Unit 5

The British Isles

惠安三中 林华飞

Scan the text and answer the following questions.1. What is the UK?

2.Which parts make up the British Isles?

3.What are the most important facts about Ireland?

Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.of Man.

Ireland is a large island in Europe. Northern Ireland is a large island in Europe. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, while the rest makes up Ireland is part of the UK, while the rest makes up the Republic of Ireland.the Republic of Ireland.

The UK is really a nation of different countries held together by a common language and culture.

Para 1

Para 2

Para 3

Para 4

Para 5

Para 6

Para 7

Match the paragraphs and their topics:Match the paragraphs and their topics:

Climate

History

Culture

Language

French influence

Brief introduction

Geography

Heading Details

Para.1 Idea

Fact unknown:

______________________

Cultural diversity:

___________________,

___________________

made up of three countries

different countries common language

Speakers’ Corner For over 150 years, Speaker‘s Corner has been one of London’s most unique attractions. On any given Sunday morning, anyone who has an opinion to air and anyone who will listen will gather at the point where Oxford Street and Hyde Park meet, in the shadows of Marble( 大理石的 ) Arch( 拱门 ) and carry on an oral tradition that is becoming somewhat lost to a modern culture of email and online chat rooms.

British Isles: _____________________

①England: _______________

②Scotland: _______________

③Wales: ______________

Position of Ireland: __________________

Position of the Isle of Man:

_________________________________________

in the east and south in the north

in the west

in the Irish Sea / between Britain and Ireland

off the west coast

west of Britain

2. It is possible to swim from the European mainland to England. How far is it and where would be the best place to do so?

2. It is possible to swim from the European mainland to England. How far is it and where would be the best place to do so?

2.Yes. It is possible to swim from Britain to France, where the English Channel is at its narrowest of only 20 miles.(That is in the southeast corner of Britain)

Do you know some persons who swam across the English

Channel?

1875 年 8 月 12 日，海员马修 · 韦伯首次尝试横渡英吉利

海峡失败，两周后，他从英国的多佛尔下水，用时 21 小时 45

分钟获得成功，成为横渡英吉利海峡第一人。横渡时，马修没有借助任何护具和辅助工具，只在身上涂了厚厚的一层油保暖。

1923 年，一个意大利人首次从法国一端下水，成功横渡英吉利海峡。1926 年，一个法国人创造了横渡海峡的新纪录，仅用时 11 个小时。1926 年，美国人詹楚德 · 爱德利成为第一个成功横渡英吉利海峡的女性，她也是从法国下水游向英国的。据说，从法国游向英国比从相

反方向游要容易一些。

                                           

     

Do you know who is the first person to swim across the

English Channel in China?

2001 年 7 月 29 日张健从英格兰东南部多佛港的莎士比亚海滩下水张健下

水处的水温为１６ · ５摄时度，风力２到３级 , 英吉利海峡最窄处从多佛

到法国的加来直线距离为３３ · ８公里，但由于海流的影响，游的距离可能会达到５０公里。经过大约 12 个

小时的奋力拼搏，张健踏上了法国加来的海岸，成为征服英吉利海峡的第

一位中国人！

The British Isles: _____________________

Scotland: _______________________

England and Wales: ______________

mild with a lot of rain cold and

receive more rain

rains a lot

Influenced by: __________________________ the European mainland

The reason why many English words end up with French words: ______________________________ ruled by the

French in 1066

England and Wales formed the Union in: _______

Scotland joined the Union in:______

Ireland used to be :________________

and now is:_________________________

Northern Ireland is:_____________

The isle of Man and Channel Islands are ruled

by:_________________

1536

1707 part of

the UKan independent republic part of the UK

the King of England

EnglandWales

1283

1533

1536

1707

After 1707 (1801)

Now

1283

1533

1536

1707

After 1707 (1801)

Now

1283

1533

1536

1707

After 1707 (1801)

Now

1283

1533

1536

1707

After 1707 (1801)

Now

Isle of Man

Republic of Ireland

1283

1533

1536

1707

After 1707 (1801)

Now

Speak:_______________________________________English, Welsh, Irish and others.Why is it of great value to record and

teach local languages to the young generation?

Because they are part of the local culture and history of the different peoples in the British Isles.And that most of these are now threatenedand may disappear is a serious matter to the people in Britain.

Read the passage carefully and decide whether

the following sentences are true or false:F( )1.Many people around the world study

English, and they know a lot about British culture.

( ) 2.Great Britain is made up of four countries.

( ) 3.The island of Britain is separated from

France by the English Channel.

( ) 4.Scotland is colder throughout the year,

but receives less rain.

F

T

F

a little

three

more

( ) 5.People from different parts of northern Europe settled in England, so the culture of the people of the British Isles was influenced by them.( ) 6.The southern part of Ireland is now an independent republic.( ) 7. In modern times, people throughout the British Isles only speak English.( ) 8. French was considered a noble language in the 12th century in Britain.

Read the passage carefully and decide whether

the following sentences are true or false:T

T

F

T

Fill in the blanks after reading:

It is not right to think that the British Isles means the United Kingdom. The British Isles is a group of islands that lies off the ________coast of Europe. The largest island is called _________, which consists of ________kingdoms: _____________in the north, _______in the west and England in the ______ and _____. The island just west of Britain is called_________. Ireland Island is made up

westBritain

three ScotlandWales

south Ireland

east

of ______countries. The Republic of Ireland is an _____________country, while the Northern Ireland ________ to the UK. Between Britain and Ireland, in the Irish Sea, lies the small ______of Man.

The climate of the British Isles is ____with a lot of ______. The culture of the people in the British Isles has received many influences from the ___________mainland.

independentbelongs

Isle

mildrain

two

European

Imagine that you are going Imagine that you are going on a four-week trip through on a four-week trip through the UK. Make a travel plan the UK. Make a travel plan in which you describe where in which you describe where you will go and what clothes you will go and what clothes

and things you will take.and things you will take.

A four-week tripIf I can spend a four-week trip in the UK,I would of course first go to London and spend about a week there to see the Tower of London ,Big Ben ,the Speaker’s Corner.I also want to visit the British Museum and the Science Museum. Then I would go to Oxford and Cambridge to see the famous universities there.Next,I would go to the north, to Scotland and do some sight-seeing there.From there,I might go by boat across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland.Then I would come back to Britain,and visit Wales.At the end of my trip I would come back to London for a few more days and do some shopping before coming back to China.As the climate of the British Isles is mild with a lot of rain,I think I should bring an umbrella and raincoat and some warm clothes with me.