GREAT BRITAIN - BASIC INFORMATIONS
Define the terms: the UK, Great Britain, British vs. English
the UK - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Great Britain - an island lying to the northwest of continental Europe, territory of the UK
British - it is the adjective and demonymassociated with GB
English - something of, from or related to England, a constituent country of the UK
The four nations and their symbols
England - St, George's Cross, Rose
Wales - Dragon of Cadwallader, Leek/ Daffodil
Scotland - St. Andrew's Cross/ Lion rampant, Thistle
Ireland - St. Patrick's Cross/ Republic of Ireland/ Shamrock
Population of the UK
1995 - 58,6 milions; mid-2008- 61,4 milions
383 people per square km
England - 51,4 milions
Scotland - 5,2 milions
Wales - 3 milions
Ireland - 1,8 milions
Explain why England has the dominating position in the UK.
The system of politics that is used in all four nations today is of English origin, and English is the main language of all four nations. Many aspects of everyday life are organized according to English custom and practise. For example, the supply of money in Britain is controlled by the Bank of England; or news talk about `Anglo-American' relations refer to relations between the Britain and the USA.
Explain the dates
55 BC - The Roman general Julius Caesar lands in Britain with an extraordinary force, wins a battle and leaves. The first `date' in popular British history.
1066 - 14.10.1066 - battle of Hastings
1534 - The Act of Supermacy declares Henry VIII to be the supreme head of the Church in England
1603 - James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England
1649 - Charles I is executed. For the first and only time, Britain briefly becomes a republic and is called `the Commonwealth'
1660 - The monarchy and the Anglican religion are restored
1688 - The Glorious Revolution
1707 - The act of Union joins the Parliament of Scotland with that of England and Wales
1708 - The last occasion on which a British monarch refused to accept the bill which has been passed by Parliament
1783 - After a war Britain recognizes the independence of the American colonies
1800 - The separate Irish Parliament is closed and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is formed
1921 - Treaty between British and the Irish Parliament in Dublin is signed
1973 - Britain joins the European Economic Community
GEOGRAPHY
Location of the British Isles
The total area of the United Kingdom is approximately 245.000 sq km comprising of the island of Great Britain, the northeastern one-sixth of the island of Ireland and smaller islands. It lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, coming within 35 mk of the nortwest coast of France which it is separated by the English Channel. Great Britain lies between latitudes 49° and 59°N and longtitudes 8°W to 2°E.
Climate
The UK has a temperate climate with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons but seldom drops below -10°C or rise above 35°C. The prevailing wind is from the southwest, bearing frequent spells of mild and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean. Eastern parts are more sheltered from this wind and are therefore the driest. Atlantic currents bring mild winters, especially in the west where winters are wet, especially over high ground. Summers are warmest in the south east of England, being closest to the European mainland, and coolest in the north. Snowfall can occure in winter and early spring, though it rarely settles to great depth away from high ground.
Regions and their landscapes
England - accounts for just over half of the total area of the UK, covering 130.000 sq km. Most of the coutry consist of lowland terrain, with mountainous terrain northwest of the Tees - Exe line including the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District, the Pennines and limestone hills of the Peak District, Exmoor and Dartmoor. The main rivers and estuaries are the Thames, Severn and the Humber. England's highest mountain is Scafell Pike which is in the Lake District 978 metres. England hase a number of large towns and cities.
Scotland - accounts for just under a third of the total area of the UK, covering 79 sq km including nearly eight hundret islands, mailny west and north of the mainland, notably the Hebrides, Orkney Islands and Shetlands Island. The topography of Scotland is distinguished by the Highland Boundary Fault which traverses the Scotish mainland from Helensburgh to Stoneheaven. The faultline separates two distinctively different regions, namely the Highland to the north and west and the Lowlands to the south and east. The more rugged Highland region contains the majority of Scotland's mountainous terrain, including Ben Nevis, which at 1.343 metres is the highest point in the British Isles. Lowland areas, especially the narrow waist of land between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth known as the Central Belt are flatter and home to most of population including Glasgow- Scotland's largest city, and Edinburgh- the capital and political centre of country.
Wales - accounts for less than a tenth of the total area of the UK, covering 20.758 sq km. Wales is mostly mountainous though south Wales is less mountainous than north and mid Wales. The main population and industrial areas are in south Wales, consisting of the coastal cities of Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and the south Wales Valleys to their north. The highest mountains are in Snowdonia and include Snowdon, which at 1.085 m is the highest peak in Wales. The 14 or 15 Welsh mountains over 3000 feet high are known collectively as the Welsh 3000s. Wales has over 1.200 km of coastline. There are several islands off the Welsh mainland yhe largest of which is Anglessey in the northwest.
Northern Ireland - accounts for just 14.160 sq km and is mostly highly. It includes Lough Neagh, at 388 sq km the largest body of water in the UK and Ireland. The highest peak in Northern Ireland is Slive Donard at 849 m in the Mourne Mountains.
POLITICAL SYSTEM/ THE MONARCHY
Describe the British attitude towards politicians and politics.
