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Great Britain

Текст на английском про Great Britain:

Great Britain	Великобритания
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy consisting of the historical-geographical regions of England, Scotland and Wales (which together from Great Britain) and Northern Ireland, plus several smaller islands, including the Orkneys, the Shetland, the Hebrides, off the Scottish coast; the Isle of Wight, in the English Channel; the Isle of Anglesey, near the Welsh coast; the Isles of Scilly, opposite the Cape Land’s End. They are not part of the United Kingdom, but depend directly on the Crown, conserving extensive autonomy: the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea, and the Channel Islands located in the English Channel, a short distance from the French coast.	Соединенное Королевство – конституционная монархия, состоит из историко-географических регионов Англия, Шотландия и Уэльс (на острове Великобритания) и Северная Ирландия. В составе также нескольких небольших островов, включая Оркнейские острова, Шетландские острова, Гебриды, от шотландского побережья; остров Уайт, в Ла-Манше; остров Англси, недалеко от побережья Уэльса; архипелаг Силли, напротив мыса Лендс-Энд. Не являются частью Соединенного Королевства, но зависят напрямую от Короны, сохраняя обширную автономию: остров Мэн в Ирландском море и Нормандские острова, расположенные в Ла-Манше, недалеко от французского побережья.
When it comes to Great Britain, there is usually some confusion with the names. Great Britain is simply the name of the island, with an exclusively geographical value. It is also the largest island in the British archipelago. Great Britain includes Scotland, England and Wales, while the United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland. In this regard it is interesting to know that the flag of the United Kingdom is the union of three flags: England, Scotland and Ireland.	Когда разговор заходит о Великобритании обычно случается некоторая путаница с названиями. Великобритания – это просто название острова исключительно с географическим значением. Это также самый большой остров Британского архипелага. Великобритания включает Шотландию, Англию и Уэльс, в то время как Соединенное Королевство также включает Северную Ирландию. В этой связи интересно знать, что флаг Соединенного Королевства является объединением трех флагов: Англии, Шотландии и Ирландии.
Great Britain or the United Kingdom is a sovereign country in Western Europe with a population of around 64.5 million. The name of “United Kingdom” is none other than the acronym of “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.	Великобритания или Соединенное Королевство – суверенная страна в Западной Европе с населением около 64,5 млн. человек. Название «Соединенное Королевство» – не что иное, как аббревиатура «Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии».
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was born with the 1800 Union Act which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland. A large part of Ireland then separated in 1922 constituting the Free State of Ireland (the current Republic of Ireland).	Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Ирландии образовалось в результате Акта об унии 1800 года, который объединил Королевство Великобритании и Королевство Ирландии. Большая часть Ирландии разделилась в 1922 году, образовав Свободное государство Ирландия (нынешняя Ирландия).
Although the term Great Britain refers to the island and to England, Scotland and Wales in the political value, it is in many cases used as a free synonym for the United Kingdom as a whole.	Хотя термин Великобритания относится к острову и к Англии, Шотландии и Уэльсу в политическом значении он во многих случаях используется как свободный синоним для Соединенного Королевства в целом.
England is the hub of Great Britain, better known to most people and where much of the administration is concentrated.	Англия – центр Британии, более известный большинству людей, где сосредоточена основная административная часть.
Great Britain is among the best defined regions in Europe.	Великобритания – один из лучших регионов Европы.
The ancient Albion (the classical name in Gaelic) well known to Greeks and Romans like Britain (from the Latin root “fretus”, “narrow”) largely depends on the characteristics peculiar to its geographical location.	Древний Альбион (классическое название, обозначенное на гэльском языке), хорошо известный грекам и римлянам как Британия (от латинского корня «fretus», «узкий») во многом зависит от характеристик, свойственных его географическому положению.
Insularity and the peripheral location of Great Britain compared to continental Europe contributed to its isolation for a long time, at least until the Mediterranean became the center of world trade.	Изолированность и периферийное расположение региона по сравнению с континентальной Европой способствовали его изоляции в течение длительного времени, по крайней мере, до тех пор, пока Средиземноморье не стало центром мировой торговли.
Subsequently, when trade moved to the northern seas of Europe, during the reign of Elizabeth I, Great Britain underwent a profound transformation and became the driving force behind a gigantic human, political, economic and cultural expansion.	Впоследствии, когда торговля переместилась в северные моря Европы, во времена правления Елизаветы I, Великобритания претерпела глубокие преобразования и стала движущей силой гигантской человеческой, политической, экономической и культурной экспансии.
After opposing the revolutionary France and then the Napoleonic one, Great Britain experienced a general demographic increase, an increase in agricultural productivity and, in the last part of the eighteenth century, especially in the textile and metallurgical sector. That industrial revolution affirmed Great Britain as “The workshop of the world”.	После противостояния революционной Франции, затем наполеоновской, Великобритания испытала общий демографический рост, повышение производительности сельского хозяйства, в последней части восемнадцатого века особенно в текстильном и металлургическом секторе. Эта промышленная революция утвердила Великобританию как «мастерскую мира».
In 1837, with the rise to the throne of Queen Victoria, Great Britain further strengthened its role as a world power but with the beginning of the new century also ended the era of its expansion.	В 1837 году, после восхождения на трон королевы Виктории, Великобритания еще больше укрепила роль мировой державы, но с началом нового века также закончилась эпоха её расширения.

Приведенный текст на английском про Great Britain подойдет для сочинения или рассказа о стране.

General

Текст, включающий общее описание культуры Великобритании:

Текст на английском	Перевод
A great exporter of culture and traditions following the imperialist vocation that made it the pivot of the economy and world trade. Great Britain was home to famous artists whose works continue to be admired all over the world.	Великий экспортер культуры и традиций, следуя империалистическому призванию, которое сделало его стержнем экономики и мировой торговли, Соединенное Королевство – родина знаменитых художников, работы которых продолжают восхищать во всем мире.
From architecture to painting, from theater to literature and from science to technology, British culture reflects the diversity and the multiethnic nature of its population, articulated in an expressive language recognized internationally.	От архитектуры к живописи, от театра к литературе, от науки к технологиям британская культура отражает многообразие и мультиэтнический характер его населения, четко выраженный в выразительном языке, признанном на международном уровне.

Следующий текст про Great Britain рассказывает о достопримечательностях страны:

Можно использовать более короткий текст для описания достопримечательностей Great Britain:

Текст на английском	Перевод
Great Britain also has numerous monuments and historic sites of international importance declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.	В Соединенном Королевстве расположены многочисленные памятники и исторические места, имеющие мировое значение, объекты Всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО.
In Great Britain there are the cathedral and the castle of Durham, the palace and the abbey of Westminster, the cathedral of Canterbury, the Royal Botanic Gardens of London, the megalithic complexes of Stonehenge and Avebury, the Tower of London, the Hadrian’s Wall. In Scotland there are the entire city of Edinburgh, the historic village of New Lanark and the small archipelago of Saint Kilda (which is also a natural site). In Wales there are the Harlech castle and the industrial area (19th century) of Blaenavon.	В Англии – собор и замок Дарем, дворец и аббатство Вестминстер, собор Кентербери, Королевский ботанический сад Лондона, мегалитические комплексы Стоунхенджа и Эйвбери, Лондонский Тауэр, Вал Адриана. В Шотландии – весь город Эдинбург, историческая деревня Нью-Ланарк и небольшой архипелаг Сент-Килда (который также является природным объектом). В Уэльсе – замок Харлех и промышленный район (19 век) Блэнавона.

Geographical Position And Physical Features

Текст про Geographical position and physical features of Great Britain (географическое положение и физические особенности Великобритании):

