QUY NHON UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE UNITED
KINGDOM

QUYNHON. 2019
ATLANTIC OCEAN

.
Stratford-upon-Avon
.
Norfolk

Cambridge

..Bath
Stonehenge

CELTIC SEA
 A QUICK QUIZ ON THE UNITED KINGDOM

1. If you hold a British passport, you are from England, Scotland, Wales, or ______.
A. Ireland B. Iceland C. Northern Ireland
2. Someone from ______ cannot represent Great Britain in the Olympic Games.
A. Scotland B. England C. Northern Ireland
3 The highest mountain of England is ______.
A. Ben Nevis B. Snowdon C. Scafell Pike
4. Loch Ness is famous for its ______.
A. depth B. saltiness C. monster
5 London is in the ______ of Britain..
A. north B. south C. west
6. The British Royal Arms features a shield supported by the English Lion and the Scottish __.
A. Horse B. Wolf C. Unicorn
7. The ______ is the national flag of Britain.
A. Union Jack B. Stars and Stripes C. Red and Blues
8. ______ is the national colour of England.
A. red B. white C. blue
9. The British people ______ shake hands or kiss each other when they meet for the first time.
A. normally B. not normally C. never
10. The English and the Scottish Lowlanders are of _____ origin whereas the Welsh, the Irish and
the Scottish Highlanders are of ______ origin.
A. Roman/ Celtic B. Celtic/Anglo-Saxon C. Anglo-Saxon/ Celtic
11. The established church in England is the ______.
A. Anglican Church B. Presbyterian Kirk C. Methodist Chapel
12. RSPCA is an organization which helps promote kindness to _____.
A. children B. animals C. old people.
13. The two houses of Parliament are the House of Lord and the House of ______.
A. Commons B. Representatives C. People
14. The members of the House of Lords are______.
A. elected B. appointed by the C. appointed by the Prime
Monarch Minister
15. Two major political parties in Britain are the Conservative Party and the ______ Party.
A. Democratic B. Liberal Democratic C. Labour
16. The longest term for a British Prime Minister is ______ years.
A. 4 B. 5 C. 7
17. The Prime Minister is chosen by______.
A. the Sovereign B. people C. the members of his party
18. The Head of State in the UK is ______.
A. the Sovereign B. the Prime Minister C. the Speaker
19. The surname of the present British royal family is ______.
A. Windsor B. Tudor C. Hanover
20. The ______ is responsible for state schools and further education in a district.
A. University Council B. local government C. Ministry of Education
21. Every child must attend school regularly between the ages of ______.
A. 5 & 18 B. 5 & 16 C. 6 & 18
22. Universities select their students based on______.
A. interviews B. entrance examination C. A-levels and interviews
23. On November 5th British people celebrate Guy Fawkes Night by ______.
A. burning fireworks B. C.
A. Windsor B. Tudor C. Hanover
24. ______ are Christmas colours.
A. red and white B. red and green C. white and green
25. At ______ people eat a lot of chocolate eggs.
A. Christmas B. Easter C. Valentine’s Day
26. The most important of all the public holidays of the year in England is ______.
A. Christmas C. New Year’s Day
B. Easter D. Boxing Day
27. What is the significance of Guy Fawkes’ Night?
A. Guy Fawkes’ Birthday C. a children festival
B. the anniversary of D. the victory of Roman Catholicism over
Gunpowder Plot Protestantism
 INTRODUCTION
WHY TEACH CULTURE?
1. Link between language and culture
Cultural values are expressed in the different ways languages categorize items, express
politeness, and maintain hierarchies, as well as through different vocabulary items, idioms,
proverbs, and other sayings
2. Develop students’ intercultural communicative competence -ability “to interact with
people from another country and culture in a foreign language”
3. Help students develop into culturally aware, sensitive international citizens
-raise cultural awareness and intercultural sensitivity
-language classes must have a separate cultural component
THE INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE
- The ability to communicate effectively with someone from another culture.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS?
- English is the international language for communication.
- Students must be able to communicate effectively with people from a variety of different
backgrounds.
- Intercultural communicative competence is important for ASEAN and for jobs in
government, tourism, NGOs, and business.
 Chapter One: A Country of Four Nations
NAMES USED TO REFER TO BRITAIN

The British Isles is the geographical name for a collection of two large islands and several
much smaller ones off the northwest coast of the European continent. The largest island is called
Great Britain. The other large one is called Ireland. The name, the British Isles, is only seen on
maps.

Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales, but it does not include Northern
Ireland (Ulster) or the Republic of Ireland (Eire).

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland- more commonly known
as the United Kingdom or the UK- is a political term, which includes England, Scotland, Wales,
and Northern Ireland. All of these countries are presented in Parliament in London and the
abbreviation UK is used on most official document produced by Parliament. Now Scotland and
Wales have their own local parliaments with power to make decisions about their countries.

In everyday speech Britain is used to mean the United Kingdom.

Southern Ireland is independent in 1922 and became a republic, known as the Irish
Republic in 1949.

Everybody from the UK is British, but be careful: only people from England are English.
People from Wales think of themselves as Welsh; people from Scotland as Scottish; people from
Northern Ireland as either British or Irish.

HOW WAS THE COUNTRY FORMED?

This took centuries and a lot of armed struggle was involved. In 1292, the English king,
Edward I, invaded Wales and built fourteen huge castles to control the Welsh people. His son,
Edward, became the first Prince of Wales. Since then all the kings and queens of England have
given their eldest son the title, Prince of Wales.

Then in the 15th century, a Welsh prince became King Henry VII of England (– the first
Tudor king). Then his son, Henry VIII united England and Wales under one parliament in 1536.
In 1603, Henry VIII’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I of England died, so her cousin, King James VI of
Scotland inherited the crown of England and Wales and became King James I of England. The
parliament of England, Wales and Scotland were united a century later in 1707.

The whole of Ireland was united with Great Britain from 1801 up until 1922. In that year
Southern Ireland formed a separate country and later became a republic, known as the Republic
of Ireland, while Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.

EXERCISES
I. Supply the names of the lettered areas

A. …………………….………….…

B. ……………………….…………

C. …………………….……………
F
D. ………………….……………… A G
E. …………………………..………

F. ………………………………….. D
G. …………………………………..
E I
H. ………………………………….
B
I. .…………………………………. C
J. ………………………………….
J
K. ………………………………….. H
K
D+E =………………………………….

A+B+C =………………………………

A+B+C+D =…………………………

A+B+C+D+E =………………………

II. Fill in the gaps with appropriate names of the country

Official name: ………………………………………………………….
Common name: ……………………………………………………….
Geographical name: ………………………………………….………
Full name: ………………………………………………………………
III. What happened in Britain in the following dates?
1536………………………………………………………………………
1603………………………………………………………………………
1707………………………………………………………………………
1801………………………………………………………………………
1922………………………………………………………………………
 Chapter Two: The National Emblem
FLAGS AND SAINTS

A. St ………………….. B. St …………………..

C. St ………………….. D. St …………………..

The national flag of the United Kingdom, known as the Union Jack, is a combination of
three flags: the Saint Andrew’s cross, the Saint Patrick’s cross, and the Saint George’s cross.

