VIII. Speak on the following topics:

a) the geography of the Astrakhan Region, the climate of the Astrakhan Region.

b) the population of the Astrakhan Region, the Region’s economic development.

c) the cultural life of the Region, the places of interest in Astrakhan.

d) Astrakhan is an educational center.

Lesson 5. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland / Великобритания.

Exercise 1: Read and translate the text, learn the active vocabulary:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political name of the country which is made of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is often abbreviated to "UK". The capital of the whole United Kingdom is London. You should know that "the United Kingdom" is also called Britain.

Britain is one of the world’s smaller countries with an area of some 244,000 square kilometres; with some 56 million people, it ranks about 14-th in terms of population.

The United Kingdom is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles lie off the western shores, of Europe. They are separated from the Continent by the Strait of Dover, the English Channel (La Manche) and by the North Sea. A warm ocean current, the Gulf Stream, washes Britain’s western shores. In the northwest the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The Irish Sea separates Great Britain from Ireland in the west.

The island of Great Britain can be roughly divided into two main regions - Lowland Britain and Highland Britain. The Pennine Chain extends southward from the Cheviot Hills into the Midland. England is separated from Scotland by the Cheviot Hills. Scotland has three natural topographic divisions: the Southern Uplands, the Central Lowlands, and the Northern Highlands which contain Ben Nevis, the highest point in the British Isles.

Wales is mountainous; North Ireland contains many plateaus and hills.

Snowdon is the highest mountain in England and Wales.

The rivers flow east Into the North Sea (the Tweed, the Tyne, the Thames) and west into the Irish Sea or the British Channel (the Mersey, the Avon and the longest river in England - the Severn).

England has no large lakes. But the lake District in the northwestern part of the country is known for its beauty. There are sixteen lakes there.

The climate is mild and temperate. This is duo to the Gulf Stream which warns its shores. Rainfall is plentiful during the whole year. The heavy fogs of England arc famous. January and February are usually the coldest months, July and August – the warmest.

The most important natural resources of England are iron and coal. Copper, zinc, lead and building atone are the principal materials taken out of the ground.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment.

Being an island Britain had to develop its fleet as a major means of transportation and communication with the rest of the world. Today Britain is one of the great maritime nations of the world. The harbours of the island serve as convenient ports among which are London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Portsmouth and others.

Great Britain is famous for its shipbuilding industry. The largest shipbuilding yards are in Glasgow.

Britain is the world’s third largest trading nation, accounting for about 11 percent of international trade in manufactured goods.

Agriculture takes an important sector in economy of the country. Britain has different types of farming; ranging from beef breeding in Scotland and sheep farming in the mountains of growing wheat, barley, oats and potatoes in the eastern counties.

Sea fishing is of great importance in Scotland and in the northeast of England.

Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a Constitutional monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, as head of State. The country is governed in the Queen’s name by the Government. The Quean is the temporal head of the Church of England.

The British Parliament consists of two Houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Queen opens each new session with a speech setting out the government’s broad programme.

The House of Commons, which plays the major part in lawmaking, consists of 635 elected members of Parliament (MPs), each representing an area in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. MPs are elected at a general election hold every five years. The minimum voting age is 18. The Government is formed by the political party, which can command majority support in the House of Commons. Its leader is the Prime Minister, who chooses ministers, of whom 20 are in the Cabinet. The executive power is exercised by the Cabinet. The House of Commons is presided over by the Speaker.

The House of Lords is made up hereditary. The House is presided over by the Lord Chancellor who is head of the judiciary in England and Wales. Legislative measures are introduced into Parliament as Bills by ministers or by other MPs.

The work of Government is carried out through the various government departments.

Since 1945 Government has alternated between two political parties, the Conservatives (the Tory) and Labour Party. The third long-established party, the Liberals, enjoyed moments of success, but no member of this Party has held government office since 1945.

Flag: Known as the Union Jack, the flag has the red cross of St. George of England, the white cross of St. Andrew of Scotland, and the red cross of St. Patrick of Ireland, all on the blue background.

Anthem: "God Save the Queen/King".