BRITISH CIVILIZATION

Transcription

1 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Tran Thanh Hung - M.A Britannia is the Roman name of the United Kingdom. 2-There are five constituent nations which form the United Kingdom. 3-Northern Ireland is in Great Britain. 4-Britain covers an area of approximately 58,956,000 sq km. 5-Glassgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff are in Scotland. 6-Swansea, Belfast and Dublin are in Britain. 7-Most of the population and majority of Scotland s industry is located in the Central Lowlands. 8-Glassgow is the largest population center in Scotland; it is also a large cosmopolitan city in Europe. 9-Lock Ness is in Wales. Another famous lake, Bala Lake, is also located in The Principality. 10-The current Prince of Wales is Prince Charles. 11-Snowdon is the highest point in England and Wales. 12-The total population of Wales is estimated at more than 2.9 million representing about five per cent of the total British population. 13-Wales is famous for its sheep farming, beautiful landscapes and some mines. 14-The two world famous Scottish products are whisky and textiles. 15-Big Ben is the great bell in the clock tower on the Four Courts building in Ireland. 16-Bristol is the name of a famous ancient city in England. 17-Both English and Scot Gaelic are used officially in Scotland. 18-English Channel separates the land of the British Isles and that of Western Europe. 19-Tartan is the name for the traditional musical instrument invented by Scottish people in the old times. 20-Stonehenge is famous because of its mysteries. 21-The huge stones which were used to construct Stonehenge were thought to be transported from Wales. 22-Big Ben is named after a famous English worker in the 18th century, Sir Benjamin Hall. 23-British Parliament is housed at Buckingham Palace. 24-The Principality or Wales is the smallest nation in Great Britain and it also has the lowest population density. 25 People in Scotland are very proud of their textile industry and whiskies. 26-Hadrian s Wall was built to prevent the Romans from invading Scotland in the old times. 27- The British Isles lies off the north-west coast of mainland Europe and is made up of two countries: The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. 28-Britain consists of four countries. 29-The formal name of the United Kingdom is the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland. 30-There are approximately 9 million people living in Scotland. 1 TRUE FALSE 2 TRUE FALSE 3 TRUE FALSE 4 TRUE FALSE 5 TRUE FALSE 6 TRUE FALSE 7 TRUE FALSE 8 TRUE FALSE 9 TRUE FALSE 10 TRUE FALSE 11 TRUE FALSE 12 TRUE FALSE 13 TRUE FALSE 14 TRUE FALSE 15 TRUE FALSE 16 TRUE FALSE 17 TRUE FALSE 18 TRUE FALSE 19 TRUE FALSE 20 TRUE FALSE 21 TRUE FALSE 22 TRUE FALSE 23 TRUE FALSE 24 TRUE FALSE 25 TRUE FALSE 26 TRUE FALSE 27 TRUE FALSE 28 TRUE FALSE 29 TRUE FALSE 30 TRUE FALSE

2 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Feedback Test One 2 Complete the article with words given in the boxes Why British not English? Many foreigners say 'England' and 'English' when they mean 'Britain', or the 'UK', and 'British'. This is very annoying for the 5 million people who live in Scotland, the 2.8 million in Wales and 1.5 million in Northern Ireland who are certainly not English. (46 million people live in England.) However, the people from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England are all. So what is the difference between the names 'Great Britain' and 'the United Kingdom' - and what about 'the British Isles'? England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland English Welsh Irish Scottish British England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland The British Isles Republic of Ireland Great Britain Britain The United Kingdom This is an abbreviation of. It is often further abbreviated to 'UK', and is the political name of the country which is made up of,, and (sometimes known as Ulster). Several islands off the British coast are also part of the United Kingdom (for example, the Isle of Wight, the Orkneys, Hebrides and Shetlands, and the Isles of Scilly), although the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not. However, all these islands do recognize the Queen. Great Britain This is the name of the island which is made up of, and and so, strictly speaking, it does not include. The origin of the word 'Great' is a reference to size, because in many European languages the words for Britain and Brittany in France are the same. In fact, it was the French who first talked about Grande Bretagne! In everyday speech 'Britain' is used to mean the United Kingdom. This is the geographical name that refers to all the islands off the north west coast of the European continent: Great Britain, the whole of Ireland (Northern and Southern), the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. But it is important to remember that Southern Ireland - that is the (also called 'Eire') - is completely independent. So you can see that 'The United Kingdom' is the correct name to use if you are referring to the country in a political, rather than in a geographical way. 'British' refers to people from the UK, Great Britain or the British Isles in general.

