The population of United Kingdom is more than 56 mln people, but it is one of the world's leading commercial and industrialized nations. In terms of gross national product (GNP) it ranks fifth in the world, with Italy, after the United States, Japan, Germany, and France.
Vocabulary:
island nation -- островное государство
constitutional monarchy -- конституционная монархия
European Union -- Европейский союз
to comprise -- включать
numerous -- многочисленные
principality -- княжество
North Sea -- Северное море
interchangeably -- взаимозаменяемо
to accept -- принимать, допускать
strictly -- строго, зд. строго говоря
include -- включать
constituent -- составляющий
administratively -- административно
entities -- зд. субъекты
single -- зд. единая
indented -- зд. изрезанная
latitude -- широта геогр.
prevailing -- преобладающий
moderate -- умеренный
depressions -- зд. циклоны
mean -- средний
throughout -- на всем протяжении
average annual precipitation -- среднегодовое количество осадков
in terms of -- говоря (о чем-либо)
GNP (Gross National Product) -- валовой национальный продукт.
Exercise 6.1. Translate into English.
1. Официальное название Великобритании -- Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии.
2. Соединенное королевство является членом Европейского союза и конституционной монархией.
3. Северная Ирландия занимает северо-восточную часть острова Ирландия.
4. Пролив Ла-Манш отделяет Соединенное Королевство от континентальной Европы.
Exercise 6.2. Use the following phrases and word combinations to retell the text:
1. As I understood from the text...
2. According to the text...
3. According to the author...
4. As it is described in the text...
5. As it is said in the text...
6. As the author puts it...
7. According to the figures (data, information, opinions) from the text...
Exercise 6.3. Discuss the following statements. Use the following phrases to express your opinion:
1. It seems to me (that)...
2. I would like to say that...
3. As I see it...
4. I think that...
5. I guess...
6. I suppose...
7. I (strongly) believe that...
8. I am (absolutely) sure that...
Statement A: The United Kingdom is a small country. It is one of the leading countries now because it had many rich colonies in the past.
Statement B: UK will loose Northern Ireland soon and Wales and Scotland later, like it lost Hong Kong in 1997, because of the differences in languages, culture and history.
Statement C: British people don't travel much because they live not too far from the sea (ocean).
Exercise 6.4. Which events in the modern history of Great Britain had an impact on world science and technology. Choose five the most important and briefly describe them.
Exercise 6.5. What inventions in UK made life more convenient and safer? What inventions have become dangerous for the mankind?
Exercise 6.6. Use the information below to be able to make a report on the following:
1) Land, 2) Climate, 3) Population, 4) Ethnic groups, 5) Economy.
Table: Modern history of Great Britain
1914
World War I begins.
1918
World War I ends.
1919
First regular London-Paris air service instituted.
1926
John Logie Baird demonstrates television system.
1927
British Broadcasting Corporation chartered.
1928
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin.
1936
First regular television broadcasts from Alexandra Palace.
1947
Independence for India and Pakistan. Nationalization of coal mines and railways.
1949
Foundation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
1952
Britain explodes atomic bomb in Australia.
1955
Irish Republican Army begins terrorist campaign.
1960
Independence for Cyprus and Nigeria. «The Beatles» form.
1969
Oil discovered off Scottish coast.
1980
North Sea oil makes Britain self-sufficient in certain petroleum products.
1986
Trident ballistic missile system ordered from US.
LAND
Area
241,752 sq km
Highest Point
Ben Nevis
1,343 m above sea level
Lowest Point
Holme Fen 3 m below sea level
CLIMATE
Average Temperatures
London
January 4C
July 18C
Edinburgh
January 3C
July 15C
Average Annual Precipitation
London 590 mm
Edinburgh 680 mm
POPULATION
Population
58,395,000 (1994 estimate)
Population Density
242 persons/sq km (1994 estimate)
Urban/Rural population
92% Urban
8% Rural
Largest Cities
London (Greater) 6,933,000
Birmingham 1,017,000
Leeds 724,500
Glasgow 681,000
Ethnic Groups
94,5% English, Scottish, Welsh, or Irish
5,5% Other
Languages
Official Language
English
Other Languages
Welsh, Scots-Gaelic, other minority languages
Religions
54% Anglicanism
13% Roman Catholicism
33% Other
including other Protestant denominations, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Sikhism
ECONOMY
Gross Domestic Product
US$1,023,900,000,000 (1994)
Chief Economic Products
Agriculture
Wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, oilseed rape, livestock, animal products.
Fishing
Mackerel, herring, cod, plaice
Mining
Coal, limestone, petroleum and natural gas.
Manufacturing
Machinery and transport equipment, food products, chemical products, minerals and metal products.
Employment Statistics
58% Trade and Services
23% Manufacturing and Industry
16% Business and Finance
2% Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing
1 % Military and Defense
Major Exports
Industrial and electrical machinery, automatic data processing equipment, road vehicles, petroleum.
Major Imports
Road vehicles, industrial and electrical machinery, automatic data processing equipment, petroleum, paper and paperboard, textiles, food.
Major Trading Partners
Germany, the United States, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan
Text B: "HISTORY OF LONDON"
The Romans were the first to settle and occupy the Celtic fortress of Londinium. Construction of a bridge in 100 A.D. made London an important junction: it soon became a busy commercial and administrative settlement, and in the 2nd century A.D. a wall was built round the city.
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