Vocabulary

highly-developed – высокоразвитый

to be rich in smth – быть богатым чем-либо

mineral resources – минеральные ресурсы

naval country – морская держава

to be suitable for smth – быть пригодным для

advantage – преимущество

rich deposit of smth – богатое месторождение чего-либо

to cause – служить причиной чего-либо

to be carried to – перевозиться

to creatе a powerful heavy industry – создать мощную промышленность

large quantities of – большое количество чего-либо

to be concentrated in – быть сосредоточенным в

to be a trading centre – быть центром торговли

to be famous for – славиться чем-либо

to supply – поставлять, обеспечивать

to be connected with – быть связанным с

by means of a canal – каналом (посредством канала)

finished products – конечная продукция, готовые товары

to be kept green and fresh – сохраняться зелеными и свежими

to be favourable to – быть благоприятным для

to remain – оставаться

to be engaged in – быть занятым чем-либо

to depent on – зависеть от

to provide – производить, выпускать

to be caught – ловиться, вылавливаться

Read and translate the text:

The UK is an old naval and highly-developed industrial country. It is rich in mineral resources, the most important of them being coal and iron. Next to coal and iron the chief minerals are the building stone, marble, granite, slate, lead, tin, copper, zinc, salt and china-clay (i.e. clay suitable for manufacturing china).

Coal was necessary to the life and development of the British industry and it is practically the main and the only power basis of it. It was a matter of great advantage for the British industry at the beginning of its development that rich deposits of coal lay near those of iron ore. The nearness of the mines to the sea coast was also an advantage that caused the development of coal mining because coal could be easily carried to every part of the world.

Having found rich deposits of iron and ore in the same regions, Britain was able to create a powerful heavy industry earlier than any other country in the world.

The presence of large quantities of coal in some regions caused the growth of different branches of industry in these regions.

In the Midland (to the north-west of London) we find the largest coal and iron fields in Britain. The centre of this district is Birmingham called “the Black Country”.

The presence of large quantities of coal in the Midland was also one of the reasons for the growth of the cotton and woolen industries here and the iron and street works in Sheffield.

In the same way the coal fields in Wales caused the manufacture of pottery, and the coal field of Scotland gave rise to the shipbuilding which is largely concentrated in Newcastle and Glasgow. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, a great port with numerous docks and a trading centre.

Britain is famous for its steel manufacture, tool industry, heavy and light engineering. It supplies many countries with certain classes of machinery, iron and steel goods. The textile industry is one of the most extensive industries in England. Large quantities of cotton and woolen goods and artificial silk are produced and exported.

The spinning and weaving of wool is known to be one of the oldest industries in Great Britain. Leeds is the centre of the chief woolen-manufacturing district situated on the eastern side of the Pennines – and it is also the first in manufacture of clothing.

Manchester is the centre of cotton industry situated on the western side of the Pennines. It is connected with Liverpool, the second largest port in Britain, by means of a canal through which ocean-going ships carry raw cotton to the cotton-mills of Manchester and finished products to every part of the world.

The climate of the Britain Isles is mild and rainy that’s why the fields and meadows are kept green and fresh. It is more favourable to cattle and sheep-raising than to agriculture, because the temperature and rainfall favour the growing of grass rather than that of grain. Therefore for centuries Great Britain has been famous for its cattle and sheep and still remains a leading country in wool production.

A small per sent of the population is engaged in farming nowdays. Farms are rather small in size and the island depends mainly on other countries for its food supplies. The chief crops are wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn, hay, flax, potatoes, vegetables and fruits. Among other important farming products are cattle, meat and dairy products.

The shallow waters surrounding the island are also important for the country’s economy – they provide excellent fishing grounds and large quantities of fish are caught every year.

Ex.1 Make the correct form of the verb in brackets, using Present Simple,

Passive:

1. The UK (to be) a developed industrial country.

2. Mineral resources (to be developed) in the country.

3. Coal (to be developed and carried) to every part of the country.

4. This district (to be called) “the Black Country”.

5. The shipbuilding (to be concentrated) in Newcastle and Glasgow.

6. The spinning and weaving of wool (to be known) as the oldest industries in Great Britain.

7. Manchester (to be connected) with Liverpool by means of canals.

8. A small per sent of the population (to be engaged) in farming nowdays.

9. The island (to be surrounded) by the shallow waters.

10. Large quantities of fish (to be caught) every year.

Ex.2 Insert the prepositions if necessary:

1. The UK is rich … mineral resources.

2. Clay is suitable … manufacturing china.

3. Coal is necessary … the life and development … the British industry.

4. The presence … large quantities … coal caused the growth … different branches … industry.

5. The presence … large quantities … coal … the Midland was also one … the reasons… the growth … the cotton and woolen industries.

