John Townend, the Conservative MP for Yorkshire East, apologised for his "ill-chosen words" about immigrants undermining Britain's "homogeneous Anglo-Saxon society" and creating "a mongrel race", and promised not to repeal them. In his recantation, made at the insistence of Tory leader William Hague, he accepted that "racism has no place in the Conservative party". Laurence Robertson, the Tewkesbury MP who had supported Townend, also apologised. But the row over Tory attitudes to race rumbled on, with the black Tory peer Lord Taylor complaining that Townend's apology was "too little too late". At one point, Lord Taylor had threatened to resign over the issue, and was reported to be considering joining the Labour Party. But this week, he said he was not planning to take the matter further. Former Conservative prime minister Sir Edward Heath warned that his party was in the grip of the extreme right.

The WEEK, 5 May, 2001

This affair has been terribly damaging to William Hague, said The Independent. He should have disciplined his racist MPs immediately. Now the Tory party seems even less inclusive than when he took over. "That is quite an achievement."

H ague was unlucky, said The Times. Townend is an obscure backbencher whose speech was reported some time after the event. Hague was worried that ' withdrawing the party whip would have stoked rather than smothered the story. Other Tory MPs shared Townend's views - and besides, Hague's own "foreign land speech had undermined his credibility on the subject. But when Townend made more inflammatory remarks, Hague made a fatal mistake: he
delayed again, allowing the media to give the impression of a "shambles" of a party. Hague was insufficiently decisive, agreed the Daily Mail, but the most revealing aspects of the story were the disloyalty of Lord Taylor and other Tories, and the "glee with which the liberal media and Blairite media inflated the row".

Task 9. Self Assessment. Write an essay about the people of Britain.

Unit 3. Monarchy

BASIC FACTS:

Task 1. Read the basic facts and discuss with a partner other facts you know.

• Monarchy is Britain’s oldest secular institution.

• Monarch’s power is hereditary.

• Britain is a Constitutional Monarchy.

• Nowadays Britain is ruled by Queen Elisabeth II, who was crowned in 1953.

• The Privy Council is an old institution, which advises the Queen on the issue of Royal proclamations, such as those summoning or dissolving Parliament.There are about 480 Privy Counsellors, consisting of the Cabinet, senior politicians, judges.

• In Britain there exists the so-called Civil List, according to which the members of the Royal Family receive certain sums of money from the State Budget voted yearly by Parliament.

Task 2. Read the text below and think of possible subtitles for every part of the text on Monarchy.

History

In ancient times kings were elected by a tribe as military leaders and king’s power was not always hereditary. Later, monarchs had to share power with the Barons and the Church, which was headed by the Pope. In the 15^th century the Tudors managed to achieve absolute power: Henry VII forbade the Barons to have private armies, and Henry VIII proclaimed himself Head of the Church. His daughter, Elisabeth I, completed the Reformation of the Church and creation of the Church of England. In the 17^th century monarchy came into a bitter conflict with the House of Commons, which was under the influence of Puritanism. As a result of the Civil War King Charles I was executed in 1649, and Oliver Cromwell became a dictator. In 1660 Monarchy was restored. When a Catholic James II inherited the British Throne, he was deposed by Parliament. Instead of him his Protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange, were invited to rule. The new monarchs had to accept the Bill of Rights passed by Parliament in 1689, which was limiting the power of monarchy. These changes are known as the Glorious Revolution.

S ince British monarchs are Titular Heads of the Church of England, they must be Protestants by religion. Though there is a saying that the Queen reigns but does not rule, formally the monarch has much power. The monarch is commander-in-chief of all the armed forces, head of all branches of political power. Britain is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the Crown is only sovereign by the will of Parliament. The name of the ruling dynasty is the Windsors. They took this name during the First World war instead of their real name, Saxe Coburg and Gotha, because Britain was fighting against Germany and it was considered unpatriotic for the Royal family to bear the German sounding name.

The Royal Coat of Arms and the Anthem

The function of the Royal Coat of Arms is to identify the person who is Head of State. In respect of the United Kingdom, the royal arms are borne only by the Sovereign. They are used in many ways in connection with the administration and government of the country, for instance on coins, in churches and on public buildings. They are familiar to most people. The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom has evolved over many years and reflects the history of the Monarchy and of the country. In the design the shield shows the various royal emblems of different parts of the United Kingdom: the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third. It is surrounded by a garter bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense ('Evil to him who evil thinks'), which symbolises the Order of the Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which the Queen is Sovereign. The shield is supported by the English lion and Scottish unicorn and is surmounted by the Royal crown. Below it appears the motto of the Sovereign, Dieu et mon droit ('God and my right'). The plant badges of the United Kingdom - rose, thistle and shamrock - are often displayed beneath the shield. Separate Scottish and English quarters of the Royal Arms originate from the Union of the Crown in 1603. The Scottish version of the Royal Coat of Arms shows the lion of Scotland in the first and fourth quarters, with that of England being in the second. The harp of Ireland is in the third quarter. The mottoes read In defence and No one will attack me with impunity. From the times of the Stuart kings, the Scottish quarterings have been used for official purposes in Scotland (for example, on official buildings and official publications). Coats of Arms of members of the Royal Family are broadly similar to The Queen's with small differences to identify them.

There is no authorised version of the National Anthem as the words are a matter of tradition. Additional verses have been added down the years, but these are rarely used. The words used are those sung in 1745, substituting 'Queen' for 'King' where appropriate. On official occasions, only the first verse is usually sung. It goes as follows:

God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.

The British tune was used in other countries - as European visitors to Britain in the eighteenth century noticed the advantage of a country possessing such a recognised musical symbol - including Germany, Russia, Switzerland and America (where use of the tune continued after independence). Some 140 composers, including Beethoven, Haydn and Brahms, have used the tune in their compositions.

The Royal Family

The official title of her majesty Queen Elisabeth II is: By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Elisabeth II, daughter of King George VI, was born in 1926, April, 21. In 1947 she married Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1952 George VI died and Elisabeth became the Queen. The official Coronation Ceremony took place in June, 2, 1953. The Queen has four children: Prince Charles (the Prince of Wales) was born in 1948; Princess Anne was born in 1950; Prince Andrew (The Duke of York) was born in 1960; Prince Edward (the Earl of Wessex) was born in 1964. Besides Diana, the most popular member of the Royal family was Queen Elisabeth, Queen Mother. The Honorable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born on August 4, 1900. Queen Victoria was still alive at the time, and the world was, of course, a very different place. Few people could have guessed that baby Elizabeth, a Scottish commoner, would one day become the matriarch of the British royal family. The war ended in 1918, the year Elizabeth turned 18. She was lively and attractive, with great personal charm, which did not escape the notice of George V's second son, Prince Albert. On December 2, 1921 he asked her to marry him. Elizabeth gently turned him down. The prince proposed two more times before she said yes. Then Albert became king taking the name George VI during Coronation. Elisabeth was crowned Queen. The king and queen earned the respect and love of their people in the dark days of the Second World War. Other European kings and queens were being forced to flee their homelands, but Queen Elizabeth declared, "I shall not go down like the others." She learned to fire a revolver so she could fight to the death if necessary. Despite the threat of a German invasion, the king and queen refused to send their daughters out of the country. "The princesses cannot go without me," Queen Elizabeth explained. "I cannot go without the king. The king will never go.” George VI died in 1952. In the decades after her husband's death the "Queen Mum" remained one of most beloved members of the British royal family. Even after she turned 100 years old, she continued to make official appearances and served as patron or president of some 350 organizations. She was a living link to the past; a symbol of the history and majesty of the monarchy; and, quite simply, a remarkable woman. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother died quietly in her sleep on March 30, 2002 at the age of 101. Her friend Lord St John of Fawsley said, "With the passing of the Queen Mother we have lost our most treasured national person. She was not merely an historical figure. She was history." Although monarchy is still popular with many British people, the family life scandals of the Windsors have considerably shaken this institution. The Queen’s sister Margaret, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew - all got divorced. This runs counter people’s expectations of a royal family to be a model of moral life.

There are four sources of funding of The Queen (or officials of the Royal Household acting on her behalf). The Civil List is the sum provided by Parliament to meet official expenditure relating to The Queen's duties as Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth. The Civil List dates back to the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, but the current system was created on the accession of George III in 1760, when it was decided that the whole cost of civil government should be provided by Parliament in return for the surrender of the hereditary revenues by the King for the duration of the reign. Revenue from the Crown Estate amounted to £147.7 million in 2000/01 and this was paid to the Treasury. About 70 per cent of Civil List expenditure goes to pay the salaries of staff working directly for The Queen. Their duties include dealing with State papers, organising public engagements and arranging meetings and receptions undertaken by The Queen. The Civil List also meets the costs of functions such as royal garden parties (Her Majesty entertains over 48,000 people each year) and official entertainment during State Visits. In 1990 the Civil List was set by Parliament as a fixed annual amount of £7.9 million for a period of 10 years.

Grants-in-Aid from Parliament provide upkeep of the Royal Palaces and for Royal travel. The Privy Purse is traditional income for the Sovereign's public and private use. Her Majesty's personal income meets entirely private expenditure. The Queen pays tax on her personal income and capital gains. The Civil List and the Grants-in-Aid are not taxed because they cover official expenditure. The Privy Purse is fully taxable, subject to a deduction for official expenditure.

The Royal Palaces

The residences associated with today's Royal Family are divided into the Occupied Royal Residences, which are held in trust for future generations, and the Private Estates which have been handed down to The Queen by earlier generations of the Royal Family. The Occupied Royal palaces include Buckingham, Kensington, St James’s palaces in London, Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Sandringham in Norfolk, Holyroodhouse and Balmoral in Scotland.

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of the eighteenth century by the Dukes of Buckingham. Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to take up residence in July 1837, just three weeks after her accession, and in June 1838 she was the first British sovereign to leave from Buckingham Palace for a Coronation. Her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840 soon showed up the Palace's shortcomings. A serious problem for the newly married couple was the absence of any nurseries and too few bedrooms for visitors. The only solution was to move the Marble Arch - it now stands at the north-east corner of Hyde Park - and build a fourth wing, thereby creating a quadrangle. The present forecourt of the Palace, where Changing the Guard takes place, was formed in 1911, as part of the Victoria Memorial scheme. The gates and railings were also completed in 1911; the North-Centre Gate is now the everyday entrance to the Palace, whilst the Central Gate is used for State occasions and the departure of the guard after Changing the Guard. The work was completed just before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

Today it is The Queen's official residence. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by the Queen, some areas of Buckingham Palace are open to visitors on a regular basis. The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during the Annual Summer Opening in August and September. They are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Visits to Buckingham Palace can be combined with visits to The Queen's Gallery, which reopened in May 2002. The nearby Royal Mews is open from 1 March to 31 October 2003.

Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world.  A royal palace and fortress for over 900 years, the Castle remains a working palace today. Visitors can walk around the State Apartments, extensive suites of rooms at the heart of the working palace; for part of the year visitors can also see the Semi State rooms, which are some of the most splendid interiors in the castle. They are furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection including paintings by Holbein, Rubens, Van Dyck and Lawrence, fine tapestries and porcelain, sculpture and armour. Within the Castle complex there are many additional attractions. In the Drawings Gallery regular exhibitions of treasures from the Royal Library are mounted. Another popular feature is the Queen Mary's Dolls' House, a miniature mansion built to perfection. The fourteenth-century St. George's Chapel is the burial place of ten sovereigns, home of the Order of the Garter, and setting for many royal weddings. In 1992 the castle was badly damaged by fire but by now fully restored. In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, a new landscape garden has been created by the designer and Chelsea Gold Medallist Tom Stuart-Smith. The garden, the first to be made at the Castle since the 1820s, transforms the visitor entrance and provides a setting for band concerts throughout the year. The informal design takes its inspiration from Windsor's historic parkland landscape and the picturesque character of the Castle.

Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is closely associated with Scotland's turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. It was at Holyroodhouse at the end of March 1603 that Mary’s son, James VI of Scotland, heard that Elisabeth I had died and he had succeeded to the English throne. After that he returned to Holyroodhouse only once, in 1617. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of Holyroodhouse the premier royal residence in Scotland. Today, the Palace is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining.

Balmoral Castle on the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland is the private holiday residence of The Queen. Balmoral Castle and the original estate were purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. The original Balmoral Castle was built in the fifteenth century but it was considered too small. A new castle was constructed on the site about 90 metres (100 yards) north from the old building. Prince Albert planned the grounds and helped with the design of the castle itself, which was completed in 1856. Beloved by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Balmoral Castle has remained a favourite residence for The Queen and her family during the summer holiday period in August and September. The Castle is located on the large Balmoral Estate, a working estate, which aims to protect the environment while contributing to the local economy. The Estate grounds, gardens and the Castle Ballroom are open to visitors from mid-April to the end of July each year, under the management of the Balmoral Estate Office.

Sandringham House was bought in 1862 for The Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). The house was originally a Georgian structure. By 1870 it was rebuilt and, despite a serious fire in 1891, subsequently expanded to accommodate The Prince of Wales' growing family. Since then Sandringham has been a popular holiday retreat for successive members of the Royal Family.

The Queen has maintained this association. It was at Sandringham that The Queen's father, King George VI, died on 6 February 1952. Since then it has been The Queen's custom to spend the anniversary of her father's death and her own Accession privately at Sandringham.

St James's Palace was built between 1532 and 1540 by Henry VIII on the site of the Hospital of St James, Westminster, London. For over 300 years it was a residence of kings and queens of England. Queen Anne brought the court to St James's in 1702 after the disastrous fire, which destroyed the Palace of Whitehall in 1698. It has remained the official residence of the Sovereign, although since the death of William IV in 1837 the Sovereign has lived at Buckingham Palace. Foreign Ambassadors and High Commissioners are still formally accredited to the Court of St. James's for this reason. Alterations to the building were carried out in 1836 with the addition of the side galleries and a new ceiling .The panelling dates from this time, and the pews were installed in 1876. The Chapel Royal has always been considered to be the cradle of English church music, and among its many noted organists and composers were Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell - the latter lived in a suite of apartments in St James's Palace. The poet Dryden, who was frequently in debt, used to take refuge with Purcell in his apartments in order to avoid the clutches of persistent creditors. One of the Chapel's most notable organists and composers was George Frederick Handel, who was appointed by George II on 25 February 1723 as 'Composer of Musick of His Majesty's Chappel Royal'. Handel composed the great anthem 'Zadok the Priest' for the coronation of George II in 1727 and it has been used at every coronation since. It is also sung each year at the Royal Maundy service in which the Queen distributes Maundy money.

Kensington Palace

In 1689 William III bought the Jacobean mansion originally known as Nottingham House from his Secretary of State, the Earl of Nottingham, and commissioned Christopher Wren to extend and improve the house. This included the construction of Royal Apartments for the King and Queen, a council chamber, the Chapel Royal and the Great Stairs. A private road was laid out from the Palace to Hyde Park Corner, wide enough for three or four carriages to travel abreast down it, part of which survives today as Rotten Row. Until the death of George II in 1760, Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of successive sovereigns.
Queen Victoria was born and brought up in the Palace and news of her accession in 1837 was brought to her there by the Lord Chamberlain and the Archbishop of Canterbury. It had been expected that Victoria would reign from either Kensington or St James's Palace but almost immediately she moved to Buckingham Palace and never again stayed at Kensington.
Today Kensington contains the offices and London residences of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales used to live in Kensington Palace and have their offices there. Historic parts of Kensington Palace are open to the public. Kensington Palace is also home to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, with items of Royal, ceremonial and court dress dating from the 18th century to the present day.

Some of the other most celebrated Royal residences used by former kings and queens can still be visited today.

The Tower of London, begun by William I, is a fascinating complex constructed over several centuries. It provided historic Royal families with a residence for more than five centuries, and was a prison for other Royal figures, including Lady Jane Grey. The Tower housed the Royal Mint until 1810. There were also armouries and workshops in which weapons were designed and manufactured; items including armour worn by Henry VIII remain there today. The Tower remains the storehouse of the Crown Jewels and regalia, as it has done for nearly 700 years. Today the Tower is under the management of the Historic Royal Palaces Trust.

Hampton Court Palace is also managed by Historic Royal Palaces Trust. Given by Cardinal Wolsey to Henry VIII c.1526, the palace was a residence for figures including Mary I and Elizabeth I, Charles I, William III and Mary II, and retains many furnishings and objects from their times. It houses some important works of art and furnishings in the Royal Collection.

The Banqueting House in Whitehall is the only remaining part of London's old Palace of Whitehall. It was created by Inigo Jones for James I. Charles I commissioned Rubens to paint the vast ceiling panels, which celebrate kingship in general and the Stuart reign in particular. It was from the Banqueting House that Charles I stepped on to the scaffold on 30 January 1649 and was executed. In 1689 the Prince and Princess of Orange went to the Banqueting House to accept the crown, becoming joint Sovereigns William III and Mary II. Today the Banqueting House is managed by Historic Royal Palaces Trust.

Other historic Royal residences which can be visited include Osborne House, the beloved home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the Isle of Wight, and the Brighton Pavilion, former residence of George IV when he was Prince Regent.

Task 3.Check yourself questions:

1. What is the Privy Council?

2. What is the Civil List?

3. Can you speak about any members of the Royal family?

4. Do you know about any hobbies of the Royal family members?

5. One of the institutions associated with the monarch is the Order of the Garter. What is it? How many people can be knights of the order of the Garter. Where do they meet?

6. What ceremonies are connected with the monarch?

7. What are the powers of Monarch now, and how have they changed in the course of history?

8. What was the name of Elisabeth II’s father before the Coronation?

9. The symbols of which parts of the UK are present in the Royal Coat of Arms?

10. How is Monarchy in Britain connected with the Church of England?

11. What are the sources of the Royal Family’s income?

12. Describe some of the Royal palaces.

13. What is the present family name of the ruling dynasty?

14. What is the real name of the present Royal Family?

15. What does the phrase ‘Constitutional monarchy’ mean?

16. Was there a period in English history ,when there was no monarchy?

Task 4. Match up the names of Royal Palaces and certain events and facts:

1. Kensington Palace a) It was damaged by fire in 1992.

2. Buckingham Palace b) There is the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.

3. Balmoral c) Queen Victoria left from it for Coronation.

4. Sandringham d) The Crown Jewels are kept there.

5. St James e) It is associated with Mary Queen of Scots.

6. The Tower f) King George VI died there.

7. Holyroodhouse g) Henry Purcell and Frederick Handel worked here.

8. Windsor Castle h) There is much work for the preservation of nature.

Task 5. Read the text and find the words meaning the following: 1) a ceremony to accept someone into office, to give them certain powers; 2) a soldier of the lowest rank; 3) specially made coins given each year to poor people by the British monarch before Easter; 4) the favourite breed of dogs of Elisabeth II.

50 FACTS ABOUT THE QUEEN'S REIGN

1. The Queen became the fifth longest serving monarch on 21 June 2002. Only five other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more. These are:

• Victoria (63 years)

• George III (59 years)

• Henry III (56 years)

• Edward III (50 years)

• James VI of Scotland (James I of England) (58 years)

2. Queen Elizabeth II is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England.
3. Since 1952, The Queen has conferred 380,630 honours and awards.
4. The Queen has personally held 459 Investitures.
5. The first Investiture of the Queen's reign took place at Buckingham Palace on 27th February 1952. The first person to be presented was Private William Speakman, of The King's Own Scottish Borderers, who received the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Korean War.
6. The Queen has received around 3 million items of correspondence.
7. Over the course of the reign, well over a million people have attended garden parties at Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse (The Queen ended Presentation Parties in 1958).
8. Since 1952, The Queen has given Royal Assent to 3135 Acts of Parliament.
9. Over the reign, Her Majesty has given regular Tuesday evening audiences to 10 Prime Ministers. They are:

• Winston Churchill 1951-55

• Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57

• Harold Macmillan 1957-63

• Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64

• Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76

• Edward Heath 1970-74

• James Callaghan 1976-79

• Margaret Thatcher 1979-90

• John Major 1990-97

• Tony Blair 1997-present

10. Tony Blair is the first Prime Minister to have been born during The Queen's reign. He was born in early May, 1953 - a month before the Coronation.
11. The Queen is currently patron of 620 charities and organisations, 433 of which she has held since 1952.
12. In 50 years, The Queen has undertaken 251 official overseas visits to 128 different countries.
13. Many of The Queen's official tours were undertaken on the Royal Yacht Britannia. It was launched by Her Majesty on April 16, 1953 and was commissioned for service on January 7, 1954. It was de-commissioned in December, 1997. During this time, Britannia travelled more than a million miles on Royal and official duties.
14. The Royal Yacht Britannia was first used by The Queen when she embarked it with the Duke of Edinburgh on the 1st May 1954 at Tobruk for the final stage of their Commonwealth Tour returning to the Pool of London. The last time The Queen was on board Britannia for an official visit was on the 9th August 1997 for a visit to Arran.
15. By the end of 2002, The Queen will have visited Australia 14 times, Canada 20 times, Jamaica 6 times and New Zealand 10 times.
16. The Queen's official visits have ranged from the Cocos Islands, 5.4 square miles with a population of 655, to The Peoples' Republic of China, 3.7 million square miles with a population of 1.25 billion.
17. Unusual live gifts given to The Queen on foreign tours include: two tortoises given to The Queen in the Seychelles in 1972; a seven-year-old bull elephant called "Jumbo" given to Her Majesty by the President of Cameroon in 1972 to mark The Queen's Silver Wedding, and a canary given to The Queen after the State visit to Germany in 1965.
18. The Queen has sent almost 100,000 telegrams to centenarians in the UK and the Commonwealth.
19. The Queen has sent more than 280,000 telegrams to couples in the UK and the Commonwealth celebrating their diamond wedding (60 years) anniversary.
20. The Queen's real birthday is on April 21, but it is celebrated officially in June.
21. The Queen has attended 31 Royal Variety performances.
22. The Queen has given 88 State banquets during her reign.
23. The Queen has launched 17 ships during her reign.
24. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have sent about 37,500 Christmas cards during The Queen's reign.
25. The Queen has given out about 75,000 Christmas puddings to staff continuing the custom of King George V and King George VI.
26. The Queen learnt to drive in 1945.
27. The Queen was born at 17 Bruton St, London W1 on the 21st April, 1926, was christened on the 29th May, 1926 in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace and was confirmed on the 28th March, 1942 in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle.
28. With the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960, The Queen became the first reigning Sovereign to have a child since Queen Victoria, who had her youngest child, Princess Beatrice, in 1857.
29. The Queen has 30 godchildren.

30. The first football match The Queen attended was the 1953 FA Cup Final.

31. The Queen has been at the saluting base of her troops in every Trooping the Colour ceremony since the start of her reign, with the exception of 1955, when a national rail strike forced the cancellation of the parade.

32. The Queen has sat for over 120 portraits during her reign.

33. The first 'Royal walkabout' took place during the visit by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to Australia and New Zealand in 1970. The practice was introduced to allow them to meet as many people as possible, not simply officials and dignitaries.

34. In 1969 the first television film about the family life of the Royal Family was made, and shown on the eve of the Investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales.

35. An important innovation during The Queen's reign was the opening in 1962 of a new gallery at Buckingham Palace to display items from the Royal Collection. The brainchild of The Duke of Edinburgh, the new Queen's Gallery occupied the space of the Palace's bomb-damaged private chapel. It was the first time that parts of the Palace had been opened to the general public. The new Queen's Gallery is currently being redeveloped and will re-open in May, 2002 for the Golden Jubilee.

36. The only time The Queen has had to interrupt an overseas tour was in 1974 during a tour of Australia and Indonesia. The Queen was called back from Australia when a general election was called suddenly. The Duke of Edinburgh continued the programme in Australia, and The Queen re-joined the tour in Indonesia.

37. The Queen has opened Parliament every year except 1959 and 1963, when she was expecting Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively.

38. The Queen's first Commonwealth tour began on 24 November 1953, and included visits to Canada, Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, the Cocos Islands, Ceylon, Aden, Uganda, Libya, Malta and Gibraltar. The total distance covered was 43,618 miles.

39. The Queen has made a Christmas Broadcast to the Commonwealth every year of her reign except 1969, when a repeat of the film 'Royal Family' was shown and a written message from The Queen issued.

40. In 1953, The Queen made the first Christmas Broadcast from overseas, (rather than from the UK), broadcasting live from New Zealand. The first televised broadcast was in 1957, made live. The first prerecorded broadcast took place in 1960 to allow transmission around the world.

41. History was made in 1982 when Pope John Paul II visited Britain, the first Pope to do so for 450 years. The Queen, Titular Head of the Church of England, received him at Buckingham Palace.

42. The Queen has attended 46 Royal Maundy services in 35 cathedrals during her reign. A total of 5,100 people have received Maundy Money in recognition of their service to the Church and their communities.

43. During the Silver Jubilee year, The Queen toured thirty-six counties in the UK and Northern Ireland, starting in Glasgow on the 17th May.

44. The Queen's first foreign tour of the Silver Jubilee year was a visit to Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. The first foreign tour of The Queen's Golden Jubilee year is to Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia.
45. The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign, starting with Susan who was a present for her 18th birthday in 1944. A good proportion of these have been direct descendants from Susan. Her Majesty currently has four corgis - Pharos, Swift, Emma and Linnet.
46. The Queen also introduced a new breed of dog known as the "dorgi" when one of Her Majesty's corgis was mated with a dachshund named Pipkin which belonged to Princess Margaret. There have been 8 dorgis - Tinker, Pickles, Chipper, Piper, Harris, Brandy, Cider and Berry.
47. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have been married for 54 years. They were married on November 20, 1947 in Westminster Abbey. The Queen's wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell and was woven at Winterthur Silks Limited, Dunfermline, in the Canmore factory, using silk that had come from Chinese silkworms at Lullingstone Castle.
48. The Queen's wedding ring was made from a nugget of Welsh gold which came from the Clogau St David's mine near Dolgellau. The official wedding cake was made by McVitie and Price Ltd, using ingredients given as a wedding gift by Australian Girl Guides.
49. The Queen has laid her wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday every year of her reign, except in 1959, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1983 and 1999 when she was either pregnant or overseas on an official visit.
50. There have been five Archbishops of Canterbury during The Queen's reign (Archbishops Geoffrey Fisher, Michael Ramsey, Donald Coggan, Robert Runcie and George Carey).

50 FACTS ABOUT THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

Task 6. Match up the words from the following text (the left column) and their definitions:

1. midshipman a) Great bravery, especially in war

2. HMS b) nearness

3. Valour c) a ceremonial flag

4. to anoint d) husband of a ruler

5. RAF e) concerning ships or the sea

6. a prolific writer f) to put oil on a Royal person in a religious ceremony

7. equestrian g) Her Majesty’s Ship

8. proximity h) the rank of someone training to became a Navy officer

9. Consort I) One who produces many books

10. Maritime j) Honourary Head of a University

11. Chancellor k) liquefied petroleum gas

12. Royal Mint l) connected with horse riding

13. Silver Wink m) a group of 24 knights, the highest level of Knighthood

14. Tiddlywinks n) a reward in Tiddlywink

15. LGP o) a group of 16 Scottish knights, a high level of Knighthood

16. Order of the Garter p) Royal Air Force

17. Order of the Thistle r) a British government department producing coins and

18. Standard paper money.

q) a game, in which the players make small round pieces

of plastic jump into a cup by pressing their edges with a

piece of plastic.

1. The Duke of Edinburgh was born at the villa 'Mon Repos', the summer retreat of the Greek royal family, on the island of Corfu, on 10th June 1921.

2. The Duke is the youngest child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice (of Battenberg). His grandfather was a Prince of Denmark who became King of Greece. The Duke is also related to Kings of Prussia and Emperors of Russia. The Duke renounced his Greek royal title in 1947 and became a naturalized British subject following his service in the Royal Navy.

3. The Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen are both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria. The Duke is a direct descendant of Princess Alice, the third child of Queen Victoria. The Queen is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria's eldest son, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII).

4. The Duke was on active service in the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War. The Duke's first naval appointment, aged 18, was as a midshipman to HMS RAMILLIES, which escorted the first contingents of the Allied Expeditionary Force from Australia to Egypt.

5. The Duke of Edinburgh was mentioned in dispatches for his service in the Second World War. His Royal Highness joined HMS VALIANT in the Mediterranean Fleet and was involved in engagements including, on 21 March 1941, the battle of Matapan (in Greek waters) against the Italian fleet. For his work in control of the searchlights Prince Philip was mentioned in despatches. He was later awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour.

6. Towards the end of the Second World War Prince Philip served in the destroyer HMS WHELP in the Pacific, and was present in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender on 2nd September 1945.

7. From July 1951 The Duke of Edinburgh took up no more active naval appointments owing to Princess Elizabeth's increased Royal responsibilities. He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 15th January 1953. His other British service appointments are Field Marshal of the Army and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. His Royal Highness holds 42 Service appointments in total, including Commonwealth Services, and he has presented 49 Colours.

8. As well as the title Duke of Edinburgh His Royal Highness has the titles Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich. All three titles were conferred by King George VI in 1947. The Queen created her husband a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957.

9. As husband of the Sovereign, The Duke of Edinburgh was not crowned or anointed at the Coronation ceremony in 1953.

10. The Duke learned to fly all types of aircraft. He gained his RAF wings in 1953, his helicopter wings in 1956 and his private pilot's licence in 1959. Prince Philip achieved 5,986 hours in 59 types of aircraft. The Duke's final flight was on 11 August 1997 from Carlisle to Islay, following which His Royal Highness has stopped flying.

11. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and International Award were founded by the Duke to introduce young people to new experiences, including physical, skills-based and community challenges. Since 1956 more than four million young people from over 90 countries have taken part.

12. The Duke of Edinburgh is a prolific writer on environmental, technological, equestrian and animal subjects. His books include: Selected Speeches 1948-1955 (1957); Birds from Britannia (1962); Down to Earth (1988); and Survival or Extinction: A Christian Attitude to the Environment (1989). Down to Earth is even available in Japanese.

13. Prince Philip has accompanied The Queen on all 251 of her official overseas visits. The first of these was the Coronation tour of the Commonwealth from November 1953 to May 1954, when they visited countries in the Caribbean, Australasia, Ceylon, Africa and Europe, travelling a distance of 43,618 miles.

14. The Duke of Edinburgh undertakes many Royal duties. To date His Royal Highness has fulfilled over 18,567 official engagements excluding those accompanying The Queen, an average of 371 each year. In 2001 he undertook 363 solo engagements in the UK and abroad.

15. Although he is a Privy Counsellor, the Duke has no other constitutional role. Until 1999, Prince Philip was a member of the House of Lords but never spoke there owing to his proximity to The Queen, who remains politically neutral.

16. The Duke of Edinburgh takes a hands-on approach to the organizations, which he represents. He has chaired over 1,454 meetings.

17. Science and technology are a major interest. Prince Philip has been Patron of the Industrial Society since 1952 and has visited research stations, laboratories, and every kind of workplace throughout Britain. In 1976 he initiated the Fellowship of Engineering, now the Royal Academy of Engineering, which promotes engineering excellence and education.

18. The Duke of Edinburgh is only the fifth consort to a reigning queen in British history. Of his predecessors, Philip II of Spain was husband to Mary I. William III was co-Sovereign with Mary II, although she, as daughter of James II, was nearer to the throne. The husband of Queen Anne was not given the title of King, but remained Prince George of Denmark. Prince Albert was created Prince Consort by Queen Victoria in 1857.

19. Care of the environment has long been one of The Duke of Edinburgh's greatest interests. The Duke was the first President of the World Wildlife Fund-UK from its foundation in 1961 to 1982, was International President of WWF (now World Wide Fund for Nature) from 1981 to 1996, and is now President Emeritus. He has visited WWF projects in over 40 countries on five continents.

20. The Duke of Edinburgh's official livery colour is dark green, known as 'Edinburgh Green'. It has been used for staff liveries - the Duke of Edinburgh's page at the Coronation wore dark green and silver - and private cars.

21. Naval history is a keen interest. His Royal Highness was appointed a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum in 1948. He was instrumental in saving the tea clipper Cutty Sark - now a museum ship stationed in Greenwich - and in establishing the Maritime Trust.

22. The Duke of Edinburgh played a key role in the restoration of Windsor Castle after the great fire of 1992. He served as Chairman of the general Restoration Committee, one of the two committees supervising the rebuilding of the damaged rooms.

23. The Duke of Edinburgh was the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television, in May 1961. The Duke has also presented television programmes, including in May 1957 a programme on the BBC about his four and a half month tour of the Commonwealth.

24. Prince Philip has taken an interest in the ordinary, unsung aspects of life, including bricks and mortar. Prince Philip served as President of the National Federation of Housing Associations in 1975-1980, and chaired the Inquiry into British Housing, which published two reports - in 1985 and 1991. The Duke of Edinburgh was chairman of the Westminster Abbey Restoration Committee from 1973 to 1997, responsible for the cleaning of the Abbey's exterior and the renovation of the building's interior.

25. The Duke has travelled widely without The Queen during his naval and public working lives. He has made two round-the-world voyages in the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA, visiting some of the remotest parts of the Commonwealth as The Queen's representative, travelling some 72,430 miles by BRITANNIA. The four-month voyage of 1956-57 included visits to the remote South Atlantic locations of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, Ascension Island and St. Helena.

26. The Duke is the founder of the Commonwealth Study Conferences. Held every six years since 1956, the conferences examine the human aspects of industrial issues in Commonwealth nations with the aim of developing industrial and business leaders of high quality.

27. The Duke of Edinburgh is Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. At Trooping the Colour he has always accompanied The Queen on horseback and wears the uniform of Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

28. His Royal Highness lived for seven years in France as a boy, and still speaks the language well.

29. The Duke of Edinburgh has served as Chancellor of the Universities of Cambridge (1976-), Edinburgh (1952-), Salford (1967-91) and Wales (1948-76). He is also a Life Governor of King's College, London.

30. In 1963 The Duke of Edinburgh founded a bag-piping trophy for the Pakistan Army. He offered to present the challenge cup after witnessing a display of massed bands of the Pakistan Army while visiting the country with The Queen in 1961.