The white diagonal cross is the cross of Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. Saint
Andrew, a fisherman, was one of the twelve apostles who followed Jesus Christ. Paintings of Saint
Andrew often show him being killed on an X-shaped cross. Saint Andrew’s Day is celebrated on
30 November. He is the patron saint of both Scotland and Russia. The red diagonal cross is the
cross of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is the former flag of Ireland. St. Patrick was
born about AD 390. He converted the Irish to Christianity and is supposed to get rid of all snakes
in Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17.

The upright red cross is the cross of St. George, the patron saint of England. He was a soldier
famous for saving a princess from being eaten by a dragon. George wounded the dragon and took
it back to the city of Silence, Libya, on a lead like a dog. St. George’s Day is celebrated on April 23.
St. George is also the patron saint of Germany, Portugal and Greece.

The Welsh flag shows a dragon. St. David, the patron saint of Wales, stared a number of
monasteries in the country. Paintings of St. David normally show him with a dove on his shoulder.
His relics are now in St. David’s Cathedral in Wales. St. David’s Day is celebrated on 1 March.

THE SYMBOLS OF BRITAIN

The two traditional symbols of England are the Saint George’s cross and the Three Lions
coat of arms. The Three Lions Crest is the emblem for the English football team. The national
cricket team emblem is very similar but it has a crown above the lions. England’s official emblem
is a red rose. Other emblems include a bulldog, often wearing a Union Jack waistcoat, and John
Bull, an old-fashioned fat country gentleman.

The national flower of Scotland is the thistle, a prickly-leaved purple flower which was
first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defense. The Scottish Blue-bell is also seen as the
flower of Scotland. Tartan pattern is used on many products made in Scotland. The kilt (a
pleated skirt with checked pattern on it), which is made from tartan, is the traditional costume of
the Scottish Highlanders.

The national flower of Wales has two plants, the leek and the daffodil, as its emblem, and
also uses the figure of a Welsh woman dressed in traditional costume. Welsh people often wear a
daffodil on St. David’s Day.

The national symbol of Northern Ireland is the Red Hand of Ulster, which appears on its
flag. The Red Hand of Ulster shows a red upright hand cut off at the wrist. It was originally the
symbol of the Ulster’s ruling family, the O’Neil. The shamrock and harp are also associated with
Ireland. The shamrock is a three-leaved plant similar to clovers. An Irish tale tells of how St.
Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used his sermons to present
hoe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirits could all exist as separate elements of the same
entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day. The shamrock is
also the emblem of the Republic of Ireland.

The figure of Britannia, a woman in a long robe, wearing a helmet, holding a trident (the
symbol of power over the sea) and a shield with a Union Jack pattern, is considered to be the
embodiment of Britain.

The Royal Arms is the personal symbol of the British king or queen. On the left, the shield
is supported by the English Lion. On the right it is supported by the Unicorn of Scotland. (The
unicorn is chained because in medieval times a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous
beast.) The coat features both the motto of the British Monarch ‘Dieu et mon droif’, French for
'’God and my right' and the motto of the Order of the Garter “Honi’ soi qui mal y pense’ (Evil to
him who evil thinks). The Royal Arms are placed behind judges and magistrates in law courts as a
symbol of authority. Companies with warrant to supply goods to members of the royal family
may use the royal arms on their products.

The best-known emblem of the British government is the portcullis (= a barred, chained
gate) that appears on official government papers.

EXERCISES Fill in the table with appropriate information.

ENGLAND SCOTLAND WALES Northern UK

Ire.

Patron Saint

flag
National anthem
song
God saves the Queen

capital

flower

plant/tree

colour

presbyterian methodist roman catholics

Church Anglican church

animal

sport

music

Anglo land ulster

ancient name

Smith Long
surname

John
first name Mac Donald
 portcullis Britannia Royal Arms

Royal Standard Scottish Lion Rampant

St. George’s St. Andrew’s St. Patrick’s

Union Jack Red Dragon of Wales Red Hand of Ulster

 thistle Scottish bluebells

rose daffodil flax

oak leek shamrock

bagpipes harp Scotsman in kilt

 bulldog lion

unicorn dragon

golf cricket John Bull

rugby football
 Hadrian’s Wall

Stonehenge

white cliff in Devon Palace of Westminster - Big Ben

London Tower Bridge St. Paul’s Cathedral Westminster Abbey

 Buckingham Palace London Tower

Foot Guard Life Guard Beefeater

London Eye
 Hyde Park Black taxi cabs Red Double Decker buses

What images associated with England can you spot on the tea Cosy above?
 Chapter Three: The People
The peoples of the four countries of Britain are of different origins. They are
descendants of Stone Age men and from various invaders: the Celts, the Romans, the Anglo-
Saxons, the Danes, and the Normans. These invaders came to Britain and brought with them
their lives, customs and languages. A glimpse at these people’s footsteps, therefore, will help
us know how the British peoples were formed.

THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

THE STONE- AGE MEN

It is known that the earliest people in the British Isles were Old Stone- Age men. These
people used hard stones called flint to make their tools and weapons. They lived in caves and
killed wild animals for meat.

Between about 3000 and 2500 B.C, the Iberians came to Britain from Iberia. They were
called New Stone Age men because their stone tools were polished. They grew crops, raised
cattle and tamed dogs for hunting.

THE CELTS

Between about 600 and 500 BC, the British Isles were invaded by Celtic tribes who came
from central Europe. They settled in Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Ireland and used iron to
make their tools and weapons. They also built villages and farms, and started a communal life.
They spoke Celtic languages. They were pagan with priests known as Druids, but later
converted to Christianity.

The chief significance of the prehistoric period is its sense of mystery. One of the most
remarkable remains of the early inhabitants is Stonehenge.

THE ROMANS

In 55B.C, the Romans tried to invade Britain. The famous Romans general, Julius Caesar,
and his army managed to land on the shore of Kent, but the Celts resisted bravely and Caesar
was driven away. This day is known as the first date in the British history because it marks the
first foreign invasion.

In AD 43, the Romans attacked Britain again and this time they won the Celtic tribes. The
area that is mostly now England and Wales was occupied by the Romans. They named the
province Britannia and imposed their own way of life and culture. The Romans set up their
capital in London and built major cities in Bath, Chester and York.

The Roman invasion was not completely peaceful. In AD 60, the Iceni, a Celtic tribe led by
Queen Boudicca, destroyed three cities, including London. The Romans stopped the rebellion
brutally and Boudicca killed herself.
 The tribes of Scotland never completely surrendered to the Romans. As a result, in AD
122, Emperor Hadrian built Hadrian’s Wall to protect England from attacks by the Celtic tribes
the Picts and the Scots from the north. Parts of Hadrian’s Wall still stand on the Scottish border.

At the beginning of the 5th century the Romans had troubles in their empire and in 410
Roman troops began to withdraw from Britain.

