Англійська мова для студентів технічних ВНЗ

Scotland is a land of mountains, wild moorlands, narrow valleys, famous lakes and no end of large and small islands off the coast. The Highlands of Scotland are among the oldest mountains in the world. One-third of the people in Scotland live in or near its capital, Edinburgh, and its great industrial centre, Glasgow. The national symbol of Scotland is a thistle.

Northern Ireland was a part of Ireland as a whole before the early 20th century. The territory is small. It is a land of lakes, rivers and a varied sea coast. The capital city is Belfast. The national symbol of Ireland is shamrock.

Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the state. In practice she reigns but does not rule. The country is governed in her name by the Government. Parliament is the supreme legislative body. It consists of two Houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Prime Minister is usually the head of the party which is in power.

The UK’s flag is often called the Union Jack.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. Shipbuilding is one of the principal industries of Great Britain. For centuries Britain has been the leading shipbuilder in the world.

Coal is the main source for the development of British industry. The biggest centres of iron and steel industries are situated in the neighbourhood of coal basins. They are Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Sheffield. The district around Birmingham is a land of factories and mines. Coal-mining, metallurgy, textile, shipbuilding are the older branches of industry. The new industries are the chemical, electrotechnical, automobile, aviation, and electronics. The new industries have developed hand in hand with science and technology and are equipped to meet present technical demands. London, Liverpool and Glasgow are the biggest English ports. The products of Britain’s economy, e. g. automobiles, textile, machinery, electronic equipment and many others, are exported to many countries of the world.

Agriculture is one of the largest and most important activities in Great Britain. The greater part of the land here is used for sheep-, cattle-, and dairy farming. Vegetables are grown in all parts of the country. The chief grain crops are wheat and barley.

Great Britain is a country of high culture. There are many universities, colleges and scientific institutes here. Such English scientists of the past as Newton, Faraday, Darwin, Rutherford and others greatly contributed to world science. English writers Shakespeare, Byron, Dickens, B. Shaw and many others enriched world literature.

Визначте, чи правильні висловлювання. Якщо дані не відповідають наведеним у тексті, дайте правильний варіант.

1. The total area of the United Kingdom is more than 200, 000 square kilometres. 2. Great Britain is separated from the continent by the Suez Canal. 3. The highest mountain in the United Kingdom is Everest. 4. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are the parts of Great Britain. 5. The population of Great Britain is greater than that of Ukraine. 6. All the territory of England is flat. 7. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. 8. Highlands is the name of the group of lakes in Northern Ireland. 9. The national symbol of Scotland is red rose. 10. The head of the state is Queen Margaret II. 11. British Parliament consists of two Houses: the House of Commons and the White House. 12. The UK’s flag is called the Black Jack.

19.2. Письмові завдання

Вправа 1. Заповніть пропуски в реченнях.

Great Britain ___ by the Atlantic Ocean. Great Britain ___ from Europe by the North Sea and the English Channel. The British Isles are known to have ___ climate. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Wales, ___. The British Isles ___ Great Britain and Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Scotland ___ an area of 78, 800 square kilometers and has ___ of 5. 2 million. The oldest industries are ship-building and ___. The political party, which wins popular ___ to the House of Commons, forms the government. There are two main parties in the UK, they are ___. Such English scientists of the past as ___ greatly contributed to the world science.

19.3. Читання

Australia

Active Vocabulary:

the Dutch – голандці; couple – пара; arid – дуже сухий; convict – засуджений; to hack away – “вгризатися”; barren – безплідний; gorgeous – чудовий; to deport – висилати.

Ann and Pete are students of a university in England. They are going to Australia on holidays, so Pete has been reading up some interesting facts about the country.

A. : Pete, have you any idea what the word ‘Australia’ means? It sounds Latin to me.