Speak about the geographical position of the UK

The political system of the United Kingdom

1. Learn the vocabulary:

constitutional monarchy Parliament

head of State the House of Commons

power the House of Lords

to limit government

to be made up of the party in power

to appoint to elect

TEXT 2

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The official Head of State is the king or the queen. But the Power of the monarch is limited by Parliament which is made up of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Members of the House of Lords are appointed, and Members of the House of Commons are elected by the people. Parliament makes laws.

The head of the Government is the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the party in power.

2. Agree or disagree with the statements:

1) The UK is a republic.

2) Head of State is a monarch.

3) Parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

4) Members of the House of Lords are elected and members of the House of Commons are appointed.

5) The Head of the Government is the queen.

6) The Prime Minister is the leader of the party in power.

Retell the text.

Parts of the United Kingdom

Read the text using a dictionary.

TEXT 3

Britain is only a small country but every part of it is different. Scotland is a land of mountains, lakes and romantic castles. The winters are cold, with plenty of snow, but the summers are often warm and sunny. Most farmers keep sheep and there are many small factories which make fine sweaters from their wool. In some parts of Scotland there are very few people.

The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. It is not the largest city in Scotland, but it is very beautiful. Edinburgh is famous for many things: its festivals (plays and music), its museums and libraries, and for its writers Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and others.

In the north of England there are many old industrial towns. Outside the towns, much of this part of England is beautiful countryside, with green hills, lakes and sandy beaches.

The centre of England (the “Midlands”) is also an important industrial area, especially near the huge cities of Coventry and Birmingham, the centre of car industry.

The west of England is rich farming country. It produces milk, cream, butter, cheese and apples. In the villages, country people often grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Wales is a special place, a country of high mountains and pretty valleys. But Wales has plenty of industry too, with many factories and coal mines. The people of Wales are very musical. Every year they have a festival of Welsh music and poetry called “Eisteddfod”.

Northern Ireland has beauty too. In the warm, wet climate, the grass grows a brilliant green, and much of the land is farming country. Belfast is a large industrial city with many fine buildings and a port from which ships come and go to Scotland and England.

Exercises on the text

1. Give English equivalents for the following:

быть известным;

промышленные города;

сельская местность;

песчаные пляжи;

центр автомобильной промышленности;

сельские жители;

страна высоких гор;

влажный климат.

2. Change the underlined words using the appropriate words from the text:

1) There is always much snow in Scotland in winter.

2) There aren’t many people in some parts of Scotland.

3) Large industrial cities of Coventry and Birmingham are in the centre of England.

4) Milk, cream and butter are made in the west of England.

5) Edinburgh is known for its great writers.

6) Belfast is a big industrial city with many nice buildings.

3. Turn the following statements into questions and answer them (give short answers):

1) Every part of Great Britain is different.

2) The summers in Scotland are often cold.

3) There are many old industrial towns in England.

4) The west of England produces cheese and apples.

5) Country people often grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers.

6) There is little industry in Wales.

7) The people of Wales have a festival of Welsh music and poetry every month.

8) Ships go from the port of Belfast to Scotland and England.

4. Find answers to the following questions in the text:

1) What do small factories in Scotland make from wool?

2) What is the capital of Scotland famous for?

3) What part of England has much industry?

4) What part of England is mostly farming country?

5) What is the famous Welsh festival called?

6) What is the climate of Northern Ireland like?

7) What country is famous for keeping sheep?

LONDON

1. Learn the words and word combinations:

to go sightseeing to bury

tour royal

in memory of prison

tower used to be (a fortress)

to crown commercial

2. Learn to pronounce the following Proper names:

Trafalgar Square Hyde Park

Nelson Column Speaker’s Corner

Downing Street the Tower of London

Westminster Abbey St.Paul’s Cathedral

the Houses of Parliament Piccadilly Circus

TEXT 5

Let us go sightseeing in London and visit the principal places of interest. We’ll start our tour from Trafalgar Square, which is the geographical centre of London. Trafalgar Square is also a historical place. In the middle of it is the famous Nelson Column, which was built in memory of Admiral Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. Here, there is also the National gallery with its wonderful collection of works from the British, French, Italian, Dutch and Spanish schools.

Now we go down Whitehall, and turn to the right to a quiet street. This is the famous Downing Street and house 10 is the residence of the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

And now we are in Westminster. It is the most important part of London. Here you see the Houses of Parliament. It is a beautiful building with two towers: the Clock Tower with Big Ben and the Victoria Tower with the national flag over it. Opposite the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. Many English kings and queens were crowned and are buried there.

Another interesting sight in the West End is Hyde Park. It is the largest of London parks and is famous for its Speaker’s Corner which attracts a lot of tourists. The West End is full of museums, art galleries, the best theatres, cinemas, expensive clubs and shops.

Now we take a bus and go to the City, which is a small area but is the business and commercial heart of London. Very few people live there. All the main banks and offices are situated in the City. In the centre of the City there is the Tower of London and St.Paul’s Cathedral. The Tower has a very long history. It used to be a fortress, a royal residence, then a prison, and now it is a museum.

A visit to London is full of surprises. If you are in Piccadilly Circus you can meet very strange – looking young people wearing all kinds of fancy clothes, speaking different languages.