Scotland (Шотландия)
Moscow State Pedagogical University
the department of sociology,
economics and law
chair of English language
Course paper on the topic
“Scotland”
by Gribacheva Alexandra,
a student of the 3rd year
Moscow 2000
The plan:
Introduction.
I. A few words about this work.
II. Scotland – how does it look like?
1.Geographical position.
2.Climate
3.Plant & animal life.
4.Natural resources.
5.Population.
6.Scotland’s government.
The main part.
I. Early peoples of Scotland & their relations.
II. “… we will never consent to subject ourselves to the dominion
of the English…”
III. Scotland’s beautiful capital.
1.Introduction
2.Edinburgh’s Castle
3.The Military Tattoo
4.St. Giles’ Cathedral.
5.Edinburgh’s museums.
6.Where life is one long festival.
Conclusion.
I.“Scottishness”.
1.”A wee dram”.
2.Scottish national dress.
3.A few words about tartan.
4.The national musical instrument of the Scots.
5.Highland’s dances and games.
6.The famous Loch Ness.
7.St. Andrew’s Cross.
II.Scotland for every season.
Appendices.
Practical part.
Literature.
I. Introduction.
I.A few words about this work.
Though Scotland is a part of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland it still remains an individual country with its own
traditions, customs, history and the way of life. In one word, Scotland is
not England at all. It is a country with a unique culture full of ancient
legends, bright contrasts and mysterious castles. Secrets and mystery
always appear immediately when you open a book about Scotland.
But unfortunately you can come across such a problem as lack of
literature on this topic. I was lucky to find several books that gave
exhaustive information about this magic country. I was so exited by the
Scottish national heroes and by this independent nation that I decided to
find out more information about them.
Some people say that if you haven’t been in Venice you haven’t seen Italy
at all. I can say that if you haven’t been in Scotland you haven’t seen
Britain at all. As for me I was lucky to visit the capital of England
London. But alas! I didn’t have any opportunity to visit or just to have a
glimpse of Scotland, a land of festivals, kilts and bagpipes.
It seemed to me that after visiting London I know everything about Britain.
And only after reading several books about Scotland I realized how wrong I
had been. Now I can just say: “I wish I were in Scotland!”
I was seized with an idea of studying more about it and that is why I
decided to take this topic for my course paper. I am not sure that I will
be able to tell everything that I found out about this country and its
people. But I promise to depict all unforgettable events and traditions of
the Scottish people that impressed me most of all.
II.Scotland – what does it look like?
1.Geographical position
Scotland, administrative division of the kingdom of Great Britain,
occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is
bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean; on the east by the North Sea;
on the southeast by England; on the south by Solway Firth, which
partly separates it from England, and by the Irish Sea; and on the west by
North Channel, which separates it from Ireland, and by the Atlantic Ocean.
As a geopolitical entity Scotland includes 186 nearby islands,
the majority of which are contained in three groups-namely, the Hebrides,
also known as the Western Islands, situated off the western coast; the
Orkney Islands, situated off the northeastern coast; and the Shetland
Islands, situated northeast of the Orkney Islands. The largest of the other
islands is the Island of Arran. The area, including the islands, is 78,772
sq km (30,414 sqmi).
Scotland has a very irregular coastline. The western coast in
particular is deeply penetrated by numerous arms of the sea, most of which
are narrow submerged valleys, known locally as sea lochs[1], and by a
number of broad indentations, generally called firths. The principal firths
are the Firth of Lorne, the Firth of Clyde, and Solway Firth.
Scotland is characterized by an abundance of streams and lakes (lochs).
Notable among the lakes, which are especially numerous in the central and
northern regions, are Loch Lomond (the largest), Loch Ness, Loch Tay, and
Loch Katrine.
Many of the rivers of Scotland, in particular the rivers in the west,
are short, torrential streams, generally of little commercial importance.
