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CONTENTS
1. The Physical Face of Great Britain
1.1 Mountains
1.2 Rivers
1.3 Climate and Weather
1.4 Mineral Wealth
2. The Present Population of the United Kingdom
2.2 Households
2.3 Family and Marriage
2.4 Religion
2.5 Health and Welfare
2.6 Employment
2.7 Transport and Transportation
2.8 Education
3. English Customs and Traditions
The Physical Face of Great Britain
The British Isles are situated on the continental shelf off the north-west coast of Europe and comprise a group of over 5,000 islands.
Politically the British Isles are divided into two countries – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or just the U. K., and the southern part of Ireland, or the Irish Republic, or Eire. The total area of the British Isles is 322,246 sq. km, whereas that of the U.K. is 244,100 sq. km, which is half the size of France. The warm waters of the North Atlantic Drift (Gulf Stream) move from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea across the Atlantic, and so reach the shores of Northwest Europe. That is why in winter the coasts are ice free and the warm air passes over the British Isles throughout the year.
From the European continent the British Isles are separated by the English Channel and the North Sea. For centuries the British felt safe and secure protected by the Channel, and no foreign army has ever invaded the country since the Norman conquest in the 11th century.
The advantageous geographical position of Great Britain created favourable conditions for the development of shipping, trade and economy as a whole. The British Isles in general, but especially England as part of the U.K., form one of the most densely peopled areas in the world. With the present population of the U.K. of some 60 million, many problems emerge with land use, road construction and city sprawl. No wander British pay much attention to the preservation of the environment.
The British Isles, apart from the two largest islands of Great Britain and Ireland, include several other important islands and groups of islands. Off the north-western coast of Great Britain there is a group of islands known as the Hebrides,
which are divided into the Inner and Outer Hebrides. They are separated from each other by the sea of Hebrides and the Little Minch. The main occupation of the people there is farming and fishing.
Off the northern coast of Scotland separated from Great Britain by the Pentland Forth are the Orkney Islands which comprise about a hundred islands. Most of the 20,000 residents are engaged in dairy and poultry farming.
The Shetland Islands are situated about 100 km north of the Orkneys. The population is actively engaged in herring-fishing.
In the middle of the Irish Sea lies the Isle of Man. The largest settlement is the holiday resort of Douglas.
Another important island in the Irish Sea is Anglesey situated off the north coast of Wales. It is a place of a very famous village with the longest place name in Great Britain `Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch`[i].
The Channel Islands lie to the south-west on the French side of the English Channel. In rural areas many of the people speak a French-Norman dialect, but the official languages are English and French. The farmers produce early fresh vegetables and new potatoes as well as flowers for urban residents. Moreover, the sheep are reputed for their high quality wool sent to the mainland.
Living on islands, and therefore near the sea, the British naturally grew into a nation of sailors. Their love of the sea led them to become navigators and discoverers of new lands in many parts of the globe.
The capital of the country, London, is an enormous city because of its sprawl, though in population terms (less than 7 million people), it is among the largest cities in the world. Its name is probably derived from the Celtic Llyn-dyn meaning `lake-fort`, and `dyn` meaning a `fortified place`.
[1] In English it means `St Mary`s church by the pool of the white hazel trees, near the rapid whirlpool, by the red cave of the Church of St Tysilio` (the railway timetable simply shows it as `Llanfair PG`).
The White Tower, which is the central structure of the Tower of London, was erected to the order of William the Conqueror in 1078. The oldest part of London is the `City`. Centuries ago there was a high wall around the City of London which today is the financial and business heart of the capital. London is a city of all seasons with millions of tourists visiting this famous metropolis.
Britain today is among the world leaders in tourism with about 25 million people visiting the country annually.
MOUNTAINS. The most important range of mountains is the Pennine range, regarded which form a watershed separating the westward-flowing from the eastward-flowing rivers of northern England. Rainfall in the Pennines is abundant, and today the area is used for water storage: reservoirs in the uplands supply water to the industrial towns on each side of the Pennines.
