Great britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. It consists of 4 parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England, Wales and Scotland occupy the territory of the largest island called Great Britain. Northern Ireland is situated in the northern part of Ireland.

The territory of the United Kingdom is about 244,000 square kilometers; it is the 75^th place among other countries in the world. The population is over 56,5 million. About 80% of the population is urban. The capital of the country is London.

The surface of Great Britain varies greatly. The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands. All the rest (south, east and center) is a vast plain, which is called the Lowlands. The mountains are not very high. The rivers are not long. The most important of them are the Severn and the Thames. There are many beautiful lakes in the mountainous parts of the country.

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

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of iron and steel products, machinery and electronics, chemicals and textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.

Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The most famous educational centers are Oxford and Cambridge universities. They are considered to be the intellectual centers of Europe. Education is not free, it is very expensive.

The United Kingdom is a monarchy and the Queen is the head of the state. But in practice, it is ruled by the elected government with a Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

There are 3 main political parties in Great Britain: Labor, the Conservative and the Liberal parties.

Active Vocabulary

to be situated - располагаться	to vary - отличаться
to be ruled by – управляться	to influence - влиять
to be washed by - омываться	to consist (of) – состоять (из)
to be called – называться	to occupy – занимать
to be known – быть известным	electronics – электроника
isle (island) – остров	chemicals – химикаты
territory – территория	textile – текстиль
population – население	aircraft – авиация
country, land – земля, страна	capital – столица
navigation – судоходство	surface - поверхность
equipment – оборудование	plain – равнина
industry – промышленность	shipbuilding – кораблестроение
mountains – горы	tradition – традиция
machinery – машинное оборудование	custom - обычай
lake – озеро	queen - королева
producer – производитель	parliament- парламент
exporter – экспортер	Prime Minister – премьер-министр
product – товар	monarchy – монархия
iron – железо	government - правительство
steel – сталь	chamber – палата
the head of the state- глава государства	party – партия
northern – северный	mountainous- горный
southern – южный	urban – городской
western – западный	vast- огромный
eastern – восточный	highly developed – высокоразвитый
elected – избираемый	labour – лейбористская
conservative - консервативный	liberal - либеральный

Geographical Names:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – Объединенное королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии

England – Англия

Scotland – Шотландия

Wales – Уэльс

Northern Ireland – Северная Ирландия

Europe – Европа

1. Find the Russian equivalents to the following English words and phrases.

To occupy the territory, to vary greatly, to be called, urban, highly developed country, to be known as, chief industries, educational centers, to consist of, world’s largest producers and exporters, to be situated on, the population, the head of the state.

Называться, основные отрасли промышленности, располагать на, высокоразвитая страна, крупнейшие мировые производители и экспортеры, быть известным как, население, сильно различаться, городской, образовательные центры, глава государства, занимать территорию, состоять из.

2. Read the text and find:

a) the endings of the sentences

1. England, Wales and Scotland occupy …

2. The territory of the United Kingdom is …

3. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and …

4. It is known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of …

5. The most famous educational centers are …

b) the beginnings of the sentences

1. … is situated on the British Isles.

2. … is mountainous and is called the Highlands.

3. … are the Severn and the Thames.

4. … of the country is shipbuilding.

5. … and the Queen is the head of the state.

3. Match

a) the pairs of antonyms.:

mountains southern eastern Highlands urban conservative

Lowlands rural plane northern western liberal

b) ) the pairs of the synonyms:

vast isle land chief

main country great island