Экзамен англ.

Культура и цивилизация
1. The geographic features of the British Isles
UK situated in north-western Europe. UK is situated on the British Isles. There are 5,500 islands.
The two main islands are Great Britain and Ireland. The British Isles are separated from Europe
by the Strait of Dover and the English Channel. The British Isles are washed by the North Sea in
the East and the Atlantic Ocean in the West. The territory of Great Britain is divided into
Lowland Britain and Highland Britain. England is the richest, the most fertile and most
populated part in the country. Scotland is a land of mountains. The Highlands of Scotland are
among the oldest mountains in the world. The chain of mountains in Scotland is called the
Grampians. Its highest peak is Ben Nevis. In England there is the Pennine Chain. In Wales there
are the Cumbrian Mountains. The Lake District is a mountainous region in North West England.
The country is washed by the Atlantic ocean, the North Sea, the Irish Sea, The English Channel
and The Strait of Dover. The chief rivers of Great Britain are: the Severn, the Avon, the Thames,
The Clyde.
Each part has its capital. The capital of England is London, Wales has Cardiff, Scotland has
Edinburgh and the main city of Northern Ireland is Belfast.
2. Peculiarities of climate, the landscape, flora and fauna.
In Great Britain it is possible to be in the open air during the whole year, because of the sea,
which keeps the island warm in winter and makes the air cool in summer. Rain is fairly well
distributed throughout the year: June is the driest month all over England, May is the next driest
in the east and centre of England, but April is drier in parts of the west and north. The wettest
months are usually October, December and August. The east and north-east winds are cold and
dry. Summers are not too hot and winters are not too cold.
With its mild climate and varied soils, the United Kingdom has a diverse pattern of natural
vegetation. Fairly extensive forests remain in east and north Scotland and in southeast England.
Oak, elm, ash, and beech are the most common trees in England. Pine and birch are most
common in Scotland. Wild vegetation consists of the natural flora of woods, fens and marshes,
cliffs, chalk downs, and mountain slopes, the most widespread being the grasses, gorse, and
bracken of the moorlands.
Some of the larger mammals—wolf, bear, boar, and reindeer—are extinct, but red deer are
protected for sport. Common smaller mammals are foxes, hares, hedgehogs, rabbits, weasels,
stoats, shrews, rats, and mice; There are few reptiles and amphibians. Roughly 230 species of
birds reside in the United Kingdom, and another 200 are migratory. Most numerous are the
chaffinch, blackbird, sparrow, and starling. The rivers and lakes abound in salmon, trout, perch,
pike, roach, dace, and grayling. There are more than 21,000 species of insects.
3. The population and the problem of national minorities in the United Kingdom.
Languages spoken in the U.K.
The current population of the United Kingdom is estimated at over 67 million.
The main minority religions are Muslims 2.8 million, Hindus 835,400 , Sikhs 432,400 , Jews
269,600 and Buddhists 261,600.
Linguistic minorities who are indigenous to the British Isles include speakers of Scottish and
Irish Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Scots and Ulster-Scots, and of Norman French in the
Channel Islands. Welsh, Scottish and Manx Gaelic are now official languages for Wales,
Scotland and the Isle of Man along with English. The main language of the country is English.
Some Celtic languages, namely Scottish Gaelic and Irish, are still spoken in Scotland and
Northern Ireland, respectively, and Cornish has been revived to a limited degree in Cornwall; but
the predominant language in these areas is English. Welsh is widely spoken as the first language
in North and West Wales, and to lesser extent in the South East Wales, where English is the
dominant first language.
4. The general outline of the historical development of the British civilization.
Great Britain has a long and interesting history. By 450 ВС its population was Celtic In AD 43
the Roman occupation of the country began. It lasted for nearly on year. Then the attacks from
pirates from Germany — Angles, Saxons and Jutes took place. Gradually, the Anglo-Saxons
united into kingdoms. At the beginning of the 9th century the Danes and Norsemen began to
occupy the country. They ruled the country for several decades till 1042. 24 years later the
invasion by the Normans under William the Conqueror began. It brought feudalism to the
country. The social structure of the country was very similar to the rest of Europe.
