Geographical Description of Great Britain The British Isles is the geographical term used to designate a group of about 5,000

islands off the north-west coast of mainland Europe, situated between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, more precisely between the latitudes 50N and 61N. The archipelago consists of the large islands of Great Britain and Ireland; several island groups, namely, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, the Hebrides, the Channel Islands; the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man as well as numerous other islands and tiny islets. The largest island is Britain or Great Britain, which is also the largest island in Europe. It consists of England, Wales and Scotland. The next largest island is Ireland, which is made up of Northern Ireland (or Ulster) and the Irish Republic (also known as Eire). Great Britain is a little bit under 1,000 km long and just under 500 km across in its widest part. Its most mountainous region is Scotland, which also has a wide lowland area between the Grampians and the Southern Uplands, where most of the large towns, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as three- quarters of its population are located. Much of Wales is also mountainous and in England, the Pennine Range (also called the backbone of England) extends to 224 km. The rest of England tends to be rather undulating, and not even the large agricultural plains of East England are perfectly flat. In Ireland all the highland areas are around the edge, but there are no peaks over 1,100 m. www.worldatlas.com

Weather and Climate Britain is as far north as Canadas Hudson Bay or Siberia. For example, Edinburgh is 56 degrees north of the Equator, the same latitude as Moscow, yet its climate is much milder because of the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water and air across the Atlantic from the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, snow falls only occasionally and does not remain for long, except in the Scottish Mountains, where skiing is possible. Average temperatures in England and Wales vary from 4C in January to 16C in July and August. In Scotland averages are one or two degrees cooler and an average July day is about as warm as Marseilles in December. The wind brings rain from the Atlantic to the hills of the West. This means that the western parts of Britain are wetter than the east, which is fairly sheltered. London is drier than other continental cities such as Hamburg. Its weather may be unpredictable but it is not particularly wet. Population The most recent studies show that the total population of the United Kingdom is of 61,113,205, the third largest in the European Union, the fifth largest in the Commonwealth and the twenty-first largest in the world. Current population growth is mainly due to net immigration but a rising birth rate and increasing life expectancy have also contributed to this. Languages Spoken in UK According to latest surveys, it is estimated that in UK, besides the monolingual English speakers, there are various minority Celtic languages, but speakers of these are invariably bilingual English speakers. For instance, in Scotland 1.4% speak Scottish Gaelic as well as English. In Northern Ireland 6.6% of the population are bilingual in Irish Gaelic and English.

In Wales, 21% also speak Welsh. Welsh is the only Celtic language that enjoys official status. In Scotland, Northern Ireland and some border areas of England, Scots is a distinct minority language although at times it overlaps with Scottish English. UKs Capital Cities Broadly speaking, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has just one capital city and that is London. Still, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, the other three countries that are included in UK, pride themselves with their own officially recognized capital cities. Please see below a brief description of all these four Capital Cities.

LONDON

o by Jason Hawkes Photo by Jason Hawkes River Thames at Greenwich St Pauls Cathedral, Paternoster h showing the Isle of Dogs, Square, City of London lands

Photo by Jason Hawkes Looking West down RiverThames from Tower Br

London, the capital of England and the UK, is the world's ninth-largest city. It is situated on the banks of the river Thames, in south-east England.

London is made up of two ancient cities which are now joined together: the City of London and the City of Westminster. The City of London, usually simply known as the City or as the Square Mile (2.59 sq km/1 sq mi) is the business and financial heart of the United Kingdom. The City of Westminster, is the place where Parliament and most of the Government offices are located. Here you can also visit Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen and of the Royal family.

BELFAST

.worldfromtheweb.com www.belfast.world-guides.com Big Wheel and the Centre of Belfast City Hall st at night

www.paddi.net/images/belfa tlle Belfast Castle

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of Government and Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland. It is partially composed of seven "quarters", each dedicated to reflect the history of the city. The historic heart of Belfast is the Cathedral Quarter. The birthplace of the ill-fated Titanic, Belfast remains today a centre for industry, as well as for arts, higher education and business.

Its uniqueness is portrayed at its best by places such as the Ulster Museum, City Hall, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, as well as by many of the city's well-preserved historic buildings.

CARDIFF

.cardiffworld.com iff Millennium Stadium

www.cardiffworld.com Cardiff Castle

www.cardiffworld.com Cardiff Bay

Cardiff, the capital city of Wales and the chief commercial centre of the country, is also the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. The City Centre is a mix of new and old. Cardiff Castle which is part Roman, part Norman and part Victorian, stands next to the modern Millennium Stadium, the finest sports and music venue in the world, of the moment. History lovers shouldnt miss the National Museum Cardiff where they can admire works by Monet, Van Gogh as well as the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of Paris. Entry to this fascinating attraction is free. Another major touristic destination is the National History Museum. The spectacular open-air museum is set in 100 acres within the grounds of St Fagans Castle. After an exciting sightseeing tour theres no better way to relax than Cardiff Bay, one of Europes biggest and trendiest waterfronts, with numerous bars and trendy restaurants. Cardiff Bay is also the

home of the National Assembly for Wales and one of the worlds most environmentally friendly public buildings.

EDINBURGH

.stuckonscotland.co.uk/edin h/pictures.html oral Hotel and Edinburgh e

www.stuckonscotland.co.uk/edin www.stuckonscotland.co.uk/ burgh/pictures.html burgh/pictures.html the city of Edinburgh from the The Scott Monument top of Blackford Hill

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. The seventh largest city in UK and the second largest Scottish city, after Glasgow, it is also the seat of the Scottish Parliament. Owing to its rugged setting and vast collection of Medieval and Georgian architecture, including numerous stone tenements, it is often considered one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. In 1995, Edinburghs Old Town and New Town districts were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are over 4,500 listed buildings within the city. Edinburgh's unique features include two extinct volcanoes, one of them right in the City Center onto which Edinburgh Castle is built. The city was one of the major centres of The Enlightenment, led by the University of Edinburgh, earning it the nickname Athens of the North.

UK Flag

The United Kingdom flag was officially adopted on January 1, 1801. It's a composite flag of England's St. George's Cross (the centered red cross bordered in white), St. Andrew's Cross of Scotland (the diagonal white cross on the blue field), and the Patron Saint of Ireland (diagonal x-shaped red saltire). National Anthem "God Save the Queen," is most commonly credited to a keyboard piece written in 1619, by John Bull. When a male monarch is on the throne of England, it's referred to as "God Save the King." National Holiday Except for the internationally-celebrated New Year, Christmas and Eastern, in UK there is no (one) specific national holiday since each country has its own. United Kingdom or Great Britain?

The terms Britain and British have two meanings. They sometimes refer to Great Britain alone and sometimes to the UK including Northern Ireland. England and English are often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Great Britain. Strictly speaking, Great Britain is a common geographical expression, but the correct political expression is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, usually shortened to the United Kingdom or UK. This long title, is the result of a complicated history, since the island of Great Britain contains three nations which were separate at earlier stages of their history: England, Scotland and Wales. Wales had become part of the English administrative system by the sixteenth century.

Scotland was not completely united with England until 1707. In 1801, when Great Britain become united with Ireland, they introduced the name United Kingdom Still, in 1922, when the Republic of Ireland became independent of London, the title was changed to its present form: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As a result, today, the British Isles are shared by two separate and independent states: the smaller of these is the Republic of Ireland, with its capital Dublin, while the larger, with London as its capital, is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

References: 1. Britain Explored, Paul Harvey and Rhodri Jones, Pearson Education Limited, Essex, England, 2002 2. Britain in Close-Up- An In-Depth Study of Contemporary England, David McDowall, Pearson Education Limited, Essex, England, 2000 3. www.bbc.co.uk/languages 4. www.questia.com 5. Discovery Company- www.videos.howstuffworks.com 6. www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/uk.html 7. www.buzzle.com/articles/the-geography-of-britain.html 8. www.britain4kiwikids.org.nz/about/geog.html 9. www.worldatlas.com 10. www.boston.com/bigpicture/- Pictures of London at Night by Jason Hawkes 11. www.worldfromtheweb.com/.../Belfast.html 12. www.belfast.world-guides.com/belfast_landmarks.html 13. www.paddi.net/images/belfastcastlle.html. 14. www.cardiffworld.com 15. www.pearsonlongman.com/dictionaries British Isles- Miscellaneous Geographical Facts DID YOU KNOW?

The highest mountain- Ben Nevis, in the Highlands of Scotland, 4,406 ft (1,343 m); The longest river- the Severn, 200 miles (322 km) long, which rises in central Wales and flows through Shrewsbury, Worcester and Gloucester in England to the Bristol Channel; The largest lake- Lough Neagh, located in Northern Ireland, 153 sq miles (396 sq km); The deepest lake- Loch Morar in the Highlands of Scotland, 1,017 ft (310 m) deep; The highest waterfall- Eas a'Chual Aluinn, from Glas Bheinn, is also situated in the Highlands of Scotland, with a drop of 660 ft (200 m); The deepest cave- Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, Powys, Wales, 1,010 ft (308 m) deep; The most northerly point on the British mainland- Dunnet Head, north-east Scotland; The most southerly point on the British mainland- Lizard Point, Cornwall; The most easterly town in England- Lowestoft, Suffolk; The Channel Tunnel, near Dover in Kent, links England and France. It is 30 miles (48 km) long, of which nearly 23 miles (37 km) are actually under the English Channel. GLOSSARY extinct volcano - a volcano that does not erupt any more heritage - the traditional beliefs, values, customs etc of a family, country, or society tenement - a large building divided into apartments, especially in the poorer areas of a city venue- a place where an organized meeting, concert etc takes place waterfront - the part of a town or an area of land next to the sea, a river etc:

Fill in the blanks with the right missing words: 1. The centered red cross bordered in white on the UK flag stands for a. St. George's Cross b. St. Andrew's Cross c. St. Paul's Cross 2. Even if Britain is as far north as Canadas Hudson Bay or Siberia, its climate is much milder because of . a. the greenhouse effect b. the Global warming c. the Gulf Stream 3. The name of the stadium that is at present the most modern sports and music venue in the world is.. a. Olympic Stadium- Athens b. Wembley Stadium- London c. Millenium Stadium- Cardiff 4. The Channel Tunnel, is 48 km long and links England to a. Norway b. France c. Germany 5. The longest river in UK is a. River Thames b. River Severn c. River Don Answer Key 1a; 2c, 3c, 4b, 5b

LONDON You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford. Samuel Johnson Most people think they have already seen everything is worth seeing in their home country. UK is not an exception in this case. A lot of British citizens want to go on vacation to the so called exotic countries without considering the opportunity to visit their wonderful country and especially their capital London. Prince Charles for example is buying land and old houses - which he completely refurbishes - in Transylvania and many other British are buying properties in Spain or Italy. The wonderful city of London has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Romans conquered Britain and built a settlement (castrum) here and named the place Londinium replacing thus the traces left by the Picts. Later the Anglo-Saxons came and built their unique civilization. In 1066 William the Conqueror (Guillaume le Batard) came with his Norman warriors and started a new era in the long history of England. The banks, the companies and the cultural life of the city turned it into one of the most successful and influential capitals of the 21st century. London's population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 languages are spoken within the city. It is also one of the world's most important business, financial and cultural centers and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contributes to its status as a major global city. The British Museum1