- suggesting a lack of trustworthiness
- regardem them with a high degree of suspicion
- except them to be corrupted or to use their position to amess personal wealth
- except them to be frequently dishonest
How is the law perceived in Britain?
British are said to have a high respect for the law.
Do the British have identity cards?
Citizens don't have an ID.
What are the consequences of not having a Freedom of Information Act?
There is a law called the Official Secrets Act which obliges many government employees not to tel anyone about the detailes of their work.
Characterise the relationship between the individual and the state in Britain.
Britain don't have an ID and a Freedom of Information.
To a large degree, the traditional assumption in that both should have each other alone asa much possible.
Does the British democracy involve participation of by ordinary citizens?
In Britain democracy involves less participation by ordinary citizens in qovering and lawmaking than it does in many other coutries. There is no concept of these things being done `by the people'.
What is the political system of Britain?
Britain is a constitutional monarchy.
Does Britain have a constitution?
Britain doesn't have a constitution at all. There are rules, regulations, principles and procedures for the running of the country - all the things that political scientist and legal experts study and which are known collectively as `the constitution'.
Which features of the British system of government make it unique?
An unique feature of the British parliamentary system is its hereditary element. Unlike PMs members of the House of Lords (konwn as `peers') are not elected. They are members of the right. In the case of some of them this `right' is a result of their being the holder of an inherited aristocratic title. The House of Lords is therefore a relic of earlier, undemocratic times. The fact that it still exists is perhaps typically British. It has been allowed to survive the but it has had to change, losing most of its power and altering its composition in the process.
Present the mechanism of the pairing system.
The pairing system is an example of co - operation between political parties in Britain. In this system an MP of one party is paired with an MP of another party. When is going to be vote in the House of Commons and the two MPs know that they would vote on opposite sides neither of them bother to turn up for the vote.
Can you see any differences in the parliamentary style of politics in Poland and Britain?
In Britain law can be changed without the referendum. Ordinary citizens are not involved in law making.
Characterise the three main political parties in Britain.
Conservative Party - right of centre; stands for hierarchical authority and minimal government interferences in the economy, likes to reduce income tax, gives high priority to national defence and internal law in order. DAVID CAMERON.
Labour Party - left of centre; stands for equality for the weaker people in society and for services than to keep income tax law. GORDON BROWN.
Liberal Democrats - regarded as in the centre or slightly left of centre; has always been strongly in favour in the UE, place more emphasise on the environment than other parties, beliefs in giving greater powers to local government and in reform of the electoral system. NICK CLEGG.
Who is the current PM in the UK?
Gordon Brown.
What are the origins of the “two-party system” in Britain?
In 18th century MPs tented to divide into two camps, those who ussually supported the government of the time and those who usually did not. In 19th century the party which did not supported to government became the opposition.
Why is the position of the monarch in Britain a perfect illustration of the contradictory nature of the constitution?
Because in theory she has unlimited power but in practise she has to listen to the PM and government.
Enumerate the members of the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip Mountbalten, Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Prince Harry.
Does the Queen have any power?
Power of the Queen is very limited. The Queen cannot choose anyone she likes to be Prime Minister. She has to choose someone who has the support of the majority of MPs in the House of Commons.
What does the role of the monarch consist in?
The monarch isthe personal embodiment of the government of the country, people can be critical as they like about the real government and can argue that it should be thrown out without being accused of being unpatriotic. The monarch could act as a final check on a government that was becoming dictatorial; the monarch could refuse the request and dismiss the Prime Minister. The monarch has a very practical role to play: Queen Elizabeth II can perform the ceremonial duties which heads of state often have to spend their time on.
What is the value of the monarchy to the British?
The monarchy is a symbol of continuity, expression of national pride, source of entertainment, something that `put colours in daily file and routine'.
What is the future of the monarchy in Britain?
The future role is not stable. On the one hand people want to have monarchy as a symbol of continuity but on the second hand they worry now about the problems in the royal family.
THE GOVERNMENT
What does the term “the government” refer to?
The term `government' can be used to refer to all of the politician who have been appointed by the monarch to help run government departments or lake on various other special responsibilities such as managing the activities of Parliament.
Is the idea of coalition government viable in Britain?
No, because politican think it is bad idea. Britain has `single-party government' so all members of the government belong to the same political party.
How does the idea of “collective responsibility” correspond with the government?
Every member of the government shares the responsibility for every policy made by government. No member can criticise government policy in public, any member who does so must resign.
What is the position of a British Prime Minister?
The PM appears not to have much power but in reality has a very great deal indeed. PM is the political leader of the UK and the Head of Her Majesty's Government.
Where does the PM reside?
Number 10 Downing Street is the official residence of the Prime Minister.
What does the role of the civil service consist in?
The civil service remain even if the government change.
- civil servant are unknown to the larger public
- if somebody is a civil servant they will get a high salary and they will make a career
- it is often possible for top civil servants to exercise quite a lot of control over their ministers
- top civil servants power depends on their staying out of `politics'
- a criticism of the civil service rely on that civil servants come from rich class of society and they are good in humanities but not in economics or technology
How does the system of local government work in the UK?
