- •2.1. Lead-in
- •2.2. Language input
- •2.2.1. Consult a dictionary and practice the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations, quote the sentences in which they are used in the text or submit the examples of your own.
- •2.3. Background information The Political and Economic Profile of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- •2.4. Comprehension
- •2.4.1. Give extensive answers to the questions. Use the following expressions to present your answers:
- •2.4.2. Scan the text and quest for definitions in the Internet to determine whether these statements are true (t) or false (f), and if they are false say why.
- •2.4.3. Develop the following ideas. Make use of the active vocabulary and helpful phrases given in brackets:
- •2.4.4. Comment on the following topics thinking like sociologists:
- •2.4.5. Match the sentences in the left-hand column with proper ending from the right-hand column. Use background information from ex.2.3.
- •2.4.6. Scan the text again and find the English equivalents for the following:
- •2.5. Practice
- •2.5.1. Here is the list of some abbreviations, which relate to the uk’s political and economic profile. Try to guess what they mean. Consult a dictionary if needed.
- •2.5.2. Read the extract and fill in prepositions or conjunctions wherever necessary. Translate the text. Give the text the appropriate heading.
- •2.5.3. Supply the missing words and finish the following sentences considering information from the text above. See 2.5.2
- •2.5.4. Read the following sentences and guess which of the political or economic terms and concepts given in the box they define:
- •2.5.5. A) Read the text and fill in the gaps with the suitable items (a-g) given below.
- •2.5.6 According to the meaning given in brackets find the only word to fill in the gap in the sentence.
- •2.7.2. Search the Internet for the key terms and great historical events:
- •2.8. Case study & role play
- •The uk economy - a fragile state?
- •2.9 Grammar back up: The Infinitive
- •1. Is the verb followed by a full or bare Infinitive?
- •Insert to before the infinitive where required. Translate the sentences into Russian.
- •2. Which verbs are followed by Complex Object?
- •3. Is the infinitive or the ing-form used after the verbs of perception?
- •With the verb “ turn out “.
- •B. Paraphrase the following using a Complex Subject with the verbs in brackets.
2.4. Comprehension
Understanding the reading
2.4.1. Give extensive answers to the questions. Use the following expressions to present your answers:
- It ran through my mind that…
- Beyond the shadow of a doubt…
- To begin with…
- I am afraid I don’t know…
- Frankly speaking, I am in a real predicament…
1. What do you think contributed to the fundamental continuity of the British political system?
2. How did the British political history progress?
3. What are the milestones along the road to full democracy in the UK?
4. What were the reasons for the King of England to require the approval of Parliament to tax his subjects?
5. Why do you think the bicameral structure of the British Parliament proved to be the best two-chamber model for very many parliamentary systems in the world?
6. Why do you think the franchise extension was an apple of discord between the Liberals and the Conservatives for so many years?
7. What are the reasons from your point of view for the fact that the UK’s state structure is based on the regional rather than federal concept?
8. Is there any separation of powers between the EU Government and the UK’s Government?
9. What are the limitations on the UK’s Government’s authority caused by the British EU membership?
10. The British say that the Queen reigns but she doesn’t rule. Comment on this statement.
11. How are the powers separated in the UK’s Government?
12. What are the UK’s current economic ratings in the world?
13. What is the contribution of the British Empire to the world’s economic development?
14. What is the UK’s progress in the struggle to recover from the 2008 financial crisis?
15. How can the UK’s austerity plan eliminate its current account balance deficit which is the sixth largest in the world?
16. What are the prospects for keeping inflation and interest rates under control?
17. What are the percentages of agriculture, industries and services in the UK’s GDP make-up? How can you account for them?
18. What is the evidence of the UK’s being a typical postindustrial society?
Scanning
2.4.2. Scan the text and quest for definitions in the Internet to determine whether these statements are true (t) or false (f), and if they are false say why.
1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland came into being on 1 May 1707, as a result of the political union of the Kingdom of England (which included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland.
2. The British political history has essentially been a struggle to shift political power and accountability from regional parliaments to national parliament.
3. Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are not independent countries but are four somewhat autonomous regions which are part of the country known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or just United Kingdom for short.
4. Hereditary and primogeniture principles mean that the oldest female child of a monarch is the next in line to the throne.
5. Magna Carta was the first document forced onto a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their privileges.
6. GDP per capita is a measure of personal income and cannot be considered an indicator of a country's standard of living.
7. The UK is the world's leading global financial services centre and the most internationally focused marketplace in the world.
8. The Party of Whigs included many of the leading aristocratic dynasties committed to the Protestant succession, and later drew support from elements of the emerging industrial interests and wealthy merchants, while the Party of Tories were associated with the landed gentry, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland.
9. By the mid 19th century the Tories had evolved into the Liberal Party, and the Whigs had evolved into the Conservative Party.
10. The recovery effort of the UK’s economy from the 2008 crisis has been rather strong.
11. Inflation rate refers to a general rise in prices measured against a standard level of purchasing power.
12. Having two legislative chambers grew out of the monarchy system in the UK, where there was a need to represent both the aristocracy and the common man.
13. One of the disadvantages of a bicameral parliament is that with two legislative bodies, there is enhanced oversight of the executive branch.
14. A bicameral parliament has the capacity to formally represent diverse constituencies (regional, class, ethnic, etc.)