Britain and The United Kingdom

Flashcards about Britain and the United Kingdom

What is Britain?

The official name given to the kingdom of England and the principality of Wales.

What countries make up Great Britain?

England, Scotland, and Wales.

What is the full name of the UK?

The official name of the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

What countries make up the UK?

England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

How is the UK formed?

Great Britain and Northern Ireland together form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

What islands make up the British Isles?

Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), Ireland (the Republic of Ireland), Northern Ireland, The Orkney and Shetland Islands, The Isle of Man, Hebrides, The Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Lundy Island, and The Channel Islands.

Is Britain the same as Great Britain?

Sometimes people use the shortened name Britain instead of Great Britain, to mean the same thing, but really Britain only refers to England and Wales.

What geographical areas form Great Britain?

The mainlands of England, Scotland, and Wales.

Which country in the UK has the largest population?

England

What two cultures have historically been in tension in Britain?

Urban and rural cultures.

What are some of Britain’s major rivers?

The Clyde, Tyne, Trent, Severn, Thames, Bann, and Lagan.

What is the Strait of Dover?

The shortest stretch of water between England and France.

What gives Britain a more temperate climate?

The warm North Atlantic Current (Gulf Stream).

Where is the highest ground in Britain mainly located?

The north and west.

What does England mainly consist of?

Flat lowland countryside, with highland areas in the north and south-west.

What type of country is Wales?

A highland country, with moorland plateau, hills, and mountains.

What are the three main areas of Scotland?

The North-West and Central Highlands (Grampians), the Central Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands.

What characterize Northern Ireland’s physical features?

A rocky northern coastline, a south-central fertile plain, and mountainous areas in the west, north-east, and south-east.

What is the climate mainly like in Britain?

Mainly temperate, but with variations between coolness and mildness.

What are the main types of air masses affecting Britain?

Polar and tropical.

What is the main factor affecting rainfall in Britain?

Depressions (low-pressure areas) which travel eastwards across the Atlantic Ocean.

How does sunshine vary in Britain?

It decreases from south to north, inland from the coastal belts, and with altitude.

What are the three main categories used in the most common division of social classes in the UK?

Upper, middle, and working or lower class.

What factors determine an individual’s social class in Britain?

Family origin and upbringing; income and wealth; job; education; lifestyle, manners, appearance; and dialect and accent.

What has the middle class traditionally meant in Britain?

Those people who do not do heavy manual labor as part of their job.

What does the lower-middle class include?

People who work in offices or run a small shop, but typically do not have a university degree.

Who are the upper-middle class people?

Professionals with a well-paid job and a prestigious social position.

Which intermediate category did sociologists in the 20th century introduce?

The so-called middle-middle class, implying people with professional qualifications whose jobs are less well-paid and their social standing is lower.

What has the middle class often been accused of in Britain?

They looked up to the traditional aristocracy with unconditional respect and admiration, and their secret desire was to imitate their lifestyle, while they looked on people of lower social status with contempt and derision.

What does the word yuppie refer to?

Those ambitious young people working usually in business who are primarily motivated by professional and material success.

What is a special privilege that citizens of the Irish Republic enjoy in Britain?

They are not treated as foreigners by the authorities and have the right to settle down and find a job.

What is the brief history of immigration to Britain in 3 steps?

Immigration before 1945, immigration from the Commonwealth after 1945, and immigration after 2000.

Why were black immigrants from the West Indies or the Caribbean islands invited by government agencies?

To fill vacant manual and lower-paid jobs in the post-war British economy.

How were Commonwealth citizens classified under the Immigration Acts of 1968 and 1971?

They were classified as aliens, and only those were allowed to immigrate who had a work permit or if they or one of their parents or grandparents were born in Britain.

When did the patterns of immigration change?

When several Eastern European countries joined the European Union.

What is the Indian subcontinent?

Those independent countries – India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh – that were created after the British colony of India ceased to exist in 1947.

What is asylum-seeker?

Refugees from a foreign country who claim refugee status due to war, persecution, or other disadvantages in their homeland.

Which two things are Asians typically associated with in Britain?

The Indian restaurant and the corner shop.

Why was the integration of non-white immigrants far from smooth?

They arrived in an almost exclusively white society which had seen hardly any non-white faces before.

According to a 2013 report, how many MPs of minority origin are in the House of Commons?

There are 27 MPs of minority origin in the House of Commons.

What is now the most common reason for non-EU immigration to the UK?

Work is now the most common reason for non-EU immigration, overtaking study.

Name some of England’s ancient cities, royal palaces, massive cathedrals, and legendary sites.

Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall, Windsor Castle, King's College, and the White Cliffs of Dover.