Local government authorities only have power because the central government has given them power
- there are selected representatives - councillors which meet in a council chamber in the Town Mall or County Hall
- local councils traditionally manage nearly are public services
- taken together they employ three times as many an the national government do
What kind of tax are local councils allowed to collect?
Local councils are allowed to collect a tax based on property. It used to be called `rates' and was paid only by those who owned property. Its amount variend according to the size and location of the property.
Define the following terms: county, borough, parish.
County - an area of county that has its own government to deal with local matters; counties are used for local government purposes.
Borough - a town or part of of a large city that is responsible for managing its own schools, hospitals, roads. Nowadays the name is used for local government purpose only in London.
Parish - they are smallest units of local government in England (is still used in the organization of the main Christian Churches in England).
What are the responsibilities of local governments?
- public hygiene and environment health inspection
- collecting of rubbish
- cleanig and tidying public places
- public libraries
- provision of public pools
PARLIAMENT
Where does the British Parliament work?
The British Parliament works in a huge building called the Palace of Westminister Houses of Parliament
Present the structure of the British Parliament.
The British Parliament contains:
- offices, committe rooms, restaurants and bars, libraries, some places of residence
- two lagre rooms - the House of Commons and the House of Lords
What is the layout of the House of Commons? How does it affect politics?
In the centre is the Speaker's chair. There are just two rows of benches facing each other. On the right of the Speaker are the government benches, where the MPs of the governing party sit. On the left of the Speaker are the opposition benches. Over the Speaker is press gallery and over the benches are galleries for visitors.
There is no oppotrunity in this layout for a reflection of all the various shades of political opinion. According to where they sit, MPs are seen to be either `for' to government (supporting it) or against it.
Do MPs have their own seats in the Commons?
They don't have their own seats in the Commons because a candidate at an election is said to have won a `seat'. In the Common this `seat' is imaginary. MPs just sit down wherever they can find room.
How do MPs address each other?
MPs are forbidden to address one another directly or use personal names. A MP who is speaking refers to or asks a question of `the honourable member for Winchester' or `my right honourable friend' (there is no `you' form).
Explain the idea of “amateurism” in politics.
- traditionally MPs were not supposed to be specialists politican
- they gave their time and represent the people
- the come for all walks of life bringing their experience of the everyday world into Parliament with them
- politicans were supposed to be doing a public service not making a career of themselves
- only rich people could affort to be MPs
Present the activities of an average MP.
- spending more time at work than any other professional in the country
- MPs mornings are taken up with committee work, research, preparing speaches and dealing with the problems of consistuency
- they do not have free weekends
- they do not have enough time for their families (there are a lot of divorces)
Define the following terms:
frontbenchers - people of govering party and the leading members of the main opposition party
backbenchers - MPs who do not hold a government post or a post in a shadow cabinet
whips - people who make sure that MPs vote the way that their party tells them to
free vote - a kind of vote when MPs votes according to their own beliefs and not according to party policy
question time - it is part of parliamentary day when prepared in advanced questions are out by MPs to government ministers; in this way MPs can force the government to make its intentions clear
Discuss how a bill becomes a law.
- first reading - a formal announcement only
- second reading - a debate about the general principles of the bill
- taking a vote
- committee stage - examining details of the bill, voting on change to parts of it
- report stage - The House considers the amendments
- sending a bill to the House of Lords
- after both Houses have reached agreement, the royal assent becomes an... of Parliament (New Law)
What is the unique feature of the British parliamentary system?
An unique feature of the British parliamentary system is the hereditary element. It means that members of the House of Lords are not elected, they are members as of right because they have an aristocratic title; they have no real power.
Explain the phrase: “being kicked upstairs”.
This phrase concerns a distinguished politican who may no longer wish to be as busy as MPs in the Commons but who still wish to voice their opinions in a public.
Is the Queen allowed to speak in the Commons?
Quees isn't allowed to speak in the Commons.
ELECTIONS
How does the electoral system work in the UK?
- there are areas in the country where people who want to be an MP declare themselves as a candidate
- on polling day voters go to polling stations and on piece of papers they have to put a cross next to the name of candidate
- the candidates with the largest number of crosses next to their name is the winner and becomes the MP for the constituency
Define the following terms and expressions:
a constituency - an area, a part of country where there is rougly equal population
go to the polls - voting
the polling day - day of voting
a polling station - special place where people go to vote for their candidate
the electoral register - a register included people able to be voters
the ballot paper - a piece of paper where there are names of candidates which want to be MPs
to canvass - persuade people to support
What does the “first-past-the-post” system consist in?
This system consist in the biggest amount of voters for the candidate from a party in order to the victory of this party. It means that the most important is an amount of voters for one candidate than the amount of a few candidates belonged to the same party.
Who decides when to hold general elections?
In practise government decides when to hold an elections.
What is the minimum voting age in the UK?
It must be at least 18 years old.
Is canvassing an important part of British elections?
