[00:03.81]For Questions 6-10,you'll hear an introduction
[00:08.96]of "A Guided Tour of the House of Commons".
[00:13.95]While you listen,
[00:17.11]complete the sentences or answer the questions.
[00:22.15]Use not more than 3 words for each answer.
[00:27.40]You now have 25 seconds to read the sentences
[00:33.28]and the questions below.
[00:36.75]W:...Right,ladies and gentlemen,
[00:42.27]here we are in the chamber of the House of Commons,and
[00:47.12]this's where all the important debates take place,which,of course,
[00:52.38]decide which new laws are going to be passed...
[00:57.03]and how the government is going to carry out its policies...
[01:02.01]The chamber you're looking at today has a lot of the features of a chapel,
[01:07.76]because it was in St Stephen's Chapel
[01:12.23]that the House of Commons had its first regular home:
[01:17.09]from 1547 until it was burned down in the great fire of 1843--
[01:24.35]some of you may know the famous picture painted by Turner of that fire...
[01:30.83]This present building is actually the third home of the Commons.
[01:36.50]The second one,
[01:39.34]built in 1852,was destroyed by German bombs in 1941,
[01:46.29]and this one was built in the same style as the old one in 1950.
[01:52.77]In all,there are 650 members,
[01:57.73]but if you were to count them you would find only 437 seats...
[02:04.08]so,if members get there a little late,
[02:08.44]they have to crowd in by the speaker and stand...
[02:13.69]Now,a lot of visitors think this is a bit strange,and many
[02:19.36]of the MPs,themselves,complain that it's ridiculous.
[02:24.82]They say you can't carry on the business of modern
[02:30.10]government in a place that's old-fashioned and too small.
[02:35.56]Well,against all of that,
[02:39.32]there are others who say that a small place like this is ideal
[02:45.07]for a more informal atmosphere...
[02:48.83]you can make comments,get up and ask questions more easily,
[02:54.08]and the person on the other side can't just make a big speech and then hide:
[03:00.85]he has to get up,face his critics and give an answer... |