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Country Study Britain
Chapter I: Country and People
1. Which two large islands do the British Isles geographically consist of?
Two large islands are: Great Britain and Ireland
2. Which two political states do the British Isles consist of?
Two political states consist of:
– The Republic of Ireland
– The U.K of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
3. Explain the ambiguous use of the name: “Britain”.
The ambiguous use of the name “Britain”:
– The U.K = Great Britain + Ireland: used in international meeting
– The Great Britain = England + Scotland + Wales: used for trademarks,
festival.
– Britain used in spoken language.
Britain is referred to another name that people called “England”. But it isn’t
strictly correct; it can make some people angry. Because England is only one
of the four nations of British Isles (England + Scotland + Wales + Ireland).
In 1800 when Irish Parliament was joined with the Parliament of England,
Scotland and Wales in Westminster, so that the whole of the British Isles
became a single state: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
However, in 1992 most of Ireland became a separate state so England cannot
be called Britain.
4. Give some examples of English domination in British public life today.
Today the supply of money in Britain controlled by the Bank of England
(There is no such thing as a “Bank of Britain”)
The present Queen of the country is universally known as “Elizabeth the
second” even though Scotland and Northern Ireland have never had an
Elizabeth the first.
Newspaper and television, news talk about “Anglo-American relation” to
refer to relations between the government of Britain and The USA.

Chapter III: Geography

1. Why does Britain’s climate have such a bad reputation?
Because its changeability. The British people always seem to be talking about
the weather that’s changeable.
2. Despite its lack of extremes, Britain’s landscape is not boring. Why not?
It makes up for in variety, the scenery changes noticeably over quite a short
distance
3. How did air pollution in crowded areas first decrease and later increase
again? (London)
Because laws were passed which forbade the heating of homes with open coal
fires in city areas and which stopped much of the pollution from factories.
However, the great increase in the use of the motor car in the last quarter of the
20th century has caused an increase again.
4. Why does London “dominate” Britain?
Because London is the Centre of Britain’s most important institutions. It’s
home for the headquarters of all government departments, Parliament, the major
legal institutions and monarch. It’s the country’s business and banking centre
and the Centre of its transport network…

Chapter IV: Identity
1. In what way do people in Scotland express their ethnic identity?
– In ways of speaking English, the Scottish way of speaking English is very
distinctive. A modern form of the dialect known as Scots spoken in everyday
life by most of the working classes in the lowlands.
– Organize several important aspects of public life
– There are many symbols of Scottish ness such as: kilts, bagpipes, flag…

2. When do large family gatherings usually take place?

3. Why is sense of identity based on place of birth not very strong in Britain?
Due to it mobility, and very few live in the same place all their lives.
4. Explain the phenomenon of “inverted snobbery”
Middle class people try to adopt working-class value and habits because they
believe the working – classes are in some way “better” than the middle-class.
5. Find some evidence that the segregation of the classes in Britain has
become less rigid than before.
A person with accent of working class is no longer prohibited from most highstatus jobs.
Nobody take elocution lessons to sound more upper class.
Radio and TV presenters can speak with “an accent” (not RP)
None of the last 5 British P.M went to an elitist school for upper-class children.
6. What British characteristic is responsible for the fact that British do not
feel they belong to Britain? Give one example.
Some of them fell proud to be British but most of them feel uncomfortable
when someone refers to where they belong to, means Britain or British
government. They are individualistic and do not like to feel that they are
personally representing their country, for example, half of them said that they
would emigrate if they could.

Chapter VI: Political life
1. Give some examples to illustrate that the individual and the state “leave
each other alone” as much as possible.
– People choose who to govern the country and leave them alone.
– People have no hand in the government
– British people’s duties: Pay the taxes and not breaking the law.
– People don’t have identity cards.

