1 Work in pairs Look at the photo

1 Work in pairs. Look at the photo and discuss the questions. Click here for questions

1 What do you think of the view in the photo? 2 What do you know about Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament? 3 Can you locate them in the photo? 4 Why might Joe, Andy and Janet be interested in the two buildings?

Conversation 1 2 Watch Conversation 1 and check (✓) the true statements. The true statements are: 1, 2 and 6.

3 Watch Conversation 1 again and answer the questions. 1 What does Joe say about the view? 2 What does Andy say about Big Ben? 3 What does Janet ask if she can do? 4 What is Andy pretty sure about? 5 Why would Janet love to visit the Houses of Parliament? 6 When does Andy think there are tours of the Houses of Parliament? 7 What does Joe ask Andy to do? 8 What is Joe going to do?

4 Work in pairs and discuss the questions. 1 When do you think the Houses of Parliament were built? 2 How long has there been a House of Lords and a House of Commons? 3 Who do you think is more powerful in the UK, the king, the queen, or the prime minister? 4 How is the government appointed? 5 Who is the head of government in the UK?

Conversation 2 5 Watch Conversation 2 and make notes about: 1 the year the Big Ben Clock Tower was built ____________________ 1859 2 the year the Houses of Parliament was completed 1870 ____________________ 3 the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster Hall ____________________ 4 the century Westminster Hall was built the 11 th century ___________________ >>>

5 the number of Houses Parliament has ___________ two 6 who elects MPs the people (everyone ___________ in the country who ___________ has the right to vote) ___________ 7 the most powerful person in the country ___________ the prime minister

6 Choose the best way to complete the sentences. Answers 1 (c) 2 (a) 3 (c ) 4 (b) 5 (a)

7 Watch Conversation 2 again and complete the sentences. Joe So tell us about Big Ben. Sarah Big Ben (1)____________ is widely believed to be the clock tower, but in fact, it’s the bell at the top. Andy And when was the tower built? Sarah In 1859. Janet And how old are the Houses of Parliament? Sarah They were completed in 1870. >>>

Janet So none of the buildings we can see are really old? No, that’s not what I’m trying to say Andy (2)__________________. Er … The oldest part of the ancient Palace of Westminster is Westminster Hall, which dates back to the 11 th It would appear that century. (3) _____________ it was used for entertaining, and as a court room. Andy So how did the system of parliament we know first start? >>>

It seems that Sarah (4) ________ over hundreds of years Parliament has developed into two houses – the House of Lords, and the House of Commons, with elected representatives from all over the country. Janet And they were what you now call MPs? there’s little doubt that Sarah Yes, (5) ___________ they were the first MPs, although not everyone had the right to vote in those days. >>> Janet So who is more powerful, the king, the queen, or the prime minister?

it’s widely thought that Sarah Well, (6) ____________ the king or queen has more power. But it’s the government which is elected by the people, and the prime minister is the leader of the government. So he – or she – (7) ___________ is considered to be the most powerful person in the country. But what’s even Janet That’s fascinating. (8)________ more amazing is how old the Houses _________ of Parliament are. Andy Two large houses, one palace, one hall! I wonder if there’s a spare room? >>>

Janet What do you mean? Andy Well, I was annoyed to be told that I have to move out of my flat. I was even more furious to learn that I have to leave by next month. Janet So what will you do? Andy Search me! I could do with a royal palace to live in.

Ø come to think of it Ø I haven’t a clue. Ø I could do with haven’t a clue

8 Work in pairs and answer the questions about Everyday English. 1 come to think of it (a) I’ll think about it (b) now that I think about it 2 I haven’t a clue. (a) I have no idea. (b) I’m not sure. 3 I could do with (a) it would be nice to have (b) it’s important for me to have Answers 1 (b) 2 (a) 3 (a)

9 Work in pairs and act out the conversation.

Language and Culture 1 Match descriptions with the following three pictures of functioning divisions in UK government. Click here for descriptions

a. has final say whether a bill can become a law b. official head of State c. plays no part in decisions made in Parliament d. 650 members e. ‘opens’ Parliament each year >>>

f. rules symbolically g. made up of people who have inherited family titles h. elected by the people to represent different areas of the country j. Prime Minister >>>

k. members are called MPS l. make sure laws are fair and will work m. ‘double check’ new laws

