Introduction to English Studies 1.2: Civilisation in the United Kingdom and Ireland
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Introduction to English Studies 1.2: Civilisation in the United Kingdom and Ireland Workbook 2016 Autumn Compiled by Ágnes Kiricsi Partially based on the workbook of Erzsébet Stróbl Introduction to English Studies 1.2: Civilisation in the United Kingdom and Ireland BAN/BANM/ERPB-BAN 1312 Kiricsi Ágnes [email protected] Friday 10:00-11:30, 12:00-13:30, 14:00-15:30 The aim of this course is to introduce students to the geography, political system, and social scene of the United Kingdom. The course places special emphasis on the cultural heritage of the country and on contemporary social issues. Course Manuals: Workbook. 2016. Compiled by Ágnes Kiricsi. Károly Pintér, Introduction to Britain. https://btk.ppke.hu/uploads/articles/463213/file/Britbook_2014.pdf Collection of slides Michael Collins (1996) by Neil Jordan Requirements: Regular attendance. Students can miss 3 classes, after the fourth absence they will not get a credit for the course. Reading the assigned articles and defining terms listed after the articles. Looking up unknown words and expressions of the article, and commenting on the content of the text. Doing the homework assignments. A midterm test, and an end-of-term test (including an outline-map test and a vocabulary test of the articles). 2 Course schedule Sept. 13 Introduction, cultural facts about the UK Sept. 26 National Symbols of the UK, Geography Sept. 30 The Crown, Religion Oct. 7 Parliament Oct. 14 Mid-term test Scotland: Symbols, Geography Oct. 21 Scotland: Culture and History Nov. 11 Wales: Symbols and Geography Nov. 18 Wales: Culture and History Nov. 25 Ireland: Symbols, Geography, Outline of History Dec. 2 Ireland - movie Dec. 9 End-of-term test Dec. 16 Course Evaluation 3 1. The UK – Introduction, Symbols 1. The Quintessence of Britishness (from: Julian Barnes: England, England) 2. What Do You Know About Great Britain? Great Britain comprises England, (1).................... and (2)..................... The full, official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and (3).................... Ireland. The national flag of the UK is the (4)................... Jack. The United Kingdom is a member of the (5) ............... Union. The capital of the UK, London, lies on the river (6)................. The highest mountain in the UK is (7)............ ............. in the Highlands of Scotland, at 1,343 m. The longest river is the (8)...................., 354 km long. The population of the UK is about (9)................ million. The two largest islands in the English Channel are: (10).................... and ......................... The most important British government offices are situated in the City of (11)......................., a borough of Greater London. The British Parliament consists of the House of (12).................... and the House of (13).................... The (14)...................of London is one of the most important financial centres in the world. (15)................... Palace is the official residence of the Queen. 4 (16)...................., a county in the south east, is called the Garden of England because it produces a lot of fruit and vegetables. The (17)................... is the central part of England, important for light engineering industries. (18)................... is the second-largest city in Britain. In the past it was known as the industrial centre of England; now it is becoming popular as a centre of music and the arts. (19)............................ is the birthplace of William Shakespeare. One of the most beautiful areas in the north of England is the (20).................. District, situated mainly in Cumbria. The population of Scotland is about (21)................ million. The capital of Scotland is (22)................... Scotland is divided into three geographical areas: the Highlands, the (23)................. and the Islands. The population of Wales is about (24)................. million. The capital of Wales is (25).............. The highest mountain in Wales is (26)................... The British political scene is dominated by a two-party system. Since 1923 the (27).................. and the .................... parties have been the most important in political life. The party in opposition is called ”Her Majesty’s Opposition” and its leader forms a (28)”................. cabinet”. The Archbishop of (29)................... is the leader of the Church of England. The established Church of Scotland is called the (30)......................... Church. Britain has lost all of her colonies, however, there are still a few dependencies which remain under British control, such as (31)................. on the southern coast of Spain and the (32)................... Islands in the south-west Atlantic Ocean near Argentina. (33).................... was a Crown Colony until 1997. Now it is part of the People’s Republic of China. One of the most important dates in British history is 1066, the year of the Battle of (34).................., during which the Norman Duke William invaded the island and defeated the English army. Since that time England has never been invaded. Henry VIII, who had six wives, was the founder of the Church of (35)................ His daughter, (36)..................., gave her name to a golden era of English culture. Her successor was James I, the son of (37).................. Queen of Scots. His son (38).................... was executed during the Civil War. At the end of the 18th century Britain entered the period of the (39)................... Revolution, which led to a rapid increase in national prosperity. In the 19th century Britain was transformed from an agricultural to a modern industrial country. However, in the 20th century Britain has lost much of her economic and political power. In 1979, the Conservative government under Mrs. (40) .................. was determined to improve the economic situation of the country, which was partly achieved. At present the British (41) ................ is one of the strongest world currencies. (from: http://www.uk.filo.pl/quiz.htm?SID=2492be17bc36e1f4a9884bf931d91fe9) 3. What is the Commonwealth? 5 4. Write the following terms into the chart Yellow: British Isles, British Islands, Great Britain, Ireland, the United Kingdom Blue: England, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales 5. What is common in these places? a) Anguilla; Bermuda; British Antarctic Territory; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands (Ducie, Henderson and Oeno); South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; St Helena; St Helena Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha); and the Turks and Caicos Islands? b) United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu 6. What are these flags? i.) ii.) iii.) iv.) 6 7. Explain a. b. 8. What can you see in this picture? Can you explain its parts? 9. Match the picture and the name of the national flower with the region. ENGLAND SCOTLAND WALES NORTHERN-IRELAND THISTLE LEEK DAFFODIL SHAMROCK TUDOR ROSE 7 10. Match the name and the day of the national saint with the region. ENGLAND SCOTLAND WALES NORTHERN-IRELAND St. Andrew St. Patrick St. George St. David 1 March 17 March 23 April 30 November Also remember: Burns Night Remembrance Day (Scotland): 25 January Sunday nearest to 11 November 11. Can you find the correct order of these lines? What is this? God save the Queen! And give us ever cause, God save the Queen. God save the Queen. God save our gracious Queen! Long may she reign. Happy and glorious, May she defend our laws, Long live our noble Queen! On her be pleased to pour, Long to reign over us, Thy choicest gifts in store Send her victorious, To sing with heart and voice, 12. Solve the crossword puzzle Across 1. Pancake .... is a competition of women over 16. They run 380 metres wearing a cap and an apron. The most famous one is held at Olney in Buckinghamshire. 2. national flower of Wales 5. The national flower of Scotland. 8. ... holidays are those days when banks are legally closed. 8 9. Bunches of .... are often hung above doorways at Christmas time. A couple passing underneath must exchange kisses. 11. ... rolling competitions are connected to Easter Monday in northern Britain. 13. ... Day is the name for 26 December. This is the time when tradespeople receive a Christmas Box (i.e.: some money) in appreciation of the work they've carried out during the year. 14. Roast ... is a traditional Christmas dinner 16. Patron Saint of Scotland 19. The Scottish New Year 20. ... or treating is another name for Guising 21. Ireland's national flower 22. ... Day is also called Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday which falls 41 days before Easter). Down 1. The national flower of England. 3. First ... is a New Year tradition. 4. ...-O'-Lantern 6. National flower of Wales 7. 31 October 10. It's a holiday, the name of which comes from the Saxon godess of spring, Eostre, whose feast tookplace at the spring eqinox (21 March) 12. Fawkes - a man who attempted to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament in 1605. This day is commemorated with bonfires on 5 November. 15. National saint of Ireland 17. A piece of coal, a loaf of bread and a bottle of .... are connected to the New Year festivities in the North of England and Scotland 18. A flower worn on Remembrance Day (the nearest Sunday to 11 November) 9 READING http://www.economist.com/new s/britain/21578435-minorities- embrace-englishness-even- metropolitan-whites-shun-it- identity-paradeEnglishness Identity parade Minorities embrace Englishness, even as metropolitan whites shun it May 25th 2013 |From the print edition IN 1924, speaking on St George’s Day, the then prime minister, Stanley Baldwin, gave thanks that for once he could refer to England “without some fellow at the back of the room shouting out: ‘Britain!’” Even then, the tendency of the English to forget the other nations of the United Kingdom irritated the politically correct.