2. The original Greek word “democracy” means “governed by the people”. Does
this apply to British democracy? Explain.
Answer:
No, because there is no referendum (little participation by ordinary citizens). The
ordinary citizens choose who governed the country, and then let them get on with
it.
3. Britain is a ‘constitutional monarchy” as well as a “Parliamentary
democracy”. Explain.
Answer:
Britain is a “constitutional monarch” because it’s a country governed by a King or
Queen who accept the advice of parliament. “Parliament democracy” governed by
the Parliament, which is elected by the people.
5. In what respect does the British constitution” differ from that in most
modern countries?
Britain has no constitution written document.
6. Illustrate the fact that political life in Britain is comparatively informal.
Answer:
Political life in Britain is respect for privacy and love for secrecy. It is also
comparatively informal. For example, in both Parliament and Government
there is a tendency for important decisions to be taken, not an official public
meeting; or even at pre-arranged private meetings, but at lunch, or over
drinks, or in class encounters in the corridors of power.
7. Question 9: It used to be said that the House of Common was “the most
exclusive club in London”. Explain.
Answer: It means that all members of Parliament feel a special sense of
belonging with each other.
8. Although there are more than two parties in the country, Britain is
normally described as having a “two-party system”. Explain.
Answer (liệt kê them các đảng ở Anh)

Since 1945, one of the two big parties has controlled the government, and
members of these two parties have occupied more than 90% of all the seats
in the House of Commons.
9. How does the origin of Britain political parties partly explain the “twoparty system”?
Answer:
In Britain, Parties were first formed inside Parliament, and were only later
extended to the public at large. MPs tended to divide themselves into two
camps, those who support the government and those who usually do not.

Chapter VII: The Monarchy
1. Give three examples that demonstrate the seemingly `absolute` power of
the Queen:
Answer:
+ She can summon a Parliament or dissolve it before a general election.
+ She can choose anybody she likes to run the government for her (PM) and
choose the members of cabinet.
+ Nothing that Parliament has decided can become law until she has agreed
to it. On the theory the Queen can refuse not to sign but in fact she has
obliged to sign.
2. Give two examples that demonstrate the fact that the Queen has no real
power.
Answer:
In reality the Queen has almost no power. When she opens Parliament each
year the speech she makes has been written for her. She makes no secret of
this fact. She very obviously reads out the script that has been prepared for
her. If she strongly disagrees with one of the policies of the government, she
might ask the government ministers to change the wording in the speech a
little beforehand. She cannot actually stop the government going ahead with
any of its policies.

3. In what respect is the monarchy economically important?
Answer:
+ Symbol of continuity
+ Expression of national pride
+ Even in the hard time it has no chance for dictatorship
+ Help the country’s tourism industry

4. How can the monarch prevent the government from becoming
dictatorial?
The monarch could refuse the royal assent and the bill through Parliament,
which was obviously terribly bad and very unpopular.
5. How does the Queen’s practical role indirectly help the real
government?
The queen can perform the ceremonial duties for the government has more
time to get on with the actual job of running the country.

Chapter VIII: The Government
1. What does the Government convention of ‘collective responsibility’
mean?
Answer:
+ Every member of the government shares the responsibility to every policy
made by the government.
+ Not allowed to criticize the government’s policy in public.
2. In what way is the principle of ‘collective responsibility’ realized within
the cabinet?
Answer:
+ The ‘cabinet’ meets once a week.
+ Take decisions about new policies.
+ All members must be seen to agree

3. What’s the ‘cabinet office’?
Answer:
It is an organization which is to help run the complicated machinery of a
modern government.
4. What is the function on “cabinet committees”?
Answer:
It runs a busy communication network, keeping ministers in touch with each
other, drawing up the agenda for cabinet’s meetings. It also does the same
things for the many cabinet committees.

5. State briefly the three reasons why the PM is much more powerful than
the other ministers.
Answer:
+ He has the power to appoint people to all kinds of jobs and confer honours
on people.
+ PM’s dominance over other ministers is the power of the PM’s public
image.
+ All ministers except the PM are kept busy looking after their government
departments.
6. What phenomenon clearly shows the strength of the PM’s power of
‘patronage’? Explain.
Answer:
“Cabinet reshuffle” change the cabinet quite frequently.

Chapter IX: Parliament
1. : What are the main activities of the British Parliament?
Answer:
A, Members are elected every five years.
B, It makes new law.