Yes, it is because in this way party workers can gain new people to vote for their party and they can also show their party in a very good way.
Do political parties buy time on TV?
No, they don't.
On which day do general elections always take place? Are they public holiday?
General elections always take place on a Thursday and they are not public holidays because people work so polling stations are open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night.
LAW AND ORDER
Is there any national police force in Britain?
There is no national police force in Britain. All police employees work for one of the forty so separate forces which each have responsibility for a particular geographical area. Originally, these were set up locally. Only later did central government gain some control over them. It inspects them and has influence over senior appointments within them. In return it provides about half of the money to run them. The other half comes from local government. The exception to this system is the Metropolitan Police Force which polices Grater London. The `Met' is under the direct control of central government. It also performs certain national police functions such as the registration of all crimes and criminals in England and Wales and the compilation of the missing person register. New Scotland Yard is the famous building is the headquarters of its Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Compare and contrast past and present images of the police.
Past: The image of friendly British `Bobby' with his fatherly manner was also well - known within the country and was reinforced by popular tv serials. The system of policing was based on each police officer having his own `beat', a particular neighbourhood which was his duty to patrol. He usually did this on foot or sometimes by bicycle. The local `Bobby' was a familiar figure on the streets whom people felt they could trust.
Present: First in response to an increasingly motorized society and therefore increasingly motorized crime, the police themselves started patroling by cars. A sign if this change was the new police drama `2 cars' which showed police officers as people with real problems and falling who did not always behave in conventionally polite and reasurring manner. Police officesr were no longer known as `Bobbies' but became the `fuzz', 'cops' or `pigs'.
Explain the following terms:
unconditionally - he or she is set free without punishment, if it's someone's first offence and the crime is a small one
conditionally discharged - means the quilty person is set free but if he or she commits another crime within a stated time, the first crime will be taken acount
on probation - means that regular meetings with a social worker must take place
fine - very common form of punishment for minor offences, means that the quilty person has to pay a sum of money
community service - convicted person is sentenced to a certain number of hours
bail - a sum of money quaranteed by somebody on behalf of a person who has bees charged with a crime so that he or she can go free until the time of trial
acquitted/ convicted - found (not) quilty by the court
defendant - party who denies a claim, person accused of a crime
plaintiff - a party who makes a claim in court, in nearly all criminals cases the plaitiff is the police
party - one of the sides in a court case
on remand - on prison awaliting trial
verdict - an official decision made in a court of law, especially about wether someone is quilty of a crime
sentence - punishment that judges give
Is there death penalty in Britain?
No, there isn't.
Present the system of justice in the UK.
System of justice is an adversarial system. In criminal cases there is no such thing as an examining magistrate who tries to discover the real truth about what happend.
What are the competencies of Justices of Peace?
They refer the case to a higher court. In most cases this will be a crown court, where a professional lawyer act as the judge: decision regarding quilt or innocence is taken by a jury; juries consist of 12 people selected at random from the list of voters.
Explain the difference between the solicitor and the barrister. How are they trained?
Solicitor - a British lawyer who gives legal advice and prepare legal documents
Barrister - other kind of lawyer, only function of barrister is to present cases in court
All solicitors have to pass the Law Society exam. They study for the exam while `articled' to established firms of solocitors where they do much of the everyday junior work until they were qualified.
Barristers have to attend one of four Inns of Court in London. After four years the trainee barristers then six exams. If they pass they are `called to the bar' and are recognized as barristers.
RELIGION
What is the official state religion in England?
The official state religion in England is the Anglican Church.
Explain the difference between Anglican and Episcopalian.
Members of Anglican Church describe themselves as `Anglican' but in Scotland and the USA them called `Episcopalian'.
Where does the head of the Church of England officially reside?
Official residence of the head of the Church of England is Lambeth Palace in London.
Is it possible for the British monarch to be a Roman Catholic?
No, the monarch cannot, by law, be a Roman Catholic.
Who does the term “Lord Spiritual” refer to?
26 senior bishops in one particular the Church of Englang who are members of the House of Lords.
Are religious issues present in British political life?
No.
Who/ what does the term “The Conservative Party at prayer” refer to?
The Anglican Church used to be half - jokingly decribed as `the conservative party at prayer'.
Discuss the origin and present the role of the Anglican Church. Compare and contrast “low” and “high church”.
Low church - (evangelical) this place great emphasis in the contents of Bible and is the most consciously opposed to Catholicism.
High church - strand are virtually identical to those of Catholicism; except that it does not accept the Pope as the ultimate authority.
Define the governing body of the Anglican Church.
In a General Synod of Anglican Church.
Is the ordination of women possible in the Anglican Church?
Yes, the ordination of women is possible.
Define the following terms and expressions:
teetotal - someone who is teetotal never drinks alcohol
lay - not in an official position in the church
clergy - the official leaders of religious activities in organized religious, such as priests or rabbis
dry Sundays - the influence of the Calvinist tradition has been felt in laws relating to Sundays; these laws have recently been relaxed, but shops oppening hours, gambling and professional sports in Sundays are still restricted in small ways. In some places in Wales are still `dry' that is the pubs stay closed.
dissenters - Protestants who did not accepted the authority of the Anglican Church
nonconformist - Protestants who did not accepted the authority of the Anglican Church but later
ecumenicalism - term used to describe the trend in the half of the twentieth century towards greater co - operation and even unity among the various Christian Churches in Britain
evangelical - term characterised other Christian seots and Churches have been growing their energetic and their desire to attract new followers
New Age - term used to cover a wide range of beliefs which can involve elements of Christianity, eastern religion and ancient pagan beliefs all mixed together
How does the Church of Scotland differ from the Church of England?
The Church of Scotland has a separate organization from the Anglican Church. It has no bishops. Its head, or `Moderator' is elected by in general assembly. It is biggest in Scotland where it is often known simply as `the kirk' (the Scots word for `church'). There are also many Presbyterian.
EDUCATION
Discuss the differences between the following schools:
Public school is a private school. Public schools are not funded by the government.
State school is a governmentally funded school and in our understanding, it's a public school.
Grammar school - students attended grammar schools after completing the primary schools and passing the exam at the age of eleven. Grammar schools prepared the students to enter universities or to work on managerial levels.
Secondary modern school - in case of failing the exam at the end of the primary schools, the students were accepted to the secondary modern schools that were filled with the students from the middle - class families in majority.
Boarding school offered their students the place to live in. In the past, all the British schools were boarding schools.
Comprehensive schools were created to decrease the problem of class distinctions. Those schools accepted most of the students.
Present the current system of education in Britain. Is education compulsory in Britain?
The first level of education In great Britain is primary school, children start their education at the age of four. The second stage is secondary school, at around the age of eleven or twelve. Then there is “further” education at university or college. Full-time education is compulsory up to 16, it is free of charge. The alternative to that is public school, which in British system means private. Parents if they are willing to, can send their child to private school, but then they have to pay for it. Most schools are now co-educational.
Confront the stereotypes about public schools with reality.
- are for boys only from the age of 13 onwards, most of whom attended a private `prep'
- take fee - paying pupils (and some schoolarship pupils)
- are boarding school
- are dividen into `houses', each `house' being looked after by a `housemaster'
- make some of the senios boys `prefects', which means that they have authority over the other boys and have their own servants (called `fags') who are appointed boys
- place great emphasis on team sport
- enforce their rules with the use of phisical punishment
- have a reputation for a relatively great amount of homosexual activity
- are not at all luxurious or comfortable
Present the responsibilities of LEA
LEA - Local Education Authority - is a branch of a local government.
Responsibilities of LEA:
- prescribes a detailed programme of learning,
- chooses the books and materials to be used,
- sets the hours of the school day, dates of holidays, or the age of the students
- manages the institutions' finances,
- supervises the marking of the exams,
Specify the most important exams and degrees in Britain.
There is no unified school-leaving exam or school-leaving certificate. However there are few types of exams.
GCSE = General certificate of secondary Education. The exams taken by most fifteen- to sixteen- year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Marks are given to each subject separately, all being graded from A to G, where grades A,B,C are considered as good grades.
SCE = Scottish Certificate of Education, it is a Scottish equivalent of GCSE. Grades are awarded in numbers, where 1 is the best.
A Levels = Advanced Levels, higher - level academic exams, taken mostly by people around the age of eighteen who wish to go on to higher education.
SCE `Highers' = the Scottish equivalent of A - levels
GNVQ = General National Vocational Qualification. Courses and exams in job-related subjects. They are divided into five levels, the lowest level being equivalent to GCSEs/ SCEs and the third level to A -levels/'Highers'. Most commonly, GNVQ courses are studied at Colleges of Further Education, but more and more schools are also offering them.
Degree - a qualification from an university. (Other qualifications obtained after secondary education are usually called `certificate' or `diploma'). Students studying for a first degree are called undergraduates. When they have been awarded a degree , they are known as graduates.
Bachelor's Degree - the general name for first degree, most commonly a BA- Bachelor of Arts, or Bas- Bachelor of Science.
Master's Degree - the general name for second ( postgraduate) degree, most commonly an MA or MSc. At Scottish universities, however, these titles are used for first degrees.
Doctorate - the highest academic qualification. This usually carries the title Doctor of Philosophy. The time taken to complete a doctorate varies, but it is generally expected to involve three years of more -or-less full-time study.
Is higher education broadly available in Britain?
The availability of higher education has increased grally in second half of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, finding an university place is not easy. Universities only take the better students. Because of this, and also because of the relatively high degree of persona/ supervision of students which the low ratio of students to staff allows, nearly all university students complete their studies- and in a very short time total.
Explain the following terms:
Full - time vs. part - time courses. Full - time courses literally mean full time studying. Students take a full load of courses in each semester that requires them to spend significantly more time on studying. Part - time courses mean that students take a partial load of courses per semester, usually one to three. Part - time studying allows them to have more time on different activities, or to have a part - time job at the same time.
On - campus relates to the living situation of a student. Those students that live in the university's dormitories live on-campus. They live on the property of the school and are surrounded by the school's atmosphere.
Tutorials are combined with the lectures. While during the lectures the students acquire new partitions of materials, in the tutorials they have an opportunity to practice it and make sure they comprehended the new materials.
Drop - out rate - is the statistical number of students that for various reasons are not able to complete the courses and don't graduate.
A fee is the amount of money that students must pay for their courses each semester.
A grant is a form of a scholarship that the students receive based on the financial merit, or a academic achievement to assist them with the school's expenses.
Nursery school is a pre - primary school that gives care to the youngest children and prepares them to enter the primary schools.
Curriculum is a set of learning objectives for each year of compulsory school and all state schools are obliged to work towards these objectives.
Discuss the similarities and differences between the following types of universities:
Oxbridge - the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, federation of semi-independent colleges, each one having its own staff. Most of the colleges have their own dining hall, library and chapel, and accommodation for at least half of their students.
The old Scottish universities - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen are more like civic universities, where most of the students live at home or find their own rooms in town. St Andrews is resembles Oxbridge in many ways. At all of them the pattern of study is closer to the continental tradition than to the English one- there is less specialization than at Oxbridge.
The early nineteenth-century English universities - its collegiate living arrangements are similar to Oxbridge, but academic matters are organized at university level. Each college (most are non-residential) is almost separate university.
The older civic (`redbrick') universities - these are nineteenth- century's universities with a technical bias, sprang up in new industrial towns and cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. Their called `redbricks ' because their buildings were of local materials, often brick, in contrast to the stone of older universities. They catered only for local people. At first, they prepared students for London University degrees.
The campus universities - these are purpose-built institutions located in the countryside but close to towns, e.g. Lancaster, Sussex, Warwick. They have accommodation for most of their students on site and from their beginning attracted students from all over the country ( 1960s). They tend to emphasize relatively `new' academic disciplines such as social sciences.
The newer civic universities - these were originally technical colleges set up by local authorities in the first sixty years of the century. Some of them upgraded to university status, and some upgraded to `polytechnics', what meant they were allowed to teach degree courses ( the degrees awarded by a national body).
THE ECONOMY AND EVERYDAY LIFE
Define the following expressions:
Blue - collar workers are skilled or unskilled manual workers. They usually perform physical work.
White - collar workers are the non-manual employees.
How are manual and non-manual employees paid?
Manual and lowest grades of non - manual workers' rate is quoted per hour/week, it's called wages, and is paid every week usually in cash.
Non - manual workers' rate is quoted per year, known as salary, and paid every month by cheque or into bank account.
Define the following acronyms and expressions:
CBI- Confederation of British Industry is an organization which represents employers in private industry.
TUC - The Trades Union Congress - a voluntary association of the country's trade unions.
NUF - National Union of Farmers - made up mostly of agricultural employers and independent farmers.
Industrial action - a refusal to work in the normal way. For example, employees tend to work slow, or they work - to - rule. The latter form of the industrial action means that the employees follow the rules strictly, but at the same time they are less flexible and less co - operative.
Wildcat strike - is an unofficial employees' strike.
Blackleg - is an employee who doesn't want to strike with the other striking employees and he or she chooses to go into work instead.
Are trade unions important in Britain now?
They are important because a lot of industries and companies are privalised and very often it is do that employer can use their employees and they do not pay them for example overtimes. In this way trade unions can defend and support their members.
Is the gap between the rich and the poor increasing or decreasing in Britain?
The gap is increasing.
Who collects taxes in Britain? Are they high?
In Britain organization which is responsible for collecting taxes is Inland Revenue. They are not high because it's deducted from their pay cheque or pay packet before they receive it. For employees paying their income tax is not something they have to worry about.
Was the “LSD” system related to drugs?
No, it wasnt't. LSD system was used in Britain before 1971. That system consist in a specific division among money. There were 12 pennies in a shelling and 20 shellinga in a pound.
What do “off-licences” sell?
`Off licence' is name of shop which sell mainly alcoholic drinks but also they sell petrol and some items traditionally found in chemist or newsagents.
How have high streets changed in Britain?
- many shops have become charity shops
- most small high streets still manage to have at least or representative of the various kind of conventional food shops
Can you do the shopping on Sundays in Britain?
Yes, you can. Small shops are allowed to open on Sundays for as long as they like, but large shops snd supermarkets can only open for maximum six hours.
WELFARE
Who does the term ”GP” refer to?
Most doctors in the country are General Practitioners (GPs) and their at the heart of the system. If you need any kind of treatment first you go to your GP, who later on arranges for whatever tests, surgery, specialist consultation or medicine are considered necessary.
Present the organization of NHS in Britain. What sorts of services does it provide? Explain the idea of “capitation”.
NHS - National Health Service
It provides the people in the United Kingdom with an access to the health care and the hospitals. The system avoids the bureaucracy and eliminates the numerous forms that people must fill out to receive a refund.
Capitation most GPs (General Practitioners) are paid based on the number of the consultations with the patients. In the U.K., they are paid based on the number of the registered patients instead. The money paid per each registered patient is called a capitation.
Identify the most popular charitable organizations and discuss their role in Britain.
The Samaritanians organization offers free counselling by phone to anonymity quaranteed to anybody who is a despair and thinking os committing suicide.
The Salvation Army is organized on military lines and grew out of Christian missionary work in the slums of London in the nineteenth cenutry. It offers help to the most desperate and needing e.g. overnight accomodation in hotels for the homeless.
Bernando's also funded in the nineteenth century, used to privide homes for orphoned children in need.
MENCAP is a charity for the mentally handicapped and campaigns on their behalf.
Discuss the idea and origins of the welfare state in Britain.
Before nineteenth century there was no welfare, there were institutions such as workhouse, where the old, the sick, the mentally handicapped people were sent, but they were treated very badly. During the first half of the twentieth century many welfare benefits were introduced to improve the welfare system. That's why in the middle of the century the National Health Service was set up.
Provide the following information on the system of benefits in Britain:
Who provides the benefits?
The benefits in the U.K. are provided by the federal government. They are usually distributed in direct payments, but may have various forms though. Most often, the benefits are paid by the Department of Social Security.
Who is entitled to them?
all retired people
people under the age of 65 who have previously worked for a certain minimum period of time can receive unemployment benefit
What kind of benefits?
Old - age pensions,
Unemployment benefits,
benefits for children,
housing benefits
HOUSING
Describe the types of dwelling in Britain. Which types are most and least popular? How does it compare to other European countries?
The most desirable home is a detached house, traditionally built of red brick. The shape of that house is irregular. The second on the list of the best is a semi-detached house, but they're too expensive for most people. Each house is the mirror of the other, inside and out. The town houses are an exception, they often have three or more floors, many have been broken up into flats or rooms for rent. Less desirable is a terraced house, this kind of house usually has no way through to the back except through the house itself. Each house in the row is joined to the next one, and they usually have two floors. The least desirable is a flat, which doesn't have a separated entrance.
Britain has the second lowest proportion of flat-dwellers in the UE. Blocks of flats are quite rare in Britain and it is not popular to live in a flat. What is more, only the poorest people usually live in it. Many of these flats are Council flats.
Dwelling in Britain is different from the one in Europe, there are generally maximum two or three-floor buildings, where in the Europe there are housing estates of ten or more-floor blocks of flats.
Explain the following terms and expressions:
Mortgage - a loan that allows on the purchase of the house.
Council - house - is a house, or a flat, that was built and is owned by the government. The tenants usually pay lower rents in the council-houses, because they are subsidized.
Building society - were the financial institutions that were originally set up to provide mortgages.
Housing association - private housing associations that owned and rented out the houses and flats to people. Those associations often bought out the council-houses.
To Squat - to live in a house without paying rent. If you move in the house without causing any damage, you have not broken the law.
To sleep rough - is an expression to describe the homeless people sleeping in the streets.
Cardboard city - the area of the city where a large number of homeless people live protected from the weather only by the cardboard boxes.
THE MEDIA
Compare and contrast broadsheets and tabloids. Give examples.
There are two major divisions of the British press:
- Tabloids, or popular press that gets to a wider range of readers,
- Broadsheets, or quality papers for more educated readers.
Tabloid, in other way magazine. It has a small format, so it is easy to grab it in your hand, while you are waiting for a bus. The font of the text is bigger, and the text is shorter than in broadsheet, attached pictures are big. Tabloids write about sex and scandal, they love to follow life of the royal family, of celebrities. They don't care about serious topics like global warming for example, but if they did the headline above the article would be scary, eye-catching and the picture above the text would be worrying and dramatic. The most popular tabloids are The Sun, The Daily Mirror and People.
Broadsheet is the type of newspaper that has quite a large format, comparing to tabloids, small font is used in the text, headlines' font is little bigger , the text is longer than in tabloid and consists of facts only. Pictures attached to each article are of reasonable size, they're definitely smaller than in tabloids. Broadsheets used to write only about political or economic matters, but nowadays this has changed a little bit. They still write mostly about more serious matters, but sometimes they present some less demanding topics. The better known broadsheets are The Independent, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, Times.
Present the most popular newspapers in Britain and define their political orientation.
Tabloids: The Daily Mirror leans toward the left side. The Sun is the opposite of The Daily Mirror and is on in the right wing. The other big names like The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, and the Star are in the center of the political spectrum, but strongly leaning toward the right side.
Broadsheets: The Guardian is on the left side. The Daily Telegraph is on the right side. The Independent is in the center. The other two big names, The Times and The Financial Times are in the center leaning toward the right wing.
Describe some of the characteristics which give the BBC its special position in Britain and in the world.
- its reputation for impartiality and objectivity in news reporting is, at least when compared to newa bradcasting in many other countries, largery justified
- the BBC has often shown itself to be rather proud of the fact that it gets complaints from both sides of the political divide, because this testifies not only to its impartiality but also to its independence
- during the Second World War it became identified with the principles of democracy ad free speech
- today the World Service still broadcast around the globe in English and several other languages.
