INTRODUCTION
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Basic Information about Britain
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales,
and Northern Ireland
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The population of Britain is over 58 million, with 49 million in England, 5 million in Scotland, 3
million in Wales, and 1.5 million in Northern Ireland

London is the capital city, with a population of 7 million
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Famous Cities and Towns in Britain
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Edinburgh: The capital of Scotland
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York: Known for its cathedral, York Minster, and narrow streets
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Stratford-upon-Avon: The birthplace of William Shakespeare
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Liverpool: Once an important port and the home of the Beatles
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Cambridge and Oxford: Renowned for their universities and cycling culture
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Nature and Countryside
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Over 75% of the land in Britain is farmland
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Britain has 10 national parks, covering 9% of the land
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The Lake District in the northwest of England is known for its beautiful hills and lakes
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Tourism in Britain
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Over 24 million foreign tourists visit Britain each year
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Popular attractions include the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland and Stonehenge in England
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Language and Transportation
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About 20% of the population in Wales speaks Welsh

Britain is connected to Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel
SCHOOL
Bullet points
School system in the UK
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Primary school starts at the age of five
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Secondary school starts at the age of eleven
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All children stay in secondary school until the age of sixteen
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At 16, students take GCSE examinations
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After GCSEs, about 30% of students leave school

The remaining 70% usually study three subjects for two more years and then take A-level
examinations

About 20% of 18-year-olds go to university, while another 20% pursue other forms of education
and training
School structure and daily routine

Most schools are mixed-gender
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Students usually wear a uniform

School days are from Monday to Friday, starting at 9 o'clock

In secondary schools, there are about 22 students per class on average, while primary school
classes have about 27 students
Subjects and extracurricular activities

Subjects include maths, art, food technology, design and technology, science, foreign languages,
IT, history, geography, English literature, and religion

Foreign language learning typically starts at the age of eleven, with French being a popular
choice, followed by Spanish and Italian

Afternoon classes are followed by a lunch break and then more classes until school finishes at
around 4 o'clock

Extracurricular activities include sports like football, netball, rugby, badminton, as well as music
lessons
Type of schools and student opinions

92% of schools in the UK are state schools, which are government-funded and free

8% of schools are independent, and parents pay for their children's education

Some independent schools are boarding schools, where students live at the school during term
time

Student opinions on school vary: some enjoy it, while others dislike certain subjects or
homework
FOOD
Bullet points
British Food
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Breakfast:
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Milk and cereal
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Toast with jam or marmalade
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Fruit juice or coffee
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Traditional English breakfast: bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, and fried bread (not
commonly eaten)
Lunch:

Sandwich or snack (short break for about an hour)
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Availability of different sandwiches in shops
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More people buying food from supermarkets, including convenience food

Traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pudding (not commonly eaten)
Evening Meal (Dinner):
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Main meal usually around 6 or 7 o'clock
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Meat or fish with vegetables
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Pizza and pasta are popular choices
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British people enjoy food from different cuisines

Many foreign restaurants in London offering diverse cuisines
British Teenagers:
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Different food preferences
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Ice cream, chips, and cheeseburgers are liked
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Dislikes include cauliflower, sausages, onions, pasta, and vegetables
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Some teenagers follow specific diets, like vegetarianism

Preference for pasta with lots of cheese on top
Fish and Chips:
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A favorite traditional dish

British people consume 300 million servings of fish and chips per year
HOME
Bullet points
Types of Homes
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Flats
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Houses (bungalow, cottage, terraced, semi-detached, detached)
Features of Homes
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Old houses and new houses
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Large houses and small houses
Rooms in a Typical British Home
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Living room/sitting room
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Kitchen (fridge, cooker, oven, microwave, sink, kettle)
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Dining room
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Bedrooms
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Bathroom (shower or bath)
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Study
Other Features
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Garden
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Pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish)
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Some people live in different types of homes like castles, mansions, caravans, or boats
Famous British Home