THE ANGLO- SAXONS

During the fifth century Britain was attacked by Germanic tribes. They were the
Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes from Germany, Holland and Denmark. The Celts could not
stop the new enemy. They fled north and west to the mountainous areas (Scotland, Wales and
Cornwall) taking their ancient arts and languages with them. Celtic languages have
disappeared from most of Europe, but are still spoken in parts of Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Celtic Christians later returned to England from Scotland and Ireland as missionaries. The
Anglo-Saxons in southern England were converted to Christianity following the arrival of St.
Augustine of Rome in AD 597. As Christianity spread, churches and monasteries were built all
over England.

The Anglo- Saxons settled in England and a number of small kingdoms were established:
East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Mercia, Northumbria, Sussex and Wessex. They gave England its
name – the Angle-land. They spoke Germanic languages, which English nowadays derived
from.

The Anglo – Saxon kingdoms usually fought and competed for predominance over the
whole country. The greatest and most powerful kingdoms were Northumbria, Mercia, and
Wessex. At the beginning of the ninth century Wessex became the strongest and its king, Egbert,
was acknowledged by other kingdoms and he became the first of the united kingdoms of
England in 829.
THE VIKINGS

At the end of the eighth century Britain experienced another wave of Germanic invasion.
These invaders, known as the Vikings, Norsemen or Danes, came from Scandinavia. They came
by boat to the coastal parts of northern and southern Britain. They attacked and killed people,
burnt villages, robbed the churches and sailed away with treasure. King Alfred – the great king
of England defeated the Danes in many battles, but in 886 a treaty was signed and England was
divided into Wessex, in the south and west, and the Danelaw, in the north and east.

However the cultural differences between the Anglo – Saxons and the Danes were
comparatively small. They led roughly the same way of life and spoke two varieties of the same
Germanic tongues. Moreover, the Danes converted to Christianity. These similarities made
political unification easier and by the end of the tenth century England was one kingdom with a
Germanic culture. In 1016 England became part of the Scandinavian empire under King Canute.

THE NORMANS

In 1066 the King of England, Edward the Confessors died, Harold was chosen to be king,
but in northwestern France, William Duke of Normandy claimed that both Edward the Confessor
and Harold had promised him the throne. Therefore, William gathered an army and fought for
his claim. The Norman invasion was an important event in the history of Britain because it
marked the last foreign invasion to the country.

The Norman Conquest began with the battle of Hasting where Harold was defeated and
killed by an arrow in the eye on October 14th. On the Christmas Day that year, Duke William of
Normandy was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. Since then all the coronations of
English monarchs have been held there.

The Duke of Normandy, known as ‘William the Conqueror’ established a new Anglo-
Norman state. Under Norman rule England was bought into closer contact with continental
Europe. England became a strong and centralized country under military rule. The Normans
built castles all over England to control England better. King William I was a harsh ruler: he
destroyed many villages to make sure the English people did not rebel. Feudalism was
established. Norman power was absolute, and the language of the new rulers, Norman French,
had a lasting effect on English. Since 1066, England has never been invaded.

Who Should Be King?

It is the year 1066. The King Edward the Confessor has died. He has left no heir. England
faces a crisis there is no clear candidate for king.
Your Task You are a member of the Council called the Witan it is your job to choose a new
king. What kind of man do you need? What qualities must a king have?
Key qualities
•An experienced leader
•A skilled warrior
•English
•A relative of the late king
THE CANDIDATES

Edgar Atheling Edgar Atheling was the son of Edward the Confessors’ brother. But when
Edward died Edgar was only 14 years old.

Harald In 1016 England had a Viking king called King Canute. King Canute was also
Hardraada King of Norway and Denmark. King Canute’s family ruled England until
1042 when Edward the Confessor took the throne. King Canute’s heirs said
they were the real Kings of England. Harald Hardraada was Canute’s heir.
At the Age of 51, Harald Hardraada was the most renowned soldier of the
Age.”

William of William Duke of Normandy claimed that Edward had promised him the
Normandy crown of England when Edward died.
He also claimed that Harold Godwinson had sworn to support his claim to
the throne. William said Harold had sworn on the bones of a saint to help
William become the next king of England.

Harold Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex was the late king’s brother-in -law.
Godwinson Harold claimed that he had been given the crown on Edward’s death bed.
He was an experienced warrior and had been earl of Wessex for many
years. But he was believed to have murdered Edward’s brother.

Exercises
Exercise 1. Britain was invaded by 6 groups of peoples in early times (the Anglo-Saxons, The
Celts, The Normans, The Vikings, The Iberians, The Romans). Put the names from 1 to 6 in the order
of time when they came to Britain. When did they come and where from?

Name? When? Where from?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
Exercise 2. Who is the statement about?

1. ………….came around the 5th century.

2. ………….used stone tools and tamed dogs for hunting.
3. ………….spoke French.
4. ………….came from Scandinavia.
5. ………….were Germanic tribes.
6. ………….used iron tools and came from central Europe.
7. ………….Queen Boudicca led them to rebel against the Roman invaders.
8. ………….gave England its name.
9. ………….spread urban civilization in southern Britain
10. ………….brought Christianity to the British Isles.
11. …………. came from Iberia.
12. ………….Under their rule three languages were used at the same time.
 Exercise 3 True or False?

1. …………The Welsh and the Scottish Highlanders have Celtic origin.

2. …………The Normans were the last invaders to the British Isles.
3. …………The proper order in which people groups came to present-day Britain is: Celts,
Romans, Danes, Anglo-Saxons, Normans.
4. …………Feudalism was established by the Normans.
5. …………William of Normandy was defeated by the English army in Hastings in 1066.
6. …………Danelaw was the peace treaty signed by the Danes.

THE BRITISH CHARACTER

1. Adaptability

This characteristic stems from a seemingly contradictory combination of tradition and

modernity. People who work within the system are sometimes perceived as more “typically”
British than those who subvert it, but there is also a strong school of thought that Britain is
fundamentally a subversive, revolutionary, challenging society – which is why we have such a
strong record of invention and creativity.
Exemplified by Lord Foster and Laurie Pycroft

2. Modesty

A tricky characteristic since the more modest people are, the less likely it is that the public
will have heard of them. But people who are a little reserved, who are not known to boast, who
are perhaps even understated – these people are more “typically” British than those who are
more vocal about their achievements.
Exemplified by Charles Dunstone and David Robinson

3. Sense of humour

Not in slapstick way, but a clever sense of humour is a typically British characteristic. People
who have a strong sense of humour often combined with reserve to appear self-deprecatory are
more “typically” British than people who are humourless, or people who are too attention-
seeking.
Exemplified by Nick Park and Stuart Rose

4. Strength & determination

Almost the bulldog spirit. People who are perceived to have achieved things despite the
odds are regarded as more “typically” British than people who are perceived to have had an
easier time of it.
Exemplified by Lord Coe and Dame Kelly Holmes
Exercise: Choose the right word from the box to describe the British behaviours.
BAO THU KIN DAO LAP DI
conservative reserved individualistic law-abiding polite calm eccentric love of
nature love of work love of animals

1. The British find it difficult to show their feelings.

2. An Englishman’s home is his own castle.
3. Queuing is as British as fish and chips.
4. British people read on the underground journey to work. 2 WALLS OF PAPERS

5. In Europe people talk to their friends. In Britain people talk to their pets.
6. The British live in the past.
7. The British people often talk about the weather.
8. Many British people wish to live in the countryside and gardening is one of the most
popular hobbies in the country.
9. You have to keep your upper-lip tight.
The Native British Peoples: The English, the Scottish,
the Welsh, and the Irish
Exercise Who and what character of theirs is laughed at?