By the 14th century most English towns became free from feudal restrictions. Besides, the
country had a strong Monarchy and a Parliament. The 15th century was a period of civil wars,
the Wars of the Roses. But the next period, the reign of Elizabeth I stimulated the development
of English commerce (cloth trade). In the 17th century the Parliament became the Parliament of
Great Britain after the union of England and Scotland. After the union with Ireland in 1801 it
became the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This period saw the development of science.
Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, William Harvey were the most famous scientists of that time.
The 18th century brought the Industrial Revolution. It gave development to the cotton industry
and agriculture. In the 19th century Great Britain became the leading capitalist state. Britain's
relatively peaceful development ended in the year 1914. Britain entered World War I. Strikes
and unemployment were the result of it. World War II was another difficult period in the history
of Britain. The British people withstood heavy bombing with great courage. London itself was
bombed for 76 nights continuously. When the USSR entered the war, the Britain's situation
became better. After the war many social reforms and economic development took place. Now
Britain is one of the leading countries in the world and the history of the country continues.
5. Roman invasion and its consequences
6. Norman Conquest and its consequences
 7. Colonial expansion of the British Empire.
The expansion of Britain’s empire is often divided into two parts: the first empire and the second
empire. The establishment of Britain’s overseas territories began in the 16th century, and by
1783, its empire included colonies in the Americas and the West Indies. The first British
settlement in Africa was made at James Island in the Gambia River in 1661. This first stage of
the empire is said to have ended after the loss of American colonies in 1783.
But it was in the 19th century that a second worldwide British Empire was built, and it is during
this period that Britain experienced expansion of its overseas landholdings. By the end of the
century, the British Empire comprised nearly one-quarter of the world’s land surface and more
than 25 per cent of its total population. The last 20 years of the 19th century alone saw the
Empire absorb 30 per cent of Africa’s entire population.
8. The political and governmental structure in the U.K.
The United Kingdom is a political union made up of four constituent
countries:England,Scotland,Wales,Nothern Ireland and several overseas territories including
Gibraltar and the Falkland islands. The UK is a highly developed country,a member of the group
of eight(GE),member of the European Union(EU),is a founding member of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation(NATO),the United Nations(un),where holds a permanent seat in the
Security Council. Britain still does not have a written constitution. And the law have never been
brought into a single document. Britain is a parlamentary democracy that can be seen throught
free elections, freedom of speech. Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State. Parliament consists of
The Queen, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. That is, power in Great Britain is
divided among three branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial
branch.
Executive power is exercised by the British government, on behalf of and by the consent of the
monarch. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the Parliament of the United
Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as in the Scottish parliament
and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies. The judiciary is independent of the executive and
the legislature. The highest court is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
9. British parliament.
The legislative branch is represented by Parliament, which consists of two chambers, or houses:
the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Commons is the lower house of
the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Commons is an elected body consisting of 650
members known as Members of Parliament (MPs). The House of Lords also known as the House
of Peers, is the upper house of и the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of
Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster.
Parliament’s main function is to make laws. The procedure of making new laws is as following:
a member of the House of Commons proposes a bill, which is discussed by the House. If the bill
is approved, it is sent to the House of Lords, which, in case it does not like it, has the right to
veto it for one year. If the House of Commons passes the bill again the following year, the House
of Lords cannot reject it. Finally, the bill is sent to the Queen for the ‘royal assent’, after which it
becomes a law.
10. British monarchy. The role of the monarch.
Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.
In a monarchy, a king or queen is Head of State. The British Monarchy is known as a
constitutional monarchy. This means that, while The Sovereign is Head of State, the ability to
make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament. The British monarch is the chief of
state of the United Kingdom. Though Queen Elizabeth II takes little direct part in government,
the Crown remains the fount in which ultimate executive power over government lies.
