Практикум по английскому языку (по истории Англии Средних веков). Пилипенко В.А - 37 стр.

                        ÒÅÊÑÒ X / TEXT X
  KING ALFRED THE GREAT AND HIS ENGLAND

       The 9th century with its break-up of tribal structure
and its advance to feudalism, in all its course was the
century of Alfred the Great. Alfred’s military achievements
were no accident, his ability to profit by experience
amounted to genious. He saw and remended the defects in
the English defensive system. He built a fleet of ships
which were longer, higher, steadier and faster than Danish
ships, which was the main reason for the defeat of the           ïîðàæåíèå
Danes. Despite the urgency of military problems Alfred did
not neglect other aspects of government. Alfred’s care for       ïðåíåáðåãàòü
the administration of justice is testified both by history and
legend. He revived the dying practice of law-giving,             âîçðîäèë
established a court school, learned to read Latin and
translated the world history of Orosius and Bede’s
«Ecclesiastical History of English People». Alfred also
inspired the collection and systematic arrangement of
earlier annals and traditions of the English race, and the
compilation now known as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.

                      ASSIGNMENT TO TEXT X

I. Check the meaning of the terms in your dictionary and learn them
by heart:
      break-up; advance; profit; tribal; achievement; defeat; administration
of justice; practice of law-giving.

II. Read the text and answer the questions:
     1. The IXth century was marked by a break-up of tribal structure,
wasn’t it?
     2. What were the greatest military achievements of Alfred the Great?
     3. Was he a well-educated person for his times? Why?




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