The Coast of the Atlantic Ocean

5._______The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round. The British climate has three main features: it is mild, humid, and changeable. That means that it is never too hot or too cold. The weather is so

changeable that the English often say they have no climate but only the weather.

6._______The UK is one of the world’s smaller countries. Its population is over 57 million. About 80 per cent of the population is urban. The UK is inhabited by the English, the Scots, the Welsh, and the Irish who constitute the British nation. Now there are also many people of all colours and races in the UK. They are mostly former inhabitants of the former British colonies. These people, called ‘the coloureds’, came to the UK in search of better living standards.

7.________ English is the official language but it is not the only language which people use in the UK. Some people speak Scottish in western Scotland, Welsh – in parts of northern and central Wales, and Irish in Northern Ireland. Beside standard literary English there are several regional and social dialects. A well-known example is the Cockney of east Londoners.

8.________The flag of the UK, known as the Union Jack, is made up of three crosses. The upright

red cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England. The white diagonal cross is the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The red diagonal cross is the cross of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Union Jack

9.________The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.

10.________ The UK is a constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen. In practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule.

The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. They make laws and the Queen just signs them. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There are three main political parties in the UK: the Labour, the Liberal and the Conservative parties.

The Conservative party is a ruling party nowadays, and the Prime Minister is David Cameron. In 2010 the Conservative party won an absolute majority in England's 532 contested seats. To achieve the majority, the Conservatives entered into a coalition agreement with the Liberal Democrats.