Monarchy

1. Mind the pronunciation of the following words.

Illustration [,Il{s`treIS({)n] – пример, объяснение

Absolute [@bs({)lu:t ] – полный абсолютный, неограниченный

Summon [`s[m{n] – созывать

reign [reIn] - царствование

controversial [,kOntr{`v{:S({)l] - спорный

embarrassing [Im`b@r{sIN] – смущающий, затруднительны

dissolve [dI`zOlv] – распускать, прекращать деятельность

embodiment [Im`bOdIment] – воплощение, олицетворение

assent [{`sent] – согласие, разрешение, санкция

hypothetical [,haIp{u`TetIk({)l] – гипотетический, предположительный

continuity [,kOntI`nju(:)ItI] – непрерывность, целостность

vaguely [`veIgju{lI] – неопределенно, неясно, уклончиво,

неуверенно

enthusiasm [In`Tju:zI@zm] – энтузиазм, воодушевление

grand [gr@nd] – грациозный, величественный

II. Read the text

The appearance

The position of the monarch in Britain is a perfect illustration of the contradictory nature of the constitution. From the evidence of written law only, the Queen has almost absolute power, and it all seems very undemocratic.

Every autumn, at the state opening of Parliament, Elizabeth II, who became Queen in 1952, makes a speech. In it, she says what 'my government' intends to do in the coming year. And indeed, it is her government. As far as the law is concerned, she can choose anybody she likes to run the government for her. There are no restrictions on whom she picks as her Prime Minister. The same is true for her choices of people to fill some hundred or so other ministerial positions. And if she gets fed up with her ministers, she can just dismiss them. She also appears to have great power over Parliament. It is she who summons a Parliament, and she who dissolves it before a general election. Nothing that Parliament has decided can become law until she has agreed to it.

Similarly, it is the Queen, and not any other figure of authority, who embodies the law in the courts.

The house of Windsor

Windsor is the family name of the royal family. The press sometimes refers to its members as 'the Windsors'. Queen Elizabeth is only the fourth monarch with this name. This is not because a 'new' royal family took over the throne of Britain four reigns ago. It is because George V, Elizabeth's grandfather, changed the family name. It was Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, but during the First World War it was thought better for the king not to have a German-sounding name.