the House of Commons has seats for only about two thirds of its members. Thus on great occasions when
the House is full, members have to sit in the gangways. Only four members of the House of Commons have
reserved seats:
the Speaker, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the member who is in the
Parliament for the longest unbroken period. Ministers sit on the front bench, but have no right to any particular
seat there.
The Queen usually opens the new session of Parliament. When she takes her seat on the throne she sends
the official of the House of Lords, called Black Rod,¹ to call the Commons. When he arrives at the door of the
House of Commons they bang it in his face to show their independence. After this they follow Black Rod into
the chamber of the House of Lords, where they stand while the Queen reads her speech. During the election of
the Speaker, when he is going to his great chair at one end of the House, he struggles and pretends that he
doesn't wish to accept the honour. This comes from the days when men were afraid to become the Speaker. It
was because the sovereign and the House of Commons often quarrelled and the Speaker's duty of acting as go-
between was both difficult and dangerous.
Nowadays the Speaker no longer takes part in debates as other members do. He presides over the debates
and decides which member is to speak at any particular moment. Often several wish to speak and they stand up
and try «to catch the Speaker's eye», as they call it. The Speaker doesn't take part in the debates, and he doesn't
vote at the end of them. But if the Government and the Opposition gain an equal number of votes, then the
Speaker has the casting vote.
1. Black Rod — «Черный жезл», герольдмейстер (постоянное должностное лицо в Палате лордов, во
время церемоний несет черный жезл, титул существует с 1350 г.)
7.3.4. Можете ли вы догадаться, в каких ситуациях
были сказаны следующие фразы? И кто их
сказал?
1. I've been waiting for you for two hours already!
2. He's been walking near my house since morning.
3. I'm afraid of this man. He's been watching me for half an hour.
4. I've been looking for him everywhere but still can't find.
5. It's the limit! You've been talking over the phone for 40 minutes!
6. I've been working here for 30 years and I know who's who.
7.3.5. Найдите в следующих диалогах Present Perfect Continuous. Почему автор воспользовался
этим временем? Передайте эти шутки вашим друзьям по-русски.
1. — Look here, waiter, I've just found a button in my soup.
— Oh, thank you, sir. I've been looking all over for it.
2. Father: My dear, if you want a good husband, marry Mr Goodheart. He really loves you.
Daughter: How do you know that, Dad?
Father: Because I've been borrowing money of him for six months, and still he keeps coming.
7.3.6. Автор сделал несколько ошибок, используя Present Times. Помогите ему обнаружить их.
1. — Oh, here you are, at last! I wait for you for half an hour. What are you doing?
— I've been shopping. I've bought a new hat. Do you like it? I'm tired. I walk round the shops for nearly
four hours.
2. — What have you been looking for?
— My keys.
— As a rule, you are carring them in your coat pocket.
— That's right, but they are not there.
— Oh, here they are. They are lying under your gloves all the time.
*7.3.7. Скажите по-английски:
1. Послушай! Анна поет в соседней комнате. Она поет очень хорошо. Она учится в консерватории
уже 3 года. 2. Что вы пишете?
— Я пишу письмо своей сестре. Мы часто пишем письма друг другу.
Сейчас она работает над своей книгой. Она работает над ней уже несколько месяцев. 3. Что ты сейчас
делаешь? — Я готовлюсь к семинару по истории государства и права. — По-моему, ты готовишься уже
давно. — Да, этот семинар очень трудный. Я готовлюсь уже несколько часов. — Но обычно ты быстро
готовишься. — Да, а вот к этому семинару я готовлюсь с трех часов.
7.3.8. Ваши друзья говорят о вещах, в которых, как вы думаете, вы разбираетесь лучше. Выскажите
им свое мнение.