Unit 4 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Topical Vocabulary

1. to be situated – быть расположенным;

2. to separate – отделять (ся);

3. to rank – занимать какое-либо место;

4. to remain – оставаться;

5. densely-populated – густо населенный;

6. relatively – относительно;

7. to establish – установить;

8. to provide – обеспечивать, снабжать;

9. the European Community – Европейский Союз;

10. to maintain – поддерживать;

11. the Commonwealth – Содружество;

12. engaged – занятый, заинтересованный;

13. influence – влияние;

14. forecast – прогноз;

15. rainfall – осадки;

16. average – средний;

17. whirlwind – вихрь, ураган;

18. drought – засуха;

19. to blossom – цвести;

20. fireplace – камин;

21. central heating – центральное отопление;

22. elm – вяз;

23. ash – ясень;

24. beech – бук;

25. moor – торфянистая местность;

26. heather – вереск;

27. mammal – млекопитающее;

28. extinction – вымирание (рода);

29. otter – выдра;

30. threat – угроза;

31. seal – тюлень;

32. pollution – загрязнение.

Ex. 1. Read the text.

Text A

Great Britain is a small, highly developed country with a population over 60 million. It includes three countries: England, Wales, Scotland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was formed in 1921.

The country is situated on the British Isles which lie to the West of the continent of Europe. The area totals some 242, 500 sq. km. Britain, is just under 1,000 km long from the south coast of England to the extreme north of Scotland, and just under 500 km across in the widest part. Great Britain is separated from Europe by the North Sea and the English Channel in 1993 the new Tunnel underneath the English Channel was opened between Dover (England) and Calais (France). The length of the Tunnel is 30 miles.

With some 57 million people, Britain ranks sixteenth in the world in term of population. The population has remained relatively stable over the last decade. Britain is a relatively densely populated country. England has the highest population density of the four lands and Scotland the lowest.

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy headed by the Queen Elizabeth II. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. But it is the Prime Minister and the Houses of Parliament that actually rule the country.

Britain's democratic system of government is long established and has provided considerable political stability. Britain is one of the member states of the European Community. Close links are maintained with many other countries, notably within the Commonwealth, which links 50 independent nations.

Britain became me world's first industrialised country in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Wealth was based on the manufacture of iron and steel, heavy machinery and textiles, shipbuilding and trade.

A very broad range of cultural activities exist in Britain. Many Britons en­gaged in the arts and media enjoy international reputations. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is one of the three public bodies responsible for television and radio. BBC World Service broadcasts by radio world-wide in English and 37 other languages.