1. A Scotsman, an Englishman and an Irishman were discussing the infidelity of their wives. "I
think my wife is having an affair with an electrician", said the Englishman, "because I found an
electrician's toolbox under her bed last night." "I think my wife is having an affair with a
plumber", said the Scotsman, "because last night I found a plunger under her bed". "I think my
wife is having an affair with a horse", said the Irishman, “because last night I found a jockey
under her bed."

2. An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman are sitting in a bar. Suddenly, a fly dives into their
beers. The Englishman says, "Barman, a fly just dived into my beer. Bring me another one." The
Englishman got another beer. The Irishman says, "Ah, to hell with it," and empties his pint, fly
and all. The Scotsman pulls the fly out of his beer, shakes it up and down, and screams, "Spit it
oot, damn you! Spit it oot!"

3. A Scotchman was hurt while watching a baseball game, so he sued the teams that were
playing. He fell out of a tree.

4. Then there was the Scotch anarchist who lit a bomb and just hated to let go of it.

5. It is sure sign of summer when a Scotchman throws his Christmas tree away.

6. A Scotchman is a person whose thrift teaches him to take long steps to save shoe leather, but
whose caution advises him to take short steps to avoid ripping his pants.

7. Sign outside a cafe in Rhys. "Fish and chips 90p. Children 50p."

8. First Welshman: "How are you, I hope?" Second Welshman: "Thank you, no doubt."

9. Paddy was tooling along the road one fine day when the local policeman, a friend of his, pulled
him over. "What's wrong, Seamus?" Paddy asked. "Well didn't ya know, Paddy, that your wife
fell out of the car about five miles back?" said Seamus. "Ah, praise The Almighty!" Paddy replied
with relief. "I thought I'd gone deaf!"

10. Pat and Mick landed themselves a job at a saw mill. Just before morning tea Pat yelled, “Mick!
I lost me finger!" "Have you now?" says Mick. "And how did you do it?" "I just touched this big
spinning thing here like thi--Damn! There goes another one!"

11. O'Connell was staggering home with a pint of booze in his back pocket when he slipped
and fell badly. Struggling to his feet, he felt something wet running down his leg. "Please, God,"
he implored, "let it be blood!"
 foot = 12 inches
yard = 3 feet
fathom = 2 yards
mile = 1.6 km

gallon = 8 pints

pound = 18 ounces
stone = 14 lbs.

Your height ……………cm ……..ft….…..in Your father’s …………..cm …..ft…..….in

Your weight ……………kg ……………..lb Your father’s ……………kg ……………lb

A gallon of petrol costs…………………………….VND

Distance from Quynhon to Quangngai: …………………………miles

THE CLIMATE AND WEATHER

 F = 9/5 C+32 C= (F-32) 5/9
Exercise 25 C= ………….F 10 C= ………… F 0 C =…………. F

95 F =……….. C 32 F = ………...C 212 F= ……..…..C

SMALL TALK
When you first meet someone it can be difficult to know how to start a conversation, especially if
your first language is not English.
Which topics are SAFE for small talk?
 Introductions, eg, "Hello. May I introduce myself? My name is Mark"
 Travel, eg "Did you manage to find here OK?" or "Did you have a good journey?"
 Family, eg "How is your family?" (but only if you already know about the person's family)
 Hospitality, eg "Can I get you something to eat or drink?"
 The weather, eg "It's a lovely day today, isn't it?"
 Holidays, eg "Are you going anywhere this weekend?" or "Are you going anywhere on
holiday this year?"
 Nature, eg "The garden looks lovely, doesn't it?"
 Pets, eg "What a lovely dog. What is his name?" (British people love dogs or cats)
 General news, eg "What do you think about the recent floods?" (but safer to avoid gossip
and politics)
 Films, eg "Have you seen the film Bridget Jones's Diary?"
 Television, eg "Did you see The X Factor last night?"
 Music, eg "What sorts of music do you like?"
 Books, eg "Have you read any good books recently?" (but only if you know the person
likes reading)
 Sport, eg "Have you been watching Wimbledon?" (Note that many British people,
especially men, enjoy talking about football)
 Hobbies, eg "What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?"
  Business, eg "How's your business going?" (but only ask if you know the person has a
business)
 Studies, eg "What are you studying?" (but only ask if you know the person is a student)
 Work, eg "What sort of work do you do?"
 Food, eg "I had a lovely Chinese meal last night - do you like Chinese food?"
 General matters about the person you are talking to, eg "Have you lived in this area
long?"
 General matters on subjects that you know that interests the person you are talking
to, eg cars, film stars etc
Which topics are best avoided for small talk?
You may need to be careful when you talk about some topics, especially with people that you’ve
only just met, people who are older than you, people who appear to have strong religious or
political views, or people who may have some personal problems or sensitivities. For example, be
cautious if you discuss these subjects:
 Age, eg "How old are you?"
 Appearance or weight, eg "You seem to have put on some weight"
 Personal gossip about somebody you know
 Jokes that might offend (especially sexist or racist jokes)
 Money, eg "How much do you earn?"
 Sex (some people have strong religious views about this, or are embarrassed by the
subject)
 Previous or current relationships, eg "Do you have a girlfriend?"
 Politics, eg "Who did you vote for at the last election?"
 Religion, eg "Do you believe in God?"
 Criticisms or complaints, eg "Why is British food so bad?"

ETIQUETTE
 Manners are important: DOs or DON'TS?
_______ ask personal or intimate questions. We like our privacy.
_______ greet people with a kiss: We only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.
_______ spit. _______ ask a lady her age _______ pick your nose in public
_______ burp in public _______ cover your mouth _______ open doors for other people
_______ say "Excuse Me" _______ pay as you go _______say Sorry
_______ say "Please" and "Thank you" to your friends and family members
_______ shake hands _______ smile _______ drive on the left side of the road
_______ take your hat off when you go indoors (men only)
_______doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging .This is only done among close friends.
_______ talking loudly in public ______stare at anyone in public. Privacy is highly regarded.

PUNCTUALITY. Early, on time, or late?

A business meeting A graduation ceremony

A school examination A dinner party at a restaurant

A concert A class

A date A wedding

A job interview A play

A meeting with a friend Tea, reception, and cocktail parties

A film Dinner at somebody’s house

 Chapter Four: The Political System
Britain is a constitutional monarchy. It means that it has a monarch- either a king or a
queen - as its Head of State, but the monarch has very little power. The Queen reigns but does not
rule. Parliament and the government have the power.

THE CONSTITUTION

The United Kingdom, unlike other European countries, does not have a written
constitution which is contained in a single document. The British Constitution is based on
statutes (Acts of Parliament), case law (decisions taken by courts of law on constitutional
matters), customs and conventions, and can be modified by a simple Act of Parliament. It
contains two main principles- the rule of law (i.e. that everyone is equal before the law) and the
supremacy of Parliament, which implies that there is nobody can declare the activities of
Parliament unconstitutional and Parliament can in theory do whatever it wishes. The
constitutional safeguard of the separation of powers between the Legislature (the two Houses
of Parliament), which makes law, the Executive (the Government), which puts law into effect and
plans policies, and the Judiciary, which decides on cases arising out of the laws, is only
theoretical.

PARLIAMENT

The British Parliament has two houses, or chambers: the House of Commons and the
House of Lords. The House of Commons is the most powerful and decides the national policies,
but the House of Lords can ask the House of Commons to rewrite certain parts of a bill before it
becomes a new law.

The House of Commons consists of Members of Parliament, or MPs. Each MP is elected by

voters in one constituency. There are currently 650 MPs, or seats in the House of Commons.
Since the eighteenth century, the two main parties have sat facing each other in the House of
Commons. MPs who belong to the Government sit on the right side of the House and those from
the Opposition sit on the left side. Ministers and the members of the “Shadow Cabinet” sit on the
front benches. Other MPs sit behind and are called “back-benchers”. On the table between them
are two wooden “dispatch boxes”. Ministers and Shadow ministers stand between them when
making a speech. There is also a ‘red line’ in the carpet in front of each “front bench”. Speakers
must not cross them, or they will come to near other side.

The 'Speaker, who is chosen by MPs from amongst themselves to preside over debates, sits
on a raised chair at the top end of the table. MPs sit wherever they can find room on their side of
the House. There are only about 400 seats, not enough for all MPs to sit down at once. The press
and members of the public can listen to debates from the 'Strangers' Gallery’.

The House of Lords consists of 'Lords Spiritual’, i.e. the 'Archbishops of Canterbury and
York and senior 'bishops, and 'Lords Temporal’, i.e. all hereditary peers and life peers. The total
number of people eligible to attend the Lords is about 1,200 but some get permission to be
absent. The 'Lord Chancellor', the only elected lord, presides over debates from the “Woolsack'.

The power of the House of Lords has been reduced over time. Since 1911 the Lords have
had no control over financial matters, and since 1949 they’ve not been able to reject legislation
passed by the Commons, though they may suggest amendments.
FORMING A GOVERNMENT

The party with most MPs forms the government. The leader of the winning party
automatically becomes Prime Minister and appoints the Cabinet. The members of the Cabinet are
the leading government ministers. The Prime Minister is the most important person in
Parliament (Britain does not have a president. The party which comes second is the Opposition
and forms its own Shadow Cabinet.

British Prime Minister have lived at 10 Downing Street since 1731. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer (responsible for money and finance) lives next door at number 11. People often talk
about “Downing Street” when they mean the Prime Minister and his or her Cabinet.

TWO-PARTY POLITICS

Every five years, British people over the age of 18 can vote in a general election. People
vote for the candidate they want in a constituency. The candidate who wins becomes the MP in
the House of Commons; even if he or she gets only one vote more than the candidate who is
second. This is called the first-past-the-post electoral system. The first-past-the-post system in
Britain usually makes two parties powerful, while smaller parties do not have many MPs. Since
1920s, the two main parties have been the left-wing Labour Party the right-wing Conservative
Party.

The Liberal-Democrats are not happy with the first-past-the-post electoral system. This is
because it is a party which does not win many seats in Parliament but comes second in many
constituencies. It would prefer a system of proportional representation, in which the number of
MPs is based on the number of people who vote for a party in the whole of the country.

EXERCISES

I. Fill in the gaps

Main characteristics: ……………………………………

3 elements: 1…………………………………… 3 principles: 1……………………………

2 …………………………………… 2……………………………

3…………………………………… 3……………………………

II. Match the terms with their definitions

1. Rule of law ___ There is no legal opposition to Parliament

2. Separation of powers ___ Everyone is equal before the law.

3. Supremacy of Parliament ___ Laws are made, put into effect, and interpreted by different bodies.
III. Complete the diagram with words from the box.
The (1)__________

H. of Lords The (2)___________ H. of Commons

-Presided over by (3)___________________ - Presided over by (7)_____________

-Members(4)_______________ & (5)_______________ - Members: - 650 (8)_____________

(Government & (9)______________________)

-Main function(6) _________________________ -Main function(10)________________

MPs Lords Temporal Sovereign Parliament Lord Chancellor

Opposition the Speaker Lords Spiritual to revise bills to legislate

IV. Match!

1._____ Cabinet a. electoral district

2._____Shadow Cabinet b. life peers

3._____OHMS c. when an MP dies or resigns

4._____Whitehall d. summons and dissolves Parliament

5._____Lords Temporal e. Archbishops and senior Bishops

6._____Prime Minister f. Members of Parliament

7._____H.of Commons g. governmental documents

8._____Lord Chancellor h. Houses of Parliament

9._____ the Sovereign i. the Civil Service

10._____by-election j. leaders of the Government

11._____Lords Spiritual k. Chief Executive

12. _____Mr. Speaker l. criticizes the Government's policies

13. _____constituency m. elected by the MPs

14. _____Westminster n. Woolsack/ Head of the H. of Lords

 v. Crossword Puzzle

10

Across: Down:

3. The acronym MP stands for...?(3 words) 1. Parliament with no overall majority (2

4. Body in charge of running the country words)
5. Leader of the ruling party (2 words) 2. What people do on polling day
6. What political parties do to get your vote 6. Person standing for election
7. Another name for Great Britain (2 words)
8. Place where laws are made
9. Container for completed voting slips
10. Party with the most of these gets to govern
VI. Fills in each gap with the correct form of one verb in the box.

become call decide elect form hold register resign represent vote

General Election in the UK

In a general election, every area in the country votes for one Member of Parliament (MP) to
(1)………………. them in the House of Commons There are 650 geographical areas, called
constituencies. To be eligible to (2)…………….. in a general election you must be (3)………………………
to vote and aged 18 or over.
Each eligible voter has one vote in their local constituency, and the candidate with the most
votes (4)………………….the MP for that area. This voting system is (5)…………… “first past the post”.
Usually the political party with the most MPs then (6)……………the government- though if there is
no overall winner, a hung parliament may result. Two or more parties with a combined majority
of MPs may (7)……………… a coalition government.
There has to be a general election every five years. The Prime Minister (8)……………….when
to call an election. The last election was (9)……………… on 7 May 2015.
If an MP dies or (10) ……………….. between elections, there is a by-election in their
constituency.

THE MONARCH
HOUSE OF WINDSOR

The surname of the royal family is Windsor. This might sound very British, but the royal
family’s ancestor was German. The Queen’s great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria (1819-
1910), was born in Britain, but her mother and father were both German. When Queen Victoria
got married, she became a Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The British royal family continued with this
surname until the First World War (1914-1918) when King George V (1865-1936) decided to
take a more English sounding name. he chose Windsor, which is the name of one of the royal
castles.

WHAT DOES THE QUEEN DO?