C, It authorizes the government activities, gives authority for the
government, rises and spends money.
D, It controls and discusses government activities.
2. What two houses does the British Parliament consist of?
Answer: (giải thích thêm)
House of Commons and House of Lords
Parliament business

Chapter X: Elections
Chapter XIV: Education
1. What are the basic features of the European educational system.

Answer:
+ Full time education is compulsory up to the middle teenage years
– The academic year begin at the end of summer.
– Compulsory education is free of charge.
+ There are three organized of stages:
– First stage: Primary
– Second stage; Secondary
– Third: Tertiary
Stage is ‘further” education at university or college
2: What was the reason why the British government was one of the last to
organize education for everybody?
Answer:
Britain was leading the world in industry and commerce, so, it was felt, and
education must somehow be taking care of itself.
3: What happened to the existing “public school” when the British
government finally began to take an interest in education?
Answer:

The government left alone the small group of schools, which had been used in
the 19th century to educate the sons of the upper and upper-middle classes
9publis schools)
4: Give 3 typical characteristics of these public schools.
Answer:
Used to be for upper and middle class and for boys only
The emphasis was on “character building” and the development of “team spirit”
rather than on academic achievement.

The aim was to prepare young men to take up positions in the higher ranks of
the army, in business, the legal profession, the civil service and politics
5: How do you explain that the pupils from these schools formed a “close
group` within society after finishing their education?
Answer:
When the pupils from these schools finished their education, they form the
ruling elite, retaining the distinctive habits and vocabulary which they had
learnt at school. This group separated from the rest of the society.
7. What is the function of the Local Education Authority (LEA)
Answer:
+ It does not itself set or supervise the making of the exams which order
teenagers do.
+ In general as many details as possible are left up to the individual institution
or the LEA.
8: How do you explain this `grass – roots` independent of the British school
system?
Answer:
Each school has its own community. For example, they have their own
uniform or union hall.
11: What were the disadvantages of the “comprehensive school” system?

Answer:

The comprehensive school system has also its critics; many people felt that
there should be more choice available to parents and disliked uniformity of
education given to teenage.
12: What two major changes were being introduced by the government
since 1980s?

Answer:
Strategy in the late 1980s, two major changes were introduced by the
Government:
+ The first of these was the setting up of the national curriculum. For the first
time in British education, there is now a set of learning objectives for each
year of compulsory state schools are obliged to work towards these
objectives.
+ The other major change is that, schools can now decide to ‘output’ of the
control of the LEA and put themselves directly under the control of the
appropriate government department.
13: In what way did the introduction of the national curriculum change
priorities the subject matter of teaching?
Answer:
At the lower primary level, this means a greater emphasis on what are known as
‘the tree Rs’ 9reading, writing, and arithmetic). At higher levels, it means a greater
emphasis on science and technology.

