UNIT V: THE UNITED KINGDOM
TEXT A
Vocabulary
to consist of -cоcтоять из total area-общая площадь
to form-формировать, o6paзовывать to separate-paзделять
narrow -yзкий to make up-составлять
to include-содержать, включать to wash-омывать
surface-поверхность to vary - меняться, paзнообразить
valley - долина plain - paвнина
monster-чудовище temperate-умеренный
mild-мягкий, yмеренный to influence-влиять
highly developed-высокоpaзвитый producer -npoизводитель
exporter –экспортер machinery -машинное o6opyдование
textile -текстиль aircraft-самолеты
navigation -судоходство equipment -o6opyдование
chief -главный, основной shipbuilding -кopa6лестроение
power-сила, власть belong -принадлежать offer -предлагать change -изменять, заменять law -закон policy -политика
taxes-налоги member-член
to elect-выбирать permanent-постоянный
government-правительство parliament -парламент
constitutional monarchy-конституционная монархия
delay -откладывать, пpeпятствовать
THE UNITED KINGDOM
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the British Kingdom. It is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244 000 square kilometers. Many years ago the British Isles formed a part of the continent. Now Great Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel and the North Sea. The narrowest part of the English Channel is called the Strait of Dover.
The UK is made up of four countries. They are England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast. The capital of the UK is London. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland.
The UK is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the North Sea in the west. The two islands are separated by the Irish Sea.
The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous. It's called the Highlands. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343m). The south of Scotland has beautiful valleys and plains. It is called the Lowlands.
Scotland is a land of famous lakes. They are called "lochs" there. The beautiful Loch Lomond is the largest one. Loch Ness attracts millions of tourists by its legendary monster.
The north and west of England are mountainous. Mountains aren't very high. The east, centre and south-east of England is a vast plain.
There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they aren't very long. The largest of them are the Severn (350 km), the Clyde, the Mersey, the Thames (346 km), the Trent (274 km) and the Ouse. The Thames is the deepest river. London stands on the Thames.
The climate of Great Britain is temperate and mild. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles.
The population of the UK is over 57 million people.
The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is the largest producer and exporter of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.
The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch. The Queen is the Head of State, but she has no power. The Queen is a symbol of the country's history and its traditions. The real power in the country belongs to the British Parliament and to the British Government.
The British Parliament has two "houses". They are the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords can offer and change laws. It can delay laws. The House of Commons makes laws about the policy of the country, taxes and many other things.
The members of the House of Lords aren't elected. These members are permanent. The members of the House of Commons are elected. The British people elect 650 members of the House of Commons every five years.
There are three main political parties in Great Britain. They are the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties.
The flag of the UK is known as the Union Jack. It is made up of three crosses: the cross of St. George (the patron saint of England), the cross of St. Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland) and the cross of St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland).
Names
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland-Coeдиненное Kopoлевство Beликобритании и Ceвepной Ирландии
the British Isles-Британские ocтpoвa the English Channel-Английский канал
the Strait of Dover- Дуврский пpoлив the North Sea-Ceвepнoe мope
the Atlantic Ocean-Атлантический океан the Irish Sea- Ирландское море
the House of Lords-Палата Лордов the House of Commons- Палата общин
the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties- Лейбористская, Консервативная и Либеральная партии
Exercise I
Answer the questions:
1. What is the official name of the British Kingdom?
2. Where is the UK situated?
3. What do the British Isles consist of?
4. What is the total area of the British Isles?
5. What did the British Isles form many years ago?
6. How is Great Britain separated from the continent?
7. What is the narrowest part of the English Channel called?
8. What parts does Great Britain consist of?
9. What is the UK washed by?
10. What are the two islands, Great Britain and Ireland, separated by?
11. What is the north of Scotland called? Why?
12. What is the highest mountain in Scotland?
13. What is the south of Scotland called? Why?
14. What is the largest lake in Scotland?
15. What can you say about the surface of England?
16. What rivers are there in Great Britain? What are the largest ones?
17. What is the deepest river in Great Britain?
18. What is the climate of Great Britain like?
19. What waters influence the climate of the British Isles?
20. What is the population of the UK?
21. The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch, isn't it?
22. Does the Queen rule the country?
23. Who does the real power in the country belong to?
24.How many "houses" does the British Parliament have? What are they?
25.What are the main political parties in Great Britain?
Exercise II
Read the first part of the sentence in A and find the second part in B:
A
1. The UK is made up of ...
2. The climate of Great Britain is...
3. The flag of the UK is known as ...
4. The British Parliament has ...
5. The UK is washed by ...
6. The UK is the largest producer and exporter of
7. The UK is ...
8. The British Isles consist of ...
B
... machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment.
... two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands.
