Climate

Due to the moderating influence of the sea and the Gulf Stream, Great Britain has an insular climate rather humid, cool, temperate and mild, without striking differences between seasons. This humid and mild climate is good for plants. The trees and flowers begin to blossom early in spring.

The southwest winds carry the warmth and moisture into Britain.

The British climate has 3 main features: it is mild, humid and changeable. It is never too hot or too cold.

The weather is so changeable that the English often say that they have no climate but only weather.

Rainfall is more or less even throughout the year. The driest period is from March to June and the wettest months are from October to January. The average range of temperature (from winter to summer) is from 15-23 degrees above zero. Winter temperatures below 10 degrees are rare. Winters are extremely mild. There may be snow but it melts quickly. January and February are usually the coldest months, July and August the warmest. Still the wind may bring winter cold in spring or summer days. Sometimes it brings the whirlwinds or hurricanes. Droughts are rare.

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?

9. 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?

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.

4. England has the highest mountains in the world.

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

Fill in the gaps with the words and word combinations from the text:

1. The UK is the world’s … countries.

2. Highland Britain consists of …

3. The Pennine Chain … … from the Cheviot Hills into the …, a … region with low … and ….

4. On either side of the … the plains of … and …stretch to the sea.

5. Its … include the Avon, made famous by Shakespeare; the Thames, the … one, which flows … to the port of London, … rich … district into the North Sea.

6. This … and … climate is good for plants.

7. … is more or less … throughout the year.

Give English equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

Займати територію, складатися з…., бути вдвічі меншим, бути відділеним від…, на 40 км південніше від…, найзагруженіша й найважливіша річка, м’який (помірний) вплив, різка відмінність, чітка розбіжність, мінлива погода, середній рівень температури, гірський район, межувати з…

Complete the following sentences:

1. Great Britain occupies the territory of …

2. In addition to these two islands, Great Britain includes…

3. The larger island, called…

4. In the northwest and west the country is surrounded by…

5. Ireland is separated from Great Britain by…

6. Geographically, the island of Great Britain is subdivided into…

7. England is separated from Scotland by…

8. Droughts …