The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom. Geographical Position.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Great Britain and Ireland are the largest and there are about five thousands of small islands. The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, though very often the country is referred to as the United Kingdom, the U.K., Great Britain or even England.

The North Sea, the Strait-of-Dover and the English Channel separate Great Britain from the continent.

The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The North of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands, while the South, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. There are numerous lakes in Scotland and they are called Lochs.

The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest, east, centre and south-east is a vast plain. South English plain is the richest, the most fertile and most populated in the country. In the south-east one can see the most beautiful scenery in England and the largest fruit-producing county Kent which is often called “The Garden of England”.

The mountains in Great Britain are not very high. There are many rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river (388 km), while the Thames (354 km), which flows through rich agricultural districts into the North Sea, is the busiest and the most important river in England.

The swiftest flowing river in the British Isles is the Spey.

There are many lakes in Great Britain. The Lake District in Northern England with its lakes, mountains and valleys is a favourite resort.

The climate of Great Britain is mild. The Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the weather of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year long.

The territory of the United Kingdom is about 244,000 square kilometres, it is the 75^th place among other countries in the world. The population is over 58 million people. About 80 per cent of the population is urban. The capital of the country is London.

The largest cities of Great Britain are: London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh. The most important ports are: London, Liverpool, Southampton, Belfast, Glasgo, Cardiff.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy with a Parliament and the Queen as Head of state.

The uk Economy.

Vocabulary

account for – составлять

barley - ячмень

barrel – баррель

beef cattle - крупный рогатый скот

circulation – распространение

clay - глина

cotton - хлопковый

crane - (грузо)подъемный кран

crop - c/x культура

dairy cattle - молочный скот

deposit - залежь, месторожде­ние

drilling machine - сверлильный станок

earth mover - бульдозер

expenditure - расход

fabric - ткань

farming - сельское хозяйство

fibre – волокно

fibre-optic - волоконно-оптический

flat - ровный, плоский

fuel - топливо

furniture - мебель

glassware - стекольные изде­лия

gravel – гравий

grazing – пастбище

gypsum – гипс

harvester - уборочная машина

heavy machinery - машинное оборудование

highlands - горная местность

hog - свинья

hop - хмель

household appliances - бытовые приборы

item – предмет

knitwear - вязаные вещи, три­котажные изделия

lace - кружево

leather goods - кожаные изделия

limestone – известняк

linen – льняной

livestock - домашний скот

lorry - грузовой автомобиль

machine tool - станок

manufactured goods - промышленные товары

mining - горная промышленность

motor vehicle - автомобиль

newsprint - газетная бумага

orchard - сад

petroleum - нефть

pharmaceuticals - фармацевтические товары

pineapple – ананас

pottery - гончарные изделия

printing and publishing - печатное и издательское дело

processed foods - бакалейные товары

raise - выращивать

rank - занимать какое-л. место

road grader - дорожный грейдер

sandstone – песчаник

sophisticated - сложный

sugar beet - сахарная свекла

textiles - текстильные изделия

total – насчитывать

truck - грузовой автомобиль

well - скважина

wheat - пшеница