Текст на английском	Перевод
Great Britain is the geographical name of an island, located in the Atlantic Ocean, with an area of almost 230,000 square kilometers.	Великобритания – географическое название острова, расположенного в Атлантическом океане площадью почти 230 000 квадратных километров.
Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles, to which the island of Ireland, the Isle of Man and many other minor ones belong.	Это крупнейший остров в архипелаге Британские острова, включающего остров Ирландию, остров Мэн и многие другие, небольшие острова.
Britain is made up of the island of Great Britain and the northern part of the island of Ireland, known as Northern Ireland or Ulster.	Британия состоит из острова Великобритания и северной части острова Ирландия, известной как Северная Ирландия или Ольстер.
Great Britain is bathed to the north and east by the North Sea, to the south by the English Channel, to the west it is separated from Ireland by the The North Channel, the Irish Sea and the St. George canal. The only land border separates Britain from the Republic of Ireland.	Страна омывается на севере и востоке Северным море, на юге – проливом Ла-Манш, на западе отделена от Ирландии Северным каналом, Ирландским морем и каналом Св. Георгия. Единственная сухопутная граница отделяет ее от Ирландской Республики.
In a territory of Great Britain so geographically settled the rivers have mature courses, abundant and regular flow, as they are well fed by precipitation; however, their development is short, given the shape of the island, altogether narrow, elongated and interrupted by mountain peaks.	На территории, столь географически обоснованной, реки зрелые с обильными и регулярными течениями, поскольку хорошо питаются осадками; однако их расширение небольшое, учитывая форму острова, в целом узкую, вытянутую и прерванную горными вершинами.
Moreover, the rivers generally flow with wide and deep estuaries, in which have been able to develop well protected and important port centers.	Кроме того, реки, как правило, с широкими и глубокими устьями, в которых удалось создать хорошо защищенные и важные портовые центры.
London is at the mouth of the Thames. Secondly Glasgow is located on the River Clyde (main river of Scotland). Liverpool is port at the mouth of the Mersey River. The Severn Estuary is the confluence of four major rivers: the Severn (which gives it its name), the Wye, the Usk and the Avon.	Лондон в устье Темзы, Глазго, расположенный в устье Клайд (главная река Шотландии). Ливерпуль – порт в устье реки Мерси. Эстуарий Северн – место слияния четырех крупных рек: Северн (давшая ему название), Уай, Аск и Эйвон.
The rivers of Great Britain are large and to a large extent navigable, while the rivers have run rather fast and impetuously in Scotland and Wales, where they are used for the production of electricity.	Английские реки большие и в значительной степени судоходные, в то время реки в Шотландии и Уэльсе достаточно быстрые и стремительные, и используются для производства электроэнергии.
Typical of the Scottish region are the loch, narrow, elongated, deep lakes. The largest lake basin in the country, however, is the Irish Lough Neagh (396 km²), with the low but jagged banks.	Типично для шотландского региона – лох; узкие, вытянутые и глубокие озера. Самым большим озером в стране является ирландский Лох-Ней (396 квадратных км), с низкими, но неровными берегами.
Great Britain has an extraordinary correspondence between geological structure and aspects of the landscape.	У страны необычное соответствие между геологическим строением и аспектами ландшафта.
Mostly mountainous (Highland Britain) is Paleozoic Britain, while flat (Lowland Britain) is the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Great Britain. But even in the Highland Britain the antiquity of the relief, worn down by intense glacial action, manifests itself in low forms and generally rounded (in Scotland, however, they often have rough edges).	Горная в основном Палеозойская Британия, равнинная – мезозойская и кайнозойская Великобритания. Но даже в гористой Британии древность рельефа, изношенного интенсивным ледниковым действием, проявляется в низких формах и обычно округлых (в Шотландии, однако, они часто имеют грубые края).
The Cambrian Mountains and Ben Nevis are the highest peaks in Great Britain.	Кембрийские горы и Бен-Невис – самые высокие горные вершины в Великобритании

Climate

Текст рассказывает про климатические особенности Великобритании:

Текст на английском	Перевод
The climate of Great Britain is humid and mild, with rainy winters and cool summers.	Английский климат мягкий и влажный, с дождливой зимой и прохладным летом.
The average maximum summer temperature is 21°C, while the mean minimum winter temperature is 1°C.	Средняя максимальная температура летом составляет 21°C, тогда как средняя минимальная температура зимой – 1°C.
May and June are the sunniest months in Great Britain, while November and December are the cloudiest.	Май и июнь – самые солнечные дни, в то время как ноябрь и декабря – самые облачные.
Almost all the territory of Great Britain is subject to an essentially oceanic climate, uniformly mild and rainy; this is the result of the vast maritime opening of the country, devoid of internal mountain barriers and in a marginal position compared to the block of continental lands, and its shape, which expands in the more temperate southern section; fundamental is the influence of the warm Gulf stream, thanks to which, at the same latitude, winter temperatures are much higher than in central and eastern Europe.	Почти вся территория Великобритании подвержена, по существу, океаническому климату, равномерно мягкому и дождливому; это результат обширного морского окружения страны, лишенной внутренних горных барьеров и находящейся в краевом положении по сравнению с блоком континентальных земель, и её формой, которая расширяется в более умеренной южной части; фундаментальным является влияние теплого течения Гольфстрима, благодаря которому зимние температуры намного выше, чем в центральной и восточной Европе на той же широте.
Constant humidity, warm winters, cool summers in Britain is important factors also for the population of the islands.	Постоянная влажность, теплые зимы, прохладное лето являются важными факторами и для населения островов.
However, the influences of the sea air masses on the western side of Great Britain are more sensitive, while at East, especially in winter, the continental anticyclone ones become more marked.	Однако влияние морских воздушных масс на западной стороне Великобритании более чувствительно, тогда как на Востоке, особенно зимой, континентальные антициклоны становятся более заметными.
Temperatures vary so much from West to East, especially for winter thermal values: in the coldest month, January, it goes from 3.5°C in the London area to 6.5°C in Cornwall, the warmest region of the Great Britain (enough to allow even the presence of palm trees and other subtropical plants).	Температуры варьируются от Запада до Востока, особенно для зимних температурных значений: в самый холодный месяц, январь, от 3,5°C в районе Лондона до 6,5°C в Корнуолле, самом теплом регионе Великобритании (достаточно для того, чтобы расти пальмам и другим субтропическим растениям).
On the other hand, it is fairly regular to increase the summer thermal values ​​from North to South: in July southern Britain is crossed by the isotherm of 16.5°C and northern Scotland by that of 13°C.	С другой стороны, довольно регулярно повышаются летние тепловые значения с севера на юг: в июле южная Британия пересекает изотерму 16,5°C, а северная Шотландия – равную 13°C.
The rains frequently fall in every season; however much less humid is the eastern side of Great Britain, more “continental” (London and generally England receive less than 700 mm per year of rainfall), while on the slopes of the Highlands more exposed to the sea air masses are reached even 5000 mm per year.	Дожди часто выпадают в каждом сезоне; однако гораздо менее влажная восточная сторона Великобритании, более «континентальная» (Лондон и вообще Англия получают менее 700 мм в год осадков), тогда как склоны Высокогорья, подверженные воздействию морских воздушных масс, получают даже до 5000 мм в год.
Frequent are the mists, for the meeting of warm and humid air carried by the Gulf Stream with the cold from within.	Частые туманы, из-за встречи теплого и влажного воздуха, переносимого потоком Гольфстрима с холодом изнутри.

National Economy

Текст подробно рассказывает про экономику в Великобритании:

