Great Britain

Great Britain (official name - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is situated on two large islands, the larger of which is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland. In addition to these two islands Great Britain includes over five thousand small islands. The total area of Great Britain is 240,000 sq. km, its population is 56,000,000 people.

In the north-west and west the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, in the east - by the North Sea. The islands of Great Britain are separated from France by the English Channel. Northern Ireland, which is a part of Great Britain and which is situated on the island of Ireland, is separated from Great Britain by the North Channel.

The island of Great Britain is divided into two parts: mountainous (in the north and west of the island) and lowland (in the south and east). There are no very long rivers in Great Britain. The most important rivers are the Thames (the deepest) and the Severn (the longest). The rivers seldom freeze in winter. Due to the moderating influence of the sea Great Britain has an insular climate, rather humid and mild, without striking discrepancy between seasons.

Great Britain consists of four main parts: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Administratively Great Britain is divided into 55 counties. The biggest cities of Great Britain are London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.

England is the largest part of Great Britain (it occupies over 50% of the territory and its population amounts to 83% of the total population of Great Britain). Wales is a peninsular in the south-west of the island of Great Britain. It occupies about 9% of its territory with the population of 4.8% of the total population. Scotland is the most northern part of Great Britain with a territory of 32% of the total territory and with a population of 9% of the total population of Great Britain. Northern Ireland occupies the north-east part of the island of Ireland. Its territory amounts to 5.2% of the total territory of Great Britain. The main cities of Northern Ireland are Belfast and Londonderry.

The Welsh have their own language. However, many Welsh people do not know Welsh, and everyone in Wales speaks English. Scotland and Ireland also have their own languages, but these are rarely spoken and everyone there knows English.

Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. Officially the head of state is the Queen (or the King). However, the power of the Queen in Great Britain is not absolute. She acts only on the advice of the ministers and Parliament. There is no written constitution in Great Britain. The main principles of British legislation are expressed in other documents, like "Magna Charta”, “Habeas Corpus Act”, "Bill of Rights", the Parliamentary Act which decided the position of the House of Lords, and the Judicature Act. British legislation does not provide written guarantees of individual political rights.

Parliament in Great Britain has existed since 1265 and is the eldest Parliament in the world. It consists of two Houses - the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords consists of 1000 peers who are not elected by the people. The House of Commons is a nation-wide representative body which is elected by the people at a general election, within 5 years of the last election. After the general election the Queen appoints the head of the government - the Prime Minister. As a rule the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that has won the election. The Prime Minister appoints the ministers to make up the government.

There are two main political parties in Great Britain: the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. The Conservative Party came into being in the 19^th century as a result of the evolution of the Tory Party. The Labour Party was founded in 1900. Since 1906 it has borne the name of the Labour Party. The Labour Party won the election for the first time in 1945.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. The main fields of British industry are machine-building, ship-building, metallurgy, and electronics.

Ex .10. Find the international words in each paragraph and translate them.

Ex. 11. Translate into English:

відокремлюватися від, до того ж, гірський, загальна площа, острів, вологий та м’який клімат, помірний вплив, півострів, складатися з, завдяки, налічувати, вражаюча різниця, власна мова, парламентська монархія, забезпечувати гарантії, законодавство, рідко, головні принципи конституції, з поради, судовий акт, бути вираженим у документі, позначати, сформувати уряд, як правило, високо розвинута країна, з’явитись, бути обраним, бути заснованим, індивідуальні політичні права.

Ex. 12. Find the synonyms:

1. to be situated

2. to divide

3. influence

4. humid

5. rarely

6. to amount

7. to exist

8. evolution

9. to appoint

10. legislation

11. to provide

12. discrepancy

a) seldom

b) wet

c) to separate

d) to occupy

e) difference

f) effect

g) to choose (to decide)

h) laws

i) to be equal to

j) to give (to supply)

k) to be (to be real)

l)development

Ex.13. Find the antonyms:

1. to include

2. deep

3. insular

4. to freeze

5. since

6. everyone

1. often

2. till

3. to exclude

4. backgward

5. to elect

f) shallow

7. absolute

8. rarely

9. highly-developed

24. 10. to come into being

11. individual

12. to win

13. on the advice

14. to appoint

g) continental

h) to disappear

i) to lose

j) to melt

k) independently

l) nobody

25. m) limited, restricted

14. common

Ex. 14. Comment the following figures:

Model: 240,000 sq km

The total area of Great Britain is 240,000 sq km

1. four main parts

2. 56,000,000 people

3. two large islands

4. five thousand small islands

5. 55 counties

6. 50% of the territory, 83% of the total population

7. since 1265

8. 1000 peers

9. two main political parties

10. within 5 years

11. in the 19^th century

12. was founded in 1900

Ex.15. Read the sentences, put in the necessary words.

1. In addition to two big islands Great Britain ... over five thousand small islands.

2. In the northwest and west the country ... by the Atlantic Ocean.

3. Northern Ireland ... from Great Britain by the North Channel.

4. Due to the moderating influence of the sea Great Britain has an insular climate, rather ... and ....

5. The population of England ... 83% of the total population of Great Britain.

6. English ... ... by everyone there.

7. ... the head of the state is the Queen (or the King).

