II. Answer the following questions. Give extensive answers.

1. What is the complete official royal title of the Queen Elizabeth II?

2. Why is the Queen’s constitutional role mainly symbolic?

3. What is the relationship between the Queen and Parliament in Britain?

4. What is the most important function of the Queen?

5. When was an association of former members of the British Empire and Britain formed?

6. What does the Commonwealth mean?

7. What countries does the Commonwealth include?

8. Who pays for the Queen’s expenses?

9. When did Elizabeth II come to the throne?

III. Read the sentences and say if they are true or false. Correct the false ones.

1. The British Parliament is an important symbol of national unity.

2. True power lies in the hands of the Queen.

3. The Queen’s constitutional role is mainly symbolic.

4. The most important function of the Queen is to pass laws.

5. Some bills become British law without the monarch’s signature.

6. The Queen’s image appears on stamps, notes and the flag.

7. When foreign monarchs or Heads of State visit Britain the Queen gives a state banquet, usually in her home Buckingham Palace.

8. An association of former members of the British Empire and Britain was founded in 1950.

9. The Queen of Great Britain is Head of the Commonwealth.

10. The Prime Minister pays for the Queen’s expenses as Head of State.

IV. Talking point.

Give your reasons for and against.

The British Monarchy today is perceived by people in the country and beyond with mixed feelings. Some British consider there are many arguments against the monarchy: it is anachronistic, non-democratic, too expensive and too closely associated with aristocratic privilege and establishment thinking. It is also suggested that, if the monarch’s functions today are merely ceremonial and lack power, the office should be abolished and replaced by a cheaper figurehead presidency.

Others give arguments in favour of the monarchy. They look to the Queen as the symbol of tradition and unity. It is argued that it serves as a unifying force in both the Constitution and the nation, possessing political neutrality; and performs an important ambassadorial role in Britain and overseas. The monarchy is also attractive to many people. They think that the Royal Family is good for tourism.

Unit III. Political parties

Reading_________________________________________________________

Read the text and say what main parties there are in Britain.

Political parties

Political parties first emerged at the end of the 17th century. The Conservative and Liberal parties are the oldest and until the end of the 19th century they were the only parties elected to the House of Commons. The main British political groupings are the Conservative and Labour Parties and the party of Liberal Democrats. The Conservative Party is the present ruling party, the Labour Party - the opposition to the Conservative. The Social Democratic Party was formed in 1981 and made an alliance with the Liberal Party in 1988.

Because of the electoral method in use, only two major parties obtain seats in the House of Commons.

The Conservative Party is often called the Tory Party. The word "tory" means an Irish highwayman. The Tories opposed the ideas of French Revolution and the development of Trade Unionism. The Conservative Party is right-wing, tending to be opposed to great and sudden changes in the established order of society. It is against state control of industry.

Today the Tory Party is that of big business, industry, commerce and landowners. Most money needed to run the party comes from large firms and companies. The party represents those who believe in private enterprise. The Tories are a mixture of the rich and privileged - the monopolists and is often called a party of business directors.

The Tories called the Liberals "whigs". A "whig" was a Scottish preacher who could go on for 4 or 5 hours at a time preaching moralising sermons. In the middle of the 19th century the Liberal Party represented the trading and manufacturing classes. At the end of the 19th century the Liberal Party lost the support of working-class voters and in 1988 made an alliance with Social Democrats and the party or Liberal Democrats was formed.

The Labour party was formed in 1900 by the Trade Unions. The Labour Party, sometimes called the Socialists, has a close association with the Trade Unions, although it is now not as left-wing as it used to be. It has many supporters, especially among working-class and middle-class people.

Comprehension___________________________________________________