Ex. 2. Answer the questions. 1. Is Great Britain a small or large country in terms of its population?
1. Is Great Britain a small or large country in terms of its population? 2. Where is the country situated? 3. When was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland formed? 4. Which part of Great Britain has the highest population density? The lowest? 5. What is the political system of Great Britain? 6. Speak on Britain’s cultural life. 7.Why is the climate in Britain generally mild and temperate? 8. What do British people say about weather and climate in their country? 9. What main features does British climate have? 10. Is the humid and mild climate of Great Britain good for plants and flowers? 11. Do British people believe weather forecasts? Are winters frosty? 12. Does it often snow in winter? 13. Why is it natural for British people to use the comparison 'as changeable as the weather'? 14. What are the warmest and the coldest months? 15. Was Great Britain originally a land of vast forests? 16. Where do extensive forests remain? 17. What trees grow in Great Britain? 18. What animals are numerous in Great Britain? 19. How many kinds of birds live in Great Britain? Which of them are the most numerous? 20. What is the national bird of Great Britain? 21. Does the country have any ecological problems?
Ex. 3. Find the English equivalents for:
1) быть расположенным; 2) высокоразвитый; 3) оставаться относительно стабильным; 4) южное побережье; 5) плотность населения; 6) конституционная монархия; 6) Ее Величество Королева; 7) демократическая система правления; 8) политическая стабильность; 9) независимые страны; 10) культурная деятельность; 11) международная репутация; 12) прогноз погоды; 13) более или менее равномерный; 14) средний диапазон температур; 15) торфянистая местность; 16) обрабатывать площади.
Ex. 4. Match the synonyms.
| 1) to be situated | a) extensive |
| 2) fauna | b) interested |
| 3) average | c) during |
| 4) whirlwind | d) mean |
| 5) manufacture | e) forest |
| 6) engaged | f) animal life |
| 7) rainfall | g) to be located |
| 8) vast | h) hurricane |
| 9) wood | j) precipitation |
| 10) through | j) production |
Ex. 5. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the brackets.
1.England (to be situated) on the British Isles. 2. Great Britain (to separate) from Europe by the North Sea and the English Channel. 3. Britain's democratic system of government (to establish) long ago. 4. Close links (to maintain) with many other countries. 5. Wealth (to base) on the manufacture of iron and steel, shipbuilding and trade. 6. Many Britons (to engage) in the arts and media. 7. A weather forecast (to publish) every day. 8. Sometimes electric blankets or hot water bottles (to use).
9. Many large mammals (to hunt) to extinction.
Ex. 6. Read the following text for further information.
Text B
Great Britain
The country occupies the British Isles in the Atlantic ocean, this is the largest archipelago of Europe. It is named Great Britain after the name of the largest archipelago island. Sometimes that country is also called England after the name of its main historical part. The Kingdom structure includes four historical areas: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is possible to say that they are four independent countries with particular culture and traditions. Although the official language of Great Britain is the English language, other national languages such as Scottish, Irish and Welsh are spoken in every historical region.
Before Great Britain had numerous colonies. India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, some countries of Africa and the East belonged to England. Nowadays almost all the colonies won their independence, and Gibraltar is the last British colony presently.
Great Britain, in spite of the fact that it takes rather a small territory, is one of the most advanced countries of the world, it is one of the first industrial countries. It is not surprising, the matter is that the Englishmen were the first to build large factories and to make machine tools. For example, the inventors of a steam locomotive and a steam machine were born in England, they were D. Stefenson and D. Watt. Creat Britain is one of the largest suppliers of industrial production at the world market, also it is a big capital exporter. Mechanical engineering, production of the industrial equipment, agriculture, chemical and petrochemical production are the most advanced branches of the national economy. The cattle breeding prevails in the agricultural field. Barley, wheat, sugar-beet, potatoes are generally cultivated. Vegetable-growing and fruit-growing are advanced too.