... the Union Jack.
... England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
... a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch.
... two "houses", the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
... temperate and mild.
... the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the North Sea in the east.
Exercise III
Read the beginning of the sentence and find its end in the text:
1. The Queen is the Head of State ... .
2. The largest of them are ... .
3. The British people elect ... .
5. It is made up of three crosses ... .
6. The real power in the country belongs ... .
7. London stands ... .
8. Now Great Britain is separated ... .
Exercise IV
Put in the missing words according to the text:
1. The south of Scotland has beautiful... and ....
2. The narrowest part of the English Channel is called ... .
3. The British people elect 650 members of the ... every five years.
4. The House of Commons makes laws about the ... of the country, ... and many other things.
5. The climate of Great Britain is ... and ... .
6. Loch Ness attracts millions of tourists by its legendary ....
7. The UK is a ... developed industrial country.
8. The Union Jack is made up of three ...
Exercise V
Read the dialogue and translate it. Act it out:
Ann:Nice day, isn't it? But too mild for this time of the year.
Susan:Yes, it is. I like such weather. It's snowing, but it isn't very cold.
Ann:But I like colder weather better. After all, winter must be winter.
Susan:Well, and now you know that the climate of England is very different from yours.
It's true that our winter is warmer than yours, but our summer is cooler too.
Ann:In summer you have a lot of rainy days and in winter there isn't much snow.
Susan:Exactly. This winter we're going to have as little snow as last winter, I'm afraid.
Ann:Yes, I think you are right. But now there is much snow. Let's go for a weekend to Brighton. The air is much cleaner there than in London.
Susan:OK. Clean air is so important for people's health!
Ann:It certainly is.
Exercise VI
Use the information below to make a report on the following:
LAND
Area - 241,752 sq km
Highest Point — Ben Nevis 1,343 m above sea level
Lowest Point - Holme Fen 3m below sea level
CLIMATE
Average Temperatures
London — January 4°C, July 18°C
Edinburgh — January 3°C, July 15eC
Average Annual Precipitation
London 590 mm Edinburgh 680 mm
POPULATION
Population - 59,000,000 (approximate figure)
Population Density - 242 persons/sq km
Urban/Rural population
92% Urban
8% Rural
ETHNIC GROUPS
94.5% English, Scottish, Welsh, or Irish
5.5% Other
LANGUAGES
Official Language - English
Other Languages - Welsh, Scots-Gaelic, other minority languages
RELIGIOUS
54% Anglicanism
13% Roman Catholicism
33% Other including other Protestant denominations, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism
ECONOMY
Gross Domestic Product-US $1,023,900,000,000
Agriculture: wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, livestock, animal products
Fishing: mackerel, herring, cod, plaice
Mining: coal, limestone, petroleum and natural gas
INDUSTRY
Machinery and transport equipment, food products, chemical products, minerals and metal products. Employment Statistics
58% Trade and Services
23% Industry
16% Business and Finance
2% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
1% Military and Defense
Major Exports
Industrial and electrical machinery, automatic data processing equipment, road vehicles, petroleum.
Major Imports
Road vehicles, industrial and electrical machinery, automatic data processing equipment, petroleum, paper and paperboard, textiles, food.
Major Trading Partners
Germany, the United States, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan
TEXT B
LONDON
London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. London is one of the greatest cities in the world and the biggest seaport in Europe. The territory of London is twice asgreat as the territory of New York, though its population is almost twice smaller.
London is the oldest city of the English-speaking peoples, more than twenty centuries old. The Old City is the birthplace of London. Here, on the banks of the Thames, was a small settlement named Llyn-din, which means a lonely port. To this place, in the year 55 before our era, Caesar came from Rome. For 400 years Britain remained a Roman province. Llyn-din became Londinium. The Romans made Londinium a large and rich city with good streets, beautiful palaces and shops. Trade was growing. A lot of goods-skins, copper and iron ore, silver and gold-were sent to Rome.
In the fifth century the Romans left Britain, and other invaders came to the British shores. The Saxon hordes and the Danes rushed to Londinium, conquered the land and ruined the city. During nearly 400 years Londinium lay in ruins, grass grew where the beautiful buildings had been before, wild beasts walked on the good Roman roads.
In the ninth century and later the Saxon Kings began to rebuild the ruined city of Londinium. Soon another centre, Westminster Abbey, was founded. In 1066 came William the Duke of Normandy, or William the Conqueror. He settled in Londinium, which now became London-the capital of Norman Britain. The Norman masters built new palaces, churches and cathedrals. The population grew and more wooden houses were built along the narrow streets. Simple wooden houses were good enough for the poor Brittons. Stone and marble were used by the Normans who wanted to shine in the conquered land.
