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Подберите определения к словам ответьте на вопросы по прочитанному материалу
предисловие
Данное пособие предназначено для обучения пониманию письменного текста и развитию навыков устной речи на английском языке студентов неязыковых специальностей и направлений.
Соответственно в данном пособии представлены следующие группы упражнений:
- прочитайте и переведите предложения с новыми словами;
- подберите определения к словам;
- ответьте на вопросы по прочитанному материалу;
- составьте собственные предложения с новыми словами;
- выскажите собственное мнение на одну из данных тем.
Упражнения, представленные в пособии, могут выполняться последовательно, формируя разные умения на английском языке. Или преподаватель может выбрать отдельные упражнения для развития того или иного умения в зависимости от цели занятия и уровня владения студентами английским языком. Упражнения могут выполняться студентами фронтально, в малых группах или индивидуально по выбору преподавателя.
Всё пособие построено на страноведческой тематике и посвящено британской культуре, обычаям и традициям. Оно содержит адаптированные и неадаптированные тексты из оригинальных источников.
Разные по объёму и степени адаптации тексты позволяют использовать пособие в группах разного уровня подготовки по английскому языку, способствуя дифференциации и индивидуализации обучения на неязыковых факультетах.
Большинство текстов данного пособия не предназначены для чтения и последовательного перевода. Начинать работу над каждым текстом следует непосредственно с выполнения упражнений.
Тексты могут быть переведены на русский язык для закрепления языкового и страноведческого материала после выполнения всех упражнений.
Помимо обучения чтению, тексты пособия могут быть использованы при изучении разговорных тем «Семья», «Дом», «Рабочий день», «Жизнь знаменитого человека», а также тем, посвящённых Великобритании: государственное устройство, история, достопримечательности.
Пособие может быть использовано для самостоятельной работы студентов, в том числе студентов–заочников, разных специальностей неязыковых факультетов.
I. Introduction to Britain.
EXERCISE 1. Read, translate and study the use of the new words to read and discuss the texts:
entire; ‘England’ is used in reference to the entire island of Great Britain.
to rule, to refer to; The UK has been ruled by the government in London since 1707.
vast , majority; English is the official language of the vast majority of the population.
identity; The Scots and the Welsh are proud of their separate identities.
a border, to border; Scotland has a land border to the south with England.
a principality; Wales is a principality.
to elect, elections; The year 1999 saw the first elections to the National Assembly of Wales.
to issue; Wales does not issue its own currency.
unsuitable; Much of Wales is unsuitable for crop-growing.
rural; Tourism is vital for rural areas.
to adopt, adoption; The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland adopted its name in 1801.
to negotiate; Britain negotiated with Ireland.
to establish; The Northern Ireland Assembly was established as part of the Belfast Agreement.
to scrutinize; The Assembly scrutinizes and makes decisions on the work of the government.
to suspend, to restore; Devolution to the northern Ireland Assembly and Executive was suspended in October 2002 and restored on 8 May 2007.
EXERCISE 2. Match each word with its correct definition:
Offence, to contain, principal, mysterious, a kilt, soil, unique, sparse
unusual, being the only one;
most important;
the state of being insulted;
to include, to comprise;
enigmatic, mystic;
of few and scattered elements;
firm land, the upper layer of earth;
EXERCISE 3. Read the texts and try to focus on the essential facts:
What is the difference between UK, England, Great Britain (GB) and British Isles?
"England" is sometimes, wrongly, used in reference to the whole United Kingdom, the entire island of Great Britain (or simply Britain), or indeed the British Isles. This is not only incorrect but can cause offence to people from other parts of the UK.
England, Scotland, Wales refer to different parts of the UK. The British Isles include many islands not even part of the UK.
England is a country in the UK and occupies most of the southern two thirds of Great Britain. The total area of England is 130,410 sq km (50, 352 sq ml).
England contains about 84% of the UK population.
The capital of the UK is in England.
