Урок страноведения

ГБПОУ ВО «Воронежский техникум пищевой и перерабатывающей промышленности»

Методическое пособие

для практических работ студентов

по специальности «Повар-кондитер»

Great Britain Studies (страноведение Великобритании)

Дисциплина: Иностранный язык (английский язык)

Разработал:

Преподаватель: Енат О. А.

Воронеж 2020

Пояснение

Настоящее учебно-методическое пособие по дисциплине «Страноведение. Великобритания» является вспомогательным элементом для учащихся ВТППП предназначено для аудиторной и самостоятельной работы студентов II-III курса, специальности «Поварское и кондитерское дело»

Тематика текстов охватывает основные аспекты географической и культурной жизни Великобритании и США. Тексты информационно и лексически насыщены. Работа с ними и выполнение прилагаемых заданий позволяет обучающимся приобрести навыки всех видов чтения: ознакомительного, поискового и с полным пониманием прочитанного. По прохождении материала, представлен итоговый тест, оценивающий полученные знания.

Усвоение страноведческого материала, содержащегося в текстах, способствует расширению кругозора у студентов и обеспечивает в будущем эффективную коммуникацию с зарубежными партнерами в сферах как профессионального, так и повседневного общения.

Страноведение. Великобритания. Задания (вводные)

GEORGAPHICAL LOCATION

Перед тем как читать тексты найдите на карте части Соединенного королевства и их столицы. Запомните их.

• Столица Англии и соединенного королевства — Лондон.

• Столица Шотландии — Эдинбург.

• Столица Уэльса — Кардиф.

• Столица Северной Ирландии — Белфаст.

1. Do the test to check your knowledge of the country.

 1. Great Britain is situated … a) in Europe

b) on the British Isles

c) in America

 2. The United Kingdom consists of … parts. a) 2

b) 4

c) 5

 3. The capital of GB is … a) Glasgow

b) Liverpool

c) London

 4. London is situated on the river… a) Avon

b) Thames

c) Severn

 5. The English say: “We have no climate, only … .” a) geography

b) weather

c) winds

 6. The UK is a …. a) monarchy

b) parliamentary republic

c) democratic state

 7. We call people from GB …

a) British

b) English

c) Scottish

 8. About 2,000 years ago The British Isles were inhabited by …

a) the Celts

b) the Romans

c) the Angles

 9. The British money is …

a) dollar

b) pound sterling

c) frank

 10. The name of the queen is …

a) Elizabeth 1

b) Elizabeth 2

c) Elizabeth 3

 

The Geographical Position of a Country, its Nature and Climate. Список английских слов

New Words:

1. to occupy – занимать

2. to border on – граничить c

3. to be situated on/ in/ to  – находиться на/к …

4. to be situated in the south of… — находиться на юге от …

5. to be situated to the west of… — находиться к западу от …

6. to be located in/on – располагаться в/ на …

7. to cover with — лежать, покрывать; расстилаться

8. to cover the territory of — занимает территорию …

9. to lie in (to) – лежать на (к)

10. to lie in the north of… — лежать на севере …

11. to lie to the east of… — лежать к востоку …

12. to wash — омывать

13. to be washed by — омываться (морем, океаном)

14. main — главный

15. to flow — течь (о реке)

16. to flow into (run into) — впадать

17. to differ from – отличаться от…

18. temperate, moderate – умеренный  (о климате)

19. to stretch over — простираться

20. to strech from … to… — простирается от… до…

21. to separate — отделять

22. to be separated by — отделяться …

23. densely (thinly) populated — густо населена (мало населена)

24. consist of — состоять из

25. in the east – на востоке

26. in the west – на западе

27. in the south – на юге

28. in the north – на севере

29. land – суша

30. island (on the island) – остров (на острове)

31. continent (on the continent) – континент (на континенте)

32. an island state – островное государство

33. the white chalk cliffs of Dover – меловые утесы Дувра

Task 6. Прочитайте текст про Соединенное королевство.

Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) is the official name of the state, which is situated on the British Isles. This state is also called Great Britain after the main island with the same name. The UK consists of four countries, which are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

Geographical position of the UK. Географическое положение Соединенного королевства

The UK is an island state. The two main islands are Great Britain (where England, Scotland and Wales are situated) and Ireland (where Northern Ireland and the independent Irish Republic are situated). The two islands are separated by the Irish Sea. The UK is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the North Sea in the east.

