Great Britain (light).

"Great Britain" has several different names. Some people say "Britain" or "the United Kingdom", or just "the UK". There are four different countries in the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Everyone from Britain is British, but only people from England are English. People from Scotland are Scottish, people from Wales are Welsh and people from Northern Ireland are Irish. Don't call Scottish or Welsh people English. They won't like it.

Altogether more then 56 million people live in Britain, many of them in big industrial cities like London, Liverpool and Manchester. Everyone speaks English but they do not all speak it in the same way. A Scottish person has to listen carefully if he wants to understand a Londoner. And when a Welsh person speaks, everyone knows at once where he comes from.

Britain is only a small country but every part is different. Scotland is a land of mountains, lakes and romantic castles. Most farmers keep sheep and there are many small factories, which make fine sweaters from their wool. Northern Ireland has its problems, but it has beauty too. Belfast is a large industrial city with many fine buildings and a big port. The centre of England ("the Midlands") is also an important industrial area, especially near the huge cities of Coventry and Birmingham, the centre of the car industry. Wales is a special place, a country of high mountains and pretty valleys. But Wales has plenty of industry too, with many factories and coal mines. The people of Wales are very musical. Every year they have a festival of Welsh music and poetry called an "Eisteddfod". The West of England is rich farming country. It produces milk, cream, butter, cheese (especially Cheddar cheese, Britains favourite) and apples.

Parliament is the real government of the United Kingdom. The Queen is the head of the state, but she has no real power. She represents Britain (and the Commonwealth). She travels about the UK, meeting people, visiting schools and hospitals and going to important local events. She travels abroad as rather special ambassador to other countries. The Queen is a symbol of Britains long history and national traditions.

Parliament has two "Houses": the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The "Lords" are members of the old aristocracy, bishops, lawyers and retired politicians. They have little power now, but they can suggest new laws and change or delay laws that the House of Commons wants to pass. The House of Commons makes laws, agrees on policy and decides what taxes the people must pay.

The party, which gets most members into parliament, makes the new government. Only party members (not the whole British people) choose their leader, the Prime Minister.

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