Текст на английском	Перевод
Since the early nineties, Britain has experienced uninterrupted economic growth, in contrast with a much more precarious international economic picture. A healthy financial situation has allowed Great Britain not to suffer too much from the global economic crisis, while also delaying any decision by the government regarding the adoption of the single European currency.	С начала девяностых Британия переживала непрерывный экономический рост, в отличие от гораздо более неустойчивой международной экономической картины. Здоровая финансовая ситуация позволила Великобритании не слишком сильно пострадать от глобального экономического кризиса, а также отложить какое-либо решение правительства относительно принятия единой европейской валюты.
The heart of the “industrial revolution” and, therefore, the true engine of the modern economy, Great Britain laid the foundations for its decisive affirmation at the end of the eighteenth century.	Сердце «промышленной революции» и, следовательно, истинный двигатель современной экономики, Великобритания заложила основы для своего решительного утверждения в конце восемнадцатого века.
The presence of very conspicuous mineral resources (charcoal species) in Great Britain and a dynamic entrepreneurial class enriched by the capital accumulated over the centuries by a skilled mercantile policy were the extraordinary starting point for an economic expansion. A wise organization of work and a technology of the era of absolute avant-garde helped to achieve incomparable summits of prosperity.	Наличие заметных полезных ископаемых (древесный уголь) и динамичный предпринимательский класс, обогащенный капиталом, накопленным на протяжении веков квалифицированной меркантильной политикой, стали исключительной отправной точкой для экономической экспансии. Мудрая организация труда и технология эпохи абсолютного авангарда способствовали достижению несравнимых вершин процветания.
The Bank of England in Great Britain, created by concession in 1694 and nationalized in 1946, is the only bank authorized to issue money in England and Wales. Some banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland can issue money in limited quantities.	Банк Англии, созданный концессией в 1694 году и национализированный в 1946 году, является единственным банком, правомочным выдавать деньги в Англии и Уэльсе. Некоторые банки в Шотландии и Северной Ирландии могут выпускать деньги в ограниченных количествах.
In recent years the British have stood out as the largest foreign investors in the world after the United States: about 50% of exchanges take place with European Union countries, especially with Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy, 13% around with the United States and Canada.	В последние годы британцы выделяются как крупнейшие иностранные инвесторы в мире после Соединенных Штатов. Около 50% обменов происходит со странами ЕС, особенно с Германией, Нидерландами, Францией и Италией, 13% – с США и Канадой.
The financial market in Great Britain is very important: the London Stock Exchange, by far the most important in Europe, follows Wall Street as a global market.	Финансовый рынок очень важен: Лондонская фондовая биржа, безусловно, самая значительная в Европе, следуя за Уолл-стрит, как глобальный рынок.
Square Mile (the “square mile”) of the City of London, where the City’s banking, insurance and consulting services are located, continues to be one of the leading financial centers in the world and the main one in Europe.	Квадратная миля Лондонского Сити, где расположены банковские, страховые и консалтинговые услуги города, продолжает оставаться одним из ведущих финансовых центров в мире и главным в Европе.
Trade has been of vital importance to the United Kingdom for hundreds of years. The dominant position of Great Britain in world trade during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was largely due to the geographical isolation of the British Isles in relation to the conflicts and political problems that the continent was facing.	Торговля имеет жизненное значение для Соединенного Королевства в течение сотен лет. Доминирующее положение страны в мировой торговле в течение восемнадцатого и девятнадцатого веков было во многом обусловлено географической изоляцией Британских островов в связи с конфликтами и политическими проблемами, с которыми сталкивался континент.
The development of large merchant companies (East India Company, Hudson Bay Company), colonial expansion and naval control of the seas in Britain were consequential factors.	Основными факторами было развитие крупных торговых компаний (Ост-Индская компания, компания Гудзонова залива), колониальная экспансия и контроль над морями.
With mercantilism, the prevailing economic doctrine in Britain in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Great Britain promoted foreign trade, the development of the fleet and merchant companies.	С меркантилизмом, господствующей экономической доктриной в Англии в 17 и 18 веках, государство способствовало развитию внешней торговли, флота и торговых компаний.
With the increase of British colonial possessions in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, sheep breeding for the production of wool and meat became an important activity in the colonies, while cotton, iron, steel and coal became the main export products.	С ростом британских колониальных владений в восемнадцатом и девятнадцатом веках овцеводство для производства шерсти и мяса стало важной деятельностью в колониях, а хлопок, железо, сталь и уголь стали основными экспортными продуктами.
Today, Great Britain is the fifth country in the world by volume of trade, with a per capita value of exports higher than that of the United States and Japan.	Сегодня Соединенное Королевство является пятой страной в мире по объему торговли, причем стоимость экспорта на душу населения выше, чем у Соединенных Штатов и Японии.
British exports include machinery, transportation, basic products, petroleum, chemicals, and precision instruments, aerospace and electronic equipment.	Британский экспорт включает в себя машины, транспорт, основные продукты, нефть, химикаты и высокоточные инструменты, аэрокосмическое и электронное оборудование.
The main import goods in Great Britain are foodstuffs, wood and paper products, machinery, chemical products and means of transport.	Основными импортными товарами в Великобритании являются пищевые продукты, древесная и бумажная продукция, машинное оборудование, химические продукты и транспортные средства.
Services continue to be a leading sector of the British economy. In fact, they contribute about 2/3 to the formation of GDP, employing almost 20 million people, over 75% of the country’s workforce.	Услуги по-прежнему являются ведущим сектором экономики Великобритании. Фактически, они вносят около 2/3 в формирование ВВП, в котором занято почти 20 миллионов человек, более 75% рабочей силы страны.
The morphological characteristics of Great Britain, the lack of real natural barriers, the dense hydrographic network and the remarkable coastal development, have contributed to the development of the communication routes. In particular, the best served areas are England and southern Scotland, while some shortcomings are found in sparsely inhabited or economically less developed areas.	Морфологические характеристики Великобритании, отсутствие реальных природных барьеров, плотная гидрографическая сеть и замечательное прибрежное развитие способствовали развитию коммуникационных маршрутов. В частности, наиболее обеспеченными районами являются Англия и южная Шотландия, в то время как некоторые недостатки встречаются в малонаселенных или экономически менее развитых районах.

Political System

Устройство политической системы Великобритании отличается от других стран, рассказать об этом поможет текст ниже:

Текст на английском	Перевод
The political system of Great Britain forms a very complex whole: the monarchy, democracy and parliament.	Английская политическая система формирует очень сложное целое: монархию, демократию и парламент.
At the head of the government of Great Britain is the Prime Minister, who concentrates several powers in its hands and presides over the parliament.	Во главе правительства находится премьер-министр, который концентрирует в своих руках несколько полномочий и председательствует в парламенте.
The bicameral parliament is formed by the House of Lords and the House of Commons.	Двухпалатный парламент образован Палатой Лордов и Палатой общин.
Finally there is a monarchy now represented by Queen Elizabeth II whose authority is limited since 1689, when the Bill of Rights was approved, that is, the declaration of rights establishing parliamentary sovereignty.	Наконец, монархия, в настоящее время представленная королевой Елизаветой II, чья власть ограничена с 1689 года, когда был утвержден Билль о правах, то есть декларация прав, устанавливающая парламентский суверенитет.
In the British political system, however, the Queen can exercise three rights: to be consulted, to advice and to warn.	Однако в британской политической системе королева может реализовать три права: консультироваться, советовать и предупреждать.
The Prime Minister of Great Britain meets with the queen constantly and if for example there is no separation of powers in parliament and this in itself threatens the freedom or security of British citizens, the strength of the Crown can be significant, not least because the monarch is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces to whom they swore allegiance.	Премьер-министр проводит встречи с королевой постоянно и если, например, отсутствует разделение полномочий в парламенте и это само по себе угрожает свободе или безопасности британских граждан, сила Короны может иметь значительный вес, не в последнюю очередь потому, что монарх также является главнокомандующим вооруженными силами, которому они поклялись в верности.
In any case, executive power in Britain is generally exercised by the Government and the Prime Minister. This is usually the leader of the House of Commons (which is part of the majority party). The other ministers forming the Government in Great Britain are then chosen by the Prime Minister and the Monarch who consult before the decision.	В любом случае исполнительная власть обычно осуществляется правительством и премьер-министром. Обычно это лидер Палаты общин (которая является частью партии большинства). Затем другие министры, формирующие правительство выбираются премьер-министром и монархом которые консультируются перед решением.
Legislative power is the power exercised by parliament which is also the center of the British political system.	Законодательная власть – это власть, осуществляемая парламентом, который также является центром британской политической системы.
English Parliament is the supreme body and has the power to vote in distrust of the Government.	Английский Парламент является высшим органом и имеет право голосовать о недоверии правительству.
The formation of the House of Commons in Great Britain is carried out through universal equal direct elections. The House of Lord, on the other hand, is made up of members by inheritance, bishops of the Church Anglican and members appointed for life; has a reduced power, compared to the House of Commons but can propose amendments and draft laws.	Формирование палаты общин осуществляется посредством всеобщих равных прямых выборов. С другой стороны, Палата общин состоит из членов по наследству, епископов Церкви англиканцев и членов, назначенных на всю жизнь; имеет меньшую власть по сравнению с Палатой общин, но может предлагать поправки и проекты законов.

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Education in Great Britain

Образованию в Великобритании также присуща своя собственная система, описанная в тексте ниже:

Текст на английском	Перевод
First of all, public education in Britain is free. The schools of Great Britain are divided into maintained (state schools) and independent (private schools).	Прежде всего, государственное образование является бесплатным. Английские школы разделены на государственные и частные.
Since the nineteenth century the school system of Great Britain strongly believes in the decentralization of decisions.	С девятнадцатого века школьная система Соединенного Королевства решительно верит в децентрализацию решений.
Local education authorities (LEAs) in Britain are the local councils, 96 throughout the country, that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction. In fact the LEAs administer the whole system and are responsible for ensuring that free public education is provided in an appropriate manner.	Местные органы образования – местные советы, 96 по всей стране, которые отвечают за образование в пределах своей юрисдикции. Фактически LEA управляют всей системой и несут ответственность за обеспечение того, чтобы бесплатное государственное образование предоставлялось надлежащим образом.
Education in Great Britain is compulsory for everyone between the ages of five and sixteen.	Образование в Соединенном Королевстве является обязательным для всех в возрасте от пяти до шестнадцати лет.
The phases of the English school system in Britain are three: Primary Education up to eleven years, Secondary Education up to sixteen, and Tertiary Education for those over the age of sixteen.	Этапов английской школьной системы три: начальное образование до одиннадцати лет, среднее образование до шестнадцати лет и третичное образование для лиц старше шестнадцати лет.
Tertiary education or postsecondary education in Great Britain is not compulsory but 90% of the total number of students continues to attend school until the age of 18 when a diploma is obtained necessary to enroll at university.	Третичное образование не является обязательным, но 90% от общего числа учащихся продолжают посещать школу до 18 лет, когда требуется получение диплома для поступления в университет.
In 1988, the Education Reform Act introduced a program common to all schools with regard to fundamental subjects; at 7 and 11 years students take exams in English, mathematics and science.	В 1988 году Закон о реформе образования ввел программу, общую для всех школ в отношении фундаментальных предметов; в 7 и 11 лет учащиеся сдают экзамены по английскому языку, математике и естественным наукам.
Individual schools in Great Britain decide on methodologies and books to be adopted. Private schools in Britain are exempt from following public school guidelines but usually they also adopt what is called the National Curriculum.	Отдельные школы принимают решение о методологиях и учебниках. Частные школы освобождаются от соблюдения руководящих принципов государственной школы, но обычно они также принимают так называемый национальный учебный план.
While education and vocational education systems in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are broadly similar, the Scottish education system has always been a completely separate system, with its own rules and practices.	В то время как системы образования и профессионального образования в Англии, Уэльсе и Северной Ирландии в целом сходны, шотландская система образования всегда была полностью отдельной системой с собственными правилами и практикой.
Learning is based on experiences, group work and highly stimulating activities that require the full participation of each student.	Обучение основано на опыте, групповой работе и высоко стимулирующих действиях, требующих полного участия каждого ученика.
One of the strengths of the educational system in Great Britain is the great collaboration with the parents of the students. The family is always and continuously involved in the process of learning their child.	Одной из сильных сторон английской системы является хорошее сотрудничество с родителями. Семья всегда и постоянно участвует в процессе обучения своего ребенка.

Закончить текст или сочинение об образовании в Великобритании помогут такие слова:

The United Kingdom has been a learning center for the last 1000 years and has many ancient and distinguished universities. Соединенное Королевство было учебным центром на протяжении последних 1000 лет и имеет много древних и выдающихся университетов.

Holidays in Great Britain

Праздники в Великобритании еще одна тема для написания текста или рассказа.

Текст о праздниках в Великобритании:

Текст на английском	Перевод
Christmas: December 25th. Certainly in the month of December Great Britain gives its best by combining the Christian culture with the most ancient Celtic tradition. For example, it is easy to meet in the streets children’s choirs singing Christmas carols and twigs of mistletoe and holly, which for the ancient priests were a sign of immortality.	Рождество — 25 декабря. Конечно, в декабре месяце Соединенное Королевство приложит все усилия, объединяя христианскую культуру с древнейшей кельтской традицией. Например, на улицах легко встретить детские хоры, поющие рождественские гимны и веточки омелы и падуба, которые для древних священников были признаком бессмертия.
In Great Britain nothing unnecessary should be left in the house the first day of the year, not even the trash, also it is said that the first male person who will enter the front door will bring good luck.	В Великобритании ничего лишнего не нужно оставлять в доме в первый день года, даже в мусорном ведре, также говорится, что первый мужчина, который войдет во входную дверь, принесет удачу.
St. George: 23 April. Day of the Patron Saint of England. On this day citizens of Great Britain wear a red rose in honor of their patron.	Св. Георгий: 23 апреля. День святого покровителя Англии. В этот день граждане носят красную розу в честь своего покровителя.
Easter in Great Britain and throughout the United Kingdom is without a doubt one of the most meaningful Christian holidays. From England to Ireland, from Wales to Scotland, Easter is honored with a myriad of rituals, customs, special and interesting folk events.	Пасха в Англии и во всем Соединенном Королевстве, без сомнения, является одним из самых значимых христианских праздников. Из Англии к Ирландии, от Уэльса до Шотландии, Пасха удостоена множества ритуалов, обычаев, особых и интересных народных событий.
Spring Festival (Last Monday of May). Great Britain, influenced by the Celts, relates the spring equinox to a sequence of events aimed at propitiating the “new beginning”. It is the ceremony that celebrates Ostara, the Germanic goddess of productivity, to whom one is directed for a good harvest.	Весенний фестиваль (последний понедельник мая). Соединенное Королевство, под влиянием кельтов, связывает весеннее равноденствие с последовательностью событий, направленных на умиротворение «нового начала». Это церемония, посвященная Остаре, германской богине производительности, которая направляет к хорошему урожаю.
The English Labor Day in Great Britain throws its roots into an ancient tradition that of the peasants to gather in May in the town square where dances and songs celebrated the fertility of the land and the abundant work by dancing around the May Pole, hoisted in the center of the square.	Английский День Труда имеет корни в древней традиции; крестьяне собираются в мае на городской площади, танцами и песнями отмечают плодородие земли и обильную работу, танцуя вокруг Майского дерева, поднятого в центре площади.
Bank Holidays in Great Britain. There are eight (in the periods of May, August, Christmas and Saint Stephen, New Year and Easter) whose dates vary from year to year.	Банковские праздники. Их восемь (в мае, августе, Рождество и Святой Стефан, Новый год и Пасха), чьи даты варьируются от года к году.
Boxing Day (St. Stephens Day): December 26th. In the nineteenth century, wealthy English families gave their employees gifts received at Christmas which were not to their liking.	День подарков (День Святого Стефана): 26 декабря. В девятнадцатом веке богатые английские семьи дарили своим работниками подарки, полученные на Рождество, которые им не нравились.
The school calendar in Great Britain varies from year to year and is different depending on the school. Specifically, there are differences between local state schools and private schools. Traditionally there are three quarters in Great Britain, with short half-term holidays and a longer summer break.	Школьный календарь варьируется от года к году и отличается в зависимости от школы. В частности, существуют различия между местными государственными школами и частными школами. Традиционно есть три четверти, с короткими полусрочными праздниками и более длинным летним перерывом.

Sports in Great Britain

Текст на английском	Перевод
A cultural element that should not be underestimated in Great Britain is that of sport. In general. The whole United Kingdom is particularly interested in the sporting tradition but in England tradition is combined with excellence.	Культурный элемент, который нельзя недооценивать в Англии, – это спорт. В целом, все Соединенное Королевство особенно интересуется спортивными традициями, но в Англии традиции сочетаются с превосходством.
Without a doubt, football is among the sports in Great Britaon. The English Championship is run by the Football Association and is the oldest club football league in the world: it was first played in 1888-1889 even though the English Football Association was founded in 1863.	Без сомнения, футбол является одним из английских видов спорта. Чемпионат по футболу возглавляет Футбольная ассоциация и является самой старой клубной футбольной лигой в мире: его впервые сыграли в 1888-1889 годах, хотя Английская футбольная ассоциация была основана в 1863 году.
Second sport in terms of fans is Rugby. The administrative body of Rugby in Great Britain is the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and its offices are located in Twickenham and Middlesex.	Второй спорт с точки зрения болельщиков — регби. Административным органом регби в Англии является Футбольный союз регби, а его офисы расположены в Твикенхеме и Миддлсексе.
Definitely, the most autochthonous sport in Britain is Cricket. It is a very old sport, played between two teams of eleven players.	Определенно, самым автохтонным видом спорта в Англии является Крикет. Это очень старый вид спорта, в который играют две команды из одиннадцати игроков.
Among the most followed sports in Great Britain there is the Golf. In reality, sport originated in Scotland in the fifteenth century but later spread throughout Great Britain.	Среди самых популярных видов спорта в Англии Гольф. В действительности спорт возник в Шотландии в пятнадцатом веке, но позже распространился по всей Великобритании.
Britain is lucky to have one of the world’s leading tennis tournaments, Wimbledon. Wimbledon is in June when there is the best weather in the UK. It is traditional for spectators to eat strawberries with cream while watching the matches.	Англии повезло с одним из ведущих теннисных турниров мира, Уимблдоном. Уимблдон проходит в июне, когда в Великобритании лучшая погода. Для зрителей традиционно есть клубнику со сливками, наблюдая за матчами.
We talk about equitation as “The sport of Kings”. The Queen of Great Britain is a big fan of horse riding and she herself owns some racehorses. It always takes part in the Royal Ascot, the main event of the year; in fact it has taken the attribute “royal” for this very reason.	Мы говорим о верховой езде как «Королевском спорте». Королева – большой поклонник верховой езды, и она сама владеет скаковыми лошадьми. Она всегда принимает участие в Королевском Аскоте, главном событии года; на самом деле он получил название «королевский» именно по этой причине.
In the early eighteenth century the English boxer James Figg (1695-1740) conceived boxing as a sport where it was more important to defend one than to attack.	В начале восемнадцатого века английский боксер Джеймс Фигг (1695-1740) задумал бокс как спорт, где было более важно защититься, чем атаковать.
Loughborough University means the best sport in Great Britain and one of the best in the world. It has an Olympic pool, two gymnastic and sports centers, fields for rugby, hockey and cricket.	Университет Лафборо означает лучший спорт в Великобритании и один из лучших в мире. Он имеет олимпийский бассейн, два гимнастических и спортивных центра, поля для регби, хоккей и крикет.
The Royal London Yacht Club, established in 1838, is one of the oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs in Britain.	Королевский лондонский яхт-клуб, основанный в 1838 году, является одним из старейших и престижных яхт-клубов Великобритании.
For sailing enthusiasts there are countries that seem to know forever, because they are inextricably linked to the history of this sport. One of these is certainly Great Britain and in particular the coasts that overlook the Channel and the Atlantic, where there are famous ports such as Plymouth or Southampton, not to mention the Isle of Wight, theater of prestigious competitions.	Для поклонников парусного спорта есть страны, которые, кажется, известны всегда, так как они неразрывно связаны с историей этого вида спорта. Одной из них, безусловно, является Великобритания и, в частности, берега, выходящие на Канал и Атлантику, где есть знаменитые порты, такие как Плимут или Саутгемптон, не говоря уже об Острове Уайта.

Текст про Лондон на английском

Тексты на английском языке про Great Britain с переводом на русский, рассмотренные в статье, станут отличными помощниками тем, кто не знает о чем написать или рассказать и познакомят с главными особенностями страны.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and above five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244 000 square kilometers. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast respectively.

