READING AND SPEAKING: THE UK COUNTRY PROFILE

Read the text and complete the tasks which follow. The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has a long history as a major player in international affairs and fulfils an important role in the EU, UN and Nato. The twentieth century saw Britain having to redefine its place in the world. At the beginning of the century it commanded a world-wide empire as the foremost global power. Two world wars and the end of empire diminished its role, but the UK remains a major economic and military power, with considerable political and cultural influence around the world. Britain was the world's first industrialised country. Its economy remains one of the largest, but it has for many years been based on service industries rather than on manufacturing. Despite being a major member of the EU, the country is not part of the euro zone, and the question of whether it will join any time soon appears to have receded for the moment. The government has said a series of economic criteria must be met before the issue can be put to a referendum. Diversity The UK is ethnically diverse, partly as a legacy of empire. Lately, the country has been struggling with issues revolving around multiculturalism, immigration and national identity.This is against a background of concerns about terrorism and political and religious radicalism, heightened after the suicide bomb attacks on London's transport network in 2005. Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II became queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1952 upon the death of her father, George VI. She is the second longest serving head of state, after the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was crowned in 1946. She is also head of state of 16 independent countries including Canada and Australia.As a constitutional monarch, her role in the legislative process is largely ceremonial. Prime minister: David Cameron Born the son of a wealthy stockbroker in 1966 in London, Mr Cameron was educated at Eton College - Britain's top private school - and Oxford University. Aged 43 on coming to power, he was the youngest prime minister since 1812. David Cameron became prime minister at the head of a coalition government on 11 May 2010, returning his centre-right Conservative Party to power after 13 years of rule by the centre-left Labour Party. Mr Cameron formed a partnership with the third party, the Liberal Democrats, after an inconclusive parliamentary election from which the Conservatives emerged with the largest number of seats, but without an absolute majority. It is the first formal coalition government in 70 years to govern the UK, where the electoral system usually guarantees a majority for the largest party. The new PM was confronted by a daunting economic situation, with the UK only slowly emerging from a deep recession caused by the 2008 global financial collapse, and facing a rapidly mounting budget deficit as a result of the crisis. Assuming office, Mr Cameron promised that cutting the deficit would be his top priority. In October 2010, Mr Cameron's government announced a programme of deep cuts in government spending - the UK's largest in generations. In 2011, the prime minister was criticised for hiring a journalist implicated in the scandal surrounding the hacking of phones by the now defunct News of the World newspaper as his communications director. The journalist, Andy Coulson, a former News of the World editor, resigned and was later arrested in connection with the allegations. Mr Cameron's predecessor, Gordon Brown, became prime minister in 2007, succeeding Tony Blair, who had stepped down after coming under growing pressure over Britain's role in the Iraq War. Are these statements true or false according to the text? Prove your point of view with the text. 1. The UK is made up of Great Britain, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. 2. The UK is one of the main states which has influence on the international affairs. 3. The UK plays a major role in the European Union, United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States. 4. At the beginning of the 20th century the UK was an emerging power. 5. The UK’s role on the global arena in the 20th century decreased because of the Second World War. 6. British economy was based on service industries. 7. The UK’s currency isn’t euro. 8. The UK’s problems in the 21st century mainly deal with ethnical diversity and terrorism. Answer the questions. 1. When did Elizabeth II become the head of the UK? What other countries does she rule? 2. How long has she been the Queen? 3. How old is David Cameron? How old was he when he was elected PM? What political party does he lead? 4. What’s his educational background? 5. How long had the Labour Party been in power before 11 May 2010? 6. Why did Mr Cameron have to form a partnership with the Liberal Democrates? 7. What economic situation was the new PM confronted by? 8. What are the two issues Mr Cameron is primarily criticized for by the British and the media? 9. Who were Mr Cameron’s predecessors? Be ready to retell the text in detail. You are to be ready to speak about: Major Facts about the UK; The UK’s role in the past and in the present; The major issues of concern for the British government; British PM David Cameron; The UK Head of State. You may add any additional information you consider important for your talk.