Reading Comprehension Exercises

I. Skimming.

1. This chapter is about the British Parliament. Quickly look it through and note down the headings and subheadings within the chapter to see how the author has structured the topic in question.

2. Read the motto on page 59 (using the General English vocabulary notes) and say what the speeches of Members of Parliament are compared to and why.

3. What two main duties are ascribed to Parliament in the introductory part (pp. 59-60)?

II. Scanning. Find the following information in the text:

1. How many MPs sit in the House of Commons?

2. How many hereditary peers are there now in the House of Lords?

3. How many life peers are there?

4. How many hereditary peers are allowed to remain in the House of Lords for a transitional period?

5. What Act of Parliament deprived the hereditary peers of their right to sit in the Lords?

6. What is the difference between life and hereditary peers?

7. Count how many members of the two chambers of Parliament are there now altogether?

Vocabuary Work Exercises

I.* Suggest Russian equivalents for the following word-combinations:

To oversee political balance To endow Parliament with legislative powers To invoke “privacy laws” To owe allegiance to the Crown 5. To succeed to the title of a peer

6. To appear on one’s own behalf during the conduct of the case 7. To disclaim one’s peerage for the sake of an MP status 8. To raise / lower the rate of income tax 9. To bring down the government directing an anti-social policy

II. Suggest English equivalents:

продолжать реформы в области образования подстрекать этнические меньшинства к религиозной ненависти за депутата не проголосовали на выборах в Парламент получить титул пэра по наследству

Парламент наделен полномочиями принимать, изменять и отменять законы занять должность Спикера передавать дела на рассмотрение нижестоящего органа власти затягивать принятие нового закона распустить Парламент

III. Guess the words for the following definitions:

1. election for Parliament or for a council during a term of office (because of the death or retirement of the person first elected)

2. area of a country which is represented by an MP

3. to make a law

4. members of the House of Lords who are not bishops

5. passing of power to govern or to make decisions from a central authority to a local authority

6. one of the stages in the discussion of a Bill, where each clause is examined in detail

7. to cancel or to remove (a law, a rule)

8. violent dislike of someone because of his religion

9. legal rules protecting the inviolability of private life

10. obedience or loyalty to the State or the Crown

IV. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the sentences, using the expressions below.

1. In the UK the European Union laws must prevail over the national laws.

2. Parliament authorizes Government Ministers to confirm by-laws before they become effective.

3. An MP is a member of one of the political parties.

4. If an MP resigns or dies while he is holding his post, another MP will take over.

5. Life Peers are usually people who have had distinguished careers and a variety of professions or occupations.

6. The House of Lords consists of the Peers of the Realm.

7. There are risks in tolerating the accumulation of power in a single individual reporting to the Prime Minister.

8. MPs must remember that they represent their constituencies.

Bear in mind; belong to; to be made up of; to take priority; accretion in power; walks of life; to leave office; to be accountable to; to come into force; to endow smb/smth with powers