ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES. GREAT BRITAIN
, .
to lie on
to be made up of smth -
an island neighbour
to be occupied by (-)
the remainder
to be linked with (-)
highlands ,
a flat plain
lowlands
a low range of hills
to extend out ,
a continental shelf
shallow waters of the north sea
an ocean current
to wash the shores
to heat up
to cool down
at the same latitude
to conquer
an invader
Angles
Saxons
Jutes
Vikings
Normans
to wage a colonial war
an empire
to establish capitalism
machinery
electronics
1. :
Great Britain
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, called for short the United Kingdom or the UK, lies on the Atlantic coast of Western Europe, separated from France by only 34 km (21 miles) of water. The names Great Britain and United Kingdom are now often used informally to mean the same thing. It is made up of three countries, England, Scotland and Wales. The UK refers to the political state that includes the countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The capital of the United Kingdom is London, in England. The capital of Wales is Cardiff, and the Scottish capital is at Edinburgh.
Great Britains largest island neighbour is Ireland. This is mainly occupied by the independent Republic of Ireland. The remainder is Northern Ireland which is a part of the United Kingdom. Many small islands are also linked with the United Kingdom.
Although a small island, Great Britain has a remarkable variety of landscapes. To the north and west are highlands the mountains of Scotland, Cambria (the original Roman name for Wales) and Wales, and the Pennine Chain. To the east are flat plains, and in the south are lowlands broken by low ranges of hills. To the Southwest are the bleak moors of Devon and Cornwall.
The continent of Europe extends out below the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in the form of a continental shelf. Great Britain is perched on this shelf, surrounded by the shallow waters of the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the English Channel.
A warm ocean current, the Gulf Stream, washes Britains western shores. This water heats up and cools down very slowly. Britain therefore enjoys warmer winters and cooler summers than other countries at the same latitude. The west of the island has a higher rainfall and slightly milder climate than the east.
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Britain has been many centuries in the making. The Romans conquered Britain, but were unable to subdue the independent tribes in the west and the north. Other invaders were Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings and Normans. England waged numerous colonial wars and was the empire for many centuries. England was the first country where capitalism was established.
Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The powers of the British Queen are limited by the Parliament. Over time, the sovereigns powers have been reduced and, though the present Queen is still head of state and Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, she acts on the advice of her ministers, and Britain is in practice governed by Her Majestys Government. The main role of the Queen is as a representative of Britain and the British people. She is a symbol of the unity of the nation beyond party politics. The British Parliament consists of the sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
2. :
1. Where does the UK lie?
2. What does the UK consist of?
3. What is Great Britains largest island neighbour?
4. What channel separates the British Isles from the European continent?
5. What's the highest mountain in Scotland?
6. Are there a lot of long and deep rivers in Great Britain?
7. Is the UK a large country?
8. What's the UK's population?
9. What proves that Great Britain has a variety of landscapes?
10. How does the Gulf Stream influence Britains climate?
11. What is Britains history?
12. What are Britains chief industries?
13. What is Britains political system?
14. Does the Queen rule?
15. What is the role of the British Queen in the country?
3. :
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1. What can you tell about the UK?
2. What can you tell about Great Britain?
3. What do you know about the history of the UK?
4. What can you say about geography / government and politics / economy of the UK?
5. What big conurbations of the UK do you know?
6. What other English-speaking countries do you know?
: [1, 2, 3].
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, (SCIENTISTS, INVENTORS AND THEIR INVENTIONS)