3 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Tran Thanh Hung - M.A England is the largest country of the United Kingdom, occupying well over half of its geographical area. 2-The year 1066 is a key date for England an event all English school children are taught the last successful invasion of the country. 3-In 1066, Duke William of Normandy defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings and became King William I, known as William the Conqueror. 4-The first Roman tribes streamed to Britain around 8000 BC. 5-When the Celts overran the British Isles, they subdued and absorbed the inhabitants of the islands with their iron weapons and two wheel horse-drawn chariots. 6-Stonehenge is a huge artificial mound, situated near Avebury in Wiltshire, southern England. 7-The first Roman arrival in Britain was under the war leader Julius Caesar. 8-The Celt constructed their bases in northern parts of the British Isles, which belong to the land of Scotland today and introduced the early form of agriculture. 9-The first bases of the Roman were built in Glasgow, Scotland of today. 10-The Romans left behind: their network of roads, sites of several important cities and the initial ideas about Christianity; all these things are still remaining at present. 11-The Romans also introduced to the inhabitants of the British Isles their language which then developed into the modern Roman family of languages, and which became the present-day English. 12-The Anglo-Saxon force was formed by the two tribes from Scandinavian mainland; the Angles and the Saxons. 13- The Anglo-Saxons had a great effect on the countryside, where they introduced new farming methods and founded thousands of self-sufficient villages which formed the basis of English society for the next thousand years. 14-The Vikings who followed the Anglo-Saxons and controlled the southern parts of Britain were the first people to introduce the self-sufficient villages. 15-The Normans under the leadership of William the Conqueror seized Britain from Northern France. 16-The birth of English class system was in the time of the Norman invasions. 17-The barons were originally the French soldiers. 18-Some of the upper-classed people among Anglo-Saxon communities were offered the ownership of land and became so wealthy and powerful later. 19-Most of the peasants during the Medieval Period spoke English because they were originally Anglo-Saxons. 20-The most famous date in English history is the 14th October, 1066 when an invading army from Normandy defeated the English. The date is remembered for being the last time that England was successfully invaded. 21-The Wars of the Roses was the war between the monarchy and the parliamentary supporters. 22-Oliver Cromwell accepted Parliament s invitation to become king of England. 23-Britain expanded its colonization to almost all parts of the world under the reign of Queen Victoria. 24-The cultural differences between Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were comparatively small. They led roughly the same way of life and spoke two varieties of the same Germanic tongue. 25-King Henry VIII used Parliament to pass laws which swept away the power of the Protestant Church in England. 26-Hundreds of thousands of people moved from rural areas into new towns and cities during the time of Industrial Revolution. 27-In Victorian time, the British came to see themselves as having a duty to spread this culture and civilization around the world. 1 TRUE FALSE 2 TRUE FALSE 3 TRUE FALSE 4 TRUE FALSE 5 TRUE FALSE 6 TRUE FALSE 7 TRUE FALSE 8 TRUE FALSE 9 TRUE FALSE 10 TRUE FALSE 11 TRUE FALSE 12 TRUE FALSE 13 TRUE FALSE 14 TRUE FALSE 15 TRUE FALSE 16 TRUE FALSE 17 TRUE FALSE 18 TRUE FALSE 19 TRUE FALSE 20 TRUE FALSE 21 TRUE FALSE 22 TRUE FALSE 23 TRUE FALSE 24 TRUE FALSE 25 TRUE FALSE 26 TRUE FALSE 27 TRUE FALSE

