◎供稿：英國大使館文化教育處

What’s the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom? Read about England and find out!

England is the biggest of the four countries in the United Kingdom. Together with Scotland and Wales, these three countries are the island of Great Britain. When you include Northern Ireland we call it the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK).

Over 50 million people live in England and that’s around 80 per cent of the total UK population. It is a multicultural country where more than 250 languages are spoken in the capital city, London. The Houses of Parliament are in central London next to the River Thames and the most famous part is the clock tower, Big Ben.

Language

The official language of England is English. Although everyone speaks English, there are many different accents around the country.

Sport

The most popular sports in England are football, rugby and cricket and most towns have a sports ground where teams can play. English football teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are world-famous. Women’s football is also popular and teams play in leagues and competitions all over the country.

Food

England is a very multicultural country and this has a big influence on the food people eat. Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines are popular alternatives to traditional English food like fish and chips, roast beef or sausage and mash (mashed potatoes).

Symbols

The national flag of England is white with a red cross. It is called the St George’s Cross. The rose is the national flower of England and the lion is the national animal.

Activity 1 Vocabulary

Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.

1. traditional a. government building where politicians meet and discuss things

2. an accent b. having many different cultures

3. a parliament c. typical of a country and its culture

4. multicultural d. the way that people speak in a particular city or area

Activity 2 Multiple choice

1. Great Britain is England, ( ).

A. Scotland and Northern Ireland B. Scotland and Wales C. Wales and Northern Ireland

2. The population of England is over ( ).

A. 50 million B. 80 million C. 250 million

3. The Houses of Parliament are ( ).

A. where the Queen lives B. next to the River Thames

C. in the north of England

4. Women’s football is ( ).

A. not popular B. only played in Wales C. is popular all over England

5. People in England ( ).

A. prefer traditional food B. enjoy the variety of different cuisines C. don’t drink much tea