ALL ABOUT BRITAIN

ALL ABOUT BRITAIN

1. Great Britain is an island made up of  England, Scotland and WalesBritain, Scotland and WalesEngland and Ireland.
2. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales became one state in  153617081800.
3. The leek and daffodil are both plants used to symbolize  ScotlandWalesYorkshire.
4. In 2006,  the UKEnglandIrelandhad a population of 60.6 million.
5. The Norman invasion of England in  106611711215brought Britain into the mainstream of western European culture.
6. In 1972 the UK joined  NATOthe European Economic Communitythe G7 group.
7. Almost  60%70%80%of the British live in towns or cities.
8. Traditionally, the  centrenorthsouthof England was associated with poverty and industry.
9. The ancestors of most Northern Irish  ProtestantsCatholicsAnglicanscame from lowland Scotland or England.
10. Protests against the metric system reveal a characteristically British suspicion of  Europeanconformistmodernregulations in general.
11. The size and popularity of the National Trust suggest how important  historythe countrysidetrustis to many British people.
12. The Queen, Britain's official head of state, has  absolutelittle realnopower.
13. The two main political parties are the Conservatives and  LabourLiberalsSocial Democrats.
14. Parliament consists of an elected House of Commons and an unelected House of  DonorsSenatorsLords.
15. The 20 or so most senior politicians are called the  cabinetcommitteesupreme council.
16. Since 1970, the party that has formed the government has won around  45-55%35-45%25-35%of the vote in general elections.
17. 'Bobbies', 'fuzz', 'cops' and 'pigs' are all nicknames for  politiciansfarmerspolice officers.
18. In Britain, there are two types of lawyers:  solicitorsnotariesadvocatesand barristers.
19. The second-most spoken language in Britain is reported to be  PunjabiFrenchWelsh.
20. The 'loyalists' in Northern Ireland are loyal to  the Roman Catholic churchthe Republic of Irelandthe United Kingdom.
21. Although 72% of British people say they are Christian, only about  48%28%8%regularly go to church.
22. University education in the UK is funded by  the governmentindividual studentsa combination of the government and students.
23. The gap in pay between the rich and the poor has  increasedstayed the samedecreasedsince 1997.
24. In 2002, the highest paid performer on British TV was  an actressa chat-show hosta history professor.
25. Britain was the first large country to have free universal healthcare, in  190819481998.
26. 'Drawing room', 'reception room' and 'front room' are all terms for the  living roombedroomdining roomin a house.
27. A drink without alcohol is known as a  weaksoftlightdrink.
28. If you 'throw in the towel' (admit defeat), your are using a  cricketinghorse racingboxingmetaphor.
29. Unlike in most European countries, entry to British museums and art galleries is usually  expensivevery cheapfree.
30. The day after Christmas is known as  BoxingStephen'sCold Turkeyday.