ХЕЕЕЛП МНОГО 27
1. Answer the questions.
1. How many parts does the UK have? Name them.
2. How many people do live in the UK?
3. What do you know about the capital of Britain?
4. Who is at the head of the state?
5. Who rules the country in fact?
6. What do you know about Buckingham Palace?
7. What is Liverpool famous for?
8. What is Stratford - upon - Avon famous for?
9. How do people like to travel in Cambridge and in Oxford?
10. How is correct to call the English, the Welsh and the Scottish?
11. What is the climate like in Britain? Why?
12. Is this climate pleasant for you? Why?
13. Would you like to live in Britain? In what city? Why (not)?
14. What is the flag of Britain like?
15. What is the currency of the country?
Text: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Соединенное королевство Великобритании и
Северной Ирландии.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland means: England, Scotland, Wales and Northen Ireland.
The population of Britain is over 58 million. 7 million people live in London, the capital city. It stands on the river Thames.
London was founded by Romans in 55 ВС (Before Christ - до нашей эры). They founded here a settlement and a fortress.
At first it had the name Londonium. Due to its convenient position in the mouth of the river Thames the settlement grew and
developed into the city. In the 11 th century London became the capital of England.
The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street near the Houses of Parliament. The P.M. is the leader of the party
that has a majority during the elections and this party becomes the Government. The second largest party is the Opposition.
The head of the State is the Queen. The Queen's head is on banknotes, stamps (марки) and coins (монеты). In
London she lives here in Buckingham Palace, a very popular place for tourists. When the Queen is at home the flag is above
the palace.
In practice, the Queen acts on the advice of her Ministers. She reigns but doesn't rule. It is more a tradition and
tribute (дань) to the past. In fact the elected government rules the country with the Prime Minister at the head.
Stratford - upon - Avon is a famous city in Great Britain. It is the birth place of William Shakespeare. The great
English writer was born in Stratford in 1564. The town is small and beautiful, stands on the river Avon. A lot of tourists visit
his house which is a museum now. Liverpool is a very important port and the home of the Beatles. It was one of the most
popular groups of the 1960s . They had hit after hit because their voices were beautiful. The words of the songs are simple:
about love and strong feelings. They were polite, wore (wear) suits and smiled all the time. Unfortunately (к сожалению) by
1970 drugs and money problems brought the group's career to the end (разрушили карьеру группы).
Cambridge and Oxford are famous for their universities, and famous for their bicycles. In both cities a lot of
people travel around by bike.
Towns and cities are important but countryside (сельская местность) is important too. Over 75 % of the land in
Britain is farmland. But not many people are farmers. In fact only 2% of the working population.
Britain also has 10 National Parks. They cover 9% of the land. All these parks have wonderful
countryside. Northern Ireland is situated on the island of Ireland. Great Britain and Northern Ireland form the United
Kingdom (UK) is the official name of the country.
It is incorrect to call everybody who lives in the UK "English". This is the name only for those who live in England.
The people of Wales are called Welsh, the people of Scotland are called Scottish. The correct common name for English,
Scottish and Welsh is British, people in Northern Ireland are called Irish.
The climate is damp (сырой) but mild (мягкий): winter is not very cold, summer is not very hot. It is due to the
warm current of Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. It often rains in Britain. Rain falls all the year round. Snow usually falls
only in the North and West of the country. The British often say: "Other countries have a climate, we have the weather."
They like to talk about the weather. It changes very often, you see.
The flag of the UK has three crosses: the red upright cross (вертикальный крест) is the cross of St. George, the
patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross (диагональный крест) is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of
Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
The currency (валюта) of the country is the pound (фунт стерлингов) which consists of a hundred pence (пенс -
монета.)
Sheep farming (овцеводство) is an important part of the local economy.
1. The UK have 4 parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northen Ireland.
2. 58 million people live in the UK.
3. London is the capital city. It stands on the river Thames.
London was founded by Romans in 55 ВС.
4. The head of the State is the Queen.
5. In fact the elected government rules the country with the Prime Minister at the head.
6. Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarchy of the United Kingdom.
7. Liverpool is a very important port and the home of the Beatles.
8. It is the birth place of William Shakespeare. The great English writer was born in Stratford in 1564.
9. In both cities Cambridge and in Oxford a lot of people travel around by bike.
10. The correct common name for English, Scottish and Welsh is British.
11. The climate is damp but mild: winter is not very cold, summer is not very hot. It is due to the warm current of Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. It often rains in Britain.
12. No, this climate isn't for me. I like very hot and sunny weather.
13. I would like to live in Britain. My favourite city is London because its a heart of Britain and it has a lot of historic places and sightseeings.
14. The flag of the UK has three crosses: the red upright cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
15. The currency of the country is the pound which consists of a hundred pence.