1. the House of Commons: has final say whether a bill can become a law; 650 members; Prime Minister; elected by the people to represent different areas of the country; members are called MPS 2. the House of Lords: made up of people who have inherited family titles; make sure laws are fair and will work; ‘double check’ new laws 3. the Monarch: official head of State; plays no part in decisions made in Parliament; ‘opens’ Parliament each year; rules symbolically Click to find more about British Parliament

Language and Culture 2 The Palace of Westminster Ø the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament Ø on the River Thames, close to the Westminster Abbey and Whitehall and Downing Street. >>>

Westminster Hall Ø the oldest building on the Parliamentary estate. Ø the major institutions of the British state: Parliament, the law courts and various government offices in and around the Hall Ø closely involved in the life of the nation since the 11 th century >>>

Whitehall (白厅) Ø a road in Westminster in London. Ø lined with government departments and/or ministries >>>

10 Downing Street (唐宁街 10号) Ø the official residence and office of Her Majesty's Government Ø the residence of the First Lord of the Treasury (also the Prime Minister) >>>

Buckingham Palace Ø the queens official London residence Ø used to receive and entertain guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions for the Royal Family

Language and Culture 3 Big Ben Ø the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster Ø often extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower Ø the largest four-faced chiming clock Ø the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world Ø 150 th anniversary in May 2009

1. Look at the map below and label it.

Northern Ireland Scotland England Wales

2. Name the following symbols and match each of them to the correct country from the United Kingdom. Robin Hood English Breakfast >>>

The Loch Ness Harp Stonehenge >>>

Giant’s Courseway Hangman Caernarvon Castle >>>

William Shakespeare The Beatles >>>

Golf Cricket Football >>>

Bagpipes and Kilt Tartan

England: Robin Hood, Stonehenge, English Breakfast, the Beatles, William Shakespeare, Cricket, Football Scotland: The Loch Ness; Golf, Tartan（格子呢）, Bagpipes and Kilt (苏格兰短裙) Wales: Caernarvon Castle, Harp Northern Ireland: Giant’s Courseway, Hangman

3. Match the name of each capital to the correct country from the United Kingdom. Belfast England Cardiff Wales Edinburgh London Northern Ireland Scotland

4. Match the each of the flags to the correct country from the United Kingdom. Scotland Northern Ireland England Wales

5. Here you have a picture of the British Royal Family! Match the name of each member to the correct person. Queen Elizabeth Prince Philip Camilla Bowles Prince William Prince Charles Prince Harry

6. The United Kingdom has many famous monuments and hotspots! Choose one, make some research and write a text about 150 words to present to the class.

Example answers to task 1 1. That’s London, isn’t it? It looks very grand from that bridge. 2. The BBC broadcasts the sound of the bell to tell listeners the time. Parliament is like our National People’s Congress. It’s the body which makes laws. 3. I think the whole building is for Parliament, and Big Ben is the tower with the clock at the end. 4. They can include them on their website. Back

Example answers to task 3 1 It’s his favourite view in the whole of London. 2 It’s well worth a visit. 3 If she can go up the tower. 4 People need permission from their MP to go up the tower. 5 Because it’s the most important government building in the country. 6 In the summer. 7 To do the research. 8 To phone a friend who works at the Houses of Parliament to see if she can meet them. Back

Example answers for task 4 1 I think it was in the middle of the 19 th century. It is called the Mother of Parliaments so it must be a few hundred years old. 2 Since the 14 th century. 3 I believe it is the prime minister. The monarch has respect and status but does not make decisions about the country. >>>

4 The monarch invites the party leader who can control most votes in the House of Commons (the House of Lords is not elected and has little power, but contains many experts who can advise the government and work to improve laws / legislation once it is sent to them from the Commons) to form the next government. Anytime the government loses votes in Parliament, it resigns. 5 It’s the queen. Back