The capital, seat of government, and the largest city in the United Kingdom is London.
London is also the capital of England.
All of Great Britain has been ruled by the UK government in London since 1707. (In 1999 the first elections to the newly created Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales took place leaving England as the only part of the Great Britain with no devolved assembly or parliament.)
The English language comes from England. As its name suggest, the English language, today spoken by hundreds of millions of people around the world, originated as the language from England, where it remains the principal tongue today. English is the official language of the UK and the first language of the vast majority of the population. Both Wales and Scotland have their own languages but English is spoken in both countries more.
The British Royal family live in England
Most of the world assumes that British people are "English" unless specified otherwise. This of course is wrong. British people can be Scottish, Welsh, Irish (living in Northern Ireland) or English. The Scots and the Welsh are proud of their separate identities and tend to be more forward about referring to themselves as Scottish or Welsh.
Message from Cameron:"Hey, I am from Scotland or Great Britain. I like to say that I am British but it seems that if I do that, some foreigners will automatically assume that I am from England. It really annoys me because I would like to say I am British, but the majority of the world's population do not understand, so I find it necessary to revoke my identity and call myself Scottish.... "
Where is Scotland?
Scotland is in north-west Europe and is part of Great Britain, an island country and the United Kingdom (UK) .Scotland is a mountainous country in the north of the island of Great Britain and shares a land border to the south with England and is bounded by the North Sea on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. Its capital city is Edinburgh.
Scotland has some 790 islands - 130 inhabited.
Scotland is Famous for.... Its fresh water lochs (lakes) – there are over 600 square miles of them. One of the most famous is Loch Ness where a mysterious monster is said to lurk in the depths of the water.
It is also famous for its clans, kilts, medieval castles, as well as poetry and songs of Robert Burns.
Theatre lovers from around the world come to Edinburgh for its famous theatres festival.
Famous People of Scotland.
Famous Scots include: Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, David Hume and the actor Sean Connery.
Famous musicians of Scotland include Annie Lennox, Wet Wet Wet, Travis and Simple Minds.
Government
On 1 July 1999, the Scottish Parliament was opened by HM the Queen, the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years. Scottish parliament responsibilities include social work services, health, local government and education.
Interesting Facts
Edinburgh was the first city in the world which had its own fire-brigade. Edinburgh – the capital of Scotland, like Rome, was built on seven hills.
Until 1603, Scotland (like England) had its own Monarch. In 1603, the King of Scotland became also the King of England ruling both countries.
Flag: Cross of St Andrew
National Day: 30 November
Area: 78,789 sq km
Population: 5,054,800 (2002)
Capital City: Edinburgh
Major Cities: Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow
Official Language: English (Scottish Gaelic is spoken by 1.4 percent of the population)
Nationality : Scottish and British
Highest point: Ben Nevis (1,343 m)
Longest river: Tay 193 kilometres (120 miles ) long
Where is Wales?
Wales is in north-west Europe and is part of Great Britain, an island country and the United Kingdom (UK) .
The name Wales comes from the Cymraeg word Gwalia, meaning in English "Homeland". It later became Latinized as Walia, then by the Normans to something like Wales....then Wales.
Wales (Cymru in Welsh) is a mountainous country on the western side of Great Britain.
Wales is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St George's Channel in the west, and the Irish Sea to the north. Technically, Wales is a principality. This means that it is ruled by a prince. Traditionally the Prince of Wales is the eldest son of the English monarch.
Wales is one of the four parts of the United Kingdom (along with England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland).
Wales has not been politically independent since 1282, when it was conquered by King Edward I of England.
Until 1999, Wales was ruled directly from London; that year saw the first elections to the National Assembly of Wales, which has limited domestic powers and cannot make law.
Wales does not issue its own currency and is not in control of any armed forces. These are the powers of the national government of the UK.
The national game of Wales is Rugby
Famous Welsh people
Wales is known for its great actors - Richard Burton, and today Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones. It is also known for its Celtic traditions and the Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) on its flag.
Laura Ashley - famous fashion creator.
David Lloyd George - past British Prime Minister,
Sir George Everest - famous traveler and explorer. The highest peak in the world is named after him.
Writers and poets
Roald Dahl (1916–1990), author
Dick Francis (born 1920), jockey and author
Dylan Thomas (1914–1953), poet
Ronald Stuart Thomas (1913–2000), poet
David Jones (1895–1974), artist and poet
Musicians
Tom Jones
Shirley Bassey.
Musical groups:
Catatonia,
Super Furry Animals,
The Stereophonics,
Manic Street Preachers.
Country Facts
Flag: Red dragon on a green and white field.
National Day: 1 March
Area: 20,779 sq km
Population: 2,918,700 (2002)
Capital City: Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Major Cities: Cardiff, Swansea (Abertawe) and Newport (Casnewydd)
Official Language: English and Cymraeg (Welsh)
Nationality : Welsh and British
Highest point: Snowdon 1085 metres (3559 ft)
Longest river: Towy (Tywi) 103 km (64 miles)
Largest Lake: Bala (4.4 sq km)
Official Animal Dragon
Economy
Coal, copper, iron, lead, and gold have been mined in Wales, and slate has been quarried.
Much of Wales, due to poor soil, is unsuitable for crop-growing, and so livestock farming has traditionally been the focus of agriculture.
The Welsh landscape, protected by three National Parks, and the unique Welsh culture bring in tourism, which is especially vital for rural areas.
Traditional Welsh Food
Welsh food is usually made from local ingredients.
Some traditional dishes include laverbread (made from seaweed), bara brith (fruit cake), cawl cennin (leek stew), Welsh cakes, Welsh Rarebit, and Welsh lamb. A type of shellfish, cockles, is often served with breakfast.
Facts about Northern Ireland
Where is Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland lies in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km²), about a sixth of the island's total area.
Northern Ireland is the second most sparsely populated part of the UK after Scotland, with 317 people per square mile (122 per square kilometre).
History of Northern Ireland.
In 1801 the whole of Ireland became part of the United Kingdom, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
After years of civil war, Ireland became a republic in 1921. At this time, Britain negotiated with Ireland to keep the six counties in the north-east of Ireland. These six counties now make up what is known as Northern Ireland. The southern part of the island is the Republic of Ireland, or Eire.
1927 - The current name of the UK, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted
Famous People of Northern Ireland
C.S. Lewis 1898-1963 Writer
Kenneth Branagh 1960- Actor and film director
James Nesbitt 1965- Actor
William Burke 1792-1829 Grave robber and murderer
George Best 1946-2005 Footballer
James Galway 1939- Musician
Northern Ireland is famous for ...
The Giant's Causeway.
The Giant's Causeway, situated on the North East coast of Northern Ireland, is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Most of the basalt columns are hexagonal in shape.
Famous Irish breweries include Guinness, Smithwicks (Kilkenny), and Harp Lager.
Government
The Northern Ireland Assembly was established as part of the Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement). The Assembly debates and makes laws, and scrutinizes and makes decisions on the work of the Northern Ireland government departments.
Devolution to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive was suspended in October 2002 and restored on 8 May 2007
Interesting Facts
HMS Titanic ship was built in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.
National Day: 17 March St Patrick's Day
Area: 5,459 square miles (14,139 km²)
Population: 1,685,000 (Census 2001)
Capital City: Belfast
Major Cities: Belfast, Londonderry, Lisburn, Newtonabbey, Bangor, Craigavon
Official Language: English, Irish and Ulster Scots
Nationality : British and Irish
Anthem (song) :God Save the Queen
Main religions: Protestant and Catholic
Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
Highest point: Slieve Donard mountain 848 m (2782 ft),
Longest river: River Bann 129 kilometres (80 miles)
Largest Lake: Lough Neagh - 151 square miles (392 km²) Also the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles.