It is the oldest and the most important museum in the world, its public displays and collections representing an important part of the cultural and material heritage of the world. One of the

single greatest museums in the world, the British Museum houses collections that date from the prehistoric to the modernin sum, the works of mankind. The Egyptian rooms are famous for their mummies and the eventual key to deciphering hieroglyphics, the Rosetta Stone. Then there are the controversial Elgin Marbles, stolen from the Parthenon, and countless other Greek and Roman antiquities. The leathery, ancient Lindow Man, preserved for centuries in a Cheshire bog after having been ritually slaughtered, and the treasures from the seventh-century Sutton Hoo royal burial grounds are also here. If you only have a few minutes to spare, trot in to see the 2000 additionSir Norman Foster's spectacular two-acre interior Great Court with its glass-grid roof. The museum is free, though special exhibitions are not. Buckingham Palace Is the official residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The changing of the guards is one ritual that no tourist should miss when visiting London. Dating back over ten centuries, the Monarchy plays an important role in the UK and Commonwealth. This web site provides information on the work of The Queen in modern society, biographies of the Royal Family, a history of kings and queens through the ages, background on Royal residences and art collections, and coverage of recent Royal events.The queen's London pied--terre is not the most beautiful of palaces, but it's big. Most of the year, all you can do is peer through the iron railings at the guards in busbiesthose silly two-foot-tall black fur hatsand check the flagpole to see whether Brenda, as Private Eye calls her, is at home (the standard only flies when she's in residence). But from late July to September, even commoners can enter those gates. The Throne Room, Picture Gallery, Ballroom, and 16 other state rooms are open, as is (a bit of) the south side of the unbelievably huge palace gardens. The Royal Mews, with working stables and display of fancy state vehicles, is just around the corner and also worthy of a visit, as is the Queen's Gallery.

GREENWICH Greenwich is a bustling little market town in its own right, colored by bucketfuls of maritime history. Most importantly, it's where time begins. No, seriously, it does: At the top of a hill in Greenwich Park, a brass line marks longitude 0 degrees, the starting point of every time zone in the worldbetter known as GMT (Greenwich Mean, or Meridian, Time). The Royal Greenwich Observatory is up there, too, and for the effort of walking up a gentle hill, you'll be rewarded with excellent views. Down below are architectural gems: Georgian houses, the National Maritime Museumdesigned by Inigo Jones, it displays Admiral Nelson's coat from Trafalgar, complete with the fatal bullet hole in the left shoulder as well as the stunning University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The Cutty Sark, the last clipper ship to be built (dating back to 1869), has rested in a dry dock in Greenwich since 1954. On May 21, 2007, a fire swept through the historic vessel as it was undergoing restoration. Nearby is the glazed cupola entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, which runs under the Thames. Alternatively, in keeping with Greenwich's nautical roots, catch a boat back up the river to central London. LONDON EYE The 443-foot-high British Airways London Eye, designed by husband-and-wife architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, is the largest observation wheel in the world. Perched on the banks of the Thames, more or less opposite the Houses of Parliament, it has become a capital-L Landmark since it appeared for the millennium festivities. The real point, of course, is the view from inside the 32 glass capsules, which, on a clear day, extends 25 miles and is quite spectacular (www.royalnetwork.com). Night or day the London Eye offers spectacular views across London and its famous landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, St. Pauls Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Take a gradual flight lasting

approximately 30 minutes in one of our 32 high-tech glass capsules and enjoy the skyline at your leisure. Bring London to life with a flight on the London Eye. Astonish, amaze and excite pupils with an incredible perspective of London that is at once a history lesson, geography lesson, cultural lesson and a lesson in engineering and design. of Parliament (The Westminster Palace) The mother of all parliaments, the Palace of Westminster comprises Big Ben (which is the bell, not the tower) as well as the chambers of both Houses, Commons and Lords. The Gothic revival building you see today, built between 1840 and 1888 on the site of the original 11thcentury palace, was designed to blend in with nearby Westminster Abbey. During the early-August to late-September summer recess, you get to roam through it all. When parliament is in session, visitors can stand on line outside the St. Stephen's entrance to view debates in either house from the public galleries. The world famous Big Ben is the major attraction of the building. The huge clock tower dominates the City and it precisely strikes every hour. Westminster Abbey1 - The Coronation Cathedral The Houses

Beginning with the 25 of December1066 - when William the Conqueror1 (William I r. 10661087) was anointed king of England - all the kings and queens receive the Westminster Abbey. The huge Gothic church beside the Houses of Parliament, has been the setting for every coronation since 1066, as well as a burial site for monarchs, aristocrats, writers (Charles Dickens), musicians (Henry Purcell), generals, politicians, scientists (Charles Darwin), and pretty much anyone who it was felt deserved the honor. The lines are extremely long in summer for a shuffle past Poets' Corner, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Coronation

Thronealthough the mystical Stone of Scone (renamed the Stone of Destiny) that underpinned it for nine centuries is now back in Edinburgh where it belongs. The Tower of London Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London (and historically as The Tower), is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. The Tower of London is often identified with the White Tower, the original stark square fortress built by William the Conqueror in 1078. However, the tower as a whole is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. The tower's primary function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison (particularly for high status and royal prisoners, such as the Princes in the Tower and the future Queen Elizabeth I). This last use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower" (meaning "imprisoned"). It has also served as a place of execution and torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, a public records office, an observatory, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Before his being anointed king of England, William ordered the Norman builders to erect a tower -The White Tower which, after repeatedly being extended, became what is today known as the Tower of London - a series of fortifications that were used as royal residence, prisons or Royal Treasury (for the Jewels of the Crown). Today is a famous museum and the Beefeaters are most pleased to guide all the tourists. St. Paul's Cathedral Sir Christopher Wren's No. 1 work is this, the cathedral church of the Diocese of London (www.royalnetwork.com). With its green dome, St. Paul's is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. It's actually this site's fourth cathedral, built between 1675

and 1710, after its predecessor was destroyed in the 1666 Great Fire of London. Nowadays a visit to the church, taking in the Crypt, Ambulatory, and everyone's favorite, the Whispering Gallery, is easily combined with a trip to one of London's newer essential sights, the Tate Modern, i.e. exit St. Paul's Tube station, cross the redeveloped Paternoster Square next door, drop in on the cathedral (St. Dunstan's Chapel is always open for praying, and free of charge), then head across the Millennium Bridge to the south bank an almost unique world Baroque masterpiece (www.open.gov.uk). The Dome is also one of the largest in the world. Christopher Wren himself was buried here. Other famous British subjects that rest under the roof of St. Paul's are Duke Wellington, Lord Nelson, John Donne or J.M.W. Turner. Tower Bridge

Built in the neogothic style Tower Bridge was inaugurated in 1894. It is a wonder of technology and engineering. When finished the mobile bridge was lifted by steam engines. Now the half an hour guided tour offers the tourists another perspective of London and its achievements. The National Gallery Displays more than 2,300 paintings created between 1260-1900. The main entrance is in the Trafalgar Square but the Sainsbury wing is more appropriate for starting a tour of the exhibitions.

The Bloody Tower

How can you not see the Bloody Tower? Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, this huge fortified palace-jail-treasury-arsenal is the source of some of the most-famous tourist photo ops in all of England. View the Crown Jewels so costly they're officially beyond price and therefore uninsuredthe Tudor prisoners' graffiti in the Beauchamp Tower, and the site of royal beheadings. Gawk at the fashion-forward Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, in their black-and-scarlet 14thcentury livery, and at the ravens, without whose continuous presence, so Charles II was told, the Tower and the Kingdom would crumble. VICTORIA AND ALBERT (V&A) Museum

Albert and Victoria

The Maynard Dish

This display reveals the brilliant craftsmanship of Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751), the greatest silversmith working in England in the 18th century, and his craftsman, known as the Maynard Master. The V&A is the tamest of the three massive Victorian edifices in South Kensington, but kids like the music galleries, where you can pull out case after lit-up case of rare and strange instruments, and the Cast Courts' reproductions of buildings and monuments from around the world. For adults it's a wonderland: Fifteen large permanent collections include centuries of culture and the British Galleries, and there's also the Ardabil Carpet, considered to be one of the most beautiful to have survived from the 16th century (there's a copy in 10 Downing Street) in the furnishings and furniture collection. There's also the serenely beautiful John Madejski Gardens, which opened in July 2005 (www.vam.ac.uk). Temporary exhibitions have included retrospectives of the work of fashion designers Gianni Versace and Vivienne Westwood, and the most complete presentation of photographer Diane Arbus's work ever assembled.

Glossary slaughter = masacru glass-grid = grilaj de sticl peer = a privi cu atenie busby = cciul nalt de blan purtat de soldaii din garda regal la anumite ceremonii commoner = om de rnd Royal Mews = grajduri regale bustle = freamt, forfot architectural gems = bijuterii arhitecturale wheel = roat roam = a hoinri, a colinda anoint = a unge (rege), a mirui the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier = Mormntul Soldatului Necunoscut wayward = dificil de controlat stark = rigid, nepenit moat = an de aprare spat n jurul unui castel i umplut cu ap Royal Mint = monetria regal Crown Jewels = bijuteriile coroanei whisper = oapt Yeoman Warders = garda naional clare livery = livrea, uniform crumble = a se sfrma, a se prbui

CASTLES OF GREAT BRITAIN

CASTLES. Tudor castles replaced Norman castles, which replaced Saxon castles, which replaced Roman castra, which replaced prehistoric hill-forts. But the age of castles as we know them- grand stone edifices dominating their surroundings- came with the Normans after 1066. (Sue Clifford and Angela King, England in Particular- A Celebration of the Commonplace, the local, the Vernacular & the Distinctive, Hodler & Stonghton, pg. 72) They were not defending against invaders, rather making a statement of conquest. Actually, castles were there to threaten and intimidate, extract taxes and servicemilitary and domestic. Often new communities grew around them. Initially, wooden palisades or baileys on top of man- made mounds or motte, Norman castles quickly adopted the stone as a symbol of their wealth and power.

