Parliament of Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. The Parliament consists of two chambers. The House of Commons having 630 members and the House of Lords with

approximately 800 peers. That party which obtains the majority of seats in the House is called the Government, and the others - the Opposition. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party that has a majority in the House of Commons. All the affairs of the state are conducted in the name of the Queen, but it is the Prime Minister who is the ruler of the country, presiding over the meetings of the Cabinet, which are always secret. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and ministers. Any M.P. (member of the Parliament) may introduce a bill to the Parliament. Every bill has three readings at first in the House of Commons. There is no debate allowed after the first reading. After the second reading there may be a discussion. The speaker calls upon different members who are eager to speak. After the discussion the voting is done. After the third reading the bill goes before the House of Lords. If the Lords agree to the bill, it will be placed before the Queen for signature. The Queen having signed it, it becomes an Act of Parliament. There are main political parties in Great Britain: the Conservative,

the Liberal and the Labour.

Vocabulary:

affairs - дела

to conduct - проводить

to preside (over) - председательствовать; осуществлять контроль, руководство

to introduce - вносить на рассмотрение

to call - называть; вызывать

voting - голосование

the bill goes before - законопроект представляется

to sign - подписывать

act - закон

the Conservative, the Liberal, the Labour parties - Консервативная, Либеральная, Лейбористская партии

Answer the questions:

1. The UK is a constitutional monarchy. What does it mean?

2. How many chambers does the British Parliament consists of? What are they?

3. What are the main political parties in Great Britain?

4. Who is the Prime Minister of Great Britain?

5. Which political party does he represent?

6. What is the name of the Queen of Great Britain?

7. What stages does a bill introduced to the Parliament pass?

8. When does a bill become an Act of Parliament?

Text 3

The English

English life is full of traditions and the English are known to be conservative. They accept things which are familiar and they are suspicious of anything that is strange and foreign. Many English people are

very reserved and won’t talk to others, especially foreigners. Englishmen don’t like displaying their emotions even in dangerous and tragic circumstances. They pride themselves on being good-tempered and cheerful under difficulties. One of the most striking features of English life is the self-discipline

and courtesy of people of all classes. There is little noisy behaviour, and practically no loud disputing in the streets. Englishmen are naturally polite and are never tired in saying «Thank you», «I’m sorry», «Beg your pardon»/ If you follow anyone who is entering a building or a room, he will hold a door open for you. Many foreigners have commented on a remarkable politeness of the English. The Englishmen does not like any boasting or showing off in manners, dress or speech. Sometimes he conceals his knowledge: a linguist, for example, may not mentioned his understanding of a foreigner’s language. The English are the nation of stay -at -homes. There is no place like home, they say. The Englishman is master of his own house which he calls his castle. The English prefer small houses built for one family, perhaps with a small garden. The fire is the focus of the English home. The ceremony of English tea, known as «five o’clock tea» has become a ritual. Afternoon tea is taken between four and five o’clock. At the weekends

afternoon tea is a very sociable time. Friends and visitors are often present. Some people like to have the so-called «high tea» when meat, cheese and fruit may be added to bread and butter, pastries and tea.

English people show great love for animals. Pet dogs, cats, hens, canaries and many other animals have a good life in England. «Love me - love my dog» is the English saying. Another English characteristic is the desire to belong to some private clubs or societies to which other people are not admitted. Such groups have customs of their own which are not changed and which are supposed to make the members of the group different from the rest of the world. The coast is the most popular place for the annual holiday of English people and seaside resorts have many hotels. Food in British hotels and restaurants is reasonably cheap, but rooms are not. Few English people rent houses or flats for their holidays, but one of the traditional ways of spending a summer holiday is in a boarding -house. Some boardinghouse keepers provide all meals for their guests, others provide breakfast only. The discussion of leisure can’t be complete without mentioning sport. The English are great lovers of sport; and when they are neither

playing nor watching games, they like to talk about them or when they cannot do that to think about them.

Much attention is paid to sport at school. Boys must play cricket or football or some other game on most days of the week. Cricket is the national game in England. It demands sunny weather, plenty of time to

spare and a comfortable chair for the spectator. The main matches played between countries last for up to three days, with six hours’ play on each day. This game was played already in the 16 th century. Football which began in England in the 19 th century has spread all over the world only in the next century. For the mass of the British public the eight months of the football season are more important than the four months of cricket. Each college and university has its team for all the main sports. University rowing races in summer are a great and colourful social occasion. The English care strongly about the «sporting spirit», the ability to play with respect for the rules and the opponents, to win with modesty and to lose with good temper (that is to be able to be «good losers»).

Vocabulary:

to accept smth. - принимать что-л. (не отвергать ч-л.)

familiar - знакомый, ранее встречавшийся

suspicious - подозрительный

to display - демонстрировать, выставлять на показ

pride - гордость

circumstance - обстоятельство

good - tempered - добродушный, имеющий хороший характер

cheerful - веселый, жизнерадостный

courtesy - учтивость, вежливость

to boast - хвастать

to show off - пускать пыль в глаза