- •Britain Overview. National Symbols.
- •Exercises
- •Государственный флаг Британии.
- •Monarchy
- •Vocabulary
- •Opposition
- •Vocabulary
- •British Parliament. Legislative Power
- •The House of Commons
- •Vocabulary
- •The Chamber of the House of Lords
- •The House of Lords
- •Vocabulary
- •Political Parties
- •Exercises
- •Британский парламент
- •Exercises
- •Words and expressions to be used:
- •Appendix Listening Text 1
- •Listening Text 2
- •Listening Text 3
- •Listening Text 4
- •References:
Британский парламент
Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии является унитарным, т.е. единым государством. Все четыре образующие его части – Англия, Шотландия, Уэльс и Северная Ирландия – представлены в едином парламенте, высшем законодательном органе страны, заседающем в Вестминстерском дворце, который расположен в самом центре Лондона.
Главные функции парламента – законодательство, контроль над действиями правительства, санкционирование налогов и государственных расходов. Рассматриваемые в парламенте законопроекты называются биллями. Почти все они вносятся министрами от имени правительства. После принятия билля обеими палатами парламента, палатой лордов и палатой общин, законопроект утверждается личной подписью монарха и становится «актом парламента», т.е. законом Соединенного Королевства. Следует отметить, что с 1707 года не было случая, когда кто-либо из британских монархов отказался поставить свой автограф на таком документе.
Words and expressions to be used:
unitary |
['jHnIt(q)rI] |
унитарный |
sanction |
['sxNkS(q)n] |
санкционирование |
tax |
[txks] |
налог |
on behalf of |
[bI'hRf] |
от имени |
to ratify |
['rxtIfaI] |
утверждать |
Supplementary Material
Listening comprehension exercises
Text 1
“A Warning to Beginners”
Here are some facts about life in Europe. Listen to the text and find out if the English do the same things or not.
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On Sundays the poorest person puts on his best suit and the life of the country becomes happy, bright and colourful.
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In Europe people don’t often talk about the weather.
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Sunday papers appear on Monday.
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In Europe some people like cats, others don’t.
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Europeans have good food.
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In Europe people speak loudly and clearly.
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Europeans are proud of the things they know and try to show how clever they are.
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In Europe people cry and quickly get angry.
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People are either honest with you or they lie to you.
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Many Europeans think that life is a game.
Text 2
“Tea”
Listen to the text and answer the following questions:
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How did the British spoil tea?
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What will they think of you if you refuse to have a cup of tea?
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What should you do and say if someone brings you a cup of tea at five o’clock in the morning in an English home?
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When do the English usually have tea?
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In what cases should you drink additional cups of tea?
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What drinks does the author usually have during the day?
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How do you like to have your tea?
Text 3
“How to Be Rude”
Listen to the text and say whether the following statements are True, False, or Not Given:
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To be very rude to people in Europe, you can make up terrible stories about them.
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English people are rude in the same way as Europeans.
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If somebody tells you an untrue story, in England you call him a liar.
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Bad language was widely used in England a hundred years ago.
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Foreigners who lived in England many years ago probably introduced rude expressions to the English language.
Text 4
“The Language”
Listen to the text and answer the following questions:
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How many words does the ordinary Englishman use most?
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What word is the most popular with the English to describe weather, restaurants, clothes, people etc.?
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What is the easiest way to show that you have a good accent or no foreign accent?
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What words does the author recommend to learn to look clever and intelligent?
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Why is it easier to write in English than to speak it?
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Is it always better to speak quietly in good German than to shout loudly in bad English on a bus or in the street?
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Will you follow the author’s advice?