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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The UK is situated on two large islands called the British Isles. The larger island is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland. The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists of four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Irish Sea. The area of the UK is 84, 550 square miles. The population is 57 million people.
If you travel to Great Britain from Ukraine, it will take you two days to pass through several countries on the continent by train, and six more hours to cross the English Channel by boat. If you fly to Great Britain, it will take you only three and a half hours.
There are also mountain chains in Scotland, Wales and North-West England, but they are not very high. North-West England is also famous for its beautiful lakes. The longest river in England is the Severn and the deepest is the Thames. London stands on the river Thames. London is the capital of England.
The sea enters deeply into the land. It has a great influence on the climate. The climate is damp, but mild. The winter is not very cold and the summer is not very hot. The winds are very warm: refreshing breezes come from the sea. There is much rain during the year. In fact, no region in the country is dry for three weeks. England is also famous for its fogs. Englishmen call them "pea soups". But, in fact, there is no fog in England now. Antipollution helped.
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The formal head of the state is Queen Elizabeth II. But the prime minister is the real head of the state. He is the head of the government. Ministers govern Great Britain. And queen doesn’t have any power at all. She is only a symbol of Great Britain.
Parliament makes laws. It consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. People elect the members of the House of Commons (MPs). The members of the House of Lords inherit their titles. MPs receive a salary, and the members of the House of Lords do not receive a salary. The UK doesn't have any written constitution.
Great Britain has a very powerful economy. It is a manufacturing and trading nation. It exports cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles. But it doesn't produce enough food. The UK imports food. Englishmen raise sheep for meat and wool. They grow potatoes, sugar beets and wheat. Apple and cherry orchards in spring are very beautiful. Natural resources of the UK are gas, coal and oil.
2. Виконання післятекстових вправ.
Ex 1.Choose the right words from given in brackets.
1) The UK is situated on (two, three) large islands called the British Isles. 2) It consists of (three, four) parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 3) (Scotland, England) is the largest part of the UK. 4) Southern Ireland now called (Eire, the Irish Republic) is independent of the UK. 5) The country is washed by the (Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean), (the North Sea, the Southern Sea) and the (Irish Sea, British Sea). 6) The population of the UK is (60, 57) million people. 7) If you travel to Great Britain from Ukraine, it will take you two days to pass through several countries on the continent by (plane, train, ship), and six more hours to cross the English Channel (by boat, by train). 8) North-West England is also famous for its (beautiful lakes, mountain chains). 9) If you fly to Great Britain, it will take you only (3, 5) hours. 10) The longest river in England is (the Severn, the Thames). 11) The deepest river in England is (the Severn, the Thames). 12) The sea has (a great influence, no influence) on the climate. 13) The winds are very warm: refreshing (breezes, storms) come from the sea. 14) There is (much, not much) rain during the year. 15) England is also famous for its (fogs, pea soups). 16) There is no fog in England now. (Antipollution, pollution) helped. 17) Great Britain is a (constitutional, absolute) monarchy. 18) (The real, the formal) head of the state is Queen Elizabeth II. 19) (The Queen, Parliament) makes laws. 20) People elect the members of (the House of Commons, the House of Lords). 21) (MPs, the members of the House of Lords) receive a salary. 22) (MPs, members of the House of Lords) inherit their titles. 23)Great Britain has a very (weak, powerful economy). 24) It (exports, imports) buses, trucks, motorcycles. 25 The country (exports, imports) food. 26) Englishmen raise (sheep, cows) for meat and wool.27) They grow (wheat, sugar beets, and bananas).
Ex. 2.Compose the sentences with the following word combinations.
*to be situated *to call *to consist of (three parts) * the largest part *to be washed by *it will take you *to pass through the continent *to cross the English Channel *to be famous for (2) * refreshing breezes * pea soups *antipollution
Learn these facts by heart:
Government: Forms of government: Constitutional Monarchy. In practice a parliamentary democracy.
Head of the state: Monarch (queen or king)
Head of government: Prime Minister
Legislature: Parliament of two houses: 651 – member House of Commons; the House of Lords – about 1, 170 members.
Executive: Prime Minister (chosen y the House of Commons) and Cabinet
Political subdivisions: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – four “countries” united under one government. Each country has units of local government.
Economy. Chief Products:Agriculture – wool, beef, cattle, milk, chicken and eggs, pigs, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beet. Manufacturing – foods and beverages, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, electrical and electronic goods, machinery, motor vehicles, textiles and clothing, rubber and plastics goods, iron and steel, meal manufactures, ceramics.
Money: Basic unit – pound, also called pound sterling.
2. Робота над граматичним матеріалом.Займенники.
Ex. l.Replace the Ukrainian possessive pronoun by its English equivalent.
1. Keep (твої) books on the shelves. 2. (Твої) hands are very dirty. 3. (Його) poems are very good. 4. These are (її) photos. 5. Where are (твої) friends now? 6. (Мої) students are at the lecture. 7. Are these (твої) newspapers?
Ex. 2.Insert the missing possessive pronouns. Try to use all persons.
1. Is it … girl-friend over there? Oh, no, she isn’t my friend, she is …friend. 2. Don't take this book. It is not my book, it is …book. 3. Tell… not to forget … ticket; and ask Helen not to forget … 4. Take English magazines and give me… 6. Look at the coat: … coat is too thick. 7. Isn’t that … composition? –Yes, it is ...composition. 8. Don'tcome, … sister is ill. 9. Don't touch …face. 10. …answers are good.
Ex. 3.Open the brackets using objective pronouns.
These are very good exercises. Do (they) at home, please. 2. This engineer works with (I). I know (he) well. 3. Write these words in your exercise-books and learn (they). 4. Read this letter and translate (it) into English, please. 5. I know this girl. She works with (we).
Ex. 4. Insert possessive pronouns.
1. Take this book and read … at home, please. 2. Is he going to speak to … about his new work? 3. These are very good exercise-books. Where do you get …? 4. My sister knows English well. I often do my homework with … 5. Read these words and learn … well. 6. I don’t know … . What’s his name?
Ex 5.Replace the underlined words by personal pronouns.
1. John, give the book to Henry. 2. Tell the studentsthe answer. 3. My sister and I have got room of our own. 4. Alec and Mary are engineers by profession. 5. Jane, buy a magazine for Granny. 6. Kate, read this story to Mary and me, please. 7. Tom has got no nephews or nieces. 8. His wife is not in London now. 9. Pete, bring flowers for your mother. 10. Send the letter to your parents.