Britain is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the monarch, at the moment Queen
Elizabeth II, is the head of state. The Queen is also the head of the judiciary and of the Church of
England, as well as the Commader-in-Chief of the armed forces. Her face is on all British bank
notes, coins and postage stamps.

The Queen’s constitutional role is mainly symbolic. True power lies with the Prime
Minister and her Cabinet. When the Queen formally opens Parliament every autumn, the speech
she makes from the throne, giving details of the future plans, is written by her politicians. Nothing
becomes British law without the monarch’s Royal Assent, but the Queen would never refuse to
sign a bill which has been passed by the Parliament. Officially, the Queen appoints the Prime
Minister, but traditionally she always asks the leader of the party with a majority in the House of
Commons.

In spite of a gradual decline in the monarch's power, the queen is still respected and
supported by the majority of Britons. The monarchy still has its own values and is very popular
with most of the British people.

What, then, is the monarch's role? Many opinions are offered by political and legal
experts. Three roles are often mentioned. First, the monarch is the symbol of the government. To
the British the monarchy is part of their national pride and a symbol of continuity. Real
governments come and go, but the monarch still remains. Second, the monarch can acts as a final
check on government's bill so that it can prevent the government from *dictatorship. Third, the
monarch has a very practical role to play; as a figurehead of the country, the monarch represents
it when performing ceremonial duties. She receives ambassadors and visitors from abroad, visit
foreign countries, and open schools and hospitals so that the real government has more time to
run national affairs.

A family tree from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana

Queen Victoria

King Edward VII

King George V

Wallis Simpson= King Edward VIII ------- King George VI = Elizabeth Bowes Lyon

Queen Elizabeth II = Prince Philips

Prince Charles = Princess Diana

 Edward VIII Abdicates the Thrones
Edward VIII (1894-1972) became King of England upon the death of his father, George V, on
January 20, 1936.
Nearly 42-years-old and a bachelor, Edward then made known his desire to marry an American
woman named Wallis Warfield Simpson, whom he had known since 1931. He sought the approval of his
family, the Church of England, and the political establishment to marry her, but met with strong
opposition. She had been married twice before and her second divorce was still pending.
The love affair and possible royal marriage resulted in sensational newspaper headlines around the
world and created a storm of controversy, but did not sway Edward. On December 10, 1936, King Edward
VIII submitted his abdication and it was endorsed by Parliament the next day. He thus became the only
British monarch ever to resign voluntarily.
The speech below is from December 11th, when Edward publicly announced his decision via radio
to a worldwide audience.
His younger brother, George VI, took the throne and immediately gave Edward the title, Duke of
Windsor. The Duke and Simpson were married in France on June 3, 1937 and lived in Paris. During World
War II, Edward served as governor of the Bahamas. He died in Paris on May 28, 1972. His wife died there,
April 24, 1986.

At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until
now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.
A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as King and Emperor, and now that I have been succeeded by
my brother, the Duke of York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do with all my
heart.
You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand
that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire, which, as Prince of Wales and lately as
King, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve.
But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of
responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the
woman I love.
And I want you to know that the decision I have made has been mine and mine alone. This was a thing I
had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly concerned has tried up to the last to persuade
me to take a different course.
I have made this, the most serious decision of my life, only upon the single thought of what would, in the
end, be best for all.
This decision has been made less difficult to me by the sure knowledge that my brother, with his long
training in the public affairs of this country and with his fine qualities, will be able to take my place forthwith
without interruption or injury to the life and progress of the empire. And he has one matchless blessing,
enjoyed by so many of you, and not bestowed on me -- a happy home with his wife and children.
During these hard days I have been comforted by her majesty my mother and by my family. The
ministers of the crown, and in particular, Mr. Baldwin, the Prime Minister, have always treated me with full
consideration. There has never been any constitutional difference between me and them, and between me
and Parliament. Bred in the constitutional tradition by my father, I should never have allowed any such issue
to arise.
Ever since I was Prince of Wales, and later on when I occupied the throne, I have been treated with the
greatest kindness by all classes of the people wherever I have lived or journeyed throughout the empire. For
that I am very grateful.
I now quit altogether public affairs and I lay down my burden. It may be some time before I return to my
native land, but I shall always follow the fortunes of the British race and empire with profound interest, and
if at any time in the future I can be found of service to his majesty in a private station, I shall not fail.
And now, we all have a new King. I wish him and you, his people, happiness and prosperity with all my
heart. God bless you all! God save the King!
Edward VIII - December 11, 1936
HISTORICAL FIGURES

Boudicca King Egbert King Alfred King Canute Edward the Confessor

Godwin Harold Godwinson William I Henry VIII Elizabeth I

James I Oliver Cromwell Victoria Edward VIII Elizabeth II

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

God Save the Queen

The British National Anthem dates back to the eighteenth century. 'God Save the King' was a
patriotic song first publicly performed in London in 1745, which came to be known as the
National Anthem at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

The words and tune are anonymous, and may date back to the seventeenth century.

1. God save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen.

 Chapter Five: EDUCATION
1. At what age do you start school? At what age can you leave school? At what age do you
normally take exams or tests?
2. Read the text and answer Question 1 about British children.

Education in Britain is provided by the Local Education Authority (LEA) in each country. It is
financed partly by the government and partly by the local rates. Educational planning and
organization are not controlled as much by the government as in other countries. Each LEA is
free to organize education in their area. In 1988, for the first time in the British history, a
National Curriculum was introduced. It tells pupils which subjects they have to study, what they
must learn and when they have to take assessment tests.

PRIMARY SCHOOL

“I like the end of my school day best when we have story-time.”

“Right, boys and girls. Is everybody ready? Are you sitting still? I’ve got a lovely story today-
all’s about a dinosaur…”

Story-time is a typical end of a day at primary schools. Children in Britain generally start
primary school when they are five years old and they go on to secondary school when they are
11. All children at primary schools in England and Wales study the national curriculum. It
includes three core subjects: English, Maths, and Science. As part of the national curriculum
children also do the Design and Technology, the Information Technology, History, Geography,
Art, and Physical Education or PE.

As well as teaching the national curriculum primary school teachers offer extra curriculum
activities. These take place at lunchtime and part of a school day. Children at Thomas Johnson, a
village primary school in Hampton, for example, can learn country dancing, how to play a
recorder and have a game club with a football team. The younger children are often given a
chance to learn through playing or “structured-playing”. Children learn to explore things through
actions.

At the beginning of every school day the teachers and students come together for an
“assembly”. Mary Jackson- the head teacher at Thomas Johnson says, “In an assembly we try to
give children a sense of being part of a family. The children learn that there are important
differences between right and wrong. We try to give them a sense of feelings what’s like to be in
someone else’ shoes: if they are hurt, if the things have been said to them are unkind. And we
basically want them to get a sense of caring” to care for each other, which hopefully they will
continue to have when they grow up.” Education is not only about academic learning, there are
always other things that are important: moral and spiritual values.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Most secondary schools in Britain are comprehensive schools. These are state schools
which take children of all abilities. About 6% of the children go to grammar schools, state
schools which take students who pass an exam at the age of 11.
 About 7% of students go to private schools. These schools do not receive any money from
the state: parents pay for their children to go to school instead. Most expensive private schools
are called public schools. Most of these are single-sex boarding schools, where students live
during term-time.

