Nowadays English is a truly global language. The map of the English-speaking world is extensive. It is the third most natively spoken language on Earth, after Chinese and Spanish. The total number of English native speakers is 1.8 billion. 400 million people speak English as the first language, 1.4 billion use it as the second language.
English is the most widely spoken language across the world. It is the lingua franca in many regions. It is the official language in 54 countries, in the United Nations, the European Union and many Commonwealth states.
English is the official language in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles in the northwest of Europe. The United Kingdom consists of four countries England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is a parliamentary monarchy. Formally, the Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. The capital of the country is London. The main cities are London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. The national flag is called the Union Jack.
The United States of America is located in North America. It consists of 50 states and the District of Columbia, where the capital of the country, Washington, is located. The USA is a federative republic. English is the official language in 31 states. The main cities are Washington, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Boston. The national flag is called the Stars and Stripes.
Canada is situated in North America. It is the second largest country in the world. Canada is a former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth. It is a parliamentary monarchy. Formally, the Head of State is the British Queen. Canada's official languages are English and French. The capital of the country is Ottawa. The main cities are Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The Canadian national flag is red and white. It shows a red maple leaf on the white square in the middle.
Australia is situated on the continent of Australia and a number of islands. It is a former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth. The country is a parliamentary monarchy. Formally, the Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor-General. The capital of Australia is Canberra. The other important cities are Sidney and Melbourne. The Australian national flag has white stars on the blue field and the British Flag in the left corner.
New Zealand is located in the Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Australia. It is a former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth. New Zealand is a parliamentary monarchy. Formally, the Head of State is the British Queen, represented by the Governor General. The capital of the country is Wellington. The chief cities are Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson, and Dunedin. The New Zealand flag shows red stars on the blue field and the British Flag in the right corner.
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English is used as one of two official languages in the Irish Republic, Malta, India, Pakistan, the Republic of South Africa and many other former British colonies.
Exercise 5. Find in the text the equivalents of these words and word combinations.
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
Exercise 6. Answer the following questions in pairs.
1. How many people speak English in the world?
2. What are the largest English-speaking countries?
3. What is common about these countries?
4. What are other English-speaking countries?
Exercise 6. I.Act out the dialogue.
A: Anna, how long have you been studying English?
B: For two years.
A: Why are you studying English?
B: I'd like to travel abroad. Many people in Europe speak English.
II. Make up a dialogue of your own. Use the word combinations below:
- to go to an English-speaking country;
- to watch English and American films;
- to read English magazines and books in the original;
- to work as a translator / interpreter;
- to talk to people from other countries on the Internet.
Exercise 7. Speak about English-speaking countries.
Unit 5. British Studies
5.1. The United Kingdom
Exercise 1. Answer the questions below.
1. Why do many people in different countries study English?
2. What makes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland a great power?
3. Have you ever visited Great Britain? What were your impressions?
Exercise 2. Remember these proper, geographical names and realia.
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [jH'naItId "kINdqm qv "greIt 'brItn qn "nLDqn "aIqlqnd]
Europe ['jHqrqp]
the British Isles ["brItIS 'aIlz]
the Atlantic Ocean [qt"lxntIk 'qVSqn]
the Irish Sea ["aIqrIS 'sJ]
the English Channel ["INglIS 'Cxnl] -
the Strait(s) of Dover ["streIt(s) qv 'dqVvq]
the North Sea ["nLT 'sJ]
the European Continent ["jVqrq'pJqn 'kOntInqnt]
England ['INglqnd]
Scotland ['skPtlqnd]
Wales [weIlz]
London ['lAndqn]
Edinburgh ['edInbqrq]
Cardiff ['kRdIf]
Belfast ['belfRst]
the Union Jack ["jHnjqn 'Gxk] ,
the Saint Georges Cross [seInt 'GLGIz 'krPs] .,
the Saint Andrews Cross [seInt 'xndrHz 'krPs] .,
the Saint Patricks Cross [seInt 'pxtrIks 'krPs] .,
Queen Elizabeth II ['kwJn I"lIzqbqT De 'sekqnd] II
Parliament ['pRlqmqnt]
the House of Commons ["haus qv 'kPmqnz]
the House of Lords ["haus qv 'lLdz]
the British Empire ["brItIS 'empaIq]
Glasgow ['glRsgqV] .
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Leeds [lJdz] .
Liverpool ['lIvqpHl] .
Birmingham ['bE:mINqm] .
Manchester ['mxnCIstq] .
the Thames [temz] .
the Clyde [klaId] .
the Severn ['sevqn] .
