Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands: Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244, 000 square kilometers.

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh Cardiff and Belfast respectively. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland. But in everyday speech Great Britain is used to mean the United Kingdom. The capital of the UK is London.

The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

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. The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest-east, center and south-east is - a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343 m).

There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round.

The UK is one of the world's smallest countries. Its population is over 57 million. About 80% of the population is urban.

The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen. In practice, the Queen reigns, but doesn't rule. The elected government rules the country with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. The Conservative party is the ruling party nowadays.

Answer the questions:

1. The UK is an island state, isn't it? Where is it situated?

2. What countries is the UK made of? What are their capitals?

3. What channel separates the British Isles from the European continent?

4. The surface of the British Isles varies very much, doesn't it?

5. What is the north of Scotland called? What is the south of Scotland called?

6. What's the highest mountain in Scotland?

7. Are there a lot of long and deep rivers in Great Britain?

8. Why is the climate of the British Isles mild?

9. Is the UK a large country?

10. What's the UK's population?

Vocabulary:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain Соединенное Королевство Великобритании

and Northern Ireland и Северной Ирландии

the British Isles Британские острова

to be situated быть расположенным

to consist of состоять из

total area общая площадь

respectively соответственно

to include включать

at the head во главе

parliament парламент

chamber палата

to separate разделять

to wash омывать

surface поверхность

to vary менять(ся), разнообразить

mountainous гористый

valley долина

vast огромный

plain равнина

deep глубокий

to influence влиять

climate климат

mild мягкий, умеренный

the whole year round круглый год

population население

urban городской

highly developed высокоразвитый

textile текстиль

aircraft самолеты

navigation судоходство

equipment оборудование

chief главный, основной

shipbuilding кораблестроение

constitutional monarchy конституционная монархия

law закон

in law по закону

the head of the state глава государства

queen королева

in practice фактически, на практике

to reign царствовать

to rule править

to elect выбирать

government правительство

Prime Minister премьер-министр

Act out the dialogue:

- What kind of country is Great Britain?

- Great Britain is a capitalist country.

- What chambers does the British Parliament consist of?

- It consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

- Whom do the chambers consists of?

- The House of Lords has 850 members, composed of the lords. The House of Commons consists of 630 members, who are elected by ballot.

- What political parties are there in Great Britain?

- At present there are the following political parties in Great Britain: the Conservatives, the Labour Party, the Liberals and the Communist Party.

- Which party is in power now?

- At present the Labour is in power.

- Whose interest does the Labour Party serve?

- In reality the Labour party serves the interests of the English bourgeoisie. The only party that serves the interests of the English working people is the Communist Party headed by John Hollan.

Translate into English:

1. Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии расположено на Британских островах, состоящих из двух больших и тысяч малых островов.

2. Население Великобритании в основном городское и составляет более 57 миллионов человек.

3. Соединенное Королевство состоит из четырех частей, в Великобританию входят Англия, Шотландия и Уэльс.

4. Британские острова омываются Атлантическим океаном, Ирландским морем, Северным морем и проливами Ла-Манш и Па-де-Кале.

5. Британские острова состоят из гористой части и низин.

6. Реки в Великобритании не очень длинные.

7. На климат Великобритании оказывает влияние Гольфстрим.

8. Великобритания производит и экспортирует станки, электронику, текстиль, суда.

9. Великобритания - конституционная монархия.