31. The Duke of Edinburgh is a veteran public speaker. His Royal Highness has made 4,632 speeches at meetings, conferences and receptions - an average of around eight speeches a month for 50 years.

32. The Duke has a particular interest in the use of the English language to promote communication among different countries. Since 1952 he has been President of the English Speaking Union, a society which organises scholarships, exchanges and public speaking events around the world.

33. The Prince Philip Designer's Prize has been awarded to the Designer of the Year since 1959. The award is made to a British designer or design-team leader whose exemplary work has had an effect on the perception of design by the public, and on the status of designers in society.

34. Prince Philip has played an enthusiastic role in The Queen's Awards for Export & Technology from its beginnings in 1965. He was Chairman of the Originating Committee for The Queen's Award for Industry, as it was then known. The award recognizes significant contributions to British industry and technological development.

35. The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace, the London showcase for exhibitions of art from the Royal Collection, was built at the suggestion of The Duke of Edinburgh. The gallery was converted from the bomb-damaged Private Chapel and opened to the public in July 1962. It is currently being refurbished ready for reopening in May 2002.

36. In 1958 The Duke of Edinburgh commissioned celebrated British composer Benjamin Britten to produce a setting for the Jubilate and Te Deum for the St. George's Chapel Choir, Windsor. The modern settings were a new departure for the previously traditional choral music used at the Chapel.

37. The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron or President of 814 organizations. The longest-standing association is with the Federation of London Youth Clubs, of which His Royal Highness became Patron in 1947. He has been President of the National Playing Fields Association since 1948.

38. Together with Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan and Sir Evelyn Rothschild, The Duke of Edinburgh some years ago instituted the Inter-Faith Dialogue between the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths. This group continues to meet regularly to discuss matters of common interest.

39. The Duke of Edinburgh has undertaken 223 solo visits to 67 Commonwealth countries, and 385 visits to 74 other countries; an average of 12 countries per year, over the last 50 years.

40. From 1952 to 1999 The Duke of Edinburgh served as President of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee on the design of coins, seals and medals.

41. As President of International Equestrian Federation from 1964 to 1986 Prince Philip was involved in defining the rules and regulations for several equestrian sports. Under the guidance of The Duke, International Rules were created for Carriage Driving, Long Distance Riding and Vaulting, and Veterinary Committee and Veterinary Regulations were introduced.

42. The Duke helped to design the interior of HM Yacht BRITANNIA, formerly the floating Royal residence for many UK, Commonwealth and overseas tours.

43. 75 prizes and medals are associated with The Duke of Edinburgh. The most unusual is the Silver Wink award. Students at the University of Cambridge challenged Prince Philip to a tiddlywinks match in 1958. The Duke of Edinburgh appointed the Goons as his Royal champions. The Silver Wink has been awarded by the Duke since 1961 to the winner of the University Tiddlywinks Championships.

44. The Duke uses an LPG-powered taxi cab around London to attend engagements, often unrecognized.

45. The Duke has a strong interest in the welfare of ex-Service men and women. Since 1974, he has been Grand President of the British Commonwealth Ex-Services League, which provides practical welfare assistance for ex-servicemen and women of the Crown. The Duke has nominated the charity for donations made by members of the public to mark the Jubilee.

46. The Duke has been President of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) since 1952. The organization promotes discussion followed by practical projects or awards within the areas of design, arts, education, environment and business.

47. The Duke of Edinburgh has his own personal Standard. The first three quarters show Prince Philip's lineage: Denmark (lions and hearts); Greece (white cross on blue); Mountbatten (2 black 'pales' on white). The fourth quarter contains the arms of the City of Edinburgh and represents his title.

48. Prince Philip is a Freeman of the cities of Acapulco; Belfast; Bridgetown, Barbados; Cardiff; Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Edinburgh; Glasgow; Guadalajara; London; Los Angeles; Melbourne; Nairobi.

49. The Duke of Edinburgh is a Knight of the Order of the Garter and a Knight of the Order of the Thistle. His Royal Highness is also Grand Master and First or Principal Knight of the Order of the British Empire, founded in the twentieth century to reward the work and service of members of the general public.

50. The islanders of Tanna, one of the islands in Vanuatu in the South West Pacific, worship the Duke of Edinburgh as a god. Vanuatu was formerly the Anglo-French Condominium of the New Hebrides, which Prince Philip visited in 1971.

Task 7. Re-read the information about the Queen and her husband to find support for your ideas about the mission of monarchy in Britain. Discuss with a partner what could be arguments for and against monarchy.

50 FACTS ABOUT THE QUEEN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR – 2002

Task 8. Explain the following statements in the following text:

11 (circumnavigated the world); 16 (baton); 21 (hosted); 31 (soaps); 50 (hampers).

Task 9. Classify the facts about the Golden Jubilee: into three groups: 1. Trips and visits. 2. Meeting people. 3. Forms of celebration.

As well as a celebration of Her Majesty's 50 years on the throne, the Golden Jubilee was an opportunity for The Queen to express her thanks to people, both personally and officially, for their support and loyalty over her reign. The 50 facts listed below demonstrate the diversity and intensity of the Jubilee programme, the highlight of which was the Central Weekend in June.

1. Queen Victoria was the last monarch to celebrate a Golden Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth II, aged 76, is the oldest monarch to celebrate a Golden Jubilee. The youngest was James I (James VI of Scotland) at 51 years old.
2. The Queen visited 70 cities and towns in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 50 counties over 38 days from May to August in the Jubilee year.
3. The Queen has travelled over 30,000 miles by air around the UK and the world including Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia during the Jubilee. The Queen's trip to Canada in October will add a further 10,000 miles.
4. People all over the world held street parties, garden parties and other events to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. Perhaps the 'coolest' party was in the Antarctic, where 20 scientists of the British Antarctic Survey held a party at a temperature of minus 20. Celebrations included an outdoor feast and a ration of champagne, plus a game of cricket on the sea ice, skiing and sledging. More than 40,000 “toolkits” were distributed to people organizing street parties.
5. Twenty-seven aircraft flew over Buckingham Palace for the finale of the Jubilee Weekend celebrations. The flypast was led by an RAF C17 Globemaster and ended with Concorde and the Red Arrows trailing red, white and blue.

6. The gardens of Buckingham Palace were used for public concerts for the first time ever during the Golden Jubilee Central Weekend.

7. The Queen is the first member of the Royal Family to be awarded a gold disc from the recording industry. 100,000 copies of the CD of the 'Party at the Palace', produced by EMI, were sold within the first week of release.
8. The “Party at the Palace” pop concert was one of the most watched pop concerts in history, attracting around 200 million viewers all over the world.
9. Around 28,000 picnic hampers (special coolbags) were given free to guests, artistes and workers during the two concerts in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. They were packed with goodies including champagne, smoked salmon wrap, “Jubilee Chicken” and strawberries and cream.
10. The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for voluntary service groups was launched during 2002 to honour 'unsung heroes'. It will become an annual award.
11. The Queen circumnavigated the globe during the Golden Jubilee, starting the Jubilee with visits to Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia. The 2002 tour was the sixth time in her reign that Her Majesty has travelled around the world on a single tour.
12. The Queen has travelled on or been aboard the following methods of transport during the Jubilee: a 777 airplane, 727 airplane, Falcon airplane, 146 airplane, helicopter, Skyrail, golden bus, metro, Royal train, steam train, aircraft carrier (HMS Ark Royal), a minesweeper (HMS Bangor), Royal barge, lifeboat, Gold State Coach, horse drawn carriage, Rolls Royce, State Land Rover, Jaguar and new Bentley.
13. The Queen visited the railway station with the longest name in the world - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch - in North Wales.
14. During the Jubilee tour, the Royal Train has covered 3,500 miles across England, Scotland and Wales - from as far south as Falmouth in Cornwall and as far North as Wick in Caithness.
15. The first ever parade of all Her Majesty's bodyguards was held during the Golden Jubilee. It was the first time in their centuries-old history that they had gone on parade together. The 300-strong Parade included detachments from the Gentlemen at Arms (created by King Henry VIII in 1509), the Yeoman of the Guard (created by King Henry VII in 1485) and the Yeoman Warders (one of the oldest corps in the world dating back probably to the eleventh century and based at the Tower of London).
16. The Queen's Golden Jubilee baton has travelled through 23 Commonwealth countries spanning five continents and spent 50 days on visits in the UK covering over 5000 miles. There were 5000 runners in the UK alone.
17. The first Royal poetry competition was launched by the Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, during the Golden Jubilee. Almost 4,000 entries were received and The Queen presented medals to nine young winners aged between seven and 18.
18. The Queen's Gallery, the most significant addition to Buckingham Palace in 150 years, opened in May 2002 for the Golden Jubilee. The Jubilee Garden at Windsor Castle, the first public garden to be created at the Castle since the 1820s, was opened in June 2002.
19. The Royal Collection's special touring Golden Jubilee exhibition has attracted record audiences throughout the country. “Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci from the Royal Collection: A Golden Jubilee Celebration” opened in February at the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight (near Chester). The gallery experienced a 465% increase in visitor numbers over the exhibition's two-month run. At the next location, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea, attendances of 30,000 almost matched the gallery's average annual total.
20. There were 28 million hits on the Golden Jubilee website over a six-month period. During the Jubilee, The Queen sent two general circulation emails - one from Norwich to all schools in Norfolk, and one from Wells to schools around the world. The Queen received over 30,000 congratulatory e-mails. She sent a downloadable Jubilee message on the British Monarchy web site. She also talked to schoolchildren on a video link to the Australian outback.
21. The Queen hosted a special dinner for all reigning European Sovereigns during the Jubilee. The Queen also attended a dinner with her five surviving UK prime ministers and gave a dinner for Governors-General of the Commonwealth countries of which she is Queen.

22. The Queen has taken part in around fifty-five “meet the people “ walkabouts during the Jubilee tours from February to August. The first Royal “walkabout” was introduced on a visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1970.

23. Jubilee year saw a number of new dishes invented to mark the anniversary. “Jubilee Chicken” was created by the Royal Chef for guests at the two Queen's Concerts, with the recipe published for people to make at home.
24. Events over the Golden Jubilee Weekend required around 10 Mega Watts of power, roughly twice the amount needed to power Canary Wharf.
25. Five hundred miles of cabling were laid in London so that the events of Golden Jubilee Weekend could be broadcast to countries all around the globe. There were also over 50 studios and edit booths.
26. Three thousand, five hundred and twenty-one media from over 60 countries were accredited to cover the Golden Jubilee Central Weekend from London.
27. The spectacular fireworks display, which took place from the roof of Buckingham Palace and in Green Park over the Jubilee Weekend required 2.5 tons of fireworks, with some rising as high as 800 ft into the night sky. The light and sound display also involved 50 searchlights on the Palace, and fountains of water over nine metres high and a sound track.
28. A chain of 2006 beacons was lit across the world on Monday 3 June, including the length and breadth of the UK, the Channel Islands, the Commonwealth, and the world. The furthest north was 300 miles from the North Pole in the Arctic, the furthest south in Antarctica, 1000 miles from the South Pole and 8000 miles away from Buckingham Palace. It was the largest ever chain of beacons to be lit. The Queen lit the National Beacon in the Mall on Monday evening, a structure five metres tall in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial. It produced a flame nine metres tall, and burned a tonne of liquid petroleum gas during the time it was lit.
29. The spectacular Jubilee parade down the Mall on the afternoon of the 4th June involved 20,000 people, including a 5,000-strong gospel choir, 2,500 participants from the Notting Hill Carnival, and 4,000 people representing Commonwealth countries.
A million people gathered in The Mall to watch the Jubilee festivities on June 3rd and 4th.
30. During the Jubilee programme, The Queen has met a diverse range of personalities, including Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space; Sven Goran Eriksson and Sol Campbell; rock group Def Leppard and heavy metal musician Ozzy Osbourne; Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Edna Everage.
31. The Queen visited the set of the TV soap “Emmerdale” during the Jubilee. Many soaps also ran Jubilee story lines, including Coronation Street, Eastenders, Brookside and The Archers.
32. The Queen made visits to all four main faith communities (Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu) during the Jubilee. The Queen visited a mosque in Scunthorpe, a Hindu temple in North London, a Sikh temple in Leicester and a Jewish Museum in Manchester. A Multi-Faith Reception at Buckingham Palace was attended by more than 700 representatives of different faiths. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor preached at Sandringham for the first time and the Sunday service during the Jubilee Central Weekend was an ecumenical service.
33. The Queen invited around 48,000 people to six Garden Parties during the Golden Jubilee. The three Buckingham Palace Garden Parties had special themes - Accession Day Babies, Young People born since the Silver Jubilee, and charities of which The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are patron.
34. Six hundred and eighty-eight people born on Accession Day (6th February, 1952) attended the first themed Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 9th July 2002. The fifty-year-olds applied for tickets which were open to anyone with their special date of birth.
35. Around 160,000 cups of tea, 54,000 drop scones and 48,000 slices of chocolate and lemon cake were served at Jubilee Garden Parties at Holyroodhouse, Buckingham Palace, Balmoral and Sandringham during the summer.
36. The Gold State Coach was used twice during the Golden Jubilee, making its first appearance since the Silver Jubilee in 1977. The first time was at “All the Queen's Horses” equestrian spectacular and the second in the procession to St Paul's Cathedral on Jubilee Day, 4th June.
37. Eleven photographers from the UK and the Commonwealth were commissioned to photograph The Queen for the Golden Jubilee. Photographers included Canadian musician Bryan Adams, Australian photographer Polly Borland, The Duke of York and fashion photographer Rankin. Digital techniques were used for the first time in official Royal photography.
38. The first female Queen's equerry was in attendance during the Golden Jubilee tour of New Zealand. In New Zealand, The Queen as female Head of State joined a female Governor-General (Dame Silvia Cartwright), a female Prime Minister (Helen Clark) and a female Chief Justice (Sian Elias).
39. The Queen received and replied to, almost 17,500 Golden Jubilee congratulatory letters between February and July, 2002.
40. The Queen has unveiled 30 plaques and 4 statues during the Jubilee tours.
41. The Queen has opened or visited 5 gardens, planted 9 trees/plants, taken part in or watched 10 parades, visited 8 museums and attended 27 receptions.
42. The Queen has delivered more than 20 speeches through the main Jubilee period (Feb-Aug), in which she included words in the Maori language and Welsh.
43. The oldest person presented to The Queen was a 110-year-old in Stirling and the youngest person presented to The Queen was 3 in South London.
44. This year, The Queen addressed both Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly all in the same year for the first time. The Queen also attended a reception given by the Northern Ireland Assembly and made a speech to its members.
45. Almost 20,000 balloons and 52 doves were released during Golden Jubilee visits in honour of The Queen.
46. Over 600 Jubilee gifts were presented to The Queen for her Jubilee, including personal gifts from individuals, official and corporate gifts, and gifts from Heads of States of other countries. They have included knitted toys, fruit trees for Sandringham, portraits, banners, tea cosies, china corgis, books and videos.
47. The Armed Forces paid their own tribute to The Queen during a spectacular military display in Portsmouth. It featured 6,000 personnel from all three Services. It ended with a cleverly staged climax when an air crewman leapt into the sea from a helicopter and appeared to swim to present The Queen with a bunch of flowers.
48. The Empire State Building shone purple and gold on the evening of Tuesday, 4 June 2002 in honour of The Queen's Golden Jubilee. The occasion also celebrated the close ties between the people of New York and Britain.
49. The Queen sent 2,281 birthday telegrams to centenarians and 9,870 telegrams to couples celebrating their diamond wedding (60) anniversary between January and July.
50. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh ate local products wherever they went during the Jubilee tours, from Jamaica to the Western Isles. They were given hampers of locally produced food in Cornwall, Somerset, Suffolk and Powys.

Task 10. Prepare presentations about some other members of the Royal Family using the sites indicated in References.

Task 11. Self Assessment. Having studied the facts from the previous three texts, make a quiz consisting of 15 questions. Exchange these quizzes in class and answer the questions prepared by your group mates.

Unit 4. Parliament

Task 1. Read the basic facts and make sure you understand the terminology used. If necessary look up the words in Longman Dictionary of Language and Culture.

BASIC FACTS:

• The UK Parliament is one of the oldest representative assemblies in the world.

• Parliamentary government in the United Kingdom is based on a two-chamber system. The House of Lords (the upper House) and the House of Commons (the lower house) sit separately and are constituted on entirely different principles.

• The legislative process involves both Houses of Parliament and the Monarch.

• The main functions of Parliament are to examine proposals for new laws, to provide, by voting, for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government, to scrutinise government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure, to debate the major issues of the day.

• Proposals for legislative changes may be contained in government White Papers.

• Consultation papers, sometimes called Green Papers, set out government proposals, which are still taking shape and seek comments from the public.

• There is no requirement for there to be a White or Green Paper before a bill is introduced into Parliament.

• Parliament has a maximum duration of five years. At any time up to the end of this period, a general election can be held for a new House of Commons.

• There are devolved Parliaments/Assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland created by legislation passed by the UK Parliament.

• Recess is a break within a session for (e.g. Christmas, Easter, Whitsun, Summer).

• Prorogation is the gap between the end of one session and the State Opening, which begins the next session.

• Dissolution means the end of one Parliament before an election and the beginning of the next.

Task 2. Read the text and make a quiz on one of its parts, exchange your quizes in class and solve them.

Palace of Westminster, or the History of Parliament

The site of the Houses of Parliament is the Palace of Westminster, a royal palace and former residence of kings. The layout of the Palace is intricate, with its existing buildings containing nearly 1,200 rooms, 100 staircases and well over 3 kilometres (2 miles) of passages. Among the original historic buildings is Westminster Hall, used nowadays for major public ceremonial events. Control of the Palace of Westminster and its precincts was for centuries exercised by the Queen's representative, the Lord Great Chamberlain. Certain ceremonial rooms continue to be controlled by the Lord Great Chamberlain.

The Palace of Westminster was the principal residence of the kings of England from the middle of the 11th century until 1512. William I, having established his first stronghold at the Tower, later moved to Westminster; and it is from the reign of his son, William Rufus, that the first buildings on the site date, including Westminster Hall, the Great Hall, which was built at the northern end of the Palace and still stands today. The hall was designed originally as a place for feasting and entertaining, but its very size made it more than that. Among other uses, the Royal Council of bishops, nobles and ministers assembled there. The special later form of this Council, which came to be known as Parliament, was the forerunner of the present House of Lords. It was also the site of the first true English parliament to include elected representatives, summoned by Simon de Montfort in 1265. While Parliament has never met in the Hall on a regular basis, it was the existence of the Hall, which at that time was the largest in Europe that helped to make Westminster the judicial and administrative centre of the kingdom. In medieval times kings summoned their courts wherever they happened to be. But by the end of the 14th century the court in all its aspects - administrative, judicial and parliamentary - had its headquarters at Westminster. During later centuries, the Hall housed the courts of law, and was the place of many notable state trials, for instance, those of Thomas More, Charles I, and the Gunpowder Plot conspirators.

The Hall is also the place where lyings in state, of monarchs, consorts, and, rarely, very distinguished statesmen, take place. In April 2002 several hundred thousand people queued to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother, as she lay in state there.

Although the Lords were accommodated in the Palace, the Commons originally had no permanent meeting place of their own, meeting either in the chapter house or the refectory of Westminster Abbey. In 1547 the Royal Chapel of St Stephen within the Palace of Westminster was handed over to the Commons. The Commons assembled in St Stephen's until 1834 when the Palace was burned down. This fire destroyed the Palace except Westminster Hall, the crypt of St Stephen's Chapel, the adjacent cloisters and the Jewel Tower.

The present Houses of Parliament were built over the next 30 years after the fire of 1834. They were the work of the architect Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) and his assistant Augustus Pugin (1812-52). The design incorporated Westminster Hall and the remains of St Stephen's Chapel. The House of Commons Chamber was destroyed in a German air attack in 1941. It was rebuilt after the Second World War, taking care to preserve the essential features of Barry's building - the architect was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The new Chamber was completed in 1950.

The public entrance to the Palace is through St Stephen's entrance in Old Palace Yard. Visitors wishing to watch the proceedings of either House should either obtain tickets well in advance - normally seven to eight weeks - from their MP, or else join the queue outside St Stephen's Entrance. It is generally easiest to get into the House of Commons between 6.00pm and 10.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, after 1:30pm on Thursdays and at 9am on Fridays. For UK residents, permits for guided parties to tour the Palace and Westminster Hall can be obtained from the local MP. Overseas visitors should apply to the Education Office at the House of Commons for permits.

Layout of the Palace of Westminster

After coming through the public entrance - St Stephen's Entrance - the approach to the Central Lobby of the Palace is through St Stephen's Hall from St Stephen's Porch. Central Lobby, a large octagonal hall, is the centrepiece of the Palace. When waiting to see their MP, members of the public wait here. The Central Lobby is a great masterpiece of Victorian art.

From the Central Lobby, corridors lead northward to the House of Commons Lobby and Chamber and southward to the House of Lords. Beyond the House of Lords are the ceremonial rooms used at the State Opening of Parliament - the Queen's Robing Room and the Royal Gallery - reached by a separate entrance under the Victoria Tower. The Royal Gallery is 33 m long, 13 m high and 13 m wide (110 ft x 44 ft x 44 ft). The Queen processes through it on her way to the Chamber of the House of Lords on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament. It is also often used when members of the two Houses meet together to hear addresses by visiting heads of State or Government.

To the north of the House of Commons are the residences of the Speaker and the Serjeant-at-Arms, and various offices for ministers and officials. Beyond them is one of the most famous features of the Palace - the huge bell Big Ben housed in the Clock Tower. Big Ben came into operation in 1859 and weighs 13.7 tonnes.

The House of Lords

The Lords Chamber, the masterpiece of the rebuilt Palace, was first occupied in 1847. It is 24 m long, 14 m wide and 14 m high (80 ft x 46 ft x 46 ft). At its southern end is the Throne, from which the Queen reads her speech at the opening of Parliament. In front of the Throne is the red cushion known as the Woolsack. The Woolsack is a seat stuffed with wool on which the Lord Chancellor sits. It was introduced by King Edward III (1327-77) and originally stuffed with English wool as a reminder of England's traditional source of wealth - the wool trade - and as a sign of prosperity. Today the Woolsack is stuffed with wool from several countries of the Commonwealth, to symbolize unity. In front of this are two similar woolsacks used by judges at the opening of Parliament, and the Table of the House at which the Clerks sit.

The Lords' benches, upholstered in red leather, are arranged on both sides of the House, in five rows divided into three blocks. The Government benches are on the right of the Throne and the Opposition benches on the left. Facing the Woolsack below the Table are the cross benches, used by members who do not belong to any political party.

The House of Lords is the second chamber of the U.K. Houses of Parliament. Members of the House of Lords (known as 'peers') consist of Lords Spiritual (senior bishops and the two archbishops) and Lords Temporal (lay peers). Law Lords (senior judges) also sit as Lords Temporal. The number of spiritual peers is now reduced to 26. They include the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of Durham, London and Winchester, and the 21 next most senior Church of England Bishops.

Members of the House of Lords are not elected. Following the House of Lords Act 1999 there are only 92 peers who sit by virtue of hereditary peerage. The majority of members are now Life Peers and the Government has been consulting on proposals for further reform of the Lords. Some Lords are former Members of the House of Commons who have been elevated to the Lords in recognition of distinguished service in politics or because one of the political parties wishes to have them in the House. People who have especially distinguished themselves in other parts of public life, such as industry, the trade unions, education, science, the arts and local government, are often brought into the House of Lords as life peers. In 1958 the Life Peerages Act was passed, which entitled the Queen to give non-hereditary titles or life peerages to both men and women. One of the life peers is Sean Connery, another is Margaret Thatcher.

There were 700 peers in total in February 2002. The composition of the House of Lords is different from that of the House of Commons. There was traditionally a large number of Conservative peers in the Lords but this is no longer the case since the majority of hereditary peers were excluded from membership of the House following the House of Lords Act 1999.

About two thirds of the Lords align themselves with a political party. A distinctive feature of the House of Lords is the presence of crossbench peers who are not affiliated to any party group.

In general, the functions of the House of Lords are similar to those of the House of Commons in legislating, debating and questioning the executive. There are two important exceptions: members of the Lords do not represent constituencies, and are not involved in matters of taxation and finance. The role of the Lords is generally recognized to be complementary to that of the Commons and it acts as a revising chamber for many of the more important and controversial bills. All bills go through both Houses before becoming Acts, and may start in either House. The House of Commons can present a bill (except one to prolong the life of Parliament) for Royal Assent after one year and in a new session even if the Lords have not given their agreement.

The House of Lords is also the final court of appeal for civil cases in the United Kingdom and for criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Only the Lords of Appeal (Law Lords) - of whom there are 12 employed full-time - take part in judicial proceedings.

Sean Connery as a Life Peer

The House of Commons

The Commons Chamber is 21 m long, 14 m wide and 14 m high (68 ft x 46 ft x 46 ft). The Speaker's Chair stands on steps at the north end. In front of this is the Table of the House at which the Clerk of the House and his assistants sit. At the head of the Table, whenever the House is sitting, rests the Mace. This symbolises the royal authority by which the House meets. It dates from the reign of Charles II.

The benches for MPs, upholstered in green leather, run the length of the Chamber on both sides, facing each other across a broad gangway known as the 'floor of the House'. To the Speaker's right are the benches used by the Government and its supporters, and to the left are those occupied by the Opposition and members of other parties.

The Division lobbies into which MPs pass to record their votes are on the eastern and western side of the Chamber. MPs voting for a motion (the "Ayes") pass into the lobby on the right of the Speaker, and those voting against (the "Noes") enter the lobby to the left.

The floor of the House is overlooked by a series of galleries running round all four sides. The gallery above and behind the Speaker's Chair is known as the Press Gallery and is reserved for the official reporters who record for Hansard the official record of parliamentary proceedings, and representatives of the media. Opposite the Speaker's Chair is the Strangers' Gallery. This is open to the public and seats about 200.

The House of Commons is the centre of parliamentary power. It is directly responsible to the electorate, and from the 20th century the House of Lords has recognised the supremacy of the elected chamber. The House of Commons is traditionally regarded as the lower house, but it is the main parliamentary arena for the political battle. As with the House of Lords, the House of Commons debates new legislation as part of the process of making an Act of Parliament. The House also scrutinises the work of the Government - it does that by various means, including questioning ministers in the Chamber during Question time.

The party that wins the majority of Commons seats in a general election is called on to form the next government. General elections are held at least every five years. Not all Parliaments run for the whole five years, and a general election may be held before this period is up. In the event of a small majority the election may well take place much earlier. In between general elections, by-elections are held as necessary to elect a new Member of Parliament to an individual constituency. An Electoral Commission was established in November 2000 as an independent body to oversee new controls on donations to and campaign spending by political parties and others. It also has a permit to keep under review electoral law and practice and to promote public awareness of the electoral process. The House of Commons currently has 659 Members of Parliament (MPs), each representing an individual constituency. Of the 659 seats, 529 are for England, 40 for Wales, 72 for Scotland and 18 for Northern Ireland.

General elections are elections of the whole House of Commons at one time: one Member of Parliament for each constituency in the United Kingdom. Each MP is elected from the various candidates through secret ballot by a simple majority system in which each elector can cast one vote. The candidates may be from one of the three major political parties, from a minor party or from any other organisation that has paid the deposit to stand. A candidate need not represent a party or group and may stand as an independent candidate. The 2001 Parliament has one independent MP - Mr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest). Most voting takes place in polling stations, but any citizen eligible to vote in Great Britain can apply on demand to vote by post. At present, British citizens living abroad can vote by post, as long as they have been living abroad for less than 20 years; from 1st April 2002 the limit will be 15 years.

MPs' salaries and allowances

MPs are paid a basic annual salary of £51,822 (from 20 June 2001). This is intended, according to the 1964 Report of the Committee on the Remuneration of Ministers and MPs, to enable them 'efficiently to discharge the duties of the service, without undue financial worry and to live and maintain themselves and their families at a modest but honourable level'. Like everyone else, MPs' income is subject to income tax.

MPs are also eligible for pensions - there is a compulsory contributory scheme. Pensions are normally payable at age 65, for both men and women, or later for those retiring from the Commons after their 65th birthday. They may be paid earlier, if, for example, an MP has retired early because of ill health.

Since 1969, MPs have been entitled to an allowance for secretarial and general office expenses. The allowance was later increased to enable members to employ a research assistant (up to £52,760 per year in April 2001).

MPs are also entitled to free stationery, postage and inland telephone calls from within the House of Commons, and to travel or car mileage allowances. The Speaker of the Commons

The House of Commons elects its own Speaker. There is no requirement for the Speaker when elected to be a member of the governing party.

Traditionally, the practice has been for the Government, after consultation with the Opposition, to put forward the name of an MP acceptable to all sections of the House. He or she was then proposed and seconded by members of the backbenches.

'Order! Order!' is one of the terms most associated with Parliament, conjuring up an image of the Speaker laying down the law when dealing with a host of unruly MPs. This image has become more widely known with the televising of Parliament.

The Speaker is in fact the chief officer of the House of Commons. He has two main functions:

• representing the House in its relations with the Crown, the House of Lords and other authorities

• presiding over the House and enforcing the observance of all rules which govern its conduct.

The Speaker is also chairman of the House of Commons Commission. He has a number of duties concerning the functions of the House and is in control of the Commons part of the Palace of Westminster and its precincts. Control of Westminster Hall and the Crypt Chapel is vested jointly in the Lord Great Chamberlain (representing the Sovereign), the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker. The Speaker has full authority to enforce the rules of the House of Commons. He or she has discretion on whether to allow a motion to end discussion so that a matter can be put to the vote and has powers to put a stop to repetition in debate, and to save time in other ways. In cases of grave and continuous disorder, the Speaker can adjourn or suspend the sitting, but this is rarely necessary.

The Speaker may order an MP who has broken the rules of the House to leave the Chamber or can initiate their suspension for a period of days. This process is normally known as 'naming' an MP. The first naming of a particular MP results in a brief suspension; subsequent offences within the same session result in longer periods.

Conduct of debates in the Commons

Parliamentary procedure is based on custom and precedent, partly codified by each House in its Standing Orders. The system of debate is similar in both Houses. Every subject starts off as a proposal or 'motion' made by a member.

During debates in the House of Commons all speeches are addressed to the Speaker or one of the Deputy Speakers. MPs speak from wherever they have been sitting and not from a rostrum, although front-bench members usually stand at one of the despatch boxes on the Table of the House. MPs may not read their speeches, although they may refresh their memories by referring to notes. In general, no MP may speak twice to the same motion, except to clarify part of a speech that has been misunderstood or 'by leave of the House'.

At the end of the debate the Speaker 'puts the question' whether to agree with the motion or not. The question may be decided without voting, or by a simple majority vote. Voting is supervised by the Speaker, who announces the result. However, if MPs wish to 'divide the House', which generally happens on more controversial votes, then a division is held. MPs have to file through one of two lobbies, one for the Ayes to vote yes, one for the Noes to vote no. The numbers going through each lobby are counted and the result given to the Speaker by the 'tellers' (MPs appointed to supervise the vote).

The most important privilege in Parliament is that of freedom of speech, as MPs cannot be prosecuted for sedition or sued for libel or slander over anything said during proceedings in the House. This enables them to raise in the House questions affecting the public good which might be difficult to raise outside owing to the possibility of being sued. The House of Lords has similar privileges.

Task 3. Check yourself questions:

1. Where does UK Parliament sit?

2. What is the composition of the House of Commons?

3. What is the composition of the House of Lords?

4. What is the role of the Speaker?

5. What is the role of Lord Chancellor?

6. Who is actually elected during the General Election?

7. Who are party whips?

8. How does a Bill become an Act of Parliament?

9. Who sits to the right of the speaker?

10. Who sits to the left of the Speaker?

11. Where does the Speaker live?

12. What are traditions connected with Parliament?

13. What are the relations between the Legislative and the Executive branches of political power in Britain?

14. On what occasion does the Queen appear in Parliament?

15. Through which tower entrance does the Queen come into Parliament?

Task 4. Do you think you know everything about Parliament?Try this quiz and learn more curious facts. Circle the letters that correspond to the answers you think are correct. All the circled letters, unscrambled, spell out something to do with British politics.

1. Who will choose the date of the next general election?

F) The Queen G) The people H) The Prime Minister

2. You want to stand for Parliament. How old must you be?

S) 21 N) 18 U) 25

3. What educational qualifications must a parliamentary candidate have?

1. 5 GCSEs E) A college diploma or University degree

O) No formal qualifications required

4. Who is the Speaker?

F) An MP whose job is to keep order in the House of Commons. He or she cannot participate in debates.

K) The person, not an MP, who decided which MP may speak next in a debate.

M) The MP who makes the longest speech during a debate.

5. Who is the Father of the House?

A) The Prime Minister I) The oldest MP

O) The MP who has the longest period of unbroken service

6. What does it mean when there is an electric light shining on top of Big Ben?

L) The House of Commons is in session

M) The Prime Minister is in the House of Commons

N) A parliamentary debate is about to end

6. What is the parliamentary guillotine?

E) A type of letter opener

O) A relic of the French Revolution, displayed in the House of Commons

U) A procedure used to limit debating time on a Bill

6. What is the Cabinet?

P) The party in opposition to the government headed by the Prime Minister

R) A group of the ministers of the government, appointed by the Prime Minister

T) A room in 10 Downing Street reserved for important meetings.

6. Why are two collapsible top hats kept in the chamber of the House of Commons?

O) All MPs must sit on a hat during the opening ceremony of the House of Commons. The hats are spare ones, in case anyone forgets to bring one

I) An PM must wave a hat before he/she speaks to the House

E) There is a tradition that if a male MP wants to raise a point of order while a vote is being taken, he must wear a hat.

10. Why is the door of the House of Commons slammed in the face of Black Rod during the State opening of Parliament?

S) To remind about the events preceding the Civil war in Britain.

L) To demonstrate MP’s unwillingness to go to the House of Lords.

D) Not to let the Black Rod into the House of Commons.

11. Who are backbenchers?

1. Senior MPs, chief advisers to the Prime Minister

5. Journalists who sit behind the MPs at the rear of the chamber

O) MPs who sit on the benches at the back of the chamber, who are neither ministers nor leading members of the ……

12. How many times a year does the Queen visit the House of Commons?

D) Never F) Once a year N) At least once a month

The answer is:

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

A typical day's business in the Commons Chamber.

Task 5. How are the functions of Parliament reflected in the procedures of the day?

As an example, we have taken Wednesday 14 March 2001.

2.30 pm Prayers

2.32 pm Question time: on this day the Secretary of State for International Development was scheduled to answer questions.

3.00 pm Because it was a Wednesday, the Prime Minister answered questions for the last half hour of question time.

3.30 pm Private Notice Question - The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport was asked to make a statement on the consequences of Foot and Mouth Disease for the rural tourism industry.

4.34 pm Points of order were raised, which the Speaker dealt with.

4.40 pm A Officials was introduced by Tony Colman MP (Putney) under the Ten Minute Rule procedure. The bill received its First Reading and a date was set for its Second Reading.

4.57 pm A motion to approve a report from the Liaison Committee was agreed to without a division.

4.58 pm Report stage of the Criminal Justice and Police Bill, when the Bill, as amended in Standing Committee, was considered by the whole House.

6.53 pm There was a division on a proposed new clause to the Bill, after which the debate continued.

7.23 pm The Deputy Speaker briefly interrupted the debate to announce the results of three divisions which had been deferred from a previous day's business.

8.01 pm Another division on a proposed new clause to the Bill, after which the debate continued.

8.31pm The House proceeded to debate the Third Reading of the Bill.

9.59 pm The Bill was read the Third time and passed by the House.

11.20 pm At the end of the debate, (given the lateness of the hour), a division on the motion was deferred until the following Wednesday.

11.22 pm A number of draft regulations were approved without debate or division, followed by a series of motions concerning the business of the House which were objected to.

11.25 pm Adjournment debate - Robert Jackson MP (Wantage) raised the question of planning in Oxfordshire.

11.53 pm The House rose.

Task 6. Analyse the relations between the three branches of power. Are they separated as in the USA? It is recommended to do this task in small groups of 5 – 6 people.

Task 7. Compare the structure and functions of British Parliament and those of the Russian Federal Assembly. For reference turn to the text of the Russian Federation Constitution in English, Chapter 5. Use the web site www.departments.bucknell.edu/ russian/const/constit.html

Task 8. Self Assessment. What facts would you choose to make your talk to your future 6^th or 7^th form pupils interesting ? Make a script of an extra curriculum event. If it is an ordinary school the script should be in Russian.

Unit 5. Political Parties and Government

BASIC FACTS:

• Her Majesty's Government : the body of ministers responsible for the conduct of national affairs. The Prime Minister and all other ministers, including the Cabinet, are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

• The Cabinet : composed of about 20 ministers, although the number can vary. They are chosen by the Prime Minister and may include departmental and non-departmental ministers.

• Alongside with the Central Government, the executive branch of power is represented by the varied forms of Local government.

• The political party system: an essential element in the working of the British government. The present system depends upon the existence of organized political parties, each of which presents its policies to the electorate for approval.

• The Labour and the Conservative Parties: the two main parties in Britain .

• Liberal Democrats: the third largest political party.

Task1. Before reading the whole text, look through the titles and phrases in bold type. How many are already known to you? Then read the text for detail.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet

The Prime Minister is, by tradition, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. The Prime Minister's unique position of authority derives from majority support in the House of Commons and from the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. By modern convention, the Prime Minister always sits in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet, is responsible for the distribution of duties among ministers and informs the Queen at regular meetings of the current workings of the Government. The Prime Minister's other responsibilities include recommending a number of appointments to the Queen. These include Church appointments (archbishops, bishops, deans), senior judges, Privy Counsellors and other officials. The Prime Minister also makes recommendations for the award of many civil honours and distinctions. The Prime Minister's Office is at 10 Downing Street, the official residence in London. It is there that the Cabinet often meets in private and its proceedings are confidential. Its members are bound by their oath as Privy Counsellors not to disclose any information. Normally the Cabinet meets each week during parliamentary sittings, and rather less often when Parliament is not sitting. The Cabinet Office is headed by the Secretary of the Cabinet, a civil servant who is also Head of the Home Civil Service, under the direction of the Prime Minister. It comprises the Cabinet Secretariat and the Office of Public Service and Science (OPSS). The Cabinet Secretariat serves ministers collectively in the conduct of Cabinet business. A great deal of work is carried on through the committee system. A standing Cabinet committee or a committee composed of the ministers directly concerned considers a certain issue in detail and then reports upon it to the Cabinet with recommendations for action. The functions of the Cabinet are to initiate and decide on policy, the supreme control of government and the co-ordination of government departments. The exercise of these functions is vitally affected by the fact that the Cabinet is a group of party representatives, depending upon majority support in the House of Commons. The Cabinet acts unanimously even when Cabinet ministers do not all agree on a subject. This is known as the doctrine of collective responsibility. The same is true about other ministers. Once the Government's policy has been decided, each minister is expected to support it or resign. The individual responsibility of ministers for the work of their departments means that they are answerable to Parliament for all their departments' activities.

Ministers and Civil Servants

Departmental Ministers are Ministers in charge of government departments, usually in the Cabinet; they are known as 'Secretary of State' or 'Minister', or may have a special title, as in the case of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the Minister of Finances). The work of some departments, for instance, the Ministry of Defence, covers Britain as a whole. Other departments, such as the Department of Social Security, cover England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland. Others, such as the Department of the Environment, are mainly concerned with affairs in England. Some departments, such as the Department of Trade and Industry, maintain a regional organisation, and some which have direct contact with the public throughout the country, for example, the Department of Employment, also have local offices. Government departments and their agencies, staffed by politically neutral civil servants, are the main instruments for implementing government policy when Parliament has passed the necessary legislation, and for advising ministers. They often work alongside local authorities, statutory boards, and government-sponsored organisations operating under various degrees of government control. People serving in Ministries are known as Civil Servants. The Civil Service is anonymous, permanent and politically neutral. Many Civil Servants were educated in Public schools. The Civil Service is concerned with the conduct of the whole range of government activities as they affect the community. These range from policy formulation to carrying out the day-to-day duties of public administration.

Ministers of State usually work with ministers in charge of departments. They normally have specific responsibilities, and are sometimes given titles, which reflect these functions. A Minister of State may be given a seat in the Cabinet and be paid accordingly. Junior Ministers - generally Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State or, where the senior minister is not a Secretary of State, simply Parliamentary Secretaries - share in parliamentary and departmental duties.

Non-Departmental Ministers are the holders of various traditional offices, namely, the Lord Privy Seal, the Paymaster General and, from time to time, Ministers without Portfolio, may have few or no department duties. They are therefore available to perform any duties the Prime Minister may wish to give them.

Political Parties

Political parties in Britain are not registered or formally recognized in law, but in practice most candidates in elections belong to this or that political party. One of the traditions of western democracy is to have a two-party system, when only two parties have a realistic chance to win the General Election. This system cuts off the extremists and keeps the ruling party under a close watch and criticism of the Opposition. The Whigs and the Tories are the oldest political parties in Britain. They marked their existence in 1679 by participating in Parliamentary election. In 1867 the Tories

became known as the Conservative Party though the former name also remained in usage. The Conservative party has right-wing principles, strongly supports the idea of free enterprise and protects the rights of property. The leader of the Conservatives is Iain Duncan Smith. The Whigs became known as the Liberal Party. The Liberals and the Conservatives remained the two main parties until 1945. Since 1945 the Liberal party lost the position of a main party. In 1900 a new party called Labour Representation Committee was formed. In 1906 it became the Labour Party. Since 1945, either the Conservative Party, or the Labour Party has held power. Since 1945 eight general elections have been won by the Conservative Party and six by the Labour Party. The Labour Party was traditionally a socialist party closely connected with Trade Unions. Clause 4 of the Labour Party constitution reads: “ The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few. Where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe. And where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.” During the 1980s and 1990s the party moved towards the political centre. The party is known nowadays as New Labour. The Leader of the Party is Tony Blair. A new party - the Liberal Democrats - was formed in 1988 when the Liberal Party merged with the Social Democratic Party (formed in 1981 as a result of a split in the Labour Party). The Liberal Democrats oppose the right-wing policies of the Conservative Party and strongly support free public education and the National Health Service. They also believe that more political power should be given to people locally. The leader of the party is Charles Kennedy.

Other parties include two nationalist parties, Plaid Cymru (founded in Wales in 1925) and the Scottish National Party (founded in 1934). Plaid Cymru proclaims the following aims: to promote the constitutional advancement of Wales with a view to attaining Full National Status for Wales within the European Union; to ensure economic prosperity, social justice and the health of the natural environment, based on decentralist socialism; to build a national community based on equal citizenship, respect for different traditions and cultures and the equal worth of all individuals, whatever their race, nationality, gender, colour or social background; to create a bilingual society by promoting the revival of the Welsh language and to attain membership of the United Nations. The Scottish National Party did not make any kind of electoral impact until 1945, when Dr Robert McIntyre won a by-election. During the 1970s the SNP launched one of its most influential campaigns, “It’s Scotland’s Oil”. The perception that the Scottish people were being denied the economic benefits generated by the discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea transformed Scottish politics and gave the SNP a major boost in both membership and votes. The New Labour administration were forced to legislate for a devolved parliament and a referendum was held in Scotland in September 1997. The Scottish people gave their overwhelming support and the first Scottish General Election in history was held in May 1999. The SNP returned thirty five MSPs and were firmly established as Scotland’s second party and the only credible opposition to Labour.

In Northern Ireland there are a number of parties. by a group which broke away from the Ulster Unionists; and The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) was formed in 1905 in response to the Home Rule crisis in Ireland. The founding father of the Ulster Unionist Party, Sir Edward Carson, viewed the establishment of a parliament at Stormont to be a dilution of the Union. However, once Stormont was in place, the UUP played an important role in the political system of the day. Being the largest party in Northern Ireland, the UUP formed the first Government. Over the next fifty years the UUP was in government. The UUP has a strong commitment to the Union and British citizenship. The Leader of the party is David Trimble. UUP represents the interests of Protestants in Northern Ireland. In the late 1990s UUP joined in peace talks with the British government, the government of the Republic of Ireland and Sinn Fein and negotiated the Belfast Agreement in April 1998. Ian Paisley formed the Democratic Unionist Party in 1971. This is another Protestant party in Northern Ireland. DUP refused to participate in the above-mentioned peace talks when in September of 1997 Sinn Fein/IRA were permitted to enter the talks process. Sinn Féin is the oldest political party in Ireland, especially active in Northern Ireland. The party takes its name from the Irish Gaelic expression for ``We Ourselves''. Since being founded in 1905 the party worked for the right of Irish Catholic people to attain national self-determination. Sinn Féin wants Northern Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland. Sinn Fein is connected with the Irish Republican Army. In the past the party supported the use of violence against British rule in Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin is an Irish Republican party. Sinn Féin is backing the Good Friday Agreement, which Sinn Féin reached with the other parties and the Irish and British governments following multi-party negotiations in Belfast. These negotiations arose from the Irish Peace Process. The leader of the party is Gerry Adams. Orange Order is a Protestant strongly anti-Catholic organization in Northern Ireland. They are named after William of Orange who was William III of England and defeated James II and his Catholic army at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Nowadays, the Orangemen have Parades commemorating that battle on 12 July. This day is known as Orangemen’s Day. The parades hurt the feelings of Catholic population. The Social Democratic and Labour Party was founded in 1970. The leader of the party is Mark Durkan. The SDLP actively participated in attempts to establish peace in Northern Ireland. In 1988 the party had talks with Sinn Fein over a number of months in attempt to convince SF that the continued campaign of violence is futile. In 1989 the party becomes the second largest Party in the North, both in votes and Council seats.

The Party System in Parliament

The party which wins most seats, although not necessarily the most votes, at a general election, or which has the support of a majority of members in the House of Commons, usually forms the Government. By tradition, the leader of the majority party is asked by the Sovereign to form a government. About 100 of its members in the House of Commons and the House of Lords receive ministerial appointments, including appointment to the Cabinet on the advice of the Prime Minister. The largest minority party becomes the official Opposition, with its own leader and 'shadow cabinet'. Leaders of the Government and Opposition sit on the front benches on either side of the Commons chamber with their supporters - the backbenchers - sitting behind them. Similar arrangements for the parties also apply to the House of Lords; however, Lords who do not wish to be associated with any political party may sit on the 'cross benches'. The effectiveness of the party system in Parliament rests largely on the relationship between the Government and the opposition parties. Depending on the relative strengths of the parties in the House of Commons, the Opposition may seek to overthrow the Government by defeating it in a vote on a 'matter of confidence'. In general, however, the aims of the Opposition are to contribute to the formulation of policy and legislation by constructive criticism; to oppose the government proposals it considers objectionable; to seek amendments to government Bills; and
to put forward its own policies in order to improve its chances of winning the next general election. The Opposition performs this role both by debating issues and putting questions on the floor of both Houses and through the committee system. Government business arrangements are settled, under the direction of the Prime Minister and the Leaders of the two Houses (the Speaker and the Lord Chancellor), by the Government Chief Whip in consultation with the Opposition Chief Whip. The Chief Whips together find time for a particular item of business to be discussed. The Leaders of the two Houses are responsible for enabling the Houses to debate matters about which they are concerned. Inside Parliament, party control is exercised by the Chief Whips and their assistants, who are chosen within the party. Their duties include keeping members informed of forthcoming parliamentary business, maintaining the party's voting strength by ensuring members attend important debates, and passing on to the party leadership the opinions of the backbench members. Party discipline tends to be less strong in the Lords than in the Commons, since Lords have less hope of high office and no need of party support in elections. Outside Parliament, party control is exercised by the national and local organizations. Parties are organized at parliamentary constituency level and also contest local government elections.

Financial Assistance to Parties

Annual assistance from public funds helps opposition parties carry out their parliamentary work at Westminster. It is limited to parties which had at least two members elected at the previous general election or one member elected and a minimum of 150,000 votes cast. The amount is £3,442.50 for every seat won, plus £6.89 for every 200 votes.

L
ocal Government

The Parliament in Westminster approved a devolution order under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on Tuesday 30 November 1999. The order allowed for the transfer of certain powers from Westminster to the 108 member Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, Belfast, and the associated new institutions of government. The arrangements for devolved government were set out in the Good Friday Agreement that had been agreed as a result of the peace process. Powers were devolved to the new institutions at midnight Tuesday 1 December 1999. The Assembly has the power to make laws and take decisions on all matters that have been devolved from Westminster. The Northern Ireland Assembly elected an Executive Committee, which is the equivalent of the British Cabinet. The Executive is made up of the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister, and the ten Ministers who head the Departments.

Scottish Parliament was established by Scotland Act 1998, which received Royal Assent on 19 November 1998. The Act provided "for the establishment of a Scottish Parliament", and gave the Secretary of State for Scotland the power to decide the date of the first election. The first elections to the Scottish Parliament took place on 6 May 1999 and meetings of the Parliament began with the first sitting on 12 May 1999. At this sitting, the MSPs were able to take the oath of allegiance or make a solemn affirmation and to elect the Presiding Officer and two Deputy Presiding Officers. The Parliament was officially opened by the Queen on 1 July 1999 and took up its full powers on this date.

UK Parliament passed the Government of Wales Act 1998, which established the National Assembly for Wales and the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999. This enabled the transfer of the devolved powers and responsibilities from the Secretary of State for Wales to the Assembly to take place on 1 July 1999. The Assembly decides on its priorities and allocates the funds made available to it from the Treasury. Within its powers, the Assembly develops and implements policies which reflect the particular needs of the people of Wales. Decisions about these issues are made by politicians who are accountable, through the ballot box, to voters in Wales. Wales remains part of the UK and the Secretary of State for Wales and MPs from Welsh constituencies continue to have seats in Westminster. Laws passed by Parliament in Westminster still apply to Wales.

There are 36 Metropolitan Borough Councils in the main urban areas of England outside London. These areas are Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Merseyside, South and West Yorkshire, and Tyne and Wear. The 36 metropolitan boroughs provide all the main local government services for the area. Councillors for metropolitan boroughs are elected for four year terms. A third of the seats are elected every year, with no elections in the fourth year (the year of county elections) In Greater London, there are 32 London Borough councils, and the Corporation of the City of London. The London Boroughs are elected once every four years. London also has the Greater London Authority, which was created by an Act of Parliament in 1999. There are 46 unitary authorities (councils which provide all the main services) in other parts of the country. Many of these were created more recently.

There are 34 County Councils in England. In these areas there is a two-tier structure of local government as there are also district councils which cover smaller areas within counties and which provide some of the services. County Councils are elected every four years, with all seats contested at this time. Each council elects a chairman, or in boroughs a mayor, and in Scotland a provost. All senior local government officers are appointed only with approval from a government ministry.

Metropolitan, London Borough and unitary authorities are principally responsible for: education, social services and housing and council tax benefits, public libraries, museums and art galleries, traffic and transportation, refuse collection, recycling and disposal, planning, environmental health, swimming pools and leisure facilities, parks and countryside including footpaths, cemeteries and crematoria, markets and fairs, registration of births, deaths, marriages and electorates, collecting council tax and business rates. Town and Parish Councils can also provide community centres, arts and leisure facilities, parks and play areas, public conveniences and other services, and have a right to be notified about planning applications in the area.

There is an organization, Local Government Ombudsmen, the task of which is to investigate complaints of injustice arising from mal-administration by local authorities and certain other bodies. There are three Local Government Ombudsmen in England and they each deal with complaints from different parts of the country. They investigate complaints about most council matters including housing, planning, education, social services, consumer protection, drainage and council tax.

Task 2. Check yourself questions:

1. Who is at the head of the Executive branch of political power?

2. How can a person become Prime Minister?

3. Who appoints the PM officially?

4. What is Cabinet?

5. What is Shadow Cabinet?

6. What are the functions of party whips?

7. Which are the main parties in Britain?

8. What other parties do you know?

9. What is the difference between a backbencher and a frontbencher?

10. Is there a separate election campaign for the Prime Minister?

11. What happened to the party that was called the Whigs?

12. What are the names of parties in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

13. What is the framework of Local government?

14. What are the functions of Local government?

15. Which party forms the Government?

16. Which party forms the Opposition?

17. Who deals with complaints of people?

Task 3. Solve the crossword: (you can find some of the answers in the following texts)

Across:

A group of about 20 leading Ministers, taking collective decisions.

5. People responsible for party members discipline in Parliament.

6. Prime Minister of the UK in the beginning of the XXI century.

7. Her nickname was the Iron Lady.

8. One of the predecessors of M. Thatcher.

10. Part of the name of a Welsh nationalist party Plaid …

13. An MP whose position is not very important.

14. What did T. Blair study at Oxford?

16. Where was T. Blair born?

Down:

1. Modern name of the Tories.

2. The Ministry of finances.

3. One of Blair’s predecessors.

4. The street, where many Ministries are situated. The name of the street has become synonymous to “government”.

9. The name of a constituency, which elected M. Thatcher to Parliament.

11. A city, in Choristers school of which T. Blair studied.

12. The Islands in Argentina where M. Thatcher’s government was waging a war.

15. What did M. Thatcher study at Oxford?

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Task 4. Read about one of the most admired and the most hated Prime Ministers in the UK. Find answers to the following questions:

Where was M. Thatcher born?

Which party does she represent?

Why was she nicknamed the iron lady?

T HE IRON LADY

Born Margaret Roberts on October 13, 1925, the daughter of a grocer, she graduated from Somerville College, Oxford, with a degree in chemistry, although she had always had an interest in politics and law. She ran for Parliament in 1950 but lost and continued to work as a research chemist. The following year she married well-to-do businessman Dennis Thatcher. Her marriage enabled her to finish her studies for the bar and devote herself to politics. Although she again lost a bid to Parliament in 1951, she succeeded in winning the Conservative Finchely district seat in October 1959. Her first government posts were as joint parliamentary secretary of Pensions and National Insurance (1961-64) and as secretary of Education and Science (1970-74) under Prime Minister Edward Heath. After the Conservative Party lost two elections, however, Thatcher -- supported by the very conservative right wing of the party -- criticized Heath's economic policies and challenged him for leadership of the Conservative Party, which she won in February 1975.

In 1976, she indicated her foreign policy leanings when she criticized the Soviet Union for its failure to engage in "genuine detente," said Soviet intervention in Angola proved Soviet aims of world domination, and urged NATO to remain strong. Soon after, she was sarcastically called the "Iron Lady" by the Soviet press, but she chose to adopt the title, believing it illustrated her resolve and strength in the face of adversaries, as well as adversity. After the Conservatives won the May 1979 elections, Thatcher became the first woman prime minister of Britain. Her primary goal in her first term was to enact her ideas about how best to run the economy. She was saved from the unpopularity of her economic policies by her personal handling of the Falklands War with Argentina in 1982, which won her great popular acclaim. She rode this wave of patriotism to office in 1983, and a short upturn in the economy returned her to an unprecedented third term in office in 1987.

Throughout all three terms she pursued economic policies that reduced the power of the unions, decreased public spending, increased personal tax cuts, increased privatization of public utilities, and deregulated industry. Thatcher is recognized for having curbed runaway inflation, significantly reducing public spending and reducing the power of the British unions. However, her programs, known as "Thatcherism," also produced high unemployment (which nearly tripled in her first two terms), high interest rates and increased class differentiation, as well as growth of the underclass.

In foreign policy, she was a staunch anti-communist. A consistent supporter of NATO, she backed the 1979 decision to deploy U.S. Pershing and cruise missiles in Western Europe and took a tough line against the anti-nuclear demonstrators at Greenam Common, who tried to stop the delivery of the bulk of more than 160 missiles to be placed there. Thatcher also pressed ahead with her plans to modernize the British fleet with Trident II nuclear submarines and resisted Soviet efforts to include British and French nuclear deterrents in the INF treaty negotiations.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who took office in January 1981, proved to be Thatcher's ideological soul mate in both domestic and foreign policy. This ideological closeness produced intense transatlantic cooperation between the United States and Britain, especially on issues related to the Soviet Union. In December 1984, when Gorbachev visited London shortly before his elevation to general secretary of the Communist Party, Thatcher met with him. She came out of the discussions declaring, "I like Mr. Gorbachev -- we can do business together." She carried this message to Reagan, who had called the Soviet Union the "Evil Empire." By the fall of 1988, Thatcher declared that "the Cold War was over."

Despite winning the general election in 1987, Thatcher resigned in November 1990 in the face of increasing opposition concerning her economic policies. She held a parliamentary seat as a representative of Finchely until 1992, when she did not stand for re-election. She was made a baroness in 1992.

Task 5. Read the text about one of Conservative PMs and explain the following words and expressions:

Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Whip, parliamentary party, damaging statements, the poll tax debacle, European splits, a landslide.

Task 6. Characterize John Major’s career.

T RIBUTE TO JOHN MAJOR

John Major was born in March 1943. After leaving school Major started on a banking career. Whilst working for the bank, Major's interest in politics continued to grow, and in 1979 he was elected as the Conservative MP for Huntingdonshire. In 1987 the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, appointed Major to the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This was said to be at the request of Nigel Lawson, who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time. Without this request, Major would have become the Chief Whip, and as Major has said, the course of history could have been somewhat different. Just two years after his appointment as Chief Secretary he became the Foreign Secretary, a promotion from the most junior members of the Cabinet to one of the most senior. The appointment was seen as a surprise, and was taken as a snub by Geoffrey Howe who was the previous holder of the position. Major argued with Thatcher that maybe he wasn't the best person to take on this job, as he feared that he would just be Thatcher's man in the Foreign Office. Just three months after his appointment to Foreign Secretary he became the Chancellor of the Exchequer after the resignation of Nigel Lawson. By this time Thatcher's popularity in the parliamentary party was in freefall after problems with damaging statements by former cabinet Ministers, the poll tax debacle and the European splits. After presenting just one budget, Major became Prime Minister after Thatcher resigned due to lack of support amongst her own MPs. Major won the 1992 General Election for the Conservatives to the surprise of many observers who had thought that Neil Kinnock's Labour Party would win. In June 1995, to counter damaging party splits, John Major resigned as Conservative Party Leader to fight a leadership contest. Beating John Redwood comprehensively in the first round there was no need for a second round, which had been expected. Major stayed as Party leader and Prime Minister, with the acceptance that there would be no further leadership contests until the General Election. Hampered by party splits and a small majority which later became a minority, Major was unable to win the 1997 General Election, and Tony Blair's Labour Party won a landslide on the May 1st General Election.

Task 7. Read the text about one of the Labour party PMs and explain the following words and expressions:

After being admitted to the bar, a by-election, constituency, a shadow secretary, fiscal policy.

Task 8. Find facts to illustrate how the Labour party changed after Tony Blair had headed it?

F acts on Tony Blair

Tony Blair was born May 6, 1953 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated at the Durham Choristers School in Durham, England and at Fettes College in Edinburgh. He received a law degree in 1975 from St. John's College at Oxford University. He began practicing law the next year after being admitted to the bar. Blair first ran for Parliament as a Labour Party candidate in 1982, when he lost a by-election for the Beaconsfield constituency. He joined the House of Commons the following year, winning the seat from Sedgefield, in Northern England. Blair held that seat through the 1980s and 1990s, easily winning parliamentary elections during a political era mostly dominated by the Conservative Party. After serving as a Labour Party spokesman on treasury matters, and then on trade and industry affairs, Blair in 1988 was appointed shadow energy secretary. He was named shadow employment secretary in 1989 and shadow home secretary in 1992. The party elected him to its National Executive Committee in 1992. The Labour Party elected Blair as its leader in 1994. Blair, then 41 years old, was the youngest-ever head of the Labour Party. He replaced John Smith, who had died earlier in the year after leading the party for two years. As Labour Party leader, Blair continued efforts by his most recent predecessors – John Smith and Neil Kinnock - to scale back the party's traditional adherence to socialist ideology. He led a controversial campaign to remove from the party's constitution a clause that called for common ownership, by British workers, of the country's "means of production." The party in 1995 adopted a new charter that omitted the clause. Blair frequently referred to his party as "New Labour" in an effort to distance it from recent criticisms of Labour members of Parliament. (The party had widely been dismissed as a bastion of political extremism and incompetence.) In a rejection of traditional Labour fiscal policy, Blair advocated low taxes and tightly limited social spending. He called on the party to loosen its links to trade unions and to work with the business community to solve labor disputes. He also softened the party's hard-line stance against the privatization of state-owned industries. Blair's political centrism, along with his youthful, energetic speaking style, were credited with contributing to the Labour Party's steadily climbing popular support. Blair married Cherie Booth, a fellow trial lawyer, in 1980. They have three children together. In 2003 the Labour Party was in crisis because of the war in Iraq. Tony Blair is on friendly terms with Vladimir Putin. Due to Blair’s recommendation V. Putin received an invitation from Elisabeth II and went on an official visit to Britain in 2003.

Task 9. Use the Internet resources to find out the latest facts about political parties in Britain. A recommended site is: http//www.politics.guardian.co.uk

Theme 6. Law system

Task 1. Read the basic facts and interprete them.

• In the United Kingdom there is no written Constitution.

• The main sources of law are: Acts of Parliament (Statutory law), Common Law and the European Union law.

• Acts of Parliament are Bills, which were approved both by the House of Lords and the House of Commons and received the Royal Assent.

• Common Law is the ancient traditional system of law in Britain and other English speaking countries. It has never been codified. Acting according to precedent, Common Law is interpreted by judges.

• Since Britain is a member of the European Union, it has to obey the laws passed by the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

• The two main branches of law are Criminal Law and Civil Law. The system of courts reflects these two branches.

Task 2. Read the text and draw a scheme about the types of courts.

Types of Courts

In England and Wales the majority of cases are considered by Magistrates’ courts. These courts hear and determine criminal cases, for which jury trial is not required. These courts can also conduct preliminary investigation into more serious criminal offences. The limited civil jurisdiction of Magistrates’ courts extends to matrimonial proceedings for custody, adoption orders, guardianship orders. Magistrates or Justices of the peace (JPs) can be full time legally qualified lawyers, or unpaid lay magistrates. Magistrates are appointed by the Lord Chancellor.

The next step in civil courts is represented by County courts. County courts deal with contract and tort, trust and mortgage cases, actions for the recovery of land, hire purchase, landlord and tenant relations, divorce cases, complaints of race and sex discrimination.

The courts of similar status for criminal cases are Crown courts. They deal with contested trials of more serious cases before a jury, they also consider appeals from magistrates’ courts. Crown court is presided over by High Court judges.

Besides there are Juvenile courts, which consider criminal cases against people under 17, and Coroners’ courts, which investigate violent and unnatural deaths or sudden deaths where the cause is unknown.

The courts of a higher status are: the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. The High Court of Justice is divided into the Chancery division, which deals with the interpretation of wills and the administration of estates, the Queen’s Bench Division, which deals with maritime and commercial law, and the Family division, with all jurisdiction affecting the family. Lord Chancellor is president of the Chancery Division. The Queen’s Bench Division is presided over by the Lord Chief Justice of England, who ranks next to the Lord Chancellor, and the Family Division is headed by the President. The Court of Appeal considers appeals from Crown Court. The Supreme Court consists of the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the Crown Court. A person convicted at a magistrates’ court may appeal to the Crown Court, while a person convicted at the Crown Court may appeal to the Court of Appeal and finally to the House of Lords. The highest court in the land is the House of Lords. This court is composed of the Lords of Appeal, who are lawyers of eminence generally appointed from amongst the judges of the Court of Appeal. They deal with points of law of general public importance brought before them on appeal from the Supreme Court. At the top of Judicial system is the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor’s Department was founded in 1885 by the creation of the post of Permanent Secretary. However, it wasn't until 1972, after the Courts Act 1971 came into force, that it assumed most of its present role and responsibilities. The Department's essential function is to promote the fair, efficient and effective administration of justice in England and Wales. Broadly speaking the Lord Chancellor is responsible for: appointing, or advising on the appointment of, judges; the administration of the court system and a number of tribunals; the provision of legal aid and legal services; and the promotion of reform and revision of English civil law. In addition, following the 2001 general election, the Department assumed responsibility for Human Rights, Freedom of Information, Data Protection, Reform of the House of Lords and a range of constitutional matters. In June 2002 the Department took over responsibility for Electoral Law, Data Sharing and Party Funding.

Lord Chancellor and Law Officers

The Lord Chancellor holds a special position, as both a minister with departmental functions and the head of the judiciary. The four Law Officers of the Crown are: for England and Wales, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General; and for Scotland, the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland. The official head of the Lord Chancellor's Department is the Permanent Secretary, a civil servant. The Department employs about 12,000 civil servants, of whom more than 10,000 work in the Court Service at courts and tribunals throughout England and Wales.

Law as Profession

There are two classes of Lawyers in the UK: barristers and solicitors. Barristers known as ‘the Bar’, have the monopoly of presenting cases in the higher courts. A solicitor is only allowed to do so in lesser courts. A solicitor’s job is to do the preliminary work for lawsuits and to deal with wills. Barristers of long experience can apply for a patent as Queen’s Counsel (QC). The Attorney General and the Solicitor General are the leading barristers in the country.

Task 3. Check yourself questions:

1. What is Common Law based on ?

2. What is the role of Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords?

3. What are the sources and branches of law in Britain?

4. What type of court is at the bottom of the court system ?

5. What sort of cases are considered by the Jury ?

6. Which courts can consider both criminal and civil cases?

7. What does the Lord Chief Justice of England preside over?

8. Who are Law Lords?

Task 4. Read about the following incidents and decide what court would consider the cases mentioned.

1. Police have some pretty good pictures of suspected Michael Howell, thanks to Howell, himself. Detectives say Howell took some snapshots with a stolen digital camera before the camera was pawned. According to investigators, one shot shows Howell holding the gun he allegedly used during the robbery of a shop. Police say a friend of Howell's pawned the digital camera without first erasing the memory. Now, Howell has another picture for his scrapbook -- his mug shot. He's being held on 100,000 pounds bail.

2. Police in Liverpool had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup. When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat the words, "Give me all your money or I'll shoot," the man shouted, "That's not what I said!"

3. A fire tore through part of a Hartford nursing home early Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 23. Officials said the blaze was considered suspicious and a resident was being questioned.

4. Dionne Warwick, a singer, was arrested at an airport last year after authorities found marijuana in her bag. She is blaming someone else for putting it there. She thinks she was framed.

5. A Carjacker called the owner of the car he had stolen and said: “I'm the guy who hijacked your car, and I need to know how to hook up your stereo amplifier..." And yes, the phone call was traced and he's been arrested.

6. What does a well-dressed fugitive from justice wear? How about a novelty t-shirt that says "FUGITIVE" on it? He said afterward it was the only clean shirt he had. A police officer noticed him, grew suspicious, checked his record, and the next thing you know the guy's back in custody.

7. A GP sold women patients health and diet ‘wonder’ drinks. General Medical Council committee charged him with serious professional misconduct. The drink contained large amounts of vitamin A, which was dangerous for pregnant women.

1. A train driver who left his cab to investigate why he had been stopped for so long at a red light found the signalman slumped in a chair with his eyes shut, a court heard yesterday.

2. Kim Fowler, an ex-model, tried to hire a private investigator to murder her millionaire husband for 10,000 pounds.

Task 5. Read the following list and a) divide the words into two groups: crime and punishment; b) range the crimes from the least to the most serious and grave.

Capital punishment, fraud, embezzlement, life imprisonment, fine, shoplifting, bribery, rape, community service, hi-jacking, assault, probation, taking hostages, arson, imprisonment, manslaughter, murder, confiscation of property, blackmail, terrorism, poaching, robbery, trespassing.

Over 700 Magistrates’ Courts (JPs are not paid)

T

High Court

CoCourt

heme 7. Education in UK

BASIC FACTS:

• Compulsory Education in the UK starts at the age of 5 and ends at the age of 16.

• In the United Kingdom there are three levels of Education: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels.

• The Primary level is represented by Infant, Junior and Pre-preparatory schools.

• The Secondary level is represented by Grammar, Comprehensive, Secondary Modern and Public Schools.

• The Tertiary level is represented by Colleges of Further Education, colleges, and university colleges.

• In the UK there are 3,500 secondary schools.

• 87% of pupils attend comprehensive schools.

• There are 788 independent schools in UK.

Task 1. Read the text and draw a scheme about the types of educational institutions.

Types of Schools

Britain, is home to some of the oldest and most famous schools, colleges and universities in the world, but it also has some of the newest and most innovative. Education issues are constantly discussed not just among teachers, but among parents, students and politicians too. Education in the United Kingdom is compulsory for everyone between the ages of five and sixteen. This is the absolute minimum length of time that students attend educational establishments. Each of the four countries in UK has broadly the same structure of education and educational institutions. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, however, the system differs from the rest of the UK in a few respects. There are two parallel school systems in the UK:

• the state system, where education is provided free

• the independent system, where parents normally pay fees

About one in thirteen of British school age children (seven per cent) go through the independent system. International students under the age of sixteen normally go to one of the 2400 independent schools, which include most of Britain's famous and ancient schools. The public schools form the backbone of the independent sector. The most famous of those are the ‘Clarendon Nine’: Winchester (1382), Eton (1440), St Paul’s (1509), Shrewsbury (1552), Westminster (1560), ‘The Merchant Taylors’ (1561), Rugby (1567), Harrow (1571), Charterhouse (1611). The aim of public schools is to create a perfect English Gentleman. Most public schools are still for boys only though there are now some public schools for girls as well. Public schools take students from the age of 13. Before that children can go to pre-preparatory (from the age of 5 to 8), and then to preparatory private schools (from the age of 8 to 13).

There are about 30,000 state supported schools in the UK nowadays. In 1944 Parliament passed an education act that became the basis of modern public education in England and Wales. The Local Education Authorities (LEA), of which 146 were designated, were made responsible for setting up complete facilities for education, divided into three categories: primary education, secondary education, and further education, the last named for those persons under the age of 18 who were not receiving full-time education. After the reorganization of local government in the mid-1970s, LEAs in England and Wales numbered 105 and were the elected councils of counties and districts. The Education Act of 1980 provided for greater representation of parents and teachers on school governing bodies. Children attend a primary school for 6 years, from 5 to 11. Primary school may be housed in a single building with two departments: Infant and Junior or in separate schools, Infants (5 to 7) and Junior (7 to 11). Children are taught "3R's": reading, writing, arithmetic. Pupils also have a lot of fun at school, drawing, reading, dancing or singing. Since September 1998, all primary schools in England have been strongly recommended to devote at least an hour each day to literacy, with a similar daily numeracy session.

State supported secondary education in Britain developed by steps. The first step was the introducing of two kinds of school: grammar schools and secondary modern schools. Grammar schools offered a predominantly academic education and in secondary modern schools education was more practical. All grammar schools provide courses for the 11 to 18 range and tend to concentrate on preparing pupils for courses in further or higher education. Secondary Modern schools give a very limited educa­tion. Pupils get instruction in woodwork, metalwork, sewing, shorthand, typing and cooking. The second step was the introducing of a new type of school, the comprehensive, a combination of grammar and secondary modern, so that all children could be given appropriate teaching. These schools were co-educational and offered both academic and practical subjects. However, they lost the excellence of the old grammar schools. After 1945 and before the introduction of comprehensive schools many grammar schools successfully competed with public schools in academic quality, though education there was free. However, many grammar schools refused to join the comprehensive experiment. Of the 174 old direct grant grammar schools, 119 became independent fee-paying schools. All the chil­dren are streamed into A, B, C, D classes in different subjects. The most gifted attend A screams, the least talented are in D classes. After 1979 were introduced the greatest reforms in schooling. They aimed at a better all-round education. One of the most important changes in education brought the Education Reform Act in 1988. It was the introduction of a National Curriculum for children aged 5 to 16 in all state schools. It consists of 10 subjects, which all children must study at school. They are: Foundation subjects: English, Math, Science, a modern foreign language (for 11-16 year olds), Technology and Design, History, Geography, Music, Art and Physical Education. Religious Education is required for pupils as part of the basic curriculum, although parents have a right to withdraw their children from religious classes. Pupils’ progress in subjects is measured by written and practical tests. In state-sector secondary schools there has been increasing diversification, with the emergence of "beacon schools", "specialist schools" and the setting up of action zones in areas of educational underachievement. New specialisms added to the initiative in 2001 were business and enterprise, science, and engineering. The government intends that almost half of all secondary schools should specialise by 2006. In September 1999 the government introduced four new categories of school: Community schools - the largest category of mainstream comprehensives, largely under the control of the local education authority. Foundation schools - exercising a greater degree of independence, the governing body is the 'employer' and sets admissions policies. Voluntary-aided schools - such as church schools, in which the governing body sets admissions policies and in which the charitable foundation which 'owns' the school makes a financial contribution to its running. Voluntary-controlled schools - these are owned by charitable foundations, but the local authority employs staff and sets admissions policies. In 2000 City academies were added to this list. They are being established with "substantial" capital investment from business or voluntary, religious or private foundations. The state pays the running costs. They have the right to operate their own curriculum, and freedom to "reinvent" the school day and pay their teachers more.

After the age of sixteen a student may legally leave school and start work. This is the point at which students have to take some serious decisions about their future. If the student wants to go to a university or university sector college, he or she will have to take more examinations. If the student decides to work, he or she will need a vocational course designed to give him/her the necessary qualifications. Most schools have what is called a sixth form, where students can continue to study in the same environment that they are used to. They can move to another school's sixth form. At this level schools tend to specialize, and students may find that the subjects they want to study are not offered at their school, but that another suitable school does offer them. Students can attend one of Britain's state financed sixth-form colleges, or tertiary colleges (often called colleges of Further Education). These are generally large, and can therefore offer a wide variety of courses: industry or commerce. Pupils sit for exams leaving secondary school and sixth form. They sit for the General Certificate Secondary Education at the end of the 5th-years' course. A-level (Advanced) or AS-levels (Advanced Supplementary) are taken after two years of study in the sixth form. They are the main standard for entrance to university or other higher education establishment.

There are two types of secondary schools in Northern Ireland: grant-maintained integrated schools which are funded by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, and controlled integrated schools funded by the education and library boards. Integrated Schools exist to educate Protestant and Roman Catholic children together. There are 15 primary schools and two secondary schools in which teaching is in Irish. They are called Irish-medium schools.

Scotland has its own qualification system, which is administered below degree level by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). It is a national system covering the courses students follow as they move through secondary to further and higher education. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is the national body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation, assessment, and certification of qualifications other than degrees. SQA is also responsible for developing and distributing 5-14 National Tests to schools as part of the Government's 5-14 Programme. The first SQA qualification at school level is usually Standard Grade, normally taken in the fourth year of secondary school and broadly equivalent to the GCSE examination in England. Standard Grade courses are taken in a wide range of subjects across the curriculum. After Standard Grade, students follow the Higher Still programme, which offers a broad range of subjects, academic and vocational, at fifth and sixth year. There are five levels - Access, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher and Advanced Higher. Highers are normally taken in fifth year in four, five or six subjects giving pupils breadth, depth of study and individual choice. In the sixth year pupils can improve on their Highers, take more Highers or continue in selected subjects to Advanced Higher. Highers and Advanced Highers are recognised for entrance to universities throughout the United Kingdom. Some independent schools also offer A levels (certified via the English system).

Further education is the term used to describe education and training that take place after the school-leaving age of sixteen; it is a term normally abbreviated to FE. FE takes place in colleges, of which there are over six hundred spread across the UK. At the age of sixteen all UK students take GCSEs, which will decide the path of study or training they will take from then on.

Some students will decide to stay on at school (the 6^th form); others to go to a college; still others will decide to leave full-time education and get a job with training provided. About forty per cent go on to FE colleges from the state or independent sector. However, FE colleges are not just for school-leavers. These colleges provide education and training services for the whole of the community that they are part of. They will also run courses for:

• people who are in work and wish to continue their training

• adults who wish to change their jobs or return to study

• people who just want to have an enjoyable time learning a new subject or skill

The majority of the FE provision in the UK comes under the direct responsibility of the state. The state also ensures the quality of the provision through and inspection system. Students can take any of the following types of course in the further education system:

Entry requirement to British universities, colleges or jobs

A-levels are still the most common entrance qualifications for students in the UK though most universities and university sector colleges now accept the IB and GNVQs as the equivalent of A-levels. Students generally take A-levels in two or three subjects related to their intended degree course. A-level courses normally take two years, but at some places a person can study them intensively for one year. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an international qualification, which is recognized for university entrance in most countries, including the UK. General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) is a work-related qualification, which is more generic and less employment-specific than NVQ. GNVQs prepare candidates for the world of work. They provide a blend of capability and competence, developing a person's employment potential for a range of jobs as well as the ability to progress to further and higher education. GNVQs are currently available at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced level. Advance-level courses provide access to a degree. National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is a job-specific, competence-based qualification. These qualifications range from routine and predictable work - such as machine operations - at level one, through to competence in decision-making roles in unpredictable situations - required of top management and professionals - at level five. They are primarily designed to be delivered within a work environment. SVQ and GSVQ is a system of qualifications in Scotland with similar aims and characteristics as the NVQ/GNVQ but modified to take into account specific Scottish employment needs and legislation. The Scottish Qualification Authority both accredits and awards SVQs and GSVQs. Some universities and university sector colleges will accept a student without formal qualifications, provided the institution is satisfied that the student has a sufficient general standard of education and relevant working experience.

If you have not been educated in Britain, you will need to check how the level you have reached corresponds to the British system. It may be that the best solution for an international student will be an access or a foundation course, lasting from six months to a year, and probably offered at a further education college, but possibly at the university or university sector college itself. Another factor influencing the application will be the level of English. All colleges will require a certain level of English competence, depending on the type of course applied for, and will test for English ability either in the student own country or on arrival. Most institutions offer language support to international students alongside their educational course, as well as pre-sessional English programmes. If you are an International student, your application will be processed and copies sent to the universities and colleges you have chosen at any time between 1 September of a certain year and 30 June next year for entry in the same year. The closing date for Oxford and Cambridge, and for applications to medicine, dentistry and veterinary science/medicine was 15 October. To have a good chance of getting a place you must apply before 30 June. The guarantee for a good spot lessens after 15 January. You should check the deadline for individual universities and colleges. Success on the access course guarantees a place on the linked degree.

Higher Education

The two types of higher education institutions are:

• universities, which have the power to award their own degrees at all levels

• university sector colleges, some of which award their own degrees but the majority of which do so through a university

British universities (including the television-based Open University and the privately-funded University of Buckingham) are completely self-governing, and their academic and financial independence is guaranteed by a committee that disburses to them funds authorized by Parliament. Major universities in Great Britain include three in England; University of Oxford, University of Cambridge (the two oldest universities, known together as ‘Oxbridge’) and the University of London; and one in Scotland, the University of Edinburgh. Other ancient Scottish universities are: St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen. In the nineteenth century many redbrick universities were established to respond to the demand for educated people created by the Industrial Revolution. Many of these were situated in industrial centers like Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol. Many new universities and other institutions of higher education have been founded since World War II ended in 1945, and admission policies have been broadened. In the 1960s several universities were established. They were named after counties rather than cities, for example Sussex, Kent, East Anglia, Strathclyde. The Further and Higher Education Act of 1992 gave the former polytechnic colleges university status. Studying for their first degree undergraduate students can take three years for an honours degree. Some degree courses, particularly in Scotland, take four years to complete, and some even longer than that. The following are examples of first degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)

• Bachelor of Education (BEd)

• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)

• Bachelor of Law (LLB)

• Bachelor of Science (BSc)

Students with good degrees can go on to a postgraduate or higher degree. Generally, international students will be expected to have the equivalent of a second-class honours or better.

Postgraduate study can lead to:

• a postgraduate diploma (normally aimed at a professional qualification, and normally a one-year taught course)

• a master's degree, such as an MA or MSc (normally a course lasts for one year, and can be either a taught course, or a piece of original research, or both)

• an MPhil, or a doctorate, normally a PhD (awarded only after an approved piece of original research)

• study in a subject in depth for its own sake, or using postgraduate work to train for a profession (accountancy, architecture, banking and law have very specific requirements laid down by the relevant professional bodies)

• Frequently, a taught master's degree will lead to the chance to do some original research, perhaps at PhD level.

Task 2. Check yourself questions:

1. Do parents have to pay for their children in public schools?

2. Do parents have to pay for their children in Comprehensive schools?

3. What do you know about Grammar schools?

4. Are Primary and Secondary schools normally housed in one and the same building?

5. Name some of the most prestigious private schools in Britain.

6. How has the system of secondary education developed?

7. What do students do in the sixth form?

8. What groups of universities can be singled out?

9. How do students enter a university?

10. Name some universities.

11. What are the academic degrees that one can get at a university?

Task 3. Fill in the blanks in the story about three English children.

1. His name is Graham Jones, and he is fifteen. His father is top manager at Lloyd’s Insurance Company. He first went to ____1______ school when he was ____2____ years old, then at the age of ____3____ he went on to a private ____4____ school, and then to the oldest _____5____ school called _____6____ college.

2. Her name is Maggie Greene. She is seventeen and studies in the state sector. She first went to ____1_____ school when she was ___2_____ . There was no __3___ school that would give academic education free of charge close to her house, so she went to a ____4_____ school. Now she is a ____5____ form student preparing for a university. At the end of her course she is going to sit for ___6____ exam.

3. His name is Philip Powell. He is seventeen and works as a car mechanic. After ____1___ school he went to a _____2_____ school, then passed exams for __3_. After leaving school he took a course, which allowed him to get a job specific qualification called ______.

Task 4. Compare the system of education in Russia and in Britain. What are the similarities and the differences? Try to pinpoint some notions, which have very different socio-cultural implications, like ‘ a boarding school’ and ‘школа-интернат’.

Task 5. Student A. Read the first three advertisements and get ready to give advice to your partner. You are interested in an undergraduate course in London or not very far from London. Since you are not a British citizen, you are also interested in some preparatory courses. Ask your partner questions for detail. If something appeals to you in the ads you have read, consult your partner.

Student B. Read the last three advertisements and get ready to give advice to your partner. You are interested in a postgraduate course, preferably in Scotland. Ask your partner questions for detail. If something appeals to you in the ads you have read, consult your partner.

Task 6. Re-read the advertisements and pick out educational terms.

Theme 8. Ways of Life in UK

BASIC FACTS:

• Ways of life in UK depend to some extent on class and nationality.

• All Brits are sportive.

• There are national kinds of sport.

• There are national kinds of food and drink.

• Gardening is a national passion in UK.

Task 1. Look at the picture. What game is it? What are the social connotations of the game? (Is it for ordinary or for the rich people?)

1. Sports in Great Britain

Task 2. Read the text and focus on the British values, which are reflected in their attitude to sports.

Sport is a very important part of life in Great Britain. The list of sports invented by the British includes football, golf, lawn tennis, badminton, cricket, rugby, squash and some others. Frequently as in the case of football the British did not invent the game itself, they formulated the rules. Nowadays, thousands of people devote their leisure time to outdoor and indoor games: athletics, mountain climbing, boxing and other sports.

Outdoor games are team games such as football, cricket, and hockey, and games in which individuals or couples try their skill, for example golf. Team games are part of the old public school system of bringing up. Sport is supposed to develop character and team spirit. Among the sports “essentially dear to the English nature” Anthony Trollope, a famous novelist, includes the traditional gentlemen pursuits: hunting, shooting, rowing, and horse racing.

In recent times, though, team games are becoming less popular, while sports for individuals, like swimming, cycling, snooker, motor racing, golf are rising in popularity. Television has had an enormous influence on sport. Darts, snooker, golf and cycling have found regular places in TV programmes. Thanks to television, darts has become an international game, played by professionals. Darts also remain associated with British pubs. People frequently come to local pubs to watch the more important football games and play darts.

Football. Although Englishmen played a kind of football from the middle age or even earlier as an organized game it dates back from just over a century ago. Football matches get big crowds. The Cup Final is one of the most important football matches of the year in England; it is always played at the Wembley stadium, in London. There is no British Football team. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete separately in European and World Cup matches. British fans are notorious for their violent behaviour. Football hooliganism was at its worst in 1985. The worst incident occurred at a European interclub game in Brussels. A number of spectators were killed in the panic caused by the violence of a group of British football supporters.

Rugby. One type of football, in which the players carried the oval ball in their hands, appeared in 1859 at Rugby School. That is why the name took the name of Rugby. The rules of the game are different from football (soccer). The ball can be carried and passed to other players by throwing or kicking. Points are won by carrying the ball to the opponents’ end of the field or by kicking it over an H shaped bar. Informally rugby football is called rugger. Rugby is a rough, hard game.

Cricket. Cricket is England’s national summer game. Nobody knows exactly how old the game is, but some forms of cricket were played in England in the 13^th century. The rules of the game have changed over the years.

The oldest series of international matches is between England and Australia, and the team that wins takes home a famous trophy called The Ashes. And even today for cricket lovers in England and Australia winning The Ashes is like winning The World Cup for football!

In England cricket is played in schools and universities, and almost all towns have their cricket teams, which play regularly at least one match a weak during the season – from May to September. There are thousands of cricket grounds all over England. The Marylebone Cricket Club is the most important authority on cricket in the world. The club is situated at Lord’s cricket ground in London.

Lawn-tennis. The number of people who play lawn-tennis is great. The tennis championships held at Wimbledon for two weeks at the end of June and at the beginning of July are the main event of the lawn-tennis season in Britain and, in fact in the world. These championships in which men and women of many nationalities complete, gather large crowds.

Swimming. Many children in Britain learn to swim at school, or during the holidays at the seaside, and swimming pool as a summer pastime is enjoyed by millions of people. There are also indoor swimming pools, which makes swimming possible all the year round. Swimming championships and competitions are widely reported in press and on TV. Attempts to swim the English channel have been made by swimmers of many nationalities every summer. Some of the attempts are successful. The numerous rivers afford excellent opportunities for swimming and rowing.

Rowing. The Oxford and Cambridge boat race, in which crews from these two universities compete take place every spring on the Thames. The high point of the rowing season is the Royal Henley Regatta. Each July the pretty town of Henley-on Thames is flooded by boating enthusiasts. This annual event began in 1851. Although the regatta was designed for amateur rowers, participants had to belong to the correct social class.

During the autumn and winter shooting and fox-hunting are the great sports in Great Britain for the upper classes.

Polo is another aristocratic pursuit. Polo is a team sport with each player filling a specific role and supporting the team effort on both offense and defense. The outdoor polo field is the area of 10 football fields. The indoor polo arena is only about 100 yards long and 50 yards wide. Three players instead of four are used on a team. There are between four and eight chukkas (periods of play), depending on the standard of the match (usually four in low goal up to eight in world class matches.  Each chukka lasts seven minutes. Chukka comes from the Indian word for a circle or round. The shaft of the mallet or stick is usually made from bamboo cane and the head from a hard wood. The wide face of the mallet head is used to strike the ball. Players use a fresh pony for each chukka.  Although termed 'ponies' they are usually horses. Two mounted umpires (one for each side of the field) who regulate the game. They usually wear striped shirts. There are many polo clubs in England: Ascot Polo Club, Cowdray Park at Midhurst, Guards’ Polo Club, Cirencester [‘saierenseste] Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire.

Horse-racing is also a great national sport. There are several races that attract special attention. The Grand National is England’s main steeplechase (race over obstacles) held in March or April in Aintree, near Liverpool. The course is over seven kilometres and includes thirty jumps, of which fourteen are jumped twice. It is one of the most difficult and dangerous races in the world. The National Hunt Festival is held in Cheltenham in March. There are twenty races there. The Derby [da:bi] takes place at Epsom, a famous racecourse to the south of London. It is England’s leading flat race. The Royal Ascot is held in June near Windsor and it is one of the highlights of the English social season. For a week in June racegoers, gamblers, socialites, the royal family make their way to Berkshire and the Ascot racecourse. The racecourse was built in 1711 by an order of Queen Anne. It is not only a sports event, it is a great social event when the upper classes gather to see the Queen who always attends. Women traditionally invent unusual and inimitable hats. Men wear top hats.

Toe wrestling is a new kind of sports recently invented in England and gaining popularity. Its rules are similar to arm wrestling.

The game of Golf was invented in Scotland and enjoyed by the nobility as early as the 15th Century. Golf was enjoyed by James IV, James V and Mary Queen of Scots (who is said to have popped out for a game after successfully plotting to murder her husband, Lord Darnley). James VI was also an avid player and encouraged the game in London when he became King of England in 1603. The first rules of the game were laid down in 1744. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (known as the R&A), was founded in 1754. It is the world governing body for the game and is based in St. Andrews, along with the "Old Course" - perhaps the world's most famous golf course. The Old Course is a public course (a tradition widespread in Scotland, where the City Council owns and maintains the course) and as such is open to locals and visitors for a modest fee.

Curling started in Scotland in the 16th century, at least, and the earliest stone dating back to 1511 is held in Stirling at the Smith Institute. The outdoor game was obviously well established by the 17th century. The National Bard, Robert Burns, as a farmer probably played the game, and certainly wrote knowledgeably about it in his poem ' Tam Samson's Elegy'. Since the first indoor game took place in Glasgow in 1907 the outdoor game is now very infrequently played apart from 'The Bonspiel' or 'Grand Match' traditionally played on the Lake of Monteith in Perthshire. Scotland not only invented the game, wrote the rules, gave the game to the world but also makes the best curling stones. The Gold Olympic success should greatly increase interest in the game, which in turn should benefit the Scottish manufacturer of curling stones. Nearly all the curling stones in the world are made from Scottish granite from Ailsa Craig - also known as Paddy's Milestone - the famous rocky outcrop off the Ayrshire coast.

S hinty is another Scottish game. It is recognised that Scotland is one of the world warrior nations. Although renowned as one of the friendliest and welcoming of countries, the Scots love nothing more than watching, or taking part in, a good going "stramash" (fight). 
If there was ever a game that helped Scots develop their courage, speed, stamina and weapon handling skills, it is the game of shinty. It requires a lot of mental and physical strength.
 The earliest documented rules of play were recorded by the Aberdeen University Shinty Club who in 1861 became the first constituted shinty club in Scotland. The Camanachd Association was formally instituted in 1893 with the first final for a national trophy - the Camanachd Cup – taking place in 1896.

In Ireland the national game is hurling. Players use sticks called 'hurleys' to strike the ball. The part of the hurley used to strike the ball is known as the 'bas'. At its widest point the bas shall not be more than 13cm. The ball in hurling is known as a 'sliotar'. The sliotar weighs between 100g and 130g. The circumference of the ball is between 23cm and 25cm. Championship hurling matches last 70 minutes and league matches last 60 minutes.

Another popular game is Gaelic Football. A Gaelic football team consists of 15 players and a number of substitutes, who may be called into the game at any stage. The team's manager chooses his starting 15 and substitutes from a 'panel' of players. Only three substitutes can be used in one match. Every football team has a goalkeeper, six defenders, two midfielders and six forwards. In Gaelic Football there are two methods of recording scores. A 'point' is scored when the ball is played over the crossbar between the posts by either team. A 'goal' is scored when the ball is played over the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar by either team.

In Wales rugby is very popular, though it was born in England. There are two forms of rugby: Rugby Union and Rugby League. In Wales they play Rugby Union. There are 15 players in each team. Rugby Union is played internationally. It is thought of as a middle class game. Rugby League is a professional game played mainly in the north of England and Australia.

Task 3. Read the text below and discuss the similarities and differences in eating and drinking habits in Russia and UK.

Eating and Drinking Habits in the UK

     The usual meals in Britain are: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

ENGLAND

Traditional English breakfast is generally a bigger meal than they have on the Continent. Usual English breakfast is porridge or cornflakes with milk or cream and sugar, bacon and egg s, marmalade made from oranges with buttered toasts and tea or coffee. But in our days British are responding to recent medical advice and are cutting down on fatty food and at breakfast time they usually have cereal and toast or rolls with butter and jam instead of the "traditional English breakfast". This is because of health consideration, the time needed for preparation and the cost.

British traditional food is roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, cheddar c heese, clotted cream (thick cream from Cornwall) and fish and chips, Shepherd’s Pie (meat covered with potato). The main family meal of the week tends to be on Sunday lunch at which, typically, a roast joint of meat will be served with several vegetables and Yorkshire pudding (a round baked food made from flour, eggs and milk). You may also be served a pudding such as apple pie with cream. This is an occasion for the family to get together to talk and relax in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere.

Some kinds of food are connected with traditional holidays. For example on Christmas after church many return to homes fragrant with the smell of turkey roasting in the oven. Old and young wait while the cook makes his or her last-minute preparations and stirs the gravy, which is rich with the pan juices of the turkey. The table is laid with the best table linen and china or pottery. While Christmas is primarily a family occasion with relatives travelling long distances to be together, friends or acquaintances with no family of their own may be invited to join the gathering. The meal may begin with something light such as melon, smoked salmon with lemon or celery, or Stilton soup under a thin pastry ‘hat’. Roast turkey is the most popular main dish today, though roast goose is a strong contender. The turkey is accompanied by one or two stuffings, such as chestnut and bacon stuffing or sausage-meat stuffing, chipolata sausages and bacon rolls. A sauce made from cranberries cooked with a port and orange flavoured syrup contrasts well with the rich turkey meat. Home-made bread sauce is traditional and is flavoured with cloves and nutmeg. Brussels sprouts are at their best at Christmas and are sometimes mixed with chestnuts or other nuts, or with breadcrumbs fried in butter. Delicious roast vegetables such as crunchy potatoes and caramelized parsnips add hugely to the delight. Mince pies continue to be popular at Christmas time in Britain. The picture of the Christmas pudding being brought to the table flaming with brandy is a traditional image of the British Christmas lunch.

England has stable tea traditions. Nowadays 20 million cups of tea are sipped in England a day. People drink tea in the morning, at eleven o’clock at work, at lunch, in the afternoon and before going to bed. English tea is normally with milk. The tradition of the afternoon tea associated with the upper classes appeared around the beginning of the 19th Century, when the Duchess of Bedford, complaining of a 'sinking feeling' late in the afternoons began inviting friends around for an 'extra' meal.  The meal was based on the European tea service format where small cakes, sandwiches, assorted finger sweets and tea were served.  Until this point, Great Britain had only two meals in a day.  Breakfast was served much later in the day than it is now and consisted of beef, bread, and ale.  Dinner, served late in the evening, was a massive meal. The Duchess' meals became so popular amongst her friends that soon virtually everyone was hosting afternoon tea in order to appear socially acceptable.  The tea was kept warm by sitting on a small stand positioned over a candle flame. Tea cuisine consisted of thin crustless sandwiches spread with butter, fish pates, toasts with jam and regional pastries such as scones or crumpets. Two distinct forms of tea service evolved: High and Low.  Low tea was served in the low part of the afternoon in the homes of wealthy aristocrats.  Low tea featured gourmet tidbits rather than solid meals, with the emphasis on presentation and conversation. High tea was the main (or high) meal of the day.  It was the major meal of the lower and middle classes, consisting of full dinner items such as roast beef, potatoes, peas and tea. Debated much more than it seems it should be is: "What is the official time for afternoon tea?" Now it is 4:00 PM. As important as time is atmosphere. If you want to serve tea in English style, use doilies under your plates, fine bowls, cups, a particularly nice tablecloth, some attractive napkins. Also, choosing pleasant music fills the air in ways smells and sights cannot.

WALES

The food of Wales developed to satisfy the appetites of hard-working farm labourers, coal miners, quarrymen and fishermen. From the mining valleys of the south to the rugged upland farms of the north, the Welsh landscape produces food of freshness, quality and variety and, in turn, the Welsh people cooked dishes that were hearty and filling. Traditional Welsh foods include bacon, cheeses, crempog (pancakes spread with salty Welsh butter), Bara Brith (a rich tea loaf, sometimes known as 'speckled bread') and cawl - a rich stew made with bacon, scraps of Welsh lamb and vegetables including Wales' emblem, the leek.

Although Welsh lamb is one of the country's most famous exports today, it would have been considered a rare treat not long ago, with pork being far more common for the mid-week meal. Welsh black beef has almost overtaken Welsh lamb in its fame and along the coast, of course, fishing remains an important industry with great shoals of herring and mackerel caught off the west coast often just fried in bacon fat for a simple supper. Laverbread (seaweed) is a Welsh speciality usually sold by the quarter, rolled with fine Welsh oatmeal into little cakes and fried into crisp patties with eggs, bacon and cockles for a traditional Welsh breakfast. Welsh cakes are a bit like a flat scone, baked on a griddle and with a distinctive flavour and texture, usually served hot spread with butter.

Welsh organic dairy based in Aberystwyth whose products can be found everywhere - many Welsh producers are now supplying large supermarkets and food halls. Welsh cheeses (especially goats' cheese), mineral water and even Welsh wines are readily available across the country. There is a wide variety of cheeses including Castle Meadows, Caerphilly, St David's, Pantysgawn farm goats' cheese, Tintern, Harlech, Y-Fenni and St. Illtyd. Llanerch Vineyards produce Cariad (a term of endearment meaning "sweetheart") wines plus cider and elderflower drinks. Graig Farm is an award-winning organic meat mail order service. Much of the recent success of Welsh producers is thanks to an accreditation scheme called A Taste of Wales (Blas ar Gymru). It was launched a few years ago and promotes the use of Welsh produce on the menus of hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, pubs and cafes throughout Wales. The first ever Wales Food and Drink Awards were also launched in 2002. Gwynedd Confectioners, based in Bala, is a supplier of exclusive gift confectionery to the retail industry. The range includes Welsh fudge, mint humbugs, coconut ice, nougat, Welsh style shortbread biscuits and toffee.

SCOTLAND

Scotland is renowned for the quality of its natural produce. Fresh Scottish salmon, heather-fed venison, fresh tender lamb and well-hung prime beef all feature in Scottish menu. For vegetarians there is a varied selection of dishes from home-made nut rissoles to fresh papardelle pasta. Porridge used to be typical of Scotland and then spread all over UK. Haggis is the most traditional of all Scottish dishes, eaten on Burns Night (25th January; the birthday of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, 1759-1796) and at Hogmanay (New Year's Eve), accompanied by the traditional Black Bun and Shortbread. Haggis is really a large round sausage; the skin being a sheep's paunch. The finest haggis of all is made with deer liver, served to the skirl of the pipes, cut open with a traditional knife and accompanied by small glasses of neat Scotch whisky. Scotch whisky is nicknamed ‘water of life’ and ‘mountain dew’. It is a large industry. The distilling, blending, bottling, transporting and selling of Scotch whisky employs more than 20,000 people. There are about 112 malt distillers in Scotland. The aristocrat of whiskies is the single malt, or unblended whisky. The basic ingredient of whisky is malted barley. Ale brewing in Scotland predates whisky distillation. There is Heather Ale, made to a 4,000 year old Pictish recipe. It is a pale golden beer, with a refreshing fruit aroma, fruity wheat flavour and crisp finish. Recommended with, light foods, pastas and salads. Brewed in Scotland since 2000 B.C. heather ale is probably the oldest style of ale still produced in the world. From an ancient Gaelic recipe for "leann fraoich" (heather ale) it has been revived and reintroduced to the Scottish culture. Introduced by the Vikings, spruce and pine ales were very popular in the Scottish Highlands until the end of the 19th century. It is a light amber ale with floral peaty aroma, full malt character, a spicy herbal flavour and dry wine like finish. Many early explorers, including Captain Cook, used spruce ale during long sea voyages since it prevented scurvy and ill health.

IRELAND

Traditional Irish foods are: boxty (raw and cooked potato mashed with butter, buttermilk, flour, and then baked), champ (potato boiled and mashed with butter, milk, scallion, salt), colcannon (champ and cabbage), Dublin coddle (bacon, ham-bone, onion, potato, sausage), Irish stew (mutton, carrot, leek and potato), Black pudding (a kind of thick dark-coloured sausage made of animal blood and fat, and grain). Black pudding is also popular in the North of England. The traditional drinks in Ireland are Guinness beer and Irish whiskey.

St James's Gate in the heart of Dublin was where Arthur Guinness set up in business in 1759. He began to produce stout beer, and now it is one of flourishing businesses in Ireland. The best known kinds of Irish whiskey are: Bushmills and Jameson.

Task 4. Think how the hobby of gardening is connected with national character. Then read the text.

3. Parks in Great Britain

The British are very fond of the countryside. The Scots are proud of their magnificent landscapes, the Irish are in love with their emerald isle, the Welsh are enchanted by Snowdonia, the English enjoy their cozy and nostalgic rural views with hedges and thatched cottages. In other words love of the countryside is a most striking aspect of British culture. As a nation, the British have made a mental retreat from the urban environment, That is why gardening is a common hobby in Britain, it is even shared by some members of the Royal family for example Queen Mother was fond of gardening and so is her grandson Charles. The British parks and gardens are famous all over the world. They look simple and natural though there is much work and much thought beyond this illusionary simplicity.

The most famous parks can be found in London. They are welcome retreats from the bustle of the huge city. In their grassy quietness you forget that you are in an industrial, modern city.

Regent's Park, designed by John Nash, is located in North West London. Regents Park is another of London's 'lungs', being a vast green space (487 acres), which provides a welcome break from the fast-paced, hectic city life. It is an orderly and elegant stretch of green space. This large central London royal park is a beautiful place to spend a hot afternoon, offering impressive floral displays, fountains and secluded walks. At the southern end of Regents Park are Queen Mary's Gardens, which are frequently visited by Londoners and are probably the most beautifully laid out gardens in London, with hedging, flowerbeds, fountains and whose fabulous rose gardens rival the very best. In the Northern part of Regent’s Park you can find London Zoo with over 12.000 animals. In summer Shakespeare's plays and musicals are performed in the open-air theatre, which is in Regent's Park.

The most famous of London parks is Hyde Park. Once the manor of Hyde, a part of the old Westminster Abbey property, it became a deer park under Henry VIII. A Royal Park since 1536 it was open to the public in 1637. Races were held there in the 17th cent. In 1730, Queen Caroline had the artificial lake, the Serpentine, constructed. It curves diagonally through Hyde Park; in Kensington Gardens the lake is called the Long Water. This is one of the numerous English landscape parks. It was planned by the gardener Bridgman in the XVIII century. The Serpentine Lake is popular for boating, sailing and even bathing. To the south of the Serpentine runs Rotten Row, the fashionable riding track through the park. It is from the Serpentine lake that the famous London to Brighton veteran cars rally starts. At the Speakers' Corner at Marble Arch you can hear Briton's exercise their right to free speech. There may be a dozen or more at any one time, each standing on a soap box, and spouting (usually) controversial views, strongly held on any topic you can think of - religion, politics, fox hunting, trade unions, Europe, tourists.

Green Park is known since the second half of the XVII century. It stretches along the street of Piccadilly. In front of Buckingham Palace and St James's, Green Park is popular with guests of Mayfair hotels as a place for their morning jog. Green Park is a natural expanse of grass and trees, hence the name. Once the site of a leper hospice, this was long a favoured duelling ground and also the location for numerous balloon ascents and firework displays. Opposite 119 Piccadilly, you will see a mound, which was once an ice house where Charles II's summer drinks were chilled.

St. James Park was laid out by John Nash and is famous for rare birds that live on the lake. Among them are pelicans from Russia. They were brought to England in 1664. Being one of the most central parks in London, with Westminster at one corner, Trafalgar Square at another and offering tree-framed views of Buckingham Palace at the third, St. James Park is one of the busiest and most-loved parks in London. It is along Birdcage Walk, at the edge of St. James Park that the Horseguards parade daily. Between the tourists that flock to see Buckingham and Westminster and the business people that flock from their offices to the green, St. James Park is rarely quiet.

Kensington Gardens, designed by Charles Bridgman is to the West of the Hyde Park and leads to Kensington Palace. Ch. Bridgman became Royal Gardener in 1728.This was one of the earliest English landscape gardens. The favourite place of many monarchs and ordinary people has been the Sunken Garden. The gardens were opened to the public in George II’s time, but only on Saturdays, when the court moved out to Richmond.

Holland Park is a park in the West End. Holland House used to be the place of meetings for the Whigs and their supporters in the XVII - XVIII centuries. Now there is a youth hostel. One wing of the Hostel is a former Jacobean mansion built on the edge of the park adjacent to the open air theatre. Just off Kensington High Street, the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and the main museums are all in walking distance.

Richmond Park is the largest municipal park in Great Britain in the desirable suburb of Richmond. Covering 1000 hectares it is one of London's finest and wildest parks. Driving in a car through the park you can enjoy the view of reindeer peacefully grazing The park was enclosed in 1637, by Charles I, to become a deer park, numbers of red and fallow deer still roam around, and more elusive badgers and foxes. Attractive features of the park include the Prince Charles Spinney, the Isabella Plantations and the White Lodge, where Edward VIII was born.

Kew Gardens is the largest and the most important Royal Botanical Garden in West London. It contains plants and trees from all over the world. Princess of Wales Conservatory presents ten different climates controlled by computers in the hothouses. Kew Gardens was laid out in the 18th century. Many royal tea parties were held in the pretty Queen’s Cottage, which was built for Queen Charlotte in 1771. It is rather grand for a summerhouse, having two stories and a thatched roof, but its charm certainly appealed to Queen Victoria. She gave both the Gardens in 1841, and the Cottage to the nation. In spring snowdrops are soon followed by daffodils (Narcissus). These beautiful bulbs can be seen throughout Kew but they are at their most dramatic where they create two golden ribbons along both sides of the Broadwalk, between The Orangery and the Palm House. One of Kew’s best known spring highlights is the Crocus carpet near Victoria Gate. The Palm House is a world famous tropical glasshouse.

Other highlights of Kew are: Temperate House - the largest glasshouse at Kew, housing the world’s biggest indoor plant, volution House - Dramatic landscape showing how plants have evolved and many other wonders of gardening.

Battersea Park is a riverside area and one of London's great nineteenth century public parks. It was laid out between 1846 and 1864 by James Pennethorne and John Gibson. Opened in 1858 it was favoured by cyclists, and hosted the 1951 Festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens (design by James Gardener) were laid out in Battersea Park and the fountains survive. There is a Peace Pavilion beside the River Thames. Battersea retains many typically Victorian park features including a serpentine carriage drive, a formal avenue, an irregular lake, flower gardens and shrubberies. There is also a children's zoo (open from Easter to October), a garden especially designed for wheelchair users and a Peace Pagoda depicting the life of Buddha. Boats can be hired to get around the small lake and there's a mile long running track. Funfairs are usually held here over public holidays.

Chelsea Physic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in Europe and the only one to retain the name "Physic" after the old name for the healing arts. Herbs have been grown there for many years. It is situated not far from Sloane Square.

Each May horticulturists and garden lovers from all over the world are attracted to London by the famous Chelsea Flower Show – the Spring Show of the Royal Horticultural Society.

In Britain there is the National Trust, which owns or manages hundreds of country estates, stretches of countryside and country houses. The trust exists for over a century and is doing a lot for the preservation of the countryside.

Task 5. Check yourself questions:

1. Why do you think sport is so popular in Britain?

2. In what educational institutions did team games mostly develop?

3. The popularity of which sports depend on Television?

4. Which team game is played exclusively within the Commonwealth of Nations?

5. What is England’s main steeplechase?

6. What do you know about the Royal Ascot?

7. What games are popular in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

8. Enumerate English traditional kinds of food.

9. Part of which meal are toasts and marmalade?

10. What is ‘the traditional English breakfast’ like?

11. What kinds of food are associated with Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland?

12. What measures help to promote the use of Welsh products in UK?

13. What can you say about the drinking habits in UK?

14. Which is one of the most popular English hobbies?

15. Why are parks and gardens so dear to the British heart?

Task 6. Match up the names of sports and the places associated with them.

1. Football a) Wimbledon

2. Tennis b) Cirencester

3. Polo c) Ascot

4. Horse racing d) Wembley

5. Cricket e) Lake of Monteith

6. Curling f) Henley

7. Rowing g) Lord’s

Task 7. Read the following recipes and instruct your group mates. Look up the abbreviations and transfer the measures into the Russian system of measurements.

Student A. Welsh Rarebit / Welsh Rabbit

Ingredients:
25g/1oz butter
25g/1oz flour
150ml/5fl oz milk
175g/6oz cheddar cheese, grated
150ml/5fl oz brown ale
1 tsp English mustard
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper
2 egg yolks
4 slices of toast

Method:
1. Make a roux with the butter and flour, and leave to cool.
2. Bring the milk to the boil, then whisk it into the roux. Bring to the boil once again, whisking to ensure that it does not burn and also that the sauce is free of lumps.
3. Add the cheese, beat in and remove from the heat.
4. Reduce the ale, English mustard and Worcestershire sauce. When thick, add this mixture to the cheese sauce. Season well with salt and pepper and beat in the egg yolks.
5. Spoon on to the slices of toast and grill until bubbling. Serve with extra Worcestershire sauce handed separately

Student B. Welsh Watkin wynne pudding

Ingredients:

8 oz Breadcrumbs; 4 oz Chopped suet; 2 oz Sugar; 4 oz Currants; 1 oz Peel; 1 Egg; 4 pt Milk

Method: (PWDIN WATCYN WYNNE) Mix the dry ingredients. Beat the egg and add to the milk. Bind the pudding together with the liquid. Cover and boil for 3 hours. Serve with Madeira Sauce.

Student C. Balmoral Shortbread

Queen Victoria was said to be very fond of this shortbread and regularly enjoyed it with a cup of tea. To her credit, Victoria found the plain and simple delicacies of the Scottish baking tradition much to her taste.

  Ingredients: 12 oz (375 g) plain flour; 4 oz (125 g) sugar; 8 oz (225 g) butter; pinch of salt.  

Makes 36 - preheat the oven to 350 deg F/ 180 deg C or gas mark 4

Method: Sift the flour onto a board. Put the sugar into a separate pile and, using both hands, work all the sugar into the butter. Now start kneading in the flour a little at a time. When all the flour is worked in you should have a firm ball of dough. Sprinkle a little flour on the board and roll out very thinly 1/8 " - 1/4 " (3 - 5 mm). Cut into circles about 2 1/2 " in diameter (6 1/2 cm) and prick with a fork in domino fashion with three pricks. Bake on a greased tray in a moderate oven for 30 minutes.

Student D. Scotch Broth 

Ingredients: 1 lb neck of mutton (or lamb) or boiling beef; 2 1/2 pints water; 1 small swede, chopped; 1 leek, chopped; 2 medium carrots, chopped; 1 onion, chopped; 2 oz pearl barley; chopped parsley to garnish

 Method: Place the meat in a saucepan with the water. Add the pearl barley. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for one hour. Skim off any white scum. Add the chopped vegetables, cover, bring back to the boil and simmer for another one hour. Before serving remove the meat and bones, and discard bones. The meat can be returned to the broth or eaten separately, if preferred. Bring back to the boil and serve, garnished with chopped parsley.

Task 8. Match up the names of parks and their peculiarities.

1. Regent’s Park a) Pelicans from Russia

2. Green Park b) Speakers’ Corner

3. St James Park c) Peace Pagoda

4. Hyde Park d) Princess Diana lived there.

5. Kensington Gardens e) You can see deer there.

6. Richmond Park f) Palm House

7. Chelsea g) Flower Show

8. Battersea h) Holland House

9. Kew Botanical Gardens I) London Zoo

10. Holland Park j) Duels happened there in the past.

Theme 9. Customs and traditions

Task 1. Read the text and think if there are any parallels between British and Russian traditions.

BASIC FACTS:

• United Kingdom is a country where people value and cherish traditions.

• Each part of the UK has its own symbols and traditions.

• National holidays in UK are known as Bank holidays.

ENGLISH SYMBOLS AND TRADITIONS

Among the symbols of England are: the RED ROSE, London red DOUBLE-DECKERS and BLACK TAXI CABS, ENGLISH TEA and the game of CRICKET. Many traditions are connected with royalty, especially in London: The STATE OPENING of PARLIAMENT, CHANGING the GUARD, TROOPING the COLOUR. Other traditions are connected with holidays.

Christmas Traditions

In England Christmas is the best loved holiday. Christmas marks the celebration of the birth of Christ, for Christians the world over. It is also a time of peace and goodwill and as such is celebrated by many people who choose not to celebrate its religious connotations. The word Christmas is derived from “Christ’s Mass” – the special church service, which celebrates the birth of the Christ child.

The origins of Christmas as we know it today, lie not only in religion but also in history. Since early times people in the northern hemisphere have celebrated the Winter Solistice around December 25. This time has long been considered special as it was mid-winter, (supposedly the shortest day of the year) and signalled the start of longer days as summer approached. People held ceremonies in honour of the sun and to welcome its returning strength, but to help it grow. These solstice festivals or ceremonies often included bonfire celebrations, torch-lit processions and much eating and drinking as well as the exchange of gifts.

In Scandinavia, Germany and Britain the solstice celebrations were marked by the burning of a large log, or sometimes a whole tree trunk, which would burn for three days! The logs were often prettily decorated and would not only keep the celebrators warm but were a message to the sun to start rising in the sky once more. The ash from the log would be kept as a source of good luck for the coming year. This burning of the “Yule Log” would be accompanied by feasting and celebrations.

In Ancient Rome the winter Solstice festival or Saturnalia as it was called then was a very popular festival. Saturnalia, was named after the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn. It was a big public festival during which people exchanged gifts. No war was declared or fought during this festival and no man was sent to prison or punished. It is not surprising that when Christianity became the official religion of Rome that people still wanted to retain this festival. The leaders of the early Christian Church sensibly attached the birth of Christ to this popular and happy festival and many of the traditions of the Saturnalia festival were retained and incorporated into the new Christmas festival.

The British still decorate their homes with evergreen plants such as holly and ivy. While to modern people they are merely “Christmas plants” in early times they must have served as a reminder of the coming summer and that the powers of nature still prevailed. In the Middle Ages holly was also thought to bring good luck and to have healing powers. Mistletoe was a sacred plant to the Druids of Britain and it is still pinned over the fireplace or the entrance to many British homes. This tradition was carried around the world as the British Empire grew. Evergreens are as popular today for Christmas decorations as they have ever been. In pre-Christian times evergreens featured in the pagan mid-winter festival of Yule. However, when 25 December was designated the day to celebrate Christ’s birth, the holly took on a new symbolism. Its prickles are said to represent the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head at his crucifixion and the red berries the blood he shed on the cross.

However, it wasn’t until the reign of Queen Victoria that Christmas celebrations evolved into the two days of family-centred festivities that the British now think of as a traditional Christmas.

The Sunday nearest 30 November, St Andrew’s Day, is affectionately known as “Stir-up Sunday” because the Anglican prayer book reading for that day begins, “Stir up we beseech Thee, O Lord, the will of thy faithful people.” Traditionally this is the day for making the Christmas pudding. Everyone in the house is supposed to stir the mixture from east to west in honour of the Three Kings. Christmas pudding has a lot of superstitions and symbolism associated with it. Before serving brandy is poured upon pudding and it is set light to. The flame is said to represent Christ’s passion, while a sprig of holly decorating the pudding is a reminder of his ‘Crown of Thorns’. Putting a silver coin in the pudding is an age-old tradition. It is said to bring wealth, health and happiness to whoever finds the coin. Other items put in the pudding include rings, which mean marriage within a year. On the contrary thimbles and buttons predict the finders to remain spinsters or bachelors during the year.

On 21 December, St Thomas’ Day, charity money is distributed in some areas in accordance with the old custom of Thomassing, when poor women or children went from house to house offering sprigs of holly or mistletoe in return for enough flour to make not only their Christmas food but, so they hoped, their bread for the rest of the winter too.

Christmas cards are an English invention. They were first sold in the early 1840s, a commercial variant of “Christmas pieces” – bordered cards written in laborious copperplate handwriting and given by schoolboys to their parents. Many cards glow with the flame of the robin’s breast – a symbol of mid-winter fire and the bonfire which legend says the robin’s wings fanned to warm Jesus. Candlelight is also used to symbolize the idea of Jesus’ coming as being a bright light in a dark world.

Paper and foil garlands are popular but the favourite decoration is the Christmas tree. Known in England since the early nineteenth century, when it was introduced by German merchants living in Manchester, and then popularized by Victoria’s consort, Albert, the tree has a place of honour in the living-room. Tinsel, shiny baubles, a fairy doll at the top of the tree and fairy lights make the tree a thing of wonder each year. Christmas crackers are as popular in Britain today as they ever were. They date back to 1844 when a sweet shop proprietor named Tom Smith wrapped sugared almonds in tissue paper twists, French bon-bon style. His customers loved them and so he took the idea a stage further and included love mottoes. He inserted a strip of cardboard impregnated with chemicals, which exploded when the strip was pulled apart, and the log-shaped cracker was born.

The most important part of Christmas Eve for children is when they put their Christmas stockings out ready for Father Christmas to fill that night. Some hang them at the mantelpiece by the fire, while others put them at the end of the bed. Carrots for the reindeer and a glass of sherry for Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, himself are thoughtful courtesies in some homes. Father Christmas has come to Great Britain by sleigh through the night sky every year since the I870s, but may not stop if children are looking out of the window for him.

Shortly before 12 p.m., many people go to a midnight service in church.

Different families have different customs – some eat their main Christmas meal (see Eating and Drinking Habits) at lunchtime while others save it for the late afternoon or evening. Presents too are exchanged at various times. Church in the morning is a time-hallowed custom – for some people the only time they go to church in the year. Many churches have a Christmas tree and a beautiful nativity scene too. Many families make sure their lunch is over by 3 p.m., when the Queen’s speech is broadcast on television and radio. King George V started this custom back in 1932 and it has been popular ever since. Film of the Queen’s family may be shown and the importance attached to this speech symbolizes the affection and esteem in which the monarchy is held by many of the British people.

December 26 in Britain is Boxing Day (also known as St Stephen’s Day), the day when church alms (милостыня) boxes were given out to the needy, following a custom started by the Romans as part of their Saturnalia celebrations. Until recently it was traditional to give a “Christmas box” on Boxing Day to service people and traders who regularly call at the house in recognition of their services.

Twelfth Night marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas and is the eve of Epiphany, which celebrates the visit of the wise men to Bethlehem.

A special service at Epiphany in the Chapel Royal at St James’ Palace in London has been conducted for the last 900 years to commemorate the wise men’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. After the service a gift of money is donated to charity, frankincense is given to the church and myrrh is sent to a hospital.

Task 2. Before reading the text think who the pearly kings and queens may be. Why are they called so? Then read the text and find out if your suggestions were right.

Pearly Kings and Queens

The London tradition of the Pearly Kings and Queens began in 1875, by a small boy named Henry Croft. Henry was born in 1862 and raised in an orphanage in Somers Town, London. At the age of 13 he left the orphanage to become a Municipal Road Sweeper and Rat Catcher in the market of Somers Town. Henry worked hard in the market and soon made many friends. He was particularly drawn to the market traders who wore 'Flash Boy Outfits' to distinguish themselves from the other market traders. This involved decorating their trousers and waistcoats with a row of pearl buttons down the seams.  Henry was fascinated by this way of life and decided he would like to help the unfortunate and also the children back at the orphanage. He knew that in order to collect a lot of money he needed to draw attention to himself.  So, he decided to go one step further and totally cover a suit with pearl buttons. He spent many long nights preparing his suit but eventually emerged, at a local carnival, wearing a suit covered in tiny pearly buttons.  He became an instant attraction and was approached by many hospitals and churches to help raise money for the poor, deaf, dumb and blind. Eventually there was Pearly Family for every London Borough and thus the ‘Pearly monarchy’ began. One of the great traditions at the Epsom horseracing course, on the southern outskirts of London, on Derby Day is the arrival of the Pearly King and Queen in their decorated donkey-cart. Their magnificent suits, hats and dresses, handed down together with hereditary titles, are sewn with mystic symbols, like stars, moons, suns, flowers, diamonds, Trees of Life, Eyes of God and fertility designs. Each outfit can have as many as 30,000 buttons on it and can weigh as much as 30 kilograms or more. These suits are worn at charity events, christenings, weddings and funerals. In 1975 the Original Pearly Kings and Queens Association was reformed and now meets every month in the crypt in St. Martins in the Field, Trafalgar Square.  The Pearlies are dedicated to helping the Church of St. Martins and all attend the Harvest Festival Service held on the first Sunday in October.  They also hold a Memorial Service for past pearlies on the third Sunday in May. (They choose this date as it is the nearest to Henrys Croft's birthday, May 24th) Both of these services are spectacular events as all Pearlies are requested to attend and there are often 40 or more Pearlies dressed in their distinguished buttoned suits. This is also a chance to see Pearly children, known as Pearly Princes and Princesses.

Task 3. Read the text and discuss the possible origins of the following traditions.

SCOTLAND’S SYMBOLS AND TRADITIONS

Scotland’s symbols include KILT, as the main element of Highland Dress; BAGPIPES musical instrument; THISTLE; TAM O’SHANTER, a beret made of TARTAN. Like other parts of UK Scotland has a lot of traditions.

The Night of Hogmanay

Nowhere else in Britain is the arrival of the New Year celebrated so wholeheartedly as in Scotland. New Year, or Hogmanay, celebrations in Scotland rival Christmas for their gaiety.

Hogmanay is the survival of the festivities, which, in medieval times, centred on the Twelfth Night (January 6th), which the Scottish people called Uphalieday. Throughout Scotland, the preparations for greeting the New Year start with a minor «spring-cleaning». Brass and silver must be glittering, and fresh linen must be put on the beds. No routine work may be left unfinished: stockings must be darned, tears mended, clocks wound up, musical instruments tuned, and pictures hung straight. In addition, all outstanding bills are paid, overdue letters written and borrowed books returned. At least, that is the idea!

Most important of all, there must be plenty of good things to eat. In the cities and burghs, the New Year receives a communal welcome, in the traditional gathering-place. In Edinburgh, as the night advances, Prince's Street becomes as thronged as it normally is at noon, and there is growing excitement in the air. Towards midnight, all steps turn to Tron Kirk with its four-faced clock, where a lively, swaying crowd awaits «the Chapplin o'the Twal» (the striking of 12 o'clock). As the hands of the clock in the tower approach the hour, a hush falls on the waiting throng, the atmosphere grows tense, and then suddenly there comes a roar from a myriad throats. The bells peal forth, the sirens scream -the New Year is born!

As midnight strikes on Hogmany in, Comrie a strange, time-honoured ceremony takes place - the lighting of the Flambeaux, to herald in the New Year. It is a ceremony that goes back far beyond the memory of folk and when questioned about its origin, they say "There have aye been flambeaux, in my father's time and my granfather's". The flambeaux are great tall torches, some ten feet in length. The poles are usually smallish birch trees which are cut around October. The swathing is of canvas firmly bound to the shaft with wire, and is subjected to being soaked in a large barrel of paraffin for several weeks. On Hogmany night they are brought out and laid against the dyke at the northeast corner of the Auld Kirkyaird, and when the clock strikes at midnight they are set alight. The torches are then seized by the strongest young men and hoisted shoulder high. Preceded by the Comrie Pipe band followed by a procession of people gathered in the village square they are paraded and finally return to the Square.

The New Year

Many families prefer to bring in the New Year at home, with music or dancing, cards or talk. As the evening advances, the fire is piled high – for the brighter the fire, the better the luck. The members of the household seat themselves round the hearth and when the hands of the clock approach the hour, the head of the house rises, goes to the main door, opens it wide, and holds it thus until the last stroke of midnight has died away. Then he shuts it quietly and returns to the family circle. He has let the Old Year out and the New Year in. New greetings and small gifts are exchanged, glasses are filled - and already the first-footers are at the door.

First-footing, in the usual sense of the term, means visiting in the early hours of New Year's morning; but the first-foot, strictly speaking, is the first person (other than a member of the household) who crosses the threshold after the midnight. According to an ancient Celtic tradition, the appearance of the first-foot can bring good or ill luck in the coming year. Generally speaking, any healthy, robust person, or one of kindly disposition or good repute, is lucky. The first-foot, on crossing the threshold, greets the family with «A gude New Year to ane and A!» or simply «A Happy New Year!», and pours out a glass from the flask he carries. This must be drunk to the dregs by the head of the house, who, in turn, pours out a glass for each of his visitors. The glass handed to the first-footer himself must also be drunk to the dregs. A popular toast is: «Your good health!» The first-footers must take something to eat as well as to drink, and after an exchange of greetings they go off again on their rounds.

The traditional Scottish song for Hogmany is a song to Robert Burns’ lyrics “Auld Lang Syne”, which in translation from Scots to English means “Days of Long Ago’. People usually link hands to sing this song.

Highland Games

Highland Games as practiced today were perpetuated by the clans of Northern Scotland but began far earlier among the Celts of Scotia (the name which Latin writers gave to Ireland). Several accounts credit an 11th century Scottish king, Malcolm Canmore, with having started the first Highland Games; but a single hill-race up a mountain in Aberdeenshire can hardly compare with the great variety of athletics which the Celts of Scotia, like the Greeks at Olympia, enjoyed for many generations. Ancient traditions insist that the same kind of contests in running foot-races, leaping, vaulting, wrestling, lifting heavy weights and putting stones (as one sees today) were begun in pre-Christian times. Several localities in both Eire and modern-day Northern Ireland were places that hosted such Games. These Celtic peoples, known then as the Scotti, but now as Highland Scots, crossed the North Channel of the Irish Sea in the 4th and 5th centuries and also at the time of St. Columba, who brought Christianity to Scotland in the 6th. Soon they were staging Games of foot-racing, horse-racing and wrestling every St. Michael's Day, September 29th. The clans' warriors needed to test their physical prowess in much the same way as modern soldiers engage in physical training. It was at one of these in 1574 that "tossing of ye barr" (caber-tossing) first appeared on record. Competitions in piping, fiddling and playing the clàrsach or Gaelic harp had long taken place within the territories of the clans. Each year the village of Braemar, Scotland invites people from all over the world to attend the Braemar Gathering and Highland Games. The Gathering is always held on the first Saturday in September and it is perhaps the most famous and finest Highland Games anywhere. It features the finest Pipe Bands, pipers, Highland dancers, and athletes in a beautiful setting surrounded by hills. The patron of the Gathering is Her Majesty the Queen. On the Saturday of the Braemar Gathering the village echoes the sound competing pipe bands. The varying colours of numerous tartans are in evidence. In the arena athletes are taking part in a variety of track events and the arduous hill-run up nearby Morrone towering nearby. 'Heavy' athletes demonstrate their prowess in 'tossing the caber', 'putting the stone' and 'throwing the hammer'. The tug of war competition is always a great favourite. The wonder of the best Highland Dancers has to be seen to be believed.

Burns’ Night

Burns’ Night is part of the cult of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns. On January, 25, Robert Burns’ birthday, thousands of Scots all over the world sit down to a supper in his honour. Bagpipes are playing, people recite Burns’ poems, usually including ‘Address to a Haggis’. Haggis is traditional food for Burns’ Night.

Gretna Green Marriages

A Gretna Green wedding in the past was a considerable sacrifice for those who made the often long journey there to tie the knot. No family or friends, no white dress, bridesmaids or three-tiered cake following a trip which may well have begun, against parental objections, with a stone gently pitched against a window, a ladder gently laid against a window sill, a swift descent and a stealthy flight from home to an often uncertain future based on Gretna Green’s anvil. Everyone with a ounce of romance in their soul understands exactly what a Gretna Green wedding means; runaway lovers making their way there to marry in secret and, despite the odds, living happily ever after. Apart from the romance of elopement, there were more practical reasons, which drew so many young lovers to Gretna Green. With the country’s age of consent then, as now, just 16, Gretna Green - the village closest to the border with England - became an irresistible magnet for young people willing to defy family, friends and convention...and to forsake the trappings of a traditional wedding.

Task 4. Read the text and make a quiz.

WELSH SYMBOLS AND TRADITIONS

The symbols of Wales include LEEK and DAFFODIL; LOVE SPOONS; THE RED DRAGON and WISHING WELLS.

St David’s Day

St David’s day is celebrated on the First of March. Welsh people wear leeks or daffodils on this day. The leek had been recognised as the emblem of Wales since the middle of the 16th century. Its association with Wales can in fact be traced back to the battle of Heathfield in 633 AD, when St. David persuaded his countrymen to distinguish themselves from their Saxon enemies by wearing a leek in their caps.

Wishing Wells and Love Spoons

A ll over Wales you will find wishing wells into which people still throw money. Some wishing wells are said to help your love life, others, tradition has it, can heal the sick. A favourite souvenir for the tourists is a Welsh love spoon. They are made of wood and are carved very beautifully. For centuries in Wales love spoons have been handcarved in wood with symbols of love to be given as gifts, and the tradition is now spreading quickly around the world as people look for a truly special way of celebrating a wedding, an anniversary, a birthday or just saying Thank You. Originally, love spoons were made by young men as a love token for their sweethearts. There are many different designs demonstrating the skill and love of the hopeful suitor. If the girl kept this present, all was well, but if she sent it back, she did not want him. A wealth of symbols was carved all over the spoon. The heart, quite naturally, was the most conventional sign and it was to be a full heart carved into the depth of the spoon. Wheels and spades suggested work and service. With a lock the carver let his maiden know that he wished to lock her in his heart, and with a key, keyhole and house, he told her his heart and house were hers to unlock. Anchors were often carved on spoons suggesting that the donor had found a place where he wishes to settle. Horseshoes, dolphins, diamonds and four-leave clovers epitomized good luck and fortune. The dragon (the symbol of Wales and a sign of protection), ropes and cables, windows, animals, flowers, the daystar and crosses were also frequently used. Today, a handful of artisans continue the age-old tradition. The love spoon, however, is no longer a Celtic symbol of betrothal. It is being hand-fashioned for special occasions such as marriages, birthdays, anniversaries, and carved as gifts of friendship, affection and love.

The Red Dragon of Wales

The Red Dragon of Wales (y ddraig goch), although perhaps of Chinese origin, was introduced to Britain by the Romans some eighteen hundred years ago. Initially a military standard, in time this mythical beast developed into the flag of a nation. The Welsh may be the only people to have entered this millennium with the "same" flag as they entered the current one. Today despite the dominance of its neighbour England, the people of Wales have never ceased to be Welsh. The language culture and flag have all survived. The Welsh flag is seen perhaps now more than ever before in its history. At home the Welsh flag is to be seen flying in most towns as well on a massive scale at Rugby matches and other national events.

Wales has always been known as a country of music and song. There are many great traditions of Wales, but three stand out that make it culturally distinct from its neighbors: the Eisteddfod, the Noson Lawen and the Cymanfa Ganu.

Eisteddfod

Of these, the Eisteddfod is probably the most ancient and certainly the most popular. Since the 12th century we have records of an annual competition (or Eisteddfod [ais'teSvad] in Welsh), which was held to find the best poets, writers and musicians in the country. Originally only professionals took part, but now the Eisteddfod is open arts. In the 1860's the National Eisteddfod Society was founded, and the modern era of the competitions began. The chief contest is still that of poetry, being separated into two categories: to the public and, because all the events are in Welsh, it encourages a strong interest in the Welsh for the Chair, and for the Crown. The Eisteddfod now includes local crafts, orchestral and brass band contests. Many local communities organize their own Eisteddfod, and the National Eisteddfod is held in August each year, alternately in a northern or a southern town.

A n International Eisteddfod (the international festival of folk-dancing and music) began in 1946, and no one expected much foreign interest. In fact fourteen countries took part. Nowadays, the International Eisteddfod takes place in the second week of July at Llangollen [laen'golan] (this town is in North Wales). People from over thirty countries come to compete in choral singing, folk-singing and folk-dancing, and the little valley is full of thousands of visitors coming to listen and watch.

Noson Lawen

Of unknown age is the next great Welsh tradition, the Noson Lawen (merry night). The event was held to celebrate the successful bringing in of the hay harvest, always a big event because of the uncertainty of the Welsh weather. Because corn does not grow in Wales, a good hay crop is essential for winter feed for the cattle and horses. During the long, dark winter nights, it was inevitable that music would play a large part in the proceedings, and it seems that the playing of the harp and reciting verses were key elements in the activities. No doubt large quantities of ale and cider were also consumed, but these are not necessary ingredients for a Noson Lawen.

Cymanfa Ganu

The third Welsh cultural tradition of importance is that of the Cymanfa Ganu. The Cymanfa Ganu with its emphasis on hymn singing is not an ancient event at all, for it grew out of the Temperance Movement in the mid-nineteenth century. In South Wales Choral societies were founded as one solution to the grave problem of drinking. Because of the unsanitary conditions in the rapidly-growing and hurriedly-thrown together housing developments, water was unsafe to drink and beer was drunk in large quantities. To help the workers occupy their time and keep them away from the taverns, the choral movement reflected the social aspirations of the supporters of temperance. Temperance Movement decided to hold an annual festival of choirs and at the Eisteddfod of 1846, choral competition was added to the list of events. It has remained ever since as one of the most popular and best attended events. Many towns in Wales no longer hold the annual Cymanfa, but the tradition has experienced a great revival in North America, where, in a different city each year, thousands of Welsh Americans and Canadians get together to sing their beloved hymns in what has now become a four-day festival.

Halloween

Wales also shares some other old Celtic traditions. Many are connected with the old New Year's Eve of Celtic tradition, transformed into the rites connected with the Christian celebration of All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. In Wales, this night is called Nos Galan Gaeaf. Before dawn, huge bonfires were lit on the hillsides, often two or three within sight of each other. While apples and potatoes were thrown into the fires for roasting, the watchers would dance around or leap through the flames for good luck. Stones were thrown into the fire; then, when the flames died down, everyone would run for home. The next morning, at daybreak, searchers would try to find their stones. Those who succeeded would be guaranteed good luck for the coming year. If you could not find your stone, then bad luck or even death would follow. Apples always played a large part in Halloween festivities (they are the one fruit that grows prolifically in the Welsh climate and can be preserved throughout much of the early winter). The most popular game was apple bobbing, with six or eight perfectly round fruit placed in a large bowl of water set on the floor. Then, with both hands tied behind their backs, the young lads and lasses would try to pick up an apple with only their teeth. Usually they received a nose and mouth full of water for their pains, but no apple!! In some houses, the apples were tied on one end of a stick suspended from the ceiling with a candle tied to the other end. The stick was then rotated and the participants, again with their hands tied behind them, tried to catch the apple with their teeth as it spun around. They usually ended up with a mouth full of candle!

Task 5. Look through the subtitles in the following text and think what you already know about the traditions named. Then read the text and discuss it with a partner.

SYMBOLS AND TRADITIONS OF NORTHERN IRELAND

The symbols of Ireland include SHAMROCK, the RED HAND, the HARP, the WHITE RIBBON. Their traditions go back to ancient Celts as in Wales and Scotland.

The Red Hand of Ulster

The Red Hand of Ulster is the official seal of the O'Neill family. It is believed to originate from a mythical tale wherein two chieftains were racing across a stretch of water in an attempt to be the first to reach the land and claim it as his own. Realising his foe would touch the land first, one chieftain cut off his hand and threw it onto the shore, thereby claiming the land before his adversary reached it. The Red Hand is one of the only emblems in Northern Ireland used by both communities in Northern Ireland although it is more associated with the Protestant community. Catholics see it as representing the nine counties of Ulster while Protestants see it as representing the six counties of Northern Ireland. The Red Hand of Ulster appears on many murals and flags.

Harp

This ancient instrument has long symbolised the island of Ireland. Its origins come from when Owen Roe O'Neill, a Gaelic Chieftain, adopted a green flag incorporating the harp. Being seen as a threat to the English invaders, playing the harp was banned, despite remaining on the royal insignia as representing Ireland in the growing British Empire. It was revived in Belfast in 1792, and was the prime symbol of the United Irishmen. The symbol of the harp also represents Loyalist Irishmen when it is surmounted by a crown and it is used in this form on, for example, the cap badges of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Shamrock

Legend has it that the shamrock was used by St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, to illustrate the Holy Trinity, hence its widespread use on St. Patrick's day on 17 March. It is one of Ireland's national emblems, and is used by mainly by the Nationalist tradition, but is also evident within the Unionist tradition, with bodies such as the Royal Irish Rangers wearing the Shamrock every St. Patrick's day.

White Ribbon

A number of symbols of peace have been used over the past thirty years by various organisations. Most recently those campaigning for peace have worn a white ribbon in their lapels. In the past white paper doves have been held aloft at peace demonstrations.

St Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick's day is on March 17th, a lot of people celebrate this holiday all around the world. Some of the thousands that celebrate the holiday go to church, having parties, or just wearing GREEN. Some places in the United States of America have parades to celebrate the holiday. People have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day for almost 1600 years now. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is both a national and religious holiday. Many people attend church and offer special prayers. The holiday falls during Lent, a period when eating meat is forbidden, but the ban is lifted on St. Patrick's Day and families enjoy special meals with traditional Irish food. St. Patrick was born in England not Ireland between the years 372 and 390 AD. His real name was Maewyn. His parents were Romans. They were rich and healthy and lived a good life. When he was a boy a very powerful king in Ireland attacked England and took thousands of people as captives and made them slaves. Patrick was one of them. After he was captured he was taken to Northern Ireland and was sold to another King. It is believed that in 441 A.D., St. Patrick fasted and prayed for 40 days at the summit of Croagh Patrick ("the Reek") in County Mayo. During this time, as blackbirds assaulted him, St. Patrick continued to pray and ring a bell as a proclamation of his faith. In answer to his prayers, an angel appeared to tell him that the Irish people would retain their Christian faith for all time. It was while atop the mountain that St. Patrick drove all the snakes in Ireland to the sea. Historians generally agree that since snakes are a common pagan symbol — and are not found in Ireland — this tale symbolizes St. Patrick's driving paganism out of Ireland. Some believed that St. Patrick explained the concept of the Trinity in Christianity using a shamrock he found growing at his feet. More likely, the three-part leaf was worn by the people of Ireland as a symbol of the cross. A traditional Irish blessing using shamrock is:

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.

Easter Customs in Northern Ireland

These days people enjoy chocolate eggs at Easter, but there was a time in Northern Ireland when duck eggs would have been eaten in large quantities on Easter Sunday - with a competition to see who could eat the most! It was also a traditional pastime to paint hard-boiled eggs with faces and roll them down a hill. Easter was an important occasion, people liked to look their best and it was often the first outing for new clothes and a beautiful Easter bonnet. Numerous fairs were held on Easter Monday or, if you were lucky, you'd go on a day trip to somewhere like Bangor.

Task 6. Check yourself questions:

1. What are the origins of Christmas?

2. What are traditional Christmas decorations?

3. What is the symbolism of holly?

4. What is traditional Christmas food?

5. What are popular entertainments for Christmas?

6. Where do Highland Games take place and what happens there?

7. How do people in Scotland celebrate the New Year?

8. What Scottish holiday is celebrated on the 25^th of January?

9. What Welsh holiday is celebrated on the first of March?

10. What festival in Wales helps to preserve the Welsh language?

12. What are other traditional holidays in Wales?

13. What is the origin of the Red Dragon of Wales?

14. What do you know about St Patrick?

15. Why did young people go to Gretna Green?

Task 7. Classify the following into four groups: English traditions, Welsh traditions, Scottish traditions and Irish traditions.

Tartan, Red Dragon, afternoon tea, Eisteddfod, tug of war, tossing the caber, love spoons, Flambaux, red double-decker, leek, white ribbon, Cymanfa Ganu, Burn’s Night, shamrock, bagpipes, first footing, singing “Auld Lang Syne”, wishing wells, harp, throwing stones in the fire, haggis, pearlies.

Task 8. Match up the names of events and places where they happen.

1. Eisteddfod a) St Martins in the Field

2. Highland Games b) Llangolan

3. Pearly Kings and Queens Gathering c) Scotland

4. Noson Lowen d) Braemar

5. Hogmany e) Wales

Task 9. Use Internet resources to find additional material about customs and traditions in the UK. The presentation of your information may take the form of a panel discussion.

Theme 10. Going out

Task 1. Before reading discuss where you and your friends usually go out. Then read the information below and find similarities and differences in British and Russian cultures.

BASIC FACTS:

• In the United Kingdom People do not frequently invite friends to visit them at home, they prefer to go to a pub or to a restaurant, or to the theatre together.

• You can find a pub even in a small village, in cities there are hundreds.

• Beer Festivals is a tradition in Britain supported by pubs.

• The Gentlemen's Club is an English institution, a place where like-minded men could meet.  Many of the clubs were politically based, their origins being coffee houses.

• Britain is a very theatrical nation with old theatrical traditions.

• Theatre in Britain is a powerful instrument of education as well as art and culture.

• Class distinctions usually predetermine where people prefer to go out.

1. Pubs.

English Pubs

The pub is at the heart of the community, in villages, towns and cities, all over England. The pub is more than just a shop where drinks are sold and consumed. For centuries it has been a place where friends meet, colleagues ‘talk shop’ and business people negotiate deals. The place where people gather to celebrate, play games or to seek quiet relaxation. Due to changes in the law, the pub is now a place for families. It is re-establishing itself as the place to eat, a tradition that all but disappeared after the last war. Many provide affordable accommodation.

There is no waiter service in the English Pub. You have to go to the bar counter to order your drink, pay for it there and then, and take it back to your table. If you are in a group, it is normal to order and pay for all the group. This is a “round” of drinks. Staff in the bar do not expect to be tipped for serving drinks, although few have been known to refuse the old half-pint.

English beer is generally known as Bitter, Mild or Ale, and brands vary widely in strength, according to your choice. They tend to be served cool, but not chilled in the European manner. You must try the traditional draught beers, which are recognized by the unusual tall hand pumps on the bar. Nearly all pubs will also sell a number of continental style chilled beers, generally known as lager in Britain. Draught beer is always sold in pint or half pint glasses (a pint is just over half a litre). In a pub just ask for a PINT or HALF of whichever beer you fancy.

The food at pubs is rarely refined, though the new gastro-pubs that some chefs have opened during the 1990s are changing that. Still, nothing beats a plate of bangers and mash (sausages with mashed potatoes) or cock-a-leekie pie (curries chicken pot pie) and a pint of bitter.

Pubs are generally open from 11:00 am until 11:00 pm Monday-Saturday, and 12:00 pm until 10:30 pm Sunday, when they often close between 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm. Whether you happen upon a three-hundred-year-old converted coach house, an architectually ornate Victorian holdover or a more modern spot, you’ll likely find the pub to be just what it was in Chaucer’s time: a warm, friendly refuge from the unfriendly English weather. Darts is a game characteristic of pubs.

Pubs in Scotland

With at least one pub for every thousand people in Scotland - from small independents in the Highlands to style bars in major cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh - Scotland's pubs and bars are central to the country's culture. There are about 5,200 pubs in Scotland. Scotland is famed for its full-bodied, malty ales. Scotch ales are sweet and very full-bodied, with malt and roast malt flavors predominating. They are deep burnished-copper to brown in color. Scottish ales are invariably rich and mouth filling. They have a maltier flavor and aroma, darker colors, and a more full-bodied and smokier character than British ales. Bitterness and hoppiness are not dominant factors in Scottish ales, and they are less hoppy than their British counterparts. And, it's fair to say, that if you haven't already been to a Scottish pub - or sampled one of Scotland's famous beers - you haven't really experienced Scotland.

I rish pubs

Irish pubs like pubs in the other parts of UK are homely informal places where people go to relax and to listen to Live Irish music. You can see some of Ireland's best musicians and hear songs dating back over a hundred years. As in the folk music of other lands, love songs constitute the most numerous class of folk-song in Ireland. Unmistakably deriving from the popular poetry of the Middle Ages, the themes and types prevailing are a legacy of the Norman invaders. Their adoption into Irish is believed to have begun towards the end of the thirteenth century. Sometimes pubs give you a chance to watch traditional Irish dances. Many people today have been introduced to Irish dance through stage productions such as Riverdance or Lord of the Dance. But this is only one form of Irish dance. Today's traditional Irish dance include ceili, step, and set. In pubs people usually drink beer. The Irish kinds of beer are ales and stouts.

Irish ales, a minor category, are malt-accented, often with a buttery note, and are rounded, with a soft but notable fruitiness.  Irish ales are similar to Scottish ales but are a bit lighter and paler.  Hop bitterness is usually low. Ireland is one of the first countries to brew stout; there it is considered a national beverage.  Ireland’s dry stouts are markedly aromatic, with rich maltiness and intense hop flavors.  Hop bitterness is medium to high.  The beer is extra-dark, black opaque ale, with low to medium body and a creamy brown head.  The degree of sweetness and dryness will vary in dry stouts, yet they are all top-fermented and have the unique and special character of roasted barley, which produces a slightly roasted (coffee-like) trait. The most famous Irish stout is Guinness.

Welsh pubs

In Wales there are many colourful pubs offering beer, cider and tasty food. Welsh beer remains to this day low gravity and sweetish, able to be consumed by the pint to quench a day-long thirst. Welsh breweries and pubs are caught between producing traditional ales for working men in neighborhood and village pubs, and younger generations that seem inclined to abandon old styles in favor of lager and alcopops served in city-center theme bars. Can the best of the old survive the prosperity of today? One of the events that helps to support beer traditions is the Great Beer and Cider Festival in Cardiff City Hall. This Festival is called CAMRA in Wales.

Task 2. Read the following advertisements of Welsh pubs and discuss with a partner where you would like to go and what you are going to eat and drink.

Bryn Tyrch, Capel Curig, Conwy. Near Betwys-y-Coed Bryn Tyrch means 'Boar's Hill', not the best name perhaps for a whitewashed inn that specialises in vegetarian and vegan dishes, though carnivores are well catered for as well. This is walking and climbing territory in Snowdonia and the inn will advise on good walks. It has two comfortable bars with fires and reading material, and a darts board and pool table in one. Bar food is served from 12 noon to 9.30pm and may include zucchini dippers with spicy tomato sauce; stir-fried tamari, ginger and garlic; ciabatta with choice of fillings; butterbean and vegetable curry; carrot, courgette and lentil loaf; broccoli, cauliflower and Stilton crumble; chicken, leek and bacon cobbler; and sausages with mushroom gravy. Desserts include rhubarb crumble and vegan syrup tart. There's an enormous breakfast – meat, vegetarian or vegan – for guests. As well as such ales as Flowers IPA and Wadworth 6X, there's a tremendous choice of teas and coffees, which come with vegan fruit cake. Accommodation is available.

Olde Bull's Head Castle Street, Beaumaris, Anglesey. A 17th-century coaching inn visited by both Dr Johnson and Charles Dickens, the Bull's Head includes among its many fascinating artefacts the town's old ducking stool, antique weapons, including some terrifying cutlasses, and old china. There's also a brass water clock, cosy alcoves, low beams, old settles and an open fire. Another claim to fame is that the courtyard door is closed by the biggest single-hinged door in Britain. Food is served from a new brasserie lunchtime and evening, and may offer home-made soup; ploughman's; potato gnocchi with baked goat's cheese, leeks and cream, and several other pasta dishes; pork schnitzel with cous-cous and lemon and caper butter; confit of duck; and braised Welsh lamb. Desserts include traditional bara brith and butter pudding with ice-cream. Handpumped beers are Draught Bass and Worthington, with a regular guest ale, and there's a tremendous range of wines totalling more than 200, including several half bottles. The guest rooms are named after Dickens' characters: fancy a night in the Bill Sykes room?

Skirrid Mountain Inn, Llanvihangel Crucorney, Monmouthshire. The Skirrid claims to be the oldest pub in Wales and is a good base for climbing in the Black Mountains. It has a long and gory history. It dates from 1100 when James Crowther was hanged from a beam in the bar for sheep stealing. Over the centuries, more than 1,800 have been despatched in the inn, which also doubled as the local courthouse. The Skirrid has also been involved in Owain Glyndwr's revolt against Henry IV in the early 15th century, and the Monmouth Rebellion of the 17th century when the Duke of Monmouth led a rebellion against James II. Not surprisingly, the Skirrrid is haunted by many ghosts and the rope mark on the hanging beam is clearly visible. Today, it's a remarkably convivial place, with its studded wood door, stone walls and flagstones, a panelled dining room, pews, and a huge log fire. Beers come from Ushers of Trowbridge and include Best Bitter and Founder's Ale, while food comes in the shape of p‰té of Brecon blue cheese; breaded Pencary wedges with home-made quince and elderberry relish; aubergines with red lettuce and cabbage; Hereford pork pot with apples, raisins, ginger and cider; and Welsh cockles and mussels in briny broth. Accommodation is available.

Neuadd Arms Hotel The Square, Llanwrtyd Wells, Mid Wales. This Georgian hotel, run with great panache by Gordon Green, is more an experience than a pub. There's always an event going on, perhaps a beer festival, walks called Real Ale Wobbles and Rambles, with free beer at check points, and the World Bog-Snorkelling Championships in August. If you don't know what bog-snorkelling is, it's best not to ask. Beers in the bar of this Georgian hotel include Felinfoel Double Dragon and Hancock's HB, with an ever-changing range of guest beers. Food, lunchtime and evening, may include cod in batter; grilled Welsh lamb cutlets; freshly-made omelettes; steaks; and shepherd's pie and mushy peas.

Cardiff Cottage, 25 Mary's Street, Cardiff. A classic Cardiff boozer for St David's Day. In the city centre, it has an ornate wood frontage with a long, narrow single bar inside with many mirrors and a raised area at the back used mainly by diners. Lunchtime grub includes steak in ale pie; fresh cod in batter and other fresh fish such as plaice and haddock; corned beef and potato pie; curry; and lasagne. There's a tremendous roast lunch on Sundays that has them queueing in the streets. First and foremost, this is a pub that serves the ales from Brain's, the local brewery, including Dark, Bitter and the strong SA, which the brewery thinks stands for Special Ale but everyone else in the valleys knows means 'Skull Attack'.

Task 3. Read the information about gentlemen’s clubs and think what features of national character are reflected in this institution.

2. Gentlemen’s Clubs.

London's Gentlemen's Clubs reached their heyday in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They originated in the 18th century as coffee shops where London's rich young aristocrats met to talk, drink and gamble, and by the 19th century had evolved into exclusive clubs. The two main locations of these clubs are on Pall Mall and on St James's Street. The name Pall Mall is derived from the popular 17th century Italian game 'pallo a maglio', which translates as 'ball and mallet'. It was a similar game to the modern day croquet and was a particularly favourite game of the court of Charles II (1660-85), who played on this site. Some of the clubs still exist today, for example the Atheneum, the Travellers Club and the Reform Club on Pall Mall and Whites, Brooks and the Carlton Club on St James's Street. The Gentlemen's Clubs represent the stereotype of a Victorian London peopled by men dressed in pinstripe suits, smoking cigars and drinking port. And even today the archaic rules and rituals are often still in place. This means that most clubs are subject to strict and elaborate membership restrictions, out of bounds for women - and closed to the public. British elitist exclusive clubs (most of them in London) combine several functions and provide varied service: a member can stay for the night, so they are a kind of hotels, clubs take pride in their rich libraries and fashionable restaurants and bars, there are comfortable lounges where a gentleman can have a business meeting or just relax after a working day, and these clubs are also a kind of museums, keeping record of their famous members and history of the club.

Most of these clubs are in private ownership. Nowadays women are also allowed to become club members, but the rules of admission are very strict.

A particularly well-known club is the very Conservative Carlton Club, made famous by the fact that Margaret Thatcher had to be made an Honorary Man in order to join! It was also considered by the IRA to be important enough to be a target and so was subjected to a bomb attack in 1990.

A theneum is a club for the "intellectually elite" and so it is named after the ancient Roman Athenaeum, which was the Roman centre for the study of literature and science. Over the years numerous Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, literary figures and church leaders have been members of the Athenaeum. Clubs have strict dress codes. The Athaneum has a sign stating that 'Ties must be worn at all times' below a nude statue.

Brooks is an ultra-exclusive social club that was particularly well known in the 17th century for the gambling exploits of its members - Horace Walpole, the first British Prime Minister, is often quoted as saying 'a thousand meadows and cornfields were staked at every throw'.

Whites. Founded in 1695, this is the oldest of the Gentlemen's Clubs. In 1693, Francis White founded White's Chocolate House in St. James' Street.  The "Old Club" and the "Young Club" was formed in this public coffee house.  In 1753 the two clubs relocated to the top of St. James' Street.  In 1781, the two clubs merged to become White's. In the beginning, White's housed both Whigs and Tories.  Therefore, it was seen as a non-political club.  The membership is traditionally made up from the higher ranks of the aristocracy and from the upper echelons of government. It was here that Prince Charles held his stag party.

The Garrick Club was founded in 1831 by a group of literary gentleman under the patronage of the King’s brother, the egalitarian Duke of Sussex. They announced that the Club would be a place where 'actors and men of refinement and education might meet on equal terms', where 'patrons of the drama and its professors were to be brought together', and where 'easy intercourse was to be promoted between artists and patrons'. The Club was named after the great Eighteenth Century actor David Garrick. Many of the great literary personalities of the Nineteenth Century were members of the Garrick, and the Club was the scene of a famous quarrel between perhaps the two greatest – Dickens and Thackeray. Other members of the Club in the Nineteenth Century included writers such as Trollope, Meredith, actors such as Macready, Charles Kemble, Charles Mathews, Irving, composers such as Elgar and Sullivan and artists such as Millais, Leighton and Rossetti. Today the Club has around 1,300 members including many of the most distinguished actors and men of letters in England.  The original assurance of the committee, “that it would be better that ten unobjectionable men should be excluded than one terrible bore should be admitted”, ensures that the lively atmosphere for which the Club was so well-known in the Nineteenth Century continues to invigorate members of the Club. The Club possesses an important theatrical library that includes many manuscripts and documents, a valuable collection of play-texts and tens of thousands of playbills and theatre programmes.  However, the greatest treasure of the Garrick Club is the collection of theatrical paintings and drawings, much the largest and most comprehensive in existence.

R eform Club was the Gentlemen's Club for liberals in the 19th Century, and its members were behind the 1832 Reform Act. It is also where the Jules Verne hero Phileas Fogg took his bet to travel 'Around the world in 80 Days'. Even today it is considered to be one of the most liberal of the clubs for it is one of the few that allows women members.

Travellers Club was founded in 1819 to act as the meeting point for gentlemen who had returned from travels abroad. It is essentially a non-political social club and the only one of the Gentlemen's Clubs to offer guided tours to the public.

The Royal Automobile Club remains a private club for the use of its members and their guests. It was founded in 1897 'for the Protection, Encouragement and Development of Automobilism'. As such it is the newest of the Gentlemen's Clubs and it has a reputation for being less class-conscious than many of the other clubs. RAC motoring services is now an entirely separate company from the Club. The two clubhouses, at Pall Mall in central London and at Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, offer members wonderful sporting and dining facilities, as well as accommodation and function rooms. A prospective member, whether a lady or gentleman, must be nominated and seconded by two current members of at least two years’ standing, who have known the candidate for at least two years. There are approximately two hundred staff at the Pall Mall clubhouse, and one hundred at Woodcote Park, comprising chefs, waiting staff, sports staff, administration, engineering, greenkeeping and housekeeping staff. There are often vacancies to be filled. In 1905, the Club organised the first Tourist Trophy (TT) race. This is therefore the oldest race regularly run. The Club became the governing body for motor sport in Britain. In 1913, Woodcote Park near Epsom racecourse, was purchased as a Country Club. Located on the site of a twelfth century abbey, it was a mansion built in 1679.

United Oxford and Cambridge University Club. People who have been admitted a member of a College or Hall at the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, or have been granted an Honorary Degree or MA status by these Universities, may become candidates for membership. The application is considered by an election committee. Names are then on view to Members for a month, after which formal election takes place. The unique atmosphere of the Club arises from a combination of a lower average age of Members than most clubs, with a constant refreshment by the election of younger Members, and the very wide range of Members' experiences and interests. The cost of membership is dependent on age and place of residence. The Club was formed in March 1972 by the amalgamation of the United University Club and the Oxford and Cambridge University Club being called the 'United Oxford and Cambridge University Club'. For the first year of its life the Club was housed at 1 Suffolk Street, and thereafter at 71 and 77 Pall Mall. The foundation of the Oxford and Cambridge University Club dates from a meeting of Members of the two Universities held at the British Coffee House, 27 Cockspur Street on 17 May 1830, with Lord Palmerston in the chair. In February 1996 the members of the Club voted to admit women to full membership and in 1997 H.M. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark became the Club's first Honorary Lady Member.

Task 4. Read the rules of the Royal Automobile Club and say whether they are typical of a Gentlemen’s club.

The club has strict dress codes. Gentlemen are required to wear tailored business suits, or tailored jackets and trousers, together with a collared shirt and tie at all times and in all areas of the clubhouse. Cravats are not permitted. Ladies are expected to dress with formality according to the occasion and within the spirit of these rules. However, smart casual attire may be worn in the clubhouse at weekends and on bank holidays. For both ladies and gentlemen, loose, baggy jumpers; sweatshirts; T-shirts; tracksuits; leisure suits; shorts; leggings; combat-style or jeans-style trousers or training shoes may not be worn at any time, or in any areas of the clubhouse. The only exceptions are that more casual dress or sports attire may be worn by members and their guests when entering the Pall Mall clubhouse for the sole purpose of going directly to the sports area:(1) On Mondays to Fridays up to 10am; (2) All day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays;(3) At such other times as the Committee may approve from time to time. All dress regulations apply equally to children of either sex. The dress regulations do not apply to any person wearing their national dress or the uniform or costume appropriate to their office or vocation. Members and guests are required to remove outer street garments before entering the public rooms of the clubhouse and to deposit their hats, coats, briefcases, parcels, shopping bags, etc., in the cloakrooms. Ladies may continue to wear their hats indoors, and naturally may retain their handbags. Any items found lying about unattended may be removed to the cloakrooms. Sports equipment and sports hold-alls are not to be taken into the public rooms of the Pall Mall clubhouse, but left in the cloakroom areas. For tennis and squash each item of clothing should be predominantly white. Coloured track suits are permitted on the courts when warming up only. Smooth soled tennis shoes and smooth soled non-marking squash shoes must be worn at all times on the courts. No snorkels, flippers or face masks should be used or worn in the swimming pools. Changing is not allowed in areas other than those designated as changing rooms and, in particular, changing in the car parks at Woodcote Park is forbidden. Members are required to wear a jacket and tie in the Billiards Rooms, although the jacket may be removed during play. Picnicking in the grounds of the clubhouse is forbidden, except by the express permission of the Committee. Woodcote Park Gentlemen members and guests are required to wear tailored suits, or tailored jackets and trousers, with collared shirt and tie or cravat in the Members’ Bar and Restaurant at all times. Ladies are expected to dress with commensurate formality, according to the occasion and within the spirit of these rules. Smart casual dress is permitted in the Lounge Bar and 19th Hole. Casual dress does not include sportswear, shorts or track suits in the clubhouse. Tailored, knee-length shorts are permitted, except in the 19th Hole. The Fountain allows sportswear and casual dress at all times. For both ladies and gentlemen, loose, baggy jumpers; sweatshirts; T-shirts; tracksuits; leisuresuits; shorts; leggings; combat-style or jeans-style trousers or training shoes may not be worn at any time, or in any areas of the clubhouse. The wearing of blue denim clothing is forbidden at all times in any area of the clubhouse or grounds. On the golf courses members are required to maintain a reasonable standard of dress suited to the condition of play, but must wear golf shoes on both courses and on the putting green. When golf slacks and shirts are not worn, shirts with tailored shorts acceptable, as are plus fours and plus twos. Slacks tucked into socks are not an acceptable alternative. Golfers are required to change from golf shoes to ordinary footwear before entering the 19th Hole bar.

Task 5. Match up the names of clubs and their peculiarities.

1. Carlton Club a) It offers guided tours

2. Atheneum b) The most conservative club

3. Whites c) It has two clubhouses

4. The Royal Automobile Club d) It has been a club for Liberals

5. Travellers Club e) Prince Charles had his stag party there

6. Brooks f) Members of this club are writers, painters

7. Reform Club g) The first British PM was its member

8. The Garrick Club h) Members are ministers

Task 6.Think what theatres in Russia you could recommend to a tourist from Britain.

Do you think that Russians are a theatrical people? Are you a theatre goer?

3. Theatre.

The British have always been a theatrical nation. British theatre is among the liveliest and most innovative in the world. In Britain there are over 300 commercial theatres, 100 of these in London, and about 40 in the famous West End. However, the real vitality of the theatre in Britain is to be found less in the West End with its light entertainment than in the ‘fringe’ and pub theatres all over the country. The latter doubled in size during the 1980s, becoming a popular form of less conventional theatre. Certain theatres have become known for their presentation of new plays and powerful, sometimes controversial productions of classic ones. Among such theatres are the Glasgow Citizen’s, the Sheffield Crucible, the Bristol Old Vic, the Manchester Royal Exchange. Theatre in Britain is a powerful instrument of education as well as art and culture. Actors take drama to young people, even into primary school. In Britain young people have a fair chance to get leading roles if they are talented. The most obvious young star at the end of the 1980s was Kenneth Branagh. In 1988 K. Branagh formed his own company for small-cast productions of Shakespeare.

Theatre in Britain began in the form of short moralizing plays performed at the fairs in the Middle Ages. Frequently the plots of the plays were based on the Bible. The 16- th century was the age of Elisabethan drama. There were no actresses at the time. The male parts were performed by men. It was then that great Shakespeare created his plays. After the Civil War in the 17^th century Oliver Cromwell closed all the theatres as sinful places. The theatre revived during the Restoration period but for a long time it was under a strong influence of the French. In the 18^th century the brightest playwright was J. Sheridan. Theatres at times could be as rawdy as football matches, and one of the the great pleasures was shouting to the actors or throwing at the villain the balls made of their fish and chips wrapping. But in the Victorian time the theatre was becoming a place for the middle classes where eating, drinking, shouting were officially outlawed. The first of these attempts to create polite theatre was the management of Sadler’s Wells Theatre by Samuel Phelps, a former Drury Lane actor. The nature of the audience was determined by the starting time. Performances began at 6:30 pm and were thus suited to a more leisured class. As for the plays, it was only the talented Irish playwrights O.Wilde and G. B. Shaw who returned the former glory to British drama.

Task 7. Now read some information about the most famous English theatres and performing centres, then discuss it with a partner.

In 1960 Peter Hall established the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). In the same year, as well as presenting performances in Stratford, the company began performing at the Aldwych Theatre in London. In 1963 the company was given its first Arts Council subsidy. In 1978 the company launched an annual regional tour. In 1996 the company was remodelled to increase national touring. In 2001 the RSC announced pioneering plans to redevelop the Stratford theatres and reinvigorate the company's presence in London. Most of the country's leading actors have appeared with the RSC over the Company's history. Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Jane Lapotaire, Ian McKellen, Fiona Shaw, Antony Sher, Juliet Stevenson, Patrick Stewart, Imogen Stubbs, David Suchet, Harriet Walter and John Wood are all past RSC actors. In Stratford-upon-Avon a local brewer Charles Flower donated land adjacent to the river Avon to build the first permanent theatre in Stratford dedicated to performing Shakespeare. The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre was built in 1879. The original Memorial Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1926, and the current theatre, designed by Elisabeth Scott was erected in 1932. The company became known as the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961 and Scott's building was renamed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The Other Place was created in a tin hut in 1974 and later replaced with a purpose built studio theatre in 1991. In 1986 the site of the original Memorial Theatre was converted into the award-winning Swan Theatre.

It is a wonderfully atmospheric galleried playhouse. The original Victorian building fell victim to a fire in 1928. The new building was built in 1932 and the inside has been designed to reflect an actual Elizabethan style theatre. In 2001 the RSC announced pioneering plans to redevelop the Stratford theatres to create one of the world's leading centres for performance, training and lifelong learning.

Aldwych theatre was designed by W.G.R.Sprague in 1905. The opening production was "Blue Bell". On the 15^th of December 1960 the Royal Shakespeare Company from Stratford-upon-Avon took over the Aldwych as its London base for 21 years before moving to the Barbican.

The Barbican Center was built in 1982. It is the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. It has two theatres 'Barbican Theatre' with seating capacity at 1,162 and a small theatre called 'The Pit', seating capacity 185. The RSC occupy The Barbican for 6 months of of the year. The other 6 months is taken up with the Barbican's own programming titled BITE

The Royal National Theatre was designed by Denys Lasdun and opened by the Queen in 1976. It has three theatres, The Olivier which is the biggest of the three, with a capacity of 1,160, The Lyttelton with a capacity of 890, and the small Cottesloe with a capacity of 400. All shows are usually in repertoire, which means you can see many productions in a week. The National show a varied amount of productions, musicals, classics and new plays.

The Royal Opera and Ballet Theatre in Covent Garden. The Royal Opera House is the third theatre on the Covent Garden site. Its history began in 1728 when John Rich, actor/manager commissioned The Beggar’s Opera from John Gay. The success of the performance provided the capital for the first Theatre Royal at Covent Garden, designed by Edward Shepherd. On the opening night, 7 December 1732, Rich’s actors carried him there in triumph for a performance of Congreve’s The Way of the World. For the first hundred years or so of its history the theatre was primarily a playhouse; Charles II had given Covent Garden and Drury Lane almost sole rights to present spoken drama in the capital. Rich himself was a famous Harlequin, appearing under the stage name of Lun. During his management he developed pantomime as an art form in its own right, and the tradition of Christmas pantomimes at Covent Garden survived until the 1930s. The last pantomime performed there was Francis Laidler’s Little Red Riding Hood in December/January 1938/39. The first serious musical works to be heard at Covent Garden were the operas of Handel. From 1735 until his death in 1759 he gave regular seasons there, and many of his operas and oratorios were written for Covent Garden or had their first London performances there. He bequeathed his organ to John Rich, and it was placed in a prominent position on the stage. Unfortunately it was among many valuable items lost in a fire that destroyed the theatre in 1808. the second Theatre Royal, Covent Garden opened on 18 September 1809 with a performance of Macbeth. On the 5^th of March 1856 disaster struck again. For the second time the theatre was completely destroyed by fire. Work on the third and present theatre eventually started in 1857 and the new building opened on 15 May 1858 with a performance of Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots. The theatre became the Royal Opera House in 1892. The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera were granted their Royal Charters in 1956 and 1968 respectively. In 1975 the Labour government gave land adjacent to the Royal Opera House for its much needed modernisation, refurbishment and extension.

The Drury Lane Theatre Royal is situated in Catherine Street, Westminster. It was first opened in 1663. Some of the most famous luminaries of British Theatre performed in the historic theatres on this site, including Nell Gwynne, Mrs Siddons, Garrick, Kean and Grimaldi. The playwright Sheridan also produced many of his comedies here, including 'The School for Scandal' in 1777. The present theatre was built by Benjamin Wyatt, following a fire in 1809. It Opened on the 10^th of October, 1812 with a performance of "Hamlet". After that the theatre has hosted musicals including 'Rose Marie','Show Boat', 'My Fair Lady' and most recently 'Miss Saigon'.

The Royal Adelphi Theatre is situated on the Strand. It is a medium-sized theatre, seating approximately 1,500 people, with facilities for the disabled. The Theatre was first opened in 1806. It became known as the Royal Adelphi when it was extensively refurbished in 1867. The Adelphi is currently hosting the hit musical 'Chicago', based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins.

Garrick Theatre was built in 1889 by Walter Emden with C. J. Phipps for W. S. Gilbert. It was named in honour of the English actor, producer, dramatist, and poet, David Garrick (1717-1779). The theatre opened on the 24^th of April, 1889 with the play "The Profligate". Originally there were 807 seats, today 700 seats. Born 19 February 1717 in Hereford, the second son of Peter and Arabella Garrick, David spent his boyhood in Lichfield, where he and his brother George attended for a short while the “select academy” run by Samuel Johnson. In 1737 Garrick and Johnson travelled to London. In 1741 Garrick appeared before the public for the first time. In 1747 he became involved in the management of Drury Lane Theatre. In 1769 he organized Shakespeare Jubilee at Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Globe Theatre. Over 400 years ago when young William Shakespeare left Stratford-upon-Avon and came to London there were several playhouses there among which there was the one popular with Queen Elizabeth 1, which was called the Theatre. It was there that Shakespeare began his acting career and started to write plays. Soon, however, the actors were told to leave for the landlord would not renew the contract, which let them use the land. Rumour has it that in the dead of night the whole acting troop took down their theatre, timber by timber, and carried it across the river and rebuilt their theatre there in Southwark. They called it the Globe to celebrate the new age of discovery and invention. When in 1947 an Ameican actor Sam Wanamaker came to London and decided to visit the famous Globe Theatre, all he found was a plaque on the wall of a brewery: “Here stood the Globe Playhouse of Shakespeare”. Shocked as he was, Wanamaker decided to rebuild the Globe. On June 12 1997 Her Majesty the Queen opened the International Shakespeare Globe Centre, the re-creation of Shakespeare’s theatre. Today you can visit the beautiful new Globe, and in summer you can even see a play performed as it would be in Shakespeare’s day.