COLCHESTER CASTLE MUSEUM (Britains most Amazing Places: 141) A visit to Colchester Castle Museum takes you through 2000 years of some of the most important events in British history. Once the capital of Roman Britain, Colchester has experienced devastation by Queen Boudica (Boadicea), invasion by the Normans and siege during the Civil War. The Castle itself is the largest keep ever built by the Normans. It was constructed on foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius, which can still be seen today. The museum is open from: Mon-Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. all year round; Sun: 11 a. m- 5 p. m. Last admission 4.30 p.m. Telephone: 01206 282939; Fax: 01206 282925. Available after admission to the Castle: 5.20; Children aged 5 - 15, retired and concessions: 3.40; Group Rate (Applies to groups of 20 or more): Adults: 4.70; Children: 3.10. Additional guided tours of the Roman vaults, Norman chapel and Castle roof with a Blue Badge Guide. Available after admission to the

Castle: Adults: 2.10; Children: 1.10. Colchester Castle Museum is situated in Castle Park at the eastern end of High St. The nearest car parks are St Botolphs, Britannia and Osborne Street. The museum is a five minute walk from the bus station and Colchester Town railway station. (www.colchestermuseums.org.uk )

One of the most important Norman fortresses was the POMFRET CASTLE. Pomfret is the English translation of the Latin ponte fracto, meaning broken bridge. The Motto of Pomfret is Hora e sempre, meaning Now and always. Built up approximately in 1070 in West Yorkshire, Pomfret became a royal castle upon the accession of Henry Bolinbroke to the throne, as King Henry IV, in 1399. His cousin, Richard II died there in 1400 after being one of many important prisoners to lodge there. For that reason, William Shakespeare called it Bloody Pomfret in his plays. During the Civil War (1642 - 1649), it was a royal castle. For that reason, it was largely demolished as a result of three sieges from Oliver Cromwells armies. The remains of the castle, and the underground magazine chamber, are open to visitors. There is also a working blacksmith on site. The cellars of the 11th century great hall were used as a magazine (=military store) from medieval times through the Civil War period. You can visit the underground magazine cut out of the solid rock and see where Civil War prisoners carved their names into the cell walls. Magazine tours are available during the school holidays and summer weekends. Groups can tour the magazines by prior appointment by phoning 01977 723440. It is advisable to telephoning to confirm availability of the tours. Housed in an attractive art nouveau building, the museum traces the history of Pontefract Castle and borough up to the present. Magazine Tours Admission Charges: Adults 1.00, Concessions 50 p. There is access for wheelchair users to much of the castles and toilets. Disabled car park is available outside the castle gates. Pontefract Castle is open at

the following times: from Monday to Friday: from 10.00 a. m to 4.30 p.m.; On Saturday from 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m (www. castleuk. net/castle_ lists_north/ 105/ pontefractcastle.html). Address: Castle Chain, Pontefract, W F 8 1 QH; Tel: 01 977 723440; For school visits Tel: 01924 305902. WARWICK CASTLE was built on the site of an old AngloSaxon burh, established in the year 914 to defend the Kingdom of

Mercia against the marauding Danes. The legend mentions the fact that the construction of the fortifications was instigated by Ethefleda, daughter of the famous Anglo - Saxon King of Mercia Alfred the Great (871- 899). Its position allowed it to dominate the crossing over the River Avon. It became a Norman Castle in 1068 to maintain control of the Midlands. During the War of the Roses (1455- 1485), it was the ownership of Richard Neville, also known as Warwick the Kingmaker and the place where King Edward IV (1461- 1470; 14711483) was imprisoned. (Britains Most Amazing Places: 220) Warwick Castle has been compared with WINDSOR CASTLE in terms of scale, cost, and status (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick Castle). To find out more information, please call at: 870 442 2393. Warwick Castle Privilege Pass Prices: Adults: 34.00; Child (4- 16 years inclusive): 20.00; Family (2 adults + 2 children): 95.00; Family (2 adults + 3 children): 120.00. The expression an Englishmans home is his castle was first quoted in 1623, demonstrating that the purpose of the castle was shifting away from the purely defensive. In time, their military use declined. The English castles also became the symbol of lost chivalry to the Romantics of the seventeenth century. Nineteenth - century Gothic inspiration prompted the building of Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire,

its stones brought by pack mule from the Forest of Dean at great expense. (Sue Clifford & Angela King: 73) MONUMENTS. Most monuments serve in remembrance of wars and battles. For this reason, they tend to be about power. The deeds of the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Nelson were the subject of innumerable tribute structures in the early 19th century. Londons Trafalgar Square, with Nelsons Column being the most important one. (Sue Clifford & Angela King: pg. 285) Meaning may be lost but monuments may continue as simple landmarks. Somerset has its 175foot- high Wellington Monument (c.1817), an obelisque that overlooks the Vale of Taunton Deane. Tenantry Alnwick Column in Northumberland has 83- foot- high Tenantry Column topped with its famous horizontal- tailed lion. (Ibid) MUSEUMS With antecedents in religious reliquaries and the rich mans cabinet of curiosities, the nations leading museums garner valuable objects from almost anywhere. A treasured few, however, celebrate the riches of their locality. For example: ceramics in Staffordshire; the writers gallery in Dorset county museum in Dorchester reveres the pens and paper that captured the words of Thomas Hardy, Sylvia Townsend Warner and the Powys brothers (= Powys, John Cowper 1872 - 1973, English novelist, essayist, and poet, who spent much of his life in the U. S. A. His novels include Wolf Solent, 1929; A Glastonbury Romance, 1932; and Owen Glendower, 1940 - Collins Dictionary of the English Language, William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd, 1979: 1150);

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum contains 50 historic buildings dating from 13th to 19th centuries, along with gardens, farm animals, walks and a lake; Natural History At Tring, so on (Sue Clifford & Angela King, Ibid.: 291) For example, Lawrence House Museum, Launcheston, is a fine Georgian House built in 1753, located in a street which was described of having the most perfect

collection of 18th century collection townhouse in Cornwall. (www.lawrencehousemuseum.org.u.k/). Local industries inspire specialist museums (shoes in Somerset; coal mining in Lancashire; mustard in Norwich; beer in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire; in Herefordshire- a natural history collection; the Venerable Bede and the Viking invaders are commemorated in different museums from Dorset, Northumberland, Westmoreland and York, so on). Industrial monuments dot the countryside, from the Ironbridge in Shropshire to Arkwrights water - powered cotton spinning mill in Derbyshire. (Ibid, pg. 292) THE MUSEUM OF TECHNOLOGY (HEREFORDSHIRE) It is open in weekdays, weekends, or evenings by prior arrangement. It offers guided tours, including demonstrations of some exhibits, either for individuals or for groups of up to 10 people. Children under 18 and vulnerable people must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Tel: 01442 2622541 or 01442 218381; Fax: 01442 266948. Address 81 High Street, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HPI 3 AH (www. hertsmuseums.org.uk ) LYME REGIS MUSEUM. This museum is situated in the very place where the beautiful coastlines of Dorset and Devon meet. It was built in 1900-1901. Lymes lively history is well represented by maritime and domestic objects, and illustrated by paintings, prints and photographs. The area is noted for its fossils, displayed in our geological galleries, and the towns literary connections, from Jane

Austen to John Fowles, are illustrated in the Writers Gallery. The museum has been run almost entirely by volunteers, a tradition that the local people still cherish today. Opening Times: Easter to 31 October- Monday to Saturday: 10,00 - 17.00; Sunday: 11.00 - 17.00; 1 November to Easter - Wednesday to Sunday 11.00- 16.00 (and daily

in school holidays). Admission: Adults: 3.00; Children accompanied by adults FREE. Concessions (Seniors and Young Persons) 2.50; Friends of the Museum plus one guest FREE. Disabled visitors who will not be able to access the upper floors are welcome free of charge. Email: info@lymeregismuseum.co.uk. Lyme Regis Philpot Museum Bridge Street- Lyme Regis- DT7 3 QA; Tel: 0129744337. (www. lymeregismuseum. co.uk )

GLOSSARY: to replace = a nlocui hill = colin, deal, munte mai mic, oast, povrni grand = mare, grandiose, mre, sublim edifice = cldire surroundings = anturaj, mediu, ambia, mprejurimi, vecinti to grow, grew, grown = a crete, a germina, a ncoli palisade = ntritur, palisad (obstacol folosit la lucrrile de fortificaie mai vechi, alctuii din pari groi i lungi btui n pmnt, legai ntre ei cu scnduri, frnghii i avnd, de obicei, ntre spaii mpletituri de nuiele de mrcini i srm ghimpat bailey = curte interioar (n castelele feudale) mound = movil, dmb, rambleu (rambleu = material solid alctuit din buci de roc, care servete la umplerea golurilor rmase ntr-o min n urma exploatrii siege = asediu, mpresurare keep = (istoric) turn, nchisoare foundation = fundaie, temelie, aezmnt guide = ghid; carte pentru turiti, ghid to guide = a ghida, a cluzi rate = numr proporional, cantitate, mrime proporional; coeficient, grad de. vault = bolt, arcad, peter, grot, cavou roof = acoperi, nvelitoare a casei to roof = a acoperi (o cas); a primi, a adposti retired = pensionar, concession = concesie, nguduire

to lodge = a adposti, a rmne, a locui to cherish = a ngriji week-day = zi lucrtoare blacksmith = fierar, potcovar to site = a plasa, a situa; a fi situate, a fi plasat to carve = a ciopli ( n lemn ), a spa ( n piatr ) prior = anterior, precedent,; mai nainte, mai nti borough = ora mai mic; orel specialist = specialist, meter, expert to maraud = a prda maraud = expediie de jaf deed = fapt, act, aciune landmark = punct de reper to overlook = a te uita/ a privi peste. top = parte superioar to revere = a venera, a onora, a respecta to display = a expune Georgian = Epoca georgian ( = se refer la epoca celor patru regi ce au purtat numele de George, care au aparinut dinastiei germane de Hanovra i care au domnit n Marea Britanie ntre anii 1714 1830 Collins Dictionary of the English Language, William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., 1979: 609) to revere = a venera, a onora, a respecta tribute = tribut, omagiu domestic = ( adjectiv ) casnic, domestic to prompt = a mdemna, a mboldi, a sugera, a insufla prompt = (adjective) prompt pack = pachet, balot, legtur, boccea, rani mule = catr chivalry = cavalerism, cavalerie to dot = a puncta ( o linie, un desen ), a pune punct cotton = bumbac to spin, span, spun = a fila, a toarce; a rsuci a nvrti, a roti; a se roti, a se nvrti, a se rsuci; a spune, a nira ( o povestire ) mill = moar TESTS:

TRUE/FALSE: 1. Colchester Castle in less than 1000 years old. 2. The English monuments refer to the deeds of Duke of Wellington and Admiral Nelson 3. Lyme Regis Museum, which is a technology museum in Herefordshire, was built in 1900- 1901 4. Pomfret Castle was a Norman fortress built up in the 11th century 1) .F; 2) T; 3) F; 4) T; 5) T MULTIPLE CHOICE: 1) Richard Neville or Warwick the Kingmaker lived at . a) Pomfret Castle; b) Lawrence House; c) Warwick Castle 2. was murdered at Pomfret Castle in 1400. a) King George I-st; b) King Henry IV-th Boligbroke; c) King Richard II-nd 3) Richard II-nd was a Chronicle Play written by: a) John Powys Cowper; b) Edgar Allan Poe; c) William Shakespeare 4) The name Pomfret comes from Latin, meaning: a) Now and always; b) broken bridge; c) an Anglo- Saxon burh 5) Lawrence House Museum is a: a) an old medieval Norman castle;

b) a local museum about shoes and beer; c) a fine Georgian House built in 1753 6) The writers gallery in Dorchester revers the pens and paper that captured the words of: a) Charles Dickens; b) Thomas Hardy, Sylvia Townsend Warner and the Powys brothers; c) The Duke of Windsor. Key: 1) c; 2) c; 3) c; 4) b; 5)

UNITED KINGDOM INSTITUTIONS POLITICAL LIFE

The monarchy of the United Kingdom (commonly referred to as the British monarchy,) is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom. In a constitutional monarchy, an elected Parliament makes and passes laws, and the Sovereign plays a ceremonial and representational role. 11A constitutional monarchy is a form of constitutional government, wherein either an elected or hereditary monarch is the head of state, unlike in an absolute monarchy, wherein the king or the queen is the sole source of political power, as he or she is not legally bound by the national constitution. The constitutional monarchy's government and its law are the government and the law of a limited monarchy. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties. As a constitutional monarch, the Queen is limited to non-partisan functions such as bestowing honours. Though the ultimate executive authority over the government of the United Kingdom is still by and through the monarch's royal prerogative, in practice these powers are only used according to laws enacted in Parliament or within the constraints of convention and precedent. On the whole, the Queen must follow the advice of government ministers. Britain is governed by Her Majestys Government in the name of the Queen.