Chapter III: Geography1. Why does Britain’s climate have such a bad reputation?Because its changeability. The British people always seem to be talking aboutthe weather that’s changeable.2. Despite its lack of extremes, Britain’s landscape is not boring. Why not?It makes up for in variety, the scenery changes noticeably over quite a shortdistance3. How did air pollution in crowded areas first decrease and later increaseagain? (London)Because laws were passed which forbade the heating of homes with open coalfires in city areas and which stopped much of the pollution from factories.However, the great increase in the use of the motor car in the last quarter of the20th century has caused an increase again.4. Why does London “dominate” Britain?Because London is the Centre of Britain’s most important institutions. It’shome for the headquarters of all government departments, Parliament, the majorlegal institutions and monarch. It’s the country’s business and banking centreand the Centre of its transport network…Chapter IV: Identity1. In what way do people in Scotland express their ethnic identity?- In ways of speaking English, the Scottish way of speaking English is verydistinctive. A modern form of the dialect known as Scots spoken in everydaylife by most of the working classes in the lowlands.- Organize several important aspects of public life- There are many symbols of Scottish ness such as: kilts, bagpipes, flag…2. When do large family gatherings usually take place?3. Why is sense of identity based on place of birth not very strong in Britain?Due to it mobility, and very few live in the same place all their lives.4. Explain the phenomenon of “inverted snobbery”Middle class people try to adopt working-class value and habits because theybelieve the working – classes are in some way “better” than the middle-class.5. Find some evidence that the segregation of the classes in Britain hasbecome less rigid than before.A person with accent of working class is no longer prohibited from most highstatus jobs.Nobody take elocution lessons to sound more upper class.Radio and TV presenters can speak with “an accent” (not RP)None of the last 5 British P.M went to an elitist school for upper-class children.6. What British characteristic is responsible for the fact that British do notfeel they belong to Britain? Give one example.Some of them fell proud to be British but most of them feel uncomfortablewhen someone refers to where they belong to, means Britain or Britishgovernment. They are individualistic and do not like to feel that they arepersonally representing their country, for example, half of them said that theywould emigrate if they could.Chapter VI: Political life1. Give some examples to illustrate that the individual and the state “leaveeach other alone” as much as possible.- People choose who to govern the country and leave them alone.- People have no hand in the government- British people’s duties: Pay the taxes and not breaking the law.- People don’t have identity cards.2. The original Greek word “democracy” means “governed by the people”. Doesthis apply to British democracy? Explain.Answer:No, because there is no referendum (little participation by ordinary citizens). Theordinary citizens choose who governed the country, and then let them get on withit.3. Britain is a ‘constitutional monarchy” as well as a “Parliamentarydemocracy”. Explain.Answer:Britain is a “constitutional monarch” because it’s a country governed by a King orQueen who accept the advice of parliament. “Parliament democracy” governed bythe Parliament, which is elected by the people.5. In what respect does the British constitution” differ from that in mostmodern countries?Britain has no constitution written document.6. Illustrate the fact that political life in Britain is comparatively informal.Answer:Political life in Britain is respect for privacy and love for secrecy. It is alsocomparatively informal. For example, in both Parliament and Governmentthere is a tendency for important decisions to be taken, not an official publicmeeting; or even at pre-arranged private meetings, but at lunch, or overdrinks, or in class encounters in the corridors of power.7. Question 9: It used to be said that the House of Common was “the mostexclusive club in London”. Explain.Answer: It means that all members of Parliament feel a special sense ofbelonging with each other.8. Although there are more than two parties in the country, Britain isnormally described as having a “two-party system”. Explain.Answer (liệt kê them các đảng ở Anh)Since 1945, one of the two big parties has controlled the government, andmembers of these two parties have occupied more than 90% of all the seatsin the House of Commons.9. How does the origin of Britain political parties partly explain the “twoparty system”?Answer:In Britain, Parties were first formed inside Parliament, and were only laterextended to the public at large. MPs tended to divide themselves into twocamps, those who support the government and those who usually do not.Chapter VII: The Monarchy1. Give three examples that demonstrate the seemingly `absolute` power ofthe Queen:Answer:+ She can summon a Parliament or dissolve it before a general election.+ She can choose anybody she likes to run the government for her (PM) andchoose the members of cabinet.