The Sovereign

Functions of the Sovereign:

• opening and closing Parliament;

• approving the appointment of the Prime Minister;

• giving her Royal assent to bills;

• giving honours such as peerages, knighthoods and medals;

• Head of the Commonwealth;

• Head of the Church of England;

• Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Ten things the Queen could do by using the royal prerogative:

1. Dismiss the Government.

2. Declare war.

3. Disband the army.

4. Sell all the ships in the Navy.

5. Dismiss the Civil Service.

6. Give territory away to a foreign power.

7. Make everyone a peer.

8. Declare a State of Emergency.

9. Pardon all offenders.

10. Create universities in every parish in the United Kingdom.

The Queen’s particular likes.

1. Horse racing („Were it not for my Archbishop of Canterbury, I should be off in my plane to Longchamps every Sunday”).

2. Scottish country dancing.

3. Jigsaw puzzles.

4. Long-stemmed, deep-pink carnations.

5. Champagne.

6. Deerstalking.

7. Quiet evenings at home watching TV with her supper on a tray.

8. Crossword puzzles.

9. The Beatles film „Yellow Submarine”.

10. Sandringham.

Dislikes of the Queen.

1. Ivy.

2. Tennis, including Wimbledon.

3. Milk pudding.

4. Grouse.

5. Any talk of Edward the 8^th.

6. Charles Dickens.

7. Dictating letters.

8. Cigar smoke.

9. Sailing.

10. Listening to after-dinner speeches.

1. Comprehension check. Find these in the lists above.

1. The name of a famous French horse-racing track.

2. The name of the Queen’s country house in Norfolk.

3. The name of her favourite flower.

4. The title of the head of the Church of England.

5. The name of the sport of hunting deer.

6. A green plant which grows on the outside walls of houses.

7. A bird which is shot and eaten.

8. The name of the Queen’s uncle, who gave up the throne to marry a divorced American woman.

9. The name of a famous nineteenth-century British writer.

10. The name of a famous English music-group, known all over the world.

Text 8

WALES

The population of Wales is over 3 million people. About 75 percent of the people of Wales live in towns and urban districts. The Welsh people are fond of folk music, singing, poetry and drama. Welsh literature is one of the oldest in Europe. There are many choirs in Wales, the standard of singing is high and the love of good music is widespread.

An Eisteddfod

Every year, in August, there is a national Eisteddfod in Wales. What is Eisteddfod? It is a meeting of Welshmen interested in Welsh poetry, Welsh songs and music. One year it is in a town in North Wales, the next year it is in a town in South Wales. It lasts for a week. People come to an Eisteddfod every day. Some want to listen to the poems; some want to listen to the singing; and some want just to meet their friends and talk in Welsh. The Welsh people from many countries come back to Wales for the National Eisteddfod. You won’t hear much English at an Eisteddfod. There are competitions here for the best Welsh poem and song of the year. The competitions are organized by the Druids. The Druids wear long clothes; their leader is always a poet. Welsh traditions are very old, and the Welsh people are very proud of them.

Eisteddfod – Айстедвод – змагання валійських співаків, музикантів, поетів.

Druid – друїд – розпорядник на Айстедводі.