UNIT I

The united kingdom of great britain

AND

Northern ireland

Lesson One. The U. K.

I. Read the text:

The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In everyday life, however, the word “Britain” is quite possible. Some people say “Great Britain”, or “Britain”, or “the United Kingdom”, or just “the U. K.” and “G. B.”.

It is situated on the British Isles off the northwest coast of Europe. The British Isles consist of two large islands: Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244.000 square kilometers. They are separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Straits of Dover. Its closest continental neighbours are France and Belgium. Not long ago the channel Tunnel which links France and England was built. The west coast of the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea; the east coast is washed by the North Sea.

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are Lon­don, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. The population of the country is over 57 million people; about 80 per cent of them live in cities and towns.

Many centuries ago the islands were inhabited by many ancient peoples. Their tribes were developing into kingdoms when Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 B.C. At first the Romans were driven out, but they came back again. Another Roman invasion began in AD 43, and for 400 years the country remained Roman province. The Romans withdrew in 407. The tribes of Angles and Saxons crossed the Channel and overran all England except Cornwall and Wales. Christianity was introduced in the 6th century by missiona­ries from Rome.

The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The north and the west of England are mountainous, but all the rest — east, center and southeast — is a vast plain. The mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343 m) in the U. K.

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 Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round. But the climate is not the same in all parts of England. The western part of England is warmer than the east and it has more rain. There is much humidity in the air of England. It is well known as a foggy country.

Talking about the weather is an ever-interesting, even thrilling topic in England, so to be good at discussing it a very important rule should be observed. You must never contradict anybody when discussing the weather. Should it hail and snow, should hurricanes uproot the trees from the sides of the road, and should someone remark to you: “Nice day, isn’t it?” – answer without hesitation: “Isn’t it lovely?”

The flag of the UK, known as Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross (with the arms going into the corners) is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. David is the patron saint of Wales.

Comments

English Channel – Ла-Манш

humidity - влажность

Strait of Dover – Дуврскийпролив

AD ['ei 'di;] –лат. Anno Domini – an abbreviation used after a date to show that it refers to a time after the birth of Jesus Christ (нашейэры)

BC – abbrev Before Christ is used after a date to show that it refers to a time before the birth of Jesus Christ (донашейэры)

II. Use some additional sources of information and answer the questions that follow:

1). What are the names of	a) the longest river?
	b) the largest country?
	c) the highest mountain?
	d) the largest lake?
	e) the largest city except London?
	f) the busiest port in the British Isles?

2) Which river do the following towns stand on:

a) Glasgow; b) Hull; c) Newcastle; d) Oxford; e) Stratford; f) Cambridge?

3) How wide is the English Channel at its narrowest part?

4) What is the name of the biggest passenger seaport on the English Channel?

5) What are the national emblems of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

6) When did Romans come to England? What did they call Great Britain? Why?

III. Define the main idea of the text and the field of knowledge to which this text belongs: