THE UK TODAY rEaDING
& vocabulary
1 a) Find Great Britain on the map and write down as many things about the country that come into your mind as you can. b) Work in small groups. Compare your lists. 2 a) Choose the correct word. 1 The UK includes / consists of four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 2 When people mention / refer to the country, most of them shorten its name to the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain. 3 The North Sea and the English Canal / Channel separate / divide the island from Europe. 4 The climate is manipulated / influenced by the Gulf Stream. 5 Northern Ireland which occupies / conquers the northeastern state / part of Ireland lies to the west, across / round the Irish Sea. b) Fill in the gaps with the prepositions by, to, of, off. 1 Great Britain is an island lying ... the north-western coastline ... Europe. 2 The UK is often referred ... as Britain. 3 The UK consists ... four parts. 4 Due ... the influence ... the Gulf Stream the UK has a warm and mild weather. 5 Two islands are separated ... the Irish Sea. 6 The UK is washed ... the Atlantic Ocean. 7 The main rivers ... Great Britain are the Thames and the Severn. c) Make up sentences with the words and word-combinations. thanks to to produce to border 182
to be surrounded by to be situated in the official name
to be washed by to consist of