Across the north end of the Pennines there are the grassy Cheviot Hills. In north-west England lie the Cumbrian mountains. The valleys, which separate the various mountains from each other, contain some beautiful lakes (Windermere, Grasmere, Ullswater and others).
This is the famous Lake District, the favourite place of holiday-makers and tourists. It is here that the great English poets Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey lived and wrote. The mountains covering practically all the territory of Wales are called the Cambrian mountains.
RIVERS. There is a fairly wide network of rivers in the British Isles. The mild maritime climate keeps them free of ice throughout the year. The largest river in Great Britain is the Severn (350 km) which follows a very puzzling course from central Wales and flows into the Bristol Channel. The Thames (332 km) and the Trent (274km) flow into the North Sea. Among other important rivers, which flow eastwards to the North Sea are the Ouse, Humber, Tees and Tyne in England, and the rivers Tweed, Forth, Dee and Spey in Scotland. These are the rivers flowing into the Irish Sea: the Mersey and Eden of England, and the Clyde on which Glasgow stands. The longest river in the British Isles is the river Shannon (384km) flowing from north to south in the Republic of Ireland.
The largest lake in Great Britain and the biggest inland loch in Scotland is Loch Lomond, covering a surface of 70 sq. km, but the largest fresh water lake of the whole British Isles is Lough Neagh (381 sq. km) in Northern Ireland.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER. Weather is not the same as climate. The weather of the British Isles is greatly variable. The geographical position of the British Isles is a basic factor in determining the main characteristics of the climate. Britain`s climate is dominated by the influence of the sea. It is much milder than that in any other country in the same latitudes. This is due partly to the presence of the North Atlantic Drift, or the Gulf Stream, and partly to the presence of the north-west Europe lies in a predominantly westerly wind-belt. This means that marine influences warm the land in winter and cool in summer.
The prevailing winds in the British Isles are westerlies. North and north-west winds often bring heavy falls OF SNOW TO NORTH Britain during late October and November, but they are usually short-lived. Relief is the most important factor controlling the distribution of temperatures and precipitation in Britain. The average annual rainfall in Britain is about 1,100 mm. Rainfall is fairly well distributed throughout the year, although March to June are the driest months and October to January are the wettest. July and August are the warmest months of the year, and January and February the coldest.
Although the English weather is most unreliable, the climate of the country – the average weather – is generally good. The winters are seldom very cold and the summers are seldom very hot.
MINERAL WEALTH. The rise of Britain as an industrial nation in the late 18th and early 19th centuries was partly due to the presence of considerable mineral resources. Such resources as oil, gas, uranium ores have become essentially important in the modern world. Today the economy of the country continues to import rare metals such as manganese, chrome, nickel and others which are necessary for the industries which play a major role in the life of the country. Most coal comes today from Yorkshire and the Midlands. Oil fields are located off the eastern and northern coasts of Scotland and north-east England. Today Britain is completely self-sufficient in oil, and also to a great degree in gas. Great Britain has no large-scale resources of non-ferrous metals. Nearly all of them are imported. However, the country has a great variety of non-metallic minerals such as granites, clay, chalk, sand and gravel, different kinds of salt, kaolin and paper. Moreover, it is most positive that long-term considerations are not discarded concerning the usage of non-conventional sources of energy such as the power of the wind and the tides. Today Britain is no longer the leading industrial nation in the world. She is the fifth in terms of the size of the GDP (gross domestic product), and she is also the 5th largest trading nation in the world.
The Present Population of the United Kingdom
The people who now inhabit the British Isles are descended mainly from the people who lived here some 9 centuries ago. The English nation was formed as a result of the amalgamation of the native population of the British Isles – the pre-Celts and the Celts with the invaders: the Germanic tribes )Angles, Saxons and Jutes), the Danes and the Normans. The latter were a branch of the Scandinavian Vikings. In 2000 the population of the UK was 59.8 million.
