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The Political System of Great Britain
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1. constitutional monarchy конституционная (ограниченная) монархия
2. monarch монарх, правитель
3. to reign царствовать, править, господствовать
4. to rule управлять, руководить, господствовать
5. Parliament парламент
6. chamber палата
7. the House of Lords палата лордов
8. the House of Commons палата общин
9. the Government правительство
10. the Prime Minister премьер-министр
11. to appoint назначать
14. exercise of power осуществление власти
The U.K. is a constitutional monarchy with a constitutional monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, at the head of the State. In practice, the Queen reign s but doesn’t rule. The British Parliament consists of two chamber s: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
The first largest party in the Commons forms the Government. The head of the Government is the Prime Minister. He is appoint ed by the Queen. He is the leader of the party having majority in the Commons. He chooses about 20 ministers in the Cabinet.
The second largest party forms the official Opposition with its leader and “shadow cabinet”.
At present there are 5 main political parties in Great Britain: the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal, the Social Democratic, the Communist Party. But actually only the Conservative and the Labour Parties take turns at the exercise of power.
На самостоятельное изучение
About Myself and my Family
to be quite good at school – хорошо учиться в школе
favourite subjects – любимые предметы
а department – факультет
to do a correspondence course – учиться на заочном отделении
to combine work and study – совмещать работу и учебу
to enjoy a course at the university – очень нравиться учиться в университете
a sociable person – общительный человек
I'm Svetlana Aleksandrova. I was born on the 29th of March, 1980 in Rechitsa. At the age of 6 I went to school number 2. I was quite good at school. My favourite subjects were Russian, Geography and Mathematics. I left school in 1997 (nineteen ninety-seven). Since September 1998 I've been a student of the Economics department at Gomel State University named after F. Skorina. I'm do ing a correspondence course – I have to combine work and study (I work as an accountant).
I like watching TV, reading, listening to music. I'm a sociable person so I have a lot of friends. I'm not married and still live with my parents.
My father's name is Vladimir. He works as an engineer at a big plant. He is tall and broad-shouldered. He's a clever man but a little unpractical. He is always busy, yet he helps my mother about the house.
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My mother's name is Irina. She's a tall good-looking woman of 46. As for her character, she is kind and gentle, warm-hearted and tactful. My mother is a housewife; she does all the housework. My mother's hobbies are knitting and reading books. She's also very good at cooking.
My elder brother, Alexei, is married and has his own family – a wife and two children, so he doesn't live with us. But we often see each other.
I think I'm a happy person. I have a loving family and a lot of friends, an interesting job and a lot of hobbies.
Belarus
sovereign a. ['sɔvrın] суверенный, независимый
independent a. – независимый, самостоятельный
state emblem ['steıt 'embləm] государственный герб
anthem n. ['ænθəm] гимн
to border on v. – граничить с
aurochs n. ['ɔ:rɔks] зубр (зубры)
elk n. – лось
deer n. – олень (олени)
wild boar n. – кабан
beaver n. ['bi:və] бобр
lynx n. ['lıŋks]рысь
myriad n. – ['mırıəd] мириады, несметное число
temperate a. – умеренный (о климате)
breeding – разведение
unique a. [ju:'ni:k] уникальный
heritage n. – наследство, наследие
point of view – точка зрения
The official name of the country is the Republic of Belarus. It is a sovereignindependent state with its own government, constitution, state emblem, flag and anthem.
Belarus is situated nearly in the centre of Europe. It border s on Poland in the west, Lithuania and Latvia in the north-west, on Russia in the north and east, and on the Ukraine in the south. Its total area is about 207.6 thousand square kilometres.
The population is about 9.7 million people. The territory of Belarus is divided into 6 regions: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev. The capital of Belarus is Minsk with its population of about 1.8 million people.
The highest point is Mount Dzerzhinskaya – 350 metres high. There are more than 3,000 rivers in Belarus. The Dnieper, Neman, Western Dvina, Pripyat, Berezina, Sozh and Viliya are the longest. There are about 10,800 lakes in Belarus. The largest is Lake Naroch.
A third of Belarus is under forest. In the forests you can see elk s, aurochs and deer, wild boar s and wolves, bears and foxes, beaver s and lynx es and myriad s of birds.
The climate of Belarus is temperate and mild.
Belarusian industry produces trucks and tractors, refrigerators, TV sets, fertilizers, meat and dairy products. The agriculture grows flax, grain (barley, rye, oats) and potatoes. Cattle and pig breeding are also important.
Belarus is a country of well-developed science, education and culture. There is an Academy of Sciences, 57 higher educational establishments, a lot of theatres, museums and art galleries there.
By the way, Belarus is a country of unique history and rich cultural heritage. It is an interesting region from the tourist point of view.
Great Britain
1. total area общая территория
2. the English Channel пролив Ла-Манш
3. the Strait of Dover пролив Па-де-Кале
4. ′mountainous гористый, возвышенный
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5. lowland низменный
6. peak горная вершина
7. navigation судоходство
8. fauna and flora животный и растительный мир
9. mild and damp climate мягкий влажный климат
10. de′posits залежи
11. densely populated густонаселенный
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the U.K.) consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The total area is about 244,000 km2. Great Britain is separated from France by the English Channel. The narrowest part, the Strait of Dover, is 32 km wide.
The island of G.B. is divided into ′ mountainous and lowland parts. The highest peak is Ben-Nevis in Scotland (1343 m).
The Severn is the longest river. The Thames is the most important river in England. It is suitable for navigation.
England, Ireland and Scotland have a lot of beautiful lakes in the Lake District.
The fauna and flora of Great Britain is similar to fauna and flora of Northwestern Europe.
The climate is mild; it is not very cold in winter and not very hot in summer. The rivers do not freeze in winter. The mild and damp climate is very good for agriculture.
The U.K. has deposits of coal, iron ore, oil and gas. Most of its industries produce iron and steel goods, textiles and chemicals.
G.B is a densely populated country. Its population is about 58 million people. There are 4 main nationalities: Englishmen, Scotsmen, Irishmen and Welshmen. The official language is English. The large industrial cities are London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield.
London
| capital столица enjoyable притягательный circumstances обстоятельства commercial промышлен., коммерческ., торговый cultural культурный seaport морской порт to survive пережить, перенести the Plague Великая чума 1665 г. the Great Fire Великий пожар 1666 г. damage ущерб, урон tremendous жуткий, ужасный destruction разрушение colourful красочный, яркий entertainment развлечение to acquaint oneself with познакомиться с sights достопримечательности sightseeing tour экскурсионная поездка financial финансовый, денежный | wealth изобилие, богатство luxury роскошь, пышность factory фабрика, завод plant завод, фабрика workshop мастерская, цех shipyard верфь, судостроительный завод Hyde Park Гайд-парк Piccadilly Circus площадь Пиккадилли St. Paul’s Cathedral собор св. Павла the Tower of London лондонский Тауэр the Houses of Parliamen здания парламента Westminster Abbey Вестминстерское аббатство Trafalgar Square Трафальгарская площадь Nelson’s Column памятник адмиралу Нельсону |
London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It is one of the largest and most enjoyable cities in the world. It is situated on the river Thames.
London’s population is more than eight million people.
London is more than 20 centuries old. It is one of the world’s most important commercial and cultural centres and seaports.
London survived the Plague and the Great Fire.
London is full of things to see and do. One of the best ways to acquaint yourself with the city is to take a tour on a double-decker bus.
The City, the oldest part of London, is the commercial and financial centre of the country. Westminster is the political heart of London. The West End is the richest and the most beautiful part of London. It also consists of the fashionable houses of the rich, art galleries, famous museums, theatres, palaces and parks, the most expensive hotels, restaurants, shops and clubs. The East End is a poor district. There are a lot of factories, plants, workshops and shipyards there.
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World’s famous sights of London are the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Nelson’s Column and others.
Old residents of the East End are proud to be called cockneys, which means true Londoners, hereditary inhabitants of the area.
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