The United Kingdom of Great

The United Kingdom of Great Britain (the UK) occupies most of the territory of the British Isles. It consists of four main parts which are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
occupy – занимать
consist - состоять

The UK is situated off the west coast of Europe between the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest and the North Sea on the east and is separated from the European continent by the English Channel.
Geography
separate – отделять
English Channel – пролив Ла-Манш

The Island of Great Britain
Great Britain is the name of the largest island of the British Isles and it is made up of the England, Scotland and Wales, it does not include Northern Ireland. In everyday speech “Great Britain” is used to mean the United Kingdom.
Island – остров
include – включать

The flag of the UK, known as the Union Jack, is made up of 3 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.
The flag of the UK
Union Jack - государственный флаг Соединенного Королевства

The capital of the UK is London.
Tower Bridge

The population of the UK is over 57 million people. The population lives mostly in towns and cities and their suburbs. For out of every five people live in towns.
Population

Language
English is the official language. But some people speak Gaelic in western Scotland, Welsh – in parts of northern and central Wales.
Gaelic – гаэльский язык
Welsh – валлийский язык

Climate
The climate in the UK is generally mild and temperate due to the influence of the Gulf Stream.
The climate in Britain is usually described as cool, temperate and humid.
mild – мягкий
temperate – умеренный
Gulf Stream – гольфстрим
humid - влажный

Climate
The weather is the favourite topic of conversation in the UK. The most characteristic feature of Britain’s weather is its variability. The English also say that they have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon or when it rains all day long. Sometimes it rains so heavily that they say ‘It is raining cats and dogs’.
to rain cats and dogs – лить как из ведра

Vegetation and Wildlife
The mild climate of Great Britain is good for plants and flowers. Some of them have become symbols in the UK. Probably, you know that the red rose is the national emblem of England.
symbol - символ

Vegetation and Wildlife
The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland.
Thistle - чертополох

Vegetation and Wildlife
The daffodils and the leek are the emblems of Wales.
daffodil - нарцисс
leek – лук-порей

Vegetation and Wildlife
The shamrock (a kind of clover) is the emblem of Ireland.
shamrock - трилистник

National Sports
In summer the English National sport is cricket.
cricket - крикет

National Sports
Golf is Scotland’ s chief contribution to British sport. It is worth noting here an interesting feature of sporting life in Britain, namely, its frequently close connection with the social class of the players or spectators.
golf - гольф

National Sports
Rugby Union, the amateur variety of Rugby football, is the Welsh national sport.
rugby – регби
amateur - любительский

National Sports
Walking and swimming are the two most popular sporting activities, being almost equally undertaken by men and women.

National Sports
There are several places in Britain associated with a particular kind of sport. One of them is Wimbledon – a suburb to the south of London where the All-England Lawn Tennis Championships are held in July (since 1877).
Wimbledon – Уимблдон (поместье в Лондоне, где находится Всеанглийский теннисный клуб

TV and Radio
Broadcasting in the UK is controlled by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Independent Television Commission (ITC). The BBC receives its income from the government, but the private companies are controlled by the ITC which replace in 1991.
National radio is controlled
by the BBC.
ВВС – британская радиовещательная компания в Лондоне
ITC – комиссия независимого телевещания

Test
What parts does the United Kingdom of Great Britain consist of? Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Test
What is the other name of the flag of the UK?
Union Jack
St. George
St. Patrick

Test
What is the population of the UK?
It is over 57 million people
It is over 20 million people
It is over 47 million people

Test
What is the climate in the UK?
The climate in Britain is cold, severe and dry
The climate in Britain is mild, cool, temperate and humid.
The climate in Britain is wet and humid

Test
What is the national emblem of England?
The white lily
The red rose
The thistle

Test
What is the national emblem of England?
The thistle
The daffodils
The shamrock

Test
What is the English National sport ?
Cricket
Golf
Football

Test
What is the Scottish National sport ?
Soccer
Football
Golf

Test
What is the Welsh National sport ?
Football
Swimming
Rugby

Test
By whom is the broadcasting controlled in the UK?
BBC
IDA
IBA