Great Britain
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consists of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 240.000 square kilometers. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In everyday speech «Great Britain» is used to mean the United Kingdom. The capital of the United Kingdom is London.
The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English channel.
The surface of the British Isles varies much. There are mountains on the north and west. The center and south-east is a vast plain. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343m). There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the largest river while the Thames is the deepest and most important one.
The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate. It is mild the whole year round.
The United Kingdom is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of machinery, textile, electronics. One of the chief industries is shipbuilding.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen. In practice, the country is ruled by the elected Government, with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. The Labour party is the ruling nowadays. The Prime Minister is Tony Blair.
The United Kingdom is one of the most powerful economically-developed countries in the world.
I. Проверьте по словарю и прочитайте следующие географические названия:
The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the British Isles, Wales, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Europe, the European continent, the North sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf Stream, Ben Nevis, the Severn, the Thames.
II. Ответьте на следующие вопросы по тексту:
1) Where is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland situated ?
2) What parts is the United Kingdom made up of?
3) What is the capital of Great Britain ?
4) What is the highest mountain of Great Britain?
5) What influence the climate of the British Isles?
6) What is the chief industry of Great Britain ?
7) What is the political structure of the United Kingdom ?
8) What is the ruling party ?
9) Who is the Prime Minister nowadays ?
III. Прочитайте следующие предложения, вставив вместо точек нужные глаголы, данные под чертой, в соответствующем времени пассивного залога:
1) The United Kingdom .... the British Isles.
2) The United Kingdom .... of four countries.
3) The British Isles .... the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel.
4) The climate on the British Isles .... by the warm waters of Gulf Stream.
5) The country .... by the British Parliament.
6) Machinery, textile, electronics .... in Great Britain.
to influence, to make up, to rule, to produce, to situate on,
to separate from
IV. Переведите предложения на русский язык, обращая внимание на неличные формы глагола:
1) The British Isles being washed by the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf Stream, the climate is mild.
2) We know Great Britain to be separated from Europe by the English Channel (La Manche).
3) The United Kingdom is one the world's smaller countries, with an area being of some 240.000 square kilometers.
4) The United Kingdom consists of four countries, the capital being London.
5) The Thames is certain to be the deepest and most important river in Great Britain.
6) Being a constitutional monarchy the country is ruled by the elected Government.
7) The country being ruled by the elected Government is a constitutional monarchy.
8) There are three main political parties in Great Britain, the Labour Party being the ruling one.
9) Great Britain is considered to be one of the most economically- developed countries in the world.
V. Прочитайте и переведите текст без словаря.