Which TV channels allow advertising? Is it allowed on the BBC?
Advertising are allowed on Channel 4 and ITV. On BBC it is not allowed.
FOOD AND DRINK
What is the stereotypical reputation of the English cuisine? How does it refer to reality?
Most of visitors to Britain agree that the food is terrible. British food has a strange, unpleasant taste, but rather that it has very little taste at all. It is because vegetables for example are overcooked. It is also to bland.
What is the attitude of the British to food?
British people do not care about taste. People just want to eat up quickly and are not much interested in quality. They drink horrible coffee just because they need coffeine.
Why are pubs an important element of the British culture? What is the attitude of the British to alcohol? What kinds of beer are most popular?
The local pubs play an important role in almost every naighbourhood. Pubs are predominantly for the drinking of beer and spirits. British `pub' is short for `public house'. Pubs are unique. You can get up an walk around wherever you want - it is like being in your own house. Without pubs Britain would be a less sociable country. The pubs are the only indoor place where people can comfortably meet others, even strangers and get into conversation with them..
Attitude to alcohol is ambivalent. On the one hand it is accepted and welcomed as an integral part of British culture. On the other hand puritan tradition has led to the widespread view that drinking is something potentially dangerous which should be restricted.
The most popular beer is bitter, which is draught, has no gas in it and drink at room temperature. Mild is sweeter, darker version on bitter. These beers contains low alcohol.
Explain the following terms and expressions:
shandy - is half beer and half fizzy lemonade, it has the reputation of being very good for quenching the thirst
cider - in some pubs cider is available on draught, and in some parts of Britain, most typically in the English west country, and it is the most common pub drink, not the beer
on draught - of beer, taken from a large barrel, that kind if beer has no gas in it and is drunk at room temperature
a fry - up - a meal of fried food, such as eggs and bacon
elevenses - is a cup of tea or coffee and some biscuits at around eleven o'clock
ART
Define the term “culture”.
Culture - is difficult to define. For different people can have a different meaning. It is a way of life. Culture is built by the generally accepted norms and traditions by the people of one region. Besides, culture can be used as a synonym for the arts.
What is the position of the theatre in Britain? Is film regarded in Britain as part of `the arts'?
The theatre has always been very strong in Britain. Its centre is, of course, London, where successful plays can sometimes run without a break for many years. But every large town has its own theatres. Even small towns often have `repertory' theatres, where different plays are performed for short periods by the same group of professional actors.
Film is also regarded asa a part of `the arts'.
Name the last British author to win the Nobel prize in literature.
The last British author to win the Nobel Prize in literature was Doris Lessing in 2007.
Name the most important prize in Britain for a work of fiction.
The Booker Prize is the most important prize in Britain for a work of fiction.
SPORT
Are the British passionate about sport? Which sports might be considered most popular in Britain?
Sport plays probably the most important role in people's lives in Britain than it does anywhere else in Europe. For most men it is their main entertainment. Lot of them take part in some kind of sport at least once a week, but most of them regularly follow one or more sports. Football, rugby, horse-racing, cricket, motor-racing and golf are the most popular in great Britain and they have the biggest fans and supporters.
Sporting language
on a sticky wicket - in a difficult situation
on an easy wicket - in a fortunate situation
stumped - at a loss for an answer to a question or solution to a problem
hit something for six - dismiss something emphatically
play with a straight bat - do something in an honest and straightforward way
it is not cricket - it is not the proper or fair way of doing something
have a good inning - have a large or adequate amount of time in certain post
off one's own bat - without help from anyone else
save by the bell - saved from a bad or dangerous situation by a sudden event
on the ropes - in a weak position, close to defeat or failure
floored - defeated a confused in an argument or discussion
throw in the towel - admit defeat
first past the post - the winner
have the bit between the teeth - determined
to be given free rein - to be allowed to do exactly what one wants, without restrictions
in the saddle - in control
team player - somebody who is good in co-operating with other people in groups
run with the pack - have no individual principles but just blindly follow the majority
with hands down - win easily
go to the dogs - start to lead an aimless and self-destructive life
in the final straight/ on the last lap - in the last stage of some process
a safe pair of hands - a reliable person
BRITAIN AND THE WORLD
What is the position of Britain in the European Union?
Britain is somehow a special member of the European Union (joined in 1973). From one side, Britain is for the further European unity. Nevertheless, the changes in European domestic policy, social policy or sovereignty arrangements tend to be seen in Britain as a threat.
What does the term “Commonwealth” stand for? Describe its function.
Commonwealth is an organization consisting of the United Kingdom and the most of the countries that used to be part of the British Empire. The commonwealth has continued to hold the annual meetings with these countries. Some countries have even kept the British monarch as a head of state. These are no formal economic or political advantages involved in belonging to Commonwealth, but it has helped to keep cultural contacts alive, and does at least mean that every year the leaders of a sixth of the world's population sit down and talk together.