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Part 2. Economy of Great Britain Ex. 1. Make sure you know the meaning of the following words and expressions: correspond v., market exchange rate n., industrialise v., concentrate v., create v., trade n., labour n., dry up v., couple v., decline v., gross domestic product n., insurance n., site v., headquarters n., rank v., destination n., diminish v., account for v., share n., pharmaceutical a., private a., aim at v., employ v., efficiency n., productivity n., be engaged in, arable a., crop n., cereals n., wheat n., barley n., oats n., increase v., sugar beet n., contribute v., deposit n., ore n. Ex. 2. Practice the pronunciation of the following words and proper names: Anglo-Saxon, Europe, Germany, industry - industrial, produce - production - productivity, textile, efficiency, private, headquarters, pharmaceutical, insurance, arable, increase v., increase n., contribute - contribution, deposit v., deposit n. Ex. 3. Answer the following questions: 1. Why is Britain considered an industrialised country? 2. What are the main branches of industry in the country? 3. What do you know about the development of manufacture in Great Britain? 4. What industrial centres of Great Britain do you know? 4. Is great Britain rich in mineral resources? If so, prove your statement. 5. Is agriculture developed in the country? Ex. 4. Tell your friends some words about the reason why Great Britain has to import some mineral resources and what products it exports. Ex. 5. Read and translate the following text: For many years, the British economy has corresponded with what has been described by some scientists (since the 1980s) as the Anglo-Saxon model, focusing on the principles of liberalisation, the free market, and low taxation and regulation. Based on market exchange rates, the United Kingdom is the fifth largest economy in the world, and the second largest - in Europe after Germany. The British started the Industrial Revolution, and, like most industrialising countries at the time, initially concentrated on heavy industries such as shipbuilding, coal mining, steel production, and textiles. The empire created an overseas market for British products, allowing the United Kingdom to dominate international trade in the 19th century. However, as other nations industrialised and surplus labour from agriculture began to dry up, coupled with economic decline after two world wars, the United Kingdom began to lose its economic advantage. As a result, heavy industry declined, by degrees, throughout the 20th century. The British service sector, however, has grown substantially. Today Britain is no longer the leading industrial nation of the world, which it was during the last century. Britain today is the fifth in the size of its gross domestic product (GDP). Britain's share in the world trade is about 6 per cent, which means that it is also the fifth largest trading nation in the world. The manufacturing and service industries, together with construction, account for about 93% of Britain's GDP, the rest is shared by energy production and agriculture. As in other developed countries, rising living standards have led to a growth of the role of services. The service industries include business services, trade, travel and tourism. The service sectors also include education, public health, administration. The service sector of the United Kingdom is dominated by financial services, especially in banking and insurance. London is the world's largest financial centre with the London Stock Exchange, the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange, and the Lloyd's of London insurance market all based in the City. It also has the largest concentration of foreign bank branches in the world. In the past decade many multinational companies, that were not primarily UK-based, have chosen to site their European or rest-of-world headquarters in London. Tourism is very important to the British economy. With over 27 million tourists a year, the United Kingdom is ranked as the sixth major tourist destination in the world. The British manufacturing sector, however, has greatly diminished, relative to the economy as a whole, since World War II. It is still a significant part of the economy, but only accounts for about one-sixth of the national output. The British motor industry is a significant part of this sector, although it has diminished with the collapse of MG Rover and most of the industry is foreign owned. Civil and defence aircraft production is led by the United Kingdom's largest aerospace firm, BAE Systems. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries are also strong in the UK, with the world's second and sixth largest pharmaceutical firms being based in the UK. In recent years new industries have made serious progress such as aerospace, chemicals, oil, gas, electronics, biotechnology. At the same time the traditional old industries such as steel, coal production, shipbuilding, production of textiles have met serious difficulties and declined. The British economy is mainly based on private enterprises. Today the policy of the government is aimed at encouraging and expanding the private sector. As a result of this policy 75% of the economy is controlled by the private sector which employs three-quarters of the labour force. The general location of industry has changed little in recent years. As before, 80% of industrial and agricultural production is concentrated in England. Over three-quarters of the land area is used for agriculture. Britain's agriculture is famous for its high level of efficiency and productivity. In spite of the fact that the agricultural area of the country is fairly large, only about 2.5% of the working population is engaged in agriculture. It produces nearly two-thirds of Britain's food. The most widespread arable crops grown in Britain together with other minor cereals and root crops are wheat, barley and oats. In recent years exports of wheat and barley have increased considerably, accounting for about a quarter of the total production. Of root crops cultivated in Britain, most important are potatoes and sugar beet. The most important natural resources of England are coal and iron. Coal is the mineral that contributes much to the development of many industries in Britain. By the absolute deposits of coal Great Britain claims the sixth place in the world and is one of the most world important coal basins. Among other mineral resources, iron ores are of primary importance, but the iron content of most of the ores is very low. Great Britain imports such high-grade raw materials as iron ore, manganese, chrome, nickel and many other rare metals. Great Britain has no large-scale sources of non-ferrous metals. Nearly all of them - tin, copper, zinc - are imported too. 1. The ... situation of any country much depends on the development of its industry (economy). 2. The main ... crops grown in Great Britain are wheat, barley and oats (agriculture). 3. Oxford and Cambridge are the most famous ... institutions of Britain (education). 4. Power is required for all ... plants, transport and communication (industry). 5. Scientists usually make great ... to the development of the national economy (contribute). 6. The British . sector of economy has recently grown substantially (serve). 7. The major part of . (industry) and . (agriculture) . (produce) of Great Britain is concentrated in England. 8. Britain's agriculture is famous for its high level of . (efficient) and . (product). Ex. 7. Match the words to their definitions:
h) create or design something not existing before. Ex. 8. Insert prepositions where necessary: The British Isles . general, but especially England, form one . the most populated areas ... the world. The present-day inhabitants ... Britain and Ireland are largely the descendants . settlers and traders . western Europe, who came ... these islands ... a series ... invasions, ... about 2500 B.C. down ... the Norman Conquest ... 1066. The growth ... population ... Britain reflects, . a large extent, the economic changes. The basic population distribution . the 20th century had been established . the Industrial Revolution and the increase ... population ... the 19th century. Hardly has anything been more important . British history than the fact that Great Britain is an island. Living . islands, and therefore . the sea, the inhabitants naturally grew . a nation . sailors. Ex. 9. Substitute the words in italics by their synonyms: The currency of the UK is the pound sterling, represented by the symbol £. The Bank of England is the central bank, responsible for issuing currency. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland retain the right to issue their own notes, subject to retaining enough the Bank of England notes in reserve to cover the issue. The UK chose not to join the Euro at the currency's launch, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ruled out membership for the foreseeable future, saying that the decision not to join had been right for Britain and for Europe. In 2005, more than half (55%) of the UK were against adopting the currency, whilst 30%were in favour. Ex. 10. Read the information below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space: The modem scientific method . by the English philosopher Francis Bacon in the early seventeenth century. The laws of motion and illumination of gravity ... by Sir Isaac Newton in the late 17th century. Hydrogen ... by Henry Cavendish. James Clerk Maxwell ... the law of unification of electromagnetism. The telephone . by Alexander Graham Bell. The idea of evolution by natural selection ... by Charles Darvin. The structure of DNA ... by Francis Crick and others. Other advances pioneered in the UK . the marine chronometer, television, the jet engine, the modem bicycle, electric lighting, the electric motor, the screw propeller, the internal combustion engine, military radar, the electronic computer, vaccination, antibiotics, etc. (to promote, to invent, to discover, to develop to create, to advance, to open, to include). Ex. 11. Prove whether the following statements are true or false using the information from the text: 1. The British started the Industrial Revolution and initially concentrated on light industry. 2. The industrial sector of the British economy preserved its high level after the war. 3. Tourism has always been important to the British economy. 4. London is a world-known financial centre. 5. The British economy is mainly based on private enterprises. 6. Great Britain is rich in mineral resources. 7. Energy production and agriculture account for about 93% of Britain's gross domestic product. 8. Potatoes are cultivated in all parts of Great Britain. 9. Great Britain has to import various raw materials. 10. Today Britain is no longer the leading industrial nation of the world. Ex. 12. Complete the sentences below. Give extended answers: 1. The text is devoted to ... . 2. The text gives (presents, provides) information regarding . . 3. At the beginning of the text special attention is paid to ... . 4. The text goes on saying that ... . 5. Further the text contains a detailed description of . . 6. Besides some factual information is given concerning . . 7. In conclusion the text reads that . . 8. On reading the text we realise the fact that ... . 9. Moreover we clearly understand that . . Ex. 13. Work in groups. Find out from your partners:
Ex. 14. Explain why:
Ex. 15. Prove that:
Ex. 16. Imagine that:
Ex. 17. Write a short essay on one of the following topics:
Part 3. Political System of Great Britain Ex. 1. Make sure you know the meaning of the following words and expressions: constitution n., monarchy n., legal a., executive a., legislative a., bill n., law n., convention n., agreement n., contain v., create v., alter v., revise v., abolish v., adapt v., flexible a., identity n., purpose n., issue n., current a., elect v., propose v., proposal n., inherit v., affair n., responsible a., govern v., government n., appoint v., hold v., under the chairmanship of. Ex. 2. Practice the pronunciation of the following words and proper names: monarch - monarchy, law - legal, legislative, executive, Parliament, Government, the House of Commons, the House of Lords, the Sovereign, Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democratic Party. Ex. 3. Answer the following questions: 1. When is a state called "monarchy"? 2. Who is the Queen of Great Britain? 3. Who is the Prime Minister of Great Britain? 4. What party is the leading party of Great Britain at present? 5. What parts does the British Parliament consist of? Ex. 4. Read and translate the following text: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. It has either a king or a queen, but the power of the monarch is limited by the country's constitution. In practice, the monarch does not rule. The legal authority (the passing of acts) is given to Parliament, and the executive authority (the carrying of laws) to the Government. All real power lies with Parliament and the existing government. The British form of government, that of a "Constitutional Monarchy", is difficult to understand because Britain does not actually have a written constitution. The set of rules for governing the country is not contained in any single document. Formed partly by common law and partly by convention, it can be altered by Act of Parliament, or by general agreement to create, vary or abolish a convention. The constitution is thus very flexible and adapts readily to changing political conditions and ideas. Many of the British people still regard the monarchy as a very useful and desirable institution. It is a symbol of national identity. The Monarch personifies the State. Parliament is the most important law-making body consisting of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Sovereign (i.e., king or queen). The House of Commons, the lower House of the British Parliament, consists of 650 elected MPs. The main purpose of the House of Commons is to make laws of the land by passing various Acts (of Parliament), as well as to discuss current political issues. The House sits for five days each week. The House sits for about 175 days in the year, and has a maximum term of five years. All speeches in the House of Commons are addressed to the Speaker who is elected at the beginning of each new Parliament. His chief function is to preside over the House in its debate. When elected the Speaker must not belong to any party. The strength of the House of Commons is that it possesses the right to argue for or against any proposal, the right to question, to debate and to speak out. The House of Lords, the upper house of the British Parliament, consists of over 1,000 non-elected members (All peers and peeresses who have inherited their titles, and distinguished men and women who have been made peers and peeresses for their life-time and whose titles cannot be inherited). The work of the House of Lords includes examining and revising bills from the Commons, and discussing important matters which the Commons cannot find time to debate. The House of Lords does not have the same power as the House of Commons. The UK is governed by the Government - a body of ministers who are responsible for the administration of national affairs. The ministers are the leading members of the political party which wins the majority of seats in Parliament. The party which wins the second largest number of seats in Parliament becomes the official Opposition. |