8. British legislation does not provide ... ... of individual political rights.

9. The Queen acts only ... ... ... of the ministers and Parliament.

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(is washed, is known, officially, written guarantees, on the advice, humid, mild, amounts to, includes, is separated)

Ex 16. Put in the necessary prepositions.

1. The island of Great Britain is separated from France ... the English Channel.

2. ... ... the moderating influence of the sea Great Britain has an insular climate, rather

humid and mild, ... striking discrepancy between seasons.

3. The island of Great Britain is divided ... two parts: mountainous and lowland.

4. Wales occupies ... 9% of the territory of Great Britain.

5. Scotland is the most northern part of Great Britain ... a territory of 32% of the total territory.

6. The people at a general election elect the House of Commons, ... 5 years of the last election.

7. Parliament in Great Britain has existed ... 1265 and is the eldest Parliament in the world.

8. ... the general election the Queen appoints the head of the government - the Prime Minister.

7. The Conservative party came into being in the 19^th century ... a result of the evolution of the Tory Party.

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(into, without, by, due to, within, after, as, about, since, with)

Ex.17. Change the order of the ideas given below to that actually used by the author.

1. There are no very long rivers in great Britain.

2. The territory of Scotland comprises 32% of the total territory and population is 9% of the total population of the country.

3. In the north-west and the west the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, in the east – by the North Sea.

4. Due to the moderating influence of the sea Great Britain has an insular climate.

5. The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

6. England occupies over 50% of the territory and its population amounts to 83 % of the total population of Great Britain.

7. Officially the head of the state is the Queen (or the King).

8. Wales, Scotland and Ireland also have their own languages, but these are rarely spoken and everyone there knows English.

9. The main cities of Northern Ireland are Belfast and Londonderry.

10.The Labour Party was founded in 1900.

11.Parliament in Great Britain has existed since 1265 and is the oldest Parliament in the world.

12.The main fields of British industry are machine building, shipbuilding, metallurgy and economics.

13.The Conservative Party came into being in the 19^th century as a result of the evolution of Tory Party.

14.The House of Commons is a nation-wide representative body.

27. 15. There is no written constitution in Great Britain.

28. 16. The House of Lords consists of 1000 peers who are not elected by the people.

Ex.18. Connect the suitable parts of the sentences in columns 1 and 2 by means of the verb to be:

The total area of Great Britain The biggest cities of Great Britain Northern Ireland The main principles of British legislation Great Britain Scotland Wales The Prime Minister The House of Commons Over 50% of the territory and 83% of the population of Great Britain

a) a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland b) a parliamentary monarchy c) the head of the government d) a peninsular e) a nation-wide representative body f) 240.000 sq km g) the main figures about London h) London, Birmingham, Glasgow,Liverpool,Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff. i) in documents like “Magna Charta”, “Harbeas Corpus Act”, “Bill of Rights”, the Parliamentary Act. j) the most northern part of Great Britain

Ex.19. Read the beginnings of the sentences and complete them according to the text:

1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated . . . .

2. In the north-west and west the country is washed . . . .

3. Northern Ireland is separated. . . .

4. Due to the moderating influence . . . .

5. The biggest cities of Great Britain are . . . .

6. Scotland is the most northern part of great Britain . . . .

7. Many Welsh people do not know. . . .

8. The power of the Queen . . . .

9. The main principles of British legislation . . . .

10. British legislation . . . .

11. Parliament has existed . . . .

12. The House of Commons is . . . .

13. The Queen appoints . . . .

14. The Prime Minister appoints . . . .

15. The Conservative Party came into being . . . .

16. The main fields of British industry are . . . .

Ex.20. Choose the right ending of each sentence:

1. The United Kingdom is situated on two large islands:

a) the larger of which is Ireland and the smaller is Great Britain.

b) The larger of which is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland.

c) The larger of which is Great Britain and the smaller is Wales.

2. The island of Great Britain is separated from France by:

29. a ) the North Sea

30. b) the North Channel

c) the English Channel

3. Due to the moderating influence of the sea Great Britain has an insular climate:

a) without contrast in temperature

b) with striking discrepancy between seasons.

c) without striking discrepancy between seasons.

4. The most northern part of Great Britain with a territory of 32% of the total territory of the country is:

a) Northern Ireland

b) Wales

c) Scotland

5. British legislation does not provide:

a) security of government activities

b) written guarantees of individual political rights

c) written constitutional rights

6. Parliament in Great Britain has existed:

a) since 1255

b) before the 13^th century

c) since 1265

7. The people at a general election elect the House of Commons:

a) within 5 years of the last election

b) within 4 years of the last election

c) which is held at least every 4 years

8. The party which wins the most seats in the Parliament:

a) appoints the head of the government

b) opens and dissolves Parliament

c) forms the government

Ex. 21. Give the short answers to the following general questions:

1. Does the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland include over five thousand small islands?

2. Is the population of the United Kingdom 50 mln people?

3. Is the island of Great Britain divided into two parts?

4. Has Great Britain an insular climate?

5. Is Wales a peninsular?

6. Is Scotland the most northern part of the country?

7. Do all Welsh people know Welsh?

8. Are the Scottish and Irish languages rarely spoken?

9. Is there any written constitution in Great Britain?

10.Is parliament in Great Britain the oldest parliament in the world?

