IV. Translate the following sentences into Ukrainian:

1. At the beginning of our era Great Britain was invaded by the Romans with Julius Caesar at the head.

2. The largest island in northwest Europe- Great Britain- is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea and from the continent by the English Channel, the narrower part of which is called the Strait of Dover.

3. One of the most striking things about the British Isles is the rapidity with which the weather changes from day to day or during the day.

4. London became a prosperous trading centre during the middle ages.

5. The City or Downtown of London is the oldest part of the capital where many offices, companies and banks are located.

V. Read and retell the text:

The official name of the country we usually call England and occasionally Great Britain, is the United Kingdom (U.K.) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The first inhabitants of what is now known as Great Britain were nomadic Stone Age people. In the 8^th-7^th centuries B.C. they merged with Celtic Tribes. This Celt-dominated mixture of Picts, Scots and others came to be called Britons or Britts. At the beginning of our era Great Britain was invaded by the Romans with Julius Caesar at the head. For four centuries it was the province of the Roman Empire. The Romans built the roads and spread their settlement. In the 5^th century Britain was invaded by the Germanic tribes Angles, Saxons and Jutes. Later the two peoples grew one. They called their country England and their people English. The British Isles are situated on the crossways of sea routs. That helped British fleet to develop very early in history. Its ships carried the products of British industries all over the world and to bring back food and raw material. Large territories in India, Australia, America, and Africa became dependent on the British Empire. At the end of the 19th century Britain began to lose industrial supremacy to the United States and Germany.

The U.K. is situated on the group of islands. The British Isles include Great Britain proper, Ireland and some 5,500 smaller islands. Great Britain is divided into 92 counties. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. The largest island in northwest Europe- Great Britain- is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea and from the continent by the English Channel, the narrower part of which is called the Strait of Dover.

The surface of England and Ireland is rather flat. The highest mountain in the United Kingdom is Ben Nevis in Scotland (1343m). There are many rivers in Great Britain but they are not very long. The rivers are deep and they do not freeze in winter. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

Great Britain is known for its typically maritime climate with frequent rains, strong winds and continuous fogs. One of the most striking things about the British Isles is the rapidity with which the weather changes from day to day or during the day.

The population of Great Britain is nearly 56 million people. England has more people than the other parts of the British Isles. About four fifths of the population is urban and only one fifth is rural.

Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. But the monarch's power is limited by the parliament. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the state. In practice she reigns but does not rule. The country is governed in her name by the government. Parliament is the supreme legislative body. It consists of two Houses: the House of Commons (popularly elected) and the House of Lords (composed of high-born nobility). There are 1000 members. The 630 members of the House of Commons are elected every 5 years. The prime Minister is usually the head of the party that is in power. In Great Britain there is no written constitution. The term Constitution means the leading principles, conventions and precedents.

Great Britain is a highly developed country. Shipbuilding is one of the principal industries in Great Britain. Coal is the main source for the development of British industry, the biggest centers of which are Newcastle, Cardiff, and Sheffield. Besides coal mining, metallurgy, textile, and shipbuilding, the new industries are the chemical, automobile, aviation and electronics. The products of Britain economy are exported to many countries of the world.

The capital of Great Britain is London. London is one of the world's three largest cities (the other two are New York and Tokyo). The Romans founded a settlement on the river Thames 2000 years ago. They called it Londonium. London became a prosperous trading centre during the middle ages. Since that time it continued to grow in size and prosperity. There are more than 10 thousand streets in London. About 9 million people live there.

Actually, London can be divided into several parts. The City or Downtown of London is the oldest part of the capital where many offices, companies and banks are located. The City is the financial center of the United Kingdom and only few thousand people live there. Londoners call it "the square mile of money".

The West end is in the center of London. It is full of the richest hotels, largest super-markets, best cinemas, concert-halls, beautiful houses and gardens, fine shops and restaurants. The famous Hyde Park is situated here.

Another important part is Westminster, where most of government buildings are situated. Westminster Palace was founded in 1050 and it is the seat of the British parliament. The Towers of Houses of Parliament stand high above the city. On the highest tower there is the largest clock that is known to the whole world as Big Ben.

The East End of London is the industrial area and the place where working people live. There are many factories, workshops and docks there. The East End is very large and crowded.

London is home to one of the major financial centers of the world, and of great cultural and artistic cities, well known for its history, architecture, theatres and lively multi-cultural life. London houses more than 300 museums and collections, including some of the greatest in the world. London is an ancient city. But it is also a living city and like all living cities it is constantly developing.

Nowadays Great Britain plays a vital role in establishing economical, business, diplomatic, and cultural relationship with different countries around the world. A great number of places in Great Britain are included into the list of UNESCO Heritage sites. Great Britain remains one of the world famous places that attract tourists and workers, scientists and artists, businessmen and politicians from abroad.