5. Using the map below play the role of a guide around London. Choose one of the places of interest and speak about it.
Scotland
In area, Scotland is more than half as big as England. Its population is however, only one eighth as great as that of England and is a little over 5 million people. Scotland was an independent kingdom, often at war with England, until 1603 when King James VI of Scotland became King of England. In 1707 the Act of Union was passed under which Scotland and England became a united part, but the Scots kept their own legal system, religion and administrative systems and still keep them now.
The Gaelic language is still rather used than English among the people of the remote Highland districts. The English language is spoken all over Scotland with a variety of regional accents. There are many words and phrases which are peculiar to Scottish use thus maintaining national distinctness.
Scotland is a northern land consisting of the Highlands - a northern area with a harsh climate, and the Lowlands - an industrial region with about three quarters of population.
The capital of Scotland is at Edinburgh, the chief centre of commerce and industry is Glasgow, on the Clyde. Scotland's most important industries are shipbuilding, iron and steel, heavy and light engineering and coal-mining.
Scotland has no Parliament of its own, but has a number of seats in the United Kingdom House of Commons.
Vocabulary
the Scots [skots] шотландцы
the Gaelic language [geilik 'læŋgwiʤ] гэльский язык
Scottish ['skɒtiʃ] шотландский
the Clyde [klaid] река Клайд
legal system система судов
religion религия
administrative system система управления
regional accent местный акцент, особенности произношения
to be peculiar to быть присущим
to maintain national distinctness сохранять национальное своеобразие
Complete the following sentences:
The total area of Scotland is …
Its population is …
The Scots kept their own …
The official languages of Scotland are …
The capital of Scotland is …
Scotland has no …
A Thistle Emblem
The thistle has nothing pleasant in it, especially if you carelessly touch its thorns. But it has an important meaning for the people of Scotland. It is the Scottish national emblem.
The people of that country chose the thistle as their national emblem because it saved their land from foreign invaders many years ago.
People say that during a surprise night attack by the invaders the Scottish soldiers were awakened by the shouts of the invaders as their bare feet touched the thorns of the thistles in the field they were crossing.
This, of course, was a good reason to choose the thistle as a national emblem!
Vocabulary
thistle [' θisl] - чертополох
surprise attack - внезапная атака, нападени
1. What is wrong?
The thistle is pleasant to touch.
Plants cannot be a national emblem.
Great Britain is part of Scotland.
2. Find the answers to the questions.
1. What is the national emblem of Scotland?
2. Why does the thistle have nothing pleasant in it?
3. Why did the Scottish people choose the thistle for the national emblem? Did they have a good reason?