2. Speaking

Which of the islands you would most like to visit and why? Which other places in Britain would you like to visit?

I’d like to go…

I’d also like to visit…

3. Writing

Write a postcard to an English-speaking friend from one of the islands you’ve read about, or from any other island that you know.

WORDBANK:

British dependence* - a territory that has its own elections and government, but that is ruled by Britain

Fare* - the price of a journey

Mild* - warm and comfortable

Norse* - from ancient Scandinavia

OAP* - old age pensioner

Shipwreck* - the ruins of a ship that has been destroyed at sea

Slope* - have an incline from a high point to a low point

Unmissable* - something that you must definitely see

A glimpse of history and historical parts

Vocabulary

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) – Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии

State – государство

Become independent – получить независимость

Capital – столица

Nation – нация

Be (become) united with – присоединиться к

Be joined to – быть присоединенным к

Kingdom – королевство

Abolish – отменить, упразднить

Rebel – восстать / rebellion – восстание, син. – uprising

Parliament – парламент

Defeat – победить, нанести поражение

Be forced to – быть вынужденным

“Overseas” – сущ. Зарубежные страны; прил. Зарубежный

Legal system – юридическая система

Government – правительство

Be inhabited (by) – быть населенным

Inhabitants – жители

Invade – вторгаться

Survive – переживать, выживать

Habitually – обычно

Bilingual – двуязычный

Self-declared – самопровозглашенный

Famine – голод

Partition – разделение

Disturbances – беспорядки

Agreement - соглашение

Level 1 tasks

1. Reading

Task 1.

Before you read: what’s the difference between England, Great Britain and the UK?

Task 2.

Read the Information Files on England, Scotland and Wales. Which of the countries:

1. has the largest / smallest population

2. has a national day in the spring?

3. has a national day in the autumn?

4. has a blue and white flag?

5. has a red, green and white flag?

Task 3.

List the national symbols from the Information Files under these categories.

Plants: ________________________

Real animals: ___________________

Mythical animals: _______________

Abstract patterns: ________________

FOUR NATIONS

ENGLAND

Total population: 49 million

Capital: London

National day: April 23^rd (St. George’s Day)

National symbols: Red rose, lion, bulldog

SCOTLAND

Total population: 5 million

Capital: Edinburgh

National day: November 30^th (St. Andrew’s Day)

National symbols: thistle*, tartan*

WALES

Total population: 2,5 million

Capital: Cardiff

National day: March 1st (St. David’s Day)

National symbols: dragon, leek*, daffodil*

Task 4.

Read the text about Northern Ireland and answer the questions.

1. How many countries are there in Great Britain?

2. When did the south of Ireland become independent from Britain?

3. How many countries are there in the UK?

4. What do Northern Irish Republicans want?

5. What do Northern Irish Unionists want?

NORTHERN IRELAND

In 1922 the south of Ireland was made independent from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and became the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland remains joined politically to Britain, and the United Kingdom was born. While this was a popular decision with most Irish Protestants, it was unpopular with most of the Catholic population who wished Ireland to remain a united country. Conflict between these two groups came to crisis point in the 1970s with the terrorist activities of the IRA and the arrival of British soldiers. Even today, the Northern Irish population remains divided between unionists (or Loyalists), who want to remain a part of the United Kingdom, and Republicans, who oppose it.

Task 5.

Read the article. Match the beginnings and the endings of the sentences.

1) Welsh and Scottish sportspeople get annoyed when

2. If England and Scotland play a rugby match,

3. People enjoy St. Andrew’s Day and St. David’s Day now, but

4. Some buildings in England used to display the Union Jack, but now

1. they display their own symbols and flags, not British ones.

2. They show the English flag.

3. They aren’t referred to as “Scottish” or “Welsh”.

4. They didn’t use to celebrate them much.

WHO ARE THE BRITISH?

The UK is a confused nation when it comes to national identity, especially in relation to major sporting events. Commentators proudly refer to the country’s internationally successful sportspeople as “English” if they come specifically from England. Welsh and Scottish athletes, however, are usually given the general label “British” without any recognition of their individual homelands. But it’s when the countries compete individually, especially against each other, that the idea of a “united kingdom” becomes completely lost. At football and rugby matches there has been a strong revival of the individual flags, songs and symbols of England, Scotland and Wales – and there often isn’t a Union Jack* to be seen.

Away from the sports pitch*, the national saints’ days of St. David in Wales and St. Andrew in Scotland are starting to be marked with large celebrations in the same way that St. Patrick’s Day has always been celebrated in Ireland. And the flag of St. George can be seen in England on public buildings and churches where the union Jack used to be. With Scotland and Wales now having their own parliaments, there is even extreme talk of an “English Independence Movement”, and some people are wondering if the United Kingdom will last into the next century.

WORDBANK

Daffodil – yellow spring flower (narcissus)

Leek – winter vegetable from the onion family

Pitch – sports field

Tartan – checked, coloured pattern used on textiles

Thistle – plant with sharp leaves and a purple flower

Union Jack – the red, white and blue flag of the United Kinghdom