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Ireland is GREAT BRITAIN
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern situated on the British Isles. It consists of four parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England Wales and Scotland occupy the territory of Great Britain. Northern Ireland is situated in the northern part of Ireland.
The territory of the United Kingdom is about 244000 square kilometers; it is the 75th place among other countries in the world. The population is over 57 million. The capital of the country is London.
The surface of the country varies greatly. The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands. All the rest (South, East and Center) is a vast plain that is called the Lowlands. The mountains are not very high. The rivers are not long. The most important of them are: the Severn and the Thames. There are many beautiful lakes in the mountainous parts of the country.
The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of Great Britain. It is mild the whole year round.
Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of iron and steel products, machinery and electronics, chemicals and textile and navigation equipment. One of the principal industries of G.B. is shipbuilding. For centuries Britain has been the leading shipbuilder in the world. The great disadvantage of G.B. is that it possesses very few of the raw materials necessary for its industry. Most of them must be imported. One of the features of Great Britain's foreign trade is the predominance of imports over exports.
Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The most famous educational centers are Oxford and Cambridge Universities. They are considered to be the intellectual centers of Europe. The education is not free, it is very expensive.
Great Britain is a Parliamentary Monarchy. Parliament (the House of Commons and the House of Lords) is held in the Palace of Westminster. At the head of the state is the Queen. Today she is only a symbol, a formal ruler and doesn't actually govern. Her position is usually described as a constitutional or limited monarchy.
The British Government consists of the Prime Minister and other Ministers, the Lord Chancellor (a head of the Judiciary and one of four Law Officers of the Crown). All the ministers must be members of the Parliament. They form the cabinet. It meets at number 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister in London.
The main political parties are the Conservative and the Labour. One usually rules, the members of the other form the Shadow Cabinet.
The General Elections are usually held once in 5 years. Any British man or woman aged over 21 may vote in Parliamentary Elections.
The life of the Parliament is divided into sessions, each opened by the Queen. Her Majesty (the present Sovereign) is Queen Elizabeth II. She was born in 1926, was married to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and succeeded to the throne in 1952.
According to law, the Queen is the head of the executive, the head of the judiciary, the commander-in-chief of all Armed Forces of the Crown, the temporal head of the Established Church of England. She summons and dissolves Parliament. She appoints all the important state officials, including judges, officers of the armed forces and representatives abroad. But in each case the Queen doesn't act on her own but on the advice of the Government, which she cannot ignore.
Vocabulary
Surface-поверхность
To vary -изменяться; варьироваться
The rest- остальной
Vast- обширный
Plain-равнина
To influence-влиять
Iron-железо
Steel-сталь
Disadvantage-недостаток
Raw materials-сырье
Feature-черта
To consider-считать, полагать
Free- зд. бесплатный
To hold (held)- проводить (урок, собрание)
Elections- выборы
To vote- голосовать
The Duke-герцог
According to (smb, smth)- согласно, в соответствии с
Executive- исполнительный
Judiciary (judicial)-судебный
То summon-созывать
То dissolve- распускать
То appoint назначать
On the advice of- no совету
Answer the questions:
1. What parts does the UK consist of? 2. Where is Northern Ireland situated? 3. Describe the surface of the country. 4. Why is the climate of G.B. mild the whole year round? 5. What does G.B. produce? 6. What is one of the principal industries? 7. What is the great disadvantage of G.B.? 8. What are the most famous educational centers? 9. Who is at the head of the State? Describe the position of the Queen. 10. What Houses does the Parliament consist of? 11. When are the General Elections held? 12. Who may vote in Parliamentary Elections?
Use the following words in the sentences of your own:
To be situated; to consist of; to vary; mountainous parts; to influence; advantage;
disadvantage; raw materials; feature; free education; to hold; to govern; elections; to vote; to
summon.
Translate into English:
Великобритания состоит из 4 частей: Англии, Уэльса, Шотландии и Северной Ирландии. Поверхность Великобритании очень разнообразна. В гористых частях страны много красивых озер. Кораблестроение - одна из ведущих промышленностей Великобритании. Оксфорд и Кембридж считаются интеллектуальными центрами Европы. Королева стоит во главе государства, но сегодня она только формальный правитель.