The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The total area of Great Britain is 244,000 square km. It is usually known by a shorter name – «The United Kingdom». It is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two main islands (the largest island is called Great Britain, the smaller one is called Ireland) and are washed by the North Sea in the east and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. Great Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel.

The population of Great Britain is about 60 million. The largest cities of the country are London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The territory of Great Britain is divided into four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England is the richest, the most fertile and most populated part in the country. There are mountains in the north and in the west of England, but all the rest of the territory is a vast plain. In the northwestern part of England there are many beautiful lakes. This part of the country is called Lake District. The surface of the country is much varied. Great Britain is the country of valleys and plains. The mountains in Britain are not very high. Scotland is a land of mountains. Its highest peak is Ben Nevis. There are no great forests on the British Isles today. Historically, the most famous forest is Sherwood Forest in the east of England, to the north of London. It was the home of Robin Hood. The longest of the English rivers is the Severn. It flows into the Irish Sea. The most important river of Scotland is the Clyde.

The geographical position of Great Britain is good as the country lies on the crossways of the sea routes from Europe to other parts of the world. The sea connects Britain with most European countries such as Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway and some other countries.

85. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. Where is Great Britain situated? 2. What is the total area of Great Britain? 3. What is the official name of this country? What is the shorter name? 4. Is Great Britain a mountainous country? 5. What’s the result of the country’s physical geography? 6. What’s the other name for the English Channel? 7. Who is Robin Hood? Why did he live in Sherwood Forest? 8. What is Lake District? 9. What English rivers do you know? 10. Name the largest British cities. 11. Why is Great Britain called Foggy Albion? 12. What countries does Great Britain border on?

LONDON

to invade – завоевать / land – земля / an invader – завоеватель / narrow – узкий / a bridge – мост / a prison – тюрьма / Crown Jewels – королевские драгоценности / a queen – королева / a king – король

London is an old city. It has a history dating back over 2000 years. London was founded after Roman Emperor Claudius invaded these lands in AD 43 and it was called ‘Londinium’. London grew up around the first point where the Roman invaders found the Thames narrow enough to build a bridge. In early Roman times London was approximately the size of Hyde Park. Later they turned it into a large port and important trading center. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. Now it is a museum and also the place where the Crown Jewels are kept.

86. Переведите текст и ответьте на вопросы:

1. Does London have a long history? Who founded London? When? 2. Why did the Romans choose this place for a settlement? How did they call it? 3. What size was it? 4. What does “A.D.” mean? 5. Why did London become a large port and an important trading center? 6. Who was Julius Caesar? What did he found in Britain? 7. What was the Tower of London used as? 8. Where are the Crown Jewels kept now? Why?

87. Переведите текст о Лондоне:

Лондон - столица Объединенного Королевства Великобритании и Северной Ирландии. Население - более 8 миллионов человек. Лондон является крупнейшим городом на Британских островах. Название столицы произошло от римского слова Londinium, а основан город был в 43 году нашей эры (A.D.). Изначально это была римская крепость (Roman fortification). Сейчас это один из важнейших торговых, культурных и туристических центров мира (commercial, cultural, tourist centre of the world), расположенный на реке Темзе (the Thames), которая пересекает его с юго-запада на восток. У столицы Великобритании очень богатая история.

Территория Лондона делится на 4 основных части: Сити (the City), Вестминстер (Westminster), Вест-Энд (the West-End), Ист-Энд (the East-End). The City – это «сердце» Лондона, его торговый и деловой центр. В этой части столицы размещены банки, офисы, фирмы, Лондонская фондовая биржа (the Stock Exchange). К западу от Сити расположен Westminster. Здесь вы найдете Вестминстерское аббатство (Westminster Abbey) и Вестминстерский дворец (The Palace of Westminster), известный как Дом Парламента Великобритании (the Houses of Parliament). Этот дворцовый комплекс со знаменитой часовой башней Big Ben является визитной карточкой Лондона. Вестминстерское Аббатство представляет собой готическую церковь (church), где короновались почти все короли и королевы Англии (to crown a king or queen). Также в аббатстве захоронены многие писатели, художники, поэты . The West End – район, пышущий благополучием и роскошью (part of wealth and luxury). Здесь вы найдете театры и концертные залы (theatres and concert halls), музеи и галереи, университеты и элитные магазины (fashionable shopping centres). Трафальгарская площадь (Trafalgar Square), Букингемский дворец (Buckingham Palace) тоже находятся в Вэст Энде. Противоположностью предыдущей части Лондона является The East End, промышленная зона Лондона, наполненной фабриками, заводами (plants), рынками, мастерскими (workshops).