Oxford ['Pksfqd] .
Cambridge ['keImbrIG] .
the Lake District ['leIk "dIstrIkt] ( - )
Kent [kent] ( )
Eisteddfod [aIs'teDvOd] , ,
the Highlands ['haIlqndz] -
the Lowlands ['lqVlqndz]
Ulster ['Alstq] ( )
Exercise 3. Learn the following words and words combinations.
island ['aIlqnd] n
state [steIt] n
to be situated ['sICVeItId]
comprise [kqm'praIz] v
separate from ['sepqreIt] v
divide from [dI'vaId] v
consist of [kqn'sIst qv] v
capital ['kxpItl] n
unity ['ju:nItI] n
nation [neISn] n ,
national ['nxSnql] a
coat of arms ["kqVt qv 'Rmz]
shield [SJld] n
crown [kraun] n
lion ['laIqn] n
unicorn ['ju:nIkLn] n
floral [flLrql] a ;
thistle ['TIsl] n
daffodil ['dxfqdIl] n -
leek [lJk] n -
shamrock ['SxmrPk] n
dragon ['drxgqn] n
dove [dAv] n
constitutional monarchy ["kPnsti'tjhsnql 'mPnqkI]
monarch ['mPnqk] n
the Head of State ["hed qv 'steIt]
govern ['gAvqn] v
to be made up of ['meId 'Ap]
to rule the seas ['rHl Dq 'sJz]
medicine ['meds(q)n] n
goods [gudz] n
produce [prq'djHs] v
main [meIn] a
castle [kRsl] n
attract [q'trxkt] v
enchant [In'CRnt] v
scenery ['sJnqrI] n
glimpse [glImps] n ,
to have a glimpse = to get a glimpse = to catch a glimpse [kxC] = to obtain a glimpse [qb'teIn]
economic ["Jkq'nPmIk] a
cultural ['kAlCqrql] a
relations [rI'leISnz] n
spread, spread, spread [spred] v
due to [djH tu] prep ,
disintegrate [dIs'IntIgreIt] v
liberation ["lIbq'reISn] n
movement ['mHvmqnt] n
national liberation movement ["lIbq'reISqn] -
lose, lost, lost ["lHz, lPst] v
sometime ['sAmtaIm] a ,
significance ["sIg'nIfIkqns] n
highly developed ['haIlI dI'velOpt]
industrial [in'dAstrIql] a
hi-fi ["haI 'faI] a ,
equipment [I'kwIpmqnt] a
aeroplane ['eqrqpleIn] n
engine ['enGIn] n
clothing ['klqVDIN] n
Exercise 4. Read and translate the text below.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is an island state in the north-west of Europe. In everyday speech the country is called Great Britain or Britain. The UK is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles comprise two big islands (Great Britain and Ireland) and about five thousand small islands. The British Isles are washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The Irish Sea separates Ireland from Great Britain. The English Channel, the Straits of Dover and the North Sea divide the British Isles from the European Continent.
The UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The capital of the United Kingdom is London. London is also the capital city of England. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. The capital city of Wales is Cardiff. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast.
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The symbol of the unity of the nation is the Union Jack, the national flag of the country. The Union Jack is the combination of the old flags of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, that is the Saint Georges Cross, the Saint Andrews Cross and the Saint Patricks Cross.
The Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom shows a shield with a crown on the top of it, a lion to the left of it, and a unicorn on the right. The British Lion symbolizes the might of the country. The Unicorn is the symbol of purity.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. The formal Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, the country is governed by Parliament which is made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Once the British Empire ruled the seas, had many colonies and dominated international political, economic and cultural relations. Due to this dominance, the English language has spread all over the world. In the 1950s, as a result of the national liberation movement, the empire disintegrated and lost its sometime significance.
At present the United Kingdom is a highly developed industrial country. Cars, hi-fi equipment, airplane engines, clothing, medicines, food and other goods are produced in the country. The main industrial cities are Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and others.
The United Kingdom is a pleasant land to visit. The climate is mild due to the Gulf Stream. The scenery is green and picturesque. There are many rivers and lakes on the British Isles. The most important rivers are the Thames, the Clyde, the Severn. England is famous for Oxford and Cambridge, the Lake District and gardens of Kent. Tourists come to see the castles of Wales and take part in Eisteddfod. They are attracted by the wonderful view of the Highlands and the Lowlands. Visitors are enchanted by the beauty of the scenery of Ulster.
Exercise 5. Find in the text the equivalents of these words and word combinations.