Between the age of 14 and 16, students study for their GCSE (General Certificate of
Secondary Education) exams. They must take English Language, Maths, and Science for GCSE, as
well as half of GCSE in a foreign language and Technology. In addition, they must also be taught
PE, Religious Education and Sex Education, although they do not take exams in these subjects.

At the age of 16, students can leave school. If students stay on, they usually tale A
(Advanced) levels, AS (Advanced Supplementary) levels or GNVQs (Greater National Vocational
Qualifications). It is quite common to combine, for example, two A levels with one AS level, with
one GNVQ.

Students taking A levels study traditional subjects, such as French, Physics or History. To go
to university, they usually take two or three A levels.

AS levels are the same standards as A levels, but only half the content: AS level German
students take the A level language exam, but do not take the A level German Literature exam.

GNVQs are vocational qualifications. Students usually take on GNVQ in subjects such as
Business, Leisure and Tourism, Manufacturing, and Art and Design. One GNVQ (at advanced
level) is equal to two A-levels.

THE SCHOOL DAY

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8.30 - 8.40 registration registration registration registration registration

8.40 – 9.00 assembly assembly assembly assembly assembly

9.00 – 9.45 French Technology S.E. Art R.E.

9.45 –10.30 French Science Maths Art I.T.

10.30–11.15 Science Science Maths French Science

11.15 - 11.30 break break break break break

11.30 - 12.15 Maths History Engli. Literature Science Technology

12.15 - 1.00 Maths History Engli. Literature Science Technology

1.00 - 2.00 lunch lunch lunch lunch lunch

2.00 - 2.45 English Lang. Art PE History English Lang

2.45 - 3.30 English Lang. Art PE English Lang English Lang

P.E. = Physical Education. I.T. =Information Technology. S.E. =Sex Education. R.E. = Religious Education
 UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES

Most big towns in Britain have both a university and a college of higher education. University
offer three- and four-year degree courses; colleges of higher education offer both two-year HND
(Higher National Diploma) courses, as well as degree courses.

A degree is a qualification you get from a university when you pass your final exams. First
degrees are awarded on completion of the undergraduate courses. You are then awarded a BA
(Bachelor of Arts), BSc. (Bachelor of Science) or [Link]. (Bachelor of Education). When
postgraduate complete their courses, usually one or two years, they are conferred MA (Master of
Arts), MSc (Master of Science) or Med (Master of Education). The higher degree of Doctor of
Philosophy (Ph.D.) awarded to students who complete two or three years of original research.

Undergraduates go to large formal lectures, but most of the work takes place in tutorials;
lessons in groups of ten or more when students discuss their work with the lecturers.

“My name’s Myriam. I’ve just got my A-level results and I’m really worried. Nottingham
University said they would only accept me if I got two Bs and a C, but I only got one B and two Cs.”

Only 25 percent of the student population goes on to higher education. Competition to get
into one of Britain’s universities is fierce and not everyone who gets A levels to go to university
and grades at A level go from A, the highest grade, down to F.

Students apply for university months before they take A levels. The students are given a
personal interview and the universities decide which students they want. The place which a
student is offered depends on his or her A level results. The more popular university, the higher
the grades it will ask for. If students do not get the grades that a university asks for, they have to
try to get a place at another university or college before a new term starts in early October.

LIVING AT UNIVERSITY

Most British students choose to go to a university a long way from their home town. They
think going to university is a time to be independent, and to live away from home and develop
new interests.

Until 1998, British students do not have to pay to go to university. Now they have to pay
about ___1,000 a year as a tuition fee. They also need money to live away from home. Many
students whose parents do not earn a lot of money are given a grant from the LEA. Is students do
not get a grant, parents are expected to pay for their children. Some students borrow money from
the bank, which be paid back after they leave university. In theory, the grant pays for rent, food,
books, and transport. In fact, the grant is not large enough. Students often work during the
holidays to earn more money. About 38 percent of the population under 24 years old goes on to
higher education.

OPEN UNIVERSITY

It was established in 1969. It provides distance learning at university level, and is open to
everybody who wants it. Students need no formal academic qualification to register for the
courses, but the degrees awarded by Open University meet the same standard as those of other
universities. Study is by means of correspondence, radio, and television.
 Exercise. Match each description with its correct term in the box
Sixth-forms Structured-playing Tutorials SATs Structured-playing
Registration Public schools Prep schools Assembly GCSEs Boarding
schools Comprehensive schools Eleven-Plus Grammar schools LEA
National curriculum Open University Timetable A levels

1. A boarding school where pupils are prepared for entry to public school.
2. A way of learning through playing.
3. An exam the pupils take to determine the type of secondary education they are suited to
pursue.
4. Classes which prepares 16-year-olds for the “A” level exams.
5. It was introduced to Britain in 1988 and tells pupils what they should be learning at each
stage of their education.
6. Lessons in groups of ten or more when students discuss their work with the lecturers.
7. Playing with educational purposes.
8. Pupils in these schools spend nights as well as days there, and go home during school
holidays.
9. The government body that is responsible for state schools and further education in a district.
10. The whole school gets together in the school hall to listen to songs, or talks, or to join in
prayers.
11. These are state secondary schools which accept pupils of all abilities.
12. This institution of higher education provides distance learning for everybody who wants it.
13. This type of school traditionally emphasized in the study of academic subjects and the
development of character.
14. When teachers check who is present at school.
15. You do these exams when you are aged 16.
16. You do these tests when you are aged 7, 11, and 14.
17. You have to pass an exam at the age of 11 to get into one of these state-run schools.
18. You look at it to find out what lessons are on what day and the exact times each lesson begins
and ends.
19. You need three of these in traditional subjects to get a place at a university.
20. Lessons in groups of ten or more when students discuss their work with the lecturers.
21. This institution of higher education provides distance learning for everybody who wants it.
 Chapter Six: Holidays and Festivals
NEW YEAR’S EVE

All over Britain on 31 December there are New Year celebrations. Most people see in the
New Year with their friends and relations. At midnight on New Year’s Eve everbody joins hands
and sings Auld Lang Syne, a poem by the Scottish poet Roert Burns. In Scotland and in the north
of England, people go first-footing. They call at friends’ houses, trying to be the first person
through he door after midnight. The luckiest type of first-footer is a tall, dark man. To symbolize
good luck, the visitor carries a piece of coal and a glass of water.

NEW YEAR DAY

On New Year’s Day people make New Year resolutions. They decide to do something to
improve their lives. For example, people decide to give up smoking or go to the gym once a week.

SAINT VALENTINE’S DAY

St. Valentine’s Day is 14 February. People send a Valentine card to someone they love,
fancy, admire, or secretly like. Usually you don’t sign your name. the person who receive the card
has to guess who sent it.

