Product: A summary of the chapters of British studies that we had to
learn for the test of year 1 by answering all the study questions.
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,Table of contents
Chapter 1 : Country and people (pages 8 - 14) .......................................................................... 3
Chapter 3: Geography (pages 32 - 42) ....................................................................................... 6
Chapter 4 : Identity (pages 43 - 57).......................................................................................... 10
Chapter 5 : Attitudes (pages 58 - 68) ....................................................................................... 13
Chapter 9 : Parliament (pages 92 - 98) ..................................................................................... 15
Chapter 10 : Elections (pages 99 - 106) ................................................................................... 17
Chapter 11 : The law (pages 107 - 112) ................................................................................... 18
Chapter 12 : International relations (pages 113 - 120) ............................................................. 20
Chapter 14: Education (pages 130 - 140) ................................................................................. 21
Chapter 16 : The media (pages 151 - 160) ............................................................................... 24
Chapter 20 : Food and drink (pages 183 - 189)........................................................................ 25
Chapter 21 : Sport and competition (pages 190 - 199) ............................................................ 26
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,Chapter 1: Country and people (pages 8 - 14)
1. Explain the terms ‘Great Britain’, ‘the United Kingdom’ and the ‘Republic of Ireland’.
Great Britain and Ireland is the group of islands just off the coast of Western Europe.
Great Britain is the largest part of the island which contains England, Wales and Scotland.
Great Britain together with Northern Ireland and the smaller islands around it like the Isle of
Man are referred to as the United Kingdom.
The Republic of Ireland is the bigger part of Ireland, with its own government.
2. What is the relationship between the UK and the Isle of Man and the Channel
Islands?
There are two parts of the area on the maps which have special political arrangements. They
are crown dependencies and are not ‘officially’ part of the UK. The Isle of Man and the
Channel Islands are self-governing, but their political leader is appointed by the British
government.
3. The terms Albion and Britannia refer to England. What are the origins of these
names?
The name Albion is Celtic and was an early Greek and Roman name for Great Britain. The
Romans associated Great Britain with the Latin word Albus, meaning white. This was
because of the white cliffs of Dover, which were the first land formations one sights when
crossing the sea from the European mainland.
The name Britannia is the name which the Romans gave to their southern British providence.
Nowadays this area would include England and Wales.
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, 4. Give the colours and the plants which are symbols of the nations which make up the
UK.
5. Explain how certain British surnames and first names are associated with particular
nations. (Paddy, Micky, /Taffy /Jock, Mc Mac etc. Scottish and Irish, O’Irish).-
Each country within Great Britain and Ireland feel very strongly about their own
identity. This may also associate with their names. For example Mac for Scottish or
Irish people. O’ for Irish people. The most common surname in England is Smith.
6. Describe the characteristics of British Bulldog.
The British Bulldog personifies Englishness and certain English virtues.
The bulldog spirit: A phrase that is evoking courage, determination and refusal to
surrender. The British bulldog, this typically calls to mind an Englishman.
7. What roughly are the populations of the four nations of the UK?
England: 50.8 million people
Wales: 3 million people
Scotland: 5.1 million people
Northern Ireland: 1.7 million people
As per 2006.
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