THE GREAT BRITAIN

1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) occupies the territory of the British Isles. It consists of four main countries which are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

2. The UK is an island state; it is composed of some 5,500 islands, large and small. The two main islands are: Great Britain to the east and Ireland to the west. They are separated by the Irish Sea.

3. The United Kingdom is one of the world's smallest countries (it is twice as small as France or Spain), with an area of some 244,100 square kilometres. The population of the UK is over 57 million people. English is the official language. Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch - Queen Elizabeth II as head of the state. Today the Queen is not only a head of the state, but also an important symbol of national unity.

4. Parliament, Britain's legislature comprises the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen, in her constitutional role. The centre of parliamentary power is the House of Commons. The political party system is an essential element in the working of the constitution. There are three main political parties: the Conservative Party, the Labour party and the Liberal Democrat Party. The Government is formed by the party with majority support in the Commons. The Queen appoints its leader as Prime Minister. Britain's democratic system of government is long established and has provided considerable political stability.

5 Britain became the world's first industrialized country in the late eighteenth centuries. Wealth was based on the manufacture of iron and steel, heavy machinery and textiles, and coalmining, shipbuilding and trade. Britain is the fifth largest trading nation in the world. Britain is an active member of the European Community.

ВАРИАНТ 3

I. Перепишите предложения. в каждом из них глагол-сказуемое и определите его видо-временную форму и залог. Переведите предложения на русский язык. В разделе 6) обратите внимание на перевод пассивных конструкций ( см. образец выполнения 1)

a)

1. The region around the Great Lakes has changeable weather.

2. The US Сongress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

3. The country had developed this industry before the war began.

b)

1. The capital of the country, Washington, was named in honour of the first President,

George Washington.

2. The USA is washed by the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.

3. The forecast says it will rain tomorrow.

II. Перепишите следующие предложения, подчеркните Рarticiple 1 и Рarticiple II , и установите функции каждого из них, т.е. укажите является ли оно определением, обстоятельством или частью глагола-сказуемого. Переведите предложения на русский язык (см. образец выполнения 2)

1. When travelling round the USA we can visit the largest and the most beautiful cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and others.

2. The Cordillera and the Rocky Mountains are well known mountains of the North American continent.

3. .A lot of buildings were damaged by the fire.

4. Having lived in New York for many years he knew the city well.

III. Перепишите следующие предложения, подчеркните в каждом из них модальный глагол или его эквивалент, переведите предложения на русский язык.

1. The task can be done within 3 days..

2. We shall be able to give you an answer in a few days.

3. You must translate this article without a dictionary.

4. I have to go there immediately.

5. He is to go on business trip in May.

IV. Прочитайте текст, перепишите и письменно переведите 2, 3 и 4-й абзацы..

V. Задание по тексту. Из приведенных вариантов ответа укажите номер предложения, содержащего правильный ответ на поставленный вопрос.

Is the United Kingdom a small country?

1. The U K is one of the largest countries of the world.

2. The UK is not a small country.

3. The UK is one of the world’s smallest countries.