+ Nothing that Parliament has decided can become law until she has agreedto it. On the theory the Queen can refuse not to sign but in fact she hasobliged to sign.2. Give two examples that demonstrate the fact that the Queen has no realpower.Answer:In reality the Queen has almost no power. When she opens Parliament eachyear the speech she makes has been written for her. She makes no secret ofthis fact. She very obviously reads out the script that has been prepared forher. If she strongly disagrees with one of the policies of the government, shemight ask the government ministers to change the wording in the speech alittle beforehand. She cannot actually stop the government going ahead withany of its policies.3. In what respect is the monarchy economically important?Answer:+ Symbol of continuity+ Expression of national pride+ Even in the hard time it has no chance for dictatorship+ Help the country’s tourism industry4. How can the monarch prevent the government from becomingdictatorial?The monarch could refuse the royal assent and the bill through Parliament,which was obviously terribly bad and very unpopular.5. How does the Queen’s practical role indirectly help the realgovernment?The queen can perform the ceremonial duties for the government has moretime to get on with the actual job of running the country.Chapter VIII: The Government1. What does the Government convention of ‘collective responsibility’mean?Answer:+ Every member of the government shares the responsibility to every policymade by the government.+ Not allowed to criticize the government’s policy in public.2. In what way is the principle of ‘collective responsibility’ realized withinthe cabinet?Answer:+ The ‘cabinet’ meets once a week.+ Take decisions about new policies.+ All members must be seen to agree3. What’s the ‘cabinet office’?Answer:It is an organization which is to help run the complicated machinery of amodern government.4. What is the function on “cabinet committees”?Answer:It runs a busy communication network, keeping ministers in touch with eachother, drawing up the agenda for cabinet’s meetings. It also does the samethings for the many cabinet committees.5. State briefly the three reasons why the PM is much more powerful thanthe other ministers.Answer:+ He has the power to appoint people to all kinds of jobs and confer honourson people.+ PM’s dominance over other ministers is the power of the PM’s publicimage.+ All ministers except the PM are kept busy looking after their governmentdepartments.6. What phenomenon clearly shows the strength of the PM’s power of‘patronage’? Explain.Answer:“Cabinet reshuffle” change the cabinet quite frequently.Chapter IX: Parliament1. : What are the main activities of the British Parliament?Answer:A, Members are elected every five years.B, It makes new law.C, It authorizes the government activities, gives authority for thegovernment, rises and spends money.D, It controls and discusses government activities.2. What two houses does the British Parliament consist of?Answer: (giải thích thêm)House of Commons and House of LordsParliament businessChapter X: ElectionsChapter XIV: Education1. What are the basic features of the European educational system.Answer:+ Full time education is compulsory up to the middle teenage years- The academic year begin at the end of summer.- Compulsory education is free of charge.+ There are three organized of stages:- First stage: Primary- Second stage; Secondary- Third: TertiaryStage is ‘further” education at university or college2: What was the reason why the British government was one of the last toorganize education for everybody?Answer:Britain was leading the world in industry and commerce, so, it was felt, andeducation must somehow be taking care of itself.3: What happened to the existing “public school” when the Britishgovernment finally began to take an interest in education?Answer:The government left alone the small group of schools, which had been used inthe 19th century to educate the sons of the upper and upper-middle classes9publis schools)4: Give 3 typical characteristics of these public schools.Answer:Used to be for upper and middle class and for boys onlyThe emphasis was on “character building” and the development of “team spirit”rather than on academic achievement.The aim was to prepare young men to take up positions in the higher ranks ofthe army, in business, the legal profession, the civil service and politics5: How do you explain that the pupils from these schools formed a “closegroup` within society after finishing their education?Answer:When the pupils from these schools finished their education, they form theruling elite, retaining the distinctive habits and vocabulary which they hadlearnt at school. This group separated from the rest of the society.7. What is the function of the Local Education Authority (LEA)Answer:+ It does not itself set or supervise the making of the exams which orderteenagers do.+ In general as many details as possible are left up to the individual institutionor the LEA.8: How do you explain this `grass – roots` independent of the British schoolsystem?Answer:Each school has its own community. For example, they have their ownuniform or union hall.11: What were the disadvantages of the “comprehensive school” system?Answer:The comprehensive school system has also its critics; many people felt thatthere should be more choice available to parents and disliked uniformity ofeducation given to teenage.12: What two major changes were being introduced by the governmentsince 1980s?Answer:Strategy in the late 1980s, two major changes were introduced by theGovernment:+ The first of these was the setting up of the national curriculum. For the firsttime in British education, there is now a set of learning objectives for eachyear of compulsory state schools are obliged to work towards theseobjectives.+ The other major change is that, schools can now decide to ‘output’ of thecontrol of the LEA and put themselves directly under the control of theappropriate government department.13: In what way did the introduction of the national curriculum changepriorities the subject matter of teaching?Answer:At the lower primary level, this means a greater emphasis on what are known as‘the tree Rs’ 9reading, writing, and arithmetic). At higher levels, it means a greateremphasis on science and technology.