The UK is separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. The Strait of Dover is the narrowest part of English Channel. The nearest point to Europe is Dover which is only thirty-two miles from France. Dover is one of the most ancient ports. If you cross the English Channel by ferry you can see the white chalk cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle.

Nationalities. Национальности

Everyone who was born in Britain is British. People from England are English. People from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not English. They are Scottish or the Scotts, Welsh and Irish.

Languages. Языки

Everyone in Britain speaks English. But in some parts of Scotland and Wales people speak different languages as well. The Welsh are especially proud of their language. They like to speak Welsh, to sing songs in Welsh and when you travel you can see road signs in Welsh all over Wales. Everyone in the UK speaks English but they all speak it differently. A Scottish person has to listen carefully if he wants to understand a Londoner or a Welsh person.

! The Scottish people speak Gaelic [‘geɪlɪk] (гаэльский, язык шотландских кельтов).

Population. Население

More than 56 million people live in Britain. Many of them live in big industrial cities like London. The biggest cities of England are Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool (England); Edinburg, Glasgow, (Scotland).

Nature. Природа

Foreigners are often surprised by the fact that much of land in Britain is open country. There are many lonely hills, quiet rivers, deep lakes and just farmlands especially in the south of the country. The open country is named Lowlands but it changes for hills called Highlands in the north of the country.

Climate. Климат

The climate in Great Britain is very mild. The winter temperature is between +3° and +7°. Snow does not cover the ground very long, except on the mountains. The summer temperature is between +15° and +18°.  It often rains.

The English weather is very changeable. So when English people make plans for holidays  they usually begin, “If the weather…”

State Symbol. Государственный символ

The flag of the United Kingdom is known as the Union Jack. It is made up of three crosses: the cross of St. George (the patron saint of England), the cross of St. Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland) and the cross of St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland).

Упражнения к тексту «Great Britain»

Упражнение 1. Read the text and complete the following sentences:

1. … is the official name of the state which is situated on the British Isles.

2. The capital of Great Britain is …

3. The capital of Scotland is …

4. The capital of Northern Ireland is …

5. The capital of Wales is …

6. Ireland and Great Britain are separated by …

7. The UK is separated from the continent by …

8. The UK is washed by… in the west.

9. The UK is washed by … in the east.

Упражнение 2. Complete the following sentences making the right choice.

1. The Union Jack is …

the flag of the UK

the flag of the USA

1. English is spoken …

all over Britain

only in England

1. The UK is the official name of the country situated …

on the island which is called Great Britain

on the British Isles

1. Edinburgh is the capital of …

Wales

Scotland

1. The independent Irish Republic is situated …

in Northern Ireland

on the smaller of the two biggest islands of the British Isles

1. Great Britain and Ireland are separated by …

the North Sea

the Irish Sea

1. The nearest point to Europe is …

the Strait of Dover

Dover

1. The UK is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in …

the north

the west

Упражнение 3. Fill in articles where necessary.

(1) ________ United Kingdom is situated on (2) ________ British Isles which are separated from (3) ________ continent by (4) _________English Channel and (5) _________Strait of Dover. (6) __________two main islands of (7) _________ British Isles are (8)_________Great Britain and (9) ________Ireland. (10) _______ England is situated in (11)________ south of (12) _______ Great Britain and (13) _______ Scotland in its (14) ________ north. (15)_______ two big islands are separated by (16) _______ Irish Sea.

Изучите тему «Артикль the с географическими названиями» 

Упражнение 4. Complete this text about Great Britain and learn it by heart.

Use the words: mild, large, falls, rain, sightseeing, Western, Atlantic, temperature, pound, population, Highlands, English, London.

Great Britain is a (1) …. country, a kingdom in (2) …. Europe. It lies on several islands and has a (3) …. of about 57 mln people. Great Britain’s capital is (4)…. and the national currency is a (5) …. . (6) …. is the language that people speak in the country. The climate in Great Britain is very (7) …. . There are a lot of (8) …. falling out all the year round. The wind brings rain from the (9) …. Ocean. Snow only (10) …. occasionally and doesn’t stay for long except in the (11) …. of Scotland. The usual (12) …. in England and Wales are + 4°C in January and + 16°C in July and August. A lot of tourists come to Great Britain every year to do some (13) …. in its big and small towns.

Упражнение 6. Answer the questions.