PANCAKE DAY

Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent starts. Lent is a Christian fast which
lasts for 40 days before Easter. Pancake Day is traditionally a day of celebration- the last day you
can eat what you want until Easter. Pancakes are made of flour, eggs and milk: all things which
should not be eaten during Lent. Nowadays people don’t fast, but some people give up sweets or
smoking. Some towns also hold pancake races on that day. Each competitor carries a pancake in a
frying pan. While running, they have to grow the pancake in the air and catch it again in the pan.
The competitors are usually women.

APRIL FOOL’S DAY

April Fool’s Day is 1 April. You can play jokes on people, even on teachers. When they
discover the joke, you say, “April’s Fool!” you have to play the joke before 12 o’clock midday,
otherwise the joke is on you.

EASTER

Schools close for two weeks at Easter. On Good Friday, people eat hot cross buns, which are
small sweet rolls. They eat them toasted with butter. People give each other chocolate Easter eggs
on Easter Sunday. The eggs are usually hollow and contain sweets, and usually wrapped in silver
paper and bows.
MAY DAY

In villages throughout Britain on 1 May you can see children dancing round the Maypole and
sing songs. The Maypole is the symbol of fertility. It is a pagan festival to celebrate the end of
winter and welcome summer.

HALLOWEEN

31 October is Halloween. This pagan festival celebrates the return of the souls of the dead to
came back to visit the places where they used to live. In the evening there are lots of Halloween
parties, or fancy dress parties. People dress up as witches, ghosts, devils, cats, bats or anything
scary. Houses are decorated with pumpkins with candles put inside. Some children follow the
American custom called Trick or Treat. They knock at your house and ask, “Trick or treat?” if you
give them some money or some sweets (a treat) they go away. Otherwise, they play a trick on
you, like swirling water on your face.

GUY FAWKES’ NIGHT (BONFIRE NIGHT)

Guy Fawkes is Britain’s famous terrorist. On 5 November 1605, Guy Fawkes planned to blow
up the House of Parliament and the King of England, James I. the plot was discovered and Guy
Fawkes was hanged. Every year on 5 November, people celebrate by letting off fireworks. They
also make models of Guy Fawkes and burn them on big bonfires.

CHRISTMAS

If you catch a train on Christmas you may have difficulty finding a seat. This is the day when
many people travelling home to be with their family on Christmas Day, 25 December. For most
British families, this is the most important holiday of the year, it combines the Christian
celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ with the traditional festivities of winter.

Pantomimes are plays put on before Christmas, usually for children. They are based on fairy
tales, such as Cinderella or Aladdin, and mix comedy, song and dance.

Most people send Christmas cards to their friends and relations. Some shops sell charity
cards and the profits made from selling these cards go to good causes.

There are a lot of traditions connected with Christmas but perhaps the most important one
is the giving of presents. Family members wrap up their gifts and leave them at the bottom of the
Christmas tree to be found on Christmas morning. Children leave a long stocking at the end of
their bed on Christmas Eve, 24 December, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the
chimney during the night and bring them small present, fruits and nuts. Children wake up early to
find the stocking full of small presents on their bed. Other presents, opened when everyone is
together, are arranged around the Christmas tree, which is usually decorated with multi-coloured
lights. A traditional Christmas dinner includes roast turkey, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts,
followed by Christmas pudding.
champagne and confetti lion dancing

roses and chocolate April Fools’ Day

hot cross buns Easter bunny

 May pole Morrismen

Halloween

Guy Fawkes guy

Christmas tree Father Christmas and reindeer

 Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never be brought to min’ ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?
Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne
Funny lines

1. I sent my wife to the seashore for a holiday and what a holiday I had.
2. A holiday is a day when a man stops doing what his boss wants and starts doing what his
wife wants.
3. You can always tell the host at the party. He’s the one who is watching the clock.
4. Dear Santa, I want a plane, my bike fixed and my violin busted.
5. Why don’t women start wearing neckties so that men can get even with them at Christmas.
6. What ‘s your husband getting for Christmas? – Bald and fat.
7. Is your Daddy home? - No, sir. He hasn’t been home since Mom caught Santa kissing the
maid.
8. Is that your real face or are you still celebrating Halloween/
9. Labour Day is a day when no one does any.
10. For Valentine’s Day my wife baked me a pizza in a heart shape.
11. I didn’t bother to hide any Easter eggs this year. The children didn’t find the ones I hid last
year.
12. The only thing she gives up for Lent is her New Year’s resolution.
13. For this New Year’s Eve party I won’t need any noise- makers. I’m taking my wife.
14. It was a Gay-90’s party. The men were all gays, the women 90.

I. What holiday is it?

1. “April Fool!” is shouted after jokes.

2. “Trick or treat!” is shouted.
3. Carols are sung.
4. Fireworks are displayed.
5. Football games are shown on television.
6. Gifts are exchanged around a tree.
7. Green clothes are worn by Irish people.
8. It is called Hogmanay in Scotland.
9. It is sometimes called Shrove Tuesday.
10. Jokes are played on friends and colleagues.
11. Many Happy Returns of the Day”
12. New clothes are worn to church.
13. Pantomimes are shown at the theatre.
14. People eat hot cross buns.
15. People have parties with their friends.
16. People make jack ’o’ lanterns.
17. Cemeteries are visited and flowers are placed on soldiers’ graves.
18. Champagne is drunk at midnight on the night before this holiday.
19. Children are allowed to ask “a penny for the guy”.
20. Eggs are dyed and hidden, and a bunny gives candy to children.
21. Romantic cards are sent by sweethearts, and heart-shaped boxes of candy are given as gifts.
22. The decorations are taken down on the twelfth day.
23. They sing Auld Lang Syne.
24. Turkey is eaten as part of a large meal.
25. Houses are decorated in orange and black, and children dress in costumes.

II. Fill in the space with appropriate information.

A. Public holidays in Britain are called (1)"___________", because the banks as well as most
shops and offices are closed.
B. There is one festival that everyone celebrates: Christmas. The fun starts the night before,
on (2)____________, when children leave stockings at the ends of their beds for
(3)______________ to fill with toys. Christmas is a (4)_____________day. Grandparents, aunts,
uncles, cousins, all meet for the big (5)___________ dinner of roast turkey and Christmas
(6)_____________, and everyone gives and receives (7)______________.
C. In (8)___________, New Year's Eve is the biggest festival of the year. The dancing goes on all
night, and too many people drink too much (9)__________ !
D. One special British festival takes place on November 5th. On that day in 1605,
(10)______________ tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. He did not succeed, but the
children never forget him. Every year, on (11)"_______________", they make (12) "__________" to
burn on bonfires and let off (13)______________.
E. Children often have fun at (14)_____________on October 31st. They dress up like
(15)____________ and witches. They cut up a pumpkin to look like a frightening face and put
a light inside. They go from house to house and say (16)"_________________?" If they get a
(17)"_____________" (something nice, like sweets or an apple), they go away happy. But if
they don't they play a (18)"___________”. They may put soap on the window or throw stones
into the garden.
F. There are two days in the year when most of Americans and British remember special
people. February 14th is (19)__________________. People in love send "valentine" to each
other, the cards with (20)______________ , flowers and loving words. The 2nd Sunday in May
is "Mother's Day". People buy cards, flowers, chocolates for their mothers.
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