Give me a piece of advice on what sights to see in Britain

Билет 4 GREAT BRITAIN

1. Let’s talk about Great Britain. What do you know about this country?

2. What are the state symbols of Great Britain?

3. What would you ask a British teenager about national holidays in Britain?

Give me a piece of advice on what sights to see in Britain.

5. They say it`s important for a person to speak English nowadays because it is popular all over the world. What is your opinion?

1. Let’s talk about Great Britain. What do you know about this country?

The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is situated on the British Isles and includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands. All the rest is a vast plain which is called the Lowlands. Most of the rivers flow into the North Sea. The Thames is the deepest and the longest of the British rivers. The climate of the country is moderate and mild and changeable. British people joke that they have no climate, they have weather. Great Britain is a highly industrialized country. The main industrial cities are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and Bristol. The population of the United Kingdom is about 60 million people. The capital of the country is London. The United Kingdom is parliamentary monarchy and the Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the state, but in fact the country is ruled by the Prime Minister. The British Parliament consists of two chambers or houses – the House of Lords and the House of Commons. British people elect members of parliament every 5 years by direct vote only to the House of Commons. The membership of the House of Lords is inherited from generation to generation by aristocracy. Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. Two intellectual centres of Europe, Oxford and Cambridge universities, are situated there. The British are polite and well-mannered people. They have a specific sense of humor.

2. What are the state symbols of Great Britain?

The flag of the United Kingdom is known as the Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. It is made up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries - the countries of 'England, of 'Scotland' and of 'Northern Ireland'. The Welsh flag, called the Welsh dragon, represents a red dragon on a white and green background. The different parts of Britain have their own emblems and symbols. A red rose is the national emblem of England from the time of the Wars of the Roses (the 15th century).The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. The national emblem of Ireland is shamrock. The leek is the emblem of Wales.

3. What would you ask a British teenager about national holidays in Britain?

1. What national holidays have you got in Britain? 2. What is your favourite holiday? 3. How do you celebrate Christmas? 4. What are bank holidays? 5. What is Boxing day?

4. What sights in England would you advise me to visit?

London itself is a great city to visit. Start your London tour from Westminster Abbey. Every monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned here. Buckingham Palace is The Queen's official residence. The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is a free display of colourful Royal tradition.

Take a look at the Houses of Parliament and the famous clocktower Big Ben. Tower of London has been a treasury, and a royal residence, but it has also been a prison for enemies of the crown. A river cruise along the Thames River will give you a nice experience and view of the city. If I were you, I would first of all have a view of London from the London Eye. Then I would visit Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus, etc.

5. They say it`s important for a person to speak English nowadays because it is popular all over the world. What is your opinion?

I’ m sure, it is very important to speak English in our time. First, it expands our horizons, for example, it gives us a chance to visit other countries. Thanks to languages, we can survive at any place, and that's why I think everyone should speak at least English. A person who travels a lot also needs English. Even in the countries where English is not an official language people will generally be able to understand it. People learn English to be able to exchange the latest information concerning science, technology and commerce; to be able to read foreign newspapers and books, understand songs and watch films. Second, English helps you to improve friendship. Nowadays, many people have a wider friendship around the world. Learning English can help you to make more friends. Finally, it is important for job, for communication between people, for interacting. Today, all companies need their wokers know at least one language, especially English. It’s evident that those who speak foreign languages have more job opportunities as all sorts of diplomatic, business and cultural contacts. English is the major language of communication in such areas as science, computer technology, mass entertainment and international tourism. It’s the language of the Internet, all international conferences, different instructions for modern devices and so on. That’s why, you’ll be a good candidate for any job if you speak a foreign language. Those who didn’t learn it well at school often pay money for additional courses or learn business English or take some other specialized course of English for their work.