1. What is the official name of Great Britain now?

2. What parts does the UK consist of and what are their capitals?

3. What is the national symbol (emblem) of England (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)?

4. What is the British flag called? Why?

5. What are the names of two main islands of the British Isles?

6. What separates Great Britain from the continent?

7. What do we call the narrowest part of the English Channel?

8. Why is the UK called an island state?

9. What do we call people who were born in Britain? In Scotland? In Wales? In Ireland?

10. Is English the only language people speak in the UK?

11. What is the Union Jack? What does the Union Jack look like and what does it symbolize?

12. What language is spoken in Scotland? In Wales? In Ireland?

13. How big is London compared with other cities?

14. How does the scenery change across the country?

15. What is the British climate like?

16. What is the English weather like?

17. What is Stratford-upon-Avon famous for?

18. What is Oxford famous for? Cambridge?

19. What is Liverpool famous for?

20. What is Lake district famous for?

Упражнение 7. Match the country and its symbol.

Countries of the UK: England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland

Symbols: Daffodil, Rose, Shamrock, Thistle

Cities of the United Kingdom

Topical Vocabulary

1. to have a very large population for its size - иметь слишком большое население для ее (страны) размеров

2. industries - промышленность

3. to develop - развиваться

4. to move into cities - переехать в города

5. farming - обработка земель

6. to be done by machines - производиться машинами

7. to travel to work in the towns - ездить на работу в города

8. the population of about - население около (примерное количество)

9. a world centre for business and money trading - мировой центр бизнеса и финансов

10. the country’s largest port - крупнейший порт страны

11. a cultural centre with numerous museums - культурный центр с бесчисленными музеями

12. to attract large audiences - собирать большую аудиторию

13. an engineering centre - центр машиностроения

14. to produce iron and steel for machinery - производить железо и сталь для станков

15. to produce woolen goods - производить изделия из шерсти

16. a centre of producing steel goods - центр производства изделий из стали

17. to be famous for heavy industry - быть знаменитым тяжелой промышленностью

18. to be noted for architecture - быть известным архитектурой

19. an art gallery - художественная галерея

20. to be associated with science - быть связанным с наукой

21. a historic building - историческое здание

22. the annual festival of arts - ежегодный фестиваль искусств

23. «The Athens of the North» - Северные Афины

24. a busy shopping area - оживленный торговый центр

25. a suburb - пригород

26. around the edges of smth.- вокруг границ чего-либо

27. to make the best use of space - лучше всего использовать пространство

About 57 million people live in Great Britain. It has a very large population for its size. Nine people out of 10 live in towns and cities. British cities began to grow when industries developed. Lots of people left the country and moved into cities to work in industry. Later more people moved to cities because farming was done mostly by machines. Other people choose to live in a country village and travel to work in the towns. Britain’s largest cities are: London with the population of about 7 million people, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Edinburgh (all with the population less than one million). London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is built on the river Thames. It is a world centre for business and money trading. It is also the country’s largest port and a cultural centre with numerous museums and theatres. Plays, musical shows, operas and concerts attract large audiences, including many tourists. Birmingham is Britain’s second largest city and its engineering centre. It produces iron and steel for making cars, ships, aeroplanes and machinery. Leeds, the third largest city in the United Kingdom, produces woolen goods. Sheffield is a centre of producing steel goods.

Glasgow is famous for heavy industry. Besides, it is an important cultural centre. It is noted for its architecture and art galleries. Edinburgh is the city of science. It is associated with science, beautiful historic buildings and the annual festival of arts. Edinburgh is called «The Athens of the North».

There are a lot of small towns in Great Britain, too. Most towns have a busy shopping area in the centre. Now there are new suburbs around the edges of old cities and old towns. New buildings are planned to make the best use of space.

Answer the questions:

1. Why do most people in the United Kingdom live in towns and cities?
   

2. What part does London play in the life of the United Kingdom?
   

3. What goods are produced in Birmingham and Leeds?
   

4. What is Glasgow famous for?
   

5. What is Edinburgh famous for?
   

Translate into English:

1. Население Великобритании (57 миллионов человек) - большое для страны такой величины.
   

2. Люди переезжали из деревни в город, так как земли стали обрабатываться машинами.
   

3. Лондон - деловой и финансовый центр страны; в нем находятся центральные учреждения различных организаций.
   

4. В Бирмингеме производится сталь, в Лидсе - изделия из шерсти, в Шеффилде - изделия из стали.
   

5. Глазго, крупный культурный центр страны, известен также тяжелой промышленностью.
   

Topical Vocabulary

1. an economic, political and cultural center -экономический, политический и культурный центр

2. a suburb-пригород

3. to have a population of-иметь население (количество)

4. an ancient building-древнее здание

5. the crown jewels-королевские драгоценности

6. Changing of the Guards-смена караула

7. a magnificent museum-великолепный музей

8. a Roman town-римский город

9. on the north bank of the Thames-на северном берегу Темзы

10. one of the world’s major cities-один из крупнейших городов мира

11. an area of-район чего-либо

12. a rich man’s world of shops, offices and theatres-мир богатых - мир магазинов, офисов и театров

13. a district-район (города)

14. to be concentrated-быть сконцентрированным

15. the Royal Exchange-Лондонская биржа

16. the Bank of England-Банк Англии

17. working people-рабочий класс

18. a port area-портовый район

19. to be quiet and empty-быть тихим и пустынным

20. to stay alive -зд.: быть оживленным

21. to come to enjoy oneself-приходить отдыхать, развлекаться

22. an opera house-оперный театр

23. nearby-близлежащий

24. a pub-кабачок, пивная

25. a restaurant-ресторан

26. a night club-ночной клуб

27. a concrete building-бетонное здание

28. to be full of trees, flowers and grass-быть полным деревьев, цветов и травы

29. to live outside the centre-жить вне центра

30. to travel to work by train, bus or underground-ездить на работу на поезде, автобусе или метро

London- Capital of the United Kindom

London is the capital of the United Kingdom, its economic, political and cultural centre. It is one of the world’s most important ports and one of the largest cities in the world. London with its suburbs has a population of about 11 million people.

London has been a capital for nearly a thousand years. Many of its ancient buildings still stand. The most famous of them are the Tower of London, where the crown jewels are kept, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Most visitors also want to see the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace (the Queen’s home with its Changing of the Guards) and the many magnificent museums.

Once London was a small Roman town on the north bank of the Thames. Slowly it grew into one of the world’s major cities.

Different areas of London seem like different cities. The West End is a rich man’s world of shops, offices and theatres. The City of London is the district where most offices and banks are concentrated; the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England are here, too. The East End is the district where mostly working people live. The old port area is now called «Docklands». There are now new office buildings in Docklands, and thousands of new flats and houses.

By the day the whole of London is busy. At night, offices are quiet and empty, but the West End stays alive, because this is where Londoners come to enjoy themselves. There are two opera houses here, several concert halls and many theatres, as well as cinemas. In nearby Soho the pubs, restaurants and night clubs are busy half the night.

Like all big cities, London has streets and concrete buildings, but it also has many big parks, full of trees, flowers and grass. In the middle of Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens you will think that you are in the country, miles away.

Many people live outside the centre of London in the suburbs, and they travel to work in shops and offices by train, bus or underground («The Tube»).

Answer the questions:

1. What part does London play in the life of the United Kingdom?
   

2. What are the most famous ancient buildings of London?
   

3. What are different districts of London famous for?
   

4. Why do some districts of London stay alive at night?
   

5. What has London except concrete buildings?
   

6. Where do many people live?
   

Translate into English:

1. Лондон - экономический, политический и культурный центр, один из крупнейших портов страны и один из крупнейших городов в мире.
   

2. Самые знаменитые древние здания - Лондонский Тауер, Вестминстерское аббатство, собор Святого Павла, Парламент, Букингемский дворец.
   

3. Лондон был небольшим римским городом.
   

4. Вест-Энд - район магазинов, офисов и театров, район богатых людей.
   

5. В Сити сконцентрированы банки, офисы, в том числе Лондонская биржа и Банк Англии.
   

6. В Ист-Энде живут рабочие.
   

7. В Докланде, бывшем районе портов, сейчас много новых офисов.
   

8. В Вест-Энд лондонцы приезжают развлекаться.
   

9. В соседнем Сохо жизнь идет и ночью.

Topical Vocabulary

fortress

destiny

to be crowned

ancient

grave

Scotland- Capital of Edinburgh

Прочитай текст и выполни задание.

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It is situated on hills. Many centuries ago, a fortress was built on the top of the highest hill. It was named Din Eidyn and it became the castle of Edinburgh, the national symbol of Scotland. For a long time, it was the residence of Scottish kings and queens. King James I, the son of Mary Stuart was born there. In the Castle, tourists can see the Stone of Destiny. It is a big grey stone which was used when kings or queens were crowned. Tourists enjoy walking along the Royal Mile. It is a series of streets with ancient houses. It is like a museum in the open air. There is an unusual monument in this city. It is not to a famous person. It is a monument to a dog, that didn’t leave the grave of his dead master for 14 years. There are a lot of other sights in Scotland and its capital.

Расположи пункты плана к изложению текста в соответствии с его содержанием. Занеси cвои ответы в таблицу.

a. An unusual monument
b. The birthplace of the famous king
c. Geographical position of the city
d. The Royal Mile
e. The Stone of Destiny
f. The faithful dog
g. The symbol of Scotland
h. The capital of Scotland
i. The Royal House
j. Other sights

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10

Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A – F частями предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1 – 7. Одна из частей в списке 1 – 7 – лишняя. Занесите цифру в таблицу.

Cardiff – Capital of Wales

Cardiff, the capital of Wales, extends a very warm welcome to all its visitors. It was established on the fabulous wealth of a vast coal empire and now it is becoming one of the finest maritime cities in Europe.

Cardiff is a beautiful city A______________________________. Yet both are evident all around the city. The spectacular Civic Centre, in gleaming white stone, stands alongside green avenues of magnificent town houses.

Many of the finest department stores in Britain fill the pedestrian city centre. Four excellent new shopping malls together with countless speciality shops provide a comfortable shopping environment all year round.

Cardiff is an international city with a range of lively and interesting restaurants to suit every pocket and taste, B______________________________.

Wales lives up to its reputation of being the “land of song”, C______________________________. Welsh National Opera presents all its new productions at the New Theatre in the city. In addition to the opera, there are several theatre groups, D______________________________.

Cardiff also offers peace and relaxation in its magnificent city parks. The Central park features beautiful formal gardens and small lawns E______________________________.

For sports enthusiasts there are many facilities, F______________________________. Cardiff is not just another city - it is a city that makes you feel happy and relaxed. It is a completely new experience in a magical country.

1.	and Cardiff is home to many great song performers
2.	that is better known for rugby football than elegance and entertainment
3.	and Cardiff welcomes many touring companies with their stage performances
4.	that is appreciated by tourists all four seasons a year
5.	that are perfect for a family picnic or a quiet walk
6.	from home-made pizzas to oriental cuisine and fine Indian dishes
7.	from swimming pools and tennis courts to riding centres and golf clubs
A	B	C	D	E	F

Topical Vocabulary

flow – течь

urban –городской

maritime temperature

latitude

hurricane

brew

prominent- выдающийся

vibrant

inhabitant -житель

Dublin - Capital of Ireland

Dublin is the capital of Ireland and the largest city of the country. The English name of the city comes from Irish “Dubh Linn”, which means “black pool”. Dublin is situated at the mouth of the River Liffey, which flows into the Irish Sea. The population of the city itself is about 506,000 people. However, the population of the urban area (the city and the suburbs) is about 1.7 million people. It should be mentioned that Dublin is home to a great number of immigrants. Dublin is characterized by maritime temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers. Due to its northerly latitude, the city experiences long summer days (about 17 hours) and short winter days. Dublin is quite safe from such natural disasters as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Dublin is the center of political, economic and cultural life of the country. The main industries of the city are brewing, pharmaceutical, information and communication technology. Finance and commerce are not the least important as well. All in all, Dublin is considered as the tenth most expensive city for living in the world.

There are several theatres and museums in Dublin. The city is also famous for its literary history. Such prominent writers and playwrights as Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and the creator of Dracula, Bram Stoker come from Dublin.

Dublin has a vibrant nightlife and is thought of as one of the most youthful cities in Europe because about 50% of the inhabitants are younger than 25. The area for nightlife and entertainment, known as Dublin’s cultural quarter, is the Temple Bar. Dublin has produced several popular musicians and groups such as U2, The Dubliners, Horslips, Thin Lizzy, Paddy Casey and some others.

Due to a number of large department stores such as Clerys, Arnotts and Brown Thomas, Dublin is a popular shopping spot not only for Irish people but for tourists as well.

You won’t regret if you ever visit this interesting place.

Questions:

1. What is the capital of Ireland?

2. Where does the name of the city come from?

3. Where is Dublin situated?

4. What is the population of Dublin?

5. What climate is in Dublin?

6. What are the main industries of the city?

7. What is the cultural life in Dublin?

8. Is shopping popular in Dublin?

Do the test.

GREAT BRITAIN

REVISION

1. The UK is situated …

a) on the British Isles

b) in Europe

c) in America

2. Everyone from Scotland is …

a) British

b) Irish

c) Scottish 

3. The UK is composed of 5,500 …

a) countries

b) islands

c) states

 4. The two main islands in the UK are Ireland and …

a) England

b) Great Britain

c) Ireland

 5. The UK is separated from the European continent by …

a) the English channel

b) the North Sea

c) the Atlantic Ocean

 6. London is situated on the river …

a) Thames

b) Avon

c) Severn

 7. The head of the UK is …

a) the president

b) the Prime Minister

c) the Queen

 8. London is an… city.

a) eastern

b) ancient

c) small

 

9. … turned London into a sizeable port and an important trading center.

a) the Angles

b) the Romans

c) the Normans

 10. The heart of London is …

a) the City

b) Westminster

c) the east End

 11. The West End is a … part.

a) political

b) business

c) rich and entertaining

 12. Fleet Street is famous as the home of …

a) the nation’s newspapers

b) banking system

c) the Prime Minister

 13. The work of the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren is …

a) the Tower

b) Westminster Abbey

c) St. Paul’s Cathedral

 14. … was founded in the 11^th century by William the Conqueror.

a) the Tower

b) Trafalgar Square

c) the Parliament

 15. From Norman times British monarchs have been crowned and since the 13^th century they have been buried in …

a) Westminster Abbey

b) the Tower

c) Buckingham Palace

 16. The official home of the British royal family in London is…

a) Buckingham Palace

b) Westminster Abbey

c) St. Paul’s Cathedral

 17. Many years ago it was a big vegetable and fruit market. What is it?

a) Trafalgar Square

b) Covent Garden

c) the British museum 

18. In the center of Trafalgar Square there is the statue of …

a) Elizabeth 2

b) Admiral Lord Nelson

c) Queen Victoria

 19. The capital of the United Kingdom … is situated on the river … .

a) London, Severn

b) London, Thames

c) Edinburgh, Thames

 20. Everyone from England is … .

a) British

b) English

c) English-British

 21. The two main islands in the UK are Ireland and …

a) England

b) Great Britain

c) Northern Ireland 

22. From Norman times British monarchs have been crowned and since the 13^th century they have been buried in …

a) Westminster Abbey

b) the Tower

c) Buckingham Palace

 23. When do they celebrate Halloween?

a) 31 October

b) 28 October

c) 31 November

 24. The chairman of the House of Lords is … .

a) the Speaker

b) the Lord Chancellor

c) the Talker

 25. The United Kingdom is a … .

a) parliamentary monarchy

b) republic

c) democratic state

 26. What was founded in the 11^th century by William the Conqueror?

a) the Tower

b) Westminster Abbey

c) St. Paul’s Cathedral

27. What is the official home of the British royal family in London?

a) Buckingham Palace

b) Westminster Abbey

c) St. Paul’s Cathedral

28. What is the head of the UK?

a) the president

b) the Prime Minister

c) the Queen

 29. The United Kingdom consists of … parts.

a) 2

b) 4

c) 5

 30. The English say: “We have no climate, only … .”

a) rains

b) weather

c) snowfalls

 31. What is the political part of London?

a) the City

b) Westminster

c) the East End

 32. When is the Christmas day?

a) 25 December

b) 7 January

c) 26 December

 33. London consists of … parts.

a) 4

b) 2

c) 3

 34. Many years ago it was a big vegetable and fruit market. What is it?

a) Trafalgar Square

b) Covent Garden

c) the British museum

 35. The work of the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren is …

a) the Tower

b) Westminster Abbey

c) St. Paul’s Cathedral

Do one more text to check your knowledge of the country.

Choose the correct answer from the variants listed below.

1. What is the official name of the country whose language you study?

a) Great Britain; b) England; c) the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

2. How many countries does the United Kingdom consist of?

a) four; b) three; c) two.

3. What is the capital of Scotland?

a) Manchester; b) Edinburgh; c) Cardiff.

4. What is the capital of Wales?

a) Edinburgh; b) Cardiff; c) Liverpool.

5. What is the capital of Northern Ireland?

a) Cardiff; b) Dublin; c) Belfast.

6. What is the state system of the United Kingdom?

a) a constitutional monarchy; b) a parliamentary republic; c) a limited monarchy.

7. What is the symbol of the United Kingdom?

a) a bald eagle; b) Britannia; c) a rose.

8. What is the name of the British national flag?

a) the Union Jack; b) the Saint Andrew's Cross; c) the Saint David's Cross.

9. What is the emblem of England?

a) a shamrock; b) a red rose; c) a leek.

10. What is the emblem of Scotland?

a) a daffodil; b) a dragon; c) a thistle.

11. What are the emblem of Wales?

a) a shamrock, a clover and a red hand; b) a rose and the Saint George's Cross; c) a dragon, a daffodil, a leek, a dove.

12. What is the emblem of Northern Ireland?

a) a shamrock; b) a red rose; c) a thistle.

13. What chambers does the British Parliament consist of?

a) the Senate and the House of Representatives; b) the House of Lords and the House of Commons; c) the Cabinet of Ministers and the Shadow Cabinet.

14. Who presides in the House of Lords?

a) the Lord Chancellor; b) the Speaker; c) the Prime-Minister.

15. Who presides in the House of Commons?

a) the Lord Chancellor; b) the Speaker; c) the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

16. Where does the British Premier live and work?

a) at 10 Downing Street; b) in the Houses of Parliament; c) in Buckingham Palace.

17. What is the most important airport in Great Britain?

a) Heathrow Airport; b) Gatwick Airport; c) Stensted Airport

18. What is the tallest building in England?

a) the Tower of London; b) the Canary Wharf Tower; c) Hampton Court Palace

19. What is the London residence of Queen Elizabeth II?

a) the Tower of London; b) Windsor Castle; c) Buckingham Palace

20. Where is Nelson's Column situated?

a) in Parliament Square; b) in Trafalgar Square; c) in Piccadilly Circus

21. Where are British kings crowned?

a) in St. Paul's Cathedral; b) in Westminster Abbey; c) in Canterbury Cathedral.

22. Who was the architect of St. Paul's Cathedral in London?

a) Sir Christopher Wren; b) Edward Bailey; c) Henry Tate.

23. The ravens are a famous sight of …

a) the Tower of London; b) London zoo; c) Covent Garden.

24. What is the Scottish national costume for men?

a) the tuxedo; b) the bearskin; c) the kilt.

25. What like does the famous Scottish monster live in?

a) Lough Erne; b) Loch Lomond; c) Loch Ness.

26. What country is called a land of castles and princes?

a) England; b) Northern Ireland; c) Wales.

Points	26correct answers	25-19correct answers	18-13correct answers	12-0correct answers
Mark	excellent	good	satisfactory	poor

The British Character (text with exercises)

Customs and traditions always reflect the character of the nation. It is a common knowledge that every nation has a reputation of this or that kind. Here are some views on the British character or the character of the people who live on the British Isles.

The British people are said to be very polite and well-mannered. “Please, thank you and Excuse me” are used very often in Britain. They are rather conservative and reserved. They are considered to be the world’s tea drinkers.

Сontents:

1.Some views on the English Character

2.Some views on the Scottish, Welsh, Irish Character

Newspapers and TV form our opinion about different countries. So, what do you imagine when you think of Britain and its people?

What are the British like?

•  friendly and polite

•  conservative and well-mannered

•  cold and reserved

Конец формы

The British Character (text for intermediate)

People who live in Britain are called British. Many people think that ‘English’ is the same as ‘British’. But England is only one of the four nations in the UK. The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish are British too. They sometimes get angry when they are called ‘English’.

There are also millions of British people whose parents first came to Britain in the 1960s and 1960s from the Caribbean, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and other places. Their homes are mainly in the big English cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Some views on the English Character

Foreigners have many ideas what the English are like. For example, many people say that they are cold and reserved, friendly and well-mannered. You hardly find a person in England who dislikes tea drinking, home cooking and gardening. Their sense of humour is known all over the world.

As for other characteristics which are associated with the English, they are egoism, self-confidence, intolerance of outsiders, independence, love of comfort and a strong belief in private property. Moderation, the avoidance of extremes, the choice of middle way is among the essential qualities of the English.

The English have a strong sense of individualism which can be explained by the uniqueness of the British which was isolated from the European continent for a long time.

One thing never fail to confuse foreigners when they come to Britain and it is British meals. The English are used to certain food and seem never get tired of it. The legendary English breakfast is a hearty meal and a perfect start to a hard working day. This favourite meal consists of bacon, eggs, tomato, fried bread and a variety of sausages. It is usually finished off with slices of toast spread with orange marmalade and a cup of tea with milk (which is traditionally called English tea) or lemon.

The English are very fond of tea. They drink tea four or five times a day, but afternoon tea (which is usually taken at 4 or 5 p.m.) is a special treat.

Dinner is usually at 7 o’clock. It is the most substantial meal of the day and is a very formal one. Many people even wear special clothes for dinner.