The longest river of Scotland is the Tay; the Clyde, however, is the
principal navigational stream, site of the port of Glasgow. Other chief
rivers include the Forth, Tweed, Dee, and Spey.
2.Climate
Like the climate of the rest of Great Britain, that of Scotland is
subject to the moderating influences of the surrounding seas. As a result
of these influences, extreme seasonal variations are rare, and temperate
winters and cool summers are the outstanding climatic features. Low
temperatures however, are common during the winter season in the
mountainous districts of the interior. In the western coastal region, which
is subject to the moderating effects of the Gulf Stream, conditions are
somewhat milder than in the east.
3.Plant and Animal Life
The most common species of trees indigenous to Scotland are oak and
conifers-chiefly fir, pine, and larch. Large forested areas, however, are
rare, and the only important woodlands are in the southern and eastern
Highlands. Except in these wooded areas, vegetation in the elevated regions
consists largely of heather, ferns, mosses, and grasses. Saxifrage,
mountain willow, and other types of alpine and arctic flora occur at
elevations above 610 m (2000 ft). Practically all of the cultivated plants
of Scotland were imported from America and the European continent.
The only large indigenous mammal in Scotland is the deer. Both the red
deer and the roe deer are found, but the red deer, whose habitat is the
Highlands, is by far the more abundant of the two species. Other indigenous
mammals are the hare, rabbit, otter, ermine, pine marten, and
wildcat. Game birds include grouse, blackcock, ptarmigan, and waterfowl.
The few predatory birds include the kite, osprey, and golden eagle.
Scotland is famous for the salmon and trout that abound in its streams and
lakes. Many species of fish, including cod, haddock, herring, and various
types of shellfish, are found in the coastal waters.
4.Natural Resources
Scotland, like the rest of the island of Great Britain, has
significant reserves of coal. It also possesses large deposits of zinc,
chiefly in the south. The soil is generally rocky and infertile, except for
that of the Central Lowlands. Northern Scotland has great hydroelectric
power potential and contains Great Britain's largest hydroelectric
generating stations. Beginning in the late 1970s, offshore oil deposits in
the North Sea became an important part of the Scottish economy. The most
important city here is Aberdeen which is the oil centre of the country.
Ships and helicopters travel from Aberdeen to the North Sea oil rigs.
Therefore, Scotland is rather rich in natural resources and sometimes can
even condition to England.
5.Population
The people of Scotland, like those of Great Britain in general, are
descendants of various racial stocks, including the Picts, Celts,
Scandinavians, and Romans. Scotland is a mixed rural-industrial society.
Scots divide themselves into Highlanders, who consider themselves of purer
Celtic blood and retain a stronger feeling of the clan, and Lowlanders, who
are largely of Teutonic blood.
6.Scotland’s government.
Government in Scotland is in four tiers. A new Scottish Parliament was
elected in 1999, following devolution of powers from the United Kingdom
Parliament in London. This is the first time Scotland has had its own
parliament in 300 years. The Scottish Parliament, which sits in Edinburgh,
is responsible for most aspects of Scottish life. The national parliament
in Westminster (London) retains responsibility for areas such as defence,
foreign affairs and taxation. The European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium)
exercises certain powers vested in the European Union.
The Scottish Parliament is supported by the Scottish Executive also
based in Edinburgh. The Scottish Government is led by a First Minister. A
Secretary of State for Scotland remains part of the UK Cabinet, and is
supported by the Scotland Office (previously the Scottish Office) based in
Glasgow, with offices in Edinburgh and London.
Top of Form 1
Bottom of Form 1
Local government is divided into 29 unitary authorities and three island
authorities, having been subject to a major reorganization in 1995.
Scotland has its own legal system, judiciary and an education system which,
at all levels, differs from that found "south of the border" in England and
Wales.
Scotland also has its own banking system and its own banknotes.
Edinburgh is the second financial centre of the UK and one of the major
financial centres of the world.
The main part.
I.Early peoples of Scotland and their relations.
(see Appendices, page 23)
