State symbols of Scotland, History of UK

Как на английском "каникулы"?можно ли употребить во множественном числе?
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Great Britain has the official name – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (or UK – for short). It is situated on the British Isles. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are the parts of Great Britain. Administratively the UK is divided into 55 countries. The total territory is over 244 thousand square kilometers (the 75th place among other countries in the world).
The population of the UK is over 57 mln. Great Britain is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The majority of the British population lives in cities and towns.
The country is washed by the North and Irish Seas, the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel. North and West of the country are highlands, South and East – lowlands. The highest mountain of the UK is Ben Nevis in Scotland.
There are many rivers in the country. The longest and most important of them are the Severn, the Thames and Clyde. The climate is mild due to the mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.
Great Britain is a highly developed industrial power. It possesses some mineral resources: coal, iron ores, oil, gas and some metals.
The country is known as one of the world largest producers and exporters of electronics and machinery, chemicals and textile, various aircraft and navigation equipment. Among the main industrial branches are also coal-mining, automobile, ship-building, metallurgical.
The capital of the country is London. It is the largest political, cultural and industrial centre of the country and one of the largest ports of the world. Its population is over 11 mln. people.
Among the largest cities of the UK are Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.
Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The official language of the state is English. The national symbol of the UK is «Union Jack» - the British state flag having 3 white and red crosses on the dark blue field. The weave of crosses symbolized power and might.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. Officially the head of the state is the Queen. But her power is not absolute, it is limited by the Parliament. The British Parliament is the oldest parliament in the world. It consists of 2 chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The British Government is headed by the Prime Minister – the leader of the party having the majority in the House of Commons. The prime Minister appoints the ministers to compose the government.
There are several political parties in the UK. The largest and most influential of them are the Conservative (the Tory), the Liberal (the Whigs) and Labour Party.

n by the Moat". The popular alternative refers to Basil the Blessed, a Muscovite 'holy fool' who was buried on the site (in the Trinity Cathedral that once stood here) a few years before the present building was erected. The Cathedral was ordered by Ivan the Terrible to mark the 1552 capture of Kazan from Mongol forces. It was completed in 1560. That's pretty much all the genuine history that's known about this celebrated landmark. There,however, scores of legends. Nothing is known about the builders, Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, except their names and the dubious legend that Ivan had them blinded so that they could not create anything to compare. Historians unanimously state that this is nothing but urban folklore.
Architectural specialists are to this day unable to agree about the
governing idea behind the structure. Either the creators were paying
homage to the churches of Jerusalem, or, by building eight churches
around a central ninth, they were representing the medieval symbol of
the eight-pointed star. The original concept of the Cathedral of the
Intercession has been hidden from us beneath layers of stylistic
additions and new churches added to the main building. In fact, when
built, the Cathedral was all white to match the white-stone Kremlin,
and the onion domes were gold rather than multi-colored and
patterned as they are today.
In the 17 th century a hip-roofed bell tower was added, the gallery and
staircases were covered with vaulted roofing, and the helmeted domes
were replaced with decorated ones. In 1860 during rebuilding, the
Cathedral was painted with a more complex and integrated design, and
has remained unchanged since.
For a time in the Soviet Union, there was talk of demolishing St. Basil's
- mainly because it hindered Stalin's plans for massed parades on Red
Square. It was only saved thanks to the courage of the architect Pyotr
Baranovsky. When ordered to prepare the building for demolition, he
refused categorically, and sent the Kremlin an extremely blunt
telegram. The Cathedral remained standing, and Baranovsky's
conservation efforts earned him five years in prison.
The Cathedral is now a museum. During restoration work in the
seventies a wooden spiral staircase was discovered within one of the
walls. Visitors now take this route into the central church, with its
extraordinary, soaring tented roof and a fine 16th Century iconostasis.
You can also walk along the narrow, winding gallery, covered in
beautiful patterned paintwork.
One service a year is held in the Cathedral, on the Day of Intercession
in October.

s. Great Britain and Ireland , and about five thousands small islands. Their total area is over 244 000 square kilometre. The United Kihgdom is one of the world's smaller countries. Its population is over 57 million. About 80 percent of the population is urban. The United Kihgdom is made up of four countries : England , Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London , Cardiff, Edinburg and Belfast respectively. Great Britain consists England , Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland. But in everyday speech Great Britain is used in the meaning of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital of the UK is London. The British Isles are separated from the Continent by the North Sea and the British Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The North of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands. The South , which has beautiful valleys and plains , is called the Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous , but the eastern , central and south-eastern parts of England are a vast plain , Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountainous ( 1343 m ). There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain , but they are not very long. The Seven is the longest river , while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one. 2. Выпишите из текста три предложения с Participle II и подчеркните Participle II.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands. Great Britain and Ireland , and about five thousands small islands. Their total area is over 244 000 square kilometre. The United Kihgdom is one of the world's smaller countries. Its population is over 57 million. About 80 percent of the population is urban. The United Kihgdom is made up of four countries : England , Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London , Cardiff, Edinburg and Belfast respectively. Great Britain consists England , Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland. But in everyday speech Great Britain is used in the meaning of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital of the UK is London. The British Isles are separated from the Continent by the North Sea and the British Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The North of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands. The South , which has beautiful valleys and plains , is called the Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous , but the eastern , central and south-eastern parts of England are a vast plain , Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountainous ( 1343 m ). There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain , but they are not very long. The Seven is the longest river , while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.