The British isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest - east, center and southeast - is a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain. (1343)

There are a lot of rivers in GB, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The UK is one of the world’s smallest countries. The population of the country is over 87 million and about 80% of it is urban. The UK is highly developed industrial country. It’s known as one of world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. The UK is constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen, but in practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. The Liberal party is the ruling party nowadays.

Великобритания

Соединенное королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии расположено на Британских островах. Британские острова состоят из двух больших островов, Великобритании и Ирландии, и более пяти тысяч маленьких островов. Их общая площадь - более 244 000 квадратных километров. Великобритания состоит из четырех стран: Англии, Шотландии, Уэльса и Северной Ирландии. Их столицы - Лондон, Эдинбург, Кардиф и Белфаст соответственно.

Британские острова отделены от Европейского континента Северным морем и Ла-Маншем. Западное побережье Великобритании омывается Атлантическим океаном и Ирландским морем. Поверхность Британских островов очень разнообразна. Север Шотландии горист и называется Высокогорьем, в то время как юг, на котором находятся красивые долины и равнины, называется Среднешотландской низменностью. Север и запад Англии горист, но все остальное - восток, центр и юго-восток - является обширной равниной. Горы - не очень высоки. Бен-Невис - самая высокая гора. (1343)

В Великобритании есть много рек, но они не очень длинные. Северн - самая длинная река, в то время как Темза самая глубокая и наиболее важная.

Великобритания - одна из самых маленьких стран в мире. Население страны - более 87 миллионов и приблизительно 80 % из них живут в городах. Великобритания высоко индустриально развитая страна. Она известна как один из самых крупных в мире производителей и экспортеров машин, электроники, ткани, самолетов и навигационного оборудования. Великобритания - конституционная монархия. По закону, глава государства - Королева, но практически, Королева правит, но не управляет. Страна управляется избранным правительством с премьер-министром во главе. Британский Парламент состоит из двух палат: Палаты лордов и Палаты общин.

В Великобритании есть три главных политических партии: лейбористская, консервативная и либеральная. Либеральная партия - правящая партия в настоящее время.

Great Britain
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and above five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 315 000 square kilometers. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast respectively.

The British isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest - east, center and southeast - is a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain. (1343 m.)

There are a lot of rivers in GB, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The UK is one of the world’s smallest countries. The population of the country is over 87 million and about 80% of it is urban. The UK is highly developed industrial country. It’s known as one of world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. The UK is constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen, but in practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. The Liberal party is the ruling party nowadays.

[ перевод ]

Великобритания
Соединенное королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии расположено на Британских островах. Британские острова состоят из двух больших островов, Великобритании и Ирландии, и более пяти тысяч маленьких островов. Их общая площадь - более 315 000 квадратных километров. Великобритания состоит из четырех стран: Англии, Шотландии, Уэльса и Северной Ирландии. Их столицы - Лондон, Эдинбург, Кардифф и Белфаст соответственно.

Британские острова отделены от Европейского континента Северным морем и проливом Ла-Манш. Западное побережье Великобритании омывается Атлантическим океаном и Ирландским морем. Поверхность Британских островов очень разнообразна. Север Шотландии горист и называется Высокогорьем, в то время как юг, на котором находятся красивые долины и равнины, называется Среднешотландской низменностью. Север и запад Англии горист, но все остальное - восток, центр и юго-восток - является обширной равниной. Горы - не очень высоки. Бен-Невис - самая высокая гора. (1343 м)

В Великобритании есть много рек, но они не очень длинные. Северн - самая длинная река, в то время как Темза самая глубокая и наиболее важная.

Великобритания - одна из самых маленьких стран в мире. Население страны - более 87 миллионов человек и приблизительно 80% из них живут в городах. Великобритания высоко индустриально развитая страна. Она известна как один из самых крупных в мире производителей и экспортеров машин, электроники, ткани, самолетов и навигационного оборудования. Великобритания - конституционная монархия. По закону, глава государства - Королева, но практически, Королева правит, но не управляет. Страна управляется избранным правительством с премьер-министром во главе. Британский Парламент состоит из двух палат: Палаты лордов и Палаты общин.

Great Britain

Great Britain is an island in the Atlantic Ocean which is a part of the United Kingdom. It is situated at the north-west of continental Europe. Being the largest island in Europe, it’s the ninth largest island in the world. According to the latest data, the population of Great Britain is above 60 million people. Approximately 80% of population is urban. The surface of the island greatly varies from part to part. While the northern and western part are mountainous (the Highlands), the southern, central and eastern parts are covered by a vast plain (the Lowlands). The deepest river on the island is the Thames, and the longest is the Severn.

Great Britain is divided into three countries. They are England, Scotland, and Wales. The island is surrounded by over 1,000 small islets. Great Britain is considered to be one of the richest and highly developed countries in the world. Its economy is in steady progress. One of its chief industries is shipbuilding. Other than that, Great Britain produces aircraft equipment, machinery, electronics, iron and steel products, textile, chemicals. As for education, Britain is the intellectual center of Europe. The most renowned universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, are situated there.

The political system of Great Britain consists of the monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its apex, and the Parliament. Although the head of state is the Queen, the actual control is performed by the government with a Prime Minister at the head. The House of Lords and the House of Commons constitute the British Parliament. There are certain differences between these Houses. While the House of Lords is an unelected upper chamber, the House of Commons is periodically elected. Three main political parties in the country are the Conservative, the Liberal, and the Labour. The ruling one nowadays is the Conservative party.

The climate of Great Britain is greatly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and the warm waters of Gulf Stream. The weather on the island is quite changeable. For example, a fine morning can unexpectedly change into a wet afternoon and vice versa. The most unpleasant aspect of British weather is continuous rain and fog. It is especially common in large cities. During thick fog car accidents are a frequent scene. The best time of the year is spring and the worst is winter. January and February are rather cold, humid and unpleasant. Summer days can be rainy too, so most British people prefer spending their summer holidays abroad.

Each country in Great Britain has its own flag, capital, and emblem. For example English flag is known as the St George’s Cross. Its colours are red, blue and white. The capital of the country is London and the emblem is a red rose. Scottish flag contains blue and white colours. It is known as St Andrew’s Cross. The capital of the country is situated in Edinburgh and the national emblem is a thistle. The Welsh flag presents a red dragon on a green and white field. The capital of the country is Cardiff and the national emblem is either the leek or daffodil.

Великобритания

Великобритания – остров в Атлантическом океане, который является частью Соединенного Королевства. Он расположен на северо-западе континентальной Европы. Будучи крупнейшим островом в Европе, это девятый по величине остров в мире. По последним данным, население Великобритании составляет свыше 60 миллионов человек. Около 80% населения проживает в городах. Поверхность острова сильно отличается в разных частях. В то время как северная и западная части гористые (Нагорье), южная, центральная и восточная части покрыты обширной равниной (Низменность). Самая глубокая река на острове Темза, а самая длинная – Северн.

Великобритания состоит из трех стран: Англия, Шотландия и Уэльс. Остров окружен более чем 1000 маленьких островков. Великобритания считается одной из самых богатых и высокоразвитых стран в мире. Ее экономика в устойчивом прогрессе. Одной из главных отраслей промышленности является судостроение. Помимо этого, Великобритания производит авиационное оборудование, технику, электронику, продукцию черной металлургии, текстиль, химикаты. Что касается образования, Великобритания является интеллектуальным центром Европы. Наиболее известные университеты, такие как Оксфорд и Кембридж, расположены там.

Политическая система Великобритании состоит из монархии с королевой Елизаветой II в качестве правителя, и парламента. Несмотря на то, что главой государства является королева, фактический контроль осуществляется правительством во главе с премьер-министром. Британский парламент состоит из Палаты лордов и Палаты общин. Есть определенные различия между этими ветвями. В то время как Палата лордов является не избираемой верхней ветвью, Палата общин периодически переизбирается. Три основные политические партии в стране – это Консервативная, Либеральная и Лейбористская. На сегодняшний день правит Консервативная партия.

На климат Великобритании большое влияние оказывает Атлантический океан и теплые воды Гольфстрима. Погода на острове довольно изменчива. Например, прекрасное утро может неожиданно превратиться в дождливый полдень, ​​и наоборот. Самым неприятным аспектом британской погоды являются непрерывные дожди и туман. Особенно это свойственно крупным городам. Во время густого тумана частое явление транспортные столкновения. Лучшее время года это весна, а худшее – зима. Январь и февраль довольно холодные, влажные и неприятные месяцы. Летние дни могут быть также омрачены дождями, так что большинство британцев предпочитают проводить свой отпуск за рубежом.

Каждая страна в Великобритании имеет свой собственный флаг, столицу, и эмблему. Например, английский флаг известен как Георгиевский крест. Его цвета – красный, синий и белый. Столицей страны является Лондон, а эмблемой – красная роза. Шотландский флаг содержит сине-белые цвета. Он известен как Андреевский крест. Столица страны расположена в Эдинбурге, а национальной эмблемой является чертополох. Валлийский флаг представлен красным драконом на зелено-белом поле. Столицей страны является Кардифф, а национальной эмблемой либо лук-порей, либо нарцисс.

The full name of the country the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and a great number of small islands. Their total area is over 314 000 sq. km.

The British Isles are separated from the European conti­nent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

Northern Ireland occupies one third of the island of Ire­land. It borders on the Irish Republic in the south.

The island of Great Britain consists of three main parts: England (the southern and middle part of the island), Wales (a mountainous peninsula in the West) and Scotland (the north­ern part of the island).

There are no high mountains in Great Britain. In the north the Cheviots separate England from Scotland, the Pennines stretch down North England along its middle, the Cambrian mountains occupy the greater part of Wales and the High­lands of Scotland are the tallest of the British mountains. There is very little flat country except in the region known as East Anglia.

Most of the rivers flow into the North Sea. The Thames is the deepest and the longest of the British rivers. Some of the British greatest ports are situated in the estuaries of the Thames, Mersey, Trent, Tyne, Clyde and Bristol Avon.

Great Britain is not very rich in mineral resources, it has some deposits of coal and iron ore and vast deposits of oil and gas that were discovered in the North Sea.

The warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean influence the climate of Great Britain. Winters are not severely cold and summers are rarely hot.

The population of the United Kingdom is over 58 million people. The main nationalities are: English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish. In Great Britain there are a lot of immigrants from former British Asian and African colonies.

Great Britain is a highly industrialized country. New in­dustries have been developed in the last three decades. The main industrial centres are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and Bristol.

The capital of the country is London. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy.

British Institutions

Parliament is the most important authority in Britain. Parliament first met in the 13th century. Britain does not have a written constitution, but a set of laws. In 1689 Mary II and William III became the first constitutional monarchs. They could rule only with the support of the Parliament. Technically Parliament is made up of three parts: the Mo­narch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The continuity of the English monarchy has been inter­rupted only once during the Cromwell republic. Succession to the throne is hereditary but only for Protestants in the direct line of descent. Formally the monarch has a number of roles. The monarch is expected to be politically neutral, and should not make political decisions. Nevertheless, the monarch still perforins some important executive and legislative duties in­cluding opening and dissolving Parliament, signing bills passed by both Houses and fulfilling international duties as

head of state. The present sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II who was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1953.

The House of Lords comprises about 1200 peers. The house is presided over by the Lord Chancellor. The House of Lords has no real power but acts as an advisory council for the House of Commons. As well as having legislative functions, the Lords is the highest’court of appeal.

The House of Commons consists of Members of Parlia­ment who are elected by the adult suffrage of the British people in general elections which are held at least every five years. The country is divided into 650 constituencies each of which elects one Member of Parliament. The Commons, there­fore, has 650 Members of Parliament. The party whkch wins the most seats forms the Government and its leader becomes the Prime Minister. The functions of Commons are legislation and security of government activities. The house is presided over by the Speaker. The government party sits on the Spea­ker’s right while on his left sit the members of the Opposition.

British traditional holidays

Great Britain is famous for its old traditions. Some of them existed in ancient times and survived through centuries. Some of them appeared when Christianity came to British isles. Speaking about religious holidays one can’t but mention Easter, Pancake Day and Mother’s Day. The dates of these holidays aren’t strict, they depend on the date of Easter, that varies every year.

Pancake day is the popular name for the Shrove Tuesday, the day before the first day of Lent. In the middle ages people on that day made merry and ate pancakes. The ingredients of pancakes are all forbidden by Church during Lent, that is why they have to be used the day before. The most common form of celebrating this day in the old times was the all town ball game or tug-of-war, in which everyone was tearing here and there, trying to get the ball or rope into their part of the city. Today the only custom, that is observed throughout Britain is pancake eating.

For the English people the best-known name for the fourth in Lent Sunday is Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day. For 3 centuries this day has been a day of small family gatherings when absent sons and daughters return to their homes. Gifts are made to mothers by children of all ages. Flowers and cakes are still traditional gifts. Violets and primroses are most popular flowers. Sometimes the whole family goes to church and then there is a special dinner at which roast lamb, rice-pudding and home-made wines and served.

Easter is one of the most important holidays in Christianity. In England it’s a time for giving and receiving presents, mostly Easter eggs. We can say that the egg is the most popular emblem of Easter, but spring-time flowers are also used to stress the nature’s awakening. Nowadays there are a lot of chocolate Easter eggs, having some small gifts inside. But a real hard-boiled egg, decorated and painted in bright colours , still appears on breakfast tables on Ester Day, or it’s hidden in the house or garden for children to finny. In egg that is boiled really hard will last for years. Egg-rolling is a traditional Easter pastime. You roll the eggs down a clope until they are cracked and broken, after they are eaten up.

Christmas in Great Britain

For most British families, this is the most important festival of the year. This is the day when many people are travelling home to be with their families on Christmas Day. If you try to catch a train on 24th December you may have difficulty in finding a seat. There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but the most important one is the giving of presents. Family members wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of the Christmas tree to be bound on Christmas morning. At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding.

In the afternoon they may watch the Queen on the televi­sion as she delivers her traditional Christmas message to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Then they enjoy a piece of Christmas cake or eat a hot mince pie. On the Sunday before Christmas many churches hold a service where special hymns are sung. Sometimes singers can be heard on the streets as they collect money for charity. Most families decorate their houses with brightly-coloured paper or holly, and they usual­ly have a Christmas tree in the corner of the room, glittering with coloured lights and decoration. 26th December is also a public holiday, called Boxing Day. This is the time to visit friends and relatives or be a spectator at one of the many sporting events.

Everyone in Great Britain is waiting and enjoying this holiday very much!

The Climate of Great Britain

Great Britain is situated on islands. It is washed by seas from all sides. That’s why the climate and the nature of Great Britain is very specific. The popular belief that it rains all the time in Britain is simply not true. In fact, London gets no more rain in a year than most other major European cities. Generally speaking, the further west you go, the more rain you get. The mild winters mean that snow is a regular feature of the higher areas only. The winters are in general a bit colder in the east of the country than they are in the west. While in summer, the south is slightly warmer and sunnier than the north. Besides Britain is famous for its fogs. Sometimes fogs are so thick that it is impossible to see anything within 2 or 3 metres.

Why has Britain’s climate got such a bad reputation? May­be it is for the same reason that British people always seem to

be talking about the weather. There is a saying that Britain doesn’t have a climate, it only has weather. You can never be sure of a fry day, though it may not rain very much altoge­ther. There can be cool and even cold days in July and some quite warm days in January. The weather changes very of­ten. Mark Twain said about America: «If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes* but it is more likely to have been said about England. The lack of extremes is the reason why on the few occasions when it gets genuinely hot or freezing cold, the country seems to be totally unprepared for it. A bit of snow, a few days of frost and the trains stop working and the roads are blocked. If the ther­mometer goes above 27°C, people behave as if they were in the Sahara and the temperature makes front-page headlines. These things happen so seldom that it is not worth organizing life to be ready for them. Everyone «who comes to Great Britain says that it looks like one great beautiful park. The British people love their country and take care of it.

London

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and cultural centre. It’s one of the largest cities in the world. Its population is more than 11 million people. London is situated on the river Thames. The city is very old and beautiful. It was founded more than two thousand years ago.

Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. The City is the oldest part of London, its financial and business centre. The heart of the City is the Stock Exchange.

Westminster is the most important part of the capital. It’s the administrative centre. The Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Government, are there. It’s a very beautiful building with two towers and a very big clock called Big Ben. Big Ben is really the bell which strikes every quarter of an hour. Opposite the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. It’s a very beautiful church built over 900 years ago. The tombs of many great statesmen, scientists and writers are there.

To the west of Westminster is West End. Here we find most of the big shops, hotels, museums, art galleries, theatres and concert halls. Piccadilly Circus is the heart of London’s West End. In the West End there are wide streets with beauti­ful houses and many parks, gardens and squares.

To the east of Westminster is the East End, an industrial district of the capital. There are no parks or gardens in the East End and you can’t see many fine houses there. Most of the plants and factories are situated there.

London has many places of interest. One of them is Bu­ckingham Palace. It’s the residence of the Queen. The English are proud of Trafalgar Square, which was named so in me­mory of the victory at the battle. There in 1805 the English fleet defeated the fleet of France and Spain. The last place of interest I should like to mention, is the British Museum, the biggest museum in London. The museum is famous for its library - one of the richest in the world.

All London’s long-past history is told by its streets. There are many streets in London which are known all over the world. Among them Oxford Street, Downing Street and a lot of others can be mentioned. And tourists are usually attracted not only by the places of interest but by the streets too.

British Cuisine

Some people criticize English food. They say it’s unima­ginable, boring, tasteless, it’s chips with everything and totally overcooked vegetables.

The basic ingredients, when fresh, are so full of flavour that British haven’t had to invent sauces to disguise their natural taste. What can compare with fresh pees or new potatoes just boiled and served with butter? Why drown spring lamb in wine or cream and spices, when with just one or two herbs it is absolutely delicious?

If you ask foreigners to name some typically English di­shes,they will probably say «Fish and chips* then stop. It is disappointing, but true that, there is no tradition in England of eating in restaurants, because the food doesn’t lend itself to such preparation. English cooking is found at home. So it is difficult to find a good English restaurant with a reason­able prices.

In most cities in Britain you’ll find Indian, Chinese, French and Italian restaurants. In London you’ll also find Indone­sian, Mexican, Greek… Cynics will say that this is because English have no «cuisine* themselves, but this is not quite the true.

British Literature

Great Britain gave the world a lot of talented people. Many famous writers and poets were born and lived in Great Britain.

Robert Burns represents the generation of Romantic wri­ters. In his poems he described with love and understanding the simple life he knew. Among his wall-known poems are «Halloween», «The Jolly Beggars, «To a Mouse».

Lord George Gordon Byron. His free-spirited life style com­bined with his rare poetic gift makes him one of the most famous figures of the Romantic Era. His famous works such as «Stanzas to Augusta, «The Prisoner of Chillon», «Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, « Manfred draw readers into the pas­sion, humors and conviction of a poet whose life and work truly embodied the Romantic spirit.

Sir Walter Scott wrote the first examples of historical novel.

Lewis Carroll became famous when he published “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”.

The Geographical Position of Great Britain

There are two large islands and several smaller ones, which lie in the north-west coast of Europe. Collectively they are known as the British Isles. The largest island is called Great Britain. The smaller one is called Ireland. Great Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel. The country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Great Britain is separated from Belgium and Holland by the North Sea, and from Ireland - by the Irish Sea.

In the British Isles there are two states. One of them go­verns of the most of the island of Ireland. This state is usual­ly called the Republic of Ireland. The other state has authori­ty over the rest of the territory.

The official name of this country is the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But it is usually known by a shorter name - *The United Kingdom*. The total area of Great Britain is 244,000 square km.

They say that the British love of compromise is the result of the country’s physical geography. This may or may not be true, but it certainly true that the land and climate in Great Britain have a notable lack of extremes. The mountains in the country are not very high. It doesn’t usually get very cold in the winter or very not in the summer. It has no active volca­noes, and an earth tremos which does no more than rattle teacups in a few houses which is reported in the national news media. The insular geographical position of Great Brit­ain promoted the development of shipbuilding, different trai­ning contacts with other countries.

The Structure of Government in Great Britain

The Queen is officially head of all the branches of govern­ment, but she has little direct power in the country. The constitutionhas three branches: Parliament, which makes lows, the government, which «executes* laws (puts them into effect) and the courts, which interpret laws. Parliament has two parts: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 650 con­stituencies. They are known as Members of Parliament. The Prime- Minister is advised by a Cabinet of about twenty other ministers.

The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, is usually the leader of the political party. The Cabinet includes the ministers in charge of major government departments or mi­nistries. Departments and ministries are run by civil servants, who are permanent officials. Even if the Government changes after an election, the same civil servants are employed. Mem­bers of the House of Lords are not elected. About 70 per cent of them are «hereditary peers» because their fathers were peers before them. The 30 per cent are officially appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the Government, for various servic­es for people.

Meals in Britain

Since the 1970’s eating habits in Britain have undergone a Change. People have been encouraged by doctors, health ex­perts and government advertisements to eat less fat and more fibre. Fat is believed to be one of the major causes of obesity and heart disease. Forty per cent of adults in Britain are overweight and Britain has one of the highest death rates due to cardiovascular disease in the world. Britons have also be­come more aware of calories, the energy value of food. Some people count the number of calories they eat every day, so that they can try to take in fewer calories and lose weight. Food manufactures have started to help the general public to make more informed choices about what they eat.

So the traditional British breakfast is bacon, eggs or sausages, preceded by fruit and followed by toasts. Britons may eat this breakfast at weekends or on special occasions but prefer a smaller and healthier meal to start a day. Lunch is a light meal and is eaten at school or work. Lunch takes 30-40 minutes. Dinner is usually the main meal of the day and consists of two courses.

In recent years, foreign foods have become a regular part of the British diet. Indian and Chinese dishes are particularly popular for evening meals. Take-aways became extremely popular in the 1980’s. The traditional British take-away is fish and chips eaten with salt and vinegar and served in an old newspaper.

The British are famous for their love of sweet things and afternoon tea with sandwiches; scones, jam and several kinds of cake, was once a traditional custom;. Most working people don’t have tea as an afternoon «meal», but they do have a short break in the middle of the afternoon for a cup of tea. Tea is often also drink with lunch and dinner.

National Emblems of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (abbreviated from «The United King­dom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland*) is the political name of the country which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (sometimes known as Ulster).

Great Britain is the name of the island which is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, whereas the British Isles is the geo­graphical name of all the islands off the north-west coast of the European continent.

In everyday speech «Britain» is used to mean the United Kingdom.

The flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Yack, is made up of three crosses. The upright red cross on a white background is the cross of the 1st George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross on a blue back­ground is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scot­land. The red diagonal cross on a white background is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

The Welsh flag, called the Welsh dragon, represents a red dragon on a white and green background.

St. George’s Day falls on 23 April and is regarded as England’s national day. On this day some patriotic English­men wear a rose pinned to their jackets. A red rose is the

national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses (15th century).

St. Andrew’s Day (the 30th of November) is regarded as Scotland’s national day. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle in their buttonhole. As a national emblem of Scotland, thistle apparently first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The Order of the Thistle is one of the highest orders of knighthood. It was founded in 1687, and is mainly given to Scottish noblemen (limited to 16 in number).

St. Patrick’s Day (the 17th of March) is considered as a national day in Northern Ireland and an official bank holi­day there. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. Ac­cording to legend, it was the plant chosen by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish.

St. David’s Day (the 1st of March) is the church festival of St. David, a 6th-century monk and bishop, the patron saint of Wales. The day is regarded as the national holiday of Wales, although it is not an official bank holiday.

On this day, however, many Welshmen wear either a yellow daffodil or a leek pinned to their jackets, as both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems of Wales.

In the Royal Arms three lions symbolize England, a lion rampant - Scotland, and a harp - Ireland. The whole is encircled and is supported by a lion and a unicorn. The lion has been used as a symbol of national strength and of the British monarchy for many centuries. The unicorn, a mythical animal that looks like a horse with a long straight horn, has appeared on the Scottish and British royal coats of arms for many centuries, and is a symbol of purity.

Newspapers in Britain

If you get on a bus or catch a train in Britain, especially during the morning and evening *rush hour», you’ll see a lot of people reading newspapers. The press tells us about various political views, interest and levels of education. Pa­pers are usually divided into «quality» papers which are seri­ous with long, informative articles and *popular* which have smaller size. They are less serious and contain more human interest stories than news.

More daily newspapers, national and regional are sold in Great Britain than in most other developed countries. There are about 135 daily papers and Sunday papers, 2000 weekly

papers and about 100 papers produced by members of ethnic groups.

A lot of people buy a morning paper, an evening paper and a couple of Sunday papers. On an average day two out of three people over the age of 15 read a national morning paper, about three out of four read a Sunday paper. So it’s not surprising to learn that national newspapers have a circulation of 15.8 million copies on weekdays and 19 million on Sundays.

Newspapers are almost always financially independent of any political party. However, during general election cam­paigns many papers recommend their readers to vote for a particular political party. Ownership of the national London and regional daily newspapers is concentrated in the hands of large press publishing groups.

Outstanding Events in the History of Great Britain

There were many outstanding events in the history of Great Britain. Many different tribes tried to control the terri­tory of Britain. England was added to the Roman Empire in 43 A.D. Roman invasion played a very important role in the history of the country. The Roman built the first roads in the country, dug the first walls. The Romans, who were great architects, constructed the first towns in Britain.

But the Normans influenced the British civilization most of all. They came in 1066 under the leadership of William the Conqueror. As the invaders spoke French, their speech influenced the English language.

Once the British had to face the French in 1805 at the battle of Trafalgar. Then Admiral Nelson won a great victory over the French fleet. In order to commemorate this event the monument to Admiral Nelson was erected on this square.

In the 18th century technological and commercial innova­tion led to the Industrial Revolution. The 13 North American Colonies were lost, but replaced by colonies in Canada and India.

The beginning of the 20th century coincided with the beginning of the decline of the British Empire. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa became dominions and drew up their constitutions. Britain was no longer the greatest world power. Germany was rapidly becoming the major economic power in Europe.

The rivalry between the great European powers led to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. After four years of bitter fighting the war ended in victory for the Allied Powers of Britain, France, Italy and the USA. Germany was defeated. The destruction was terrible, there were more than 10 million killed.

The war was followed by a period of depression in economy. It was a period of great social unrest. Unemployment was high, wages low and there were numerous strikes. From 1930 to 1933 three million British people out of the total workforce of 14 million were unemployed.