These powers are known as royal prerogative and can be used for a vast amount of things,
such as the issue or withdrawal of passports, to the dismissal of the Prime Minister or even the
declaration of war. The British monarch is also the Head of the Commonwealth, and the head of
state in 15 of the other 53 Commonwealth member countries.
11. The major political parties.
At first, in the UK there were two parties: Tory(the party that supposted the King) and
Whigs(who supported the Parliament). Now the main British political parties are: The
Conservative Party, The Labour Party, The Party of Liberal Democrats
In 1988 the Liberal Party made an alliance with Social Democrats and the Party of Liberal
Democrats was formed.
The proportional representation system in the UK means that all political parties,small and
large,are represented in the government according to the proportion of votes they receive.
Anyone can join a political party. The membership fees for the main political parties are quite
low in order to attract as many people as possible. At election time there are rules about the
amount of money parties can spend.
12. Primary and secondary education in the U.K.
The main education system is divided into three main stages: primary, secondary and
higher, as well as nursery schools or kindergartens which small children can attend; the
entry age for nursery schools is three.
Compulsory education begins at the age of 5 when children go to primary school. Primary
education lasts for 6 years. It is divided into two periods: infant schools (pupils from 5 to 7 years
old) and junior schools (pupils from 7 to 11 years old). In infant schools children don't have real
classes. They mostly play and learn through playing. It is the time when children just get
acquainted with the classroom, the blackboard, desks and the teacher. But when pupils are 7, real
studying begins. They don't already play so much as they did it in infant school. Now they have
real classes, when they sit at desks, read, write and answer the teacher's questions.
Compulsory secondary education begins when children are 11 or 12 and lasts for 5 years.
Secondary school is traditionally divided into 5 forms: a form to each year. Children study
eleven subjects a week plus Physical Education (PE). They are English, Mathematics, Science,
History, Art, Geography, Music, a foreign language, Social Education, Information Technology
plus Physical training. Religious education is also provided. English, Mathematics and Science
are called "core" subjects. At the age of 7, 11 and 14 pupils take examinations in the core
subjects.
In secondary school pupils have three terms in a school year and the timetable changes every
year. Children have five lessons every day. Every morning they have a twenty- minute break.
After five years of secondary education, at the age of 16, pupils take the General Certificate of
Secondary Education (GCSE) examination. When they are in the third or in the forth form, they
begin to choose their exam subjects and prepare for them.
13. Famous British universities
In England two schools of higher education were established, the first was at Oxford and the
second at Cambridge.
Oxford University is the oldest and most famous in Britain. It was founded in the 12-th century
and is a collection of colleges with more then 12,000 students and 1,000 teachers.
Cambridge is the second oldest. It was founded in the 13-th century and has 27 colleges. They
both have a reputation of privileged schools. Many prominent people studied there. The tutorial
system is one of the ways in which these universities differ from all other. Every student has a
tutor who plans his work.
The University of Wales was founded in 1893. It consists of six colleges, the oldest one being
the University of Wales, Lampeter, founded as St David’s College in 1822.
The Queen’s University of Belfast was founded in 1845 as one of the three ‘Queen’s Colleges in
Ireland’. It received its charter as a separate university in 1908.

14. Further and higher education in the U.K.

FURTHER EDUCATION: COLLEGES
Some 16 years pupils go to colleges of further education to study for more practical diplomas
and 6th FORM COLLEGES They prepare pupils for a national exam called “A” level (advanced
level) at 18. Children need “A” level to enter a university.
After leaving secondary school young people can apply to a university, a polytechnic or a
college of further education.
Higher education in England is provided by Higher Education colleges, university colleges,
universities and private colleges. Students normally enter higher education as undergraduates
from age 18 onwards, and can study for a wide variety of academic qualifications
Most university courses last three years, some courses last four years, and one or two courses,
e.g. medicine, may be even longer. During this period students can say that they are doing
(studying) history or doing (studying) for a degree in history, for example. When they finish the
course and pass their examinations, they receive a degree (the qualification when you complete a
university course successfully). This can be a BA (=Bachelor of Arts) or a Bsc (=Bachelor of
Science).