Exercise 6. Answer the following questions in pairs.
1. Where is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland situated?
2. What islands do the British Isles comprise?
3. What countries does the United Kingdom consist of?
4. What is the capital of the United Kingdom?
5. What are the capital cities of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
6. What is the name of the British national flag?
7. What is the political system of the country?
8. Is the United Kingdom a highly developed industrial country?
9. What goods are produced in the UK?
10.What attracts tourists in the country?
Exercise 7. Speak about the United Kingdom.
5.2. London
Exercise 1. Answer the questions below.
1. Have you ever been to London?
2. Have you read any book about the city?
3. Have you seen any documentaries or feature films about London?
4. What do you know about the British capital?
5. What sights of London do you remember first when you think about the city?
Exercise 2. Remember these proper, geographical names and realia.
Westminster ['westmInstq]
the City of London
the West End ["west 'end] -
the East End ["Jst 'end] -
the Houses of Parliament ["hauzIz qv 'pRlqmqnt]
Buckingham Palace ['bAkINqm "pxlIs]
Changing of the Guard ["CeInGIN qv Dq 'gRd]
Westminster Abbey ["westmInste 'xbI]
Charles Darwin ["CRlz 'dRwIn]
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Isaak Newton ["aIzqk 'njHtqn]
James Watt ["GeImz 'wPt]
Geoffrey Chaucer ["GefrI 'CLsq]
William Shakespeare ["wIljqm SeIkspIq]
the Poets' Corner ['pqVIts 'kLnq] " " ( )
the Bank of England ["bxnk qv 'INglqnd]
the Stock Exchange ['stPk Iks"CeInG]
St. Paul's Cathedral [snt 'pLlz kq"TJdrql] .
Sir Christopher Wren [sE: krIstqfq ren]
Trafalgar Square [trq'fxlgq "skweq]
Nelson's Column ['nelsnz "kPlqm]
Docklands [dPklqndz]
the Canary Wharf Tower [kq"neqrI "wLf 'taVq] -
Exercise 3. Learn the following words and word combinations.
capital ['kxpItl] n
originally [q'rIGqnqlI] adv
prime minister ["praIm 'mInIstq] -
Gothic [gPTIk] a
church [CE:C] n
to set up phr
to occupy ['PkjupaI] v
to erect [I'rekt] v ,
area ['eqrIq] n , ,
main [meIn] a
entertainment ["entq'teInmqnt] n
Protestant ['prPtIstqnt] a
to design [dI'zaIn] v
architect ['RkItekt] n
architecture ['RkItekCq] n
in honour of [In'Pnqr qv]
to beat, beat, beaten [bJt, bJt, 'bJtn] v ,
battle [bxtl] n
sea forces ['sJ 'fLsIz] -
to feed, fed, fed [fJd, fed, fed] v
pigeon ['pJGqn] n
eve [Jv] n
celebration ["selI'breISqn] n
to be held
to move to [mHv] v
fusion ['fjHZqn] n ,
to trace [treIs] v
observation wheel ["Pbzq'veISqn 'wJl] = big wheel
to offer ['Pfq] v
view [vjH] n
gradual ['grxGuql] a ,
flight [flaIt] n ,
capsule ['kxpsjHl] n ,
landmark ['lxndmRk] n ,
to impress [Im'pres] v
impressive [Im'presIv] a ,
unique [jH'nJk] a
shard [SRd] n
skyscraper ['skaIskreIpq] n
observation deck [dek]
gherkin ['gE:kIn] n , ;
tapering ['teIpqrIN] a , ,
surrounding [sq'raundIN] a
Exercise 4. Read the text about the British capital. Say if you have learnt anything new about it.
London
London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is situated in South-East England on the River Thames. Its population is about 7,000,000.
London was originally founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD. At that time it was called Londinium. It became the capital of England in the 11th century.
The most important parts of London are Westminster, the City, the West End and the East End.
Westminster is a large part of west central London. The British government works in the Houses of Parliament, also called Westminster Palace. Buckingham Palace, the Queen's London residence, is situated in Westminster, too. Tourists can watch Changing of the Guard in front of the Palace every day. The British Prime Minister lives and works at 10 Downing Street.
Westminster Abbey is a large Gothic church in Westminster. It was built in the 11th century. Almost all British kings and queens have been crowned in the Abbey. Many famous people are buried there: Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, James Watt and others. Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare and other great writers are buried in the Poets' Corner.