4 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Feedback Test Two 2 Match the event and the appropriate period 1 - The Anglo-Saxon advance was temporarily halted by an army of the Celtic Britons under the command of the legendary King Arthur. 2- The Norman soldiers who had been part of the invading army were given the ownership of land-and of the people living on it. 3 - Most of the Roman villas, baths, temples and their impressive network of roads, and the cities they founded, including Londonium (London), were soon destroyed or fell into disrepair. The Roman Period The Iron Age The Period of Germanic Invasions The Medieval Period 4 - For people in Britain today, the chief significance of this period is its sense of mysteries. 5 - The Vikings, also known as Norsemen or Danes, came from Scandinavia. 6 - The word parliament which comes from the French word parler (to speak) was first used in England to describe an assembly of nobles called together by the king. 7 - The round houses and an early form of agriculture were introduced to the inhabitants of the British Isles. 11- In war, the Celts used the sword and the spear. They carried an oval shield and their armies often made use of light chariots. 12- Ways of enjoying life were introduced, and people started thinking of feasts and horsemanship. 8 - The great Hadrian s Wall was constructed, running across the open country. 9 - The successful invasion of England by William the Conqueror brought Britain into the mainstream of western Europe. 10- The term Anglo-Saxon is a relatively modern one. It refers to settlers from the German regions of Angle and Saxony, who made their way over to Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire around AD 410.

5 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Tran Thanh Hung - M.A In British educational system, there are three stages including the primary, the secondary which is for children at around the age of eleven or twelve, and the tertiary stage which is indeed further stage at university or college. 2-Schools funded by the government, either directly or via local education authorities are called public schools. 3-Education in Britain is compulsory for the most years and the school year is the longest among the European countries. 4-At the end of their secondary schooling, most pupils in Britain are required to take a national exam called GCSE. 5-British schools usually divide their year into three terms, staring at the beginning of September. 6-General National Vocational Qualification consists of courses and exams in job-related subjects. 7 The sixth form college normally offers courses for students who are not eligible to enter a university. 8-People around the age of eighteen who wish to go on to higher education may take A levels. 9-The most famous date in English history is the 14th October, 1066 when an invading army from Normandy defeated the English. The date is remembered for being the last time that England was successfully invaded. 10-Oliver Cromwell accepted Parliament s invitation to become king of England. 11- Britain expanded its colonization to almost all parts of the world under the reign of Queen Victoria. 12-The cultural differences between Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were comparatively small. They led roughly the same way of life and spoke two varieties of the same Germanic tongue. 13- Hundreds of thousands of people moved from rural areas into new towns and cities during the time of Industrial Revolution. 14-Prince William of Orange became king of England when he defeated the Normans in the Glorious Revolution. 15-The parliamentary forces defeated the royalists Cavaliers, the monarchy soldiers, in the Civil War. 1 TRUE FALSE 2 TRUE FALSE 3 TRUE FALSE 4 TRUE FALSE 5 TRUE FALSE 6 TRUE FALSE 7 TRUE FALSE 8 TRUE FALSE 9 TRUE FALSE 10 TRUE FALSE 11 TRUE FALSE 12 TRUE FALSE 13 TRUE FALSE 14 TRUE FALSE 15 TRUE FALSE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS 1-In Britain, it is compulsory for everyone between the ages of and years to receive some officially recognized form of schooling. 2-The vast majority of pupils attend, which are absolutely free. 3-The private schools are often referred to as 4-The recently introduced National Curriculum has made it compulsory for three core subjects-,, and 5-Passage from one academic year to the next is 6-Usually from 14 to 16 years of age, most pupils take their, assessed on the basis of a mixture of course work and a written examination, in individual subjects. 7-The entrance requirement to the universities in Britain is the course. 8-Oxbridge includes and 9-The program to encourage unemployed people to receive opportunity to improve their skills and contribute to society is 10-Britian is an active member of a number which promote international co-operation in education and training.

6 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Tran Thanh Hung - M.A TASK ONE: COMPLETE THE STATEMENTS BELOW 1-The British Isles comprises of and 2-Britain can be referred to as The or The in short. 3-The constituent nations of Great Britain are, and. 4-The nation of highest population density in the British Isles is and the nation of lowest population density in Great Britain is 5-The Parliament is the supreme legislative authority and consists of three separate elements:,, and the elected. 6-Parliament is known as because it is housed there while the Government is normally referred to as 7-The Executive includes, his or her and all the. 8-For people in Britain today, the chief significance of the prehistoric period is its of 9-The most famous site of ancient historic values in Britain today is the. 10-The Romans left there things behind when they were driven away from the British Isles:,, and 11-During the 5th century, a number of tribes from the mainland invaded and settled in large numbers; the two most well-known of these tribes were the and which later formed the Anglo-Saxon forces. 12-During the time of Tudor England, the medieval period came to a close, the power of the English monarch while the strength of the great barons. 13-The reign of the daughter of Henry VIII is known as the 14-The transforming from hand work at home to machine work in factories at the beginning of the 18th century in Britain is the. 15-Cardiff is the capital city of, which is sometimes referred to as The Principality. TASK TWO: COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TABLE No. Famous names Periods Known as 1. King Arthur The Germanic invasions Leader of the Celts, fighting against the Anglo-Saxons 2. Duke William of Normandy 3. King Henry VIII 4. Oliver Cromwell 5. Queen Elizabeth I 6. Queen Victoria

7 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Feedback Test Four 2 TASK THREE: MATCH THE STATEMENT WITH ITS EQUIVALENT HOLIDAY. New Year s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, Late Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas, Boxing Day, St. Valentine s Day, Mother s Day, Father s Day, April Fools Day, Remembrance Sunday, Guy Fawkes Day (Bonfire Night), Shrove Tuesday, Halloween. TASK FOUR: CROSS OUT THE INCORRECT STATEMENTS 1-In the United Kingdom, full-time education is compulsory up to the middle teenage years and the academic year begins at the beginning of September. 2-All state schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must conform to the National Curricula. These set out what subjects pupils should study, what they should be taught and what standards they should achieve. 3-GCSEs provide a path into both education and employment. They are broadly based vocational qualifications incorporating the skills required by Employers. 4-GCE A levels are the main academic qualification for entry to higher education and are normally taken by pupils at age 18 or over. 5-The majority of pupils-over 90 percent-go to publicly funded schools, usually known as state schools. 6-Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their children obtain education between their 5th and 16th birthdays. 7-Britain is an active member of a number of multinational organizations which promote international co-operation in education and training. 8-After the compulsory education, children can enter their desired universities without having to take any supporting courses or required tests. 9-Britain has more than 90 universities. British universities can be divided into several categories. The foremost universities are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both founded in the Middle Ages. The term Oxbridge is used to refer to both schools as a single entity. 10-There are usually three to seven core subject in the National Curricula that British schools are required to conform to. 1 - People often send their lovers flowers, chocolates and greeting cards on this occasion. 2 - It was the day on which landowners and householders would present their tenants and servants with gifts (in boxes). 3 - It is traditional for people to play tricks or practical jokes on each other on this day. 4 - The first Monday in May. In Britain this day is associated more with ancient folklore than with the workers. 5- Second Sunday in November, commemorating the dead of both World Wars and of more recent conflicts. 6 - Some people hold costume parties on this occasion. (In these parties, people dress up as witches, ghosts, etc.) 7- On this occasion, trees, usually spruces or fir trees, are placed in town squares, outside churches and in many homes, decorated with colored lights and with a large star or an angle at the top. 8 - On this occasion, some children make a guy out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper and place this somewhere on the street to ask passers-by for a penny for the guy. 9 There are two popular events associated with this day. One of them is the pancake tossing contest. The other is the pancake race. Contestants have to run while continuously tossing a pancake. Anyone who drops his or her pancake is disqualified. 10- People can listen to the Queen s message. This ten minute television broadcast is normally the only time in the year when the monarch speaks directly to her people on television.