15. London and its political, economic and cultural role as the capital of the U.K.
London is the capital of England and the United Kigdom, its political, economic and cultural
centre. Its population is more than 11 million people. London is situated on the river Thames.
The city is very old and beautiful. It was founded by the Romans and was called Londinium. In
61 A.D. the town was burnt down and when it was rebuilt by the Romans it was surrounded by a
wall. That area within the wall is now called the City of London. It is London's commercial and
business centre. It contains the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the head offices of
numerous companies and corporations. Here is situated the Tower of London.. Now most of the
Government buildings are located there. During the Tudor period (16th century) London became
an important economic and financial centre. The Londoners of the Elizabethan period built the
first theatres. Nowadays the theatre land is stretched around Picadilly Circus. Not far from it one
can see the British Museum and the Covent Garden Opera House. During the Victorian period
(19th century) London was one of the most important centres of the Industrial Revolution and
the centre of the British Empire. Today London is a great political centre, a great commercial
centre, a paradise for theatre-goers and tourists, but it is also a very quiet place with its parks and
its ancient buildings, museums and libraries. Traditionally London is divided into several parts:
the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. The City is the oldest part of London, its
financial and business centre. The heart of the City is the Stock Exchange. Westminster is the
most important part of the capital. It is the administrative centre. The Houses of Parliament, the
seat of the British Government, are there. It's a very beautiful building with two towers and a
very big clock called Big Ben. Big Ben is really the bell which strikes every quarter of an hour.
Opposite the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. It's a very beautiful church built over
900 years ago. To the west of Westminster is the West End. Here we find most of the big shops,
hotels, museums, art galleries, theatres and concert halls. Picadilly Circus is the heart of
London's West End. To the east of Westminster is the East End, an industrial district of the
capital. There are no parks or gardens in the East End and you can't see many fine houses there.
Most of the plants and factories are situated there. London has many places of interest. One of
them is Buckingham Palace. It is the residence of the Queen. The English are proud of Trafalgar
Square, which was named so in memory of the victory at the battle. There in 1805 the English
fleet defeated the fleet of France and Spain. It is worth mentioning another place of interest, the
British Museum, which is the biggest museum in London. The museum is famous for its library
— one of the richest in the world. All London's long-past history is told by its streets. There are
many streets in London which are known all over the world. Among them Oxford Street,
Downing Street and a lot of others can be mentioned. And tourists are usually attracted not only
by the places of interest but by the streets too.
16. British art. Periodization.
The Art of the United Kingdom encompasses English art, Scottish art, Welsh art and Irish art,
and forms part of Western art history.
The oldest surviving British art includes Stonehenge from around 2600 BC, and tin and gold
works of art produced by the Beaker people from around 2150 BC. The La Tène style of -
reached the British Isles rather late, no earlier than about 400 BC.
William Hogarth was a great presence in the second quarter of the 18 century. Hogarth was both
the first significant British printmaker, and still the best known.
In the modern popular mind, English art from about 1750–1790 — what is sometimes called the
"classical age" of English painting — was dominated by the closely contemporary figures of Sir
Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792), George Stubbs (1724–1806), and Thomas Gainsborough (1727–
1788)
The late 18th century and the early 19th century characterized by the Romantic movement in
British art includes Joseph Wright of Derby, James Ward, Samuel Palmer, Richard Parkes
Bonington.
The American John Singer Sargent was the most successful London portraitist at the start of the
20th century, with John Lavery, Augustus John and William Orpen rising figures. The reaction
to the horrors of the First World War prompted a return to pastoral subjects as represented by
Paul Nash and Eric Ravilious, mainly a printmaker. Stanley Spencer painted mystical works, as
well as landscapes, and the sculptor, printmaker and typographer Eric Gill produced elegant
simple forms in a style related to Art Deco.
Surrealism, with artists including John Tunnard and the Birmingham Surrealists, was briefly
popular in the 1930s, influencing Roland Penrose and Henry Moore.
