I. The United Kingdom

1. What does the abbreviation “UK” mean?

2. What is the geographical name of the country?

3. Where is the UK situated?

4. What is Great Britain?

5. What are the main countries of the UK?

6. What are their capitals?

7. What other languages do the people of the UK speak?

8. What do we call the flag of the UK?

9. What rivers, mountains and lakes in the UK can you name?

10. What can you say about the climate of the UK?

11. Why is the weather the favourite topic of conversation in the UK?

12. What natural resources is Great Britain rich in?

13. What are the largest cities in the UK?

14. What are the most important industries of the UK?

15. How was the UK formed? What dates are considered to be the most important in the history of the country?

16. What type of state is the UK?

17. Who is its head?

18. What are the powers of the Queen?

19. Who appoints all the Ministers?

20. What is the role of the British Parliament?

21. What chambers does British Parliament consist of?

22. Which of them is elected?

23. Who becomes Prime Minister?

24. What are the main political parties in the UK?

II. London

1. When and by whom was London founded?

2. Did any people live on the banks of the Themes when J. Caesar came there?

3. When did London become the capital of England?

4. What happened to London in 1666?

5. Why do we say that London does not have just one center?

6. Which of the two cities: London or St. Petersburg is older? How old is each of them?

7. What is the historical center of London?

8. What is the coronation place of the kings and queens in England?

9. What is the business center of London?

10. Why is the City very busy in the daytime? Why is it quiet in the evening?

11. What are the Downing Street, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, the Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus famous for? Where are they located?

12. Where is the center of the country’s judicial system found?

13. How many people live in it?

14. How many historical parts does London consist of? What are their names?

15. What part of London is called “the heart of London”? Why?

16. What is the name of “West End” associated with? What areas does the West End include?

17. In what part of London is the Port of London situated?

18. How did the East End start?

19. Where does the English Parliament seat?

20. What do you know about Westminster Abbey? Where is it located?

21. Where can you see Big Ben?

22. What can you see in Trafalgar Square?

23. What streets of London do you know?

24. What art galleries do you know?

25. What places of interest in London do you know?

26. Have you ever been to London?

Contents

UNIT 1. THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Lesson One The U. K…………………………………………………….. The English………………………………………………………………… Wales and the Welsh………………………………………………………. Scotland and the Scots…………………………………………………….. Ireland and the Irish………………………………………………………..	1 3 4 5 6
Lesson Two The Parliamentary System
The Political System………………………………………………………..	9
The House of Commons and the Electoral System………………………...	9
The House of Lords………………………………………………………...	10
Political parties of Great Britain……………………………………………	11
The British Monarchy………………………………………………………	12
The British Constitution……………………………………………………	14
Prince of Wales……………………………………………………………..	16
UNIT 2. LONDON
Introductory text London Overview………………………………………	16
Lesson One The Greatest City in the World………………………………..	18
Lesson Two The Tourist London………………………………………….	21
Lesson Three Questions for Revision……………………………………...	27
Contents…………………………………………………………………….	29

29