Read the text and check your sentences. The united kingdom
T
he
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on
the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands,
Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousands small islands.
Their total area is over 244 000 square kilometers. The United
Kingdom is one of the world's smaller countries. Its population is
over 57 million. About 80 per cent of the population is urban.
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland. But in every day speech Great Britain is used in the meaning of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital of the UK is London.
The British Isles are separated from the Continent by the North Sea and the British Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.
The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands. The South, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but the eastern, central and south-eastern parts of England are a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343 m). There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round.
Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The powers of the British Queen are limited by the Parliament. The British Parliament consists of the sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Answer the questions:
What islands is the UK situated on?
How can you characterize the surface of the British Isles?
What do you know about Britain’s political system?
What are the capital cities of four countries?
What is the UK made up of?
What do you know about mountains in the UK?
What do you know about rivers in the UK?
What are Britain’s chief industries?
Make up the summary of the text.
London
Read and translate the text.
Vocabulary
a capital – столица
an economic, political, cultural centre - экономический, политический, культурный центр
to found – основывать
commercial – коммерческий
the Royal Exchange – Королевская биржа
the Stock Exchange – Фондовая биржа
a fortress – крепость
a prison – тюрьма
luxurious – роскошный
expensive – дорогой
places of interest – достопримечательности
during the reign of –во время правления
the royal residence – королевская резиденция
the Changing of the Guards – смена караула
a masterpiece – шедевр
to build – строить
to be crowned – короноваться
to be buried – быть похороненным
residential area– жилой район
a cosmopolitan city – многонациональный город
LONDON
L
ondon
is the capital of the United Kingdom, its economic, political and
cultural centre. It is one of the world’s most important ports and
one of the largest cities in the world. More then 11 million people
live in London.
London was founded by the Romans in 43 A. D. It was a small Roman town on the north bank of the Thames, and then slowly it grew into one of the world’s major cities.
London is divided into four parts: the West End, the East End, the City and the Westminster.
The City is the oldest part of London. It is commercial and business centre. The Royal Exchange, the Stock Exchange, the Bank of England and the head offices of numerous companies and corporations are situated here.
The famous Tower of London is also here. It was built by William the Conqueror who conquered England in 1066. First the Tower was a royal residence, then it was a fortress, later it was a prison and it is a museum.
The West End is known for its many theatres, cinemas, luxurious hotels and restaurants and expensive shops. There are a lot of places of interests here. They are: Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus. Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official London residence. Londoners usually watch the changing of the Guards in front of the palace. It lasts about 30 minutes.
St. Paul’s Cathedral is Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. It was being built since 1675 till 1709. There are many memorials in the Cathedral, including memorials to Wellington and Nelson.
Westminster is the political centre of London. The British Parliament sits in the Parliament in Westminster. Westminster Abbey is also situated in this part of London. It is the most famous historical and religious building. It was built in the eleventh century during the reign of Edward the Confessor. The kings and queens of England are usually married and crowned here and many of them are buried in Westminster Abbey.
The East End is known as the poorer residential area of London. Port of London is also situated here.
London is a cosmopolitan city. People of several races and many nationalities live there.