Oxford is a city in central southern England. It is a medium-sized city with about 150,000 inhabitants, but it is growing very fast because it has a strong economy.
The first settlement on the site of modern-day Oxford was called Oxenaforda, meaning “a place where cows cross the river”. It was built around 900A.D. In that period, England was divided into different kingdoms, and Oxford became an important frontier town on the border between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex. In 1066 the Normans invaded England and Oxford was badly damaged. The Normans built a castle at Oxford which survives today.
King Charles I moved his court to Oxford during the Civil War when he was expelled from London by the army of Oliver Cromwell, who wanted to abolish the monarchy. In 1649 Cromwell succeeded and the king was beheaded. For the next twenty years England was a republic, until the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The royal court returned to Oxford in 1665 when King Charles II left London to escape from the plague.
Oxford is famous for its university, which is one of the best in the world. From the 12th century, Oxford began to attract students interested in Greek philosophy. In the 13th century the famous Colleges of Balliol, Merton and University College were founded. The distinctive architecture of Christ Church college, which is also the cathedral of Oxford, was the set for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films.
In the 1920s William Morris opened his car factory Morris Motors Limited, in Oxford. Apart from this, there was little industry in Oxford so it was not bombed by the Nazis during the Second World War. It is said that Hitler admired the architecture of Oxford and planned to make it his capital if he won the war.
Today scholars, tourists and workers from all over the world are attracted to Oxford by its university, architectural beauty and strong economy, making it one of the most multicultural cities in the UK.
Vocabulary
army = esercito around = circa (to) behead = decapitare best = migliore (to) bomb = bombardare border = confine century = secolo Civil War = guerra civile escape = scappare, evadere factory = fabbrica (to) grow = crescere inhabitants = abitanti kingdom = regno medium-sized = di taglia media modern-day = di oggi plague = peste (to) plan = avere intenzione, pianificare royal = reale settlement = insediamento (to) succeed = riuscire (to) survive = esistere, sopravivere worker = operaio
Oxford is a city in __________.
northern Scotland
the south of England
west Cornwall
East Anglia
It was founded in __________.
the 10th century
Roman times
a river
the Civil War
After the Norman invasion in 1066, the invaders __________.
founded the university
built a castle
expelled King Charles I from London
brought the plague
The royal court moved to Oxford __________.
once - during the Second World War
twice - during the Civil War and the plague
three times - during the Civil War, the Second World War and the plague
four times - during the Norman Invasion, the Civil War, the Second World War and the plague
It is said that Hitler did not bomb Oxford because __________.
he studied Greek philosophy at Balliol College
his mother was born there
he wanted his architects to dismantle it and re-build it in Germany
he admired the architecture and wanted to make it the capital of his empire