Exam Topics. Great Britain

          It goes without saying that learning a foreign language and exploring the countries it belongs to go hand by hand. Talking about English, the popularity of this language can't be overestimated. It's proved by the fact that it's the official language of almost 60 countries. But it's most commonly spoken in the United Kingdom, The USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

           I suggest focusing on Great Britain. The home of Stonehenge, William Shakespeare, red double-decker buses, black taxi cabs, red postboxes and telephone boxes, tea, fish and chips, the Beatles, legend of Robin Hood, Wimbledon  .... What else should we know about it? Its official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or the UK for short. It occupies most of the territory of the British Isles and is made of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

         The total area of the UK is about 243,000 square kilometres. It's separated from the mainland by the North Sea and the English Channel. To connect with continental Europe the world longest undersea rail tunnel called Channel Tunnel was built. The population of Great Britain is over 65 million people. English is the official language of Great Britain. Apart from English, the Welsh language is spoken in some parts of Wales and Gaelic in north-west Scotland. The largest cities of Britain are London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast. 

           One of the main symbols of the UK is its national flag called the Union Jack. It is made up of three crosses: the Cross of St. George (the Patron Saint of England), the Cross of St. Andrew (the Patron Saint of Scotland) and the Cross of St. Patrick ( the Patron Saint of Ireland). Apart from a saint, each country of the UK has its own floral emblem. England is represented by the Tudor rose and Scotland - by the thistle. The daffodils and the leek are the heraldic emblems of Wales. Shamrock is the national flower of Northern Ireland.

       The landscape of the UK is varied. Lowland Britain in southern and eastern England contrasts significantly with Highland Britain consisting of Scotland, most of Wales, the Pennines, and the lake District. The highest mountain is Ben Nevis in Scotland (1,343 m). The Severn is the longest river in the UK while the Thames is one of the significant trading routes. The largest lake is Lough Neagh, and the most mysterious is Loch Ness, the homeland of a legendary monster. The Lake District, one of the most spectacular places in Britain, lies on the northwest side of the Pennine chain. 

         The British climate is usually characterised as cool, temperate and humid. Since Britain is an island it's mainly influenced by the surrounding seas and the Atlantic Ocean. It makes the weather really unpredictable and weather forecasts harder to make. That's why Britain is known "to have no climate, but only weather" which can drastically change even during  the day. In fact, it's due to wet and rainy weather that Britain is so rich in greenery. 

          The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is the Head of State but her function is not to rule but to represent the country. And the real power belongs to the British Parliament and to the British Government. The British parliament consists of two chambers: The House of Commons  and The House of Lords. The House of Commons is more powerful, its members are elected every five years, whereas the membership of The House of Lords is permanent. The party with most Members of Parliament or MPs forms the government. The leader of the winning party automatically becomes Prime Minister and appoints the cabinet. The party who comes in second is the Opposition and forms its own Shadow Cabinet.

           For culture hunters Britain has a lot to offer. London is filled with historical landmarks and remarkable sights. Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London are a must for every tourist. I'm sure you'll be impressed by the architecture of the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. If you want to dive into the atmosphere of mystery, you should visit Stonehenge, one of the wonders of the world. Edinburgh Castle which dates back to the 12th century won't leave you indifferent. Nature lovers will be inspired by the walks in the Snowdonia National Park in Wales or the picturesque Lake District in North West England.

            The United Kingdom is undoubtedly a unique country which has managed to preserve its history and traditions to the present day. Your world view will be slightly limited if you miss the chance to see Britain.

Let’s talk about Great Britain.

1.  What can you tell me about the parts Great Britain consists of?

2. Are the symbols of Great Britain known throughout the world?

3. What questions will you ask a British teenager about the Royal family?

4. What advice will you give to a person who wants to make the relationship between Belarus and Great Britain better?

5.  Do British customs and traditions differ from Belarusian ones?

Answer the questions in comments (at least 3-4 sentences to every question), if you are not signed up on Google, write your name and surname. Answers will be graded.