Данная разработка предназначена для знакомства учащихся 7 классов с англоговорящими странами и может использоваться как в рамках специализированного курса по страноведению, так и в рамках основного курса английского языка.

Структура разработки:

1. Текст смешанного типа (объем 498 слов)
2. Вопросы по содержанию текста
3. Интеллект-карта для заполнения учащимися
4. Ключи к разработке

Текст

English-speaking Countries

English is one of the most widespread languages in the world. Although Chinese comes first with the number of speakers as the first language, English is the most popular second language in the world. People from different countries study it, but it is also very important as the first language for about one third of the world’s population.

Great Britain, the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are the best known English-speaking countries. They are situated in different parts of the world and differ in many ways. The nature of these countries, their weather and climate and the way of life of their people differ. Each country has its own history, customs, traditions, and its own national holidays. But they all have a common language, English.

Besides these countries, English is an official language or a widely used language in many other countries like Ireland, South Africa, Malta, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Pakistan, Namibia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Singapore. Some of the English-speaking countries are parts of the Commonwealth, which was earlier known as the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The modern Commonwealth has its roots in the 19th century, when the British Empire began to fall apart, as some of its parts got independence from the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth appeared in 1931, when Britain gave independence to four of its main colonies: Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The five countries decided that al­though each was an independent state, they had a lot in common, particularly a common cultural heritage, and they would continue to keep close links in a lot of fields.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consist of 4 parts: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom, or the UK, is located on the British Isles.

The USA is situated in the central part of the North American continent. The population of the USA is more than 236 million people. The USA is a highly developed industrial country.

Canada occupies an area of nearly 10 million square kilometres. Its western coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean and its eastern coast by the Atlantic Ocean. Canada is a member of the Commonwealth.

Australia includes the continent of Australia, the island of Tasmania and a number of smaller islands. Australia has an area of nearly eight million square kilometres. The population of Australia is over sixteen million people.

New Zealand is situated to the south-east of Australia. The country consists of three large islands called the North Island, the South Island and Stewart Island and also many smaller islands. The population of New Zealand is over three million people. New Zealand is a self-governing state and a member of the Commonwealth.

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