SCOTLAND

Although Scotland forms a part of the United Kingdom, it has a distinct character of its own.

In area it is more than half as big as England. Its population is, however, only one-eighth as great

— about 5 200 000.

Scotland is a land of romance and it has had a most eventful history. The Picts and Celts

lived there before the coming of the Romans to Britain. Those Northern tribes worried the

Romans so much that the Great Wall was built to protect the Roman camps in the Northern part

of England.

It was in the 11th century that the Normans began to settle in Scotland. Almost all of

Scotland's history is accociated with and reflected in many castles and forts that are to be seen all

over the country. They are very picturesque, having retained their medieval features: stern,

proud, impressive, perched high on a rock or at a hillside. Mary, Queen of Scots, the beautiful

Mary Stuart was married in one of them, her son James (who was to become James I of England)

was born in another.

And now some words about the Highlands. For centuries the Highlands were a strange land,

where the king's law common to all the rest of the country, wasn't even known, where wild

people spoke a language no one could understand. Long after the rest of Britain adopted modern

ways they kept to the old life.

In 1603 King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England too, and from then

onwards the countries were under the same monarch, though the Act of Union was not passed

until 1707. This Act incorporated Scotland with England in the United Kingdom, but the Scots

kept their own legal system, religion and administration, centred in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh – the capital of Scotland has always been admired as one of the most beautiful

cities. Glasgow – its second city – always had a bad reputation. It was too often seen as a dirty,

run-down urban area. But no longer. The buildings have been cleaned up, the streets are tidy and

the people now take an obvious pride in their city. Glasgow was chosen to be the cultural capital

of Europe 1890.

Not far from Glasgow there is one of the most famous of Scotland's many lakes (called «lochs»),

Loch Lomond. Scottish numerous valleys are known as «glens». Scotland is a country with an

intense and living national tradition of a kind only too rare in the modern world. It has its

distinctive national dress, the kilt, worn only by men. It also has its own typical musical

instruments (the pipes, sometimes called «the bagpipes»), its own national form of dancing, its own songs, language, traditions and education. Scotland has even its own national drink, a fact

so widely known that one need only ask for «Scotch».

Notes

The Picts and Celts – пикты и кельты (племена)

tribe — племя

camp — лагерь

to pass the Act — принять Акт/Закон (в парламенте)

В

My Family

My name is Boris. I am fourteen years old. I would like to tell you about my family.

There are five of us in the family. I have got a mother, a father, an elder brother and a younger sister. First of all, I would like to tell you about myself.

I am in the eighth grade. I like to read historical novels and listen to pop music. My elder brother is a school-leaver, he is seventeen years old. This year he is going to enter the Academy of Music. He plays the piano and guitar very well.

My younger sister’s name is Kate. She is five years old, she goes to the kindergarten, likes to draw and dance. I like to spend my free time with her.

My mother’s name is Elena. She is a teacher of the English language. She works at school and likes her profession very much. She is forty years old and she looks very good.

My father’s name is Vladimir. He is forty-five years old. He is a surgeon. He is a very responsible and hardworking person. He works a lot and he is busy all the time. We are proud of him, because every day he saves lives of people.

We always go to the village to our grandparents during summer holidays. There is a lake there and we swim in it. We also play badminton, go fishing and in the evening we get together, drink tea, talk and laugh.

My family is very friendly and united. I love it and I am proud of it.

Моя семья

Меня зовут Борис. Мне четырнадцать лет. Я хочу рассказать вам о моей семье.

В нашей семье пять человек. У меня есть папа, мама, старший брат и младшая сестра. В первую очередь, я хочу рассказать о себе.

Я учусь в 8 классе. Я люблю читать исторические романы и слушать поп-музыку. Мой старший брат – выпускник, ему 17 лет. В этом году он собирается поступать в музыкальную академию. Он очень хорошо играет на фортепиано и гитаре.

Мою младшую сестру зовут Катя, ей 5 лет, она ходит в детский сад, любит рисовать и танцевать. Мне нравится проводить с ней свободное время.

Мою маму зовут Елена. Она учитель английского языка. Она работает в школе и очень любит свою профессию. Ей 40 лет, и она очень хорошо выглядит.

Моего папу зовут Владимир. Ему 45 лет. Он хирург. Папа очень ответственный и трудолюбивый человек. Он очень много работает и всегда занят. Мы гордимся им, потому что он каждый день жизни людей.

Во время летних каникул мы всегда едем в деревню к бабушке и дедушке. Там есть озеро, мы плаваем в нем. Мы также играем в бадминтон, ловим рыбу, а вечером собираемся все вместе, пьем чай, разговариваем и смеемся.

Моя семья очень дружная и сплоченная. Я люблю ее и горжусь ею.

your trousers are in the wardrobe

where are his scissors

there is a lecture on history today

the shopping is heave

where are my gloves

this information is correct

his hair is brown

my socks are in the drawer

our furniture is very cheap

his accommondation is luxurious

evidence is needed before the trial can continue

the news are very exciting

mumps are a common illness among children

my glasses are on the table

chinese is difficult to learn

where are the kitchen scales

billiards is a popular game

his work is very interesting

people are starving in some countries

education is the key to his success