The English are said to be a nation of stay-at-homes. Their famous saying “There is no place like home” is known all over the world.  When the Englishman is free, he likes to be at home with the company of his wife and children. There is another saying which is typical for the English — “The Englishman’s house is his castle.”

Undoubtedly, the English are rather conservative. They are proud of their customs and are reluctant to change them in a way. Examples of the English conservatism, such as eating traditional English food or reading a newspaper in the morning are well-known worldwide. On a large scale their conservatism is expressed through the attitude to the monarchy, for an example. The local conservatism can be easily noticed in private traditions observed at schools and societies.  So, Britain is the country of traditions and they make a nation special. Such are the English as we see them.

Some views on the Scottish, Welsh, Irish Character

Contrary to the English, the Scotts, the Welsh and the Irish are somewhat different.

The Scotts are rather kind, but at first glance not as friendly as the English perhaps. They like extremes. Sometimes, they seem to be gloomy and grey, whereas quite often they are highly coloured and extravagant. The Scotts are probably best known to the world for their traditional costume, the kilt, the short skirt worn by men. It has been the dress of Highlanders since old-times and has been very suitable for going through the wet, moorland country.

Wales is the place where national spirit and national pride are more intense than in any other part of the UK. The Welsh eagerly wear their national dress on festival occasions. The Welsh language is still preserved and taught in schools side by side with English. The Welsh are known for their highly developed artistic sense, as well as a distinguished record in the realm of poetry, singing and drama.

In the Northern Ireland the pace of life is slightly different from the whole of the country. Everything moves slowly, and people are usually not much in a hurry. Most of the Irish are considered to be hard-headed, business-like, self-conscious and very superstitious. Another national feature is that they are desperately afraid of being laughed at.

It is may seem difficult to tell an Englishman from an Irishman or a Scottish person and in this case a surname may help. If their surnames start with  ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ (for example, McDonald), this person is sure to come from Scotland or Ireland. The surnames that start with ‘O’ (for example, O’Brien) are always Irish.

The British Character. Questions and Exercises

Exercise 1.  Sometimes GB is called a strange island because some customs and manners differ from those accepted in other countries.

Начало формы

Choose what is usual for Britain.

•  to queue in a line waiting for a bus

•  to greet a friend as many times as you meet him during a day

•  to shake hands each time you meet your friends

•  to take off shoes as soon as you enter someone’s home

•  to keep a distance talking to a person (to stay at least an arm’s length away)

•  to jump the queue waiting for a bus

•  to bump into another person

Конец формы

Начало формы

Choose what is usual for Russia.

•  to queue in a line waiting for a bus

•  to greet a friend as many times as you meet him during a day

•  to shake hands each time you meet your friends

•  to take off shoes as soon as you enter someone’s home

•  to keep a distance talking to a person (to stay at least an arm’s length away)

•  to jump the queue waiting for a bus

•  to bump into another person

Конец формы

Exercise 2. There are some stereotypes about national characters.  Translate the sentences into Russian. Use Complex Subject.

• The Irish are said to be great talkers.

• The Scots are thought to be careful with money.

• The English are considered to be great tea-drinkers.

• The Russians are beleived to be lazy.

Which of the statements are stereotypes?

Exercise 3.  Make up sentences about the manners in your country. Use the sentences and the example.

• Take off your shoes entering someone’s home.

• Make way for a girl or older people.

• Give up your seat in favour of older people or other people who need it.

• Say “Good appetite” to people that are having a meal.

• Greet your friends each time you meet them during the day.

• Jump the queue waiting for a service.

Exercise 4. Some older people think that today young people are bad-mannered. What makes them think so? What rules do the young people sometimes break? What manners do you consider to be good or bad? Do you always follow these “rules of good behavior”?

Exercise 5. Can you explain the proverb “When in Rome do as Romans do”? Give the equivalent of the proverb in your language.

Конец формы

Keys:

ex. 3: 1.the; 2.the; 3 the; 4.the ; 5.the; 6 the; 7.the; 8.-; 9.-; 10.-; 11.the; 12.- ; 13.-; 14.-; 15.the; 16.the.

Scotland : 1. h; 2. c; 3. g; 4. i; 5. b; 6. e; 7. d; 8. a; 9. f; 10. J

Cardiff : A-2, B-6, C-1, D-3, E-5, F-7.

Test 1

Points	35correct answers	35-27correct answers	26-18correct answers	17-0correct answers
Mark	excellent	good	satisfactory	poor