Paul in Fifth Grade : UNIT 11

How was England in the past?

You know that the more you know about your country the more you know about you. I remember a history class we did not that far, when the teacher told us about some important happenings of New England in the last century, the 20th century. Actually, some of them I did not know, and they were a surprise to me. Do you want to know about them?

Three years ago we had the Olympic Games in London. But, did you know it was the third time London held the Olympic Games? First time was in 1908. London held the Olympic Games but it was not the official event side. It was Rome, but as Naples had been devastated by the Mount Vesuvius, they decided to move it to Lodon. 2008 athletes participated (1971 men and 37 women) from 22 different countries, competing in 110 events of 22 olympic sports in 110 specialities.

Four years after, in 1912, the largest ship ever built started its first and last trip from Ireland to New York. It was built in Belfast, and it was a ship that sank in the North atlantic Ocean in the early morning of 15 April 1912 after crashing with an iceberg during its voyage from Southampton, UK to New York City, US. More than 1500 passengers and crew died. The ship hit an iceberg at 11:40 pm two days after. The collision opened some compartments of the ships and filled them with water. People started to be evacuated in lifeboats, but most of them did not make it. Part of the ship remains on the sea, and since its discovery in 1985 thousands of artifacts are now in museums around the world. A famous film was launched in 1997.

Years later, in 1952, Elizabeth II of England was crowned because of her father’s death. And 63 years after she is still the Queen of England. She was born in 1926 and got married with her husband (who is still alive) in 1947. Her oldest son, Prince Charles is now 66, and will maybe never get to the throne. She is a very be-loved person among the British.

And the last fact I would like to talk to you about is related to music… Do you know the Beatles? Yes, they probably were the most famous rock band of the second mid of the 20th century. The Beatles was formed in 1960 in Liverpool. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became the most important musicians of the rock era. Some of their hits were: Hey Jude, Let it be, All you need is love, Yellow submarine… But they did not last a lot as a group. actually just 10 years, from 1960 to 1970. John Lennon was shot in 1980. George Harrison died in 2001 by cancer. Ringo and Paul have separated careers.

And, what about in Spain? Any important fact of last century you want to tell me? I need to know about Spain!