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Tai Lieu Vma
Tai Lieu Vma
Overview of Britain
The UK is a sovereign state.
The Entire name of UK is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The nations belonging to the UK are England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The name of the British Anthem is God Saves the Queen.
The UK currency is the Pound
Map of Britain
• Great Britain is a country made up of three kingdoms England, Scotland and Wales. (1922
Ireland became a separate state)
• The capital of England is London.
• The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh.
• The capital of Wales is Cardiff.
• The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast
• Ireland, Wales & Highland Scotland => Celtic culture
• England, Lowland Scotland => Germanic culture
Facts about Britain
The population of Britain is 58 million. (2005)
*The official language is English, but in Wales and Scotland Celtic languages are spoken.
*The term British refers to people, places and things from England, Scotland and Wales. Each
kingdom also has its own identity.
People from Britain are called British.
*People from England are called English.
*People from Scotland are called Scottish.
*People from Wales are called Welsh.
Britain’s National Anthem: GOD SAVES THE QUEEN
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.
1. 4000 - 1500 BC: stone age man, the first farmers, Stonehenge (thời kì đồ đá)
We know relatively little about the Stone Age inhabitants of Britain. Stone Age people means
that they used mostly stone tools, had some farming, and lived in small settlements. One of the
big mysteries is Stonehenge.
2. 43 - 410 AD: the Roman period (TRIBE/ CLAN) (thời kì công xã nguyên thủy)
The island we know as England was invaded by two groups of people:
Celts: known as Bythons (now spelled Britons)
Gaels (from Scotland & Ireland).
The Celts were pagans and their religion was known as “animism” a Latin word for “spirit.”
Druids were their priests and when clans had disputes, they intervened to settle them.
The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) cuộc chiến trăm năm ( the king and business man)
This long war broke out after Edward III (1327-77) claimed the throne of France, but its real
objective was to bring Flanders (the main English wool trade market) and Gascony (the chief
supplier of wine and salt) under English control. The long war is traditionally divided into three
stages, with periods of uneasy truce between them:
• The first stage (1337-60) was successful for England, because the English army consisted of
well-organised professional soldiers, while the French army was an undisciplined feudal host.
The French suffered two crushing defeats at Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), and gained large
territories in France.
• The second stage (1369-75) was successful for France: the French adopted the strategy of
guerrilla war, and gradually reconquered the lost territory except for two ports.
• The third stage (1415-53): The war was resumed by Henry V (1413-22), the second
Lancastrian king: he dealt the French another crushing defeat at Agincourt (1415) and gradually
extended his territory. In 1420, he was acknowledged heir to the French throne. Though he died
in 1422, the war continued and, in 1428, the French were defending their last stronghold at
Orleans. The appearance of Joan of Arc in 1429, however, led to a French revival. The war
dragged on for more than twenty years, until the battle of Chatillon finally ended it in 1453.
The war exhausted England and led to political disruption, which enabled the outbreak of the Wars of
the Roses.
The Wars of the Roses (1455-85) between the king and the king
This series of wars was a dynastic struggle between two powerful families, the Lancastrians
and the Yorkists => Landcastrian won .Both descendants of Edward III: they fought for the
crown. The Wars were marked by indecisive victories and defeats on both sides. During the
thirty years of intermittent fighting, the feudal nobility was impoverished and almost
exterminated, while the Crown became wealthy, as a result of confiscations of their estates for
the benefit of the Crown after each battle. This paved the way for the
establishing of Tudor absolutism.
King Charles I was unable to work with Parliament so he attempted to rule without it.
This lead to a civil war, and the execution of Charles I.
England became a republic (no Kings or Queens) for a short time until the restoration of the
monarchy 1660.
Shortly afterwards, a devastating plague swept through the country followed by the Great Fire
of London 1666.
Compromise between the crown and Parliament finally achieved a balanced government and the
two kingdoms of England and Scotland were joined in the 1707 Act of Union.
The union with Ireland and adoption of the Union Flag 1801
Because of fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland, the Prime Minister, William
Pitt, concluded that direct rule from London was the only solution.
After bribery of the Commons and gentry, Britain and Ireland were formally united, with seats
for 132 Irish members in Parliament
The red cross of St Patrick was incorporated in the Union flag to give the present flag of the
United Kingdom
CHAPTER 3: BRITISH
GEOGRAPHY
Cities in the UK
• London is the capital of Britain. It has a population of over 7
million people.
• Cardiff is the capital of Wales. Over 320,000 people live here.
• Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland.
• Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. The Scottish parliament can be found here.