11. Is the House of Lords elected by the people?

12.Is Great Britain a highly - developed industrial country?

Ex. 22. Give the short answers to the following special questions:

1. What is the total area of Great Britain?

2. What is the island of Great Britain separated from France by?

3. What are the most important rivers in Great Britain?

4. What parts does Great Britain consist of?

5. What does the population of England amount to?

6. What are Belfast and Londonderry?

7. Who is the head of the state officially?

8. Where are the main principles of British legislation expressed?

9. Who is the House of Commons elected by?

10.How many main political parties are there in Great Britain?

Ex. 23. Give the detailed answers to the following questions.

1. Where is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland situated?

2. What is the country washed by?

3. Why is the climate of Great Britain rather humid and mild?

4. What does the United Kingdom consist of?

5. What are the biggest cities of Great Britain?

6. What territory does Northern Ireland occupy?

7. What is Great Britain?

8. Why is the power of the Queen not absolute?

9. How is the government made up?

10. What are the main fields of British industrv?

Ex. 24. Look through the statements and choose the true ones:

1.In addition to two large islands Great Britain includes over three thousand small islands.

31. 2.The islands of Great Britain are separated from France by the La Manche Channel.

32. 3. Northern Ireland which is a part of Great Britain and is on the island of Ireland, is separated from Great Britain by the North Channel.

33. 4. The island of Great Britain is divided into two parts: mountainous (in the south and east) and lowland (in the north and west of the island).

34. 5. The important rivers are the Thames (the deepest) and the Severn (the longest).

35. 6. Great Britain has an insular climate, rather humid and mild, with striking discrepancy between seasons.

36. 7. Wales is a peninsular in the south-west of the island of Great Britain.

37. 8. Northern Ireland occupies the north-west part of the island of Ireland.

38. 9. Wales, Scotland and Ireland also have their own languages.

39. 10.Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy and the power of the Queen is absolute.

40. 11.The Queen acts only on the advice of the ministers and Parliament.

41. 12.“Magna Charta”, “Habeas Corpus Act”, “Bill of Rights” and the Parliamentary Act decided the position of the House of Commons.

42. 13. The House of Lords is not elected by the people.

43. 14.The House of Commons is not a nation-wide representative body.

44. 15.The government appoints the Prime Minister.

45. 16. The Labour Party won the election for the first time in 1900.

Ex. 25. Translate from Ukrainian into English:

1. На початку 20 століття Британська імперія включала чверть світового населення та земної поверхні.

2. До середини 20 століття більшість територій Британської імперії здобули (gained) незалежність і імперія еволюціїнувала (had evolved) у Співдружність Націй (Commonwealth of Nations), асоціацію рівних та автономних держав, вірних (loyal) Британській короні, які мали (enjoying) особливі торгові інтереси.

3. Фактично, фрацузи були першими, хто почав називати країну “Велика Британія” (“Grande Bretagne”).

4. Ландшафт країни багатий та різноманітний (varied), інколи він має значні контрасти в межах коротких відстаней, особливо на узберіжжі.

5. Пройшли століття, перш ніж Об’єднане Королівство було утворено.

6. Майже половина населення живе у великому поясі (belt), який простягається на північний захід від Лондона через Англію.

7. Більша частина землі сільськогосподарська, з якої одна третина пахотна (arable), на ній вирощують різні врожаї, а іншу займають пасовища (pasture lands.).

8. Палата Громад, яка відіграє важливу роль у розробці законів, складається з 635 вибірних членів парламенту (MPs), кожен представляє якусь місцевість в Англії, Шотландії, Уельсі чи Північній Ірландії.

9. Законодавчі міри вводяться в Парламент як Біллі (законопроекти) зазвичай міністрами або іншими членами парламента.

10.Місцеве управління здійснюється демократично обраними радами (councils) та місцевою владою (local authorities), які мають справу з плануванням та забезпеченням житлом, освітою, соціальними службами, поліцією та багатьма іншими службами в їх місцевостях.

11.Британці виготовляють одну восьму частину загального світового експорту промислових товарів.

12.Більш ніж 200 років тому перша промислова революція почалася в Британії такими значними для епохи винаходами, як парова машина (двигун) і перше машинне обладнання (machinery) для виробництва тканин (weaving textiles).

13.Сьогодні, у нову еру сучасних технологій, Британія досягла важливого росту (advancement) у таких нових галузях промисловості, як електроніка та телекомунікаційне обладнання, у будівництві літаків, виготовленні синтетичних матеріалів, радіо-ізотопів та нових ліків.

14.У 1971 році було проведено реформу Британської грошової системи, яка ввела десятковий принцип.

Ex. 26. Make up a plan of the text and discuss its items with your groupmates (use the geographical map of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

Section B: