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Unit V. The united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. Part 1. The uk.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

The uk.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

The United Kingdom is an island state. It occupies the British Isles, which consist of two main islands – Great Britain and Ireland – and 5,500 small islands. It’s washed by the Atlantic Ocean from the north and north-west, the North Sea from the east, the Irish Sea from the west and the English Channel and the Strait of Dover from the south-east and south. The Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles, so it is mild all the year round.

The surface of Great Britain varies very much. Great Britain is divided into 2 main regions – Lowland Britain including southern and eastern England and Highland Britain including Scotland, most of Wales, the Pennines and the Lake District. England is separated from Scotland by the Cheviot Hills.

There are many rivers in Great Britain, but the Severn is the longest, the Thames is the busiest and most important, the Spey is the fastest. There are many lakes in Great Britain. In the north-west of England they make up the Lake District. In Scotland they are called lochs.

The United Kingdom is one of the world’s smaller countries. It has an area of 240,000 square km with a population of 57 mln people. It’s one of the most densely populated countries of the world.

English is the official language and it isn’t the only language spoken in the United Kingdom. Welsh is also spoken in Wales, Gaelic is spoken in Scotland and Irish is spoken in Ireland. The flag of the United Kingdom known as the Union Jack is made up of 3 crosses representing the crosses of St. George, the patron saint of England, St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland and St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: the official name of the state; to consist of two main islands; to be washed from the north; to influence the climate; the surface of Great Britain; the busiest and most important; in the north-west of England; densely populated country of the world.

Exercise 2. Find the equivalents of these expressions in the text:столица Великобритании; занимать британские острова; маленькие острова; тёплые воды Гольфстрима; весь год; мягкий климат; много рек; много озёр; одна из самый маленьких стран; официальный язык; покровитель.

Exercise 3. True or false?

1. English is the official language of the UK and it is the only language spoken in the UK.

2. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the state which includes England, Scotland, Belfast and Northern Ireland.

3. The North Sea washes the UK from the north.

4. Great Britain is divided into 2 main regions – Lowland Britain and Highland Britain.

5. The Severn is the fastest river in Great Britain.

Exercise 4.Complete the following sentences in logical way:

1. The UK is situated …

2. Great Britain is washed by …

3. The capitals of the UK are …

4. Lowlands comprise …

5. Highlands include …

6. Many rivers are flowing through Great Britain, such as …

7. The Severn is …

8. The Spey is …

9. The Thames is …

10. The flag of the United Kingdom known as the Union Jack is made up of …

11. The official language of the UK is English, but …

Exercise 5. Try to answer all the questions and compare two countries.

Part 2. London.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS:

London.

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest and busiest ports in Great Britain. It is situated on both sides of the river Thames. London is one of the largest cities in the world. London is a very old city. It is more than twenty centuries old.

London consists of many parts and they are different from each other. They are Westminster, the City, the East End and the West End.

The West End is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best and the most expensive hotels, restaurants, clubs, theatres, cinemas and richest shops are there. There are splendid houses and gardens belonging to wealthy people. Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was so named to commemorate Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. On the north side of Trafalgar Square are the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.

Westminster is the political heart of the country. There is Parliament Square in Westminster with the Houses of Parliament on the left and the Westminster Abbey on the right. Big Ben is the name given to the clock and bell of the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Abbey is famous for its architecture, for its historic associations. Westminster Abbey has its world famous Poet’s Corner where many of the greatest English writers are buried: Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Hardy and Kipling. There are memorials to Shakespeare, Burns, Byron, Scott, Thackeray and Longfellow.

The City is the oldest part of London. It is the financial and business part of London. Numerous banks, offices, trusts are concentrated in this part. There are some ancient buildings within the city, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral built by Sir Christopher Wren and the Tower of London which was built nine centuries ago and used as a fortress, a royal palace and a political prison. Now it is a museum.

The East End is the busiest district of London because the Port of London with many docks and warehouses is situated there. It is the fastest-developing district of London.

London is the centre of Britain’s cultural life. There are many museums and art galleries in London: the National Gallery, the National portrait Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the Natural History Museum and many others. The British Museum is well-known as one of the largest museums in the world. The museum has a rich library.

Exercise 1. Translate into Russian: the capital of Great Britain, the oldest part of London, the centre of Britain’s cultural life, the fastest-developing district of London, the political heart of the country, the symbol of wealth and luxury, on both sides of the river Thames, twenty centuries old, splendid houses, ancient buildings within the city, the fastest-developing district of London.

Exercise 2. Find the equivalents of these expressions in the text:политический, экономический и торговый центр; увековечивать победу Адмирала Нельсона в битве при Трафальгаре; географический центр Лондона; музеи и художественные галереи; финансовая и деловая часть города; справа, слева; один из самых больших городов мира.

Exercise 3. True or false?

1. The City is the oldest part of London.

2. The West End is the busiest district of London.

3. London is situated on the left side of the river Thames.

4. St. Paul’s Cathedral was built nine centuries ago and used as a fortress, a royal palace and a political prison.

5. There is Parliament Square in Westminster with the Houses of Parliament on the left and the Westminster Abbey on the right.

6. The best and the most expensive hotels, restaurants, clubs, theatres, cinemas and richest shops are in the City.

Exercise 4. Put the words in the following sentences in order.

1. doesn’t, the UK, depend, manufacturing, upon, countries, other, of.

2. also, the Irish Sea, the North Channel, is, the UK, by, washed, and.

3. is, off, situated, the North Sea, the UK, the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, between, coast, the, northwestern, of, and.

4. its, every, national, part, the UK, of, has, emblem.

Exercise 5. What do you know about the East End/Westminster/the West End/the City/the British Museum/St. Paul’s Cathedral/Trafalgar Square/Parliament Square/Big Ben/Poet’s Corner/the Port of London?