And Northern Ireland

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which is sometimes referred to as Great Britain or Britain (after its major isle), England (after its major historic part) or the British Isles. But there is one more name: Albion (Альбион). Two thousand years ago, in the year 55 before our era, Julius Caesar, struggling forward on his galley (галера) to unknown land, saw white cliffs (утесы). “The land behind them must be white too. We shall call it Albion”, said he. Alba in Latin means white, and the name Albion remains to this day.

Great Britain is situated on two large islands, the larger of which is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland. In addition to these two islands Great Britain includes over five hundred small islands. The total area of Great Britain is 240,000 sq.kms, its population is about 59 mln. people.

In the north-west and west the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, in the east – by the North Sea. The island of Great Britain is separated from France by the English Channel. Northern Ireland which is part of Great Britain and which is situated on the island of Ireland, is separated from Great Britain by the North Channel.

The island of Great Britain is divided into two parts: mountainous (in the north and west of the island) and lowland (in the south and east). There are no very long rivers in Great Britain. The most important rivers are the Thames (the deepest) and the Severn (the longest). The rivers seldom freeze in winter. The climate of the British Isles is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Winters are not so cold as they can be on the continent, but summers are not so hot as they usually are on the other side of the Channel. In other words Great Britain has a mild climate.

Great Britain consists of four main parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The island of Great Britain contains three “nations” which were separated at earlier stages of their history: the English, the Welsh, the Scottish. Wales had become part of the English administrative system by the 16^th century. Scotland was not completely united with England until 1707. The United Kingdom is the name which was introduced in 1801 when Great Britain became united with Ireland.

Scotland is in the north. Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Britain. Although Scotland has its own language – Gaelic (гаэльский), most Scottish people speak English. The national emblem or symbol of Scotland is a thistle. It was adopted by King James III in the 15^th century. The patron saint of Scotland is St.Andrew.

Wales is in the west. It is a country of hills and mountains with deep rivers and valleys. Cardiff is the capital of Wales. The most important towns are Swansea and Newport. Wales has its own Welsh language. The national emblem of Wales is leek. Saint David is their patron.

The Irish live in Northern Ireland. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. The symbol of Northern Ireland is a shamrock and a red hand. Saint Patrick is the patron of Ireland. The largest and most densely populated part of the United Kingdom is England. The symbol of England is a rose, and Saint George is their patron.

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross is the cross of St.George. The white diagonal cross is the cross of St.Andrew and the red diagonal cross is the cross of St.Patrick.

Administratively Great Britain is divided into 55 counties. The biggest cities of Great Britain are London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool.

Great Britain is not very rich in mineral resources. Over three quarters of Britain’s land is used for farming; farms produce nearly half of the food that Britain needs. The UK is a highly industrial country, known as a producer and exporter of machinery, electronics, aircraft and navigation equipment.

Once the British Empire included a large number of countries all over the world ruled by Britain. The process of decolonization began in 1947 with the independence of India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Bangladesh and Burma. Now there is no longer an empire. But the UK tried not to lose influence over its former colonies. An association of former members of the British Empire and Britain was founded in 1949. It is called the Commonwealth. It includes many countries, such as Ireland, the Sudan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Grenada, Malta, the Antilles, the Bahamas, the Bermudas, the Solomon Isles, Barbados to name only a few.

The Queen of Great Britain is the Head of the Commonwealth but she is not the queen of Canada, Australia and New Zealand as many people think.

Though Englishmen are known to be great travellers they like their home. People often say that the Englishman’s home is his castle. They mean that the home is very important and personal.

Many kinds of sport originated in Britain: tennis, football, rugby, cricket and golf.

Englishmen tend to be rather conservative. They are practical and realistic, prudent and careful about almost everything. Everything is orderly: the lawns and the trees are neatly trimmed. The English are great tea drinkers. They are known for their sense of humour.

The Scots are serious, inventive and somewhat mystical.

The Irish are known for their charm as well as for the beauty of the Irish girls.

The Welsh are emotional but sometimes reticent.

Let us remember the famous Englishmen who contributed to the world of art: architect Christopher Wren, painters Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, William Turner; writers and poets William Shakespeare, George Byron, Walter Scott, Robert Stevenson, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, George Bernard Shaw, Agatha Christie, scientist Alexander Fleming (who discovered penicillin). Nine noble prizes for literature have been won by Britons including R.Kipling (1907), T.S.Eliot (1948) and W.Golding (1983). Glory to all of them!

Exercises.

1. Suggest the Russian for:

is situated, in addition, the total area, in the east, mountainous part, lowland, the rivers seldom freeze, the climate is influenced, on the other side of the channel, main parts, earlier stages, completely united, until 1707, although, it was adopted, St.Andrew, diagonal cross, counties, produce, nearly, producer of machinery, once, ruled by Britain, the process of decolonization, to lose influence, great travellers, originate from Britain.

2. Suggest the English for:

северо-запад, остров, Ла-Манш, Северный пролив, глубокий, редко замерзают, на климат оказывает влияние, на другой стороне пролива, другими словами, мягкий климат, основные части, на ранних этапах истории, валлийцы, шотландцы, 16 век, гаэльский язык, чертополох, лук порей, трилистник, покровитель, вертикальный крест, диагональный крест, полезные ископаемые, три четверти, производят половину продуктов питания, высокоразвитая промышленная страна, авиационное и навигационное оборудование, когда-то, большое количество стран, независимость, правящие классы, терять влияние, прежние колонии, многие виды спорта, впервые зародились, архитектор, художник.