11

The Queen greets the crowds outside Buckingham Palace following her Coronation Royal Prerogative The Queen is Head of State and an important symbol of national unity in the United Kingdom. Her official title in the UK is "Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith". As a constitutional monarch, The Queen does not 'rule' the country, but fulfils important ceremonial and formal roles with respect to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and the devolved assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some of the government's executive authority is theoretically and nominally vested in the Sovereign, and is known as the Royal Prerogative. The monarch acts within the constraints of convention and precedent, only exercising prerogative on the advice of ministers responsible to Parliament, often through a body called the Privy Council. In practice, prerogative powers are only exercised on the Prime Minister's advicethe Prime Minister, and not the Sovereign, exercises control. The monarch holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister. The monarch may express his or her views, but, as a constitutional ruler, must ultimately accept the decisions of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (providing they command the support of the House). In Bagehot's words (the constitutional writer): "the Sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy ... three rightsthe right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn." Although the

Royal Prerogative is extensive and parliamentary approval is not formally required for its exercise, it is limited. For example, the monarch cannot impose and collect new taxes; such an action requires the authorization of an Act of Parliament. According to a parliamentary report, "The Crown cannot invent new prerogative powers", and Parliament can override any prerogative power by passing legislation. The Royal Prerogative includes the powers to appoint and dismiss ministers, regulate the civil service, issue passports, declare war, make peace, direct the actions of the military, and negotiate and ratify treaties, alliances, and international agreements. The monarch is commander in chief of the Armed Forces (the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force), accredits British High Commissioners and ambassadors, and receives diplomats from foreign states. It is the prerogative of the monarch to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament. Each parliamentary session begins with the monarch's summons. The new parliamentary session is marked by the State Opening of Parliament, during which the Sovereign reads the Speech from the Throne in the Chamber of the House of Lords, outlining the Government's legislative agenda. The Queen is also Fount of Justice, from whom justice in the United Kingdom derives, and has important relationships with the Armed Forces and the established Churches of England and Scotland. Constitutional role In the uncodified Constitution of the United Kingdom legislative power is exercised by the two Houses of Parliament, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Sovereign is the ceremonial Head of State. Oaths of allegiance are made to the Queen, and her lawful successors. God Save the Queen (or God Save the King) is the British national anthem, and the monarch appears on postage stamps, coins, and banknotes. As a constitutional monarch, the Sovereign's role is largely limited to non-partisan functions, such as granting honors. This role has been recognized since the 19th century; the

constitutional writer Walter Bagehot identified the monarchy in 1867 as the "dignified part" rather than the "efficient part" of government. The English Bill of Rights of 1689 curtailed the monarch's governmental power. Whitehall the seat of government Her Majestys Government governs in the name of the Queen, and its hub, Downing Street, lies in Whitehall, a short walk from Parliament. Following a general election, the Queen invites the leader of the majority (or largest, in the absence of an overall majority) party represented in the Commons, to form a government on her behalf. Government ministers are invariably members of the House of Commons, but infrequently members of the House of Lords are appointed. These are at a disadvantage since it is in the Commons that the government is expected to explain its conduct of affairs. All government ministers, even the Prime Minister, who are members of the Commons, continue to represent the parliamentary constituencies which elected them. Westminster the seat of Parliament Her Majestys Government, in spite of its name, derives its authority and power from its party representation in Parliament. While the government machinery is frequently referred to as Whitehall, Parliament is known as Westminster, since it is housed in the Palace of Westminster, once a home of the monarchy. Like the monarchy, Parliament is also an ancient institution, dating from the middle of the thirteenth century. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. It alone has parliamentary sovereignty, conferring it ultimate power over all other political bodies in the UK and its territories. At its head is the Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. Parliament is an essential part of UK politics. Its main roles are: Examining and challenging the work of the government (scrutiny) Debating and passing all laws (legislation) Enabling the government to raise taxes

 Discussing important political issues Free from the constraints of a written constitution, Parliament may make any laws it pleases. It could even prolong its own life without consulting the electorate, if it chose to do so. Thus Parliament, rather than the will of the people, is clearly the real sovereign power in the state. The life of a Parliament is not fixed, and the government of the day may call for a general election at any time during its five-year term. The parliament is bicameral, with an upper house, the House of Lords, and a lower house, the House of Commons. The Queen is the third component of Parliament. Parliament is the seat of democracy, but it is worth remembering that while the House of Lords was created in order to provide a council of the nobility for the king, the Commons were summoned originally in order to provide the king with money. The more money a king demanded, the more the Commons questioned its use. The House of Lords includes two different types of members: the Lords Spiritual (the senior bishops of the Church of England) and the Lords Temporal (members of the Peerage); its members are not elected by the population at large but are appointed by past or current governments. The House of Commons is a democratically elected chamber with elections to it held at least every 5 years. The two Houses meet in separate chambers in the Palace of Westminster (commonly known as the "Houses of Parliament"), in the City of Westminster in London. By constitutional convention, all government ministers, including the Prime Minister, are members of the House of Commons or, less often, the House of Lords, and are thereby accountable to the respective branches of the legislature. The work of the two Houses is similar: making laws (legislation), checking the work of the government (scrutiny), and debating current issues. The House of Commons is also responsible for granting money to the government through approving Bills that raise taxes. Generally, the decisions made in one House have to be approved by the other. In this way the two-chamber system acts as a check and balance for both Houses.

House of Commons The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and represents its dynamic power. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 659 members, who are known as "Members of Parliament" or MPs. The Commons is publicly elected. The party with the largest number of members in the Commons forms the government. Members of the Commons (MPs) debate the big political issues of the day and proposals for new laws. The Commons alone is responsible for making decisions on financial Bills, such as proposed new taxes. The Lords can consider these Bills but cannot block or amend them. House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". It is not democratic in any sense at all. Members of the House of Lords are mostly appointed by the Queen, a fixed number are elected internally and a limited number of Church of England archbishops and bishops sit in the House. The Lords acts as a revising chamber for legislation and its work complements the business of the Commons. The House of Lords is also the highest court in the land: the supreme court of appeal. A group of salaried, full-time judges known as Law Lords carries out this judicial work. The party system The political party system has evolved since the eighteenth century, and since the first half of the nineteenth century has been essentially a two-party system. Today, this two-party contest is between the Conservative Party (still known by their previous nickname, the Tories) and the Labour Party, which emerged at the end of the nineteenth century as a result of the introduction of universal suffrage and the decline of the Liberal Party. The Conservative Party is the party of the Right, identified with the idea of economic freedom and until 1979 with the idea of resistance to change. It gives emphasis to the importance of law and order, and the maintenance of strong armed forces to protect British interests. The Labour Party is preeminently the party of social justice, though its emphasis is less on equality than on the achievement of well-being and opportunity for all members of the society.

The Liberal Party, which traces its origins to the eighteenth century Whigs, merged with the new Social Democratic Party in 1988 to become the Liberal Democrats, after fighting the 1987 election unsuccessfully as an alliance of both parties. It is the party keenest on constitutional and electoral reform. It also prides itself on being less tied to either capitalist or union interests, and being free to offer more radical policies. Queen and Prime Minister The Queen has a special relationship with the Prime Minister, the senior political figure in the British Government, regardless of their political party. Although she is a constitutional monarch who remains politically neutral, The Queen retains the ability to give a regular audience to a Prime Minister during his or her term of office, and plays a role in the mechanics of calling a general election. The Queen gives a weekly audience to the Prime Minister at which she has a right and a duty to express her views on Government matters. If either The Queen or the Prime Minister are not available to meet, then they will speak by telephone. These meetings, as with all communications between The Queen and her Government, remain strictly confidential. Having expressed her views, The Queen abides by the advice of her ministers. Windsor Castle

111111

Glossary constitutional monarchy = monarhie constituional

sole source of political power = surs exclusiv de putere politic bestow honors = a acorda onoruri enact = a decreta, a legifera constraint = condiie, constrngere on the whole = n general prerogative = drept sau privilegiu aparinnd unei anumite persoane sau unui anumit grup ca urmare a importanei sau a poziiei sociale United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland = Regatul Unit al Marii Britanii i al Irlandei de Nord Wales = ara Galilor summon = a convoca Fount of Justice = Liter de Lege House of Lords = Camera Lorzilor House of Commons = Camera Comunelor allegiance = credin, supunere oath of allegiance = jurmnt de credin Bill of Rights = Cart a Drepturilor Omului curtail = a restrnge constituency = alegtori, corp electoral legislative body = organ/corp legislative peerage = aristocraie, nobilime Lords Temporal = membri laici ai Camerei Lorzilor The Conservative Party = Partidul Conservator The Labour Party = Partidul Laburist grant dissolution = a aprobarea dizolvarea Bibliography www.royal.gov.uk www.parliament.uk www.open.gov.uk www.conservative-party.org.uk www.labour.org.uk www.royalnetwork.com www. wikipedia.com

European Union - a mixed jurisdiction

European Court the location of the Supreme Court

of

Justice,

Luxemburg

Since European Union has brought together different legal system under a single legislature, the phrase mixed jurisdiction has been used to best define the mixed European legal system, which has adopted laws and directives that have taken precedence over national laws. Considering the two major legal traditions in Europe the civil law of the continental countries and the common law of England, Wales and Ireland we shall see how different authors defined the notion of mixed jurisdiction. The classic definition of a mixed jurisdiction of nearly one hundred years ago was that of F. P. Walton: Mixed jurisdictions are legal systems in which the RomanoGermanic tradition has become suffused to some degree by Anglo-

American law. This is not too different from the modern definition of a mixed legal system given by Robin Evans-Jones: What I describe by the use of this term in relation to modern Scotland is a legal system which, to an extensive degree, exhibits characteristics of both the civilian and the English common law traditions. In his article about mixed jurisdictions, William Tetley considers that both Walton and Evans-Jones are referring to common law/civil law mixed legal systems which stem from two or more legal traditions. He says that: Mixed jurisdictions are really political units (countries or their political subdivisions) which have mixed legal systems. and goes on to enumerate the common law/civil law mixed jurisdictions in the world, which include Louisiana, Qubec, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia), Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), and Scotland. (William Tetley - Mixed jurisdictions: common law vs. civil law (codified and uncodified) http://www.unidroit.org/english/publications/review/articles/19993.htm) EU law is a part of English law

Middlesex Guidehall, London

The European Union consists mainly of countries which use civil law and so the civil law system is also in England in this form. Still, it is well known that the English law is based on a common law legal tradition. The European Court of Justice can direct English and Welsh courts on the meaning of areas of law in which the EU has passed legislation. Having all this in mind, lets review the essence of the English law: English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countries and the United States (as opposed to civil law or pluralist systems in other countries, such as Scots law). It was exported to Commonwealth countries while the British Empire was established and maintained, and it forms the basis of the jurisprudence of most of those countries. English law prior to the American revolution is still part of the law of the United States, except in Louisiana, and provides the basis for many American legal traditions and policies, though it has no superseding jurisdiction. The essence of English common law is that it is made by judges sitting in courts, applying their common sense and knowledge of legal precedent (stare decisis) to the facts before them. A decision of the highest appeal court in England and Wales, the House of Lords, is binding on every other court in the hierarchy, and they will follow its directions. For example, there is no statute making murder illegal. It is a common law crime - so although there is no written Act of Parliament making murder illegal, it is illegal by virtue of the constitutional authority of the courts and their previous decisions. Common law can be amended or repealed by Parliament; murder, by way of example, carries a mandatory life sentence today, but had previously allowed the death penalty. England and Wales are constituent countries of the United Kingdom, which is a member of the European Union. Hence, EU law is a part of English law. The European Union consists mainly of countries which use civil law and so the civil law system is also in England in this form. The European Court of Justice can direct English and Welsh

courts on the meaning of areas of law in which the EU has passed legislation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_common_law) European labour law The European labour laws have been enacted in the national legislations of all member states; we have chosen only one example, illustrative of the changes in the UK employment law: The European Working Time Directive limited the maximum length of a working week to 48 hours in 7 days, and a minimum rest period of 11 hours in each 24 hours. Like all EU Directives, this is an instrument which requires member states to enact its provisions in national legislation. Although the directive applies to all member states, in the UK it is possible to opt out of the 48 hour working week in order to work longer hours. In contrast, France has passed more strict legislation, limiting the maximum working week to 35 hours (but optional hours are still possible). British labour law

The vast majority of employment law before 1960 was based upon the Law of Contract. Since then there has been a significant expansion primarily due to the equality movement and the European Union. There are three sources of Law: Acts of Parliament called Statutes, Statutory Regulations (made by a Secretary of State under and Act of Parliament) and Case Law (developed by various Courts). The first significant modern day Employment Law Act was the Equal Pay Act of 1970 although as it was a somewhat radical concept it did not come into effect until 1972. This act was introduced as part of a concerted effort to bring about equality for women in the workplace. Since the election of the Labour Government in 1997, there have been many changes in UK employment law. These include enhanced maternity and paternity rights, the introduction of a National Minimum Wage and the Working Time Directive which covers

working time, rest breaks and the right to paid annual leave. Discrimination law has also been tightened, with protection from discrimination now available on the grounds of age, religion or belief and sexual orientation as well as gender, race and disability. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_law)

A Working Student in the EU If you want to become a working student in EU or UK, you should know what a student visa is and what requirements are to be fulfilled before getting one. The following material will be quite informative for you: Today, the easiest way for an expat to get into the EU is with the use of a Student Visa. A student Visa not only affords the individual the right to stay in a specific country, it also provides the individual with a chance to work. Of course, there are a lot of requirements to fulfill before one is awarded a student visa. First and foremost, the prospective student must present proof that he/she is enrolled in an EU school. This proof could be the students enrolment slip. The schools may also assist their future students in attaining a student Visa. Another requirement attached with a student Visa is that the student needs to have a certain amount of money to their name. This is practiced by most EU countries, although the amount required can vary from one EU country to another. This protocol ensures the government that the student applying for Visa can support themselves while they are in the EU. This is also an assurance that the student has something to go back to and that they wont stay as illegal expats. In most countries in the EU, students are allowed to work. But, they are restricted to a set number of hours a week. After all, a student has travelled abroad to the EU to study and not to work. Some EU countries also offer their students health coverage. The UK offers students basic health coverage, plus dental.

Skilled Migration immigration policy If you consider yourself a skilled professional, here are some useful information about how the EU countries and particularly UK have implemented new immigration laws to ease the skilled expats access to work: There is a new trend among EU countries and they are following in the steps of Canada and Australia. This trend is point based immigration. Some EU countries including the UK are modifying their immigration laws to make it easier for skilled expats to gain work in the country. France is also doing the same thing. As long as expats meet the skill category set by the country they can get work permits without much hassle. Some skilled expats may enter the UK without a job offer. As long as they prove to be an asset to the UK, they can get a work permit. These include business men, skilled artists, CEOs, etc. Other expats and foreigners still need job offers before they can be given work permits. (http://www.workandliveabroad.com/article_item.php?articleid=

Experts rank London as one of the best overall places to do business in Europe. The UK capital alone is home to over 300,000 Americans. The country has among the most complex, but also pro-active immigration policies in Europe. It was the first to introduce a pointsbased talented migrant scheme, and many other countries in the European Union look to the UK for inspiration. The UK has the most possibilitieshttp://www.diyexpat.com/test.html of any country in the European Union for expats, shows the most depth of any countrys job markets and gives the most clear road to those who would like to stay long-term. The UK's system of work permits, eased work permits and

Green Cards is among the most complex in Europe. For example, work permit applications can be processed in one or two weeks. If authorities want to be sure that no qualified local workers exist, then it takes longer. Some jobs, in shortage areas, for example, haven't needed to meet this requirement. If your qualifications are enough, then you may be able to get a Green Card which allows you to receive work and residency permits without having a job already set up. Individuals apply for this card, not companies. (http://www.diyexpat.com/country%20guide/uk.html) Glossary legal precedent the House of Lords mandatory life sentence to adjudicate to enact provisions European labour law National Minimum Wage Working Time Directive annual leave students enrolment slip illegal expat health coverage point based immigration precedent juridic Camera Lorzilor sentin obligatorie de nchisoare pe via a (ad)judeca, a da o sentin, un verdict a adopta prevederi legale Dreptul european al muncii Salariul minim pe economie Directiva timpului de lucru concediu anual formular de nscriere (al studentului) expatriat, emigrant ilegal asigurare medical

politic de imigrare pe baz de puncte (care favoriz experii sau specialitii unui anumit domeniu)

work permit pro-active policies

carte de munc immigration strategii pro-active de imigrare facilitarea obinerii permiselor de munc cerere de obinere a crii de munc permis de reziden

eased work permits work permit application residency permit Choose the correct answer:

1. The legal system used in England, Wales and Ireland is called .. . a) civil law b) common law c) European law d) international law 2. The European Union consists mainly of countries which use: a) civil law b) common law c) mixed jurisdiction d) English law 3. is still part of the law of the United States, except in Louisiana, and provides the basis for many American legal traditions and policies, though it has no superseding jurisdiction. a) Roman law b) European law c) English law d) international law 4. The European Working Time Directive is an instrument which refers to: a) the introduction of a National Minimum Wage b) maternity, paternity leaves and health coverage c) the length of working time and the right to paid annual leave d) the frequency of coffee breaks 5. A student Visa entitles the working student in EU to the following rights: a) the right to stay in a specific country and the right to get a job

b) the right to apply for citizenship and the right to study in a specific country d) the right to health coverage and the right to become an illegal expat

1. b, 2. A, 3. C, 4. C, 5 a

Business and Economy Great Britain is one of the world's major economic powers, with an economy based mainly on manufacturing, foreign trade, and a wide range of international business and commercial activities, such as banking and insurance. Considering its total gross domestic product (GDP) and the market exchange rates, UK is the fifth largest economy in the world and the second largest in Europe after Germany. The UK economy is made up (in descending order of size) of the economies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. UKs capital, London, is Europe's largest financial centre and one of the world's three largest financial centres alongside New York and Tokyo. Britain was the home of the Industrial Revolution and for many years was the world's richest and most industrialized nation. In the 20th century, however, British trade and manufacturing lost the supremacy that once enabled Britain to be called the workshop of the world. Some of the causes that led to this situation were competition from developing countries, the worldwide depression of the 1930's, the high cost of two world wars, the increasing obsolescence of factories and equipment as well as the loss of a far-flung empire.

However, large-scale exploitation of huge petroleum deposits in Britain's part of the North Sea, which began in 1974, has greatly aided the economy. In addition, modernization programs in key industries, such as iron, steel and coal, as well as membership in the European Union have contributed to Britain's long-term economic improvement. Services

www.photographlondon.com Canary Wharf

www.photographlondon.com The City of London

www.photographlondon.com The Docklands

The service sector has grown substantially and accounts by far for the largest proportion of UKs GDP, that is about 73%. The service sector is dominated by the financial services, especially in banking and insurance. London is the world's largest financial centre and it houses the London Stock Exchange, the Bank of England and Lloyds of London insurance market, all based in the City of London. The Docklands began development in the 1980s as an alternative financial centre for the City of London and is now

home to the Financial Services Authority, as well as for many of the worlds important financial institutions. The City has the greatest concentration of banks in the world and is responsible for about a quarter of international bank lending. Even many of the multinational companies that are not primarily UK-based have chosen to site their European or rest-ofworld headquarters in London.

www.bankofengland.co.uk/edu cation the Bank of England

www.photographlondon.com Lloyds of London

www.photographlondon.com Paternoster Square with London Stock Exchange, on the right side of the picture

Lloyds of London insures everything from houses to ships through its underwriters, insurance specialists who accept the risk on behalf of groups of members who are responsible for meeting any insurance claims. Lloyds currently receives 8 million pounds in payments each year, 75 percent from outside Britain. The London Stock Exchange or LSE is nowadays UKs Stock Exchange and its current premises are situated in Paternoster Square, close to St Pauls Cathedral in the City of London. Since it was founded in 1801, LSE has undergone numberless changes. The most important one is known as Big Bang effect.

The phrase Big Bang, (never "the Big Bang") used in reference to the sudden deregulation of financial markets, was coined to describe a set of dramatic measures including the abolition of the distinction between stockjobbers and stockbrokers on the London Stock Exchange by the United Kingdom government in 1986. Big Bang was so called because the abolition of fixed commission charges precipitated a complete alteration in the structure of the market. One of the biggest alterations to the market was the change from open-outcry to electronic, screen-based trading. Other reforms were also enacted at the same time. The effects of Big Bang were extremely dramatic and they linked London much more closely with the other major international financial centres in Tokyo and New York, to the point where London Stock Exchange is arguably the world's most important banking centre. The Bank of England is Britains central reserve bank. It controls other British banks, issues banknotes (although the Scottish banks still issue their own notes), and acts as the governments banker. The currency of the UK is the pound sterling, represented by the symbol . Opinion polls show that the large majority of Britons still oppose joining the euro. Government involvement throughout the economy is exercised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer who heads HM Treasury, but the Prime Minister is First Lord of the Treasury; the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the Second Lord of the Treasury. Since 1997, the Bank of Englands Monetary Policy Committee, headed by the Governor of the Bank of England, has been responsible for setting interest rates at the level necessary to achieve the overall inflation target for the economy that is set by the Chancellor each year. Manufacturing Manufacturing remains a significant part of the economy, but accounted for only one-sixth of national output in 2003.

The British motor industry is a significant part of this sector, although it has diminished a lot with the collapse of the MG Rover Group and most of the industry is foreign owned. Traditionally, British manufacturing has been dominated by industries producing such items as textiles, motor vehicles, industrial machinery, iron and steel. Although these industries remain important, manufacturing in Britain underwent a shift in emphasis during the 1970's and 1980's and is now dominated by high-technology industries such as those producing optical fibers, communication and navigation equipment, computers, electrical instruments, and aviation equipment. Civil and defence aircraft production is led by the United Kingdom's largest aerospace firm, BAE Systems, and the continental European firm EADS, the owner of Airbus. Rolls-Royce holds a major share of the global aerospace engines market. Other important manufacturing industries include those producing plastics, processed foods, and printed materials. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is strong in the UK, with the world's second and sixth largest pharmaceutical firms (GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca respectively) being based in the UK. Britain is also known for some of its specialty products, including glassware, china, and whisky. Agriculture About 80 per cent of Britain's total area is used for agriculture. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. Britain's damp climate and hilly terrain make much of the country well suited to hay production and grazing. Consequently, livestock and livestock products, especially meat and milk, account for most of the farm income. Many of the world's finest breeds of livestock were developed in Britain. Most of the cropland is in the south and the east, where the terrain and soils are better suited to tillage than elsewhere. Cereals,

particularly barley and wheat, sugar beets, rapeseed, and potatoes are the chief field crops. Also produced in large amounts are vegetables, especially cabbages and carrots. Apples are the most widely grown and abundantly produced fruit. Fishing A long coastline and easy access to the sea have helped make Britain a prominent fishing nation. Fleets from hundreds of coastal cities and towns fish the adjacent waters, especially the North Sea, which is one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world. Seafood has long been a popular food in Britain and an important part of the nation's food supply. Cod, haddock, plaice, herring, mackerel, whiting, and shellfish make up most of the catch. Fish farming of salmon and rainbow trout is also important. Among the busiest fishing ports are Brixham, Grimsby, Newlyn, North Shields, and Lowestoft in England; Milford Haven in Wales; and Aberdeen in Scotland. Trade With insufficient food production and few raw materials, Britain is heavily dependent on international trade. The greatest trading bloc consists of the countries of Western Europe, which account for more than half of Britain's foreign trade. The bulk of it is with other members of the European Union, especially Germany, France, and the Netherlands. There is also considerable trade with the United States and with members of the Commonwealth of Nations, especially Canada and Australia. Transportation

www.photographlondon.com Victoria Station

www.photographlondon.com Heathrow Airport

www.photographlondon.com Channel Tunnel

Britain has well-developed land, sea, and air transportation systems. The railway system, called British Rail, offers freight and passenger service throughout Britain. Some of the best rail service in Europe is provided by high-speed passenger trains between London and certain of the other major cities. The Channel Tunnel (completed in 1994) provides a rail link between Folkestone, England and Calais, France. Road transport accounts for the largest share of passenger and freight traffic in Britain. Especially notable are the high-speed limited-access highways called motorways. Great Britain has long been a leading maritime nation. Its merchant marine is one of the largest in the world. Some of its major ports are London, the biggest, followed by Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, and Southampton. Air service is provided by British Airways, which flies domestic and international routes, and by several other privately owned airlines. Heathrow Airport, near London, is the world's busiest international terminal. Tourism

Great Britain's tourist industry is one of the largest in Europe. The main attractions are London, the beauty of the countryside, and the country's many historic places. According to recent studies, London is the most visited city in the world with 15.6 million visitors in 2006, ahead of 2nd placed Bangkok (10.4 million visitors) and 3rd placed Paris (9.7 million).

References: 1. Britain Explored, Paul Harvey and Rhodri Jones, Pearson Education Limited, Essex, England, 2002 2. Britain in Close-Up- An In-Depth Study of Contemporary England, David McDowall, Pearson Education Limited, Essex, England, 2000 3. www.bbc.co.uk 4. www.questia.com 5. www.visitbritain.com 6. www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/uk.html 7. www.statistics.gov.uk 8. www.photograph-london.com 9. www.pearsonlongman.com/dictionaries

GLOSSARY

Chancellor of the Exchequer- the senior finance minister in the British government and a member of the prime minister's cabinet. damp climate- slightly wet climate far-flung - distributed over a wide area; far distant or remote First Lord of the Treasury- the British cabinet minister responsible for economic strategy

obsolescence- Obsolescence is an object's attribute of losing value because the outside world has changed. Obsolescence is a source of price depreciation underwriter- an insurance agent who assesses the risk of enrolling an applicant for coverage or a policy; one that guarantees the purchase of a full issue of stocks or bonds.

EXERCISES: Fill in the blanks with the right missing words: 1. The greatest concentration of banks in the world is located in.. a. New York b. Tokyo c. The City of London

2. At present, the largest and most modern airport in UK is a. Luton Airport b. Heathrow Airport c. Manchester Airport 3. Canary Wharf is the name of . a. a famous theatre in London b. the tallest building in the UK b. the English Stock Exchange

4. The Bank of Englands Monetary Policy Committee is headed by

a. The Chancellor of the Exchequer b. The Governor of the Bank of England c. The First Lord of the Treasury 5. The Bank of England is located in.. a. Victoria Square b. Trafalgar Square c. Paternoster Square

Answer Key: 1c; 2b; 3b; 4b; 5c

EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM The education system in the United Kingdom is an old and respected entity which encompasses many subjects. It is important to note that some of the best schools and universities in the European Union such as Eton, Oxford and Cambridge are located in the UK. Universities in England are ranked in the top ten Higher Education Institutions in the world by Times Magazine. The concept of Lifelong Learning, continuing education for people of all ages is upheld in the United Kingdom and many courses and degrees are offered by local authorities, schools and universities. UK citizens are actively encouraged to develop new skills, update their exiting ones and acquire knowledge for professional as well as recreational purposes. Schools and Universities offer scholarships to deserving individuals of all ages and nationalities in order to encourage excellence and diversity among the students body.

There is no unitary system of education in the United Kingdom. Basically, there are two systems: one covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland and one covering Scotland. However the core organizational principles and the main examinations are the same all over the country. By law, all children between ages 5 and 16 must receive a full-time education which covers primary and secondary education. The UK introduced a National Curriculum in 1992 and state schools are required to adhere to it until students reach age 16. However, independent schools are not obliged to do so. After five years of secondary education, students take examinations in a range of subjects at the level of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). The GCSE is a single-subject examination set and marked by independent examination boards. Students usually take up to ten (there is no upper or lower limit) GCSE examinations in different subjects, including mathematics and English language. After taking GCSEs, students may leave secondary schooling; alternatively, they may choose to continue their education at vocational or technical colleges, or they may take a higher level of secondary school examinations known as AS-Levels after an additional year of study. Following two years of study, students may take A-Level (short for Advanced Level) examinations, which are required for university entrance in the UK. Higher education in Britain Higher education is education provided by universities and other institutions that award academic degrees, such as university colleges, and liberal arts colleges.

Higher Education in the UK is divided into two sectors: further education and higher education proper. Further Education is offered by schools or colleges to both children between the ages of sixteen and eighteen and adults and teaches skills valuable in the work market such as Communication and Technological skills or sometimes they prepare people for University admittance. Students who elect for this type of education receive a Vocational Diploma and Universities such as London Metropolitan University cooperate with employers from all the spectrum of the marketplace in order to impart useful skills. Higher Education is offered by Universities. People who go to University receive a degree after the completion of their studies. There are about ninety universities in England the most notable being Oxford and Cambridge known collectively as Oxbridge (AboutEnglishUniversities,http://www.ehow.com/about_4611677_en gland-universities.html).

These two institutions were established in the thirteenth century, and have a rich and distinguished history. They are currently ranked in the top ten best universities according to Times Magazine and they receive the best students from all over the world. Anyone may apply for a place at these universities and should they be considered suitable by the admissions committee they will receive both a place and in some cases financial help. The tuition fees of students from underprivileged backgrounds are paid entirely by the state.

Universities require a Royal Charter in order to issue degrees and all of them except Buckingham University are financed by the state. The state also caps the tuition universities charge in order to give the opportunity to people from all social backgrounds to pursue higher education. The Labor Government currently considers laws to curb the elitist admissions procedures at top universities and schools which favor people from privileged backgrounds who went as children to Grammar Schools and were able to study for A-Level in schools. Higher education includes both the teaching and the research activities of universities, and within the realm of teaching, it includes both the undergraduate level (sometimes referred to as tertiary education) and the graduate (or postgraduate) level (sometimes referred to as quaternary education). Approximately 1.8 million students are currently enrolled in the UK higher education system; about one third of young people go on to higher education at age 18 (with almost 50% of students in Scotland), and an increasing number of "mature" students are studying either full-time or part-time for university degrees. Higher education is a current policy priority for the government, with a target set to attract 50% of 18- to 30-year-olds to higher education by 2010. Undergraduate degrees take three years to complete in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while at Scottish universities they last four years. At the graduate level, a master's degree is normally earned in a single year, a research master's degree takes two years and a doctoral degree is often completed in three years. Professional courses, such as medicine, veterinary medicine, law and teaching, usually are undertaken as five-year undergraduate degrees. Many universities now offer a new type of first degree manly in the sciences and engineering which lasts for four years. For example Cambridge offers a four years first degree in Science which ends with a dissertation and the student receives at the completion of the program a Master of Natural Science. Students with high academic achievements are offered the opportunity to study for four years and receive a combined degree of both Bachelor and Masters. The students who elect to study for this type of degree also receive scholarships from the state which makes this degree both an attractive option and

due to high level of applications competitive admission. Universities in Scotland such as Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh normally offer four years first degrees in the Humanities Departments at the completion of which students receive a Masters degree.

