1. Read and translate the text with the help of your own vocabulary which you are to write just the way it is done in practical modules, ex. 1. The British Isles

The British Isleslie off the western shores of Europe and come nearest to the Continent where the white cliffs of Dover face the cliffs of north-east France. The Strait of Dover is so narrow that a tunnel was made to connect the railways of the two countries.

North and west of Dover the British coasts are farther away from the Continent, they are separated from it by the North Sea and the English Channel.

Great Britain is the largest island which includes England, Scotland and Wales. It is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea.

Great Britain owes much to the seas. In the first place, the seas have acted as a guard and have often kept the island free from wars. In the second place, the seas have given Great Britain a great advantage through the tides. Far out in the Atlantic the tides are scarcely noticed, but in the shallow British seas the difference between high tide and low tide is often very considerable especially in funnel-shaped estuaries like those of the Severn and Humber. Thus in -coming deep water twice in every twenty-four hours up the lower channels and estuaries of the rivers has made it possible for large ports to be built many miles from the open sea. Besides the shallow waters around the British Isles arc the home of many fish.

England has an area of 50,874 square miles. Its coast line is very irregular. There are many good harbours. No part of the country is more than 70 miles from the sea.

In general, England slopes from west to east. The main mountain system – the Pennine Chain – runs from the Scottish border to the Midlands, a region of hills and fertile valleys.

The rivers flow east into the North Sea (the Tweed, the Tyne, the Thames and a group of streams which join to make the wide Humber) and west into the Irish Sea or the British Channel (the Mersey, the Avon and the longest river in England – the Severn).

England has no large lakes. But the Lake District in the north-western part of the country is known for its beauty. There are sixteen lakes there.

England has a mild climate. This is due to the winds which blow from the south-west, from the ocean and the Gulf Stream which warms its shores. Rainfall is plentiful during the whole year. The heavy fogs of England are famous.

The most important natural resources of England are iron and coal.

Most of the people work in the great industries of the large cities. The most important industrial products are wool and cotton goods, machinery, iron and steel goods. Coal, iron, copper, zinc, lead and building stone are the principal materials taken out of the ground.

The principal crops are wheat, barley, oats, corn, rye, vegetables, sugar beets and fruits. England imports about 40 per cent of its food supply.

2. Comprehension exercises

1. Find in the text the terms which describe the following;

1. a dense, cloud-like mass of water droplets suspended in the lowest layers of the atmosphere that reduces visibility to less than 1 km; 2. the cyclic and daily changes in the elevation of the ocean surface caused by the gravitational attraction exerted by the sun and moon; 3. the amount of precipitation recorded in an area during a defined period, and measured in a standard rain gauge; 4. the average weather conditions experienced at a particular place over a long period (usually more than 70 years).