Magazyn dla uczących się języka angielskiego www.colorfulmedia.pl ENGLISHMATTERS wydanie specjalne: 2/2011 9,50 zł Wielka Brytania dwumiesięcznik (w tym 5% VAT) do odsłuchania artykuły w formacie MP3 em.colorfulmedia.pl n Symbols Concerned with the UK n The Monarchy & Royal Family Members n Icons of British Television British Invasion Wydanie specjalne English Matters Maj 2011 Wydanie – Export Hits from the UK ISSN 1896-4184 INDEKS 268399 NAKŁAD: 15000 inside English Matters UK 4| The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – General Info 6| UK Symbols MP3 12| Religion in Great Britain 16| The British Honours System 18| The British Monarchy 23| Reuters – the Global Agency MP3 26| (Tele)visionary! The Best of British Broadcasting 32| British Invasion MP3 36| British Entrepreneur with Social Conscience – Dame Anita Roddick MP3 39| “Elementary, my Dear Watson” FOT. SERGEY SUKHORUKOV SERGEY FOT. general info THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AREA: 244,820 km2 Cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of the shield there is a guardant lion in POPULATION: 62,041,708 Scotland). a crown and to the left – a Scottish POLITICAL SYSTEM: Parliamentary unicorn. The coat features the motto Monarchy NATIONAL ANTHEM: ‘God Save the of English monarchs, ‘Dieu et mon PARLIAMENT: House of Lords Queen’ (alternatively ‘God Save the droit’ (God and my right). (upper house) + House of Commons King’, depending on the monarch). (lower house) OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English MONARCH: Elizabeth II COAT OF ARMS: The Royal Coat of RECOGNISED OFFICIAL PRIME MINISTER: David Cameron Arms of the United Kingdom (official LANGUAGES: Irish, Ulster Scots, CAPITAL: London coat of arms of Queen Elizabeth II) Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Welsh, Cornish featuring a shield divided in four FLAG: ‘Union Jack’ – consists of the parts with two of them presenting the LARGEST CITY: London red Cross of Saint George (patron guardant lions of England (three on LONGEST RIVER: Severn (354 km) saint of England), the Cross of St Pat- each) and an Irish harp and rampant HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAK: Ben rick (patron saint of Ireland) and the lion on the other two. To the left of Nevis (1,344 metres) 4 english matters UK 2/2011 general info POLITICAL DIVISION: The UK consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. SCOTLAND CAPITAL CITY: Edinburgh FLAG: St Andrew’s Cross PLANT SYMBOL: Thistle SCOTLAND COLOUR: Blue PATRON SAINT: St Andrew NORTHERN IRELAND SAINT’S DAY: 30 November CAPITAL CITY: Belfast FLAG: St Patrick’s Cross PLANT SYMBOL: Shamrock COLOUR: Green PATRON SAINT: St Patrick SAINT’S DAY: 17 March NORTHERN IRELAND ENGLAND CAPITAL CITY: London FLAG: St George’s Cross PLANT SYMBOL: Rose COLOUR: White PATRON SAINT: St George SAINT’S DAY: 23 April ENGLAND R E K L A M A Wales WALES CAPITAL CITY: Cardiff FLAG: Dragon of Cadwallader PLANT SYMBOL: Leek/Daffodil COLOUR: Red PATRON SAINT: St David SAINT’S DAY: 1 March english matters UK 2/2011 5 symbols Whenever you think of the United Kingdom, you immediately see in your mind’s eye things, colours and images which are irrevocably connected with this part of the world. by Maria Dasiewicz kod dostępu: UKSM34 MP3 em.colorfulmedia.pl Big Ben Over the years, this imposing clock tower has turned into a significant symbol of the UK. Probably the largest four-faced clock in existence, Big Ben celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2009. At first, it was the enormous bell within the tower that does the chiming that was dubbed ‘Big Ben,’ however, gradually the name was extended to the clock and eventu- ally the whole tower. The building often makes an appearance in the media, and whenever a film’s action takes place in London, it has to appear in the shot. SYMBOLS to see sth in one’s mind’s eye – widzieć coś anniversary – rocznica oczyma duszy enormous – ogromny, olbrzymi irrevocably – nieodwołalnie chime – kurant, dzwonienie imposing – imponujący, olśniewający dubbed – ochrzczony (mianem), nazwany to turn into – zmienić się w gradually – stopniowo significant – znaczący to make an appearance – pojawiać się (gdzieś), four-faced – tu: skierowany na cztery strony wystąpić (np. publicznie) świata shot – ujęcie in existence – istniejący UK 6 english matters UK 2/2011 symbols The Union Jack The Queen The Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also known as the Union Queen Elizabeth Jack, is in fact a skilful combination of the three II and the Royal symbols of the three patron saints of England, Family are the Ireland and Scotland. There is St George’s national sym- red cross on a white background for England; bol of the there’s the red cross of St Patrick, which has perfect fam- the shape of a letter X on a white background ily. Although for Ireland, and finally, there’s a white