The highest mountain in the UK is called Ben Nevis. It is in Scotland.
The longest river is the River Severn in Wales/England. It often floods.
The biggest lake is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland.
Another famous lake is Loch Ness in Scotland. Some people believe that a monster called Nessie lives
here.
Facts and figures
• Over 60 million people live in the UK.
• 83% of the population live in England.
• The average summer temperature is 15.5 degrees.
Languages
• English is the 1st language of the UK
• Other official languages are Welsh (in Wales)
and Scottish Gaelic (in Scotland)
Two famous places
• Stonehenge is in south-west England. It was built 5000 years ago and may have been a church
Tintagel is a castle in Cornwall which may have been the home of King Arthur.
CLIMATE
1. ENGLAND
A. SOUTHERN ENLAND
― Be warmer than in the other areas and the most densely-populated.
― The driest areas are in the East and South-East.
― Be most varied ( from flat, sandy or stony beaches to high rocky cliffs).
― Inland, the landscape are gentle and green. The farmland is like a vast park with trees.
― The hills often look higher.
― Well-known cities: Brighton, Canterbury in Kent, and London.
― Tourist attraction: Stonehenge.
B. MIDLANDS
― Be cooler and wetter than in the South.
― Not have so much sea coast but have much farming land and industrial cities: Birmingham,
Stratford-upon-Avon.
― Farming is varied ( mix a lot of farming: keeping of animals and raising of crops on one farm).
C. NORTHERN ENGLAND
― Get colder in the North- East, and wetter in the West. There is almost always snow in winter.
― Be different from the other regions.
― It is covered by short grass or low- growing heather.
― In the North, there is a great contrast between the beautiful open, hilly countryside and the
industrial towns and mining villages.
2. SCOTLAND
― The climate of Scotland is temperate and oceanic, and tends to be very changeable.
― It is warmed by the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic, it has much milder winters (but cooler,
wetter summers) than areas on similar latitudes. The west of Scotland is usually warmer than the
east.
― Mountainous areas with 3 parts: the highlands, the lowlands, and the Islands. The highest
mountains : Ben Nevis, 1342 m
― Have lakes (called “lochs”), forests, hundreds of km of seashore.
3.WALES
― It lies within the north temperate zone, and weather also changes quite quickly here (it could be
raining in the morning and sunny in the afternoon. Often cloudy, wet and windy, with warm
summers and mild winters.
― Most of rain tends to fall in the autumn and early winter months (October – January). Days in
winter are shorter.
― The smallest land of the UK: picturesque mountain, sea coasts and beautiful landscape.
4. NORTHERN IRELAND
― Receive generally warm summers and mild winters.
― It rains a lot ( but the rain showers quickly change to sunshine – and back to rain again)
― The mountains roll gently down to the sea. ( the highest- Slieve Donard– peak at 932 m)
― A place for outdoor activities and tourism with rivers, lakes and coast.
― Land of lakes, rivers and varied sea coast. Lough Neagh (Loch Nest )
― Giant’s Causeway : consisting of 40,000 pillars of rock.
UK LANDMARKS
Big Ben
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the Houses of Parliament in London. Many
people call the clock Big Ben as well. The clock is over 150 years old and is a popular tourist
attraction. The clock is named ‘Elizabeth Tower’ in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in
2012.
The Eden Project
The Eden Project is located in Cornwall, in the south west of England. Its biomes, which are like giant
greenhouses, house plants from all over the world. The Eden Project is also a charity which runs
environmental and social projects internationally.
Edinburgh Castle
The castle is a dominant feature of the skyline in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has a long history, dating
back to the early Middle Ages. It is looked after by Historic Scotland, a Scottish government agency.
The Giant’s Causeway
Located on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway is a land formation of
columns made from volcanic lava. It was formed about 50 million years ago. There are many legends
about the Causeway and how it was formed.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
This national park covers 720 square miles (1,865 square kilometres) in the west of Scotland. Loch
Lomond is the largest expanse of fresh water in mainland Britain and probably the best-known part of
the park.
London Eye
The London Eye is situated on the southern bank of the River Thames and is a Ferris wheel that is 443
feet (135 metres) tall. It was originally built as part of the UK’s celebration of the new millennium and
continues to be an important part of New Year celebrations.
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a national park in North Wales. It covers an area of 838 square miles (2,170 square
kilometres). Its most well-known landmark is Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London was first built by William the Conqueror after he became king in 1066. Tours
are given by the Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, who tell visitors about the building’s
history. People can also see the Crown Jewels there.
