Economy of Great Britain

Great Britain was the country in which the earliest developments of modem industry took place. It is a highly developed industrial country. It is a great producer of iron and steel, electronics and machinery, chemicals and textiles. The UK is not very rich in mineral resources. It imports all of its oil, cotton, rubber and sulphur, four-fifths of its wool and half of its food staffs and iron ore. It exports machinery, motor-cars, aircrafts, locomotives, chemicals, woolen and synthetic textiles, radio, TV and navigation equipment.

Great Britain has a lot of industrial cities. London, the capital of the UK, GB and England, is one of many important industrial centers. Lots of things such as clothes, food, planes and cars are made in, and around London.

Birmingham is the biggest town in an important industrial area near the center of England. Machines, cars and lorries are made in this area. TV sets and radios are also produced there.

Manchester in the north-west of England is the center of the cotton textile industry, one of Britain's most important producers of computers and electronic equipment. Coal-mining is important in South Wales. A smaller industrial area is situated in North Wales, where steel and chemicals are produced.

Ship-building is an important industry in the UK. The main ship-building centres are London, Glasgow in Scotland, Belfast in Northern Ireland and some others.

Sheep can be seen in many parts of England and Scotland, and there are a lot of cattle-farms and farms where milk, butter and cheese are produced. But only half of the country food needs is produced by British agriculture.

Wheat is grown in the east of England. Vegetables are grown in all parts of England, especially in the south.

4. Wliat new facts about the geography of Great Britain have you learnt from the text?

5. Answer the following questions.

1. Where is the UK situated?

2. What two islands does the UK consist of?

3. What seas, oceans, straits and channels is the UK surrounded by?

4. What is the busiest river in the UK?

5. The Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, isn't it?

6. Where is the Lake District situated?

7. What two main regions is Great Britain subdivided into?

8. What is the highest mountain in Great Britain?

У. What is the most characteristic feature of the weather in Britain?

10. is the UK one of the most densely populated countries in the world? What is the density of the population in the UK?

11. What big sea ports are there in the UK?

6. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. Great Britain has a very favourable geographical location. ) ; ■

2. The UK consists of 3 countries. >

3. The UK is separated from the continent by the Irish Sea. У

4. England has the highest mountains in the world.

5. The climate of the UK has rather striking differences between seasons. ⁴

6. The population in the UK mostly lives in Scotland. V"

7. Cambridge and Oxford are famous for their highly developed shipbuilding industry.

8. GB is a great producer of textile. V