1.

Geography

2.

People

3.

History

4.	National Economy

5.	Government

6.

Cities

6.1.	Stratford upon Avon

6.2.

Oxford

6.3.

Cambridge

6.4.

Edinburgh

6.5.

Liverpool

6.6.

London

7.	Vocabulary

"Geography
The United Kingdom includes Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland. The area of the United Kingdom is 242 000 square kilometres. It is situated to the west of Europe and it is separated from the mainland by the North Sea and the English Channel.

The United Kingdom consists of two big islands (Great Britain and Ireland) and of many small islands (about 5000) in the North Sea. Scotland and Wales unlike England are dominated more by mountains and uplands. Ben Nevis is the highest point in Scotland and in all Britain. The Severn and Thames are the longest rivers. The rivers are used for shipping, water supplies and hydroelectric power. Many of the rivers are canalised and are linked with other river systems in a complex system which dates back from the Industrial Revolution.

The United Kingdom has a highly variable but moderate climate. The weather is really changeable, it rains a lot and that’s why the landscape is so amazingly green. There are mild winters.

People
The UK has a population of almost 60 million. England is the largest and most populous part and has a population of over 50 million. London is capital city of England and of all Great Britain. Scotland has nearly 5 million people and its capital is Edinburgh. Cardiff is capital of Wales. Wales became part of the English kingdom in 1282 but keeps a separate language and national identity. It has almost 3 million people. Northern Ireland has over 1,6 million people and Belfast is its capital.

History
Now a few words about history. The first main occupation was by the Celts who came from the Continent. The Roman occupation began in AD 43. Most of the English Lowland was eventually Romanised. Also the Vikings sailed to the Northern Islands of Orkney and Shetland. In 1066 Normans conquered England and William the Conqueror established a strong central government. England was a world-power and has many notable kings and queens for example King Henry VIII. who the Church of England separated from the authority of the Pope. "