The Lake District
The Lake District is England’s largest national park. It covers 885 square miles (2,292 square
kilometres). It is famous for its lakes and mountains and is very popular with climbers, walkers and
sailors. The biggest stretch of water is Windermere. In 2007, television viewers voted Wastwater as
Britain’s favourite view.
British Values
Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect
Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
CHAPTER 5: BRITISH ATTITUDE
Britain – land of tradition (ceremonies)
Stereotypes :
Men wearing bowler hats
Great drinkers of tea
Talking about rainy weather
Obsession with cricket
English breakfast (bacon, eggs, sausages, toasts)
English ≠ British
People are confused with the words british and english
British = English, Scotish, Northern Irish, Welsh
People in the country are very similar but not identical
The British like to remember the old safer times
Multiculturalism (“You can taste all the world in London“)
Immigrants : Asians (Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani...)
Europeans Africans
Own language, typical clothes, shops, customs
13% of population • These foreign cultures influence the British culture
Being different
Driving of the left side
Double-decker bus
Hackney carriage – cab, Asquith taxi
System of measurement
lenght (inch, finger, hand, food, yard)
volume (gallon, cup, pint)
weight (ounce, pound, grain, stone)
temperature (Fahrenheit)
Other information:
Goverment tried to change this measurement
Financial year starts on April
They don´t want to give up their currency (pound sterling)
Lovers of countryside and animals
Life in towns and cities
Nature (peace, no crime, beauty)
Hostels • Most favorite hobby is gardening
“Lost without their dog“
Animals are taken seriously
Wildlife programmes in TV
Being friendly
Don´t be bothered with titles (Mr. ,Mrs.)
Don´t shake hands when meeting, no convention to kiss
Requests without the “magic word“
Washing up the dishes at friend´s house
Charity works for people in need
Privacy and sexuality
It´s considered very rude to ask people about their privacy even though you know them very
well
Modern people are very open <=> embarrassment
Politicians prefer traditional family values <=> people have different opinions
Whitehall
Her majestys government governs in the name of the Queen.
The leader of the majority party form a government.
The ministers are members of the House of Commons or the House of Lords
Most governments consist of 100 ministers
The core is the Cabinet with 20 ministers.
Branches of Government in the UK
• Executive = Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Legislative = House of Commons and House of Lords
• Judicial = Courts
Executive Branch
Prime Minister Cabinet
• Head of Government • Has about twenty members
• Head of the majority party in HOC • Can be from HOC or HOL, though most
• Usually get their way and are thought to are from HOC
be powerful because of strong party • Appointed by the Prime Minister
loyalty • Responsible for individual government
• 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act, departments
elections had to be held every five years • Provide answers to Parliament during the
but the Prime Minister had discretion to question time.
call one at any time before that deadline. • Collective Responsibility – idea that
• Must maintain the support of party cabinet must appear unified and take
• Take questions once weekly that are responsibility for policy
televised • If Cabinet official can not support a
• Direct activity of the cabinet decision of government they must resign
• Diplomats and world leaders and return to legislature
Cabinet
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Cabinet
The ministers have to obey the Prime Minister
All senior government ministers have the title of Secretary of State
They have junior ministers to help them with the workload
British cabinet consists of:
• Lord Chancellor (member of House of Lords)
• Foreign Secretary – conducts foreign policy
• Home Secretary – oversees the Judiciary
• Chancellor of Exchequer (treasury) – financial policy and head of the central bank
• Environment * Education * Transport * Social Security * Agriculture
• Employment * Northern Ireland * Welsh * Scottish * National Heritage
The Civil Service
The Civil Service administer sthe decision sof ministers
The Civil Service employsalmost 500 000 people
It is expected that the Civil Service does its work in a impartial way
The Cabinet Office is the heart of the Civil Service
The Cabinet Office is running the whole Civil Service and serving ministers.
The Permanent Secretary is theleaderof a ministery
There is a strong tradition of loyalty on the part of civil servants towardstheir ministers.
Westminster
Parliament is known as Westminster
Parliament is the seat of British democracy
Parliament is the supreme legislative body ofthestate
Parliaments function
To pass laws
Raise enough money through taxation
To examine government policy and administration
Discuss important political issues
Checks the work of the Government (the Sovereign, the House of Commons, the House of
Lords)
CHAPTER 9, 10: BRITISH ELECTION & PARLIAMENT
The electoral system
The United Kingdom is divided into constituencies. Each constituency elects one Member of
Parliament to sit in the House of Commons
Today there are 659 seats in the Commons
All British citizens can vote if they are over 18 years old
Insane people and prisoners can also vote
If a Member of Parlliament resigns or dies, a by – election must be held.
