Answer the questions

1. What are the characteristic features of the Ukrainian Railways?

2. What makes the railways a key transit route?

3. What helped UZ to support a series of investment projects?

4. How much money does UZ need for its investment programme?

5. What is the reason for increased traffic volumes?

6. Why is the development of the international corridors considered to be a critical element in aligning the country with the wider European transport policy?

7. What is the ratio between the number of passengers and the distance travelled measured in passenger-kilometres?

8. What will help to make railway more competitive for transit freight?

9. Which of the UZ transport sectors are prefitable?

10. What passenger operations are provided by UZ?

The geographical position of Great Britain Basic vocabulary

to reign	керувати, царювати
hereditary	складовий, спадкоємний, традиційний
dairy	молочні продукти
poultry	птиця
raw	сирий
lack	нестача, відсутність
abundant	рясний, багатий
limestone	вапняк
clay	глина
tin	олово
cod	тріска
shellfish	молюск, ракоподібні
bulk	груда, кипа, найбiльша частина
law	закон
to be limited	бути обмеженим
to achieve	досягати, успішно виконувати
to manufacture	виробляти
equipment	обладнання
to include	включати, містити в собі
enterprise	підприємство
fuel	паливо

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. It means that the power of the Queen is limited by the Parliament. In law the Queen (Elizabeth II) reigns over the state, the armed forces, and the church of England. But in fact, she reigns but she does not rule.

The parliament consists of two Chambers (Houses): the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The latter is the lower Chamber but it is one of the Houses of Commons that the Government is formed. The House of Commons is elected every five years and it has 630 members. The House of Lords is partly hereditary and consists of 850 members.

The political party which wins the elections (has the majority of voices) is called the Government Party. The Prime Minister makes the Cabinet of Ministers. The party which has the minority of voices at the elections is called the opposition.

«The Conservatives» is the opposition Party. The Communist Party of Great Britain was formed in 1920.The Labour Party is a socialist party in Great Britain. It was founded in 1900 by the trade unions and the Independent Labour party. It was a federation of trade unions and trade councils, cooperative societies and socialist organizations.

About 25 of Britain's land is arable, and almost half is suitable for meadows and pastures. Its agriculture is highly mechanized and extremely productive; about 2 of the labor force produces 60 % of the country's food needs. Barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, and vegetables are the main crops. The widespread dairy industry produces milk, eggs, and cheese. Beef cattle and large numbers of sheep, as well as poultry and pigs, are raised throughout much of the country. There is also a sizable fishing industry, with cod, mackerel, trout, salmon, and shellfish making up the bulk of the catch.

Great Britain is one of the world's leading industrialized nations. It has achieved this position despite the lack of most raw materials needed for industry. Within the manufacturing sector, the largest industries include machine tools: electric power, automation, and railroad equipment, ships, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronic and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and printing, food processing, textiles, and clothing.

Great Britain has abundant supplies of coal, oil, and natural gas. Other mineral resources include iron ore, tin, limestone, salt, oil, gypsum, and lead.

The country's chief exports are manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, food beverages and tobacco. The chief imports are manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, and foodstuffs.

The economy is based largely on private enterprises but has some major publicly owned industries (notably coal, steel, gas, electricity and railways) and a few joint enterprises.

The working population is just over 26 million (in a total population is 56 million) out of which 7 percent of people are self-employed.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles are separated from Europe by the English Channel. The British Isles are washed by the North Sea in the East and the Atlantic Ocean in the West.

The largest cities of the country are London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The territory of Great Britain is divided into four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England is the richest, the most populated part in the country. There are mountains in the north and in the west of England, but all the rest of the territory of England is plain. Scotland is a land of mountains. Its highest peak is Ben Nevis. The British Isles have many rivers. The longest of them is the Severn. It flows into the Irish Sea. The Thames is over 200 miles long. London, the capital of Great Britain, situated on it. Geographical position of Great Britain, economically wise is rather good as the country lies on the crossways of the sea routes from Europe to other parts of the world.