Section A

“Britain”

Britain, as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is usually known, is not one country but four. It is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and the province of Northern Ireland. Each of the four parts is quite different. The English countryside is famous for its farmland and gentle hills, while Wales and Scotland are more wild and mountainous.

Although English is the national language, it is spoken with a strong accent in the different regions of the country and in parts of Wales and Scotland, many people speak a language of their own. Britain is a multicultural country and over the last 100 years, refugees and immigrants from Europe, Africa, India and the Caribbean have settled here, bringing with them their own languages and religions.

Britain is a small but crowded island. The most densely populated area is the southeast of England and 12 % of Britain’s population lives in the London area. The southeast is also the most prosperous. Although three quarters of Britain’s land is farmed, few people have their homes in the countryside and most live in one of the large cities.

Britain is a rich country and once controlled a vast empire that stretched around the world. In recent years its economy has declined, but the discovery of oil in the North Sea has helped to make the country self-sufficient in energy.

Vocabulary

a countryside

gentle hills

mountainous

a refugee

a crowded island

densely populated

prosperous

a vast empire

to stretch

to decline

self-sufficient

сельская местность

небольшие холмы

гористый

беженец

густо населенный остров

густо населенный

процветающий, успешный

большая империя

простираться, распространяться

приходить в упадок, ухудшаться

самообеспеченный

Test

Britain is not one country but...

two

three

four

Britain is made up of England, Wales, … and the province of Northern Ireland.

Scotland

Switzerland

Georgia

The English countryside is famous for its farmland and ….

mountains

hills

lakes

Refugees and immigrants from Europe, Africa, India and the Caribbean have … in Britain.

settled

set up

sitted

The most densely populated area is the … of England.

southwest

northeast

southeast

… % of Britain’s population lives in the London area.

In recent years Britain’s economy has …

declined

improved

not changed

The discovery of oil in … has helped to make the country self-sufficient in energy.

the North Sea

English Channel

Scotland

Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.

1. What percentage of the British population live in the London area?

2. Name three places refugees and immigrants have come from in the past 100 years.

3. What has helped to make Britain self-sufficient in energy?

4. How much of Britain’s land is farmed?

5. What is the most densely populated area of Britain?