What is the highest point on the London Eye?

450 feet.

Who was given the task of designing and rebuilding St. Paul's Cathedral?

Sir Christopher Wren.

What are the 7 Most famous landmarks in England?

Big Ben, Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge, Windsor Castle, Cotswolds AONB, Jurassic Coast, and Seven Sisters Cliffs.

What is Big bens real name?

Formerly known as the Clock Tower, was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012, in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

What is Windsor Castle?

An official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world.

What is Stonehenge?

One of the most famous and unique prehistoric sites and among the most visited monuments in the UK./ An iconic British landmark and one of the most famous UNESCO sites in Europe.

What are the Needles?

The Islands most famous landmark attraction has so much more to enjoy than the stunning views, it is a destination not to be missed – a perfect choice for a weekend trip in the UK. Offers interesting history and stunning ocean views.

What is Piccadilly Circus?

A key landmark in the capital city – a must-see in London! Is known for its neon displays and the Eros fountain which is located in the middle of this road junction.

What is Blenheim Palace?

It’s arguably most famous and known as the birthplace and home of Sir Winston Churchill, England’s former Prime Minister.

When the Conservatives came to office in 2010 , what did they pledge?

They pledge that their first priority was to reduce the deficit and create growth.

What has a large number of different names?

The countries and 1 regions of the British Isles have so many different names.

From what ages school in the UK compulsory?

Five and sixteen.

How many weeks of holiday per school year do students have?

About 12-13 weeks.

What grading scale is used in reports?

A > 80% (excellent), B > 70% (very good), C > 60% (improvement needed), D > 50% (close fail), E > 40% (fail), and F < 40% (fail).

What are the two main types of schools?

Comprehensive and independent schools.

What are/ is the Higher/Tertiary Education (University) costs?

A tuition fee per year (varies from £1,000 to £9,000).

What are the two top national identities of The UK?

Flag of the United Kingdom and National anthem of the United Kingdom.

What is considered the Union Flag?

A flag containing three other flags-England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

List each country in Britain, its patron saint and floral emblem.

St. George and the Rose., St. Andrew - the Thistle and Scottish Bluebell., St. David and the Daffodil., St. Patrick and the Shamrock.

The difference of meaning between England and Britain 4 Simple points

Government and politics is never English’, always British/ National institutions are never English’, always British/ Individuals are typically English (or Scottish, or Welsh, or Irish), rarely British/ In earlier history, both national institutions and people are English (or Scottish), never British.

In 1194 A.D, what did Richard 1 of England introduce as the National Flag of England?

The Cross of St. George

Who was Oliver Cromwell?

He was a controversial figure in British history because Some see him as a defender of Parliamentary democracy fighting a tyrannical King., others see him in a different light, pointing to his seizure of power as the ‘Lord Protectorate’ and the massacres of the Irish and Scots which were a form of genocide.

How are the British monarchs selected?

Hereditary succession

What are The reigning monarch, Charles III., two most famous residences in the country?

Buckingham Palace in London and Winsdor Castle in Berkshire.

What is the popular name of the British Parliament?

Westminster.

Which of two 'houses' does the British Parliament consist of?

Commons and Lords.

how is the United Kingdom divided for electoral purposes?

special constituencies.

What unique procedure is used by Parliament for voting?

Division.

What The Parliament's most important funtion?

Create laws.

What's the legal draft law called?

Bill.

Name two controversial figures in England.

Thomas Becket and Oliver Cromwell

How important is family in the UK?

The family remains fundamentally important to individuals throughout their life. The unique personal relationships that family members share and the support they receive from one another are considered the main form of the value of family membership.

Why do British families choose to have smaller families?

This allows mobility and relieves economic pressure over a parent’s lifetime.

the average age of a woman having their first child

the average age being 29, because Women tend to be much older when they have their first child than previous generations.

Are British dating practices similar to those of other cultures?

Those of other English-speaking western cultures, common for couples to meet through their social circles, workplaces or hobbies. Online dating services are popular amongst several age groups.

How are British names arranged?

British English naming conventions arrange names as follows: [first given name] [middle given name(s)] [FAMILY NAME].

Why is engagement and marriage declining in the UK

the shift in society's attitude that people should marry, women's financial independence from men, sex before marriage is now socially acceptable /the cost

Name three things typically English and British

Black taxis, British Cheeses, British breakfasts

What about showing British movies to their children and family today,

They do not show the film, in the present time as a result of WW11

What the U.K. economy has done since Brexit, according to new analysis from Goldman Sachs?

‘significantly underperformed’ other advanced economies since the 2016 EU referendum