x-shaped royalty occupy the most el- cross on a blue background, the symbol of evated rank within British society, St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. Wales, with the notions of stability, order whose flag depicts a red dragon on a white and and morality attached to them, they green background, is not represented on the perform mainly representative func- Union Flag. tions and are one of the major tour- ist attractions in the UK. the Union Jack – flaga brytyjska skilful – sprawny, zręczny royalty – członkowie rodziny królewskiej patron saint – (święty) patron elevated – podniosły, wysoki background – tło notion – pojęcie, pogląd to depict – przedstawiać to perform – wykonywać, występować Foot Guards Afternoon Tea Foot Guards belong to the Traditionally, afternoon tea is Queen’s Guard. Attired in red served at 4 o’clock, and comprises jackets and tall, furry, black bearskin foot guards – gwardia piesza of tea or coffee served along with hats, they carry out their duties and to attire – odziewać się a small snack: uphold the traditions and ceremonies bearskin hat – bermyca (niedźwiedzia czapka) – cucumber sandwiches with the of the past. 45.7 cm-tall and weigh- to carry out sb’s duties – wykonywać czyjeś crusts cut off ing about 0.7 kg, the bearskins make zadania/obowiązki – pastries, or the guards look more intimidating to uphold the traditions – stać na straży – fresh scones with cream and jam and much taller. These massive hats tradycji Although nowadays many people are made of bearskin from brown intimidating – przerażający cannot partake in this traditional bears, which reside in Canada. Why to reside – przebywać, mieszkać custom, as they are still at work, the weird headgear? Bearskins were weird – dziwaczny one may still enjoy an afternoon worn in 1815 by British soldiers after headgear – nakrycie głowy tea in one of the many tea rooms the battle of Waterloo, however they battle – bitwa available in the country. had first been worn by French grena- despised – pogardzany diers. As a symbol of their triumph over custom – zwyczaj to comprise of – składać się z the much despised enemy, the British to adorn – ozdobić, przystroić snack – przekąska took over the custom of wearing the misconception – błędne przekonanie to cut off the crusts – obciąć skórkę imposing headwear. Hence, nowa- stock-still – bez ruchu (chleba) days, these enormous hats adorn on duty – na służbie pastry – ciastko the heads of soldiers of the Queen’s watch – czaty, warta scone – babeczka to partake in sth – uczestniczyć Guard during their ceremonial duties. to remain immobile – pozostawać There is a common misconception w bezruchu w czymś, brać w czymś udział hillary that the Queen’s Guards have to to pace up and down – chodzić tam MARK , stand stock-still while on duty. In fact, i z powrotem during their two-hour-long watch, sentry box – posterunek fotopedia , they remain immobile for about ten wartowniczy minutes, and then they resume their corretto regular measured pacing up and X FELI down in front of the sentry box. fot english matters UK 2/2011 7 symbols Red double-decker buses, Driving on the left-hand black cabs, red telephone side of the road boxes These are iconic images found on the The British drive on streets of London, and as such, they the left-hand side tend to appear frequently on souve- of the road. It’s hard nirs from the UK. Although double- to find a reason- deckers are not such an infrequent able explanation for sight in other parts of the world, this state of things, the red double-deck vehicles have however, some claim become a national symbol of that the custom dates Britain. They are relatively short back to the times (9-11 m) and just above 4 m when a horse was the high. A ride in a double-decker best means of trans- is one of the major tourist attrac- port to be had, and people would ride on the left- tions when in hand side of the road. When nearing an opponent, the UK. one would unsheathe one’s sword (strapped on the Black cabs left) with one’s right hand and charge at the enemy. (also Although the British no longer carry swords or sticks called with them, nor do they employ horses as a daily means hackney of transport, the custom has remained to this day. cabs) are another reasonable – rozsądny strapped – przyczepiony, means of transport associated with to claim – twierdzić przymocowany London, and the UK. They are usu- to date back to the times of... to charge – zaszarżować, ally black in London and in other – sięgać (wstecz) czasów... rzucić się na kogoś major cities of the UK, although to near – zbliżać się there are more and more cabs to unsheathe – wyjąć z pochwy which sport brand liveries. In order (miecz), dobyć (oręża) to become a driver of a London black cab, you have to pass ‘The Knowledge,’ a special test that checks your knowledge of London streets and important Monty Python sites.