1 The UK Some confusion: British Isles, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom 1 READING 1 British Isles : It is a geographic term representing a large group of islands off the north-western coast of Europe. They include two main islands 3 Great Britain and Ireland 3 and numerous smaller islands and groups of islands like the Shetland Islands, the Hebrides and the Orkney Islands (off the Scottish coast), the Isles of Scilly (southwest of England), the Isle of Man (in the Irish Sea), and the Channel Islands (south of the English coast). 2 3 4 The United Kingdom : It is a political term regarding the country that includes Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and most of the smaller islands within the British Isles (but not all of them: for example, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are <Crown Dependencies= with wide powers in their internal affairs , which means they are not sovereign states but their local assemblies can legislate on local matters with the assent of the British Crown). The United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) : These fourteen territories, which are islands mostly located in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, such as Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, are not part of the United Kingdom notwithstanding their deep historical and political connections with the UK. They are self-governed countries, except for the foreign affairs and the armed forces, which are under the UK9s responsibility. Their head of state is the British Monarch. Topic 1 " COUNTRIES VOCABULARY Match titles and facts in this fact file about the UK. population " total area " form of government " capital city " official name " head of government " monetary unit " head of state There is a lot of confusion about what is called what. Here9s a brief guide so as not to muddle it up . Great Britain : It is a geographic term as well , but it refers only to the largest of the British Isles, which is politically divided into England, Scotland, and Wales. 12 1 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Monarch Prime Minister Constitutional Monarchy with two legislative chambers London 67,879,00 (2023 est.), urban: 83.4%, rural 16.6% Pound (GBP); 1 GBP=1,16 EUR 242,500 (Sq Km); 93,630 (Sq Mi) 5 6 7 8 2 READING WRITING Correct these false statements. 1 The United Kingdom is a geographic definition. 2 £10 is less than ¬10. 3 The British head of state is the prime minister. 4 The United Kingdom is a Republic. 5 The UK includes some islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. 3 2 LISTENING WRITING Listen to a recording about the British Antarctic territory and complete the sentences. 1 Antarctica is the Earth9s ...................................... and is covered in ....................................... 2 The British Antarctic Territory covers an area corresponding to ...................................... of the continent. 3 Not all countries in the world recognise ...................................... to this region. 4 In the summer, the population of about ...................................... carries on research on ....................................... 5 Every year stamps and coins are released to .................................. research. These can be bought ..................................... glossary as well: anche internal affairs: politica interna to muddle up: fare confusione, mescolare notwithstanding: nonostante