Buckingham Palace
SPORT
Bullet points
Famous Sporting Venues
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Wembley - for football matches
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Wimbledon - for tennis tournament
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St. Andrews - for golf
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Henley on the River Thames - for rowing
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Lords in London - for cricket
Popular Sports in Britain
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Swimming - over 20,000 public swimming pools
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Cycling - over 1,200 clubs belonging to the British Cycling Federation
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Walking - about 40% of British people go walking
Watching and Participating in Sports
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British people love watching sports on TV and attending live matches
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Sports like motor racing and rugby are also popular
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Sport is for everybody, from aerobics to serious training for competitions
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Many towns and cities in Britain have sports clubs and facilities
Unusual and Interesting Games
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Croquet - a French game popular in Britain
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Real Tennis - the predecessor of modern tennis
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Curling - a Scottish game played on ice
FESTIVAL
Bullet points
British Festivals
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Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th: Commemorates Guy Fawkes' failed plot to blow up the
King and the Houses of Parliament in 1605
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Pancake Day: Celebrated in February with pancake races and eating lots of pancakes
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St. Valentine's Day on February 14th: A romantic day where people send cards to someone they
love without signing the card
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Halloween on October 31st: Festival of ghosts and witches, often celebrated with parties and
children dressing up
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Easter and Christmas: Considered the most important festivals in Britain
Christmas Traditions
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Decorating Christmas trees and exchanging presents
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Special Christmas dinner with roast turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, and Brussels sprouts
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Crackers: Pulled open to reveal a little present, a paper hat, and a joke
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Christmas pudding: A traditional dessert sometimes containing a hidden silver coin for good luck
New Year's Eve
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In Scotland, it is called Hogmanay

People across the country have parties and sing the traditional song "Auld Lang Syne" at
midnight
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Trafalgar Square in London hosts a big New Year's Eve party
LONDON
About London
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London is the capital of Britain
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It has a population of nearly 7 million
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The city is situated on the River Thames
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The Romans built the first bridge over the river
Transportation in London
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Traveling around London is easy
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You can take a water bus, a red bus, black taxis, or the underground (tube)
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The underground (tube) was the world's first underground railway and started in 1863
Tourism in London
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Over 20 million tourists visit London every year
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London offers attractions like palaces, churches, cathedrals, the Tower, Trafalgar Square,
museums, and art galleries
Shopping in London
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Popular shopping locations include Harrods and Covent Garden
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Harrods has 300 departments and over 35,000 people shop there every day
Entertainment in London
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London offers restaurants, discos, pubs, clubs, cinemas, and theaters
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There are over 130 cinemas and more than 60 theaters in London
Recreation in London
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London has beautiful parks like Hyde Park, Regent's Park, and St. James's Park
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Parks offer activities such as walking, jogging, picnics, and relaxation
Quotes about London
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Dr. Johnson said, "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life"
HOLIDAY
British holiday habits
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Many British people go on holiday in the summer
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July and August are the most popular months
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Not everyone takes holidays at the same time
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Lots of people take a two-week break
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They can choose when to take their holidays
Popular holiday destinations
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Florida and the Caribbean are popular for some holiday makers
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85% of foreign holidays are in Western Europe
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Spain is the number-one choice for many British holiday makers
Reasons for going abroad for holidays
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British weather can lack sunshine
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Traditional British seaside holidays are still popular
Holiday activities
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Some British people prefer activity holidays
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Activities include climbing, cycling, walking, and sailing
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Exploring the countryside and visiting interesting places
Variety of accommodations
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Accommodations range from hotels to camping in tents or caravans
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Staying in bed-and-breakfasts or guesthouses is also common
Popular holiday regions in the UK
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Devon and Cornwall in southwest England
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The Lake District and Scotland
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London is not popular with British holidaymakers
Benefits of a canal boat holiday
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Offers a different and relaxing experience
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Allows for gentle travel through the countryside
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No need to book a hotel, as you sleep on the boat
LEISURE
Leisure activities in Britain
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Going to the pub is the most popular activity
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Going to a restaurant is the second most popular activity
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Going out for fast food is popular, especially among young people
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Visiting the library is more popular than going to the cinema
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Many people visit historic buildings and landmarks
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Short break holidays abroad and in Britain are popular
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Going to discos and nightclubs is common among young people
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Watching sports like football, horse racing, and cricket
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Visiting art galleries and museums, many of which offer free admission
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Popular attractions include Alton Towers, Madame Tussauds, the Tower of London, Legoland,
and the London Eye
Activities at home
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Listening to the radio or music CDs
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Reading books
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Visiting or entertaining friends and family
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Watching TV is the most popular activity