EXERCISE 4. Answer the questions:
What are the parts of the UK?
What is the capital of the UK?
London is the seat of government, isn’t it?
What is the official language of the UK?
What are other languages spoken in the UK?
Where is Scotland situated?
What is the capital of Scotland?
Who are the famous people of Scotland?
What is the highest mountain in Scotland?
Where is Wales?
When was Wales conquered by King Edward 1 of England?
Since when the National Assembly of Wales elected?
Who is Wales famous for?
What is Scotland famous for?
Where is Northern Ireland situated?
When did the whole of Ireland become a part of the United Kingdom?
Ireland became a republic in 1921, didn’t it?
Do you know any famous people of Northern Ireland?
What Northern Ireland is famous for?
EXERCISE 5. Make up your own sentences using the vocabulary from Ex.1 and Ex.2.
EXERCISE 6. Be ready to speak on one of the following topics:
1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
2. England.
3. Scotland.
4. Wales.
5. Northern Ireland.
II. The story of the United Kingdom and the Union Flag.
EXERCISE 1. Read, translate and study the use of the new words to read and discuss the texts:
Sovereign; The Union Flag is made up of the individual flags of three countries all united under one Sovereign.
to represent; England is represented by the flag of St. George.
a cross; Richard 1 of England introduced the Cross of St. George as the national flag of England.
the patron saint; St. George is the patron saint of England.
fireworks; England does not celebrate its national day with fireworks.
fertile; England is famous for its fertile lowlands.
delicious; England is famous for its delicious cheeses.
notorious; England is famous for Robin Hood and its notorious sheriff.
to inherit; After Queen Elizabeth 1 of England died in 1603, King James 6 of Scotland inherited the English throne.
to proclaim; James proclaimed a new title for himself as ‘King of Great Britain’.
to summarize;
an inhabitant; The formation of the Union Flag came about as the result of the progressive merging of the inhabitants of the British Isles under one throne.
EXERCISE 2. Match each word with its correct definition:
Ordinary, residence, ancient, reign, to attempt, kingdom, background, to avoid.
the scenery or ground behind something;
of a kind to be expected in the normal order of events; usual, everyday;
the time during which the Sovereign rules;
the place where one usually lives;
to refrain from, to keep away from something;
a politically organized community headed by a king or a queen;
to try, to make an effort;
having had an existence of many years; antique, old;
EXERCISE 3. Read the texts and try to focus on the essential facts:
The Union Flag, popularly known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is the British flag. It is called the Union Flag because it symbolizes the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries all united under one Sovereign - the countries of 'England, of 'Scotland' and of 'Northern Ireland' (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on the flag.
England is represented by the flag of St. George.
In 1194 A.D., Richard I of England introduced the Cross of St. George, a red cross on a white ground, as the National Flag of England.
St George is the patron saint of England. St. George's Day is on 23 April. It is England's national day.
Who was the real St George and what did he do to become England's patron saint?
St George was a brave Roman soldier who protested against the Romans' torture of Christians and died for his beliefs. The popularity of St George in England stems from the time of the early Crusades when it is said that the Normans saw him in a vision and were victorious.
How does England celebrate St George's Day?
By tradition, 23 April is the day for a red rose in the button hole, the national flower. However, unlike other countries, England does not celebrate it like Americans celebrate 4 July with fireworks. In fact, you are more likely to see big St. Patrick parades in England celebrating Ireland's National Day, more than you would see any sign of St. Georges Day being celebrated. For most people in England St George's Day is just another ordinary working day.
Interesting Facts
Despite the fact that St. George has been the patron saint of England since the 14th century, only one in five people know that St. George’s Day falls on 23 April.
More than a quarter of people living in England do not even know who their patron saint is!
Shakespeare was born on 23 April 1564 and he died on the same day in 1616.
What is England famous for?
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