THE UNITED KINGDOM

OF GREAT BRTITAIN
AND NORTHERN
IRELAND
ЭКЗАМЕНАЦИОННЫЕ ВОПРОСЫ

1. Early period of British history: Celts. Roman Conquest. Anglo-Saxon

Invasion of Great Britain.
2. Danish raid on England. Norman Invasion.
3. Main historic events in XII-XV centuries.
4. Bourgeois Revolution in England.
5. Restoration of monarchy and “Glorious Revolution” in Great Britain. The Bill
of Rights.
6. Industrial revolution in England. Chartist Movement.
7. The Unwritten Constitution of Great Britain and its sources.
8. European Council (Union) and Great Britain.
9. Political System of the UK. The Commonwealth.
10. General Characteristic of the British government. The Monarchy.
11. The Legislative branch of the Government of Great Britain. Parliament
and its traditions.
12. The Executive branch of the Government in Great Britain.
13. The Judicial Branch of the Government in Great Britain.
14. The House of Commons. Its special powers.
15. How a Bill becomes a Law in Great Britain.
16. The party system in Great Britain.
17. Great Britain is a well fare state.
18. Geographical position of Great Britain. Islands.
19. Surface features. Minerals. Rivers. Lakes. Flora and fauna.
20. National Parks of Great Britain.
21. General survey of the National Economy or Great Britain.
22. Scotland and Wales. General facts of history. Geography. Economy and
culture.
23. Northern Ireland. General facts of history. Geography. Economy and culture.
24. Main economic districts of England.
25. Population of Great Britain. English, Welsh, Scots, Irish. National
Character.
26. British Festivals. Holidays. Traditions.
27. London. Edinburgh. Belfast. Cardiff.
28. Great Britain between the two World Wars and after.
29. Reforms of the 1990s. Devolution.
СПИСОК РЕАЛИЙ

1.
Granite City 26. Privy Council
2. Bloody Mary 27. Writ
3. London Bridge 28. Woolsack
4. Land of Cakes 29. Shadow Cabinet
5. Land of Songs 30. Question Time
6. Bobbies 31. Parliamentary Whip (Three-line-
7. Statute Law whip)
8. Constitutional Convention 32. Royal Dynasties of England
9. Roundheads 33. Doomsday book
10. Division (in Parliament) 34. The Tower of London
11. Lord Protector 35. Life Peer
12. Floral Emblems of England, 36. John Bull
Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland 37. Giant’s Causeway
13. The Architect of London 38. Union Jack
14. The London Marathon 39. Patron Saints of four countries
15. The Channel Tunnel 40. Lands’ End
16. Whitehall Str. 41. Maiden Speech
17. Ancient names of England, 42. Eisteddfod
Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland 43. Magistrates
18. Barristers and Solicitors 44. The Jury
19. Salary and Wages 45. John o’Groat
20. Rank-and-life 46. Rolls Royce
21. Scotland Yard 47. Sadler’s Wells
22. Habeas Corpus 48. Covent Garden
23. Magna Carta 49. The Stone of Scone
24. Common Law 50. Devolution
25. Bill of Rights, 1689
 GEOGRAPHY OF THE UK
1. Geographical position of the UK.
2. General characteristic of the islands around Britain.
3. Surface features of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
4. Water resources: lakes, rivers in four parts.
5. Natural resources. Minerals. Flora and fauna (in four countries).

U.K. – FACTS IN BRIEF

Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Divisions: England, 39 counties, but about 50 large administrative areas; Northern
Ireland, 6 counties; Scotland, 33 counties; Wales, 13 counties
Capital: London
Largest cities: London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Londonderry, Birmingham,
Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds
Official Language: English
Area: 224 square miles. Greatest distance – (north-south) 600 miles; (east-west)
320 miles. Coastline, approximately 4.000 miles
Highest Elevation: Ben Nevis, Scotland, 1,344 metres above sea level.
Population: 60 mil.
Flag: The Union Flag combines the red-on-white crosses of St. George and St.
Patrick with the white-on-blue cross of St. Andrew
Chief Products: Agriculture – barley, flax, fruits, hops, oats, potatoes, sugar-beet,
wheat, cheese, processed food; Manufacturing and Processing – chemicals,
clothing, earthenware (pottery), electrical and electronic goods, glassware, bone-
china, machinery, metal goods, moto vehicles, aircraft, tractors, ships, paper,
textiles, wood products; Mining – building stone, chalk, coal, iron ore, lead, tin;
Fishing Industry – cod, haddock, halibut, herring, mackerel, plaice, salmon, sole.
Money: Pound
Patron Saints: England – St. George; Scotland – St Andrew; Wales – St. David;
Northern Ireland – St. Patrick
Ancient Names: England – Anglia, Britannia; Scotland – Caledonia, Scotia; Wales
– Cambria (Cymry); Northern Ireland – Hiberni*, Erin.
Symbols:
United Kingdom of Great Britain London (UK), coat
of arms and Northern Ireland, coat of arms

Scotland, small coat of arms Scotland, big coat of arms

England, coat of arms Wales, coat of arms

Great Britain is divided into three parts. Scotland in the north, Wales in the
West, and England in the south and east. From the 1600s onwards, people from
Britain founded colonies in many parts of the world. Today more than 50 former
colonies are independent members of the Commonwealth.
UK. is the political name of the country consisting of England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland situated on the British Isles. People generally shorten
the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United
Kingdom, Great Britain, or simply Britain. UK is the heart of the Commonwealth
of Nations.
The capital of the UK is London. It is also the capital of England.
England has a total area of 130.362 square km. It is divided into counties, of
which there are 39 geographical ones and 46 administrative ones.
Wales has a total area of 20.764 square km and is divided into 13 counties,
with Cardiff being the capital.
Scotland together with its 186 inhabited islands has a total area of 78.772 square
km. It has 33 counties. Its capital is Edinburgh.
Northern Ireland consists of 6 counties and has a total area of 14.121 square
km. Its capital is Belfast.
The UK is a small country. It is twice smaller than France or Spain. The UK’s
territory is 2 per cent of the inhabited territory of the world, claiming the 75th
place among other countries.
The total area of the country is 94,217 square miles (244,100 sq. km) of
which nearly 99 per cent is land and the remainder inland water. The population of
the UK is 65 million people and it’s the world’s 5th largest economy.
 QUESTIONS ON GEOGRAPHY

l. What is the name of the isles to the North-West off Europe? – The British Isles.
2. What seas and oceans is Great Britain washed by? – The Atlantic Ocean, the
North Sea, the Irish sea.
3. What is it separated from the continent of Europe by? – By the English
Channel.
4. Which mountain is the highest in Great Britain? Where is it situated? – Ben
Nevis, in Scotland.
5. What is the name of the mountains in the West of Scotland? – The Grampians.
6. Name a few islands situated around Great Britain. – The Shetlands, the Orkneys,
the Hebrides, Anglesey, the Isle of Man. the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, the
Isles of Scilly, Arran.
7. On which rivers do the following towns stand? – Glasgow-on the Clyde;
Newcastle-upon-Tyne; London-on the Thames, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cambridge-
on the Cam; Oxford-on the Thames.
8. What parts does Great Britain consist of? – England, Scotland, Wales.
9. What does the United Kingdom consist of? England, Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland.
10. What are their capitals? – London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
11. What are the three geographical regions of Scotland? – The Highlands, the
Uplands, the Central Lowlands.
12. What islands around Britain possess autonomy? – The Channel Islands, the Isle
of Man. They are British dependencies.
13. What are the names of the northern and southern extremities of Great Britain?
– John O’Groats is the extreme north-eastern tip of the mainland. It is the site of an
eight-sided House built by a Dutchman John de Groot. It is 873 miles by road from
Land’s End in Cornwall. Hoy, an island in the Orkneys, can be seen from John
O’Groats.
Land’s End a cape in Cornwall is the most westerly point of the mainland of
England. It juts into the Atlantic Ocean. Land’s End is a granite promontory with
cliffs between 60 and 100 feet high, which have been carved into strange shapes by
the waves.
14. What do you know of the Stone of Scone? – It is the coronation stone on which
the kings and queens of Britain are crowned. It lies beneath a special coronation
chair in Westminster Abbey, in London. It is also called the Stone of Destiny. King
Edward I removed the Stone from Scotland and took it to England in 1296. For
hundreds of years before that, the kings and queens of Scotland had been crowned
on the Stone. It was returned to Scotland in 1996.
15. What do you know of the Giant’s Causeway? – It is a headland on the northern
coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. It consists of thousands of basaltic
pillars, formed by the action of sea water on molten lava. The pillars are a metallic
gray in colour. They are mostly six-sided in shape. It is divided into three natural
platform, The Little, Middle and Grand Causeways. It has many caves. According
to legends, giants built the Giant's Causeway so that they could travel to Scotland.
16. What is the largest lake on the island of Great Britain? – Loch Lomond in
Scotland.
17. What is the largest lake of the United Kingdom? – Lough Neagh in Northern
Ireland
18. What is the longest river in the U.K.? – The Severn in England and Wales. It is
322 km long.
19. Which mountains are known as the “backbone of England”? The Pennines. The
highest point is 893 m.
20. What animals is the Isle of Man known for? – The tailless cats.
21. What are the Shetland Isles famous for? – For “Lacework” shawls and for the
smallest ponies or Shetland ponies.
22. How wide is the English Channel at its narrowest point? – The Strait of Dover
is 34 km wide.
23. What part of the U.K. is known as “Ulster”? – Northern Ireland.
24. What is the industrial area in the Midlands known as “The Potteries”? – Stoke-
on-Trent is famous for producing china at the factories “Wedgewood”, “Spode”,
“Mintone”, “Doulton”. (Stratfordshire county)
25. What is the name of the biggest textile industry centre in England? –
Manchester, the county of Lancashire.
26. What is the name of the British company, which makes chocolate? – Cadbury.
After the family of John Cadbury, who opened a shop in Birmingham in 1824.
27. What is the name of the largest city outside London? – Birmingham.
28. What is the largest county of England? –Yorkshire.
29. What are the busiest ports in the British Isles? – London, Liverpool.
30. What is the biggest airport in the U.K.? – Heathrow. It has 28 million
passengers per year.
31. What does “Rolls-Royce” mean? Why does it have this name? – An
Automobile brand, named after its founders, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce.
32. Why is the cuckoo-bird an object of contempt in Britain? – Because of its lazy
habit of laying eggs in the nests of other birds. The English cuckoo meal foolish.
33. What country is called the “Land of Cakes”? – Scotland (for its oatmeal cakes).
34. What country is called the “Land of Songs”? –Wales. It’s difficult to find a
village there without a good choir.
35. What city is called Athens of the North? – Edinburgh.
36. What city in Scotland is called “the Granite City”? – Aberdeen for granite
quarries. In the 12-14 centuries the town was the residence of Scottish kings.
37. What area in England is known as the Lake District? – Cumberland
38. What is the most famous prehistoric monument in England? – Stonehenge.
39. What is the most spectacular memorial to the Roman Empire in Britain? –
Hadrian’s Wall, stretching 73 miles from the Sol way Firth in the west to the
mouth of the Tyne in the east, was built to protect England from the attacks of the
Scotts.
40. Where is the famous Whispering Gallery situated? – In St. Paul’s Cathedral.
41. What is the biggest park in London? – Richmond Park.
42. What is the name of the park which is famous for its exotic animals and is
considered to be the world’s largest Maze? – Longleat Safari Park.
43. Which bridge symbolizes London? – Tower Bridge.
44. What ancient London landmark was bought by an American private company
and rebuilt in Arizona? – London Bridge. From Roman times until 1 749 was the
only bridge across the Thames. Originally it was made of wood. The first stone
Bridge was built in 11 76. A new London Bridge was constructed in 1823-1831,
but it was sold to the USA in 1968-1969 for almost a million pounds. It was taken
away stone by stone to be reassembled as a tourist attraction in Arizona. The
British have a modern replacement now, opened in 1973.
45. What memorial commemorates the fire of London in 1666? – The Monument.
It is constructed in the City in 1671-1677. It is the column of 61.5 m high. Its
height is equal to the distance from the monument to the baker’s shop in Pudding
Lane, where the fire began. 3 11 steps ascend to the top of the column from which
one can see the panorama of London.
46. What monument in London is built to the memory of the victims of WWI and
WWII? – The Cenotaph. It is a simple white monument that stands in the middle of
Downing Street. The banners of the dominions are around it. There are many fresh
flowers at the foot. One can see the word on the monument: “The Glorious Dead”.
47. Who is the patron saint of England? – St. George. St. George’s Day is on April
23.
48. Who is the patron saint of Scotland? – St. Andrew. St. Andrew’s Day is on
November 30.
49. Who is the patron saint of Wales? – St. David. St. David’s Day is on March 1.
50. Who is the patron saint of Northern Ireland? – St. Patrick. March 17.
51. What flower is considered to be the symbol of peace in Great Britain? – Poppy.
52. What is the national bird of the U. K.? – Robin Redbreast.
53. What are the national emblems of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland? – Red rose, Thistle, Leek (Daffodil), Shamrock.
54. What is the national costume in Scotland? – Kilt
55. What are the national instruments of Scotland and Northern Ireland? –
Bagpipe, Irish Harp.
56. What is the most famous British cheese? – Cheddar.
57. What is “English Tea”? – Tea with milk.
58. What is the Irish coffee? – An alcohol drink with coffee, milk and whiskey.
59. What greeting card comes unsigned? – St. Valentine’s Day Card.
60. What is Guy Fawkes Night? – November 5.
61. When is Burns’ Night? – It is celebrated in January. 25.
62. What is London Marathon? – It is a marathon that started from Windsor Castle
to the White City Stadium. It is 26 miles or 42km 195 m. Started 1981. Women
began participating in 1984, The White City Stadium was used for Olympic Games
in 1 908. It was destroyed in 1 980. Now the race starts at Greenwich and ends at
Westminster Bridge. Thousands of runners take part, many of them, to raise money
for charity.
63. What mountains are there in England and Wales? – The Pennine Chain,
Cumberland, Cambrians.
64. What rivers and lakes of Great Britain do you know?
a) the Severn, the Thames, the Tees, the Tyne, the Tweed, the Trent, the Shannon,
the Ouse;
b) Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Windermere, Lough Neagh.
65. What is the total area of the United Kingdom? – 244.820 sq. km. Britain is just
under 1000 km long from the south coasts of England to the extreme north of
Scotland, and just under 500 km across in the widest part.
66. What is the population of the United Kingdom? – The population of the United
Kingdom was estimated to be 60,975,000 in mid-2007, up by 388,000 (0.6 per
cent) on the previous year and nearly two million more than in mid-2001. The next
census will be in 2011.
67. What is “the green belt”? Where is it situated? – A belt of agricultural wooden
land that surrounds London.
68. Which is the swiftest flowing river in the U. K.? – The Spay in the Grampians.
Scotland.
69. How many islands do the Isles of Scilly comprise? How many of them are
inhabited? – About 140 small islands. Only five of them are inhabited.
70. Where is the largest National Park of Britain situated? – Around Mount
Snowdon of Wales.
71. How many counties Northern Ireland consist of? – Six counties: Antrim,
Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Londonderry.
72. In what Scottish lake is a monster supposed to live? – In Loch-Ness.
73. Why is Arran said to be a miniature of Scotland? – Everything that is in
Scotland is found in island of Arran on a small scale.
74. What is the smallest component of the United Kingdom? – Northern Ireland.
75. Is the flora of England rich? – It is relatively poor when compared with the
flora of many other countries. Deciduous forest prevails, but there is little natural
unmodified forest left. Heaths and moors are common with heather, bracken and
bilberry and moor grass. Woodlands are of oak and ash over much of the country.
In the south beech is often dominant. Alder is common in wetter parts, especially
along streams. Other English trees are rowan, elm, lime, yew, maple, and holly.
76. Is the fauna of England numerous? – There are only about 50 species of land
mammals. Many of these have differentiated into subspecies such as the bear, the
wolf and the beaver were exterminated. The birds are much more numerous than
the mammals and there is one species peculiar to Britain- the red grouse. Sea fish
and fresh water fish are numerous.
77. What are the longest rivers in Wales? – They are: the Wye (130 miles), the Dee
(70 miles).
78. What is the peculiarity of Wales’ flora? – It reflects the mountainous nature of
the country and its moist climate. Moisture loving species such as ferns are found
almost throughout all Wales.
79. What are the peculiarities of Wales’ fauna? – The remote parts of Wales shelter
some mammals & birds, which arc either extinct or rare elsewhere in Britain. Thus
the polecat is fairly common in central Wales though hardly known elsewhere.
Grassholm, off Pembroke shire is the home of one of the largest gannet colonies in
Europe.
80. How many regions are there in Wales? – The Welsh massif, industrial south
Wales, and the Welsh borderland.
81. What is the largest river in Scotland? – The Tay (118 ml).
82. What are the peculiarities of Scotland’s flora? – The Atlantic climate of the
west coast is warm and wet but the rocks arc mainly poor and tree growth is sparse
or in some high places non-existent. But in sheltered areas birch woods can be
found with rowan and willow interspersed. Oak and pine grow chiefly along the
fjord like sea lochs of the mainland.
83. What are the peculiarities of Scotland’s fauna? – The largest wild mammal is
the Atlantic gray seal. The wild red deer remains in Scotland and it is only there
that it is truly wild. The roe deer, wild goats may sometimes be found on a few
small islands. Foxes and badges are common in Scotland. Otters are common on
most rivers and wild cats have increased in the first half of the 20-th century;
Scotland's chief glories are numerous sea birds. And it is also proud of its golden
eagle which is a magnificent bird living in the hills.
84. What is the largest lake of the Lake District? – Windermere.
85. What are the Orkneys famous for? – They are notable for the absence of trees,
which is partly accounted for by the amount of wind.
86. What are the three major areas of a considerable height in Northern Ireland? –
They are the Sperrin Mountains in the northwest, the Antrim plateau along the
northeastern Coast, and the Mourne Mountains in the southeast.
87. Where are the Channel Islands situated? – In the English Channel.
88. What are the islands to which the following proverb refers “Sea takes nine men
for even one who dies a natural death on the islands”? – The Isles of Sicily.
89. What is the Isle of Wight famous for? – The famous Needles which are three
detached masses of chalk about 100 feet high-rise off the western promontory.
90. What is the wettest place in the British Isles? – The Lake District. The rainfall
here is exceptionally high.
91. What are the driest and wettest months in Great Britain? – March to June are
the driest months, September to January are the wettest months.
92. When and why do Englishmen say “It’s raining cats and dogs”? What is the
original meaning of this saying? – When it pours with rain English say this phrase.
In distant times, people thought that witches could turn themselves into cats and
ride across stormy skies on their broomsticks. Cats were thought to be a big
influence on the weather. The dog was the servant of the Norse storm God, Odin
and represented wind. Cats and dogs from that time have meant heavy rain &
strong wind.
93. When was the first national park set up in England and Wales? – In 1949.
94. What is the largest national park in England? – The Lake District is the largest
national park.
95. Who owns national parks? – They are not owned by the nations. Most of the
land is still in private hands.
96. How many national parks are there in the United Kingdom? – There are 7
national parks in England, 3 in Wales. In Scotland there are 4 Regional Parks. 40
National Scenic Areas plus 77 national nature reserves.
 ISLANDS

Shetland Islands – Zetland

Zetland is a Scottish county – a group of more than 100 islands. At one time
they belonged to Norway. People are farmers or fishermen. Some cultivate land,
others own flocks of sheep, or cattle, some raise Shetland ponies. Many people
make famous Shetland knitwear, which is fine and soft. In 1588 Spanish galleon
from the Armada was wrecked on Fair Isle and survivors from the wreck taught the
islanders how to knit the patterns has known as Fair Isle patterns. The name
Zetland comes from the Norse word, which means “high kind”. “Up - Helly- A!” –
the fire festival. This was a Viking celebration of the end of winter and the return
of the sun. This custom is held now with ritual fires and feasting every year at the
end of January. As a part of the festival, they burn a replica of a Viking galley.

Orkney Islands
They consist of a group of more than 60 islands, lying off the northern coast
of Scotland. Only 25 are inhabited. People arc called Orcadians. Only 17 out of 25
islands have more than one farm or one lighthouse. All are farmers (they grow
oats, grass, root-crops (vegetables) and produce beef, poultry, eggs.

Anglesey
The Welsh name for Anglesey is Mon (the Mother of Wales), because it was
once a rich grain-producing County, and sustained and nourished the nation.
Agriculture is the most important industry. Dairy farming, sheep and cattle raising
widely spread there. The climate is mild, but it receives less rain than any other
county in Wales. They teach English as a second language. Three of every four
people on the island speak Welsh. Anglesey was the home of the Tudor family
(grandfather of Henry VII) came from it. The tourist industry rivals agriculture in
economic importance. Many bird sanctuaries are located there.

The Isle of Man

It has its own parliament, called the Tynwold which passes laws on domestic
matters. It consists of the Legislative Council which is partly elected and partly
appointed, and the Mouse of Keys consisting of 24 people, elected every 5 years.
The Lord of Man (lieutenant-governor) represents the sovereign and controls such
matters as police and prisons.
Since the 1800-s, it has become a famous holiday resort for the people of the
British Isles. It is famous for its tailless cats (Manx).

Isles of Scilly
Lie in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cornwall, about 25 miles west of
Land’s land. They are administered with the county of Cornwall. They consist of
150 islands, but only five of them are inhabited and have a population of about
2000. The islands are wild and colourful. They supply flowers, vegetables and fish
to British markets.
 The Isle of Wight
It is England’s largest offshore island. Since 1800 it has been famous chiefly
as a holiday resort. Today it is a separate administrative county (once it was a part
of Hampshire). Cowes is famous for Cowes Week – one of the most important of
the British yachting regattas. The attendance of the royal family at this event has
turned it into a social occasion, just like Ascot, Henley and Wimbledon.
It is the birthplace of the hovercraft – a vehicle that can move over land or
water supported on a cushion of air made by jet engines.
Industries; aircraft, helicopters, shipbuilding (since XVI century), electronic
and nuclear engineering, tourism and tourist trading, woodwork, brewing, milling.
John Keats and Tennyson lived there. Queen Victoria’s bed is in her castle.
Romans called the Isle “Vectis”. Today more than 30 organizations, companies,
agencies, clubs, including bus service company have this name.

The Channel Islands

They are a group nine islands in the English Channel. Jersey is the largest of
the islands and Guernsey is the second largest. The islands are the home of the
famous Jersey and Guernsey cattle, which fanners in many parts of the world buy
to improve their dairy herbs. The islands are among Britain's most popular holiday
resorts. Thousands of tourists are attracted to the islands by the mild climate, sandy
beaches quiet coves (маленькие бухты) and many sheltered bays.
The Channel Islands are largely self-governed. They are dependencies of the
Crown but not part of the United Kingdom. The British government is responsible
for the relations of the islands with other countries. Four parliaments on tour
islands can make local laws. The chief laws must be approved by the British
parliament. The Channel Islands have remained British territory since William the
Conqueror ruled them. The people still call the reigning monarch the Duchess (Or
Duke) of Normandy. The chief occupation of the people is agriculture: cattle
breeding for export to dairy farm herbs in many countries. Cows of Jersey and
Guernsey are noted for the quality of milk they yield. Farmers grow large
quantities of flowers and vegetables for export to Britain and France. Many people
work in the tourist industry. Others work in creameries and others in the knitting
factories or pottery factories.

ENVIRONMENT
Legislation provides for control over wastes, air and water pollution and
noise, enforcement being the responsibility of local or water authorities.
Green belts, where land is generally protected from further development, help
to prevent urban sprawl. In addition, large areas of the countryside are designated
as national parks and other protected areas, recreation facilities being provided in
country parks and camping sites. Special care is taken to control development of
pans of the coastline. Buildings and areas of special architectural or historic
interest are protected by law with the support of voluntary bodies such as the
National Trust.

VEGETATION
Acacia [ə´keiʃə] акация
Alder [´ɔ:ldə] ольха
Ash [æʃ] ясень
Barley [´ba:li] ячмень
Beech [bi:tʃ] бук
Bilberry [´bilbəri] черника
Birch [bə:tʃ] берёза
Bracken [´brækən] папоротник-орляк
Camellia [´kə´mi:ljə] камелия
Cedar [´si:də] кедр
Cereals [´siəriəlz] злаки
Elder [´eldə] бузина
Elm [elm] вяз
Fern [fə:n] папоротник
Flax [flæks] лён
Foxglove [´fɔksglʌv] наперстянка
Fuchsia [´fju:ʃə] фуксия
Genista [dʒ´nistə] ракитник, дрок
Grain [grein] злаки
Groats [grəuts] крупа
Hawthorn (may bush) [´hɔ:Өɔ:n] боярышник
Hazel [heizl] лесной орех
Heather [´heðə] вереск
Holly [´hɔli] падуб
Hydrangea [hai´dreindʒə] Гортензия
Ivy [´aivi] плющ
Lentil [´lentil] чечевица
Lichen [´laikən] лишайник
Lime [laim] липа
Maize [meiz] кукуруза; маис
Millet [´milit] просо
Moss [mɔs] мох
Myrtle [´mə:tl] мирт
Oak [əuk] дуб
Oatmeal [´əutmi:l] овсяная мука, овсянка
Oats [əuts] овёс
Pine [pain] сосна
Primrose [´primrəuz] примула
Rapeseed [´reipsi:d] рапс
Rice [rais] Рис
Rowan [´rauən]/ [´rəuən] рябина
Rye [rai] рожь
Sorghum [´sɔ:gəm] сорго (хлебный злак)
Wheat [wi:t] пшеница
Yew [ju:] тис

MINERAL RESOURCES
Coal [kəul] уголь
Oil [ɔil] нефть
Cobble(-stone) [´kɔbl] булыжник
Ferrous metallurgy [´ferəs me´tælədʒi] черная металлургия
Fuel [fjuəl] топливо
Kaiolin = china clay [´keiəulin] китайская глина
Lead [led] свинец
Lime-stone [´laimstəun] известняк
Lumber [´lʌmbə] древесина
Non-ferrous [´nɔn´ferəs] цветные металлы
Peat [pi:t] торф
Pebble [´pebl] галька, камешек, голыш
Porcelain [´pɔ:səlin] фарфор
Potash [´pɔtæʃ] углекислый калий
Timber [´timbə] древесина

ECONOMY OF GREAT BRITAIN

1. Main economic regions of the United Kingdom.

2. Main Economic districts of England
2.1. Greater London and the South-East region.
2.2. South-West England.
2.3. East Anglia.
2.4. West Midlands and East Midlands.
2.5. North-West England.
2.6. Yorkshire.
2.7. Northern England - North-East England.
3. Wales.
4. Scotland.
5. Northern Ireland.

INDUSTRY

As a pioneer of the industrial revolution, Britain's traditional strength has

been manufacturing. Britain is a leading manufacturer of mechanical equipment,
metal goods, motor vehicles and components, electrical and electronic goods,
chemicals and office equipment. Productivity in long-established industries such as
steel manufacture and vehicles building has been increased as a result of
modernization. The use of advanced technology, especially microelectronics, is
steadily increasing in many industries.
Steel and Mining Processing
Britain is the world’s tenth largest steel producer. It also has one of Europe's
largest non-ferrous metal industries and is a major producer of specialized alloys
used by the airspace, electronic, petrochemical and other industries. Other mineral
products include glass, bricks, cement and ceramics. Britain is the world’s main
manufacturer of fine bone china, much of it exported, and the world’s largest
exporter of china clay. It is at present the world’s fifth largest oil producer.
Engineering
Mechanical engineering is an important source of export earnings. Major
products include machine tools, agricultural tractors and machinery, construction
and mining equipment, and process plant for large-scale industries such as iron and
steel manufacture, oil refining and nuclear power generation. The British aerospace
industry is one of the largest in the Western world, its products including civil, and
military aircraft, helicopters, aero-engines, guided weapons and satellites. Rolls-
Royce is one of the world's three leading aero-engine manufacturers. There is an
advanced production capacity in optical fibers (hair-thin strand of glass) used in
modern telecommunication systems.
Chemicals
The chemicals industry is the third largest in Europe and the fifth largest in
the Western world. About 12 per cent of the world's research in pharmaceuticals
takes place in Britain. Many of the basic discoveries in plastics, including
polyethylene, have been British.
Textiles and Footwear
 The clothing industry, one of the largest in Europe, meets about two-thirds of
domestic demands. The wool industry is one of the world’s largest and Britain is a
leading producer of wooden carpets. Footwear factories supply more than 40 per
cent of the British market and one-third of leather production is exported.
Other Manufactures
Other major manufacturing industries include food and drink, timber and
furniture, printing and publishing, paper and board, and rubber. Jewellery and gold
and silverware are exports enjoying a high reputation.
Construction, financial and business services, health, and education and
leisure services had been major growth sectors. Computing services are of great
importance. Tourism continues to be a major and growing source of employment.
Trade
Britain is the fourth largest trading nation in the world. About 60 per cent of
Britain’s trade is with Western Europe; six out of the top ten British export markets
are members of the European Community. Britain is the largest exporter of
agricultural tractors and motor and railway vehicles and related components and
equipment and also off-shore technologies and medicines.

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

About three-quarters of Britain's markedly varied landscape are used for

arable agriculture and for pasture and grazing. Employing less than 3 per cent of
the working population, agriculture has a very high productivity. Three-fifth of
full-time farms are devoted mainly to dairy or beef cattle or sheep. Many British
livestock breeds are world famous semen and embryos from high-quality donor
animals are exported.
The main field vegetables and plants are wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beet
and oilseed.
There is a high degree of mechanization and a long tradition of efficient
farming based on technological progress and research. There is also an advisory
service for farmers and horticulturists.
Britain exports food and drink, and various beverages.
Woodland coves over 2 million hectares in Great Britain. Most of this area
consists of commercially planted, fast growing coniferous forests in Wales and
northern Scotland. The amount of woodland, however, fails to meet the demand
For wood and wood products, Britain importing about 90 per cent of its
requirements.
The fishing industry provides about 70 per cent of the country’s supplies.
British fishermen depend to a great extent on waters within Britain's 200-mile
limit, which contain a sizeable proportion of the total catch taken within the limits
of European Community member states. The Community operates a common
fisheries policy.
Food-supply, provision – снабжение
Food-industry – пищевая промышленность
Fruit-growing
Pig-breeding – свиноводство
Deer-breeding – оленеводство
Stock-breeder – животновод
Stock-yard – скотный двор
Cattle-man, cattle-woman – скотник, скотница
Winter-crops – озимые
Spring-crops – яровые
Bumper crop – небывалый урожай
Yield capacity – урожайность

TEST ON ECONOMY

1. What are the main economic districts of England? – 1) Greater London and the
South-East region; 2) South-West England; 3) East Anglia; 4) West midlands;
5) East Midlands; 6) North-West England; 7) Yorkshire and Hampshire;
8) Northern England.
2. What economic regions is the United Kingdom divided into? – England, Wales,
Scotland, Northern Ireland. England comprises 8 economic regions making 11 all
in all.
3. Why was a district in the center of England called “the Black Country”? – The
district around Birmingham was called so for the dust and coal. Coal and iron are
produced there.
4. What is the industrial area in the Midlands which is known as “the Potteries”? –
Stoke-on-Trent is famous for producing china at the factories “Wedgewood”,
“Spode”, “Minton”, “Doulton”. The area is situated between the Black Country
and Manchester in Staffordshire.
5. What is the name of the biggest textile industry centre in England? –
Manchester, the county of Lancashire.
6. What are the largest manufacturing concerns of Britain? – British-American
Tobacco Co LTD (BAT), founded in 1902.
– Imperial Chemical industries (ICI), founded in 1928. It is the fourth largest
chemical company in the world and is the third largest in Western Europe.
– British Aerospace (Be) – produces civil and military aircraft, satellites space
systems, guided weapons and components. It is the third largest in the world.
– British Steel corporation, founded in 1967. It is the fourth biggest steel company
in the Western world.
– British Petroleum is the eleventh largest grouping in the world and the second
largest in Europe, fouadedinl909.
– General Electric company (GEC-electronics), founded in 1888.
– Unilever (Chemicals), founded in 1894 Britain is the world’s leading
manufacturer and exporter of fine bone china.
Britain is among the world’s top ten oil producers and is a world leader in the
development of shore technology. Britain is the world's fourth largest exporter of
medicines, with British firms making three of the world’s ten best-selling
medicines.
7. What is the name of the British company which makes chocolate? – Cadbury.
John Cadbury opened a shop in Birmingham in 1824, selling tea, coffee, hops and
mustard, with cocoa and chocolate as a sideline. John’s sons Richard and George
took over the business in 1861, and founded the town of Bournville for their
business and its staff and created their model town factory. In 1901 George became
proprietor of the Daily News.
8. What is the name of the largest city outside London? – Birmingham
9. How many counties are there in Great Britain? – England (45 counties), Wales
(22 counties), Scotland (30 counties)
10. What is the largest county of England? –Yorkshire.
11. What is the biggest passenger seaport on the English Channel? –
Southampton.
12. What are the busiest ports in the British Isles? –London, Liverpool.
13. What is the biggest airport in the United Kingdom? – Heathrow. It has 28
million passengers each year.
14. What does “Rolls-Royce” mean? Why does it have this name? – a British car,
and from 1914, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart
Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in
1904. So it was named after two engineers.
15. What are Britain’s main imports and exports? – Despite having only 1% of the
world’s population, Britain is the 5 th largest trading nation in the world. The
chemical industry is Britain’s largest export earner, and the 3 th largest in Western
Europe. British Petroleum (BP) is Britain’s biggest and Europe’s second biggest
industrial company.
– U.K. – pharmaceutical companies make three of the world’s best selling
medicines “Zantac” for ulcer treatment; “Tenormin”, a beta blocker for high blood
pressure; and “AZT”, a drug used in the treatment of AIDS.
– Britain is also a major supplier of machinery, vehicles, aerospace products,
electrical and electronic equipment Britain is responsible for 10% of the world's
export of services, including banking, insurance, stock broking, consultancy and
computer programming.
– Britain imports food, beverages, chemicals, fuels, clothing, footwear.
16. What are the most important London industries? – London’s industries are
extremely varied, among them electrical engineering, instrument production, radio
engineering, aircraft production, manufacture of electronical equipment and car
industry. These high technology industries are also located in the satellite towns
within Greater London. London is also great center of the service industries.
17. What are the main industries of England? – The main industries in England are
the wool (with its center in Leeds and Bradford), heavy machinery, shipbuilding,
the cotton industry (the center in Manchester).
Britain is the world’s ninth largest oil producer and the fifth largest gas
producer. Developing North Sea oil and gas has created a huge support industry
offering equipment and services to oil and gas companies at home and abroad.
18. What industries are important in Scotland nowadays? – They are high
technology industries such as chemicals, electronic engineering and lighter forms
of mechanical and instrument engineering. Shipbuilding is the leading industry
Iron and steel engineering and coalmining are also highly developed.
19. Where is “Silicon Glen” situated? – “Silicon Glen” (Glen is the Scottish word
for valley) is situated in southern Scotland. It is where many of the American and
Japanese electronic companies have sat up factories, and where even main smaller
Scottish companies have started to specialize in producing computer equipment.
That’s why people have begun to call this area “Silicon Glen”.
20. What are the main flourishing industries in Belfast? – They are shipbuilding,
engineering, linen, rope-making and tobacco.

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Most practicing general physicians in Great Britain are part of the National
Health Service, although some also have private patients. Established in 1948, the
service provides full, and in most cases, free medical care to all residents. Each
general practitioner may have no more than 3500 registered patients under the
plan, for each of whom he or she receives a fee. The National Health Service is
financed through general taxation, with national insurance payments contributing
some 14 percent of the total cost, and patients’ fees contributing 4 percent.
The national insurance system, put into full operation in 1948, provides
benefits for industrial injuries, illness, unemployment, maternity costs, and for
children in certain circumstances, as well as allowances for guardians and widows,
retirement pensions, and death payments. Retirement benefits are paid to men at
the age of 65 and to women at the age of 60. Family allowances are payable for all
children up to the ages of 16 to 19, or when the child leaves school. The insurance
system assists the needy through weekly cash benefits and special services for the
handicapped. Most of these services are financed partly through compulsory
weekly contributions by employers and employees and partly through a
contribution by the government out of general taxation. Expenditures on social
security and the National Health Service accounted for about 47 percent of annual
government spending during the early 1990s.

IEA study: measuring British welfare dependency (summary)

The government of British Prime Minister Tony Blair has begun welfare
reforms in the United Kingdom which, like those in the United States, are aimed at
replacing permanent cash assistance for the able-bodied with a system requiring
them to work or acquire the training necessary to make them employable.
He has been trying to push unemployed workers off the dole. Blair offers
those under 25 years old four months to pick one of four options: take a six-month
job with a private company with employers receiving a subsidy equal to about $
100 a week for each unemployed youth hired; do volunteer work; join an
environmental task force; or enroll in a full-time educational course.
The United Kingdom has one of Europe’s lowest unemployment rates at 6.5
percent. But the rate among young people stands at 10 percent. In 1995, the
country devoted 22.9 percent of GDP to public special spending – compared to
15.8 percent in the U.S., where unemployment stands at about 4.6 percent.
Policy analysts propose to measure benefit dependency, to track how well
these reforms succeed in increasing independence from welfare. In 1950 about 4
percent relied on national assistance, the chief means-tested benefit. Today nearly
17 percent of the population relies on its successor, called income support.
Including some other means-tested benefits – housing and council tax benefits -27
percent of the British people are welfare-dependent.
Analysts point out that an underlying assumption of welfare that it is
necessary to redistribute income and wealth to lift people out of poverty – is false.
For instance, the British Household Panel Survey found that 46 percent of those in
the lowest list of income in 1991 had moved up to a higher income group by 1993.
Officials recently revealed that 30 percent of the United Kingdom’s population
receive some kind of welfare benefit and nearly 17 percent rely on some kind of
income support.
Over the past two decades, there has been a sixfold increase in claims for
invalid benefits. Britain has the highest number of single parents claiming income
support of any nation in Europe – more than one million in 1996.
Labor’s proposed “affluence testing” as a way to deny benefits to the less-
needy and the prospect of taxing universal benefits for the better-off.

U.S., British Welfare Systems Compared

The United States and Great Britain have social welfare systems that just keep
getting bigger regardless of which particular political parties are in power. Social
scientists have coined the term “underclass” to describe a form of poverty
explained more by self-destructive behavior – crime, drug abuse, bearing children
out of wedlock and a lack of commitment to education – than mere material want.
In both countries the welfare state has encouraged the growth of this underclass.
The portion of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product devoted to
welfare was 24% in 1991, up from 21.3% in both 1980 and 1989. In the U.S., the
figures were 14.1% in 1980 and 14.6% by 1990. The U.K.-U.S. comparison is
clearer when the focus is solely on non-medical spending on the non-elderly. In
Britain, spending rose from 7% to 8.1% of GDP between 1980 and 1991. In the
U.S., it fell from 4.5% to 3.5% in 1990. Although the Conservative Party has been
in power in Britain since 1979, welfare benefits have continued to expand. British
households received the equivalent of $136.1 billion in welfare benefits in 1993,
up from $64.5 billion in 1984 (not including hospital insurance). The rate of
increase from 1989 to 1993 was 50%, compared to roughly 30% from 1984 to
1989.
Meanwhile, out-of-wedlock births tripled from about 10% in 1977 to 3 1% in
1992 In both Britain and America, there are very media-conscious welfare lobbies
which have promoted the notion that both Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
slashed away at benefits to the poor. But the facts do not bear this out.
 Welfare system in GB

Britain can claim to have been the first large country in the world to have
accepted that it is part of the job of government to help any citizen in need and to
have set up what is generally known as a “welfare state”.
The benefits system
The most straightforward way in which people are helped is by direct
payments of government money. Any adult who cannot find paid work, or any
family whose total income is not enough for its basic needs, is entitled to financial
help. This help comes in various ways and is usually paid by the Department of
Social Security.
Anyone below the retirement age of sixty-five who has previously worked for
a certain minimum period of time can receive unemployment benefit (known
colloquially as ‘the dole’). This is organized by the Department of Employment.
All retired people are entitled to the standard old-age pension, provided that
they have paid their national insurance contributions for most of their working
lives. After a certain age, even people who are still earning can receive their
pension (though at a slightly reduced rate).
The government pension, however, is not very high. Many people therefore
make arrangements during their working lives to have some additional form of
income after they retire. They may, for instance, contribute to a pension fund (also
called a ‘superannuation scheme’), and both employer and employee make regular
contributions to it A life insurance policy can also be used as a form of saving. A
lump sum is paid out by the insurance company at around the age of retirement.
Some people are entitled to-neither pension nor unemployment benefit
(because they have not previously worked for long enough or because they have
been unemployed for a long time). These people can apply for income support
(previously called supplementary benefit) and if they have no significant savings,
they will receive it. Income support is also sometimes paid to those with paid work
but who need extra money, for instance because they have a particularly large
family or because their earnings are especially low.
A wide range of other benefits exists. For example, child benefit is a small
weekly payment for each child, usually paid direct to mothers. Other examples are
housing benefit (distributed by the local authority, to help with/rent payments),
sickness benefit maternity benefit and death grants (to cover funeral expenses).
Unlike pensions and unemployment benefit, claiming income support
involves subjecting oneself to a ‘means test’. This is an official investigation into a
person’s financial circumstances which some people feel is too much of an
invasion of their privacy.
The whole social security system is coming under increasing pressure because
of the rising numbers of both unemployed people and pensioners. It is believed that
if everybody actually claimed the benefits to which they are entitled, the system
would reach breaking point. You don’t have to be poor in order to receive your
pension of your dole money or your child benefit. It is argued by some people that
only those people who really need them should get them. However, this brings up
the possibility of constant means tests for millions of households, which is a very
unpopular idea (and would in itself be very expensive to administer).

Social services and charities

As well as giving financial help, the government also takes a more active role
in looking after people’s welfare. Services are run either directly or indirectly
(through ‘contracting out’ to private companies) by local government Examples
are the building and running of old people’s homes and the provision of “home
helps” for people who are disabled. Professional social workers have the task of
identifying and helping members of the community in need. These include the old,
the mentally handicapped and children suffering from neglect or from
maltreatment. Social workers do a great deal of valuable work.
Before the welfare state was established and the concept of ‘social services’
came into being, the poor and needy in Britain turned to the many charitable
organizations for help. These organizations were (and still are) staffed mostly by
unpaid volunteers, especially women, and relied (and still do rely) on voluntary
contributions from the public. There are more than 110,000 registered charities in
the country today. Taken together, they have an income of more than £ 15-billion.
Charities and the social services departments of local authorities sometimes
co-operate. One example is the ‘meals-on-wheels’ system, whereby food is cooked
by local government staff and then distributed by volunteers to the homes of
people who cannot cook for themselves. Another example is the Citizens Advice
Bureau (CAB), which has a network of offices throughout the country offering free
information and advice.
The National Health Service
The NHS (the National Health Service is commonly referred to by this
abbreviation) is generally regarded as the jewel in the crown of the welfare state.
Interestingly, it is very ‘un-British’ in the uniformity and comprehensiveness of its
organization. The system is organized centrally and there is little interaction with
the private sector. Medical insurance is organized by the government and is
compulsory.
However, in another respect the NHS is very typically British. This is in its
avoidance of bureaucracy. The system, from the public’s point of view, is
beautifully simple. There are no forms to fill in and no payments to be made which
are later refunded. All that anybody has to do is to register local NHS dot tor. Most
doctors in the country are General Practitioners (GPs) and they are at the heart of
the system. A visit to the GP is the first step towards getting any kind of treatment
The GP then arranges for whatever tests, surgery, specialist consultation or
medicine are considered necessary.
As in most other European countries, the exceptions to free medical care are
teeth and eyes. Even here, large numbers of people (for example, children) do not
have to pay and patients pay less man the real cost of dental treatment because it is
subsidized.
 European Union (EU formerly to 1993 European Community)

Political and economic alliance consists of the European Coal and Steel
Community (1952). European Economic Community (EEC, popularly called the
Common Market 1957) and the European Atomic Energy Commission (Euratom.
1957). The original six members – Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy,
Luxemburg, and the Netherlands – were joined by the UK, Denmark, and the
Republic of Ireland 1973, Greece 1981, and Spain and Portugal 1986. East
Germany was incorporated on German reunification 1990. Austria, Finland, and
Sweden joined Jan 1995. Norway rejected membership in November 1994. In 1995
there were more than 360 million people in EU countries. In 1991 the possibility of
full membership was signed with Chechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland. On 1
November 1993 the Maastricht Treaty on European Union came into effect and the
new designation European Union was adopted. The aims of the EU include the
expansion of trade, reduction of competition, the abolition of restrictive trading
practices, the encouragement of free movement of capital and labor within the
alliance, and the establishment of a closer union among European people. A single
market with free movement of goods and capital was established Jan 1993.

The EU has the following institutions:

the European Commission of 20 members pledged to independence of national
interests, who initiate Union action (two members each from France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, and the UK; and one each from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherland, Portugal, and Sweden); the Council of
Ministry of the European Union (formerly the Council of Ministers), the most
powerful organization of the European Union, consisting of one government
minister from each European Union member country, it's based in Brussels and is
responsible for most EU decisions; the European Parliament, directly elected from
1979 and every 5 years by the people in those countries; the Economic and Social
Committee, a consultative body; the Committee of Permanent Representatives
(COREPER), consisting of civil servants temporarily seconded by member states
to work for the Commission; and the European Court of Justice, to safeguard
interpretation of the Rome Treaties (1957) that established the original alliance.
A European Charter of Social Rights was approved at the Maastricht summit
Dec 1991 by all members except the UK. The same meeting secured agreement on
a treaty framework for European Union, including political and monetary union,
and for a new system of police and military cooperation. The treaty was formally
ratified by all member states November 1993.
In 1995 the European Commission announced a significant increase in fraud
and in organized crime within the EU 1993-1994, related largely to the misuse of
EU grants & subsides, particularly in agricultural industries.

European Economic Community (Ё.Е.С., Common Market)

West European economic association. It was formed in 1957 and its original
members were Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West
Germany. Its goals were to establish the economic union of member nations and
eventually to bring about political union. It has sought to eliminate internal tariffs,
institute a uniform external scale of tariffs achieve free movement of labor and
capital from one nation to another, abolish obstructions to free competition, and
establish collective trade and transportation policies. In 1973, Great Britain,
Ireland, and Denmark joined the organization. Since then new members have
included Greece (1981), Portugal (1986), and Spain (1986). Greenland withdrew in
1985. The European Community (EC), formed by a merger of the EEC, European
Coal and Steel Community, and European Atomic Energy Community (1967),
established the European Monetary System (1979), and after passage of the Single
European Act (1987), made major strides toward economic unification of Western
Europe. After the collapse of Communism in East Europe, East European states
also took steps toward becoming members of the EEC.

European Community (EC).

With ratification of the Maastricht Treaty on European Union in Nov 1993,
the former name of European Economic Community was dropped. The EC is part
of the European Union. The EC is an economic and, increasingly, political alliance
formed in 1957 by Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Nederland and
Italy to foster trade and cooperation among its members and “an ever closer union
among the peoples of Europe”. Membership was subsequently extended to the UK,
Ireland and Denmark (1973); Greece (1981); and Spain and Portugal (1986).
Austria, Finland, and Sweden became members in 1995. Norway rejected
membership in Nov. 1994. Tariff barriers between the member states have been
abolished, and import duties vis-a-vis non-EC countries have been standardized.
EC headquarters is in Brussels, administrated by the European Commission, the
executive arm of the European Union. By Dec 1992, most remaining non-tariff
trade barriers between the member states had been eliminated, and common
standards in many industries had been adopted.
Maastricht /'ma:strict 'ma:strixt/ a city in the Netherlands. The leaders of the
12 countries of the European Community met there in 1992 to sign the Maastricht
Treaty, an agreement about closer union between European countries. This
included plans to have a single currency, a shared defense force and a more
powerful European parliament. Many people in Britain were opposed to the
agreement, and there were disagreements about it within the British Conservative
government. Britain finally signed it in 1993, but the continued disagreements
within the government were an important factor in their defeat at the election of
1997. A new version of the Treaty was signed in Amsterdam in 1997 by the British
Labour government.

The single European currency

The currency of the European Union, called the euro. It became Europe's
official currency on 1 January 1999 as a part of European Monetary union, and will
be available as coins and paper money from 1 January 2002. After this the national
currencies will no longer be used. Britain doesn’t plan to join the single European
currency immediately, partly because some eurosceptics in Britain fear mat doing
so will lead to a loss of economic power and political control for Britain.
 POPULATION OF GREAT BRITAIN AND WAYS
OF LIFE
1. London – the capital of the U.K.
2. The life style of the Britishers.
3. National Character.
4. Customs and traditions.

Population

The population of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland is over 65.500.000 people. The people live mostly in towns and cities and
their suburbs. Four out of every five people live in towns.
The distribution of the population is rather uneven. Over 50 million people
live in England, a little over 5 million live in Scotland, over 3 million in Wales and
about 1,5 million in Northern Ireland. Although Britain is densely populated, there
are large areas in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which contain fewer than
100 people per square kilometer. London’s population is over 9 million. Density of
the population is 3500 per square kilometer.
The UK is inhabited by the English, the Scots, the Welsh, and the Irish
people, who constitute the British nation. The British are the descendants of
different peoples who settled in the British Isles at different times.
About 2,000 years ago the British Isles were inhabited by the Celts who
originally came from continental Europe. The Romans came from Italy in 43 A.D.
The Angles and Saxons came from Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands in the
5th century. The Vikings arrived from Denmark and Norway throughout the 9th
century, and in 1066 the Normans invaded from France. These invasions drove the
Celts into what is now Wales and Scotland, and they remained, of course, in
Ireland. These various origins explain many of the differences to be found between
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland – differences in education, religion and the
legal systems, but most obviously, in language.
The countries have their own special accents and dialects, and their people
are easily recognizable as soon as they start speaking. A southern English accent is
generally accepted to be the most easily understood, and is the accent usually
taught to foreigners.
There have been many waves of immigration into Britain. Now there are
many people of all colours and races in the UK. These are mostly former
inhabitants of the former British colonies. These people, called “the coloureds”,
came to the UK in search of better living standards. The children of immigrants are
often taught their own languages in school, and there are special newspapers,
magazines, and radio and television programmes for these communities.
The latest wave of immigrants from the West Indies, India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Hong Kong has of course caused problems. There is certainly
racial tension and racial prejudice in Britain today. In spite of laws passed to
protect them, there is still discrimination against Asian and black people, many of
whom are unemployed or in low-paid jobs. However, the atmosphere is improving
and the different races are slowly learning to trust one another.
The U.K. has a smaller percentage of younger people and a higher
percentage of old people. Life expectancy in 2001 was 75 years for men and 80,7
years for women.

British National Character

The class system is very important in Britain. It is created by complex system:
accents, clothes, school and family. There are 3 basic groups: upper, middle,
working-class. But there are grades within these three: “lower middle class”, or
“up working-class”. The advertising industry divides people into groups: A, B, C,
D, and E. A is the highest group with 3% of the population. It includes top and
officers, government ministers and judges. E is the lowest group with 15% of
population. It includes pensioners, the sick and the unemployed. This system
reflects modern society, but these artificial grades do not show the reality of the
system built up over hundreds of years. The Royal Family and the aristocracy still
have power and influence in government through inheritance. Social position is
often based on traditions or history of the family not its money. Many people’s
class can be identified immediately by the way they speak.
Liverpool has the “Scouse” accent, and the accent of Newcastle – on June is
called “Geordie”. The sound of someone’s voice will often show the position they
hold society.
Received Pronunciation or (RP) or BBC English is an accent of the Southeast
England. An RP accent is still important and will help people to get jobs and a
positi in society, which might be denied to them if they spoke in a different way.
RP – is a non-regional accent of standard British English, often regarded as
prestige form. It is traditionally called “Received” in the sense “accepted
standard”.

Stereotype
1. British people are reserved (= quiet and do not show their feelings).
2. British people always “keep a stiff upper lip” (= accept unpleasant events
without appearing upset).
3. British people use understatement (= talk in a way which makes things le
serious or important than they really are).
4. British people are conservative.
5. British people like to do things themselves.

Celts – fantasists, dreamers

Saxes – sober, practically-minded. It is because of them that the English
language inherited an inclination to everything natural, simple, prosaic efficiency,
fidelity to traditions, slicking to the hearth as the symbol of personal independence
Vikings – passion for adventures – call of the sea, romantic attraction towards
far-off shores
 Normans – people of action, and considered the ability to keep one’s own
feelings under control to be one of the cardinal virtues
Only history helps to understand how one nation can be simultaneously so
aristocratic (Normans) and so democratic (Saxes); how fidelity to traditions and
practical calculation can get along well; how a vendour can be balanced by a
conqueror, and a layman – by a daydreamer.
In the English character a practical Anglo-Saxon is fused with a Celtic
dreamer, a pirate-bold Viking with a disciplined Norman.
First and foremost feature of this nation:
– stability and consistency of the character of its individuals
– inquisitiveness, conformity and individualism
– self-control – “be able to keep yourself under control” – is the motto of this
nation
– vanity
– independence, education, dignity, honesty and altruism, tact, graceful
manners, exquisite
– politeness, ability to sacrifice one's time and money for a noble deed, ability
to rule and obey, persuasiveness, goal-orientation, absence of conceit
– tolerance to a different opinion
The principles of “the gentleman’s conduct” were made into a cult during the
reign of Queen Victoria.

Superstitions
1. In Britain some people believe that black cats bring good luck, but in the USA
they are thought to bring bad luck.
2. A white lily is often used as a symbol of purity and beauty. Avoid bringing
lilies when invited to a British home as they suggest death.
3. In British mythology mistletoe (омела) is connected with the druids who
regarded it as a secret plant. Mistletoe is often hung in rooms at Christmas because
there is a tradition that one may kiss anyone of the opposite sex who is under it.
4. Having a horseshoe over the door brings good luck.
5. Something in the shape of a horseshoe, such as a decorative card, is given at
weddings to bring good luck.
6. Passing under a ladder brings bad luck.
7. Finding a penny brings good luck (“See a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll
have good luck”).
8. If you make a wish on a falling (shooting) star, your wish will come true.
9. A four-leaf clover brings good luck.
10. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place (= the same piece of bad luck
does not happen to a person twice).
11. The number 13 brings bad luck.
12. In the theater, rather than wish an actor, playwright, etc. “Good Luck” one
should say “Break a leg”.
13. If you break a mirror it will bring bad luck.
14. If you spill salt you should take a little and through it over your left shoulder
into the face of the devil.
15. In the theatre, Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”, should be spoken of as the
Scottish Play and not by name.
16. Seeing two magpies together brings good luck.
17. Seeing one magpie is unlucky.
18. Friday when it is the 13th day of a month is unlucky (Black Day).

Test on Symbols
1. Who is the patron saint of England? When is his Day marked? – St.
George. St. George’s Day is on April, 23.
2. Who is the patron saint of Scotland? When is his Day marked? – St.
Andrew. St. Andrew’s Day is on November, 30. He was crucified on a diagonal
cross (X-shaped) on that day.
3. Who is the patron saint of Wales? When is his Day marked? – St.
David. He is supposed to have lived for several months on bread and wild leek. St.
David’s Day is March, 1.
4. Who is the patron saint of Northern Ireland? When is his Day marked?
– St. Patrick. His Day is March, 17.
5. What flower is considered to be the symbol of peace in Great Britain? –
Poppy.
6. What is the national bird of the UK? – Robin Redbreast.
7. What is the symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy? –
Two animals on British Royal coat of arms. One of them is the lion. “The King of
Beasts” has been used as a symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy
for many centuries. The other one is the unicorn. It is a mythical animal that looks
like a horse with a single long horn on its head, and the unicorn is the symbol of
purity.
8. What are the national floral emblems of England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland? – Red Rose, Thistle, Daffodil (and Leek), Shamrock.
9. What are the first four most important orders in Great Britain? –
The Order of the Garter started by King Edward III in 1348. It is the oldest
and highest of the British orders of charity. The king’s words “Shame on anyone
who thinks badly of this”, became the motto of the order, whose full name is the
Most Noble Order of the Garter. It includes members of the British and other royal
families and maximum of 24 other people (equal to 24 knights of the Round
Table).
The Order of the Bath started in 1399, but it later disappeared and was started
again in 1725. There are 3 ranks within it: Knight Grand Cross (or Dame Grand
Cross for women), Knight Commander (or dame Commander) or Companion, the
full name of the order is the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
The Order of the Thistle started in 1687 and is mainly for members of the
Scottish peerage. Its full name is the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the
Thistle.
The Order of Merit was introduced by King Edward VII in 1902 and is
limited to 24 British people and one foreigner for men and women, who have
achieved great things in the arts, literature, science. The Order of Merit (OM) is
placed after their name.
 10. What is the national costume in Scotland? – Bonnet with a tassel; kilt, a
pleated skirt of tartan cloth; plaid, a piece of cloth worn over the shoulders pinned
with a brooch; a kilt pin; sporran-pouch, usually fur-covered and worn in front of
the kilt host and gaiters; brogues (strong, thick-soled ornamented boots, buckle).
11. What are the national instruments of Scotland and Northern Ireland? –
Bagpipe; the Irish Harp.
12. What is “The Red Hand of Ulster”? – It is the badge of Northern
Ireland. It is shown heraldically as an upright red hand severed at the wrist (Bloody
Hand).
13. Why does Ireland have a picture of a red hand on its coat of arms? –
The legend reads: Two Viking chieftains went with their men in two big boats to
Ireland. “The first of us who will touch the Irish land will be the king of it”, they
said. The boat of Heremin O’Neill was not as fast as the boat of the other chieftain,
whose name is unknown. When the boats were quite near the land, O’Neil quickly
cut off his hand and threw it over to the land. It touched the land first and he
became the King of Ireland.
14. How many crosses does the British flag combine in itself? – It
embodies the emblems of three countries – three crosses of three patron saints:
• the red upright cross of St. George, for England, on a white background;
• the white diagonal cross of St. Andrew, for Scotland, on a dark blue background;
• the red diagonal cross of St. Patrick, for Ireland, on a white background.
15. What is the Welsh flag called? – The Welsh Dragon. It shows a red
dragon on the white and green background.

Test on Customs and Traditions

1. What is the most Famous British cheese? – Cheddar.
2. What is “English Tea”? – Tea with milk.
3. What is Irish coffee? – An alcohol drink made of coffee with milk and
whiskey.
4. Which product do the British people consume in a greater amount than
the people of any other country in the world? – Sugar.
5. What are the most typical components of a traditional Christmas meal? –
Christmas pudding with a twig of holly on it. Christmas cracker, turkey.
6. What traditional Scottish dishes do you know? – Haggis, porridge.
7. What is Easter? – The annual feast-day, when Christians remember
Christ’s death and his return to life. People usually exchange cards, presents and
Easter eggs (chocolate or coloured).
8. What is Easter Monday? – It is the second day of Easter and the first
Monday after Easter. It is a bank holiday.
9. What is Lent? – It is forty-day fest in memory of Jesus’ forty-day fast
before crucifixion. Lent Anglo-Saxon for spring time (lengthening time).
10. What is Ash Wednesday? – It is the first day of Lent. It takes its name
from the Roman Catholic custom of placing a cross of ashes on the foreheads of
the parishioners as the beginning of the period of public penance. The ashes are
from burned palms saved from the previous Palm Sunday.
11. What is Palm Sunday? – Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus’
entry into Jerusalem, when Palm branches were strewn before him. Now also
called Passion Sunday.
12. What is the official name of New Year's Eve in Scotland? – Hogmanay.
13. What is the Red Nose Day? – It is a day on which a British charity
organization Comic Relief raises money for charity. Many people wear plastic red
noses to show their support. Comic Relief is set up and run by a group of
professional comedians to raise money for poor people in the world.
14. What does a legend about the ravens in the Tower say? – If the ravens die, the
monarchy will fall.
15. When and why is it necessary to wear “something old, something new,
something borrowed and something blue”? – It is necessary for a bride at the
wedding. “Old” maintains her link with the past; “new” symbolizes the future;
“borrowed” gives her a link with the present; “blue” symbolizes her purity.
16. What greeting card comes unsigned? – St. Valentine Card.
17. When is Guy Fawkes’ Night celebrated? – It is celebrated on November,
5. It is the date of discovering of Gunpowder Plot in 1605. Since that time the day
celebration ends with burning a dummy made of straw and old clothes on a
bonfire. The dummy is called a ‘guy’ and children ask adults for “Penny for a
guy”. If they collect enough money they can buy some fireworks.
18. When is Bums’ Night? – Bums’ Night is celebrated on January, 25. It is
traditionally celebrated with the Bums' Dinner. The haggis, Scotland’s famous
savoury, is the king of the feast.
19. What are the traditional colours of British sport teams? – English –
white; Welsh – red; Scottish – blue; Irish – green.
20. What game is peculiarly associated with England? – Cricket, Football.
21. When is a sport also an insect? – Cricket.
22. What is the Boat Race? – It is the annual competition between the
oarsmen of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Members of college Boat clubs
train together for 12 weeks before the race. There are eight oarsmen and a
coxswain in each boat. It takes place in March-April in the River Thames. The
difference is 7,2 km.
23. What is Royal Ascot? – It is a four-day horseracing event held at Ascot
each year in June. The second day of the event is Ladies’ Day and women wear
unusually big hats.
24. What is marathon? How long is the distance of a marathon? – The name
is connected with the legend about an ancient Greek warrior, who ran the distance
from Marathon to Athens (42 km, 195m) to inform the citizens about the victory of
the Greeks over the Persians in 490 ВС.
25. What is London Marathon? – Once it was from Windsor Castle to the
White City Stadium. It is 26 miles or 42 km 195 metres long. It started in 1981.
Women began to participate in 1984. The White City Stadium was used for
Olympic Games in 1908. It was destroyed in the 1980s. Now the race starts at
Greenwich and ends at Westminster Bridge. Thousands of runners take part, many
of them to raise money for charity.
 LONDON
History

What is the origin of the name of British capital?

The name “London” is probably derived from the Celtic “Llyn”, a pool or lake
(The River Thames at an earlier period g expanded into a considerable lake – the
part immediately below London Bridge is still “the Pool”), and “din” or “dun”, a
hill, fort or place of strength. The “hill” may have been that on which St. Paul's
now stands, or Corn hill. When the Romans conquered Llyndun they latinized the
name as Londinium.
What is the history of London? How did it appear?
London is where the invading Romans first crossed the River Thames. They built a
city a square mile in size, surrounded it with a wall called it “Londinium”. This
original site of London is now called the City of London and is Britain’s main
financial centre. In the 11th century, London began to expand beyond the City walls
when King Edward the Confessor built a huge abbey at Westminster which is now
known as Westminster Abbey.
What were the two London catastrophes of the 17th century?
The first was epidemic of plague in 1665 which killed 100,000 citizens, and the
second was the Great Fire in 1666 which destroyed the whole of the City,
including St. Paul's Cathedral.
What memorial commemorates fire of London in 1666?
The Monument. It was constructed in the City in 1671-1677. It is the column of
202 ft (61,5 meters high). Its height is equal to the distance from the Monument to
the baker's shop in Pudding Lane, where it began. 311 steps ascend to the top of
the column from which one can see the panorama of London.
Sights
What are the most famous London museums?
Preeminent among London's museums is the British Museum, which possesses one
of the finest libraries in the world as well as an outstanding collection of artworks,
antiquities and objects of natural history. The museum of London has exhibits
dealing with the development and life of London from Roman times to the present.
The Victoria and Albert Museum specializes in tine and applied arts.
When was the British Museum built?
It was founded in 1753; the present building was built in 1823-1852. It is situated
in Bloomsbury district in London. The benefactor of the British Museum was Sir
Hans Sloane. He was an Irishman who arrived in London nearly 300 years ago. His
particular specialties were natural history specimen and books. The British
Museum comprises the National Museum of Archeology and Ethnography, and the
British Museum Library. In 1973 several other libraries were included into the
British Museum and it was renamed the British Library. Only people over the age
of 21, engaged in serious study and who can’t obtain the books they require
elsewhere, can use the Reading Room of the British Museum. The Reading Room
has an unusual shape. It is a perfect circle. The superintendent and his assistants sit
in the centre of the room. Any person who comes into the Reading Room is greatly
impressed by the efficiency of the staff there. You just ask for a book and in a
moment it is placed in front of you.
What is the Victoria and Albert Museum famous for?
Victoria and Albert Museum has a collection of painting by many famous artists.
There is a special collection of tiny detailed miniature portraits. The Museum has
Britain's largest collection of decorative arts: tapestries, costume, jewelry and
glassware, for instance. The Victoria and Albert Museum was founded in 18S7 in
Marlborough House. In its present building it is since 1909. The Museum is
nicknamed the V&A.
What does Madame Tussaud’s exhibit?
Madame Tussaud’s, near Baker street Station, is the world's most famous wax
museum. It was opened in 1802. Over 2 million visitors go there every year to see
the lifelike figures of historical characters, modem stars, statesmen and notorious
criminals.
What does the National Army Museum display?
It covers the history of the British Army from the formation of the Yeomen of the
Guard by Henry 111 in 1485 to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.
The Museum also displays the history of the Commonwealth armies up to
independence. The National Army Museum is situated in Royal Hospital Road.
What can you see in the Imperial War Museum?
The Imperial War Museum, opened in 1920, gives a visual record of all the
campaigns in which British and Commonwealth armed forces have been engaged
since the outbreak of the First World War. Its portraits, books, photographs, maps
and films constitute an important source of reference for historians.
What are the famous London art galleries?
The most famous national art collections include the National Gallery facing
Trafalgar Square, and next door, the National Portrait Gallery. The National
Gallery houses the collection of Old Maters’ Paintings and works of all European
schools of painting which existed between the 13-th and 19-th centuries. It was
opened in 1824. Contrasting the essentially classical collections of these the
National Gallery and the National Portrait are the romantic, impressionist, and
modem an collections of the Tate Gallery. Smaller galleries include the Court auld
Institute Galleries, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Hay ward Art Gallery, the
Queen’s Gallery and Wallace Collection.
What is the name of the establishment in London, built in 1768 by a group of
leading painters, sculptors and architects as a memorial to King George III?
Burlington House. It is situated in Piccadilly Street. Since 1869 Burlington House
has been the Royal Academy of Arts, bi 1768 a group of leading painters, sculptors
and architect; presented a memorial to King George III. The young art-loving
monarch declared his patronage, protection and support All succeeding sovereigns
have accepted the style of “Patron, Protector and Supporter” of the Royal
Academy. Traditionally the monarch sanctions the elections of new Royal
Academicians. The first president of the Academy for 24 years (1768-1790) was
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1732-1792). The primary purpose of the Academy is the
teaching of art to me most talented students.
Where is the famous Whispering Gallery situated?
Whispering Gallery is situated at the base of the inner dome of St Paul’s Cathedral
in London. It is famous for its acoustics: u whispered word is heard on the opposite
side of the dome though the dome is 32 meters in diameter.
What are the principal concert halls and opera houses?
The principal concert halls are the Royal Festival Hall and, in the same complex,
the smaller Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room; me huge elliptical Royal
Albert Hall; and Wigmore Hall. Opera and ballet are enjoyed at the Royal Opera
House, Covent Garden, Sadler’s Wells, and the London Coliseum.
What are the principal theatres of London?
Among many centers of professional theatre in London are the National Theatre,
home of the National Theatre Company; the Aldwych Theatre, home of the Royal
Shakespeare Company in London until 1982, when it moved to the new Barbican
Arts Centre; the Drury Lane Theatre; the Royal Court Theatre; the Globe; the Old
Vic.
What are the most famous London parks?
London is noted for its abundance of park spaces. The most notable are the Royal
Parks, which were formerly royal estates. These include Saint James’s Park and, to
the west, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens. To the north is
Regent’s Park, and farther upstream along the Thames are Richmond Park,
Hampton Court Park, Kew Gardens, and Bushey Park. Thе biggest city park of
London, Richmond Park, is situated in the south-west outskirts of London and its
area is 1,000 hectares. Surrounding the Royal Naval College and the old Royal
Observatory is Greenwich Park. Other important open spaces include Hampstead
Health and Parliament Hill Fields, which overlook London from the north.
What is Hyde Park famous for?
Hyde Park is 139 hectares. The name is derived from the manor of Hyde, which
once belonged to the abbot of Westminster. Prominent features of the park are
Rotton Row, the famous bridle path; Serpentine Lake; and Speaker’s Comer, the
meeting place of soapbox orators, Hyde Park was once part of a wild and ancient
forest, inhabited by wolves, wild bulls and boar. It was fenced off a loyal deer park
in Tudor times. Under Henry 111, king of England, Hyde Park was a riyal doer
park. In the 18-th and 19-th centuries ii was a fashionable park where royalty rode
and drove, military reviews were held, and duels were fought, in 1851 the first
world’s fair was held in me park.
What does Kensington Gardens share with Hyde Park?
Kensington Gardens shares the Serpentine Lake with Hyde. This part in
Kensington Gardens is called the Long Water, There is a tradition to swim in the
Serpentine on Christmas Day, however icy the water is. At other times you can
hire rowing boats.
What is special about Kew Gardens in London?
Kew Gardens, founded in 1759, is the home of the Royal Botanical Society. It has
the most famous collection of plants and flowers in the world, with about 30,000
varieties of plants and trees.
What is Greenwich Park famous for?
It is the center of the world's time system, as Greenwich Meridian runs through its
territory. Besides, the ancient burial mounds and the remains of a Roman villa
were found in this park. There is a dead oak tree in Greenwich Park called Queen
Elizabeth’s Oak. By tradition Henry VIII danced round the tree with Anne Boleyn,
and in its hollow trunk Elizabeth I once had tea.
What is Si James’s Park famous for?
It is famous for the variety of ducks, geese and other birds which live on its lake,
including pelicans. On the north bank there arc picture tiles to help you identify
(lie different species. Alongside St James’s Park runs Pall Mall. Its name comes
from an old French type of croquet called paille maille. Charles 11 used to have a
paille maille alley nearby.
What are the most important London palaces?
Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the monarch since 1837,
when Queen Victoria moved her court from Saint James’s Palace, which is located
on the Mall. Buckingham Palace was built in 1703 by the Duke of Buckingham
and then bought by George III in 1762. The other important palaces are
Westminster Palace, the seat of the British Parliament; Kensington Palace;
Lambeth Palace, the London seat of the archbishops of Canterbury; and Hampton
Court, the Tudor palace originally built by Thomas Cardinal Woolsey.
What is Windsor Castle famous for?
Windsor Castle is the principal summer residence of the British sovereigns. It is
situated in the municipal borough of Windsor, or New Windsor about 35 km west
of London. Home Park adjoins the castle on the north, east and south; Windsor
Great Park is to the south of Home Park. Noteworthy features of the castle grounds
include a magnificent tree-lined avenue, more than 5 km long; and Virginia Water,
a lovely artificial lake. The dominant structure of Windsor Castle is the Round
Tower, built on the site where King Arthur sat with the Knights of the Round
Table. Another distinctive building is Saint George’s Chapel. It is the burial place
often British sovereigns. The state apartments in the Upper Ward contain valuable
collections of paintings, statuary, and other priceless art objects. The mausoleum of
Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, is located in Home Park. Old
Windsor was a residence of the Anglo-Saxon Kings before the Norman Conqueror
built a castle at the present site about 1070. It was extended by his successors and
was virtually rebuilt about 1344. Later British monarchs added to and improved
the castle.
What are the most famous London churches?
Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London’s most imposing church, is a large baroque edifice,
distinguished by a huge central dome, and designed by the English architect Sir
Christopher Wren. Built between 1675 and 1710, the cathedral is the burial place
of many illustrious British figures. Saint Paul’s Cathedral is Sir Christopher
Wren’s masterpiece. Old St. Paul’s was built during Norman times. It was burnt
down in the Great Fire that destroyed London in 1666. The cathedral, that replaced
it, the most striking building in the City today, was built from 1675 until 1709. St.
Paul’s is only second to St. Peter’s in Rome among the domed cathedrals of the
Renaissance. Inside the dome there is the famous Whispering Gallery. Westminster
Abbey, a splendid example of English Gothic architecture of the I3th and the 14th
century. For a long time it was the site of coronations and royal weddings. The
ancient building of Westminster Abbey, built in the 11th century, stands close to the
House of Parliament. All English monarchs since William the Conqueror, except
Edward V, have been crowned there. It is crowded with memorials and tombs.
Poet’s Corner is particularly interesting. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in
World War II is also there.
What are well-known London churches?
They are the Gothic Southwark Cathedral; Saint Bartholomew-the-Great, built
shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066; the Roman Catholic Westminster
Cathedral (1895-1903); Saint Martin-in-the-Fields; All Souls’; Saint Bride’s; Saint
Dane’s; Saint Margaret’s, the parish church of Parliament; and Saint Marly-le-
Bow.
What ancient London landmark was bought by an American private company
stone to the USA and rebuilt in Arizona?
London Bridge in 1968. London Bridge from Roman times until the 18 th century
(1749) was the only bridge across the Thames. Originally it was made of wood.
The first stone bridge was not built until 1476. A new London Bridge was
constructed in (1823-1831), but it was sold to the USA in 1968-1969 for almost a
million pounds. It was taken away stone by stone to be reassembled as a tourist
attraction in Arizona, USA, The British have a modem replacement now, opened in
1973.
Which bruise symbolizes London?
The Tower Bridge, built in 1894. The 244-m Tower Bridge spans the Thames
River in London. It was the only movable bridge crossing the Thames when it was
completed in 1894. Sir Horace Jones designed the bridge, and Sir John Wolfe
Barry built it The Tower Bridge was built at the end of the nineteenth century to
match the medieval style of the fortress. The bridge is functioning perfectly well
for such a great city as modern London. It can be quickly swung open to let big
ocean ships that can move up the Thames from the oceans.
What events does Trafalgar Square commemorate?
Trafalgar Square is named to commemorate Horatio Nelson's great naval victory of
1805. It is dominated by the Nelson's Column. On its pedestal there are four bronze
relief cast from captured French cannon, representing scenes from the battles of St
Vincent, the Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar. The bronze lions at the corners of
the pedestals are the work of Land seer. Horatio Nelson’s most famous victory
over Napoleon’s fleet took place at Trafalgar Cape near the Strait of Gibraltar in
1805. In the centre of the square there is a monument known as Nelson's Column,
surmounted by a 16 ft of the monument is 184 ft 10 inches.
Why do the British call Piccadilly Circus – “circus” and Trafalgar Square
–“square”?
The Circus is not only a kind of show but also a circular open space in a city or
town, where a number of streets meet (Piccadilly Circus, Ludgate Circus, etc). The
word “square” is used often if the open space is rectangular in shape (Trafalgar
Square, Leicester Square, Cavendish Square, etc).
 POLITICAL SYSTEM
What is a political name o the country made up of England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland?
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (usually
shortened to the United Kingdom or UK). The United Kingdom is a name,
which was introduced in 1801, when Great Britain became united with Ireland.
The whole of Ireland was united with GB from 1801 up to 1922. In that year
the independent Republic of Ireland was formed in the south, while Northern
Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.
What is the political system of the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom is a constitutional (or parliamentary) monarchy.
The country has a monarch (a king or a queen) as its Head of State, but his
(her) power is limited by Parliament The monarch reigns but does not rule.
The Organs of Government in the United Kingdom are:
a) the Legislative (body) which consists of the Queen in Parliament, and its
supreme authority of the realm;
b) the Executive which consists of:
• The Cabinet and other ministers of the Crown, who are responsible for
initialing and directing national policy,
• Government departments, most of them under the control of ministers, and
all are responsible for administration at the national level;
• Local authorities., who administer and manage many services at the local
level;
• Statutory boards, which are responsible for the operation of particular
nationalized industries or public services;
c) the Judiciary, which determines Common law and interprets statutes.

The Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II is a formal head of the state. Her power is limited by
the constitution and she takes all the decisions on the advice of the Prime
Minister. Her official title is “Her Most Excellent Majesty Elisabeth the
Second by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the
Commonwealth, Defender of Faith”.
She is the personification of the state. In law, she is the head of the
executive, an integral part of the legislature, the head of the judiciary, the
commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the Crown and the temporal
head of the established Church of England. In practice, she acts only on the
advice of her Ministers, which she cannot constitutionally ignore.
However, these remain certain discretionary powers in the hands of the
monarch, known as the Royal Prerogative (Icing’s right). One of them is the
duty of appointing the Prime Minister. When a Prime Minister dies or resigns
(or after general election) the monarch has to choose his successor. In practice,
she is usually bound to appoint the leader of the party, which has a majority in
the House of Commons.
Other functions of me sovereign are:
• The queen summons prorogues and dissolves Parliament. As a rule she
opens each session with a speech from the throne, in the House of Lords;
• She must give Royal assent before a Bill which has passed all its stages in
both Houses of Parliament becomes legal;
• It is her duty to make appointments to all important State offices, including
those of judges and diplomats, officers in the armed forces, governors,
ambassadors, and to all leading positions in the established Church of England.
At least in theory, she must see all Cabinet documents, important dispatches,
memoranda, etc., and she has the power to conclude treaties, to cede or accept
territory, to declare war or to make peace. And it is assumed that all these
powers are a mere formality, because of the general principal that the monarch
can only act on the advice of her Minister, but all these matters are conducted
in her name.
Monarchy in Britain is an ideological symbol for maintaining the stability
of the regime. It is not an idea deeply cherished, but an idea deeply cultivated.
Synonyms: king (queen), crowned head of the state, monarch, sovereign,
potentate, majesty and ruler.

Government

What party forms the government?

The party with most elected MPs in the House of Commons forms fee
government. The leader of the winning party automatically becomes Prime
Minister and appoints fee Cabinet The members of fee Cabinet are fee leading
government ministers. The Prime Minister is fee most important person in
Parliament The party, which comes second in fee Opposition, forms its own
Shadow Cabinet.
Who were first acting Prime Minister in Britain?
Sir Robert Walpole from 1721 tall 1742, though at that time there was no
clearly defined office as much. Spencer Perceval became fee first official
Prime Minister m 1809. He led the Tory Party. When in the 1830s Robert Peel
formed fee Conservative Party from what was left of the old Tory Party –
Disraeli became the first Conservative Prime Minister.
What is the official residence of British Prime Minister?
10 Downing Street. A policeman is always on guard at the front door of
this house.
What are the main functions of the Cabinet?
The Cabinet is a conventional organ of Government composed of about
20-25 of the most important ministers. Its functions are:
1. final determination of policies to be submitted to Parliament;
2. supreme control of the national executive power in accordance with the
policy agreed by Parliament;
3. continuous coordination of the authority of the Departments of State.
 Normally it meets for about two hours once or twice а week (during
parliamentary sittings) at 10 Downing Street.
What is the essence of the principal of “collective responsibility”?
The Cabinet is supposed to operate according to fee principal by which
decisions are taken collectively with full and frank discussion. Once decided
upon, they are publicly defended by all ministers, even if they argue against
them in Cabinet or still disagree wife them. If a minister decides that he or she
cannot depend on a decision of Cabinet, then he or she is expected to resign tan
the Cabinet. They do not vote in the Cabinet. The final decision is that of a
Prime Minister. But the responsibility is collective. If the decision fails then
fee whole Cabinet must resign.
What is the second important person in the UK after the Prime Minister?
It is the Speaker of fee House of Commons.
Where are the most of the government offices located in London?
In Whitehall, ft is a street in central London running from Trafalgar
Square to fee Houses of Parliament. The street was named after White Palace
which formerly stood there, but of which only fee Banqueting House services.

Parties
What are the two oldest parties in Britain?
The Conservative and Liberal Parties, and until about 1920s they were
the only parties elected to the House of Commons. The name “Conservative”
was first used as a description of the Tory Party in the “Quarterly Review” of
January 1830 – “conservative” – because the Party aims to conserve traditional
values and practices. And it was founded as a political organization in 1867. Its
official name is traditional Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations.
What is the modern concept of the Conservative Party?
One of the characteristic concepts of the Conservatives is that the State
most protect property, arid that private property widely distributed is the best
defence against totalitarism. The modem Tory Concept of democracy includes
social and economic reforms, government responsibility for health, education,
and social security, and a certain measure of economic planning, it can broadly
be described as the party of fee middle and upper classes although it does
receive some working class support. The party represents those who believe in
private enterprise as opposed to state-owned undertakings.
There is some division within fee party: the aristocratic wing and fee
lower-middle-class group.
What is the second most important political party in Britain?
The Labour Party founded in 1900 as a Labour Representation
Committee. Since 1906 its name is the Labour Party.

The conservative party is one of the main British political parties. It

developed from the old Tory Party in 1830s, and is still sometimes called by
this name. It is a right-wing party, supporting capitalism and free enterprise
(=an economic system in which there is open competition in business and
trade, and no government control). Its program was based on a commitment to
traditional institutes, the defense of the British Empire and social reforms.
It formed the latest government in Britain from 1979 to 1997, during
which time its leaders were Margaret Thatcher and then John Major.
Tory is a member of one of the two main political parties in Britain from
the 1670s until the 1830s. The Tories were originally a group of politicians
who wanted the Roman Catholic James, Duke of York (later James II) to be
allowed to become King of England. They were powerful for various periods
during the 18l and 19th centuries.
In the 1830s, the Tories developed into the Conservative Party and the
name is widely used as an informal alternative name for the Conservative
Party.

DEVOLUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN

Since 1998 the constitutional structure of the United Kingdom has

undergone dramatic changes. Through the process of devolution certain
powers formally vested in the UK. Parliament has been transferred in new
legislative bodies located in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. These
legislative bodies are responsible for promulgating primary and/or delegated
legislation in a wide variety of areas.
The Process of Devolution
Devolution refers to “the transfer and subsequent sharing of powers
between institutions of government within limited framework set out in
legislation”. Attempts to provide Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales with
degrees legislative autonomy have existed since the 19 th century, however the
present labour government has been the first government to succeed in
providing all of these countries with home-rule. It is certainly possible that the
powers devolved to these regions may be extended or curtailed, as has already
been the case in Northern Ireland.
The “New Labour” government, formed the Prime Minister Tony Blair in
1997, came to the power with the mandate to reform the constitutional
government of the United Kingdom. The major component of this
“modernization” of the constitutional structure was the transfer of devolved
powers to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Through the provisions
outlined in three key pieces of legislation, Scotland Act 1998. The Government
of Wales Act and The Northern Ireland Act 1998, differing degrees of home-
rule were defined for each region. As a result of these acts, and many
subsequent pieces of delegated legislation, Scotland and Northern Ireland now
experience a traditional form of devolved government consisting of legislative
and executive branches. Wales's experience with devolution is more limited.
At the present time there is no primary legislation authority granted to Wales.
Devolution for Scotland
“There shall be Scottish Parliament.” With this simple phrase The
Scotland Act 1998 (s.l ss.l) brought to fruition the desire by majority of the
electorate in Scotland for the return to the region of a fully functioning
legislative body. For the first time since 1707 Can of Union Scotland had a
legislative body capable of promulgating primary legislation. The
government’s policy of providing Scotland with its own Parliament was
outlined in July 1997 White Paper, “Scotland’s Parliament”. In order to ensure
popular support for its devolution policies the government quickly enacted
Referendums Act 1997 culminating in September 1997 referendum in Scotland
and Wales. The result of the referendum was emphatic support for not only a
Scottish Parliament (74,3% in favor) but also the ability of the Parliament to
vary taxes (63,5% in favor).
The Scottish Parliament
Since July 1, 1999, when the Scottish Parliament assumed its powers
granted under The Scotland Act 1998. This act defined the matters reserved by
the UK Parliament, and those matters “devolved” to the Scottish Parliament,
deemed to be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
Reserved matters include the UK Constitution, foreign policy, national
security, and certain areas of health policy. Devolved matters include
education, local government, housing, tourism, civil and criminal law,
emergency services, economic development, agriculture, and sports.
The passage of legislation through the Scottish Parliament is somewhat
different than process employed in the UK Parliament. Since the Scottish
Parliament is a unicameral body the passage of a bill is understandably less
complex than in its London counterpart. A Scottish Parliament Bill encounters
four stages in parliamentary process. The Scotland Act 1998 called for bills to
proceed through a three stage process, however the Consultative Steering
Group on the Scottish Parliament indicated in their report, Shaping Scotland’s
Parliament, that the four stage process should be employed. Stage 1 is
deliberation on the principles of the bill by a lead committee. At this stage a
determination is made as to whether the scope and purpose of the bill is
acceptable. This determination is then reported to a plenary session of
Parliament In stage 2 the plenary session of Parliament debates and votes on
the principles of the bill. The details of the bill are discussed in Stage 3. In
Stage 3 the bill is assigned to one or more committees. It is at this stage that
amendments to the bill can be made. Stage 4 is a final debate and voting before
another plenary session. Once again amendments can be made, however there
are strict guidelines concerning the extent of the amendments at this stage. The
Official Report comes to committee discussion and floor debate from the
plenary session of Parliament. The passage of the bill can be tracked in
conjunction with WHISP (What’s Happening in the Scottish Parliament), a
weekly publication providing information on the workings of the Scottish
Parliament.
It is important to realize that the above procedure apply to those types of
bills known as Executive Bills. These are the bills presented to Parliament by
the Scottish Executive. Other types of bills include and Private Members' bills,
each of which follow slightly different process.
Scottish Delegated Legislation
Delegated legislation, also referred to as secondary or subordinate
legislation, is comprised of the rules, regulations orders and by laws
implemented under the powers delegated by Parliament and in primary
legislation.
Prior to 1999 all delegated legislation affecting Scotland was made under
the powers delegated by UK acts. Since devolution, secondary or delegated
legislation affecting Scotland has originated either in London or in Edinburgh.
Delegated legislation made under powers not devolved to the Scottish
Parliament has continued to originate in London.
The Scottish Executive exercises Scottish delegated legislation, made
under powers granted by acts of the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish
Executive is comprised of the First Minister, Scottish Ministers appointed by
the First Minister, the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General. The Scottish
Executive can only make delegated legislation on matters that are within its
devolved competence as defined by The Scottish Act 1998.

Devolution for Wales

The Government of Wales Act 1998 was the result of devolution in the
principality during the administrations of the Conservative Party (1979 to
1997). Throughout this period welsh politics grew increasingly divorced from
centralized government in London. Although the cries for welsh devolution
were never as strong as the Scottish, the Labour Party in the 1990’s recognized
the need for a limited amount of welsh empowerment. Following the 1997
election, the Labour government released the White Paper, A Voice for Wales:
the Government Proposals for a Welsh Assembly, in which it recommended
that executive, not legislative powers be devolved to the principality. The
Referendum of September 18, 1997 saw the welsh people in favor of creating a
national assembly of Wales. This mandate albeit slim, allowed the government
to introduce and eventually pass The Government of Wales Act 1998. The
National Assembly for Wales officially opened in Cardiff, the principality’s
capital city, in May 1999.
The National Assembly for Wales
The assembly’s powers as outlined in The Government of Wales Act
1998, and made possible by The National Assembly for Wales Order 1999 are
certainly less extensive than those accorded Scotland’s Parliament. The
Assembly does not have law making authority; it can only make delegated
legislation within its areas of devolved competence. These areas include
tourism, culture, ancient monuments, highways, health education,
transportation, agriculture, environment, sports and recreation, water and
flooding, and the welsh language. Although it could be argued that the
Assemble for Wales has no more power than the former Welsh Office in
London, it is important to recognize the symbolic role that the Assembly plays.
For the first time in over 700 years the country of Wales has an elected body
located within its borders capable of developing and implemented policies for
the people of Wales.
The Assembly is corporate body comprised of 60 elected members, is led
by the First Secretary and a cabinet.
 Devolution for Northern Ireland
A process of devolution for Northern Ireland has been a far more complex
and fragile process than has been experienced in Scotland and Wales. The
“troubles” that have beleaguered the province since the late 1960s provided the
context for delicate negotiations between the British Government and various
parties representing the unionists and the nationalists.
Northern Ireland had experienced the home-rule between the period of
1921, when The Government of Ireland Act 1920 came into force and created
the province, and 1972, when the British government declared an end to home-
rule and instituted direct rule from Westminster. During this period the
Northern Ireland Parliament (‘Stormont’) operated as a devolved legislative
body, however it was perceived as a body of more representative of the
unionists’ interests than the Catholics’. The exaltation of violence in the
province during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s resulted in the suspension of
home-rule and the vesting of wide discretionary powers in the Secretary of
State for Northern Ireland under direct rule. In 1973 the second attempt at
devolution was made with the creation of the first Northern Ireland Assembly.
This Assembly lasted only five months, although in that time it did manage to
pass a number of measures. Direct rule of the province was resumed in the
summer of 1974 as result of increased sectarian violence.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s continued negotiation between the British
government and various parties attempted to bring an end to the violence and
establish the system of home-rule agreeable to all concerned. The breakthrough
occurred in 1998 with the singing of Belfast Agreement (also referred to as the
‘Good Friday Agreement’ or simply ‘The Agreement’) This document formed
the style of devolution currently experienced in Northern Ireland. Included
within the agreement is a provision for a democratically elected legislative
body for Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Act 1998 laid out the process
for electing the Assembly members and for the peaceful transfer of functions
for the new Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Northern Ireland Assembly
The powers conferred on the New Northern Ireland Assembly include the
power to adopt the primary legislation for the province. However, The
Northern Ireland Act 1998 clearly delineates between those matters within the
legislative competence of the Assembly and those matters outside of its
competence. Drawing distinction between transferred, entrenched, excepted
and reserved matters The Northern Ireland Act 1998 clearly defines the scope
of the Assembly's powers. Entrenched matters include The Human Rights Act
1998. The European Communities Act 1972, and other basic constitutional
documents. These matters cannot be altered or amended by the Assembly.
Excepted matters are defined as matters that are outside of the legislative
competence of the Assembly. Reserved matters are those matters, which are
within the legislative competence of the Assembly but can only be legislated
on with the consent of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. All other
 matters are considered transferred matters and are deemed with the legislative
competence of the Assembly.
Northern Ireland Delegated Legislation
Since 1998 delegated or secondary legislation for the province has taken
any one of four forms. It has been issued as UK statutory instruments
extending to Northern Ireland. UK statutory instrument made primarily or
exclusively for Northern Ireland, statutory rules made under the authority of an
act of the UK government, or as statutory rules made under the authority of an
act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The existence of the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for
Wales and the new Northern Ireland Assembly, alongside the UK Parliament
falls short of the federal system of government for the United Kingdom.
However, UK research is starting to adopt a flavor more associated with the
United States, Australia or Canada in which both national and regional (state,
provincial, or territorial) variances of law must be considered. While the term
‘devolution’ has been used throughout this article in describing the recent
constitutional changes in the UK, the term ‘revolution’ is more appropriate in
describing the changes.

The British Government

The two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of
Lords and the House of Commons) are based at The Palace of Westminster,
also known as the Houses of Parliament, in London.
The palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the London
borough of the City of Westminster, close to the government buildings of
Whitehall.
Parliament decides the laws and make decisions on running the UK.
(Some issues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are now dealt with by
their respective parliaments and assemblies.) There has been a parliament at
Westminster since the 13th Century.
The UK government is normally formed by the leader of the party that
wins the most seats in the general election. All actions by the government -
and particularly its proposals to amend or create laws – are scrutinised within
parliament.

How is Britain Governed?

Who runs the UK?

The British government runs the UK. The leader of the government is the
Prime Minister.
 Parliamentary democracy
Great Britain (UK) is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional
Monarch as Head of State.
The principle behind British democracy is that the people elect Members of
Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons in London at a general election, held
no more than five years apart. Most MPs belong to a political party, and the party
with the largest number of MPs in the House of Commons forms the government.
For the first time since 1707, the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland have more say over what happens in their countries, the UK Parliament has
devolved (given away) some of its powers to other national and regional bodies. It
is only England, that doesn't have its own parliament. Issues that effect England
are decided by the UK government, which consists of MPs from all over the UK.

The British Parliament

British people live in a democratic country, which means we all have a say in
how the country is run. Parliament represents the people. It is where we send our
chosen representatives to represent our views in the House of Commons.

What is Parliament?
Parliament is where politicians (MPs) meet to decide laws and make decisions
for the United Kingdom. It is not the same as the Government (which runs the
country). One of the jobs Parliament does is to check that the Government is
running the country properly.
What is the job of Parliament?
The main functions of Parliament are: 
– to pass laws;
– to provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of
government
– to scrutinise government policy and administration, including proposals for
expenditure;
– to debate the major issues of the day.

Parliament is made up of three parts:

– The Queen
– The House of Lords
– The House of Commons

The Queen
The Queen is the official Head of State. Britain has a constitutional monarchy
where the Queen only rules symbolically; in reality, power belongs to Parliament.
So, although the Queen ‘opens’ Parliament each year and laws are passed in her
name, the Queen herself plays no part in determining decisions made in
Parliament.
The Queen has the final say on whether a bill becomes law.
The last Monarch to reject a law that was wanted by both Houses of Parliament
was Queen Anne. She died in 1715.
The House of Lords
The House of Lords is made up of people who have inherited family titles and
those who have been given titles because of their outstanding work in one field or
another. There are 675 members of the Lords.
The main job of the House of Lords is to ‘double check’ new laws to make
sure they are fair and will work.
The House of Commons
The House of Commons has 659 members who have been elected by local
residents to represent an area of the country in Parliament. The members are called
MPs (Members of Parliament). Each MP represents one of 659 constituencies
(areas) in the UK and is a member of a political party, such as New Labour or the
Conservative party.
The Commons is the most important place for discussing policies and making
laws.

General Elections
A UK Parliament has a maximum duration of five years. At the end of
the five year or before, a general election must take place so new members of
parliament can be elected by the people.

What is a General Election?

The election of all Members of Parliament (MPs) for each constituency
(local area) is called a General Election. In the UK we vote for the best
candidate in our local area to represent us in the House of Commons.

The UK system is not like the US system where you vote for the
President/Vice-President, then your local representatives separately.  In the
UK, the winning candidate becomes MP and takes a seat in the House of
Commons.  The party with the majority of seats in the Commons gets to form
the government.  That party’s leader becomes Prime Minister.
In the UK we have the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
People can only vote for a MP to represent us in the House of Commons. The
Lords are appointed or inherited.
How often do General Elections take place?
 General elections have to take place at least every five years and are called
by the Prime Minister (the leader of the Government).
Who can become a MP?
People are nominated as candidates to become MPs. Any one over the
age of 21 can be a candidate.
How does an MP get a seat in Parliament?
When an MP gets the most votes for his constituency (local area) he
gains a seat. This means he has a place in Parliament.

The British Government

What is the difference between Parliament
and the Government?
The Parliament and Government mean two different things.
 Parliament represents the people.
 Government runs the country and is also elected by the people.
The Government runs the country
Being a Member of Parliament (MP) is not the same as being in Government.
The political party that has more seats than all the others runs the country.

For example after the 1992 general election the largest party, the
conservatives, had 21 more seats than the all the others. This is called a majority.
With such a majority they could out vote all the other parties, so they formed the
Government. Their party Leader, John Major, became the Prime Minister.

After the 1997 general election the picture was rather different: the Labour
Party had a majority of 179 and its leader, Tony Blair, became Prime Minister. All
parties aim to win a majority of seats. When they do, they become the
Government.

In the 2010 general election no single party won enough majority of seats to
form the government alone. So in order to form a government two or more parties
had to join together. David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, formed
a new government, in coalition (A coalition is an alliance among individuals or
groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest,
joining forces together for a common cause) with the Liberal Democrats.

The leader of the Government

is the Prime Minister
The new Prime Minister chooses a team of people from Parliament who will
run the country with him. Any MPs or Lords in the team he or she picks are now
members of the UK Government.
There are normally about 100 people in a UK government.
 The Government is different from Parliament.
The Government is also different from the rest of the party who won the election.

The British Prime Minister

Unlike the US, British voters do not choose their Prime Minister (PM).
He/she is voted for within their political party.
The leader of the party in power becomes the
Prime Minister.
The leader of the political party with the most MPs in the House of Commons
is asked by the Queen to become Prime Minister and to form a government that
will manage the country. 
Who is the party in power today?
Britain has two parties in power.

In the 2010 General Election, no party won an over all majority of seats.
David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, formed a new government,
in coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
Parliamentary elections are held once every five years, or less.
Who is the British Prime Minister?
At present, the Prime Minister is Theresa Mary May, who is the leader of
the Conservative Party. She has been characterized as a liberal conservative. She is
the second female Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader after Margaret
Thatcher.
Every week the Prime Minister appears before the House of Commons and
must answer questions put to him or her by the members of Parliament.

The Prime Minister is the head of the UK

Government
The Prime Minister heads the Government and appoints Ministers, who head
individual Government departments.
The Secretaries of State
The most important ministers are called Secretaries of State and they form
the Cabinet.
The Secretaries of State are in charge of a Government Department (a
ministry). Each minister is responsible for his department, and makes sure that his
department applies the policy of the government.
The most important Secretaries of State are:
 The Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance)
 The Foreign Secretary (international affairs)
 The Home Secretary (internal affairs)
 The Lord Chancellor (the legal system)
 The Secretary of State for Education
 The Secretary of State for Transport and the Environment.
Shadow Cabinet
The two other main political parties also have their own ‘shadow cabinets’.
Where does the Prime Minister live?
Traditionally, the official residence of the Prime Minister is at Number 10
Downing Street.
He also has a house in the country called Chequers.

What is Chequers?
Chequers is a country house belonging to the Government, which is used as
the Prime Minister[s non-London residence. If the PM needs to hold a private conference of some
of his Ministers or receive foreign visitors over a weekend, Chequers is usually where it is done. It is also
used by Prime Ministers to entertain guests as a special privilege.

The House of Commons Chamber

MPs hold most of their debates in the House of Commons Chamber. The
Speaker, who controls proceedings, sits on a raised chair at one end of the
Chamber.
The Government sit on the benches on the Speaker’s right, whilst
members of the Opposition party MPs occupy the benches on the Speaker’s
left. The Opposition's job is to oppose the Government. The biggest
Opposition party sits directly across from the Government benches.
What are the red lines on the carpet in front of each set of
benches for?
The red lines in front of the two sets of benches are two-sword lengths
apart; a Member is traditionally not allowed to cross the line during debates.
The lines are there to prevent either side attacking the other during a debate. Of
course, MPs are not likely to attack each other these days.
The main Political Parties
There are three major political parties, in the House of Commons:
1. Labour
2. Conservative
3. Liberal Democrats
As well as the three major political parties the UK also has various minor
ones, some of whom have seats in parliament.
 How are laws made in the UK?

Laws are rules that everyone in the country must obey. In a democracy,
like the UK, nobody is above the law. About one hundred new laws are passed
each year.

How does Parliament make new laws?

A proposed new law is called a bill. Bills must be agreed by both Houses
of Parliament and receive Royal Assent from the Queen before they can
become Acts of Parliament which make our law.

The Bill is introduced by a First Reading. This is simply an official notice

that a Bill is going to be proposed and what it’s about. It gives MPs time to
prepare and discuss it.

Shortly afterwards comes the Second Reading. At this point the principles
are considered on the floor of the House. The Bill is then sent to be looked at
by small groups of MPs who examine the Bill in detail.

At the Third Reading the Bill is debated and there is a vote. If the
Government has a majority, the Bill is then passed to the House of Lords.

Once a Bill has passed through both Houses, it is sent to the Queen for the
Royal Assent. Once it has Royal Assent the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
It is the law of the land.

Since 1952, The Queen has given Royal Assent to 3135 Acts of
Parliament.
 SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Text 1.
THE ANGLO-SAXONS

With the Romans gone, Britain became a prey to invasion from all sides. For
many years the Picts and Scots, now freed at last from the restraint of garrisons
along the Wall, came sweeping down from the north on to their less hardy
neighbours. It is very probable that the Britons called in the help of the Saxons to
defend them and that the Saxons, having won the battle, decided to stay, by force if
necessary. Other accounts say that the first leaders of the Saxons came as exiles
and later, by treachery, overthrew the British king. Whatever may be the exact
origin of the invasion, it is fairly certain that it took place in the second quarter of
the fifth century. The history of these years is very obscure, but it is clear that the
invaders belonged to three nations, the Angels, the Jutes and the Saxons, and that
they came from the Low Countries and the coast of modern Germany. Between
them they divided up the conquered territory into numerous small kingdoms, each
with its own royal family descended from the god Woden. Gradually these
“English” settlers formed themselves into one people, with the West Saxon kings
supreme.
By the beginning of the ninth century a new danger threatened the island. It
was the turn of the Danish Vikings to invade. Frequently peace was bought by
offerings gifts and money to the invaders. But the Danes always came back for
more. It was then that a great king arouse, the famous Alfred, who reigned from
871-900. he was an exceptional general and by his victories influenced the course
of history. For if the Vikings had won, England would have become a
Scandinavian colony. Alfred too, if not the father of the Royal Navy, was the first
to make it an organized and powerful fleet. For his success in war alone he
deserves the title of “Great”, but he was in addition a considerable scholar. He
translated many Latin works in English” and encouraged learning in all fields.
Under him the country prospered and the language became purer. Whatever the
future might bring, England from now on would remain English. There were
indeed further invasions. There were not successful, but soon after the year 1000
the Danes came back in force and conquered the country within a few months. For
about a generalization England formed part of a Danish Empire, but the union did
not long survive the death of the great Danish-English king Canute. The Norman
Conquest was drawing near.
From “Butterfly”

Text 2.

KING ALFRED THE GREAT

By the middle of the ninth century the whole country between the River Forth
and the River Thames was in the hands of the Danes – “Vikings”. (The Norse word
vik means “creek” or “nook” and it corresponds to the English word “Wick” as in
such names as Hampton Wick, Wickford, Chiswick.)
It seemed that even Wessex must be overrun before long, and the Anglo-
Saxon civilization would disappear altogether. But then the youngest of Egbert’s
four grandsons became king, and proved himself one of the greatest in all English
history.
King Alfred was only twenty-three years old at the time, but he had already
taken part in much of the fighting under his brother Ethelfred. For seven years
more he carried on the struggle, up and down the valley of the Thames. In the
winter of 878 the Danes, under their leader Guthrum, made a surprise attack which
completely routed Alfred’s forces. He was obliged to take refuge on a little island
of dry land called Athelney, amid the marshes of the river Parret in Somersetshire.
(In the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford there is the Alfred Jewel which bears a
portrait of the king and the words “Alfred had me wrought”. It was found at
Athelney in 1693). But he never gave up hope. Within six months he gathered
another army from the fyrds of Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset; and he beat the
Danes so soundly at the battle of Ethandune (878) that they promised to keep away
from Wessex for the future, provided they were left in possession of the north-
eastern part of the country. Furthermore, Guthrum and his chief men became
Christians. This was the famous treaty of Wedmore.
Alfred then took steps to prevent the Danes from ever becoming dangerous
again. He built earthwork forts called “bursh” defended by men who held land in
the neighbourhood. He increased the number of thegns (= thane), and arranged that
they should take regular turns in doing military service. He re-organized the fyrd
so as to make it a more effective force in times of danger; and he built a fleet to
protect the coasts from further raids.
Civilization had slipped back; but he was determined to set it on the road of
progress again. He sent for skilled workmen and builders and scholars from
abroad; he had translations made from Latin books into Anglo-Saxon; he arranged
for records of the chief events of each year to be kept in monasteries – the famous
“Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”, and he started a school for the sons of thegns. All these
labours he carried through handicapped by constant illness – he was still only a
middle-aged man he died.

Adapted from “A Short History of Britain”

Text 3.
Alfred’s Military Work
Alfred would hardly have been able to do so much unless his own character
had been singularly attractive. Other men have been greater warriors or legislators,
or scholars than Alfred was, but no man has ever combined in his own person so
much excellence in war, in legislation, and in scholarship. As to war, he was not
only a daring and resolute commander, but he was an organizer of the military
forces of his people. One chief cause of the defeat of the English had been the
difficulty of bringing together in a short time the “fyrd”, or general levy of the
male population, or of keeping it long together when men were needed at home to
till the fields. Alfred did his best to overcome this difficulty by ordering that half
the men of ea.ch shire should be always ready to fight, while half remained at
home. This new half-army, like his new half-kingdom, was stronger than the whole
one had been before. To an improved army Alfred added a navy, and he was the
first English king who defeated the Danes at sea.
Alfred’s Law and Scholarship
Alfred did not want to make every one conform to some ideal of his own
choosing. He took the old laws and customs, and then, suggesting a few
improvement, submitted them to the approval of his Witenagemot, the assembly of
his bishops and warriors. He knew, also that men’s conduct is influenced more by
what they think than by what-they are commanded to do. His whole land was
steeped in ignorance. The monasteries had been the schools of learning; but many
of them had been sacked by the Danes, their books burnt, and their inmates
scattered, whilst others were deserted, ceasing to receive new inmates because the
first duty of Englishmen at that time had been to defend their home rather than to
devote themselves to a life of piety. Latin was the language in which the services
of the Church were read, and in which books .were written. Without knowledge of
Latin there could be no intercourse with the learned men of the Continent, who
used that language still, amongst themselves. Yet when the Danes departed from
Alfred’s kingdom there were but very few priests who could read a page of Latin.
Alfred did his best to remedy the evil. He called learned men to him wherever they
could be found. Some of these were English; others, like Asser, who wrote
Alfred’s life, were Welsh; others again were Germans from beyond the sea. Yet
Alfred was not content. It was great thing that there should be again schools in
English for those who could write and speak Latin, the language of the learned, but
he thought about those who could not speak anything but their own native tongue.
He decided to be the teacher of these people. He himself translated Latin books for
them, for he wanted them to receive knowledge. When he knew anything which
was not in the books, but which he thought it good for Englishmen to read, he
added it to his translation. Even with this he was not content. The books of Latin
writers which he translated taught men about the history and geography of the
Continent. They taught nothing about the history of England itself, of the deeds
and words of the men who had ruled the English nation. That these things might
not be forgotten, He asked his learned men to write down all that was known of the
history of his people since the day when they first landed as pirates on the coast of
Kent. “The Chronicle”, as it is called, is the earliest history which any European
nation possesses in its own tongue.

Text 4.
MAGNA CARTA
After the death of William II there followed two able kings – Henry I (1100 –
1135) and Henry II (1154 – 1189) who greatly improved the standards of law and
administration; a weak king, Stephen (1135 – 1154), whose reign was a period of
anarchy; and the great Crusader, Richard I Coeur de Lion (1189 – 1199). The latter
was a great warrior in Palestine but of little importance as a king of England, from
which country he was mostly absent. He was succeeded in 1199 by his brother
John, who, though a man of ability, quickly alienated the country by his arrogance.
While still a prince he had won only hatred for himself by his administration in
Ireland, and on ascending the throne he had too to pay for his brother’s previous
extravagance. At one time he even held his kingdom as a nominal vassal of the
Pope, the result of unconditional surrender to the latter’s (=Pope’s) demand after a
quarrel about nominees for the Archbishopric of Canterbury. But the great event of
the reign was the signing of Magna Carta in June 1215. it was a formal charter
drawn up the barons to secure reforms in the administration and to ensure John’s
acceptance of them. They solemnly swore to withdraw their allegiance from him if
he did not agree to the terms, and it was only when open warfare was on the point
of breaking out that the king reluctantly gave away. The document is not quite the
advanced charter of civil liberties that it was once thought to be. It is more in the
form of a contract between the king and the barons, defining their relations. It is
the first detailed statement of feudal law. There are numerous clauses relating to
inheritance, wardship, marriage, debt, the imposing of certain taxes, and the
righting of personal wrongs. The main points are that: - no free man may be
punished except after judgement of his equals or by the law of the land; justice
may not be denied, delayed or sold; the church must enjoy considerable liberty;
there must be one weight and measure for the country. Twenty-five barons formed
a committee to enforce the observance of the Charter and were allowed to hold the
Tower and the City of London. The revolts however continued, mainly due to the
legislation of temporary rebellion as a guarantee of the Charter. John began a
vigorous campaign to crush the rising but died before it was over. The crown
passed to his son Henry III (1216 – 1272), a boy of nine. This reign too was the
scene of further struggles between the king and his barons, perhaps its most
significant event being the Model Parliament of 1265, the forerunner of the modern
House of Commons.
From “Butterfly”
Text 5.
THREE GREAT ENGLISH CHATERS

Why was it so important that King John should sign Magna Charta? And why
did he at first refuse to “grant liberties that should leave him a slave?”
Because Magna Charta protected every freeman – every Englishman, that is,
except the serf, who still remained in the lord’s power – and gave him many rights.
Let us see what some of these rights were.
Magna Charta protected the rich and the nobles from taxation. The king was
only to levy taxes within certain limits on certain definite occasions, for instance,
when his eldest son became a knight. It allowed no freeman to be imprisoned,
deprived of his property, outlawed or exiled, except by the law of the land.
Merchants received permission to travel freely and do business. The king promised
never to sell, refuse, or delay right and justice to any of his subjects.
Magna Charta has very often been broken since John signed it 750 years ago.
Parliament has confirmed it time after time. Many new charters have been given to
the people. One of these, which was passed in 1679, in the reign of Charles II, is
called the Habeas Corpus Act, from the first two words in it, for, like Magna
 Charta, it is in Latin. Habeas Corpus here means: “Take the body,” i.e. the
prisoner.
Habeas Corpus made it illegal to keep anyone in prison without a trial, and set
a severe punishment on so doing. People had not forgotten how Mary Stuart,
Queen of Scots, had been kept a prisoner in England for eighteen years before she
was finally tried, condemned, and executed. Under the Stuart kings, Puritans and
Quakers had been in prison time after time without being tried. Habeas Corpus
decided that every prisoner should have as quick and fair a trial as possible.
In 1689, James II lost his throne in the bloodless English Revolution, and
Parliament offered the crown to his daughter Mary and her husband, William of
Orange. Before they were crowned as William III and Mary II, they had to make a
solemn declaration of the rights of Parliament. Through an Act of Parliament their
declaration became the law of the land, and is known as the Bill of Rights.
What did this Charter give to Parliament? The right to settle the succession to
the throne; absolute power over the army and the navy; the sole right to raise taxes.
In a word, it turned England into an absolutely constitutional monarchy. From
1689, England has been governed, not by the king or queen, but by Parliament and
by the Ministry. The ministers, since then, are no longer chosen by the political
party which has a majority of seats in the House of Commons. This is called Party
Government.
We can now understand the great importance of these three charters. Magna
Charta gives Englishmen the right to live as freemen under a sovereign who
promises to respect their freedom. Habeas Corpus gives every prisoner the right to
be quickly and fairy tried. The Bill of Rights ensures party government in a
constitutional monarchy.
From “Learning English”

Text 6.
REMEMBERING SIMON DE MONTFORT

ON Wednesday, 20th January, the House of Commons met to remember a very

special occasion.
After Prayers and a short statement from the Speaker, Members went to join
the Peers in the Royal Gallery and there they saw documents relating to the famous
Parliament summoned by Simon de Montfort in January, 1265. They also saw a
copy of his seal and of a stained glass window showing a portrait of Simon.
The point of it all was that before 700 years representatives of English towns
had been, for the first time, summoned to attend Parliament. Until then only
noblemen and churchmen had been considered worthy to advise the king.
The great man who was the wisdom of this step – though he was in advance
of his time – was Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. He was leader of a reform
party of barons, 50 years after Magna Carta, and had recently defeated Henry III
and the opposition party at the Battle of Lewes (a place which is 50 miles from
London).
 The opposition party had their revenge six months after the summoning of this
famous parliament, when Earl Simon and one of his sons were defeated and slain
at the Battle of Evesham.
The celebrations of the origins of Parliament were witnessed by the American
and French Ambassadors. This is because the US shares with the English the early
days of English history; and because Simon was born in Normandy.
Earl Simon inspired great devotion, and even popular songs, in the humble
folk of England, who regarded him as their champion.

From “Coming Events in Britain” (Adapted)

Text 7.

MARY STUART, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND

Mary Stuart had become queen of Scotland when only a few days old. Sent to
France at the age of five to be brought up by her mother’s family, she was married
to Dauphin in 1558, the year that Elizabeth became queen of England. Her husband
only reigned for one year as king before his death in 1560, and Mary returned as a
widow to her own capital of Edinburgh. There she found that the country had been
converted to Protestantism by the reformer John Knox and she had to consent to
the undisturbed maintenance of the new creed.
The question of her second marriage was of high importance, her choice
falling on her cousin Lord Darnley. The latter however was a weak and unworthy
husband and within two years of the marriage was murdered by the simple method
of blowing him up with gunpowder. This was almost certainly done with the
agreement of the queen, as was her “kidnapping” by the Earl Bothwell, who had
been the instigator of the murder.
Within a very short time she was married to Bothwell, but this immediately
led to the rebellion all over the country. With her subjects in both political and
religious opposition to her, Mary was forced to abdicate, and then, after escape
from prison and raising an army, which was defeated, to flee across the border to
England.
This fateful choice of country for her exile took place in May 1568. Her
reason for choosing England rather than France was that it was nearer and might
provide her with the quickest chance of revenge. But there was no help coming
from Elizabeth, for whom Mary’s presence was an embarrassment. She was
therefore detained in various castles for almost twenty years, since to have restored
her to her throne by force was impossible politically and to have handed her over
to the Scots for execution unthinkable treachery.
However Mary, as was almost inevitable, became involved in plots to
overthrow the Queen and gave eager encouragement to the designs for a Spanish
invasion. Mary was therefore tried and condemned to death, her son, James VI of
Scotland, agreeing to “digest” his resentment provided her execution did not
prejudice his own claim to the English succession on Elizabeth’s death.
The death-warrant was signed in February 1587 and execution carried out a
few days later at Fotheringay Castle.
 The following year saw the defeat of the Invincible Armada and Elizabeth’s
reign gradually drew to a close, with the great events over and England’s position
firmly established.
On the queen’s death in 1603, James VI of Scotland succeeded peacefully to
the English throne as James I, thus uniting the two thrones and ending the hostility
between the two countries.
From “Butterfly”

The Liberal Party and the Labour Party

The Conservative Party and the Liberal Party are more than three hundred
years old. The Tories called the Liberals “Whigs”. A “whig” was a Scottish
preacher who could go on for 4 or 5 hours at a time preaching moralising sermons.
In the middle of the 19th century the Liberal Party represented the trading and
manufacturing classes. It’s slogan at that time was “Civil and Religious Liberty”.
William Gladstone headed the first administration (1868-74) and for long periods
the Liberals had a Parliamentary majority. During the second half of the 19th
century many working people looked at the Liberal Party as an alternative to the
Conservatives and their policy.
At the end of the 19th century and in the first two decades of this, the
Liberals lost the support of working-class voters. In 1988 the Liberal Party made
an alliance with Social Democrats and the Party of Liberal Democrats was formed.
The Labour Party, formed in 1900, was the one which drew away working
people’s support. It was founded by the Trade Unions. When the Labour
Government was first elected in 1945 it showed no radical change in policy from
the Tories.
Since 1924, the Labour Party has been in and out of power four times with
the Conservatives forming the government for the rest of the time. The social
system has remained unchanged. As a result of divisions within the Labour Party
its right-wing members broke away in 1981 to form a new organization, the Social
Democratic Party. Its policy is very similar to that of the Liberals.
They fought the 1983 election in an alliance with the Liberals, but only a
small number of their MPs were elected.
APPENDIX
PARKS