Or sign in with your account on:

Not a member yet? Register

Graded Reading - Elementary - August 2014

Friday, 11 July 2014
Graded Reading - Elementary - August 2014 'Creative Commons A quick geography lesson' by Anne Debenham is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

UK, Great Britain and the British Isles

What is the difference between UK, Great Britain and the British Isles? Find out more in this month's graded reader at an elementary level.

(Page 1 of 2) « Prev All Pages Next »

UK, Great Britain and the British Isles - What's the difference?

The United Kingdom (UK) is a country separated from the European continent by the English Channel. It is officially known as the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. The UK combines four countries and many small islands.

The four countries within the United Kingdom are England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Queen is head of the United Kingdom. All four countries were originally separate nations. People in the UK are called British, even though they may have different nationalities.

Great Britain is the largest island and combines England, Scotland and Wales. It is often known as Britain. Each country has its own capital. The capital city of England is London. London is also the capital of the UK. The capital city of Wales is Cardiff. The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh.

The British Isles is a term used to describe the two islands of Great Britain and Ireland, together with the many smaller islands around the coast. Great Britain and Ireland are separated by the St George’s Channel. Only Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. The southern part of Ireland is known as Eire, and is an independent country.

 

UK, Great Britain and the British Isles – Comprehension questions

1. What is the official name of the UK?

2. Which is the largest island in the United Kingdom?

3. What is the British Isles?

(Page 1 of 2)
« Prev All Pages Next » (Page 1 of 2)
Rate this item
(3 votes)
published in August 2014
Read 19240 times
Last modified on Wednesday, 14 February 2018 13:59

Free English lessons in your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter and receive free grammar lessons and exercises, graded readers with comprehension questions, and tips on how to improve your English. And stay updated on the WeLoveTeachingEnglish services.