1. Most people are English, Scottish or Welsh, but in some British cities you can meet people of many different nationalities. But is Britain a cosmopolitan society? It really depends on where you go. In 1991 5.5 per cent of the 57 million population described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority. Most members of ethnic minorities live in the South – East. In Greater London, they represent 20 per cent of the population.
2. People have been coming to Britain for centuries: some to get a better life, some to escape natural disasters, some as political or religious refugees. Many Irish people came to England in 1845 to escapefamine1, but usually they came to find work. Most of the roads, railways and canals built in the nineteenth century were made by Irish workers.
3. The greatest wave of immigration was in the 1950’s and 1960’s. This happened not only in Britain but also throughout Western Europe. Many companies needed people for unskilled or semi–skilled jobs. Britain advertised2 particularly in the English – speaking islands of the Caribbean, for2 people to come to Britain and work. Other people came from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Hong Kong.
4. The number of people asking to settle in Britain is rising, but Britain, since 1971, has reduced the number of people (coming from outside Europe) which it allows to stay. Many people in Britain, in spite of anti – racist – laws, blame unemployment and poor housing3 on “immigrants”.
Ïîÿñíåíèÿ ê òåêñòó:
1. çä. – íå óìåðåòü ñ ãîëîäà
2. çä. – ïðèãëàøàòü ÷åðåç ðåêëàìó
3. çä. – ïëîõîå æèëüå
7. Ïðî÷èòàéòå 4-é àáçàö è âîïðîñ ê íåìó. Èç ïðèâåäåííûõ âàðèàíòîâ îòâåòà óêàæèòå íîìåð ïðåäëîæåíèÿ, ñîäåðæàùåãî ïðàâèëüíûé îòâåò íà ïîñòàâëåííûé âîïðîñ:
Why has Britain reduced the number of people coming from outside Europe which it allows to stay?
1) … because of unemployment.
2) … because of unemployment and poor housing.