MPs are chosen by theconstituencybranchofthe party
The party system: three political parties in Britain
The Conservative Party
The Labour Party
The Liberal Party
The Conservative Party
It is the party of the Right
The idea of economic freedom.
Patriotism
Receiving money from big companies and rich people
Law and order and strong armed forces
Most peers support the Conservative Party
The Labour Party
The party of social justice
Achievement of well-being and opportunity for all members of society
Public ownership of major industries
Economic planning
The trade union movement
The House of Commons
Its 659 members represent 529 constituencies in England, 40 in Wales, 72 in Scotland
and 18 in NorthernIreland
There are only seats in the Commons debating chamber for 370 members
The front benches are reserved for members of the Cabinet and the Shadow Cabinet
Behind them sit the back benchers
The Speaker is responsible for order in theCommons
MPs are paid salaries – twice the average national wage.
The House of Lord
The House of Lords is the upper chamber of Parliament
It is not democratic
1197 members
300 peers meet daily in the House of Lords
Judges and archbishops
Their job is to warn governments
The Lord Chanchellor is the leader of the House of Lords
The Constitution
unwritten, based on traditions and common law
it´s easy to change it (by an Act of Parliament or by general agreement)
divides power between 3 independent branches:
1. legislative (Parliament)
2. executive (House of Common)
3. judicial (Lord Chancellor, monarch)
CHAPTER 11: THE LAW
Respecting the law
All residents, regardless of their background, are expected to comply with the law and to understand
that some things which may be allowed in other legal systems are not acceptable in the UK.
The police are organised into a number of separate police forces headed by Chief Constables. They are
independent of the government.
In November 2012, the public elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales.
These are directly elected individuals who are responsible for the delivery of an efficient and effective
police force that reflects the needs of their local communities. PCCs set local police priorities and the
local policing budget. They also appoint the local Chief Constable.
The police force is a public service that helps and protects everyone, no matter what their background
or where they live. Police officers must themselves obey the law. They must not misuse their authority,
make a false statement, be rude or abusive, or commit racial discrimination. If police officers corrupt
or misuse their authority they are severely punished.
Police officers are supported by the police community support officers (PCSOs). PCSOs have different
roles according to the area but usually patrol the streets, work with the public, and support police
officers at crime scenes and major events.
All people in the UK are expected to help the police prevent and detect crimes whenever they can. If
you are arrested and taken to a police station, a police officer will tell you the reason for your arrest
and you will be able to seek legal advice.
If something goes wrong, the police complaints system tries to put it right. Anyone can make a
complaint about the police by going to a police station and writing to the Chief Constable of the police
force involved. Complaints can also be made to an independent body: the Independent Police
Complaints Commission in England and Wales, the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland or
the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.
Terrorism and extremism
The UK faces a range of terrorist threats. The most serious of these is from Al Qa’ida, its affiliates and
like-minded organisations. The UK also faces threats from other kind of terrorism, such as Northern
Ireland-related terrorism.
All terrorist groups try to radicalise and recruit people to their cause. How, where and to what extent
they try to do so will vary. Evidence shows that these groups attract very low levels of public support,
but people who want to make their home in the UK should be aware of this threat. It is important that
all citizens feel safe. This includes feeling safe from all kinds of extremism (vocal or active opposition
to fundamental British values), including religious extremism and far-right extremism.
If you think someone is trying to persuade you to join an extremist or terrorist cause, you should notify
your local police force.
1. Metro
Metro is the United Kingdom’s highest-circulation print newspaper. It is published in
tabloid format by DMG Media.
2. The Sun
A tabloid newspaper founded in 1964 and published in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
3. The Sun on Sunday
The Sun on Sunday was launched to replace the defunct News of the World.
4. Daily Mail
A daily middle-market tabloid newspaper published in London.
5. Mail On Sunday
Launched in 1982 as a sister paper to the Daily Mail, it’s a conservative newspaper
published in a tabloid format.
6. The Sunday Times
The largest-selling British national newspaper in the “quality press” market category.
7. Daily Mirror
A national daily tabloid newspaper founded in 1903. Unlike other major British tabloids,
it has no separate Scottish edition.
8. The Times
Launched in 1785 (renamed in 1788 when it became the first paper in the world to bear
the name “Times”).
9. Sunday Mirror
The Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It aims to strike a balance between “socially
responsible reporting of great issues of the day and sheer entertainment.”
10. Daily Telegraph
Daily newspaper published in London and generally accounted as one of Britain’s “big
three”