UK universities are popular all over the world and about 270,000 foreign students come to study in England every year. While students from EU countries pay the same tuition fee as UK citizens 3000 pounds a year at state universities, students from non EU countries pay significantly higher tuition fees. One of the features which makes UK Universities so popular with people from all countries, backgrounds and cultures its the fact that high diversity and cultural exchanges are traditionally encouraged among the student body. The Open University is a very important Higher Education Institution in the UK. This university is a state founded Open Learning

institution and offers Distance Learning degrees at both undergraduate and Masters levels. UK citizens and people from all over the world study at The Open University and the most notable feature of The Open University is its inclusive admissions policy since it does not take into consideration students former academic achievements. This

university has offices in many EU countries and it is one of the largest universities in the world. The Open University is also rated the top Higher Education Institution for student satisfaction in England and Wales (http://www.open.ac.uk/). Degrees and Graduation There is a three-level hierarchy of degrees (Bachelor, Master, Doctor ) currently used in the United Kingdom. A graduate student (also, grad student or grad in American English, postgraduate student or postgrad in British English) is an individual who has completed a bachelor's degree (B.A., B.S./B.Sc., or another similar programme) and is pursuing further higher education, with the goal of achieving a master's degree (M.A., M.S./M.Sc., M.Ed., etc.) or doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.A., D.Sc., D.M.A., Th.D., etc.) Public schools in the UK. A public school, in common British usage, is a school which is usually prestigious and historic, which charges fees, does not arbitrarily restrict admissions, and is financed by bodies other than the state, commonly as a private charitable trust. Often but not always they are boarding schools. Confusingly to a non-native English speaker a public school is actually a private school! In British usage, a government-run school (which would be called a 'public school' in other areas, such as the United States) is called a state school.

I.

Exercises Decide if the following statements are true or false: 1. Universities in England are ranked in the top ten higher education institutions in the world by Times magazine. 2. Comprehensive schools are state founded. 3. All British pupils study until the age of eighteen. 4. There are very few foreign students in Britain. 5. There is a unitary system of education in the UK.

II.

Choose the correct answer: 6. Education in the UK is compulsory and free for children between __________: a. seven and eighteen. b. five and sixteen. c. seven and sixteen. 7. Students who wish to continue school from sixteen to eighteen must pass a(n) _________: a. general knowledge test b. national graduation test c. national A-level test. 8. Universities require a __________ in order to issue degrees. a. Royal Authorization b. Royal Charter c. Royal Decision

Ans. 1.T, 2.T, 3.F, 4.F, 5.F, 6.b, 7.c, 8.b.

Glossary A-levels = short form for advanced level examinations, which are need for university entrance in the UK. Life-long learning = continuing education for people of all ages. Royal Charter = official document which gives a British university the right to issue degrees. Higher education = advanced education, following after secondary education (highschool); it is also called tertiary education. Bachelor degree = higher education degree obtained after the completing undergraduate studies. Mandatory = compulsory. Realm = domain Tuition charge = fee paid for instruction, especially for higher education Encompass = include, have as one sphere, territory Uphold = stand up for something (a cause, principle).

Bibliografie http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/may/12 http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa-education-uk-system-k-12education.htm http://www.ox.ac.uk/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge Ranking of the most important 15 British Universities http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php?sort= TOTAL

1 Oxford (Humanities, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences) 2 Cambridge (Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, including Veterinary Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Technology) 3 Imperial College (Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College Business School (Research Groups: Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Organisation and Management, Finance and Accounting, Healthcare Management), Faculty of Natural Sciences) 4 London School of Economics Accounting and finance, Law, International relations, Management, Media and Communication, Sociology, Statistics 5 St Andrews Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Economics & Finance, English, English Language Teaching, Film Studies, Geography & Geosciences, History, International Relations, Management, Mathematics & Statistics, Medicine, Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Linguistics, Russian, Spanish), Physics & Astronomy, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) 6 Warwick (The University has 30 departments organised into four faculties: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social Studies) 7. University College London. Arts & Humanities, Engineering Sciences, Laws, Life Sciences, Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Social & Historical Sciences, Slavonic & East European Studies 8 Durham 9 York 10 Bristol 11 King's College London 12 Loughborough 13 Exeter 14 Leicester 15 Bath

MASS MEDIA IN BRITAIN The British are great newspaper readers. The sales of newspapers and readership figures are tremendous (millions per day). Newspapers are the oldest of the mass media. They started in Britain at the end of the seventeenth century. There are national daily newspapers and local newspapers (in the North of Great Britain, South, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). The daily newspapers are those that are published daily from Monday to Saturday, with morning papers and evening papers. The daily press in Great Britain is divided into two distinct groups : the quality press and the popular press. Quality newspapers are more serious, intended for few wellinformed readers. They are well-written, and speak about politics and current affairs. They are known as broadsheets, a term which refers to their big page size. Their style of writing is more formal. They are often split up into different sections. They state the facts and let the reader interpret them in their own way. The most important quality papers are: The Times, The Daily Telegraph,The Guardian and The

Independent. The Times, Britains oldest newspaper and best known outside the country, began in 1785 and has a high reputation for reliable news and serious comment on the news. It is an independent paper, not giving its support to a particular party, but it is slightly conservative.

Its leading articles (or leaders, as they are usually called) give the opinions of its editorial staff, not those of the owners of the paper. Popular papers have millions of readers. They address the lower classes, have fewer pages and shorter articles with big headlines and lots of illustrations. They are for those people who prefer entertainment to information. They are called tabloids (small size papers). Tabloids are easier to read and give opinions in their articles. The news that appears in their pages is not always the most important news; it is the news that will, in the editors opinion, be most interesting to the ordinary man. The most important tabloids (or popular papers) are: The Sun, Today, The Daily Mailand and The Daily Mirror. The popular newspapers (or tabloids) have much larger circulations than the serious newspapers (or broadsheets). Some papers come out only on Sundays and are known as Sunday papers. The Sunday papers are not Sunday editions of the daily papers, even if, as is sometimes the case, the owners are the same. The most important are: The Observer and The Sunday Times, and they have a high standing. The Sunday Times has no connection with the daily newspaper called The Times. The Observer, started in 1791, is the oldest Sunday paper published in Britain. The two London evening papers, Evening News and Evening Standard, are sold not only at the ordinary news agents shops and station bookstalls but they are also found at busy street corners, in piles. In addition to the London dailies, there are other papers, published in the provinces, in competition with the London papers, as The Guardian (published in Manchester), The Yorkshire Post (published in Leeds), and The Scotsman (Edinburgh). They have national circulations, and the quality of their writing and reporting gives them a national influence. The provincial newspapers give very

full

attention

to

local

as

well

as

to

national

affairs.

Many weekly, monthly and quarterly magazines are also published in Great Britain; they cover many different interests, activities and hobbies such as astrology, finance, computer, science, sports, and so on. RADIO. Radio broadcasting in Great Britain began in 1920 with Guglielmo Marconis experimental station, that broadcast daily half-

hour programmes for nearly three years. G.Marconi is credited with the discovery of radio in 1895. The BBC, i.e. the British Broadcasting Company, was formed in 1922. By 1925 BBC could be heard throughout most of the United Kingdom with a high mission, to educate, inform and entertain the whole nation, free from political interference and commercial pressure. In 1927, the British Broadcasting Company became the British Broadcasting Corporation. In 1932 it moved into the Broadcasting House, in Portland Place. On Christmas Day 1932, King George V gave the first royal broadcast to the Empire, scripted by

the writer Rudyard Kipling. Main BBC headquarters, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, Central London Today there are five nationwide radio stations operated by the BBC: - Radio 1 broadcasts pop music and programmes aimed at a young audience - Radio 2 broadcasts light listening programmes for all age groups.It is especially aimed at housewives and workers - Radio 3 broadcasts almost only classical music and a wide range of jazz at night - Radio 4 broadcasts news, current affairs, discussions, dramas, serials and quiz programmes - Radio 5 broadcasts live news and sports commentary with phone-in debates and studio guests

At one time, the BBC had a monopoly on radio in Britain, whereas today it has to compete with lots of commercial stations, both local and nationwide. TELEVISION. In 1936, the BBC opened the worlds first regular service of television from Alexandra Palace in North London. Like radio, the television service developed rapidly. On May 12, 1937, the coronation procession of King George VI was seen on television by 10,000 people. On June 2, 1953, a single event changed the course of television history. An estimated 22 million TV viewers many crowded into neighbours living rooms saw the young Queen Elisabeth IIs coronation. BBC Television Centre in West London opened in June 1960.The BBC is not an organ of the government, it is run by governors but there is little political control.

BBC Television Centre at White City, West London At present there are four television channels in Britain: two belong to the BBC and are: BBC 1, which broadcasts a wide range of programmes, and BBC 2, with a heavy accent on educational programmes. The BBC channels have no advertising. There are also two Independent Television channels : ITV (belonging to the Independent Television Authority, a commercial television company, set up in 1954), broadcasting programmes with a popular appeal, and Channel 4, a recent channel with artistic and cultural interests, established in 1980. There are also several satellite channels specializing in films, sports, cartoons, science, fashion, and many more. (adapted from: M.Farell, E.Klett, British Life and Institutions,Verlag,2000, and E.Caimi,J.Dolman,La Spiga Languages, Milan, 1998)

GLOSSARY B Bookstall, n, a stall or kiosk at which books, newspapers and magazines are sold, eg at a station Broadsheet, n., a newspaper printed on a large size of paper. C Cartoon, n, an amusing drawing in a newspaper or magazine, esp. one about politics or current events Circulation, n. the number of copies of a newspaper, magazine, etc. regularly sold to the public Comic strip (also strip cartoon), n, a sequence of drawings telling a story, printed in newspapers, etc. L Leader (lead article, leading article, US-lead story), n. a principal newspaper article by the editor, giving opinions on events, policies, etc.; an editorial M Magazine, n. (also infml mag), a type of large thin book with a paper cover, containing stories, pictures, etc. and issued usually every week or every month N Newsagent (US newsdealer) n. a shopkeeper who sells newspapers and magazines, and often sweets and cigarettes P Phone-in, n. a radio or television programme in which questions, comments, etc. made by ordinary people on the telephone are broadcast Q Quiz (pl. quizzes), n. a contest, especially on television or radio, in which people try to answer questions to test their knowledge R Reliable (news), adj. consistently good in quality or performance and able to be trusted S Standing, n., position or reputation T

Tabloid, n. and adj. (of a newspaper) having pages that are half the size of those of larger newspapers and usually containing light or popular news stories

GRILE 1. Leaders, in newspapers, are a. b. c. d. persons who own the newspaper editorials the first pages of the newspaper the sections in a newspaper

2. The circulation of a newspaper means a. that the newspaper is sold at the main bus stops b. the number of copies of a newspaper c. that a newspaper is printed in one million copies 3. BBC means today a. b. c. d. British Broadcasting Company British Broadcasting Circulation British Broadcasting Corporation Birmingham Broadcasting Corporation

4. Newspapers started in Britain a. in the sixteenth century b. after the World War II c. at the end of the seventeenth century d. after Marconi invented the radio e. 5. Quality newspapers are.. a. newspapers written on high-quality paper

b. newspapers considered as being for people with a high educational standard c. newspapers having high-quality pictures d. newspapers writing about very important events Answers : 1-b; 2-b; 3-c; 4-c; 5-b

Customs and Traditions in Britain Some British customs and traditions are famous all over the world and a lot of them have very long histories. In January, there is a festival, called Up-Helly-Aa. In the ninth century, men from Norway came to the Shetlands, some islands near Scotland. These men were the Vikings. Now, 1000 years later, people in the Shetlands remember the Vikings with a festival. They call the festival "Up-Helly-Aa". Every winter, in January, the Shetlanders dress in Viking clothes, carry the ship through the town to the sea and there they burn it. They do this because the Vikings put their dead men in the ship and burned them. It goes without saying that there arent any men in the modern ships. Now the festival is a party for the people of the Shetland Islands.

In February the Britons celebrate St Valentines Day and in the beginning of spring April Fools Day on April 1st.

In May there is also a tradition with a long history. May 1st was an important day in the Middle Ages. In the very early morning, young girls went to the fields and washed their faces with dew. They believed this made them very beautiful for a year after that. Also on May Day the young men of each village tried to win prizes with their bows and arrows, and people danced around the maypole. Many English villages still have a maypole, and on May 1st, the villagers dance round it. Midsummers Day is on June 24th. This is the longest day of the year. On that day you can see a very old custom at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Stonehenge is one of Europes biggest stone circles, a lot of the stones are ten or twelve metres high. Its also very old, the earliest part of Stonehenge is nearly 5 000 years old. The Druids, they were the priests in Britain 2 000 years ago, used it for a calendar. They used the sun and the stones at Stonehenge to know the start of months and seasons. There are Druids in Britain today, too and every June 24th a lot of them go to Stonehenge, because on that morning the sun shines on one famous stone-the Heel stone. For the druids this is a very important moment in the year. In October people celebrate Halloween. Halloween is an old word for "Hallows Evening", the night before "All Saints Day". On that one night of the year, ghosts and witches are free. A long time ago people

were afraid and stayed at home on Halloween. But now in Britain its a time for fun. There are always a lot of parties on October 31st . At these parties people wear masks and they dress as ghosts, witches or monsters and make special Halloween lamps from pumpkins. November 5th is Guy Fawkes Day in Britain. All over the country people build wood fires or "bonfires", in their gardens. On top of each bonfire is a guy. Thats a figure of Guy Fawkes. People make guys with straw, old clothes and newspapers. The British remember Guy Fawkes on November 5th, because on this day in the year 1605, he tried to kill King James I. He and a group of friends put a bomb under the Houses of Parliament in London. But the Kings men found the bomb and found Guy Fawkes, too. They took him to the Tower of London and there the Kings men cut off his head. In December there are lots of Christmas and New Year traditions in Britain. Before Christmas, groups of singers go from house to house. They collect money and sing traditional Christmas songs or carols. There are a lot of very popular British Christmas Carols. Three famous ones are: "Good King Wenceslas", "The Holly and The Ivy" and "We Three Kings".

On Christmas Eve thats on December 24th, British children dont open their presents. Father Christmas brings their presents in the night and then they open them on the morning of the 25th. In Britain the most important meal on December 25th is Christmas dinner. Nearly all Christmas food is traditional, but a lot of the traditions are not very old. For example, there were no turkeys in Britain before 1800. And even in the nineteenth century, goose was the traditional meat at Christmas, but not now. A twentieth- century British Christmas dinner is roast turkey with carrots, potatoes, peas, Brussels sprouts and gravy, but there are sausages and bacon, too. Then, after the turkey, there is Christmas pudding. Crackers are also usual at Christmas dinner. These

came to Britain from China in the nineteenth century. Two people pull a cracker and usually theres a small toy in the middle and often theres a joke on a piece of paper, too. December 26th is Boxing Day. Traditionally boys from the shops in each town asked for money at Christmas. They went from house to house on December 26th and took boxes made of wood with them. At each house people gave them money and this was their Christmas present. So the name of December 26th doesnt come from the sport of boxing, it comes from the boys wooden boxes. Now, Boxing Day is an extra holiday after Christmas Day. In Scotland there is a tradition, called First Footing. The name for New Years Eve in Scotland is Hogmanay. After midnight people visit their friends and they take a piece of coal as a present, because traditionally the first visitor of the year must carry coal into the house. This is first footing and it brings good luck. It also helps to make fire in the middle of winter.

In Britain there are many Royal Traditions. For example the trooping of the colour: The Queen is the only person in Britain with two birthdays. Her real birthday is on April 21st, but she has an "official" birthday on the second Saturday in June, too. And on the Queens official birthday, there is a traditional ceremony called the Trooping of the Colour. Its a big parade with brass bands and hundreds of soldiers at Horse Guards Parade in London. A "regiment" of the Queens soldiers, the Guards, march in front of her and at the front of the parade is the regiments flag or "colour", which the guards are trooping. Thousands of Londoners and visitors watch in

Horse Guards Parade and millions of people at home watch it on television. The changing of the guard is an another royal tradition: This happens every day at Buckingham Palace, the Queens home in London. Soldiers stand in front of the palace. Each morning these soldiers (the "guard") change. One group leaves and another arrives. In summer and winter tourists stand outside the palace at 11.30 every morning and watch the Changing of the Guard.

Maundy Money: Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday, at Easter. On that day the Queen gives Maundy money to a group of old people. This tradition is over 1,000 years old. At one time the king or queen washed the feet of poor, old people on Maundy Thursday, but that stopped in 1754. Swan Upping: Heres a very different royal tradition. On the River Thames there are hundreds of swans and a lot of these beautiful white birds belong, traditionally, to the king of queen. In July the young swans on the Thames are about two months old. Then the Queens swan keeper goes, in a boat, from London Bridge to Henley. He looks at all the young swans and marks the royal ones. The name of this strange but interesting custom is Swan Upping.

The Queens Telegramm: This custom is not very old, but its for very old people. On his or her one hundreth birthday, a British person gets a telegram from the Queen. The Birthday Honours list and the new years honours list: Twice a year at Buckingham Palace, the Queen gives titles or "honours",

once in January and once in June. There are a lot of different honours. Here are a few: C.B.E. - Companion of the British Empire, O.B.E. Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. - Member of the British Empire. These honours began in the nineteenth century, because then Britain had an empire. Knighthood - a knight has "Sir" before his name. A new knight kneels in front of the Queen. She touches first his right shoulder, then his left shoulder with a sword. Then she says "Arise, Sirand his first name, and the knight stands. Peerage - a peer is a lord. Peers sit in the House of Lords, which is one part of the Houses of Parliament. The other part is the House of Commons. Dame/Baroness - these are two of the highest honours for a woman. The State opening of Parliament: The parliament, not the Royal Familiy, controls modern Britain. But traditionally the Queen opens Parliament every autumn. She travels from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament in a gold carriage - the Irish State Coach. At the Houses of Parliament the Queen sits on a "throne" in the House of Lords. Then she reads the "Queens Speech". At the State Opening of Parliament the Queen wears a crown and she wears other jewels from the Crown Jewels, too. The Order of the Garter Ceremony: The order of the Garter ceremony has a long history. King Edward III started the Order in the 14th century. At that time, the people in the Order were the twentyfour bravest knights in England. Now the knights of the Order arent all soldiers. Theyre members of the House of Lords, church leaders or politicians and there are some foreign knights, too. For example, the King of Norway, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and the Emperor of Japan. Theyre called Extra Knights of the Garter. The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order of the Garter. But she is not the only royal person in the Order. Prince Charles and Prince Philip are Royal Knights, and the Queen Mother was a Lady of the Garter. In June the Order has a traditional ceremony at Windsor Castle. This is the Queens favourite castle and its also the home of the Order of the Garter. All the knights walk from the castle to St Georges Chapel, the royal church at Windsor. They wear the traditional clothes or "robes" of the Order. These robes are very heavy. In fact King Edward VIII

once called them "ridiculous". But theyre an important part of one of Britains oldest traditions. The Queens Christmas Speech: Now heres a modern royal custom. On Christmas Day at 3.00 in the afternoon, the Queen makes a speech on radio and TV. Its ten minutes long and in it she talks to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is a large group of countries. In the past they were all in the British Empire. Australia, India, Canada and New Zealand are among the 49 members. The B.B.C. (the British Broadcasting Corporation) sends the Queens speech to every Commonwealth Country. In her speech the Queen talks about the past year. Traditionally in speeches, kings or queens say "we", not "I". Queen Elizabeth II doesnt do this. She says "My husband and I", or just "I".

GRILE Choose the correct answer: 1. Traditions on Midsummers day are connected to: a. Queen Elizabeth II b. Vikings c. Stonehenge Ans.: c 2. Boxing Day is celebrated on: a. 1st of April b. 26th of December c. 31st of October Ans.: b 3. a. b. c. The Order of the Garter was started by: William the Conqueror in the 11th century Edward III in the 14th century Elizabeth II in the 20th century

Ans.: b Decide if the following statements are true or false: 1. The trooping of the colour is a traditional ceremony on the Queens official birthday. Ans.: T 2. Maudy Money is a custom started by Queen Elizabeth II. Ans.: F 3. The Queen s official birthday is celebrated in June. Ans.: T

DICTIONARY The Commonwealth - An association comprising the United Kingdom, its dependencies, and many former British colonies that are now sovereign states with a common allegiance to the British Crown, including Canada, Australia, India, and many countries in the West Indies and Africa. It was formally established by the Statute of Westminster in 1931. Garter 1. An elasticized band worn around the leg to hold up a stocking or sock; A suspender strap with a fastener attached to a girdle or belt to hold up a stocking or sock; An elasticized band worn around the arm to keep the sleeve pushed up. 2. The badge of the Order of the Garter. The order itself. Membership in the order. Peerage - a system of titles of nobility in the United Kingdom, part of the British honours system. The term is used both collectively to refer to the entire body of titles, and individually to refer to a specific title.

The Dos and Donts of British Life

If you meet somebody dont forget to say How do you do? and shake his/her hand. Dont expect an answer, because this is only a greeting and not a question. The person you are greeting will then answer, How do you do? The British are a little reserved at first, but given time they will be good friends. The Brits like to smile, so do smile, but dont say Hi to somebody you dont know. They may feel embarrassed because they dont know you. Dont jump a queue in Great Britain. The British all stand in line when waiting for a bus or when buying things. If someone is in your way, then say, Excuse me, please. They will then move out of your way. Please and Thank you are very important words, which you should say as often as possible. Please hold the door open for others., because the British will never throw the door into your face. If you go into a pub a nice pint, then dont forget to order at the bar and pay as you go. Dont be annoyed if your pint doesnt have a head on it, because if there is too much head on the beer the Brits think they are being done. Dont spit in the street. The British hate this and consider it to be extremely bad mannered. Dont worry about making language mistakes, because the Brits wont hold against you. They will try hard to understand what you are saying.