17. Famous British painters.
In the seventeenth century art in Britain had been dominated largely by the Flemish artist
Anthony van Dyck. In the early eighteenth century, although influenced by Continental
movements, British art began to develop independently.
William Hogarth, born just before the turn of the century, was the first major artist to reject
foreign influence and establish a kind of art whose themes and subjects were thoroughly British.
Hogarth was followed by a row of illustrious painters: Thomas Gainsborough, with his lyrical
landscapes, "fancy pictures" and portraits; Sir Joshua Reynolds, who painted charming society
portraits and became the first president of the Royal Academy; and George Stubbs, who is only
now being recognized as an artist of the greatest visual perception and sensitivity.
The mainstream of English painting in the first half of the nineteenth century was landscape. At
that time nature was beginning to be swallowed up by the expanding cities of the Industrial
Revolution. Constable and Turner, the greatest of the landscapists, approached nature with love
and excitement.
18. British literature. Periodization.
Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period (450–1066)
The term Anglo-Saxon comes from two Germanic tribes: the Angles and the Saxons. Much of
the first half of this period—had oral literature. A lot of the prose during this time was a
translation of something else or otherwise legal, medical, or religious in nature; however, some
works, such as Beowulf and those by period poets Caedmon and Cynewulf, are important.
Middle English Period (1066–1500)
The Middle English period sees a huge transition in the language, culture, and lifestyle of
England and results in what we can recognize today as a form of “modern” (recognizable)
English. Much of the Middle English writings were religious in nature;. This period is home to
the likes of Chaucer, Thomas Malory, and Robert Henryson. Notable works include "Piers
Plowman" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight."
The Renaissance (1500–1660)
This period is often subdivided into four parts, including the Elizabethan Age (1558–1603), the
Jacobean Age (1603–1625), the Caroline Age (1625–1649), and the Commonwealth Period
(1649–1660).
The Elizabethan Age was the golden age of English drama. Some of its noteworthy figures
include Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare. The Jacobean Age includes
the works of John Donne, Shakespeare, Michael Drayton, John Webster, Elizabeth Cary, Ben
Jonson. The Caroline Age covers the reign of Charles I (“Carolus”). John Milton, Robert Burton,
and George Herbert are some of the notable figures.
Finally, the Commonwealth Period was so named for the period between the end of the English
Civil War and the restoration of the Stuart monarchy. At this time, public theaters were closed
(for nearly two decades) to prevent public assembly and to combat moral and religious
transgressions.
The Neoclassical Period (1600–1785)
The Neoclassical period is also subdivided into ages, including The Restoration (1660–1700),
The Augustan Age (1700–1745), and The Age of Sensibility (1745–1785). Restoration comedies
(comedies of manner) developed during this time under the talent of playwrights like William
Congreve and John Dryden.
The Augustan Age was the time of Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, who imitated those first
Augustans and even drew parallels between themselves and the first set.
The Age of Sensibility (sometimes referred to as the Age of Johnson) was the time of Edmund
Burke, Samuel Johnson. Ideas such as neoclassicism, a critical and literary mode, and the
Enlightenment, a particular worldview shared by many intellectuals, were championed during
this age.
The Romantic Period (1785–1832)
This era includes the works of such juggernauts as William Blake, Lord Byron, John Keats.
The Victorian Period (1832–1901)
The period has often been divided into “Early” (1832–1848), “Mid” (1848–1870) and “Late”
(1870–1901) periods. Poets of this time include Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
Christina Rossetti among others.
The Edwardian Period (1901–1914)
The era includes incredible classic novelists such as Joseph Conrad, Ford Madox Ford, Rudyard
Kipling, H.G. Wells, and Henry James; notable poets such as Alfred Noyes and William Butler
Yeats; and dramatists such as James Barrie, George Bernard Shaw, and John Galsworthy.
The Modern Period (1914–?)
The modern period traditionally applies to works written after the start of World War I. Common
features include bold experimentation with subject matter, style, and form, encompassing
narrative, verse, and drama.
