The United Kingdom--then and now."The sun never sets on the British Empire British Empire, overseas territories linked to Great Britain in a variety of constitutional relationships, established over a period of three centuries. The establishment of the empire resulted primarily from commercial and political motives and emigration movements ." Two centuries ago, the U.K. included one fourth of the world's surface. Somewhere, the sun was shining on British territory. But after World War II (1939-1945), most British colonies in Asia and Africa became independent nations. Today, the U.K. consists mainly of a few islands, including Great Britain Great Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 60,441,000), 94,226 sq mi (244,044 sq km), on the British Isles, off W Europe. The country is often referred to simply as Britain. and Northern Ireland Northern Ireland: see Ireland, Northern. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Area: 5,461 sq mi (14,144 sq km). Population (2001): 1,685,267. . FAST FACTS: OFFICIAL NAME: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: see Great Britain. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or United Kingdom or Great Britain Island country, western Europe, North Atlantic Ocean. AREA: 94,548 sq mi (almost as large as Oregon) POPULATION: 60,500,000; 89% urban GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary democracy parliamentary democracy Democratic form of government in which the party (or a coalition of parties) with the greatest representation in the parliament (legislature) forms the government, its leader becoming prime minister or chancellor. . Prime Minister Tony Blair is head of government. ECONOMY: The U.K. exports machinery and electronics, and is a major producer of petroleum, coal, and natural gas. PER CAPITA [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. *: $30,300 ETHNIC MIX: white, 92.1%; black, 2%; Indian, 1.8%; Pakistani, 1.3%; mixed-race, 1.2%; other, 1.15%. * GDP stands for gross domestic product; per capita means per person. The amount is the value of all items produced by a country in a year, divided by the population. It often is used as a measure of a nation's wealth. Questions 1. Which former British territory is both a continent and a country? -- 2. The British Empire once included 13 individual colonies located together on which continent? -- 3. Which former British territory covered the largest land area in Asia? -- 4. On which continent did British territory once stretch across the Northern and Southern hemispheres? -- 5. Which present-day British territory is in Europe? -- 6. What is the name of the only remaining British territory in the Pacific Ocean? -- 7. The U.K. and what other country claim control over the Islas Malvinas? -- 8. The South Orkney Islands South Orkney Islands, group in the South Atlantic, c.850 mi (1,370 km) SE of Cape Horn. Discovered in 1821, they were claimed by the British and are included as dependencies of the colony of the Falkland Islands. are in which ocean? -- 9. Why do you think English is the official language of the present-dog South American country of Guyana? -- 10. Why don't other countries recognize the British territorial claim in Antarctica? -- ANSWER 1. Australia 2. North America 3. British India 4. Africa 5. Gibraltar 6. Pitcairn Island 7. Argentina (Islos Molvinos is the Spanish name for the Falkland Islands.) 8. Southern Ocean 9. Guyana was once a British colony. 10. The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 does not recognize any land claims to Antarctica. |
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