2. Read and translate the text about the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The British Isles are situated on the continental shelf off the north-west coast of Europe and comprise a group of islands. The total area of the British Isles is 322, 246 square km. Britain, formally known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutes the greater part of the islands. It comprises the main land of England, Wales and Scotland (Great Britain) and the northern part of Ireland. The southern part of Ireland, the second largest island of the group, is the Irish Republic. All in all there are over 5000 islands in the system of the British Isles. The Thames and the Severn are the principal rivers in England. Britain has a generally mild and temperate climate, which is dominated by marine influences and is rainy and equable. This is due partly to the presence of the North Atlantic Drift which begins as the Gulf Stream, in the Gulf of Mexico, crosses the Atlantic Ocean, and so reaches the shores of Europe as a warm current and partly to the fact that north-west Europe lies in a western wind-belt.

The United Kingdom has very few mineral resources. The ancient tin mines of Cornwall and the iron-ore deposits of north-central England were exhausted by the late 20th century. Moreover, coal, once the primary energy source of the British economy has also declined in output. At the same time, a valuable, relatively new energy source is the nation's proved petroleum and natural gas.

The population of the United Kingdom is estimated at 59, 376, 000. The English are the predominant ethnic group, constituting the majority of the population. Scots, Irish and Welsh also make up significant proportions.

The United Kingdom has a developed mixed private- and public-enterprise economy that is largely based on international trade and manufacturing. The government controls the production of coal, steel and ships; it also runs the railways and most civil aviation. Agriculture, fishing are highly mechanized. Major manufactures include motor vehicles, aerospace equipment, electronic data processing and telecommunication equipment, metal goods, precision instruments, petrochemicals and other chemicals.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The monarch is the head of the executive power, the head of the judiciary, the commander and chief of all armed forces, the 'supreme governor' of the established Church of England – the Anglican church and the personal Head of the Commonwealth. Royal powers are limited by the Parliament, consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Executive power is wielded by the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the majority party in the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister is the real head of the state. There are two major political parties in the United Kingdom. The two-party system has existed in the United Kingdom since the 17th century. The Conservative Party and the Labour Party are the dominant parties of the modern era. The United Kingdom is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth of Nations is a free association of sovereign states (53 states) comprising Great Britain and a number of its foreign dependencies who have chosen to maintain ties of friendship and practical cooperation and who acknowledge the British monarch as a symbolic head of their association. The ties that bound the Commonwealth are trade, investment, currency agreements, population migration, common educational, professional and judicial heritages, sports and others. Meetings of Commonwealth heads of governments take place every two years.

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.

3. Find in the text the English equivalents to the following Russian word combinations:

общая площадь; умеренный климат; влияние моря; истощать запасы; производство угля; основанный на; минеральные богатства; шахты по добыче олова; железнорудные месторождения; основной источник энергии; в то же самое время; большинство насeления; развитая экономика; аэрокосмическое оборудование; точные приборы; влиять на; обладать властью, глава государства; независимое государство; исполнительная власть; поддерживать связи.

4. Answer the following question:

1. What does the United Kingdom comprise?

2. What type of climate is in the United Kingdom?

3. What mineral resources does the United Kingdom have?

4. How many people live in the United Kingdom?

5. What are the main branches of manufacturing?

6. United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. What does it mean?

7. Who is the real head of the state?

8. How many political parties are there in Great Britain?

9. What is the Commonwealth?

10. What are the ties bounding the Commonwealth?

11. What is the flag of the UK, known as the Union Jack, made up of?