From St. Giles' in the centre of Oxford two parallel roads run north, and on the northern perimeter of Oxford, each must cross the busy northern ring road, along which cars speed by, gladly avoiding the old university city.
The eastern branch eventually leads to the heart of the industrial Midlands; the western branch soon brings the motorist to the small town of Woodstock, some eight miles north of Oxford, and then to Stratford-upon-Avon.
For half a mile immediately before Woodstock, on the left-hand side, a grey stone wall marks the eastern boundary of the extensive and beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace, the mighty mansion built by Queen Anne for her brilliant general, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.
High and imposing wrought-iron gates mark the main entrance to the Palace drive, along which the tourists in the summer season line up to walk amidst the dignified splendour of the great rooms, to stand before
the vast Flemish tapestries and to see the room in which the great Sir Winston Churchill was born.
Today Blenheim dominates the old town. Yet it was not always so. The strong grey houses which line the main street have witnessed older times and could tell their older tales, though now the majority are converted into gift, antique and souvenir shops - and inns.

VOCABULARY

to lead - вести
motorist - автомобилист
immediately - немедленно
extensive - обширный
grounds - территория
mansion - особняк
imposing - внушительный
amidst - среди
dignified - достойный
splendour - великолепие
tapestries - гобелены
majority - большинство

phrasal verbs with off

live off - жить за счет чего-то или кого-то
I live off the money I get from my ex-wife. - Я живу на деньги, которые получаю от своей бывшей жены.

take off -
1) взлетать (о самолете) The plane has already taken off.- Самолет уже взлетел.
2) быть успешным (о бизнесе) Her business took off when organic food became popular. - Ее бизнес пошел в гору, когда стала популярной органическая еда.

turn off выключать
Could you turn off the music? I've got a headache? - Не могла бы ты выключить музыку, у меня болит голова?

pull something off - суметь сделать что-то трудное.
Nobody believed it was possible but she pulled off the deal and earned millions. - Никто в это не верил, но ей удалось провернуть сделку и заработать миллионы.

A company owner was asked a question,
"How do you motivate your employees to be so punctual?"
He smiled and replied,
"It's simple. I have 30 employees and 29 free parking spaces. One is paid parking."