Vegetation

Vegetation of Great Britain was greatly influenced by the man. Only in the more remote parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands the original vegetation remains. The "natural vegetation" in the true sense of the term has practically disappeared from Britain, and most of the present cover (grass and trees) is known as semi-natural.

With its mild climate, a wide variety of relief and soils Britain has a great pattern of vegetation. One can see oak, ash, maple, elm hazel, and spruce trees.

Today only two original forests remained: the New Forest In Hampshire and Sherwood Forest In Nottinghamshire. These forests mainly survived to the fact that In Middle Ages they were set aside as "Royal Forests" for hunting. The greatest density of woodland is in the north and the east of Scotland, in some parts of south-east England and on the Welsh border.

Population

In number of population Great Britain holds one of the first places among the European countries. In 2001 – 57,4 million people lived in Great Britain. English form 82%, Scottish – 10%, Irish – 2%, Welsh – 2%. In the second half of the 20-th century the number of people came from Commonwealth countries settled in the country Today Indian and Pakistany form about 2% of the population. Over 90% of the population live in towns. Principle religion is Church of England and Roman – Catholic.

Today in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland English is the language predominantly spoken. In Wales, Welsh, a form of British Celtic is spoken by about 20 % of the population. In Scotland over 80.000 persons speak the Scottish form of Gaelic. A few families in N. Ireland still speak the Irish form of Gaelic.

Some of the country's ethnic minorities formed as a result of recent immigration have their own languages, normally as well as English.

Great Britain is an Ireland. This peculiar geographical situation has produced a certain spirit among its inhabitants. A little more than other people, the British regard their own community as the center of the world. Englishman are rather conservative, they love familiar things. This conservatism may be illustrated by the attitude of the British to the monarchy.

I. Find the English equivalents for the following:

включать группу островов; европейский континент; неровная береговая линия; площадь государства; судоходные реки; мягкий, умеренный климат; уединенное место; природная растительность; этническое меньшинство; проявление консерватизма.

II. Answer the questions:

1.Why is the state flag of the UK called the Union Jack? 2.Where are the British Isles situated? 3.How many islands are there in the system of the British Isles? 4.What is the climate of Great Britain? 5.What factors influence the variations (изменение) in the climate of Great Britain? 6.What rivers and lakes do you know on the territory of the British Isles? 7.Is the UK a multinational state? 8.What vegetation can one see in Great Britain? 9.Why has the "natural vegetation" disappeared in Great Britain?

III. Complete the sentences:

1.Great Britain consists of. . . 2.The British Isles are separated from the continent by . . 3.British climate is .. . 4.The longest river is . . . 5.The largest lake is .. .

6.Britain has a great pattern of vegetation. One can see . . . 7.Today there are two original forests . .. 8.British population is . . .

IV. Do you remember? 1.How is Britain connected with the continent? 2.The main religion in the country. 3.A certain spirit among the inhabitants.

Part II

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 1351