Read and Speak. Круглова М.В. - 61 стр.

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III. Say what you have learnt about:

1. the countries of the UK and their capitals; 2. the British Isles; 3. two main

islands; 4.the flag of the UK.

IV. Think and answer.

1. What is often referred to as Great Britain?

2. Where are the British Isles located?

3. What languages are spoken in the UK?

4. Why the flag of the United Kingdom is known as the Union Jack?

V. Make up a short summary of the text.

TEXT 3B. GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Study the following text and do the tasks given bellow.

Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch - Queen

Elizabeth II - as head of state. The British constitution, unlike those of most other

countries, is not set out in a single document. Instead it is made up of a combination

of laws and conventions. Conventions are rules and practices which are not legally

enforceable, but which are regarded as vital to the working of government.

Political stability owes much to the monarchy. Today the Queen is not only head

of state, but also an important symbol of national unity. In law the Queen is head of

the executive, an integral part of the legislature, head of the judiciary, the

commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the Crown and the ‘supreme governor’

of the established Church of England. As a result of a long process of evolution,

during which the monarchy’s absolute power has been progressively reduced, the

Queen is impartial and acts on the advice of her ministers.