Task 8. Study the list of art festivals in Britain in 2003 and chose three events that you would like to visit. In order to find more about these festivals use www.artsfestivals.co.uk

January/February/March/April 2003

Bath Literature Festival	March 1 - 9
Essex Book Festival: Secrets	March 1 - 31
Guildford International Music Festival	March 8 - 29
Cheltenham Festival of Literature	April 4 - 6
Aldeburgh Easter Festival	April 18 - 20
April /May
Bromsgrove Festival	April 26 - May 10
Norfolk & Norwich Festival	April 30 - May 11
May/June
Cheltenham International Jazz Festival	May 1 - 5
Brighton Festival	May 3- 25
Jersey International Arts Festival	May 3 - 10
Sheffield Music in the Round May Festival	May 9 - 17
Chelmsford Cathedral Festival	May 10 - 17
Hampstead & Highgate Festival (London)	May 10 - 24
25th Newbury Spring Festival	May 10 - 24
Dulwich Festival (London)	May 16 - 24
Bath International Music Festival	May 16 - June 1
Blackpool: Puppet Up!	May 17 - 18
Leicester Early Music Festival	May 17 - June 7
Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival	May 22 - 26
Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival	May 23 - June 1
Salisbury Festival	May 23 - June 8
Chard Festival of Women in Music	May 27 - 30
June/July
Music at Boxgrove West Sussex	June 4- 7
Cheltenham Science Festival	June 4- 8
Aldeburgh Festival of Music & the Arts	June 6- 22
Spitalfields Festival (London)	June 9- 27
Leicester International Music Festival	June 13 - 22
Proms at St Jude's Hampstead Garden Surburb	June 13 - 22
Grassington Festival	June 13 - 28
Chelsea Festival (London)	June 15 - 26
Beverley & East Riding Folk Festival	June 20 - 22
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival	June 20 - July 6
Ashbourne Arts Festival	June 20 - July 6
Corsham Festival	June 21 - 28
Ludlow Festival	June 21 - July 13
City of London Festival (London)	June 23 - July 10
Ribchester Festival of Music & Art	June 25 - 29
Isle of Man: Mananan International Festival	June 26 - July 6
Stafford Festival Shakespear	June 26 - July 12
Northern Aldborough Festival	June 27 - July 12
July/August
St Albans 20th International Organ Festival	July
Lichfield International Arts Festival	July 1- 13
Winchester Hat Fair	July 3 - 6
Warwick Festival	July 3 - 13
York Early Music Festival	July 4 - 13
Exeter Festival	July 4 - 20
Chichester Festivities	July 4 - 22
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod	July 8 - 13
Henley Festival	July 9 - 13
Island Arts Festival, Lagan Valley	July 9 - 16
Bracknell Music Festival	July 11 - 13
Chester Summer Music Festival	July 11 - 26
Gloucester Festival	July 12 - 26
Cambridge Summer Music Festival	July 16 - Aug 16
Harrogate International Festival	July 17 - Aug 2
BBC Proms (London)	July 18 - Sept 13
Leeds on Water	July 19 - 20
Fishguard International Music Festival	July 19 - 26
Ealing Summer Festival (London)	July 25 - Aug 10
Island Arts Children's Festival	July 28 - Aug 8
August/September
Bristol Harbour Festival	Aug 2-3
Lake District Summer Music	Aug 2 - 13
Edinburgh Festival Fringe	Aug 3- 25
Ross-On-Wye International Festival	Aug 7 - 17
Knaresborough Festival	Aug 8 - 17
Billingham International Folklore Festival	Aug 9 - 16
Edinburgh International Festival	Aug 10 - 30
Three Choirs Festival Hereford	Aug 16 - 22
Leicester: Castle Park Festival	Aug 17 - 25
Presteigne Festival of Music & the Arts	Aug 21 - 26
Arundel Festival	Aug 22 - 31
September/October
Rye Festival	Sep 6 - 21
Isle of Man: Mananan Opera Festival	Sep 9- 13
Hexham Abbey Festival	Sep 12 - 20
Birmingham ArtsFest	Sep 13 - 14
North Wales International Music Festival	Sep 20 - 27
October/November/December
Dewsbury Festival of Christian Music	October
Bristol Poetry Festival	Oct tbc
Ballymena Arts Festival	Oct 1- 16
Ilkley Literature Festival	Oct 3 - 19
Chester Festival of Literature	Oct 4 - 19
Cheltenham Festival of Literature	Oct 10 - 19
Little Missenden Festival	Oct 10 - 19
Stratford upon Avon English Music Festival	Oct 10 - 19
Canterbury Festival	Oct 11 - 25
Belfast Festival at Queen's	Oct 23 - Nov 9
Aldeburgh Britten Festival	Oct 24 - 26
Isle of Man: Mananan Winter Festival	Nov 7 - 9
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival	Nov 20 - 30
Spitalfields Winter Festival (London)	Dec 10 - 19

Task 9. Check yourself questions:

1. What are British pubs like?

2. What is the peculiarity of Irish pubs?

3. What do most people drink in pubs?

4. Can you order a meal in a pub?

5. What is the difference between pubs and clubs in Britain?

6. What are the main characteristics of English gentlemen’s clubs?

7. What is the role of the theatre in British culture?

8. Which theatre is named after a famous actor?

9. When did the theatre become a place for ladies and gentlemen?

10. What is the name of a famous Opera and Ballet theatre?

10. In what theatres can you see Shakespeare’s plays?

Part II. Republic of Ireland

Unit 1. Land and People

BASIC FACTS:

Task 1. Read the basic facts and compare Ireland to parts of the United Kingdom.

• Ireland has a population of 3,744,700 (1999 estimate), with Dublin, its capital city, having a population of 953, 000.

• The National Flag is a tricolour of green, white and orange.

• The country enjoys a relatively mild climate with average monthly temperatures ranging from 7 degrees Celsius in January to 19 degrees in July. Ireland has an average monthly rainfall of between 2 and 3 inches with average daily hours of sunshine ranging from 2 hours in December to 6 hours in June.

• The country’s total area is 84,412km squared with a total coastline distance of 3,172km.

• Ireland’s highest mountain is Carrantouhill, Co. Kerry at 1,041m.

• Ireland has two official languages, English and Gaelic.

• The free profession of religion is guaranteed to all citizens by the Irish Constitution. The National Day of Ireland is St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated by Irish communities all over the world on the 17^th of March.

Task 2. Study the map. Have you heard any geographical names before? Where is Dublin? Where is Shannon?

Task 3. Read the information about the counties of Ireland and make a crossword. Exchange your crosswords in class and solve them.

Task 4. Have you heard Ireland’s nickname ‘The Emerald Island’? Why is Ireland called so?

Task 5. While reading the information below concentrate on :

1. traditions associated with different counties;

2. peculiar branches of industry or agriculture characteristic of this or that county;

3. historical and cultural associacions with different counties.

The republic’s 26 counties are Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal ,Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny, Laoighis, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Clare, Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, and Sligo.

Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal are part of the historic province of Ulster, the other six counties of Ulster are in Northern Ireland.

The county seat of Monaghan [me’nohen] is Monaghan. The northwest portion of the county is a part of the fertile central plain of Ireland; to the south and east are hilly sections. It is primarily an agricultural county. The main enterprise is the raising of beef and dairy cattle. Potatoes, oats, and turnips are the chief crops; pigs, sheep, and poultry, as well as cattle, are raised in large numbers. Other industries are bacon production and the manufacture of furniture and footwear.

The county seat of Cavan [‘kaven] is Cavan. The county is a hilly region of lakes and bogs, and the climate is extremely damp and cool. Most of the soil is clay. The Erne is the principal river, and the Shannon has its source there. Pastoral agriculture is the chief occupation, although very little land is under cultivation (in the form of small farms). Industries include plastics, wallpaper, creameries, and food processing. Cavan was organized as a shire of Ulster in 1584.

The county seat of Donegal [do’ni:gal] is Lifford. The extremely irregular coastline extends from Lough Foyle on the north to Donegal Bay on the west and is deeply indented by Lough Swilly. Lough {loh] means lake. Tory Island is the largest of the coastal islands. The west is rugged and hilly. There are two mountain ranges: the Derryveagh Mountains. in the northwest and the Blue Stack Mts. in the west central region. The chief rivers are the Foyle, the Erne, and the Finn; lakes are plentiful. Donegal has no rail service. Although agriculture is the leading industry, only one third of the land is suitable for cultivation. The valleys of the Finn and the Foyle are the most intensively cultivated areas. Oats and potatoes are the chief crops. Fishing and tourism are also important industries. In the south is the center of the Donegal cloth industry that produces tweeds and handmade woolens. There are several small skirt factories. Newer industries include carpet, fishing net, and synthetic fiber manufacturing.

Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny, Laoighis, Offaly, Westmeath, and Longford comprise the historic province of Leinster.

The county seat of Louth [louth] is Dundalk [den’do:k]. The region borders the Irish Sea from the mouth of the Boyne River to Carlingford Lough. The landscape is plain, except for a hilly district in the north. Principal rivers are the Fane, the Glyde, and the Dee. Among the industries are cotton and linen manufacturing, brewing, and food processing. Dundalk, Drogheda, and Greenore are ports. The region is associated with the exploits of the legendary Irish hero Cuchulain.

T he county seat of Meath is Navan. The land is mostly level, being a part of the central plain of Ireland, with extensive fertile areas near the Boyne and the Blackwater, the principal rivers. There is a sandy coastline of some 10 mi (16 km) along the Irish Sea. Grain and potato cultivation and cattle raising support the bulk of the population. Manufacturing exists in the larger towns. The region is important in Irish history. The Hill of Tara (507 ft/155 m high) was the seat of the high kings of Ireland from ancient times until the 6^th century and may have been the site of religious ceremonies in prehistoric times. A statue of St. Patrick, who preached there, is supposed to mark the location of the Lia Fail, the Coronation Stone of the ancient high kings. The hill was the scene of the defeat of the Danes in 980 and of a mass meeting in 1843 addressed by Daniel O’Connell; hence its importance as a symbol of Irish nationalism. Meath was considered a fifth province of Ireland for many centuries and was not finally organized as a county until the 17^th cent. Remains of archaeological interest have been found in the Newgrange burial site. Newgrange is located in the Boyne Valley and is 5000 years old. It is a listed world heritage site along with the Great Wall in China, the Pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. Newgrange is a Neolithic Ritual Centre and a place of burial.

The county of Dublin is dominated by Dublin, which is the county seat and capital of the Republic. “Dublin” is derived from the Viking name “Dubh Linn”. The Vikings founded this town in 841 when a permanent Viking settlement was established there. Dublin is home to a great literary tradition. G.B. Shaw, W.B.Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde are Dubliners. Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin and studied in Trinity College. Jonathan Swift was the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin and is buried in the Cathedral. In 1991 the Dublin Writers Museum was opened. Swift and Sheridan, Shaw and Wilde, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett are among those presented through their books, letters, portraits and personal items. The museum holds exhibitions and readings and has a special room devoted to children’s literature. Dublin is also the cradle of many musical talents, from the Dubliners and the Chieftains to U2.

Dublin’s tourist attractions also include Malahide Castle, Shaw Birthplace, James Joyce Museum, the National Gallery of Ireland,Christ Church Cathedral, the National Museum of Ireland. Agricultural products, whiskey, and stout are the chief exports of Dublin city.

Dublin’s chief industries are brewing, textile manufacturing (silk making was introduced by Huguenot refugees in the 16^th cent.), distilling, shipbuilding, food processing, and the

St Patrick’s Cathedral

manufacture of foundry products, glass, and cigarettes. Microprocessors are produced in the suburb of Leixlip. The Irish legislature, the Dáil Éireann and Seanad, are in Leinster House.

The area of the county Dublin is low-lying in the north and center, rising to the Wicklow Mountains in the south. The chief river is the Liffey, which bisects the city of Dublin and empties into Dublin Bay. Industries of the county include chocolate and cement in the west, and the town of Balbriggan is noted for its hosiery manufacture. The National Botanic Gardens are in Glasnevin, just outside Dublin. Organized as a county by King John of England in the early 13^th century, Dublin, heart of the English Pale, was strongly guarded by castles along its boundaries. In Irish history, the Pale means that district of indefinite and varying limits around Dublin, in which English law prevailed. The term was first used in the 14^th century to designate what had previously been called English land. Dun Laoghair [dun lare] is the main passenger and mail port for Dublin and a seaside resort with yachting and fishing. With the opening of a railroad to Dublin in 1834 and the completion of the port in 1859, Dún Laoghaire grew rapidly. The city was known as Kingstown before 1921 and as Dunleary before 1821. Dún Laoghaire is connected to Holyhead, Wales by passenger and car ferry.

T he county seat of Kildare is Kildare. The region is a flat plain, containing the greater portion of the Bog of Allen. The principal rivers are the Liffey, the Greese, and the Barrow. Agriculture is the chief occupation; the breeding of racehorses is also significant. Pre-Christian and early Christian relics remain, including a 13^th-century castle and monastery.

The county seat of Wicklow is Wicklow. “Wicklow” is derived from the Viking name “Viking Gelo”. The Vikings founded this town. The Wicklow Mountains and their foothills occupy almost the entire area of the county; Lugnaquilla (3,039 ft/926 m) is the highest peak. The Liffey and the Slaney rivers rise in Wicklow, and there are lakes and picturesque glens (valleys). Sheep and cattle are raised in the region, and grains are cultivated. Wicklow also has copper mines and a hydroelectric plant has been constructed in the area. Its proximity to Dublin makes the region a popular one with tourists. Glendalough has notable ecclesiastical remains. It is noted for the ruins of several churches of the 11^th and 12^th centuries, part of the center of Irish Christianity that St. Kevin founded. Also of interest are a round tower and Kevin’s Cross (a granite monolith). The people of the mountainous district were long able to maintain their independence of the English, hence Wicklow was organized as a shire only in 1606. The round towers were built near monasteries or cathedrals. From the top window sentinels watched all the time, and when they saw approaching enemies, they made a signal and all the treasures were quickly brought into the tower. The people also hid there and pulled up the ladder. These towers also served as landmarks for those who walked from place to place. Some Hollywood films like “Braveheart” were shot in Wicklow, not in Scotland.

The chief towns of Carlow are Carlow, the county seat, Bagenalstown, on the Barrow River, which forms much of the western boundary of the county; and Tullow, on the Slaney River which crosses the county from north to south. The granite uplands of the Blackstairs Mountains in the southeast are a conspicuous feature in an otherwise fertile lowland region. Grain and sugar-beet farming, cattle raising, and dairying are regional occupations. There are also flour-milling and sugar-refining industries. Organized as a county in the early 13^th century, Carlow was strategically situated on the southern edge of the English Pale.

The county seat of Wexford is the port city of Wexford. The name Wexford is Danish in origin, and evidence exists of the area’s early Danish occupation. “Wexford” is derived from the Viking name “Weis Fjord”. The Vikings founded this town. Most of the land is low and fertile, but on the western border Mountain Leinster in the Blackstairs Mountains rises to 2,610 ft (796 m). The Slaney is the principal river. Wexford is chiefly an agricultural region; wheat is the chief crop, and cattle are raised. The chief port is Rosslare.

The county seat of Kilkenny [kil’keni] is Kilkenny. The region is mainly a rolling plain, part of the central plain of Ireland, with low hills to the south. The principal rivers are the Suir [shur], the Nore, and the Barrow. Grains and vegetables are grown, and livestock is raised. Industries include software and computer services, food processing, brewing, agricultural engineering, clothing, and handicrafts. The county has concentrated on reforestation programs for the past several years. Kilkenny is rich in antiquities.

The county seat of Laoighis [li:sh] is Port Laoise [po:t li:sh]. A part of the central plain of Ireland, Laoighis is generally level, except for the Slieve Bloom Mts. in the northwest, which is the site of several forestry plantations. The Barrow and the Nore are the chief rivers. Agriculture (wheat, barley, and sugar beets) and dairy farming are the main occupations. Industries include woolens, woodworking, and pharmaceuticals.

The county seat of Offaly is Tullamore. A part of the central plain of Ireland, the county is mostly flat with some sections covered by the Bog of Allen. The Slieve Bloom Mts. are on the southeastern border. The Shannon, the chief river, forms much of the western border. Other rivers are the Brosna and the Blackwater. Agriculture is the chief occupation; cattle, pigs, and poultry are bred in considerable quantity. Grains and potatoes are grown. Among the light industries is distilling. It was known as King’s County until the establishment of the Irish Free State. At Clonmacnoise are the ruins of one of the principal religious centers of early Ireland. The monastery founded (548) on the site by St. Kieran became the most famous in Ireland. It survived 1,000 years of raids and invasions, until it was destroyed by the English in 1552. Notable ruins include a cathedral (built 904), several churches, two round towers, three sculptured crosses, over 200 inscribed stones, and a castle (built 1214). The ruins comprise a national monument. The annual feast of St. Kieran is held at Clonmacnoise. Another tourist attraction of the county is Birr Castle built by the Normans in 1170. You can see the largest telescope in the world constructed at Birr Castle in 1840’s.

The county seat of Westmeath is Mullingar. A part of the central plain of Ireland, the region is mostly level and fertile, with many lakes and bogs. The principal river is the Inny, a tributary of the Shannon. Cattle raising is the chief occupation, although wheat, potatoes, and oats are grown. Some textiles are manufactured. Athlone is the largest town. Westmeath was separated from Meath as an independent county in 1543.

The county seat of Longford is Longford. A part of the central plain of Ireland, it has level land with numerous small lakes, bogs, and marshes. The River Shannon and Lough Ree form its western border. Raising beef cattle is the principal occupation; oats and potatoes are the chief crops.

The historic province of Munster consists of the counties Tipperary, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Clare.

The county seat of Tipperary is Tipperary. The region is part of the central plain of Ireland, but the landscape is diversified by several mountain ranges: the Knockmealdown, the Galtee, the Arra, and the Silvermine. The southern portion of the county is drained by the Suir [shur] River; the northern by tributaries of the Shannon. There is much fertile land, especially in the region known as the Golden Vale, one of the richest agricultural areas in Ireland. Dairy farming and cattle raising are the principal occupations. Other industries are slate quarrying and the manufacture of meal and flour. Antiquarian remains are found in Cashel. An agricultural market, it was formerly the ancient capital of the kings of Munster and was the stronghold of Brian Boru. On the Rock of Cashel, rising 300 ft (91 m) in the center of town, are the ruins of the 13^th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a round tower (10^th cent.), an ancient cross, and Cormac’s Chapel (12^th cent.). Below the Rock are the ruins of Hore Abbey (1272). Cashel is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop and of an Anglican bishop.

T he county seat of Waterford is the port town of Waterford. “Waterford” is derived from the Viking name “Vadre Fjord”. The Vikings founded this town. Although the land is largely hilly, there are lowlands in the east. Principal rivers are the Blackwater, the Bride, and the Suir, which forms most of the northern boundary. Bay. The county has much farming and grazing land; dairy and beef cattle and sheep are important. Fishing, food processing, tanning, toys, and glassmaking are other industries. Waterford crystal is world famous. Waterford Crystal Factory offers tours of its glass-cutting and glass-blowing workshops. The largest of the Irish counties, Cork has a rocky and much-indented coastline. The interior has wild rugged mountains rising as high as 2,239 ft (682 m) and fertile valleys (notably of the Bride, the Blackwater, the Lee, and the Bandon rivers). The main occupations are farming (dairying, raising livestock, and growing grains and sugar beets) and fishing. There is a growing manufacturing sector, centered around the city of Cork, which includes products as diverse as tweed cloth and electronic components. Cork is the county seat. In the 9^th century. The Danes occupied Cork and walled it. Dermot MacCarthy ousted the Danes and in 1172 swore allegiance to Henry II of England. Oliver Cromwell occupied Cork in 1649, and the duke of Marlborough in 1690. There is a large oil refinery at Whitegate. Tourism is important, and notable attractions include prehistoric remains (dolmens and stone circles), the ruins of medieval abbeys and churches, and Blarney Castle. While visiting Blarney Castle you may want to kiss the Blarney Stone and get the gift of eloquence or, as an 18^th century French consul put it, “gain the privilege of telling lies for seven years”. Queen Elizabeth I coined the phrase due to her irritation with Lord Blarney’s ability to talk endlessly without ever actually agreeing to her demands. To kiss the Blarney Stone, you must bend over backward and lower yourself down about two feet at the top of the castle. The castle itself is a tower house and was built around 1446 on a solid limestone mound. Blarney Castle for the most part is in ruin. But, it is very interesting to climb the spiral staircases to the top of the castle. The spiral staircases are narrow and steep and were used to protect the inhabitants because only one invader at a time could come up the spiral staircase. The narrow windows should also be noted because they were also used to defend the castle. Arrows could easily be shot out the narrow windows at invaders, but it would almost be impossible to shoot an arrow in from outside.

The county town of Kerry is Tralee. Kerry consists of a series of mountainous peninsulas that extend into the Atlantic. Carrantuohill (3,414 ft/1,041 m), in the mountains known as Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, is the highest point in Ireland. The streams are short and precipitous, and many bogs exist. The Lakes of Killarney are a popular tourist attraction. Farming (oats and potatoes), fishing, sheep and cattle raising, and dairying are the chief occupations. Peat is sold commercially. Footwear is made in Tralee and Killarney. Many well-preserved dolmens, stone forts, round towers, castles, and abbeys still stand.

The county Limerick is an agricultural plain lying South of the Shannon estuary. The Golden Vale in the eastern part of the county and the Shannon bank are especially fertile. Dairy farming and salmon fishing are the chief occupations. On the Shannon River above Limerick is an important hydroelectric plant. Main manufactures include aluminum castings, automotive parts, concrete pipes, and office equipment. The county seat is the city of Limerick. Limerick is situated at the head of the Shannon estuary. The city has a port with two docks. The primary imports are grain, timber, and coal; exports include produce and fish. Limerick’s industries include salmon fishing, food processing, flour milling, computer manufacture, and lace making. It was occupied by the Norsemen in the 9^th cent., became the capital of Munster under Brian Boru (c.1000), was taken by the English toward the end of the 12^th cent., and was James II’s last stronghold in Ireland after the Glorious Revolution. The city has three sections – English Town, the oldest, on King’s Island; Irish Town to the south; and Newtown Pery, South of Irish Town, founded in 1769. Preserved in Limerick is the Treaty Stone, on which the treaty of 1691 was signed, granting the Irish Catholics certain rights, chiefly the guarantee of political and religious liberty. The repeated violations of this treaty during the reigns of William III and Queen Anne caused Limerick to be called City of the Violated Treaty. Of notable interest are a Protestant cathedral (12^th cent.), a Roman Catholic cathedral, and the castle (begun 1210) of King John. Limerick is the site of a teacher’s college and the National Institute for Higher Education, a branch of the National University of Ireland.

The county and Roman Catholic seat of the county Clare is Ennis. The land is hilly, with many bogs and lakes; the coastline is especially rugged. Fishing is important, and sheep, cattle, and poultry are raised. Chief crops are oats and potatoes. Major industrial development occurred in the 1960s and 70s, including the creation of a large hydroelectric power station on the Shannon River. Ireland’s main airport, the Shannon International Airport, is located in the town Shannon. Clare is an area laden with prehistoric ruins and ancient Christian sites. Bunratty Castle was built in the 15^th century by the Earl of Thomond, from here he ruled over his Chiefdom and entertained lavishly, in fact he was famous for his hospitality. Following this tradition of hospitality, the world renowned Bunratty Medieval Banquet is held throughout the year. In the Folk Park near Bunratty Castle visitors can view the varied dwellings and talk to some of the people who inhabited rural Ireland at the turn of the century. The Loop Head House - where the small fishing/farming family lived, The Blacksmith’s Forge, The Mountain Farm home of the subsistence farmer whose children slept in the loft, The Golden Vale farm house, home of the wealthy farmer, The Bothán Scór, a one roomed dwelling of the poor landless labourer. There are many other houses and people in this magical place, come and meet them and hear their stories. At Craggaunowen - the Living Past, we come to the arrival of the Celts in Ireland. The story is told of how they lived, fought, farmed, hunted and died. The changes they brought to the social organisation of the tribes, their dwellings and hunting methods are explained by the animators in character set in the time period. Craggaunowen has many stories to weave as tourists move from the Crannog (Lake dwelling) to the Ring Fort which was still in use when the Normans started building stone castles, a technology adopted by the Irish Celts. The cliffs of Moher are a scenic tourist attraction. The Cliffs are 8km long and 214m high.

Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, and Sligo are parts of the historical province of Connaught.

The county seat of Leitrim [le’trim] is Carrick-on-Shannon. Leitrim is divided into two parts by Lough Allen; the northern part is mountainous, the southern part level. Potatoes and oats are grown. Industries include textiles, electrical goods, and automotive parts. The population declined by more than 100,000 through the 20^th century. The county seat of Roscommon [reske’mon] is Roscommon. A part of the central plain of Ireland, the region is low-lying and contains many lakes (Lough Allen and Lough Ree) and bogs. The Shannon, which forms the eastern border, and the Suck, which borders the county on the west, are the principal rivers. The economy is primarily dependent on agriculture; cattle and sheep are also raised. Industries and trade have developed. Several coal mines are operated in the northeast.

The county town of Galway [‘golwei] is Galway. The county is divided into two sections by Lough Corrib. The mountains of the Connemara region lie to the west; to the east stretches a rolling plain, partially covered with bogs. Principal rivers are the Clare, the Clarinbridge, the Dunkelin, and the Shannon (which forms part of the eastern boundary) and its tributary, the Suck. The shoreline is extremely irregular, and there are numerous islands, the chief of which are the Aran Islands, lying off the mouth of Galway Bay. The main industries are agriculture (sheep, cattle, oats, and potatoes) and fishing (salmon). Marble is quarried, and some light manufacturing has developed. Many mountains, lakes, streams, and glens help make Connemara a well-known vacation area. Particularly famous is the hardy breed of ponies peculiar to the region. In the town Roundstone you can watch the traditional craft of Bodhran [bowro:n] making. Bodhran is a one sided drum made from goatskin. Bodhrans are decorated by hand-painted designs.

The county seat of Mayo is Castlebar. The western portion, including large Achill island, is mountainous; the eastern part is more level. There are numerous lakes (Mask, Carrowmore, Cullen, Conn, and Carra), and the irregular coast line is deeply indented by bays (Killala, Broadhaven, Blacksod, and Clew). Oats and potatoes are grown; cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry are raised. Woolens manufacturing, and flour milling are carried on. Tourism is developing.

The interior of county Sligo [slaigow] is mountainous, with the Ox Mountains, in the west and the Dartry range, rising to c.2,000 ft (610 m) in the northeast. Cattle raising (beef and dairy) is the chief occupation. Tourism is economically important. The population is less than one third of what it was before the potato famine of the mid-19^th cent. A round tower at Drumcliffe is all that remains of a monastery founded by St. Columba in 575.

Task 6. Check yourself questions:

1. In which counties does the river Shannon flow?

2. Which counties are the richest in historical monuments?

3. What county is famous for the production of internationally famous crystal?

4. Where was “Braveheart” shot?

5. Name some of the more important towns. Which counties are mountainous?

6. What crops are grown in Ireland?

7. What industries prevail in Ireland?

8. Which counties have important ports?

Task 7. Match up the names of counties and their peculiarities.

1. Clare a). St Columba founded a monastery there.

2. Dublin b). The hill of Tara is there.

3. Wicklow c). The beautiful cliffs of Moher are located in it.

4. Galway d). King John Castle is in the main town

5. Limerick e). Blarney Castle is situated there.

6. Sligo f). The river Liffey flows there.

7. Cork g). Glendalough ruins of a church and one of Irish round towers

8. Meath are there.

h). Known for its ponies and bodhrans.

Task 8. Choose a holiday in Ireland. Discuss the tours with a partner and choose one.

Which tour would you choose, if you were interested in rock music?

Which tour would you choose,if you were interested in Northern Ireland?

Which tour would you choose, if you were interested in surfing?

Which tour would you choose, if you were interested in beautiful scenery?

Which tour would you choose, if you were interested in the way whiskey is produced?

Which tour would you choose, if you were interested in traditional Irish music?

Which tour would you choose, if you were interested in history?

Which tour is guided by history graduates of Trinity College?

Task 9. Project work. Work out your own tour of Ireland in a group of 4 –5 people. Present your tour to the groupmates.

Theme 2. History of Ireland

Task 1. Read the basic facts and try to expand them.

BASIC FACTS:

• The Irish language evolved from Celtic immigrants around 600 BC. The language survived the introduction of the linguistic diversity of both the invading Vikings and Normans down through the centuries.

• Although the origins of the name Éire are uncertain, the name Eiru which is the name of a mythological divine heroine, occurs in the earliest literature in Old Irish. The modern word Ireland derives from a combination of the Gaelic “Éire” with the Germanic word “land”.

• The area of Dublin became the first English colony.

• Ireland was the last of the four parts to join the United Kingdom. The official treaty was signed in 1801.

• In 1921 Ireland was divided into the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland.

• From 1922 to 1937 the country was known as the Irish Free State, and from 1937 to 1949 as Eire.

Task 2. Read the facts below and co-ordinate them with historical events in Russia and in England.

A Brief Outline of History

7000 BC There exists archeological evidence of Mesolithic hunter-fisher people along the coast of Ireland.

3000 BC, Neolithic or New Stone-Age people arrived and their stone monuments can still be seen dotted around the Irish landscape today.

By 2000 BC the first Bronze-Age metalworkers arrived. After the Bronze Age and during the Iron Age around 400 A.D., brought about new technologies. In the Stone and Bronze Ages, Ireland was inhabited by Picts in the north and a people called the Erainn in the south.

500 BC Migration of tall, red-haired Celts from Britain, Gaul and Galicia starts the Iron Age in Ireland. They subdued and assimilated the inhabitants and established a Gaelic civilization. By the beginning of the Christian Era, Ireland was divided into five kingdoms—Ulster, Connaught, Leinster, Meath, and Munster.

432 AD St. Patrick arrived to help convert the pagan Gaelic Kings to Christianity. He and his followers spread the new religion throughout the country. The following century saw Irish missionaries begin to spread Christianity throughout Europe.

800 AD The first Viking raids on Ireland. Usually small in numbers, they plunder Irish monasteries and towns. By 914 AD the Vikings begin to overwinter and establish towns mostly near the South Coast. They trade, intermarry and fight with the Gaelic Irish.

976-1002 Brian Boru subjugated all Munster in 976, then extended his power over all South Ireland, and became high king of Ireland by right of conquest in 1002. As his power increased, relations with the Norse rulers on the Irish coast grew steadily worse. Sitric, king of the Dublin Norse, formed against Brian a coalition of the Norse of Ireland, the Hebrides, the Orkneys, and Iceland as well as Brian’s Irish enemies.

1014 In the Battle of Clontarf (near Dublin) Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland defeats an army of Vikings and Leinster Men but is killed himself. The first to bring the English language to Ireland were the Normans. Though English was slow to become established in Ireland it eventually became the language used for all administrative and legal business. Irish became associated with the poorer classes, and gradually English was adopted in general as the main language from the latter years of the eighteenth century on.

1169 Anglo-Normans conquer large areas of the island and settle there. Feudalism is introduced and castles built.

1171 King Henry II of England asserted his sovereignty of Ireland with the building of abbey-churches and castles.

1541 Henry VIII declares himself King of Ireland, the first English monarch to do so. The first plantation of English people to settle in Ireland followed shortly after. The plantation policy led to redistribution of wealth and suppression of Catholicism. Farm lands were confiscated from Catholics and given to Protestant settlers.

1608 James I starts a systematic settlement of Protestant Scots and English. (“The Plantation of Ulster”).

1641-1653 A rebellion by Irish Catholics against the English settlement policy is initially successful. In 1649, after his victory in the English Civil war, Oliver Cromwell and his puritan forces mercilessly destroyed key parts of Ireland, leaving the Irish resistance in shambles.

1690 Protestant William of Orange beat his father-in-law, James II, over succession to the British throne.

1691 The Irish-Protestant parliament in Dublin passes the “Penal Laws”, turning Catholics into second-class citizens.

1782 The Irish Parliament is granted independence from England and some of the Penal Laws against Catholics are abolished.

1800 The Act of Union makes Ireland part of the United Kingdom. The parliament in Dublin is dissolved.

1823 The Catholic Association is founded by Daniel O’Connell (“the Liberator”) and by 1829 Catholic Emancipation is passed removing virtually all restrictions placed on Catholics.

1845-1851 Potato Famine.The famine was caused by the controlling English Goverment’s dramatic reduction in Irish agricultural investments, primarly potatoes, which led to increased unemployment and poverty. An estimated 1 million people die of malnutrition, typhus and other diseases. Many people are forced to migrate, primarily to America, reducing the Irish population to 6.5 million by 1951 down from 8 million in 1841.

From 1880 The Land League and the Irish Home Rule Party led by Charles Stuart Parnell employ parliamentary means in their struggle for Irish autonomy and land reform.

1905-1908 The group known as Sinn Fein (“we ourselves”) is formed to struggle for the independence of Ireland.

1916 Around 1,800 volunteers led by James Connoly take part in the Easter Rising. The rebels seize the General Post Office in Dublin proclaiming a provisional government for the Irish Republic, but are defeated six days later.

1918 Sinn Fein becomes the most influential political party in Ireland. This party, founded by Arthur Griffith, a Dublin journalist, campaigns in the parliamentary election of 1918 on a programme that calls for the breaking of all ties with Great Britain and the establishment of an Irish republic. Candidates of Sinn Fein won 73 of the 106 seats allotted to Ireland in the British Parliament.

1919-22 In January 1919 the Sinn Fein members of Parliament assembled in Dublin as the national assembly. Proclaiming the independence of Ireland, they formed a government, with De Valera as president. There followed guerrilla attacks by Irish insurgents, later called the Irish Republican Army (IRA), on British forces, particularly the Royal Irish Constabulary. In the course of the war, the British Parliament enacted, in December 1920, a Home Rule Bill, providing separate parliaments for six counties of Ulster Province and for the remainder of Ireland. The warfare against the British continued until July 10, 1921, when a truce was arranged. Subsequent negotiations led to the signing, in December 1921, of a peace treaty by representatives of the second national assembly and the British government. By the terms of the treaty, all of Ireland except the six counties constituting Northern Ireland was to receive dominion status identical with that of Canada.

