8. Find the answers to the following questions:

1. How is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland usually shortened?

2. Where is it situated?

3. What channel separates the UK from the continent of Europe?

4. When was the tunnel, connecting Great Britain and Europe, constructed?

5. How many islands is the UK composed of?

6. What countries make up the UK?

7. What is the other name of the Irish Republic?

8. Can you find any other important islands, apart from Great Britain and Ireland, on the map?

9. What can you say about the seas sufrbunding the British Isles?

10. Why is the coastline of Great Britain so indented?

11. What territory does Lowland Britain occupy?

12. Where is Highland Britain situated?

13. Can you compare the highest peak of the UK with that of the world (Everest is 8,839 metres); with that of your country (Hoverla is 2,061 metres).

Unit 2 general outline

1. Read and memorize the following words and word combinations:

refer — относить(ся)

county - графство

rank - занимать

density - плотность

densely populated - густонаселенный

inhabitant - житель

constitute - составлять

descendant - потомок

nevertheless - однако, тем не менее

Protestantism - протестантство

Catholicism - католицизм

encourage - поощрять, поддерживать

parliamentary monarchy - парламентская монархия

anthem - гимн

coat of arms (тж. arms) - герб

2. Read and memorize the following proper names:

Edinburgh – Эдинбург

Cardiff- Кардифф

Ulster - Ольстер the Scottish – шотландцы

the Welsh – уэльсцы

the Irish - ирландцы the Iberians — иберы

the Celts – кельты

the Romans – римляне

the Angles – англы

the Saxons – саксы

the Normans – норманны

Gaelic - гэльский язык

Birmingham — Бирмингем

Glasgow – Глазго

Liverpool – Ливерпуль

Manchester - Манчестер

Sheffield – Шеффилд

Bristol – Бристоль

Leeds – Лидс

Southampton – Саутгемптон

3. Read and translate the text:

BASIC FACTS

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom or UK for short) is the unity of four countries which are England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This state is sometimes referred to as Great Britain or Britain (after its major isle), England (after its major historic part) or the British Isles.

Each country of the UK is divided into counties and has its own capital:

England: 46 counties. Capital: London (it is also the capita), of the United Kingdom).

Scotland: 33 counties. Capital: Edinburgh.

Wales: 13 counties. Capital: Cardiff.

Northern Ireland or Ulster: 6 counties. Capital: Belfast.

The UK is one of the world's smaller countries. It ranks 76th in the world in size of area. Its territory is 224,046 square kilometres. But at the same time Great Britain is one of the most densely populated countries and ranks 16th in population (which is over 57 million). The average density is 234 people per sqkm.

But the distribution of the population is rather uneven. England is the most populous part (47 million). It is followed by Scotland (over 5 million), Wales (3 million), and Northern Ireland (1.5 million). England, with 360 inhabitants per sq km, is one of the most densely populated countries in the world (the rest of Britain is much lower: Wales: 135 inhabitants per sq km, Scotland: 65 and Northern Ireland: 110).

The UK is inhabited by the English, the Scottish, the Welsh, and the Northern Irish, who constitute the British nation. The British are the descendants of different peoples who settled in the British Isles at different times (the Iberians, the Celts, the Romans, the Angles, the Saxons, the Normans).

Now there are many people of all colours and races in the UK. They are mostly immigrants from the former British colonies. Nevertheless native-born United Kingdomers constitute over 92 per cent of the population.

The main religions of the UK are Protestantism and Catholicism.

The official language in the United Kingdom is English. But it is not the only one which people use in Great Britain. Some people in Western Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland speak Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Irish

Gaelic. All these languages are now officially encouraged and taught in schools.

The UK is a parliamentary monarchy. The Queen is the head of the state. Prime Minister is the head of the government.

The national anthem of Great Britain is "God Save the Queen". The state has its national flag, called the Union Jack, and the Royal Coat of Arms.

The largest cities of Great Britain are: London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh. The most important ports are: London, Liverpool, Southampton, Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff.