英语国家概况第一章

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(6) Official name: the U.K. = the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2. Position
Britain is an island country surrounded by the sea. It lies in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north coast of Europe. It is separated from the rest of Europe by the English Channel in the south and the North Sea in the east.
Part II Climate
1. General Features: (1) The UK enjoys a mild climate due to the North Atlantic Drift, which is a continuation of a warm current that flows from the Straits of Florida in a generally northeastern direction. (2) It has a changeable weather. It is hard to predict the weather even by the most experienced meteorologist, so weather becomes a frequent topic of discussion among people. (3) It has abundant rainfall, mostly drizzles.
(2) Britain
It is the short form for Great Britain. Officially, it should be the Great Britain, which comprises England, Wales, and Scotland.
(3) England
Part I Topography
1. Square measure: 224,110 square kilometers 2. Constituents: England (London) Great Britain(＞90%) Scotland (Edinburgh) Wales (Cardiff)
1. Different names
(1) the British Isles 大布列颠群岛
It is a group of islands off the northwestern coast of Europe, which consists of two main islands: Great Britain, Ireland and numerous smaller islands. Of all the islands, the largest one is called Great Britain. The second largest one is Ireland, which is to the west of Great Britain. Thus, British Isles don’t refer to Great Britain only.
Highland Zone (north) Great Britain Lowland zone (south)
Highlands of Scotland Central lowlands of Scotland Southern Uplands the Pennies the Lake District of Cambria Midlands of England Plain Of Lancastria North Eastern Lowlands
Edinburgh, Scotland Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and its second largest city. The view here is of the city with the hills south of an estuary （港湾）.
two main islands of the British Isles
UK
Northern Ireland (Belfast) Orkney islands Shetland islands Hebrides
minor islands
Topography
Geographic Divisions :
Highland Zone (1) Highlands of Scotland: Tartan, bagpipe, whisky
Bagpipe is a musical Tartan is a pattern, commonly instrument played A strong alcoholic drink called plaid (格子花呢), that especially in Scotland in made in Scotland from consists of stripes of varying widths which air stored in a bag is grain such as barley. and colors, crossing at right angles forced out through pipes to against a solid background. produce the sound.
(5) The Lake District of Cambria
• Lake Poets in 19th century
William Wordsworth, Robert Southy, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Lowland Zone
• The Midlands of England: southern end of the Pennines; most developed and populated • Plain of Lancastria: western side of the Pennines • North Eastern Lowlands: eastern side of the Pennines
(2) Central lowlands • Most important part of Scotland • Most populated (3/4) • Edinburgh: known as "the Athens
of the North," a tribute to its worldrenowned architecture and cultural calendar.
God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save our Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save our Queen!
(4) British Empire
¼ of the world’s land area and population
(5) British Commonwealth • worldwide association of nations and their dependencies, whose members share a common commitment to promoting human rights, democracy, and economic development All members accept the British monarch as the symbolic head of the Commonwealth Almost all members of the Commonwealth were once ruled by Britain as part of the British Empire.
(3) Southern Uplands: mostly moorland and woodland (4) The Pennines: “backbone of England”
Typical Pennine scenery
Pennines or Pennine Chain, mountain range, sometimes called the “backbone of England,” The range is sparsely populated. Sheep raising, quarrying, and tourism are important economic activities
As for the great importance of England in the U.K. , people often use the word “England” when they mean the country. Many foreigners are often confused, so they follow suit. However, the people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not like it.
A Survey of Major English-Speaking Countries
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Chapter 1 Land and People
Key words:
the Union Jack, the British Isles, Great Britain, dependent territory, Highlands, Lowlands, North Atlantic Drift, Mayday, Anglo-Saxons, Old English, Middle English, Received Standard English
Mountains of Northern Ireland
A great fishing lake
Rivers in Great Britain • longest river: River Severn (355 km) • second longest river: Thames (332 km)
3. National flag :the Union Jack
Red cross: England White saltire(X形十字): Scotland Red saltire: Northern Ireland
4. National Anthem: God Save the Queen
Features: • chains of great mountains in north • hilly, barren, least populated • highest mountain: Ben Nevis （1,343ms）
Ben Nevis
Scottish Highlands
Summit of Ben Nevis
Plain of Lancastria Lowland Belt North Eastern Lowlands
Northern Ireland • rugged mountains • huwenku.baidu.come plateau
• Lake Lough Neagh (largest freshwater lake)