6. The coal fields … Wales caused the manufacture … pottery.

7. The coal fields … Scotland gave rise … the shipbuilding.

8. Glasgow is the city … Scotland.

9. Glasgow is a great port … numerous docks and a trading centre.

10. Britain is famous … its steel manufacture, tool industry, heavy and light engineering.

Ex.3 Complete the sentences:

1. Manchester is the centre of … .

2. The textile industry is one of the most … .

3. Large quantities of cotton and woolen goods and artificial silk are … .

4. Leeds is the centre the chief woolen … .

5. The shallow waters are also important … .

6. The Irish Sea provides excellent fishing … .

7. Among other important farming products are … .

8. Shipbuilding is largely concentrated in … .

9. The nearness of the mines to the sea coast was also an … .

10. Next to coal and iron the chief minerals are … .

Ex.4 Say whether these statements are true or false:

1. The UK is a developing country.

2. It is rich in gold, silver and diamonds.

3. Coal could be easily carried to every port of the UK.

4. Rich deposits of coal lay near those of iron ore.

5. The most important resources are clay, marbles, granite, slate.

6. A great advantage for the British industry is rich deposits of coal and iron ore.

7. The growth of different branches of industry depends on the mineral resources.

8. The large quantities of coal are the reasons for the growth of the cotton and woolen industries.

9. Having found rich deposits of iron and ore in the same regions, Britain was able to create powerful heavy industries.

10. The coal fields caused the manufacture of pottery and engineering products.

Ex.5 Answer the questions:

1. What is Britain famous for?

2. What does it supply many countries?

3. Where are cotton and woolen goods produced and exported to?

4. What industries of Britain are known in the world?

5. What are the greatest ports of Britain?

6. What centre is Manchester?

7. What is Scotland famous for?

8. What oldest industries is Great Britain famous for?

9. What are the most important mineral resources in Britain?

10. Does Great Britain depend on mineral resources? Why?

Ex.6 Make up a brief rendering of the text. You must do the following:

1. read the whole text again;

2. divide the text into several parts;

3. put a question to each part (make up a plan);

4. find out the main idea of each part;

5. make up a short topic.

Ex.7 Make up and act a short dialogue about the country you live in or went to travel.

Text II. Read: a) proper names:

World War II German Britain British the London area

Glasgow Newcastle Yorkshire Sheffield Birmingham

2. learn the words:

engineering – машиностроение shipbuilding – судостроение mining areas – угледобывающие районы shortage – нехватка requiring – требуемый

electronics – электронная пром-ть atomic power – атомная энергетика Great emphasis – Великий подъем characteristic – характерный unprofitable – невыгодный automobile – автомобильная пром-ть

Britain lives by manufacture and trade. For every person employed in agriculture eleven people are employed in mining, manufacturing and building. The United Kingdom is one of the world’s largest exporters of manufactured goods per head of population.

Apart from coal and iron ore Britain has very few natural resources and mostly depends on import. Its agriculture provides only half the food it needs. The other half and most of the raw materials for its industries such as oil and various metals (copper, zinc, uranium ore and others) have to be imported. Britain also has to import timber, cotton, fruit and farm products.

Britain is richly forested, but most of the forests were cut down to make more room for cultivation. The greater part of land is used for cattle and sheep breeding and pig raising. Among the crops grown on the farm are wheat, barley and oats. The fields are mainly in the eastern part of the country. Most of the farms are small. One third of them is less than one hundred acres. Farms tend to be bigger where the soil is less fertile.

In 19 century Britain secured a leading position in the world as manufacturer, merchant and banker after World War I the world demand for the products of Britain’s traditional industries (textiles, coal and machinery) fell off. Britain began expanding trade in new engineering products and electrical goods.

The crisis of 1929-1933 brought about mass unemployment, which reached its peak in 1932. Britain’s share in the worlds industrial output decreased. After the crisis production and employment increased following some revival in world trade and as a result of the extensive armament program. During World War II Britain’s economy was fully employed in the war effort. Massed raids of German planes on British industrial centers caused considerable damage to Britain’s industry. World War II brought about a further weakening of Britain’s might. Great Britain is no longer the leading power it used to be. It has lost its colonies which used to supply it with cheap raw materials.

Britain produces high quality expensive goods, which has always been characteristic of its industry. A shortage of raw materials as well as the high cost of production makes it unprofitable for British industry to produce semi-finished goods or cheap articles. Britain mostly produces articles requiring skilled labour, such as precision instruments, electronic equipment, chemicals and high quality consumer goods. Britain produces and exports cotton and woolen goods, leather goods, and articles made of various kinds of synthetic (man-made) materials.

The original basis of British industry was coalmining and the early factories grew up not far from the main mining areas. Glasgow and Newcastle became great centres of engineering and shipbuilding. Lancashire produced cotton goods and Yorkshire woollens, with Sheffield concentrating on iron and steel. Birmingham developed eight engineering. There appeared a tendency for industry and population to move to the south, particularly, to the London area. Britain’s industry is now widely dispersed. Great progress was made in the development of new industries, such as the aircraft, automobile, electronic industries and others. A number of atomic power reactors were made. Great emphasis was made on the development of the war industry.