In 1666 the Great Fire broke out, almost the whole London was scorched by the fire. Not only wooden, but even stone buildings were burnt down. After the fire the City could not be reconstructed, it had to be built again. A commission of six architects was organized for this business and Sir Christopher Wren was the most talented of them. It was forbidden to build wooden houses in the City of London. The streets were made much wider and open land was left for squares.
Today the City is the central part of London, its business and financial centre and the heart of commerce. The Bank of England is not only the centre of English trade, but of the world trade as well. Only about five thousand live permanently in the City today but nearly a million works there. In the day-time the streets of the City are crowded but late at night they are deserted.
But life never stops in the streets and squares of the West End, not far from the City. This area is famous for splendid shops, concert-halls and theatres. You can see elegant people, wealth and luxury, beautifully illuminated shop-windows in Piccadilly or Regent Street. The West End is the richest and the most beautiful part of London.
The Thames is a natural boundary between the West End and the East End of London. Working class London is centered in the East End. This is a vast area running eastwards from the City. This area is populated by workers, dockers and small craftsmen. There are not many places of interest here. The Londoners who live in the East End are not rich and their houses are seldom built by great architects.
Westminster is the central part of London. Most governmental buildings are in Westminster.
Although there is much traffic in London there is indeed little dust. The road is asphalted, and the pavement is of stone. When it rains, there is no mud. Narrow side-streets lead off from the main street at right angles. If you walk along one of these, you are surprised to find how quiet it is.
London has many great and wonderful sights which attract the attention of tourists from many parts of the world.
Exercise I
Answer the questions:
1. Is London the largest city in the world?
2. What's the population of London?
3. Traditionally London is divided into several parts. Can you name them?
4. What do you know about the City?
5. Who was St Paul's Cathedral built by?
6. Who founded the Tower of London? When was it rebuilt?
7. What is Westminster Abbey famous for?
8. Where does the British Parliament sit?
9. What is Big Ben?
10. Why was Trafalgar Square named so?
11. Why does Buckingham Palace attract so many tourists?
12. What are the most famous London museums and art galleries?
Exercise II
Give equivalents to the following Russian word combinations from the text:
коммерческий центр, более 20 веков, приехал из, росла, устремились, завоеватели, лежали в руинах, был основан, деревянный, вспыхнул пожар, почти 1000 лет, не только центр, известна, естественная граница, несмотря, заметим, привлекают внимание, постоянно.
Exercise III
Complete the following sentences according to the text:
1. The Old City is...of London.
2. For 400 years Britain...a Roman province.
3. ...skins, copper and iron ore were sent to Rome.
4. The Saxon kings began...the ruined city.
5. The Saxon hordes and the Danes.. to .Londinium…the land and the city.
6. During nearly 400 years Londinium... .
7. Simple...were good for poor people.
8. In 1666 the Great Fire…, almost the whole London was scorched by the fire.
9. It…to build wooden houses in the City of London.
10. Westminster Abbey…soon.
11. London has wonderful sights which…of tourists.
Exercise IV
Agree or disagree.
1. London is more than 10 centuries old.
2. Caesar came from Rome to the settlement named Londinium.
3. Agriculture was developing.
4. During nearly 400 years Londinium lay in ruins.
5. In the 9th century the Roman kings began to rebuild the ruined city.
6. The Norman masters built wooden houses for rich people.
7. In 1666 the Great Fire broke out.
8. It was forbidden to build wooden houses in the City after the fire.
9. The West End is famous for shops, concert halls and theatres.
10. Working class live in Westminster.
11. Most governmental buildings are in the East End.
12. When it rains there is no mud on the pavement.
13. London has a lot of sights.
Exercise V
Read and translate the dialogue:
Sightseeing
A: Is it possible to see anything of London in one or two days?
B: Well, yes, but, of course, not half enough.
A: What do you think I ought to see first?
B: Well, if you are interested in churches and historical places you should go to Westminster Abbey, The Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's and the Tower. Do you like art galleries?
A: Rather!
В: Then why not go to the National gallery and the Tate?
A: I`m told one ought to see the British Museum. Do you think I shall have time for that?
B: Well, you might, but if I were you, I should leave that for some other day. You could spend a whole day there. It's much too big to be seen in an hour or so.
A: I suppose it is. What about going to the Zoo?
B: That's not a bad idea. You could spend a couple of hours there comfortably, or even a whole afternoon, watching the wild animals, birds and reptiles. You could have tea there too.
A: I`ll do that then. How do I get there?
B: Let me see. I think your best way from here is to walk across Regent's Park.
A: Is it much of a walk?
B: Oh, no, a quarter of an hour or so, but, if you are in a hurry, why not take a taxi?
A: I think I will. Ah, here's one coming. Taxi! The Zoo, please.