1937 The new constitution abolished the Irish Free State and established Eire as a “sovereign independent democratic state”.

1938 The Irish writer and patriot Douglas Hyde became the first president of Eire, and De Valera became prime minister. Through a treaty adopted in April 1938, the tariff war between Eire and Great Britain was concluded.

1939 Eire maintained neutrality in World War II, although many thousands of Irish citizens joined the Allied forces or worked in British war industry.

April 18, 1949 On Easter Monday, by the terms of the Republic of Ireland Bill Eire became the Republic of Ireland, formally free of allegiance to the British crown and the Commonwealth of Nations.

December 14, 1955 The Republic of Ireland became a member of the United Nations.

1973 The Republic of Ireland joins the European Economic Community along with Great Britain.

1990 Mary Robinson becomes the first female president of Ireland.

1997 Divorce becomes legal in the Republic.

Task 3. Check yourself questions:

1. Why is the name of Brian Boru well known in Ireland?

2. Who founded Dublin?

3. When was Ireland conquered by the Anglo-Normans?

4. What English kings carried out plantation policy in Ireland?

5. When was the treaty of union signed making Ireland part of the United Kingdom?

6. What happened during the Potato Famine?

7. Who are Parnell street and O’Connell street in Dublin named after?

8. What were the stages of Irish independence and how did the names of the country change?

9. Can you find any evidence of the fact that the Republic of Ireland is predominantly a catholic state?

Task 4. Trace the development and changes in political system of Ireland.

Task 5. Trace the roots of the present day conflict in Northern Ireland in the historical events of the past.

Theme 3. Political Life, Economic and Cultural Development of Ireland

BASIC FACTS:

• The Constitution of Ireland was adopted on the 29^th of December, 1937. It defines Ireland as a sovereign, independent and democratic state. It sets out the administrative structure of the Government and states that all powers of the Government derive under God from the people. It defines the structure and principles of legal and social policy to guide the Parliament. The rights of every citizen are also reflected in the constitution.

• The National Flag is a tricolour of green, white and orange. The green represents the older Gaelic and Anglo-Norman element in the population, the orange the Protestant supporters of William of Orange, while the white represents a lasting peace between the two traditions. First flown as an emblem of the Young Ireland movement of 1848, the flag did not come into popular use until after the 1916 Rising.

• The Irish economy after joining the European Union is described as Celtic Tiger.

Task 1. Read the text and make a quiz concentrating on one of the following aspects: political life, economy, culture.

Legislative authority is vested in a bicameral legislature known as the Oireachtas. This is composed of a 166-member lower house (the Dail) and a 60-member senate (the Seanad). The members of the lower house are elected for terms of up to five years by proportional representation. The Dáil is the primary of the two houses. While government administration and policy may be criticised in both houses, the government is responsible to the Dáil only.

Eleven members of the senate are selected by the prime minister and six members are elected by the universities. The remaining 43 members of the senate are elected by an electoral college consisting of about 900 members from the county borough councils, county councils, the lower house and the senate. The elected members of the senate are chosen from candidates representing national culture, labor, agriculture and fisheries, public administration and social services, and commerce and industry. The senate may not veto legislation enacted by the lower house and is otherwise restricted in authority.

The President of Ireland is elected by direct vote from the people for a term of seven years. While the president doesn’t have any executive powers, the role is more than a ceremonial one. The President has certain powers , which make him or her essentially the guardian of the Constitution and may choose to exercise these powers on the advice of the Government or Council of State. Áras an Uachtaráin had a colourful history before becoming the Official Residence of the President of Ireland. Built in 1751 Situated in the 1,752 acres of the Phoenix Park near Dublin, the original house was built by Park Ranger Nathaniel Clements. By 1782 it had been acquired for use by the Viceroys who oversaw British rule in Ireland. Clements received £25,000 for the house. The house continued as the official residence of the Viceroys until 1922. For much of the period of Home Rule that followed it was the residence of the Governors General, the Crown’s representatives in Ireland as a member of the Commonwealth. In 1938 it became the Official Residence of the President of Ireland and has been used for that purpose since. The house is the setting for many public functions. Though it is not fully open to the public, some 15,000 people visit it each year.

The Irish Government consists of not less than seven and not more than fifteen members. The government of Ireland is based on the constitution of 1937, as amended. This document proclaims Ireland a sovereign, independent, democratic state. The constitution also defines the national territory as the whole of Ireland. The country became a republic in 1949. Executive power under the Irish constitution is vested in the government (cabinet). The government, responsible to the lower house of the national legislature, is headed by the prime minister. This official is nominated by the lower house and appointed by the president. The members of the government head the various administrative departments, or ministries. They are nominated by the prime minister and, subject to the approval of the lower house, appointed by the president. The president of Ireland is the head of state and is elected by direct popular vote for a 7-year term.

Judicial authority in Ireland is vested in a supreme court, a high court, a court of criminal appeal, and circuit and district courts. All of the judges of these courts are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the government. Irish law is based on Common Law and is enshrined in the Constitution of 1937. Statutes passed by the British Parliament before 1921 also have the force of law unless they have subsequently been repealed or have been found to be unconstitutional. Justice is administered in the public courts. Judges are usually senior figures in the legal profession.

Local Government: County councils, county borough corporations, borough corporations, urban district councils, and town commissioners are charged with responsibility for most locally administered services, including health and sanitation, housing, water supply, and libraries. Members are elected to these local bodies by popular vote, generally for 5-year terms. Local executive organization is based on the manager system. A central appointments commission in Dublin chooses the executive manager of local authorities by examination. Local government generally is supervised by the department of local government.

Departments of State are assigned to members of the Government, with a Minister occasionally being responsible for more than one department. Ministers are assisted in the administration of these departments by Ministers of State who are not members of the Government. Civil Servants assist in the running of each of the fifteen Departments of State and are appointed through public competition.

The main political parties. The system of proportional representation by which members are elected to the lower house favors a multiplicity of political parties representing special interests. In recent years, however, four parties have emerged as the most powerful: Fianna Fáil, which has been in Government more times than any other party, Fine Gael, The Labour Party, The Progressive Democrats. Other political parties are: The Green Party, Socialist Party and Sinn Féin.

The police service, Garda Siochána (Guardians of the Peace) was established in 1922. Today the force has approximately 11,450 members. The Garda are headed by a government appointed Commissioner and are answerable to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The economy of Ireland has been traditionally agricultural. For centuries it was an agricultural potato growing country. Later Ireland’s agriculture became more diversified. Nowadays, the agricultural enterprise producing the most income is animal husbandry. In the late 1980s livestock included some 5.6 million cattle, 4.3 million sheep, 960,000 hogs, and 55,000 horses. Poultry production is also important. The principal field crops are wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes. Among other important crops are hay, turnips, and sugar beets. The best farmlands are found in the east and southeast. Ireland became a member of the European Community (EC) in 1973, thus expanding the market for the country’s important agricultural exports.

Since the mid-1950s, however, the country’s industrial base has expanded, and now mining, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities account for approximately 37% of the gross domestic product and agriculture for only about 12%. Private enterprise operates in most sectors of the economy. Among the food-processing industries, the most important are meat packing, brewing and distilling, grain milling, sugar refining, and the manufacture of dairy products, margarine, confections, and jam. Other important manufactured articles include office machinery and data-processing equipment; electrical machinery; tobacco products; woolen goods; clothing; cement; furniture; soap; candles; building materials; footwear; cotton, rayon, and linen textiles; hosiery; paper; leather; machinery; refined petroleum; and chemicals.

Imports in the late 1980s totaled about $14.6 billion annually, and exports, including re-exports, about $18.4 billion. The major trading partners of Ireland include Great Britain, Germany, the United States, France, and Japan. The most important exports include electric and electronic equipment, livestock, meat, dairy products, chemicals, and textiles and clothing; about two-thirds of all exports are to EC countries. Imports are primarily machinery, transport equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, cereals and foodstuffs, textiles, and iron and steel. Tourism has been effectively promoted and has increased steadily in importance. By the late 1980s, some 2.7 million tourists annually generated approximately $1 billion for the economy of Ireland. Transportation and Communications: Ireland has 2700 km (1680 mi) of railway track, all operated by the state-owned Irish Transport Company and linking all important points on the island. The highway system totals about 92,300 km (about 57,350 mi), of which about 94% was paved. Navigable inland waterways total about 435 km (about 270 mi).

The government of Ireland has undertaken extensive schemes of reforestation in an effort to reduce the country’s dependence on timber imports and to provide raw material for new paper mills and related industries. In the late 1980s forestland occupied nearly 5% of Ireland’s total area; the annual output of roundwood was 1.2 million cu m (42.3 million cu ft).

The fishing industry, which has traditionally been underdeveloped, is expanding; the annual catch in the late 1980s was some 247,400 metric tons. Deep-sea catches include herring, cod, mackerel, whiting, and plaice. Crustaceans, particularly lobsters, crawfish, and prawns, and such mollusks as oysters and periwinkles, are plentiful in coastal waters and form the bulk of the country’s seafood exports. The inland rivers and lakes provide excellent fishing for salmon, trout, and eel.

Although mining plays a relatively minor role in the Irish economy, discoveries of new deposits in recent decades have led to a considerable expansion of mineral production. Annual mineral output in the late 1980s included about 45,000 metric tons of coal, 177,000 metric tons of zinc, and 33,800 metric tons of lead. Ireland is one of the leading exporters of lead and zinc in Europe. Natural gas is extracted off the southwestern coast; yearly output in the mid-1980s was 1.6 billion cu m (56.5 billion cu ft). Peat is dug in large quantities for domestic and industrial fuel and also for horticultural purposes; annual output in the late 1980s was 6.3 million tons. Ireland has diversified manufacturing, most of it developed since 1930.

The Central Bank of Ireland, established in 1942, is the bank of issue. Associated with the Central Bank are the leading commercial (or associated) banks with their networks of local branches. Mergers have reduced the number of these associated banks. On the other hand, the number of merchant banking houses has increased, and leading North American and continental European banks now have offices in Dublin. Trustee banks and the Post Office Savings Bank mainly serve small individual accounts.

Dublin and Cork are the manufacturing, financial, and commercial centers of Ireland. Dublin is the most important seaport; Cork is the main port for transatlantic passenger travel. Other significant ports include Dun Laoghaire, Waterford, Rosslare, and Limerick. International airports are located at Shannon, Dublin, and Cork, and several international air-transport systems provide regular service between Ireland and major cities throughout the world. Around the free port of Shannon are factories producing electronic equipment, chemicals, plastics, and textiles.

year in the 1950s to more than 4.5 percent in the late 1960s. It was officially reported in 1964 that more than 200 factories had begun production since 1955, most of them with foreign participation. A second plan began that year with a goal by 1970 of a net increase of 50 percent in the gross national product over the 1960 level. The improving economic circumstances were regarded as the main cause of a decline in emigration, ending a population decline that had continued unabated for more than a century. Political Developments. With economic stability came a new measure of political stability and a decline in traditional anti-British feeling. As early as 1957 Prime Minister Costello, who regarded the terrorist activities of the IRA as damaging to relations with Great Britain and tending to prolong the partition of Ireland, had called for forceful action against the organization. Costello was defeated for re-election, but early in 1958 his successor, De Valera, publicly agreed that unity could not be achieved by force. In June 1959, De Valera, at the age of 77, was elected president. Opposition to IRA activity, plus a decline in the active membership, led to the announcement in February 1962 that the group had abandoned violence. Nevertheless, Ireland continued to suffer occasional acts of terrorism.

Nowadays, the Irish economy is an open, mostly export based economy that has experienced an unprecedented level of growth during the latter half of the 1990’s. It is expected that this growth will continue at least for the first decade of this century, as long as a skilled labour force continues to be available. Agriculture engages about 70% of the land and 13% of the workforce. The raising of dairy and beef cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry is the chief agricultural enterprise. Among the leading crops are flax, oats, wheat, turnips, potatoes, sugar beets, and barley. The republic’s industries now account for almost 40% of its GDP and 80% of its exports, and employ more than a quarter of its workforce. Products include such items as computer and telecommunications hardware, computer software, linen and laces (for which Ireland is famous), Waterford crystal, food products and beverages, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, ships, iron products, and handicrafts. Lead and zinc are umined, and oil and natural gas are produced offshore.

The Irish economy is heavily dependant on trade, with export of goods and services amonting to over 96.8% of GDP (1999 figure). Membership of the European Union and access to the Single Market has allowed Ireland to diversify its trade patterns. Although Britain has always been Ireland’s largest single trading partner, almost half of all Irish exports now go to the other EU member states.

Roots of Prosperity

Ireland has enjoyed economic prosperity during the closing years of the twentieth century. However the roots of this prosperity may lie some years before. Contributing factors include:

• high standards of education producing a young skilled workforce

• a commitment to open markets - many years of consistent policies with regard to Foreign Direct Investment

• good co-operation between Government, Industry and Trade Unions with regard to economic policy

• the return of skilled emigrants to Ireland

• the work of industrial promotional agencies and the various incentives offered to overseas investors.

Promotional Agencies

There are a number of State agencies in Ireland devoted to promotion of different areas of Irish industry these include:

• Enterprise Ireland is the body responsible for the development of indigenous industry.

• IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Authority) is responsible for attracting industry from overseas.

• Shannon Development and Udarás na Gaeltachta are bodies charged with the development of particular regions.

• Forfás is the co-ordinating and advisory board for these and other agencies.

Structural and Cohesion Funds

Ireland will receive about £3.4 billion in structural and cohesion funds during the period 2000-2006. For this period Ireland has for the time been divided into two regions for receipt of structural funds, separating the Border, Midland and Western region from the East and South of the country. The reduction in funding (compared to previous periods) and the division of Ireland into regions reflects the economic growth of recent years, a growth rate four times the European average since 1994.

National Development Plan

The National Development Plan is an investment plan for public and private investment covering the period 2000-2006, the plan aims to:

• promote further economic growth and development

• invest heavily in infrastructure

• develop human resources through support for education and training

• reduce social and economic exclusion.

• Irish Culture

Irish culture has been recognised for its quality all over the world. From publications such as James Joyces epic masterpiece Ulysses, Sean O’ Casey’s The Plough and the Stars and Juno and the Paycock in the 1920’s to more modern works like Brian Friel’s Philadelphia Here I Come, Irish literature is world famous. During the twentieth century writing in modern Irish has developed afresh with vigour. Among the most noteworthy writers are the novelist Máirtín Ó Cadhain and the poets Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Cathal Ó Searcaigh, all three of whom have won international recognition. Recently, poet Seamus Heaney has received the Nobel Prize for literature the fourth Irish writer to receive the honour in the 20^th century. Other Irish writers recently recognised for their achievements include John Banville, short listed for the Booker Prize for Book of Evidence in 1989 and Roddy Doyle, who won the Booker Prize for his novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.

The native music of medieval Ireland was transmitted orally from generation to generation. The harp (cláirseach), and the small harp (cruit), were the main musical instruments. Today, traditional Irish music is played on the harp, the bodhrán, the uilleann pipes, the fiddle and the accordion.

No original records of the old bardic music survive, but the works of Turlough O’Carolan, harpist, composer and poet, have been preserved, and from the end of the eighteenth century onwards extensive and valuable collections of native Irish music have been made and published. Thanks to the efforts of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (literally, ‘the fellowship of Irish musicians’) and others, the regard for Irish music, both in Ireland and in many countries overseas, is higher than it ever was. The work of Seán Ó Riada in the 1960s and of the Chieftains in later decades did much to rejuvenate traditional music and introduce this genre to a wide appreciative public. At present Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have 400 branches in Ireland and throughout the world, practising and teaching Irish music. Their archive of traditional music contains 4,000 hours of listening. The fusions of traditional Irish music with rock, world music and popular music have earned considerable acclaim.

Dances include jigs, reels, hornpipes and sets. In recent years there has been a great demand for shows such as Riverdance throughout the world. Rock music and ‘country’ music are two main forms of popular music in Ireland today. Country music enjoys a huge following and home grown artists such as Daniel O’Donnell have had success both at home and abroad. Irish rock and pop groups such as U2, Boyzone, The Corrs and Westlife have also gained international acclaim. The Irish popular music scene is recognised as being one of the most vibrant in Europe, with services such as Music Base in place to assist the development of new acts entering a multi-million pound industry.

The first public screenings of film in Ireland were held in Dublin by the Lumière brothers in 1896, while the following year the first filmed Irish subjects were shown by a Professor Joly. The first cinema in Ireland was the Volta on Mary Street in Dublin, which opened in 1909 under the short-lived management of James Joyce. Apart from indigenous productions, Ireland has always had history of being used as a backdrop for international films, often by distinguished film makers. Examples include Ryan’s Daughter (1970), Braveheart (1994) and Saving Private Ryan (1997). With the establishment of the Irish Film Board in 1981 and its re-establishment in 1993, native film production was given a platform to develop and grow. Today Irish cinema enjoys a higher international profile than ever before, with the work of Irish directors achieving commercial and critical success. Notable Irish productions of recent years include: My Left Foot (Jim Sheridan, 1989), The Field (Jim Sheridan, 1990), Michael Collins (Neil Jordan, 1996) and The General (John Boorman, 1998).

Folklore and legend has always been an essential part of Irish culture, with the emphasis being on story telling, an oral tradition. In Gaelic and Norman-Gaelic Ireland, the poet or ‘file’ was the guardian of knowledge, and as such, enjoyed high status in society. The folk-tales and legends of Irish culture have been handed down through generations of such guardians and the telling of such tales to the community was a great social tradition.

Ireland’s mark on the world of sport has been disproportionate to the size of the country. Irish soccer teams have won European Championships at youth level and Irish players play for clubs all over Europe. Ireland has produced some of the best golfers, snooker players, cyclists, boxers and jockeys in the world and Irish athletes have triumphed at championship and Olympic level. Gaelic Football and Hurling, as Ireland’s native sports are the most popular. The major competitions in each sport are the All-Ireland Championships which are contested by teams from each of the 32 counties. The All-Ireland finals are played at Croke Park in Dublin, which is the headquarters of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) in Ireland and is currently undergoing a major development programme. Soccer is also very popular in Ireland and is governed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). However the senior domestic competition do not reflect the real strength of soccer as many talented players play in leagues abroad. Many of these same players, play for the national team, which enjoys a large following. Rugby Football has about 60,000 Irish participants at club and school level and competition exists in the form of schoolboy, club and provincial leagues and championships. The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is the governing body for the sport and the Irish international team draws large crowds. Athletics and particularly track and field athletics has a long tradition in Ireland, which has produced a long list of past World and Olympic Champions. The most popular events are running, over middle and long distances and on marathon, track and indoor cross-country courses. Current athletics stars include Catherina Mc Kiernan and Sonia O’Sullivan, both cross-country champions at European and World Equestrian: The Irish bloodstock industry is considered one of the finest in the world. Famous racehorses produced include Arkle, Dawn Run, Istabraq, Nijinsky and Saddlers Wells. Ireland has produced a string of leading riders in all disciplines including Michael Kinnane, Richard Dunwoody and Eddie Macken. The sports of Snooker, golf, boxing and many other sports have seen Irish sportsmen and women compete and triumph at the highest level.

Task 2. Check yourself questions:

1. What is the legislative branch of power represented by in Ireland?

2. Who acts within the executive?

3. What are the peculiarities of the judiciary?

4. What are the main political parties?

5. What was and is the proportion of agriculture and industry in Irish economy?

6. What are the traditional branches of agriculture in Ireland?

7. What branches of industry are developing nowadays?

8. Why is the economic development of Ireland described as Celtic Tiger?

9. Which are the strongest aspects of Irish culture?

Task 3. Compare the political systems of the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom. Point out similarities and differences in the political arrangement of the countries.

Task 4. Discuss possible recommendations to a Russian businessman who is planning a business visit to Ireland.

Task 5. Use the Internet resources to prepare a presentation or an essay on some aspects of life in the Republic of Ireland.

Contents

Part I. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Theme 1. Cultural Aspects of Geography. Skills developed: reading (close), making quizes, project work.

Theme 2. Population of the UK. Skills developed: reading, speaking (panel discussions).

Theme 3. Monarchy. Skills developed: reading, speaking, writing subtitles, vocabulary skills, making quizes, classification, work with computer, project work.

Theme 4. Parliament. Skills developed: reading, vocabulary skills, making quizes, analysing facts, comparative analysis, group discussion.

Theme 5. Political Parties and Government. Skills developed: reading (scanning), vocabulary skills, work with computer.

Theme 6. Law system. Skills developed: reading (interpreting facts, summarizing), classification.

Theme 7. Education in UK. Skills developed: reading (summary, close(, comparative analysis, developing cross-cultural awareness, speaking (role play).

Theme 8. Ways of Life in UK. Skills developed: Interpreting facts, speaking (instructions, discussion)

1. Sports

2. Eating and Drinking Habits

3. Parks

Theme 9. Customs and traditions. Skills developed: comparative analysis, interpreting facts, speaking, developing cross-cultural awareness, work with computer.

Theme 10. Going out. Skills developed: speaking (discussion), developing cross-cultural awareness, work with computer.

1. Pubs

2. Gentlemen’s Clubs

3. Theatre

Part II. The Republic of Ireland

Theme 1. The Land and People. Skills developed: making crosswords, project work, role play.

Theme 2. History of Ireland. Skills developed: bringing in general knowledge, analysing facts, scanning.

Theme 3. Political life, Cultural and Economic Development of Ireland. Skills developed: Scanning, comparative analysis, discussion, work with computer.

THE KEYS :

Theme 1.

The KEY (Task 6): 1. Wight, 2. Wiltshire, 3. The Highlands and the Grampians, 4. Windermere, 5. Warwickshire, 6. Northern Ireland, 7. Oxford, 8. Cambridge, 9. Plymouth, 10. Isle of Man, 11. Anglesey, Isle of Man, 12. The Pennines, 13. Bristol Channel, 14. Hebrides, 15. Scotland, 16. Aberdeen, 17. Caernarvon Castle, 18. Caledonia, 19. Manchester, 20. Bath, 21. St Andrew’s, 22. Oxford, 23.Nottingham, 24. Irish Sea, 25. Scotland, 26. Kent, 27. Devonshire.

The KEY (Task 7): 1. c The Severn is a river ,the others are towns; 2. a Norwich is a town, the others are rivers; 3. d Inverness is a town , the others are mountains; 4. a Durham is a town, the others are waterways; 5. a The Highlands are mountains, the others are islands; 6. d York is a town, the others are rivers; 7. b Nottingham does not lie at sea, and it is the only one that gave the name to the county, Nottinghamshire; 8. c Glasgow is not a capital; 9. a Windsor is a town ,the others are counties; 10. d Ipswich is a town, the others are rivers.

The KEY (Task 9): 1- c; 2 – a; 3 – g; 4 – b; 5 – h; 6 – i; 7 – e; 8 – d; 9 – f; 10 –k; 11 – l; 12 – j; 13 – n; 14 – m.

The KEY (Task 10): 1) the City; 2) Westminster Palace; 3) Big Ben; 4) Westminster Abbey; 5) Parliament Square;6) Trafalgar Square; 7) Piccadilly Circus; 8) St Paul`s Cathedral; 9) The Tower of London; 10) Tower Bridge; 11) Buckingham Palace; 12) Windsor Castle.

Theme 3.

The KEY (Task 4): 1 – b; 2 – c; 3 – h; 4 – f; 5 – g; 6 – d; 7 – e; 8 – a.

The KEY (Task 5): 1) Investiture, 2) Private, 3) Maundy Money, 4) corgies.

The KEY (Task 6): 1 – h; 2 – g; 3 – a; 4 – f; 5 – p; 6 – I; 7 – l; 8 – b; 9 – d; 10 – e; 11 – j;

12 – r; 13 – n; 14 - q; 15 – k; 16 – m; 17 – o; 18 – c.

Theme 4.

The KEY (Task 4)

1 – H; 2 – S; 3 – O; 4 – F; 5 – O; 6 – L; 7 – U; 8 – R; 9 – E; 10 – S;

11 – O; 12 - D HOUSE OF LORDS

Theme 5.

The KEY (Task 3):

Across: 1.Cabinet, 5. Whips, 6. Blair, 7. Thatcher, 10. Cymru, 8. Heath, 13. backbencher, 14. law, 16. Edinburgh.

Down: 1. Conservatives; 2. Treasury; 3. Smith; 4.Whitehall; 9. Finchley; 12. Falklands; 11. Durham, 15. Chemistry.

Theme 6.

Theme 7.

KEY (Task 3): 1). 1 – pre-preparatory, 2 – five, 3 – eight, 4 – preparatory, 5- public, 6- Winchester; 2) 1- infant / primary, 2 – five, 3 – grammar, 4 – comprehensive, 5 – sixth, 6 – A / AS; 3) 1 – primary, 2 – comprehensive / secondary modern, 3 – GCSE, 4 – National Vocational Qualification.

Theme 8.

KEY (Task 6): 1 – d; 2 – a; 3 – b; 4 – c; 5 – g; 6 – e; 7 – f

KEY (Task 8) 1 – I; 2 – j; 3 – a; 4 – b; 5 – d; 6 – e; 7 – g; 8 – c; 9 -; 10 – h.

Theme 10.

THE KEY (Task5): 1 – b; 2 – h; 3 – e; 4 – c; 5 – a; 6 – g; 7 – d; 8 – f.

Part II.

Theme 1.

KEY (T ask 7): 1 – c; 2 – f; 3 – g; 4 – h; 5 – d; 6 – a; 7 – e; 8 – b.

REFERENCES:

Part I.

Theme 1.

1. Gardiner, Leslie ‘The Love of Scotland’/Leslie Gardiner –London: Lomond Books, 1990. -96pp.

2. Tarchetti, Simona ‘Great Britain’/Simona Tarchetti –Singapore: Smithmark Publishers Inc., 1994. -128 pp.

3. Dictionary of English Language and Culture.-Spain: Longman, 1999.-1569 pp.

4. Beare, Beryl ‘Scotland. Myths and Legends.’-Edinburgh : Lomond Books, 1999.-80 pp.

5. Hill, David ‘Scotland’.-China: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1986.-47pp.

6. www.scotland.gov.uk

7. www.nio.gov.uk

8. www.informationonwales.co.uk

9. www.open.gov.uk

10. www.eurotunnel.com

11. www.invectis.co.uk/iow/

Theme 2.

1. Collie, Joanne ‘What’s it Like? Life and Culture in Britain Today.’: a textbook/ Joanne Collie, Alex Martin. –Turin: Cambridge University Press, 2000. -96pp.

2. Farrell, Mark ‘British Life and Institutions’: a textbook / Mark Farrell -London: Chancerel International Publishers Ltd, 2000.-144pp.

3. Miall, Antony ‘The Xenophobe’s Guide to the English.’/Antony Miall –Horsham: Ravette Books Ltd., 1993. -64 pp.

4. Ross, David ‘The Xenophobe’s Guide to the Scots.’/David Ross –London: Oval Books, 1999. -64 pp.

5. Richards, John Winterson ‘The Xenophobe’s Guide to the Welsh’ / John Winterson Richards –London: Oval Books, 1994. -64pp.

6. www.cre.gov.uk

7. www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook

Theme 3.

1. Struthers, Jane ‘Britain’s History from the Air’/ Jane Struthers and Jason Hawkes –London: Ebury Press Ltd., 1994. –143pp.

2. McDowall, David ‘Britain in Close-up’/ David McDowall –Singapore: Longman, 1995. -208pp.

3. www.Royal.gov.uk

4. www.royalty.nu

Theme 4.

1. Hewitt, Karen “ Understanding British Institutions”. / Karen Hewitt, Mikhail Feklin. –Nizhny Novgorod:.Perspective Publications LTD, 1998. –297pp.

2. Farrell, Mark ‘British Life and Institutions’/ Mark Farrell Chancerel International Publishers Ltd, 2000.-144 pp.

3. McDowall, David “Britain in Close-up.”/ David McDowall.-Singapore: Longman Group Ltd, 1995. –208pp.

4. www.parliament.uk

5. www.electoral-commission.gov.uk

Theme 5.

1. Hewitt, Karen “Understanding British Institutions”./ Karen Hewitt, Mikhail Feklin. –Nizhny Novgorod :Perspective Publications LTD, 1998. –297pp.

2. Farrell, Mark “British Life and Institutions” / Mark Farrell. –London: Chancerel International Publishers Ltd, 2000.-144pp.

3. McDowall, David “Britain in Close-up.” /David McDowall. –Singapore: Longman Group Ltd., 1995. –208pp.

4. http://www.facts.com/wnd/blairfac.htm

5. http://www.johnmajor.co.uk/activity.shtml

6. www.britannia.com/gov

7. www.labour.org.uk

8. www.conservative-party.org.uk

9. www.libdem.org.uk

10. www.plaidcymru.org

11. www.uup.org

12. www.sinnfein.ie

13. www.snp.org

14. www.dup.org.uk

15. www.sdlp.ie

16. www.lgiu.gov.uk

17. www.scottish.parliament.uk

Theme 6.

1. Farrell, Mark “British Life and Institutions”/ Mark Farrell. –London: Chancerel International Publishers Ltd, 2000.-144pp.

2. Hewitt, Karen “Understanding British Institutions.”/ Karen Hewitt, Mikhail Feklin Perspective Publications LTD, 1998.-297pp.

3. McDowall, David “Britain in Close-up.”/David McDowell.-Singapore Longman Group Ltd, 1995.-208pp.

4. www.parliament.uk

5. www.parliament.uk/about_lords

6. www.lcd.gov.uk

7. http://crime.about.com/cs/celebritycriminal/index.htm

8. www.courttv.com/people/

9. www.bbc.co.uk/go/homepage/int/idx/soc/crime/-/crime

10. www.crimelibrary.com

Theme 7.

1. Hewitt, Karen “ Understanding British Institutions.” / Karen Hewitt, Mikhail Feklin . –Nizhny Novgorod: Perspective Publications LTD, 1998.-297pp.

2. Farrell, Mark ‘British Life and Institutions’/ Mark Farrell.-London: Chancerel International Publishers Ltd, 2000.-144pp.

3. McDowall, David “Britain in Close-up.”/ David McDowall.-Singapore: Longman Group Ltd., 1995.-208pp.

4. http://www.britishcouncil.org.co/english/education/colenbes.htm

5. www.educationuk.org

6. www.educationuk-in.org

7. news.bbc.co.uk

8. news.bbc.co.uk

9. www.britishcouncil.org/scotland/education

10. http://www.sqa.org.uk

Theme 8.

1. Farrell, Mark “British Life and Institutions” / Mark Farrell.-London: Chancerel International Publishers Ltd, 2000.-144pp.

2. McDowall, David “Britain in Close-up.”/ David McDowall.-Singapore: Longman Group Ltd., 1995.-208pp.

3. Dictionary of English Language and Culture. - Spain: Longman, 1999.-1569pp.

4. www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/sports.html

5. http://www.peeblescurlingclub.co.uk

6. www.grossi.co.uk/wales/sports.htm

7. uk.sports.yahoo.com/foot/irel/north

8. www.polo.co.uk

9. www.petergracepolo.com

10. www.rbgkew.org.uk/

11. www.nme.com/reviews

12. www.12travel.com/uk/london/gardens/regents.html

13. www.see-scotland.com/sports_activities

14. http://gouk.about.com/cs/welshfooddrink/

15. http://www.dotheresearch.com/travel/internationalrecipes/

16. www.planetroasters.com/faqspics/Tea%20Traditions.html

17. www.heatherale.co.uk/

18. directory.google.com/Top/Recreation/Food/Drink/Tea

Theme 9.

1. Christie, Agatha The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding: a book of stories/ Agatha Christie – London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1994. – 240 p.

2. Traditions, Customs and Habits: учебное пособие/ составители: Балк Е.А., Леменев М.М. – Москва: ИНФРА-Мб, 2001. –126 с.

3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-nireland/work

4. www.informationwales.co.uk/

5. www.sojourn.com.my/contents/2000/ 02/200002_lovespoons.html

6. www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/ customs/questions/symbols.html

7. http://www.informationwales.co.uk/

8. www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/ holidays/2_curtis.html

9. www.pearlies.co.uk/

10. www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/PearlyKingsQueens.htm

Theme 10.

1. Weightman, Gavin Bright Lights, Big City. London Entertained 1830-1950./ Gavin Weightman – London: Colin and Brown Ltd., 1992.-160p.

1. www.siliconglen.com/scotfaq/traditions.html

2. www.hotel-braemar.co.uk/brgames.htm

3. www.s-h-systems.co.uk/tourism/london/gentlemens-clubs.html

4. www.inx.net/~mardidom/rcidance.htm

5. www.allaboutbeer.com/features/wales.html

6. www.protzonbeer.com/documents/27660-001259.html

7. www.netlondon.com/theatre/theatres/theatres

8. www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/westendvenues/

9. www.rutheatres.co.uk

10. www.artsfestivals.co.uk

Part II.

Theme 1.

1. Instant Ireland: Insight Guide. –Singapore: Insight Print Services Ltd, 2001.-81pp.

2. Tolfree, Patrick “Ireland”/ Patrick Tolfree – China: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1990.-48pp

3. www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/ geography/counties.html

4. www.bartleby.com

5. www.shannonheritage.com

6. www.visitdublin.com

7. www.dublincity.ie

8. www.irelandtravel.ie

9. www.historic.irishcastles.com/blarney.htm

Theme 2.

1. Instant Ireland: Insight Guide. –Singapore: Insight Print Services Ltd, 2001.-81pp.

2. Tolfree, Patrick “Ireland”/ Patrick Tolfree.–China: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1990.-48pp

3. www.Insightguides.com

4. www.angelfire.com/ca/irelandhistory

5. www.bartleby.com

6. www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107648.html

7. www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/history

Theme 3.

1. Tolfree, Patrick “Ireland”/ Patrick Tolfree.–China: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1990.-48pp

2. www.comhaltas.com

3. www.irlgov.ie

4. http://goeurope.about.com/cs/ireland/index.htm