The climate of Great Britain

Great Britain enjoys humid and mild marine west-coast climate with warm winters and cold summers and a lot of rainfall throughout the year.

The prevailing winds blow from the south-west. As these winds blow from the ocean, they are mild in winter and cool in summer, and are heavily charged with moisture at all times. As they approach the mountainous areas near the west coasts, they rise up the mountainous slopes. Their temperature drops, which causes condensation of moisture in the form of rain. Therefore, the wettest parts of Britain are those areas where high mountains lie near the west coast: the Western Highlands of Scotland, the Lake District and North Wales.

All parts of the British Isles receive rain at any time of the year. Still autumn and winter are the wettest seasons, except in the Thames district, where most rain falls in summer. Oxford, for example, has 29 per cent of its rain in summer and only 22 per cent in winter.

As to temperature, Great Britain has warmer winters than any other district in the same latitude. It is due to the Gulf Stream, which flows from the Gulf of Mexico and brings much warmth from the equatorial regions to north-western Europe.

 

Notes:

1. the Lake District – озерный край

2. the Gulf of Mexico – мексиканский залив

Answer the questions.

1. What climate does Great Britain enjoy?

2. What are the characteristic features of this climate?

3. Which are the prevailing winds in Great Britain? What do they bring to the country?

4. Which are the wettest parts of Great Britain?

5. Which are the wettest seasons in Great Britain?

6. Why does Great Britain have warmer winters than any other district in the same latitude?

 

The Lake District

The Lake District is a mountainous area in the north-west of England, and it has some of England’s most beautiful scenery. Some admiring visitors called it “a paradise of mountain scenery and magical light”.

The Lake District is a National Park, which means that special care is taken to make sure that the beauty of the countryside is not spoiled. The peoplewho are responsible for preserving the Lake District’s natural beauty are members of the National Trust.

The National Trust is a public organization which is financed by ordinary people who pay to become members. The Trust was set up in 1895 by three people who thought that industrialization could spoil the countryside and ancient buildings of England and Wales. The National Trust members constantly keep an eye on famous gardens, whole villages, farms, windmills, lakes and hills, abbeys, prehistoric and Roman antiquities.

 

Notes:

1. the National Trust – государственная трастовая компания

2. the Ice Age – ледниковый период

 

Answer the questions.

1. Where is the Lake District situated?

2. What is the National Trust? When was it set up?

3. What do the members of the National Trust do?

 

Discuss the following topics (use the map and some additional sources of information).

1. Physical background of Great Britain.

2. English scenery and climate.

3. Big cities of Great Britain.

4. Four parts of the country.

5. The political system of Great Britain.

 

3. Make up dialogues using one of the following points:

1. Climate of Great Britain.

2. Economic development of the UK and your native country.

3. Languages people speak in your country.

4. Political systems of the UK and the Russian Federation.

 

Bring two pictures or postcards showing some English scenery. Describe what there is in the pictures, what feelings you have about the views.

 

Comment on the following statements.

1. British people say: “Other countries have a climate, in England we have only weather.”

2. An Englishman's home is his castle.

3. So many countries, so many customs.

	PART II
Unit II
London

Before you start

1. Would you like to go to London? Why?

2. What things come into your mind when you think about London?

3. Does the British capital differ from other world capitals? In what way?

I. Read and remember these words and word combinations:

1. fortification	укрепленный пункт, оборонительное сооружение
2. to spread	распространять, простирать, раскинуть
3. outwards	наружу, за пределы
4. as a matter of fact	а) фактически, на самом деле; б) в сущности, собственно говоря
5. distinct	отчетливый
6. entertainment	развлечение
7. trade	торговля, ремесло, профессия
8. stock exchange	фондовая биржа
9. shares	акции
10. Lloyd’s	Ллойд (рынок страхования)
11. Insurance	страхование
12. Central Criminal Court	Центральный уголовный суд
13. the Old Bailey	Олд Бейли
14. Fleet street	Флит Стрит
15. wharf	верфь
16. warehouse	склад
17. Petticoat Lane market	рынок на улице Петтикоут Лейн
18. sight	достопримечательность, точка зрения
19. Trafalgar Square	Трафальгарская площадь
20. Regent Street	Риджент стрит
21. Soho	Coxo (район Лондона)
22. Piccadilly Circus	площадь Пикадилли
23. Leicester Square	площадь Лестер сквер
24. Shaftesbury Avenue	Шафтсбери авеню
25. glamour	чары, волшебство, обаяние, очарование
26. to commemorate	праздновать (годовщину), отмечать (событие), чтить память, служить напоминанием
27. whodunit	детективная пьеса
28. ВВС radio news (British Broadcasting Corporation)	радионовости Би-Би-Си (Британская вещательная корпорация)
29. chime	куранты, перезвон, бой часов
30. Westminster Abbey	Вестминстерское аббатство
31. royalty	королевская власть, королевское достоинство, величие
32. to bury	похоронить, погребать
33. to stretch	простираться, тянуться, растягиваться