England is the largest and the most densely populated part of Great Britain. The greater part of the population of the country lives there. Main factories and plants work round the clock in old English cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool. Automobiles, planes, ships are produced there. Fishery, an important industry, is rather developed due to the geographical position of England. There are many rivers in England, the most important is certainly, the Thames. In the south of England several ancient settlements and remains of ancient monuments were discovered. Stonehenge is one of those monuments, it consists of huge stones, which were used for astronomical observations and determination of a season.
Scotland is a land of mountains, lakes, beautiful valleys. It is the northern part of Great Britain and the most sparsely populated. Most people associate Scotland with such national things, as a kilt, men's skirt, bagpipe, a national instrument of this region. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, it is associated with names of Byron, Conan Doyle, Stevenson and others. This city is also famous for its International musical and theatrical festival, which is carried out here annually since 1947. But Scotland is also a country of factories and ports as well. Computers, several plastic items, precision instruments and other goods are manufactured there. The Scottish city Aberdeen is the "petroleum capital" of the country.
Northern Ireland is a land of fields, pastures and gardens, it is the smallest part of Great Britain, which has been a British colony for 7 centuries. Only in 1949 Ireland was proclaimed an independent state. Three economic directions are widely represented in Northern Ireland: agriculture, textile industry and shipbuilding.
Wales is the most mountainous part of Great Britain. Coal is extracted here, there are chemical and oil refining enterprises, factories of steel production, plants of non-ferrous metallurgy. Vegetables, potatoes are cultivated in village areas of Wales, sheep-breeding is advanced there too. In coastal areas the local inhabitants fish. Nevertheless, the living standard is the lowest in this part of Great Britain, the rate of unemployment is the highest. Cardiff is the largest city of Wales, it is the capital of that country. It is an important industrial centre and a large port. The inhabitants of Wales, especially in the country, take a great interest in folklore music.
Ex. 7. Answer the following questions:
1. Where is the United Kingdom situated?
2. What countries does the United Kingdom unite?
3. What languages do the British speak?
4. What is the political system of Great Britain?
5. What is the largest city of Great Britain?
6. What political party is in power nowadays in Great Britain?
7. Is Great Britain a highly developed industrial country?
8. What goods does its industry produce?
9. Does the United Kingdom possess many colonies nowadays?
10.What outstanding personalities were born in Great Britain?
Ex. 8.Speak about Great Britain using a plan:
1) the location of the country;
2) the structure of the UK;
3) state power;
4) economy;
5) climate;
6) landscape;
7) flora and fauna;
8) England;
9) Scotland;
10) Northern Ireland;
13) Wales.
Text C
The Four Nations
People often refer to Britain as “England”. This makes people who live in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland angry. England is only one of four nations who live in the British Isles. The correct title for the whole state is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. At one time the four countries were different from each other in many ways. Today many of these differences have disappeared, but each nation has its own symbols and emblems.
For example, they each have a flag. England flies the red and white flag of Saint George, its patron saint. Scotland's flag is the saltire cross of Saint Andrew. Ireland's flag also has a diagonal cross, this time in red and white. The flag of Wales is distinctive with its red dragon.
Each country has its own patron saint, and these saints each have a patronal saint's day. In England the flag of Saint George is flown from public buildings on the 23 of April. The Irish Guards, part of the British Army, are presented with a small bunch of shamrock to wear on the 17 March. In Wales, children go to school on Saint David's Day in national costumes, people wear buttonholes of daffodils or leeks, and songs in the Welsh language are sung. Saint Andrew's Day is at the end of the year, and provides a good excuse for a party, with Scottish songs and dancing.
Each nation has its own colour, and its main importance is that the national sports teams wear it. Wales is very proud of its rugby team, and they wear red jerseys. The green of Ireland's sportsmen reflects their shamrock emblem. Although the rose of England is red they do not have this as their colour. Scotland's colour reflects their flag.
Some surnames instantly identify a person's nationality. For example, 'Mac' or 'Mc' as a prefix is probably the name of a Scotsman. The prefix O' is unmistakably Irish. Davis, Williams, Price Lloyd and Rees are probably Welsh. In both England and Scotland Smith is the most common surname.