2. Напишите номера предложений в последовательности, отражающей информацию:

1. The UK flag is called Union Jack.

2. The Irish Sea separates the two main islands.

3. There are 14 other countries which have larger population.

4. The capitals of the 4 parts of the UK are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

5. English is the official language.

Text 2. ENGLISH HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

1. If you try to catch a train on 24th of December you may have difficulty in finding a seat. This is the day when many people are traveling home to be with their families on Christmas Day, 25th December. For most British families, this is the most important festival of the year, it combines the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ with the traditional festivities of winter.

2. Most families usually have a Christmas tree in the corner of the front room, glittering with coloured lights and decorations.

3. 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 sock or stocking at the end of their beds on Christmas Eve, 24th December, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night and bring them small presents, fruit and nuts. They are usually not disap­pointed! At some time on Christmas Day the family will sit down to a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding. They will probably pull a cracker with an­other member of the family. It will make a loud crack and a coloured hat, small toy and joke will fall out! 26th December is also a public holiday, Boxing Day, and this is the time to visit friends and relatives or watch football. The "boxing" refers to the boxes of Christmas presents which are usually given on that day.

4. Some English customs and traditions are famous all over the world. Bowler hats, tea and talking about the weather, for example. From Scotland to Cornwall, the United Kingdom is full of customs and traditions. Here are some of them.

5. St. Valentine is the saint of people in love, and St. Valentine's day is Feb­ruary 14th. On that day, people send valentine cards and presents to their husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. You can also send a card to a person you don't know. But traditionally you must never write your name on it. Some British news­papers have a page for Valentine's Day messages on February 14th.

6. April I is April Fool's Day in Great Britain. This is a very old tradition from the Middle Ages. At that time servants were masters for one day of the year. Now April Fool's Day is different. It's a day for jokes and tricks.

7. November 5 is Guy Fawkes's Day. All over the country people built wood fires, or "bonfires", in their gardens. On top of each bonfire is a guy, this is a figure of Guy Fawkes. On November 5 1665, Guy Fawkes tried to kill King James. He and a group of his friends put a bomb under the Houses of Parliament in London. But the king's men found the bomb and Guy Fawkes. They took him to the Tower of London, where his head was cut off. Before November 5 children use guys to make money. They stand in the street and shout: "Penny for the guy".

8. If you arrive in Great Britain you’ll hear the word «tradition» everywhere. In the House of Lords of the British Parliament there are two rows of benches for lords and a sack of wool for the Lord Chancellor to sit on it. This is so because in the old times wool made England rich and powerful. In the House of Commons you will see two rows of benches for the two parties: the government on one side and the opposition - on the other. In front of the benches there is the strip on a carpet and when a member speaking in the House puts his foot beyond that strip, there is a shout «Order!». This dates from the time when the members had swords on them and during the discussion might want to start fighting. The word «order» reminded them that no fighting was allowed in the House.