They are considered to be the intellectual centres of Europe. The education is not free, it is very expensive.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen. In practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties.

Vocabulary

to consist of – состоять из

part – часть

Scotland – Шотландия

Wales – Уэльс

the Northern Ireland – Северная Ирландия

to wash – омывать

to separate – отделять

constitutional – конституционный

monarchy – монархия

to reing – руководить, управлять

to govern – управлять, править

prime minister – премьер–министр

to form – формировать, образовывать

government – правительство

party – партия

the House of Commons – палата представителей

the House of Lords – палата лордов

main – главный, основной

agriculture – сельское хозяйство, земледелие

industry – промышленность, отрасль промышленности

textile – текстиль

navigation equipment – навигационное оборудование

EXERCISES ON THE VOCABULARY

1. Match the two halves of the sentence

1) The British Isles are separated from …

2) The western coast of Great Britain is …

3) The North of Scotland is mountainous and is …

4) There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but …

5) The UK is known as …

6) The UK is …

7) The country is ruled by …

8) The British Parliament consists of …

9) The warm waters of Gulf Stream influence …

a. … the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel.

b. … two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

c. … the climate of the British Isles.

d. … the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head.

e. … one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment.

f. … a constitutional monarchy.

g. … washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

h. … called the Highlands.

i. … they are not very long.

2. Read the beginning of the sentence and find its end in the text.

1. The United Kingdom is made up of … .

2. The surface of the British Isles … .

3. The Severn is the longest river, while … .

4. The UK is a highly … .

5. Great Britain is a country with … .

3. Fill in the gaps with the correct verb.

Is known, include, consist of, is ruled, are separated, influence, varies

a) The British Isles … two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland and about 5000 small islands.

b) GB consists of England, Scotland, Wales and doesn’t … Northern Ireland.

3. The British Isles … from the European Continent by the North Sea and the English Channel.

4. The surface of the British Isles … very much.

5. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream … the climate of the British Isles.

6. The country … by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head.

7. The UK … as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile.

4. Fill in the gaps

a) The UK consists of … and … .

b) The capital of Wales is … .

c) The north and west of England are … .

e) The Severn is the … river.

f) The population of the UK is … .

g) GB is a highly … … country.

h) The UK is a … … .

9. In practice, the Queen reigns, but does not … .

10. The British … consists of two … .

EXERCISES ON THE TEXT

1. Agree or disagree with the statements.

1. The British Isles consist of two large islands.

2. The UK is made up of 3 countries.

3. The western coast of GB is washed by the Pacific Ocean.

4. The North of Scotland is called The Highlands.

5. The Themes is the longest river of the country.

6. The climate of GB is mild.

7. The UK is a big country.

8. The UK is highly developed industrial country.

9. The UK is a federation.

10. The country is ruled by the Queen.

11. The British Parliament consists of two chambers.

12. The education in GB is cheap.

2. Take the card and tell about the aspect on it.

3. Retell the text in 5 sentences.