Great Britain

Great Britain is situated on the British Isles and comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The British Isles consist of two larger islands: Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small Islands. Their total area is over 244,000 square kilometers. G.B is separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Chanel. It is washed on the western coast by the Atlantic Ocean and by the Irish Sea. Although, it is a small island, GB has a remarkable variety of landscapes. To the north and west are highlands, to the east are flat plains, and in the south are lowlands broken by low ranges of hills

Its population is 57 million people. GB is a densely populated country, particularly in the urban areas where the most people live (80 percent).

The country’s official name is the United Kingdom of GB and Northern Ireland. The capital of UK is London, in England. The capital of Wales is Cardiff, the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast, and Scotish capital is Edinburgh.

GB is one of the most powerful countries in Europe.Trere are many big industrial cities here, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool,Cardiff, Sheffield and many others. London, its capital, which is situated on the river Thames, is one of the biggest commercial centers in the world.

Britain is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textiles, aircraft, and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding. In northern England there are large deposits of coal and iron ore.

Britain is a parliamentary monarchy with a constitutional monarch –Queen Elizabeth 11. The power of the British Queen is limited by Parliament.

Parliament comprises the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen. The House of commons consists of 630 elected members of Parliament. They are elected by a general election. The seats in the House of Lords are hereditary. Thus, the House of Lords is non elected second chamber with more than 1,000 members. The election to Parliament are held every 5 years. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen. As a rule, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that has won the election. He nominates the members of the cabinet and if the Prime Minister resigns, the whole cabinet resigns too.

There are two main political parties in the UK – the Conservative and the Labour Party.

Task 1. Answer the questions.

Where is GB situated?

What parts does it comprise?

What is the total area of GB?

What is the population of GB?

What big industrial cities do you know?

What does GB produce now?

What is Britain’s political system?

What chambers does the BRITISH parliament comprise?

Task 2. Complete the sentences.

GB is situated on …

Britain is a leading manufacturer of …

Britain is a parliamentary monarchy with …

Parliament comprises …

Task 3. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense. They are all in the passive.

GB --- (wash) on the western coast by the Atlantic Ocean and by Irish Sea.

Members of Parliament --- (elect) by a general election.

The Prime Minister --- (appoint) by the Queen.

The traditional coal, textile shipbuilding industries --- highly (develop).