Great Britain. Great Britain is situated on two large islands, the largest of which is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland

Great Britain is situated on two large islands, the largest of which is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland. In addition to these two islands Great Britain includes over five hundred small islands.

The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea in the north-west and in the west, by the North Sea in the East. It’s separated from the Continent by the English Channel.

The island of Great Britain is divided into two parts: mountainous (northern and western parts) and lowland (southern and eastern parts). The Thames is the deepest river and the Severn is the longest one. Due to the influence of the sea Great Britain has rather humid and mild climate.

The United Kingdom consists of four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England is the largest part of Great Britain and occupies the southern part of the island. Wales is a peninsula in the south-west of it. Scotland is the most northern part of Great Britain. Northern Ireland occupies the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland.

33. Find the words which definitions are given below.

1) A piece of land surrounded by water.

2) Having mountains, huge.

3) Live in, be in possession of.

4) Divided, not joined or united.

5) Area of land, almost surrounded by water or projecting into the sea.

34. Complete the sentences with the information from the text.

1) GB is situated ….

2) It consists of ….

3) It is washed by ….

4) Due to the influence of the sea ….

5) The island of Great Britain is divided ….

6) England occupies ….

7) Wales is a ….

35. Answer the questions:

1) Where is GB situated?

2) Which island is the largest?

3) What does GB include except the two large islands?

4) What is Great Britain separated from the Continent by?

5) What are the main rivers running through GB?

6) What is its climate?

7) How many parts does the UK consist of?

8) What are they?

9) Which is the largest?

36. Read the short extract about the English climate and say whether it differs from the climate in your native place.

British people are used to the cold. They use thick curtains and carpets to keep their houses warm. But a lot of British houses are old and not well-insulated. British people must pay VAT on all gas and electricity, so heating costs are high. Some people can’t afford to heat their homes properly. Every winter about 350 old people die of hypothermia, extreme loss of body heat.

Well-insulated – хорошо отапливаются VAT – налог на добавленную стоимость

37. Change the words in italics by the words from the text.

1) British are accustomed to the cold weather.

2) They try to make their houses warm.

3) The pay for heating is high.

4) They can’t heat their homes as it’s needed.

5) Many old people die of freezing in winter.