8. Tick true or false statement

1. The British monarch is the head of the government. ....

2. Magna Carta was the document that limited the monarch's power.

3. William and Mary were the first monarchs who reigned but not ruled.

4. Members of Parliament represent two main political parties.

5. The Cabinet of Ministers is responsible and accountable to the Parliament.

6. The House of Commons is more numerous than the House of Lords. io

7. British overseas territories used to be its colonies before World War II.

9. Read the text and speak on the topic The national symbols of Great Britain

The Union Jack

The flag of Britain, commonly known as the Union Jack (which derives from the use of the Union Flag on the jack-staff of naval vessels), represents the emblems of three countries under one Sovereign. The emblems that appear on the Union Flag are the crosses of three patron saints:

- the red cross of St. George, for England, on a white ground;

- the white diagonal cross of St. Andrew, for Scotland, on a blue ground;

- the red diagonal cross of St. Patrick, for Ireland, on a white ground. ⁽

The final version of the Union Flag appeared in 1801, following the union of Great Britain with Ireland, with the inclusion of the cross of St. Patrick. The cross remains on the flag although now only Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.

Wales is not represented in the Union Flag because when the first version of the flag appeared, Wales was already united with England. The national flag of Wales, a red dragon on a field of white and green, dates from the 15th century and is widely used throughout the Principality.

The Royal Crest

The Royal Crest - a lion bearing the Royal crown - is used to denote articles of personal property belonging to the Queen, or goods bearing the Royal Warrant. The lion, «the king of beasts» has been used as a symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy for many centuries.

The British National anthem

The British National anthem originated in a patriotic song first performed in 1745. There is no authorised version - the words used are a matter of tradition. On official occasions it is usual to sing the first verse only, the words of which are as follows:

«God save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen!»

10. Compare the symbols of Ukraine and symbols of Great Britain

11. Read the texts and prepare reports about big cities of Great Britain. Fill the gaps and do the activities Big cities of Great Britain

Great Britain's major cities besides London are Birmingham with the population of just over a million, Manchester with 430,800 Glasgow with 616,430, Edinburgh with 448,850, Belfast with 297,300 and Cardiff with 315,000 people who live there.

Birmingham

Birmingham is the largest provincial ___(1) in Great Britain. It stands in the centre of the upland area in the valleys of three small rivers - the Tame, the Cole and the Rea. They all ___ (2) into the Trent, a big navigable river. The city is a county borough in Warwickshire, and it is the market ___ (3) of the Black Country. Birmingham is much younger ___ (4) most British cities.

Though its exact date of Birth is not _______ (5) for sure, it seems certain that the settlement did not exist before Anglo-Saxon times. It is_(6) that the Midland coal-fields led to its growth begin­ning with the 13th_(7). The Black County got its name in the 19th century ___ (8) to the intensive activity of the heavy industry in the region. At present the Black ___ (9) coal is almost worked out, iron ore is no longer melted and green ___ (10) with wild flowers grow on the old quarries.

Although primarily an industrial_(11), Birmingham has many pleasant residential suburbs and open spaces. The city is the ___ (12) of the cultural life-of a large area. The University of Birmingham is proud of its departments of science, arts, medicine, commerce and law. It is ___ (13) a big research centre.

Birmingham is a big industrial ___(14) with many modern factories, but its industrial pattern is mostly based on small firms. Birmingham ___(15) manufacture brassware, silverware and other metal_(16), jewellery, small arms and plastics. It is also well ___(17) for its motor vehicles, electrical equipment and machine tools.