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Look through the list of English words and their Russian equivalents before reading the text:
| 1.foodstuff (n) | продукт питания |
| 2.consumer goods (n) | потребительские товары |
| 3.abundant (a) | богатый, обильный |
| 4.tin (n) | олово |
| 5.lead (n) | свинец |
| 6.limestone (n) | известняк |
| 7.china clay (n) | глина |
| 8.to raise (v) | выращивать |
Great Britain is one of the world’s leading industrialized nations. It has achieved this position despite the lack of most raw materials needed for industry. Great Britain also must import about 40% of its food supplies. Thus the country’s prosperity is heavily dependent upon the export of manufactured goods in exchange for raw materials and foodstuffs.
Some years ago, manufacturing industries accounted for about a quarter of GDP, followed by financial industries, trade, transportation and communications, services, construction, mining and public utilities, and agriculture. Service industries employed about 60% of the workforce, while manufacturing accounted for just over 25%.
Within the manufacturing sector itself, the largest industries include machine tools; electric power, automation, and railroad equipment; ships; motor vehicles and parts; aircraft; electronic and communications equipment; metals; chemicals; petroleum; coal; food processing; paper and printing; textile; and clothing.
The country’s chief exports are manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals, semi-finished goods and transport equipment. The chief imports are manufactured goods, machinery, semi-finished and consumer goods, and foodstuffs.
Great Britain has abundant supplies of coal, oil and natural gas. Great Britain’s other mineral resources include iron ore, tin, limestone, salt, china clay and lead.
British agriculture is highly mechanized and extremely productive, with some of the highest crop yields of grains, sugar beets, fruits and vegetables. Sheep are Britain’s chief livestock. Farmers in almost every part of the country raise sheep for meat and wool. British farmers also raise beef cattle, dairy cattle and hogs. A little over 2 per cent of Britain’s working population is engaged in agriculture, which is a lower proportion than in any other major industrialized country.
In order to pay for the food and other materials it needs, Britain relies not only on the sales of manufactures. Of great importance is the “invisible export” – the provision of services such as banking, shipping, aviation and tourism. The heart of all these activities is the City of London, although there are other important centers in several large cities, especially in ports. The City contains probably the greatest concentration of financial expertise in the world.
The national economy of Britain is vitally dependent on foreign trade. The main trade partners are other developed countries – Germany, the United States, Japan, France, etc.
Ex.1. Match the English words with the appropriate Russian equivalents:
| 1. semi-finished goods | зерно, хлебные злаки |
| 2. sugar beets | быть занятым |
| 3. grain | процветание, благосостояние |
| 4. dairy cattle | сахарная свекла |
| 5. to be engaged in | специальные знания |
| 6. prosperity | полуфабрикаты |
| 7. expertise | горная промышленность |
| 8. mining | молочный скот |
Ex.2. Give English equivalents from the text:
Ведущее промышленное государство, промышленные товары, сырьё, торговля, горная промышленность, каменный уголь, нефть, железнодорожное оборудование, машинное оборудование, финансовые знания, свинья, урожай зерновых, железная руда, олово, глина, полуфабрикаты, шерсть, зависеть, сельское хозяйство, содержать в себе, коммунальные предприятия, невидимый экспорт, перевозка грузов морем, домашний скот.
Ex3. Say whether these statements are right or false:
1. Great Britain is one of the world’s leading industrialized nations.
2. Great Britain also must import about 60% of its food supplies.
3. The country’s prosperity is not dependent upon the export of manufactured goods in exchange for raw materials and foodstuffs.
4. Some years ago, manufacturing industries accounted for about a quarter of GDP.
5. Service industries employed about 25% of the workforce, while manufacturing accounted for just over 60%.
6. The country’s chief exports are manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals, semi-finished goods and transport equipment.
7. The chief imports are manufactured goods, machinery, semi-finished and consumer goods, and foodstuffs.
8. A little over 8 per cent of Britain’s working population is engaged in agriculture.
9. Of great importance is the “invisible export” – the provision of services such as banking, shipping, aviation and tourism.
Ex.4. Answer the questions:
1. What is the country's prosperity dependent on?
2. What do the largest industries include?
3. What are the country’s chief exports?
4. What are the chief imports?
5. What can you say about mineral resources in Great Britain?
6. What do British farmers raise?
7. What is “invisible export”?
8. What are the main trade partners of Great Britain?
Ex.5.Complete the sentences:
1. Great Britain is one of the world’s …
2. Great Britain also must import …
3. Within the manufacturing sector itself, the largest industries include …
4. The country’s chief exports are …
5. The chief imports are …
6. Great Britain has abundant supplies …
7. British farmers raise …
8. Of great importance is the “invisible export” – the provision of services …
9. The main trade partners are …
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