1) What other name of the country Great Britain do you know? 2) Where is Great Britain situated? What are the names of the two largest islands of the British Isles? 3) Is the territory of Great Britain large or small? What can you say about the territory of the country? 4) What are the four parts of the United Kingdom? 5) What is the capital of England? What is the capital of the United Kingdom? 6) In what city does the British government work? 7) The British Parliament is the oldest in Europe, isn't it? When did it appear? 8) Is there a king or queen in the United Kingdom now?

Besides “Great Britain,” people often say “Britain” or, formally, “the United Kingdom” (full name: “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”).

It lies off the north-western coast of mainland Europe, between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The two largest islands of the British Isles are Great Britain and Ireland.

By world standards the territory is small (the UK is about 243,000 km²), but it’s varied: mountains and highlands in the north and west (Scotland, Wales, Northern England), lower rolling plains in the south and east, a long, indented coastline, and many short rivers (the Severn is the longest; the Thames is the best-known). The climate is temperate maritime—mild, wet, and changeable.

The four parts are England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The capital of England is London. The capital of the United Kingdom is also London.

The British government works in London, primarily in the Westminster area (e.g., Downing Street, Whitehall, Westminster).

Not exactly “the oldest,” but it’s among the oldest continuous parliaments. Its roots go back to medieval England: key milestones include the baronial councils after Magna Carta (1215), the 1265 parliament called by Simon de Montfort, and the “Model Parliament” of 1295. The current “Parliament of the United Kingdom” was formed in 1707 when the English and Scottish parliaments were united.

Yes. The UK currently has a monarch: King Charles III.