Britain was soon involved into another war. After Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill Britain fought against Germany in the alliance with the Soviet Union and the USA. Germany surrendered in May 1945. The war had cost Britain a quarter of its national wealth.

Between 1945 and 1965 more than 500 million people in former British colonies became self-governing. India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma became independent and joined the Commonwealth as free and equal members.

In the 1970s and 1980s Britain experienced new social problems connected with the arrival of immigrants. By 1990 there were 5 million immigrants in Britain. The government passed laws to prevent unequal treatment of immigrants, but also to control the number of immigrants coming to Britain.

Places of Interest in Great Britain

Britain is rich in its historic places which link the present with the past.

The oldest part of London is Lud Hill, where the city is originated. About a mile west of it there is Westminster Pa­lace, where the king lived and the Parliament met, and there is also Westminster Abbey, the coronation church.

Liverpool, the «city of ships», is England’s second grea­test port, ranking after London. The most interesting sight in the Liverpool is the docks. They occupy a river frontage of seven miles. The University of Liverpool, established in 1903, is noted for its School of Tropical Medicine. And in the music world Liverpool is a well-known name, for it’s the home town of «The Beatles*.

Cambridge and Oxford Universities are famous centres of learning.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument, presumably built by Druids, members of an order of priests in ancient Britain. Tintagel Castle is King Arthur’s reputed birthplace. Canter­bury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England.

The British Museum is the largest and richest museum in the world. It was founded in 1753 and contains one of the world’s richest collections of antiquities. The Egyptian Gal­leries contain human and animal mummies. Some parts of Athens’ Parthenon are in the Greek section.

Madam Tussaud’s Museum is an exhibition of hundreds

of life-size wax models of famous people of yesterday and today. The collection was started by Madam Tussaud, a French modeller in wax, in the 18th century. Here you can meet Marilyn Monroe, Elton John, Picasso, the Royal Family, the Beatles and many others: writers, movie stars, singers, politi­cians, sportsmen, etc.

Sport in Great Britain

Sport plays such a large part in British life that many idioms in the English language have come from the world of sport. For example, «that’s not cricket* means «that’s not fair» and «to play the game* means «to be fair». The most popular sport in England is football. A lot of people support their local clubs at matches on Saturday afternoons or watch the matches on television.

The football league in England and Wales has four divi-

sions. Each division contains twenty teams. There are two main prizes each season. The football league championship is won by the team that is top of the first division. The final of this competition takes place every May at the famous Wemb­ley stadium in London. Some of the best-known clubs in En­gland are Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. But many clubs have problems with money at the moment. Some people say that the league is too big and that the players get paid too much. Others say that television is making the crowds stay at home.

Sport has for a long time been a very important part of a child’s education in Britain, not just - as you may think to develop physical abilities, but also to provide a certain kind of moral education. Team games encourage such social qualities as enthusiasm, cooperation, loyalty and unselfishness.

The British Media

The British Media consists of the press and radio and TV broadcasting.

Now a couple of words about papers. First of all there is no subscription. You may buy any on sale. There are two main types of newspapers: the «popular» papers and the «qua-lity» papers.

The popular papers are less in size, with many pictures, big headlines and short articles. They are easy to read. They are such papers as «Daily Express*, « Daily mail», «Daily Mirror», «Daily Star», «The Sun» and others.

The «quality» papers are for more serious readership. These papers are bigger in size, with larger articles and more detailed information. The «quality» papers are - «The Times*, «Daily Telegraph*, «The Guardian*, «Financial Times*, «The Independent*.

In addition to daily papers we. have just mentioned above there are Sunday papers. They have a higher circulation than the dailies. Sunday papers in Great Britain are such «quality» papers as « Observer*, «Sunday Times», «Sunday Telegraph* and such «popular* papers as: «News of the World*, «Sun-day Express*, «Sunday Mirror*, «Mail on Sunday*.

As far as broadcasting and telecasting are concerned there are two radio and TV stations. The first one - well-known BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation, and the second - IBA - Independent Broadcasting Authorities.

The newspapers in Britain are proud of the fact that they are different from each other - each tries to have a definite profile.

The British Painters

William Turner , a great romantic English landscape painter, was born in Devonshire in 1775. He lived with his uncle in Middlesex, where he began to attend school. His first dra­wings are dated 1787, when he was only twelve years of age. His childish sketch-books, filled with drawings, are still pre­served in the British Museum.

When he was 21, he began to exhibit oil paintings. As a landscape painter Turner was interested mainly in light and colour effects. One of his famous paintings is even called “Light and Colour”.Turner died in London in 1851. His pictures and draw­ings became the property of the British nation.

William Turner is considered to be one of the world grea­test painters.

John Constable is a master of landscape painting in the romantic style. Constable was the first who introduced green into painting.

He was the son of a miller in Bergholt. He went to London in 1799 to study painting at the Royal Academy schools.

He exhibited his first landscape paintings in 1802. He was fascinated by reflections in water and light on clouds, and produced many cloud studies. Many of his paintings depict the countryside of the Stour River valley in Suffolk where he had grown up. He often painted in the open air, but he usually finished his canvases in the studio.

Constable’s works include The Cornfield (1826, National Gallery, London), Dedham Lock and Mill in 1820.

Thomas Gainsborough , (1727-1788), English painter, considered one of the great masters of portraiture and landscape painting. Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He showed artistic ability at an early age, and when he was 15 years old he studied drawing and etching in London with French engraver Hubert Gravelot. From 1760 to 1774 he lived in Bath, a fashionable health resort, where he painted numerous portraits and landscapes. In 1774 he painted, by royal invitation, portraits of King George III and the queen consort, Charlotte Sophia. He was the favorite painter of the British aristocracy.

Gainsborough executed more than 500 paintings, of which more than 200 are portraits. His portraits are characterized, by poetic charm, and by cool and fresh colors. His most famous portraits include Orpin, the Parish Clerk (Tate Gallery, London); The Baillie Family (1784) and Mrs. Siddons (1785).

The Most Popular British Writers

The Bronte sister, Charlotte (1816-1855), Emily (1818- 1848) and Anne (1820-1849), were three talented 19th cen­tury women novelists whose works are regarded as classics today. Charlotte is best known for her novel «Jane Eyre».

The novels of Jane Austen are known for their subtlery of observation and irony, together with their insights into the provincial life of the middle-class in the early part of 19th

century. Her works include «Emma», « Pride and Prejudice* and others.

One of the most widely known English poets is remarkable because his work has been transcribed, published, read and comment on since his death. He is Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1345- 1400). His best known work is «The Canterbury Tales*, a collection of tales. Chaucer is buried in Westminster Abbey.

The Problem of Environmental Protection in Great Britain

Environmental protection is an international issue of great importance and Great Britain pays much attention to it. There are nearly 500 000 protected buildings and 7000 conserva­tion areas of architecture of historical interest in Britain. The Government supports the work of the voluntary sector in preserving the national heritage.

Total emissions of smoke in the air have fallen by 85 per cent since 1960. Most petrol stations in Britain stock unlea­ded petrol. The Government is committed to the control of gases emission, which damage the ozone layer. They also con­tribute to the greenhouse effect, which leads to global war­ming and a rise in sea levels. Britain stresses the need for studying the science of climate change.

Green belts are areas where land should be left open and free from urban sprawl. The Government attaches great importance to their protection. National parks cover 9 per cent of the total land area of England and Wales. The National Rivers Authority protects island waters in En­gland and Wales. In Scotland the River purification autho­rities are responsible for water pollution control. Great Britain takes care of its environment for themselves and next generations.

The Towns of Great Britain

The centre of everything in Great Britain is the city of London. It’s situated at the centre of a vast national and international network of communication. London consists of four main districts, which differ from each other. These are the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End.

London’s industries are extremely varied. Among them an extensive system of docks and port industries, electrical engineering, the motor car industry and other.

The other towns, situated to the north of the Thames are Oxford and Cambridge.

Oxford was first mentioned in recorded history in the tenth century and later became an important trade centre in medieval times, then it developed into leading educational centre.

Cambridge is also best known for its ancient university. Its industries are mostly concerned with electronics which has an international reputation.

Bristol dominates South-west England, both as the region’s largest seaport and as its largest city. It is a major centre of metallurgy, aircraft and chemical industries.

Of the towns situated in the south of England the largest ones are Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton.

Southampton is primarily a seaport, the most important on the south coast.

Brighton is sne of the most popular seaside resorts of Britain. It has mild climate, warm sea and wonderful bea­ches.

Manchester is a city of ancient origin. By the 17th centu­ry it was great commercial city, a centre of textile industry. Now engineering along with clothing manufacture are most important industries there.

Sheffield, situated in South Yorkshire, produces almost

two-thirds of the country’s alloy steel, it is famous for its tools and cutlery. Other industries include paper making machinery and food processing.

In North Yorkshire the largest town is York. Its leading industries are engineering and manufacture of confectio­nery. York attracts many tourists because of its famous me­dieval city walls.