Some of the most notable writers of this period include the novelists James Joyce, Virginia
Woolf; the poets W.B. Yeats, T.S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, and Robert Graves; and the dramatists
Tom Stoppard, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and Caryl Churchill.
The Postmodern Period (1945–?)
The postmodern period begins about the time that World War II ended. Poststructuralist literary
theory and criticism developed during this time. Some notable writers of the period include
Samuel Beckett, Joseph Heller, Penelope M. Lively. Many postmodern authors wrote during the
modern period as well.
19. Famous British Writers.
William Shakespeare is hands down one of the most famous British authors to ever live.
Shakespeare was an actor and playwright in London in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His
plays have been performed for nearly 500 years, and continue to be read and studied today!
Jane Austen was a British writer who lived and worked in England in the late 18th and early 19th
centuries. At the time, women just didn’t become writers (they weren’t expected to work at all)
and thus Austen published all of her works anonymously. Most of her novels are focused on the
lives of upper and middle-class women and their families, the focus on marriage as the only
option for women at the time, and are filled with romance and humor. Start with: Pride and
Prejudice and Emma
Charles Dickens is another world-famous British writer. Author of classics such as Oliver Twist
and A Christmas Carol, Dickens is a household name all over the world. He lived and worked in
Victorian England in the 19th century. Most of his books told a story as well as served as a
criticism of social conditions in Europe at the time. Unlike many writers, Dickens enjoyed fame
and fortune during his lifetime. Start with: A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and A Tale of Two
Cities
J. R. R. Tolkien
Known by many as the man who invented the fantasy genre, J. R. R. Tolkien is another popular
British writer. Tolkien lived and worked in the early 20th century, and is the author of the
famous, now turned into a movie series, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Daniel Defoe lived and worked in the 17th and 18th centuries in England. He is most famous for
his novel Robinson Crusoe, the tale of a man stranded on a desert island. The tale has been
rewritten and transformed into television shows and movies, and is a true classic. Defoe is also
considered to be one of the first writers to pen a novel and thus made this style of book popular
among the British. In addition to Robinson Crusoe, Defoe wrote over 500 pieces over his
lifetime. Start with: Robinson Crusoe.
British writers have been part of the world’s literary stage for many hundreds of years.
Producing some of the finest writers in the world is something that the United Kingdom is very
proud of.
20. William Shakespeare and his creative work.
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, the United Kingdom in April 1564. He
was a son of the middle-class parents, John and Mary Shakespeare. They lived in a small town of
Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, Shakespeare was the first surviving son, for two earlier
children, Joan and Margaret, who died in childhood. His early life was spent at two locations;
Stratford, his native town, and London, the hub of English theatre.
Starting his early education at the age of seven at the Stratford Grammar School, William
Shakespeare underwent rigors of learning grammar and literature. He also learned basic manners
and prayers in a theological setting besides traditional subjects of rhetoric, logic, history, Latin
and the works of great classical authors. Unfortunately, the financial crisis forced him to quit his
education. In spite of the challenges, Shakespeare retained his reading addiction and theatrical
interests.
Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays and over 150 short and long poems, many of which are
considered to be the finest ever written in English.
Shakespeare created the majority of his popular plays and stories in the late 16th century. For
many years he enjoyed writing comedies and historical plays until he found his true love: writing
tragedies and dark dramas, such as Hamlet and Macbeth. Shakespeare wrote his earlier plays in
the traditional style of the time. Shakespeare’s first original comedy called “The Two Gentlemen
of Verona” (1590) shows an undeveloped and conflicting writing style
It is well- know, that in the 1592, Shakespeare was already the author of the historical chronicle
“Henry VI”.
In the period of the 1592-1594, Shakespeare wrote plays and elegant, sensual poems.
Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” contains the bright sense of love together with the
bitterness of insurmountable obstacles. “Hamlet”, “Macbeth”, “King Lear”, “Othello” were
written by Shakespeare in the period of the 1601 — 1608. For Shakespeare, the comedies are the
way to write a clear, jolly, light and, in addition, a profound composition.
Writing with focus on theatrical performances is the peculiarity of Shakespeare’s style.