According to the 2001 census, about 9 per cent of the people in Britain are non-white. London has the highest proportion of minority ethnic communities.Just a little over 50 per cent of the city`s people describe themselves as white British. A further 14 per cent are either white Irish or white other, which includes Europeans, Americans, New Zealanders, etc.
HOUSEHOLDS. The results of the 2001 census show that household numbers are falling. More than a quarter of homes in the UK are owned outright by their occupiers, while almost another four in 10 are owned with the help of a mortgage or loan. The most popular type of home in the UK is semi-detached (more than 27 per cent of all homes), closely followed by detached, then terraced. Just over a fifth of all homes are flats or bedsits. In Scotland, a third of all homes are in purpose built blocks of flats or tenements.
FAMILY AND MARRIAGE. More than four in 10 people over the age of 16 in the UK are married, while another three in 10 describe themselves as single or never married. Another 8 per cent of people are divorced, while just over 8 per cent are widowed and 7 per cent have re-married. 30 per cent of families have children. By far the highest proportion of single people – 50.1 per cent – can be found in inner London. About 60 per cent of the population live as a couple – just over 50 per cent of these are married or re-married, while almost another 10 per cent are cohabiting. Northern Ireland has the smallest number of divorcees (a result of a strong influence of the Catholic Church), while Wales has the highest. Almost one in three families have children, just over a fifth of households are lone-parents( usually a single mother).
RELIGION. Every religion in the world is represented in the United Kingdom, from Hindu and Muslim to Buddhist and Zoroastrian. While the UK is basically secular, it is also overwhelmingly Christian. There are two established churches in Britain: in England – the Anglican Church of England, and in Scotland – the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. In England proper the highest number of Christians is found in north-east England. The highest concentration of other religions is found in London. The capital has the highest proportion of the nation`s Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Buddhists. Muslims have now emerged as the second largest religion in the UK.
HEALTH AND WELFARE. Just over two thirds of the population said their general health was good, with just over one in five revealing their health was “fairly good” and almost one in 10 describing their health as “not good”. Nearly one in five people in the UK has a long-term illness, health problem or disability which limits their daily activities or the work they can do. Wales has the largest number of people with limiting long-term illnesses and the highest proportion of unpaid carers. England is the healthiest, with only 9 per cent of people describing their health as “not good”, and 17.9 per cent reporting a limiting long-term illness. Life expectancy in the UK is still very high with 84 years for women and 78 years for men.
EMPLOYMENT. Four in 10 people aged between 16 and 74 in the UK are in full time employment. Just over another one in 10 work part-time, while 8 per cent are self-employed. Of those who do work, the largest proportion are managers and senior officials – almost 15 per cent. Just over 13 per cent of workers are in administrative and secretarial occupations, while a similar number fall into the “associate professional and technical” category, which includes jobs such as engineering technicians, nurses and artists. People with “elementary occupations”, for example mail sorters, hotel porters and traffic wardens, make up almost 12 per cent of the workforce.
TRANSPORT AND TRANSPORTATION. Without any doubt, British people love their cars. Despite years of rising controversy over traffic jams and concern for the environment, they overwhelmingly use their cars to get to and from work. Some 30 per cent of families in the UK own 2 cars. In England, almost half of homes own one car. A quarter own two vehicles. Approximately 1 per cent of homes own four or more cars.The patterns are almost identical in Wales and Northern Ireland, including the number of households which don`t use a car – just over a quarter. In Scotland, there is a higher proportion of households without cars and almost exactly the same number of households with one car. The exeption to all of this is London. A majority of London homes do not own a car. This is by no means suggests it is because they are poorer. London has dramatically higher levels of use of public transport as more people choose to avoid driving in the capital`s near-constant traffic jams and where access to the centre is strictly limited and parking is almost impossible!
EDUCATION. The legal basis of the educational system in the UK until 1988 was the educational act of 1944. It prescribed the duty of government, LEAs and parents in a system which is still compulsory for those aged 5 to 16. Nursery education is provided in nursery schools, day nurseries and pre-school playgrounds for children from 2 to 5.
Most children start school at the age of 5 in a primary school and go on it till 11-12. A primary school may be divided into two departments – infants (5-7) and juniors (7-12). In infant schools children are engaged in playing activities while in junior schools children have set periods of arithmetic, reading and composition. They are graded.
There is usually a move from primary to secondary school at the age of 11. Until 1960s there existed the tripartite system of secondary schools. But for years it was under assault. In early 70s by the Labour government the 11+ exams were abolished and most secondary schools were organized on comprehensive lines. Comprehensive schools admit children without reference to ability or aptitude. They provide courses that focus on practical skills considering them essential for the world we live in.
But comprehensive schools didn’t satisfy the society and that lead to school reform in the 80s. - GCE O-levels and CSEs were replaced with GCSE taken at 16. - AS level exam, the National Curriculum, a programme of Records of Achievements was introduced. For sure advantages of the system are evident but there is no perfect thing in the world.
ENGLISH CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.
English life is full of traditions and the English are said to be steeped in traditions. Traditions can be divided into different classes: those connected with sports, with entertainments, with holidays and some occasions and those with no particular connection.
What we deal with here is a more or less random collection of customs chosen for their particular interest, their importance, former or present, in lives of the people.
The English are great lovers of sports; and when they are neither playing nor watching games, they like to talk about them. By the way, such sports and games as football, volleyball, basket-ball, tennis and boxing are quite popular in England just as all over the world. But there are games which the English are especially fond of. They are cricket and golf. Cricket is a game impossible to describe to foreigners and they are usually unable to appreciate it. It is at times not so much a game as a kind of dignified public ritual performed by 22 men in white flannels and two stationary old gentlemen in white coats who are the referees.
There are all kinds of racing in England: motor-racing, three-legged racing and even racing for dogs and donkeys.
Boat racing is very popular in England. People started to use boats for racing in the 19th century. This is one event that is fully amateur in the truest sense, with no cups or medals, the only reward being the satisfaction and pride of having had a part in it, win or lose. The annual boat contest between Oxford and Cambridge Universities dates back to 1829. It takes place in London on the Thames.
Much leisure time is devoted to gardening. Most English people like gardens, and this is probably one reason why so many people prefer to live in the Country. The British like making things grow whether it is in a window-box outside the kitchen, or in the garden. Flower-shows and vegetable-shows with prizes for the best exhibits are immensely popular.
Britain is a nation of animal lovers. Everybody knows that. They will speak affectionately to and of their dogs and cats, which is more than they will do concerning their friends and family. In Britain pets can send Christmas cards to their friends, birthday cards, there are even cards available for birds, fish and reptiles.
The most imposing and spectacular traditions are those are connected with Parliament and Government as Parliament is a very old institution and acquired traditions of its Town. One of them is the state opening of Parliament when, as tradition dictates, the Queen reads the speech prepared by the Prime Minister to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Queen drives in a state coach pulled by six horses from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The ceremony takes place in the House of Lords with a few leading members of the House of Commons standing close to the end of the chamber^ opposite the throne technically 'outside' the House of Lords. This is also dictated by the tradition.
Another tradition connected with Parliament is known as "Guy Fawkes Day" which dates back to 1605 when some Catholics with Fawkes at the head decided to blow up Parliament. On this day a group of men in black hats and red coats with lanterns in their hands searched the Cellar of Parliament. The origin of this tradition has been forgotten by most people but for children is a day of great fun and merriment because big fireworks are lit' on this day.
The pageantry and glamour of traditions and ceremonies, connected with Parliament serve to catch the popular imagination and divert public attention from questions of vital importance.
References
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