The City of London is the financial centre of the country. It is an area of about one square mile in the centre of the capital. The Bank of England and the Stock Exchange are in the City. The Bank of England was founded in 1694 and nationalized in 1946. The Stock Exchange was set up in 1773. At present it occupies a 26-storey building erected in 1970. Not many people live in this part of London but many people work there.
The West End is situated in the western area of central London. It is the main shopping and entertainment centre of the capital. There are many shops, cinemas and theatres, hotels and restaurants in the West End.
St. Paul's Cathedral is in central London. It is the largest Protestant church in the United Kingdom. The cathedral was designed by the great architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1676 and 1710.
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Trafalgar Square is in the centre of London. It was built in honor of Admiral Nelson who beat the French and Spanish sea forces in the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson's Column stands in the square. Tourists feed pigeons there. On New Year's Eve, public celebrations are held in Trafalgar Square.
The East End is the eastern area of central London. It is an industrial part of the capital. Traditionally, working people live in the East End. But in the 1980s richer people moved to Docklands. At present, Docklands is a famous tourist centre of the capital. The Canary Wharf Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the UK and the London City Airport are situated in this area.
London is the fusion of the past and the present, the old and the new. The achievements of cutting-edge technology can be traced in modern architecture.
The London Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the world. It was opened in March 2000. The big wheel is 135 meters high. It offers 40-kilometre panoramic views on a clear day. The gradual flight in one of the 32 high-tech glass capsules takes about 30 minutes. Flying the London Eye tourists can see such famous landmarks as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St.Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square.
There are a lot of high buildings in London. Some of them are impressive and unique.
The Shard (or London Bridge Tower) is a newly-built skyscraper. Its construction was finished in 2012. It is the tallest building in London and Europe. The skyscraper is 330 metres tall and has 72 floors. There is an open-air observation deck on the 72nd floor.
One of London's most recognizable modern structures is 20 St.Mary Axe or the "Gherkin" Tower. It is a 40-storey tapering building that is why it has the nickname "gherkin". The "Gherkin" Tower was designed by Foster & Partners. It impresses Londoners and visitors of the capital with its beauty, elegance and harmony with the surrounding buildings.
Exercise 5. Find in the text the equivalents of these words and word combinations.
; ; ; ; I , ; ; ; (2 ); ; ; - ; ; .
Exercise 6. Answer the following questions in pairs.
1. What is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
2. When was the city founded?
3. What are the most important parts of London? What are they like?
4. What are the most famous historical landmarks of the British capital?
5. What are the most impressive samples of modern architecture in London?
Exercise 7. Speak about the British capital and its attractions.
5.3. The Economy of the United Kingdom
Exercise 1. Answer the questions below.
1. Is the United Kingdom a highly developed industrial country?
2. What branches of British industry do you know?
3. What are international British goods?
4. What products does British agriculture produce?
Exercise 2. Learn the following words and word combinations.
a highly developed industrial country ['haIlI dI'velqpt In'dAstrIql 'kAntrI]
producer [prq'djHsq] n
clothing ['klqVDIN] n
aircraft ['eqkrRft] n ; .
equipment [I'kwIpmqnt] n
trading ['treIdIN] a
abroad [q'brLd] adv
to receive [rI'sJv] v
to distinguish [dIs'tINgwIS] v
primary ['praImqrI] a ,
primary industry ['IndqstrI] ,
secondary ['sekqndqrI] a ,
secondary industry
tertiary ['tE:SqrI] a
tertiary industry
raw materials ['rL mq'tIqrIqlz] ,
to extract [Iks'trxkt] v
extraction [Iks'trxkSqn] n
agriculture ['xgrIkAlCq] n
the Gross Domestic Product ['grqVs dq'mestIk 'prPdAkt]
to employ ['Im'plOI] v ,
to supply [sq"plaI] v ,
stocks [stPks] n
to decrease [dI'krJs] v
pollution [pq'lHSqn] n
to overfish ["qVvq'fIS] v
overfishing ["qVvq'fISIN] n
to shut down ['SAt 'daVn] phr v
unemployed ["AnIm'plOId] a
oil [OIl] n
manufacturing ["mxnV'fxkCqrIN] n ;
construction [kqn'strAkSqn] n
service industry ['sE:vIs]
to expand [Iks'pxnd] v
accountancy [q'kaVntqnsI] n
insurance [In'SVqrqns] n
headquarters ['hedkwLtqz] n -,
steel [stJl] n
defence [dI'fens] n
Exercise 3. Read the text about the British economy and say which sectors are flourishing and which are declining.