8 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Bình Thuaän, 2007 Duration: 90 minutes Students write the answers into the ANSWER SHEET PART ONE: True/ False Questions 20 points 15-Britain has a lower proportion of the adult population in work than any other large European country. 1-Lying off the north-west coast of Europe, there are two large islands and several much smaller ones, which are collectively known as The British Isles. 2-Great Britain, The United Kingdom or The U.K all refer to the same nation. 3-The United Kingdom comprises four constituent countries including respectively Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 4-Great Britain is the largest island of the British Isles. 5-In Britain, it is a legal duty for parents to ensure that their children obtain education between their 5th and 16th birthdays. 6-The British individual s ability to meet the skills standards required at work is certified by competence-based qualifications: National Vocational Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Scotland. 7-The majority of British pupils - over 90 percent - go to publicly funded schools, usually known as state schools. 8-At the age of 16, prior to leaving school, students in the United Kingdom take Advanced Level examinations, commonly known as A Levels. 9-More than 90 universities in Britain can be divided into several categories, of which the foremost is Oxbridge - the term used to refer to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge as a single entity. 10-Unlike the constitutions of most other countries in Europe, that of Britain is not set out in any single document. Instead British Constitution is made of statue law, common law and conventions. 11-There are three elements that make up the Westminster Parliament: the Queen, the House of Lords and the elected House of Commons. 12-General elections in Britain must be held at least three years but the Prime Minister has the right to call elections before the term has expired. 13-One of the most significant changes in the age structure of Britain s population over the last 30 years has been the increasing proportion of people over the retirement age. 14-Britain has a population of about 59 million people, the 17th largest in the world. The great majority, 49.3 million, live in England; Scotland has just over 5 million people, Wales 2.9 million and 16-The most common leisure activities among people in Britain are home-based, or social, such as visiting relatives or friends. Watching television is by far the most popular leisure pastime. 17-The Anglo-Saxons had little use for towns and cities. But they had a great effect on the countryside, where they introduced new farming methods and founded thousands of self-sufficient villages October 1066 is the most famous date in British history when an invading army from Normandy defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. The date is remembered for being the last time that England was successfully invaded. 19-Henry VIII is one of the most well-known monarchs in English history, chiefly because he took six wives during his life. 20-The population of Scotland (2003 estimate) is 5,057,400. The population density is about 64 persons per sq km (166 per sq mi), making Scotland the most sparsely populated of the major United Kingdom administrative divisions. The highest density is in the Central Lowlands, where nearly three-quarters of all Scots live, and the lowest is in the Highlands. 1-The transforming from hand work at home to machine work in factories at the beginning of the 18th century in Britain is the (1). 2-One of the most famous and mysterious archeological sites in the world is (2), probably built between B.C., which is believed to be a sort of astronomical clock used to mark the passing of seasons. 3-Cardiff is the capital city of (3), which is sometimes referred to as The Principality. 4-Glasgow and Edinburgh are two big cities in (4). PART TWO: Fill in the blank 30 points

9 5-The monarch who herself became a symbol of Britain s success in the world is Queen (5). (She reigned from 1837 to 1901). 6- The Roman withdrew from Britain in 430 AD leaving behind three things of notable importance: sites of important (6), the seeds of (7), and a network of (8). 8-The (11) is a recently introduced structure of education making such core subjects as English, Mathematics, and Science (and seven other foundational subjects) mandatory curricula for all primary and secondary pupils. 9-The constituent nations of Great Britain are (12), (13), and (14). 7- The British Constitution contains two main principles, which are (9) and (10). 10-The most popular alcoholic drink in British pubs is (15). PART THREE: Complete the chart below 10 points The three bodies that have the power to carry our the constitutional laws: 1. The Legislature The Judiciary The three elements that make up the Parliament: 2. The House of Lords The House of Commons The four Parliament s functions today: 3. To raise enough money through taxation 4. To debate or discuss important political issues House of Commons House of Lords number of members 5- members are called 6- members are called 9- presided over by 7- the main function is 8- presided over by 10- PART FOUR: Give brief answers to the following questions 10 points 1-What is the difference between Britain and Great Britain? 2-What is the difference in usage between the words British and English? 3-What was the Magna Carta? 4-What is GCSE? 5-Why is Big Ben so called? THE END

10 BRITISH CIVILIZATION Bình Thuaän, 2007 ANSWER SHEET Student s full name: ID number: Class: Scores: Marker s Signature / 70 points PART ONE: True/ False Questions 20 points 1 TRUE FALSE 2 TRUE FALSE 3 TRUE FALSE 4 TRUE FALSE 5 TRUE FALSE 6 TRUE FALSE 7 TRUE FALSE 8 TRUE FALSE 9 TRUE FALSE 10 TRUE FALSE 11 TRUE FALSE 12 TRUE FALSE 13 TRUE FALSE 14 TRUE FALSE 15 TRUE FALSE 16 TRUE FALSE 17 TRUE FALSE 18 TRUE FALSE 19 TRUE FALSE 20 TRUE FALSE PART TWO: Fill in the blank 30 points

11 PART THREE: Complete the chart 10 points PART FOUR: Brief answers to the questions 10 points