1. American higher education developed its own pattern by the adaptation of two traditions, those of _____. 2. American colleges and the universities are either public or private, that is supported by public funds or ____. 3. The American college is an institution which _____. 5._____ occupy in American university life rather like Oxbridge in England. 6. A peculiar feature of an American college and university life is _____.
Ex. 13. Answer the questions.
1. Is there a national system of higher education in the USA? 2. What types of higher educational establishments are there in the USA? 3. Is college education expensive? 4. What do you know about college in American universities? 5. Name the main American universities. 6. What are the methods of instructions in the universities? 7. How are students classified? 8. What organizations create cultural and recreational life at a university?
Ex. 13. The federal government of the USA has no direct control over the system of school education. Each state makes its own laws in the field of education, but still there is some degree of uniformity. How can you explain this fact? Who controls the educational system in your country?
Ex. 14. Compare the system of education in the USA with the system of education in your country. (Remember the types of schools, the compulsory age of education, the duration of studies.)
Unit 4
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Topical Vocabulary
1) to be situated ;
2) to separate ();
3) to rank - ;
4) to remain ;
5) densely-populated ;
6) relatively ;
7) to establish ;
8) to provide , ;
9) the European Community ;
10) to maintain ;
11) the Commonwealth ;
12) engaged , ;
13) influence ;
14) forecast ;
15) rainfall ;
16) average ;
17) whirlwind , ;
18) drought ;
19) to blossom ;
20) fireplace ;
21) central heating ;
22) elm ;
23) ash ;
24) beech ;
25) moor ;
26) heather ;
27) mammal ;
28) extinction ();
29) otter ;
30) threat ;
31) seal ;
32) pollution .
Ex. 1. Read the text.
Text A
Great Britain is a small, highly developed country with a population over 60 million. It includes three countries: England, Wales, Scotland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was formed in 1921.
The country is situated on the British Isles which lie to the West of the continent of Europe. The area totals some 242, 500 sq. km. Britain, is just under 1,000 km long from the south coast of England to the extreme north of Scotland, and just under 500 km across in the widest part. Great Britain is separated from Europe by the North Sea and the English Channel in 1993 the new Tunnel underneath the English Channel was opened between Dover (England) and Calais (France). The length of the Tunnel is 30 miles.
|
|
|
With some 57 million people, Britain ranks sixteenth in the world in term of population. The population has remained relatively stable over the last decade. Britain is a relatively densely populated country. England has the highest population density of the four lands and Scotland the lowest.
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy headed by the Queen Elizabeth II. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. But it is the Prime Minister and the Houses of Parliament that actually rule the country.
Britain's democratic system of government is long established and has provided considerable political stability. Britain is one of the member states of the European Community. Close links are maintained with many other countries, notably within the Commonwealth, which links 50 independent nations.
Britain became me world's first industrialised country in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Wealth was based on the manufacture of iron and steel, heavy machinery and textiles, shipbuilding and trade.
A very broad range of cultural activities exist in Britain. Many Britons engaged in the arts and media enjoy international reputations. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is one of the three public bodies responsible for television and radio. BBC World Service broadcasts by radio world-wide in English and 37 other languages.
Climate and Nature
The climate in Great Britain is generally mild and temperate due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. The south-western winds carry the warmth and moisture into Britain. The climate in Britain is usually described as cool, temperate and humid. British people say: "Other countries have a climate, in England we have weather". The weather in Britain changes very quickly.
Every daily paper publishes a weather forecast. Both the radio and television give the weather forecast several times each day.
Rainfall is more or less even throughout the year. In the mountains there is heavier rainfall than in the plains of the south and east. The driest period is from March to June and the wettest months are from October to January. The average range of temperature (from winter to summer) is from 15 to 23 degrees above zero. During a normal summer the temperature sometimes rises above 30 degrees in the south. Winter temperatures below 10 degrees are rare. It seldom snows heavily in winter, the frost is rare. January and February are usually the coldest months, July and August the warmest. Still the wind may bring winter cold in spring or summer days. Sometimes it brings the whirlwinds or hurricanes. Droughts are rare.
This humid and mild climate is good for plants. The trees and flowers begin to blossom early in spring.
In the British homes there has been no central heating up till recently. The fireplaces are often used, but the coal is not used as it's very expensive. Britain has no good coal now and imports it itself. Many schools and universities have no central heating either, and the floors there are made of stone. The British bedroom is especially cold, sometimes electric blankets or hot water bottles are used.
|
|
|
Britain was originally a land of vast forests. Today only about 6 percent of the total land area remains wooded. Extensive forests remain in eastern and northern Scotland and in south-eastern and western England. Oak, elm, ash, and beech are the commonest trees in England, while Scotland has much pine and birch. The Highlands with thin soil are largely moor land with heather and grasses. In the cultivated areas that make up most of Britain there are many wild flowers, flowering plants and grasses.
The fauna or animal life of Britain is much like that of north-western Europe, to which it was once joined. Many larger mammals such as bear, wolf have been hunted to extinction, others are now protected by law. There are many foxes. Otters are common along rivers and streams, and seals live along much of the coast. Hedgehogs, hares, rabbits, rats and mice are numerous. Deer live in some of the forests in the Highlands of Scotland and England.
Some 230 kinds of birds live in Britain. The most numerous are blackbirds, sparrow and starling. Robin Redbreast is the national bird of Britain. There are many threats to wildlife and ecological balance around the coast. The biggest threat to the coastline is pollution.
