The Commonwealth is a free association of Britain and certain independent states, formerly the colonies of the British Empire. It was founded in 1949. The Commonwealth has no central government, and unites a fifth of the world’s land and population. The Commonwealth includes 50 independent states among them are: Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand /1931/, India, Pakistan /1947/, Uganda /1962/, Kenya /1963/, Tanzania, Malawi, Malta, Zambia /1964/, Gambia, Singapore /1965/, Guyana, Botswana, Lesotho, Barbados /1966/. The British Crown is a symbol of this association. The queen is recognised as the Head of the Commonwealth; she is also the Head of State in 16 member countries.
Though the decline of the British Empire after the World War II made the role, played by the Commonwealth nations in foreign policy of Great Britain less significant, it doesn’t mean that Great Britain gave up her aspiration as far as the Commonwealth nations concerned. Her aim remains the same and the Commonwealth still plays an important part in the foreign policy of Great Britain.
In the economic sphere Britain’s aim is to convert the former colonies and semi-colonies into an integrated part of the world economy on the basis of a division of labour between Britain and these countries. The latter are supposed to act as Britain’s appendages supplying raw materials. The policy of “aid”, the export of capital, technical, economic measures and trade serve as instruments for retaining her shaky positions. Besides, among those independent states some hold on to their former metropolitan state because of their dependence on the British market.
In the military domain the majority of the newly free countries still depend on Great Britain so far as the armament supplies are concerned. Some of them still maintain common military maneuvers and research work.
In the field of education, science and technology, radio, television, press some newly free countries still preserve their dependence on Great Britain.
In the foreign policy Great Britain’s concern is shown mostly for the Commonwealth developing countries. The British government began to realize that in the 20th century Great Britain could no longer lead the way as it used to do earlier.
3.Answer the questions.
1. What is the Commonwealth?
2. When was the Commonwealth founded?
3. What countries are the members of the Commonwealth?
4. Who is the Head of the Commonwealth?
5. What is the role of Britain in this association?
6. What part does Great Britain play in the economic, military and foreign spheres?
4.Complete the following sentences.
1.The Commonwealth is …
2.The Commonwealth was founded …
3.The Head of the Commonwealth is …
4.There are … members in the Commonwealth.
5.The Commonwealth plays …
6.In the economic sphere the aim of Britain is …
7.The policy of “aid” serves as …
8.As for the armament supplies, the newly free countries …
5.Translate into English.
1.Співдружність незалежних держав – це асоціація колишніх колоній Британської імперії та Великобританії, яка була заснована в 1949 році. 2.Роль, яку відіграє Великобританія в цьому союзі, стає менш визначальною. 3.Для Великобританії Співдружність - це інструмент впливу в зовнішній політиці. 4.В економічній сфері члени союзу грають роль постачальника сировини. 5.В освіті, науці і технології деякі країни ще залежать від Великобританії.
6.Make a report on the role of Britain in the Commonwealth.
READING
Text A. What Is International Trade?
1.Read and translate using the dictionary.
When Honduras exports bananas to Switzerland, they can use the money they earn to import Swiss chocolate – or to pay for Kuwaiti oil or a vacation in Hawaii. The basic idea of international trade and investment is simple: each country produces goods or services that can be either consumed at home or exported to other countries.
The main difference between domestic trade and international trade is the use of foreign currencies to pay for the goods and services crossing international borders. Although global trade is often added up in U.S. dollars, the trading itself involved various currencies. Japanese videocassette recorders are paid for in German marks in Berlin, and German cars are paid for in U.S. dollars in Boston. Indian tea, Brazilian coffee, and American films are sold around the world in currencies as diverse as Turkish liras and Mexican pesos.
Whenever a country imports or exports goods and services, there is a resulting flow of funds: money returns to the exporting nation, and money flows out of the importing nation. Trade and investment is a two-way street, and with a minimum of trade barriers, international trade and investment usually makes everyone better off.
In an interlinked global economy, consumers are given the opportunity to buy the best products at the best prices. By opening up markets, a government allows its citizens to produce and export those things they are best at and to import the rest, choosing from whatever the world has to offer.
Some trade barriers will always exist as long as any two countries have different sets of laws. However, when a country decides to protect its economy by erecting artificial trade barriers, the result is often damaging to everyone, including those people whose barriers were meant to protect.
The Great Depression of the 1930s, for example, spread around the world when the United States decided to erect trade barriers to protect local producers. As other countries retaliated, trade plumered jobs were lost, and the world entered into a long period of economic decline.
2.Answer the questions.
1. What is the basic idea of international trade?
2. What is the main difference between domestic and international trade?
3. How can you consider trade barriers?
4. What is the difference between trade and investment?
5. What were the sequences of the Great depression of the 1930s?
3.Name the practical role of the trade cooperation.
Text B. Relations Between Ukraine and English-Speaking Countries.
1.Read and translate the text.
Ukraine has wide relations with English-speaking countries: Great Britain, the United States of America, Canada and others. Our relations with these countries are in policy, economics, science, culture, education and sport. Ukraine has diplomatic relations with all these countries. It means that they have ambassadors in Ukraine and we have Ukrainian diplomatic missions in these countries. We have some joint political projects.
In economics Ukraine collaborates with these countries too. There are many joint ventures where the partners are from different countries but not from one. Besides, the goods from these countries are sold in Ukraine and some products are sold in these countries.
Scientific co-operation is also very important because Ukrainian science is very good but it has not enough money for experiments. We have joint projects for space exploration with the USA and Canada. In future Ukraine will launch some space rockets from Canadian territory.
Cultural exchanges are very intensive too.
In education we have wide relations with these countries. We exchange students and teachers.
Besides, tourism is very popular.
I must say, that in the USA and Canada there are many people who are Ukrainians by origin. So we have special relations with them. There is a Ministry for Diaspora in Ukraine.
As we have wide and intensive relations with English-speaking countries English is one of the most popular foreign languages in Ukraine. It is taught in very many educational establishments and at our university too.
_____________________
to have wide relations мати широкі зв’язки
ambassador посольство
joint political project спільний політичний проект
to collaborate співробітничати
joint venture спільне підприємство
to launch запускати
2.Answer the questions.
1.Has Ukraine wide relations with English-speaking countries?
2.What are they?
3.What fields are our relations with these countries in?
4.What does “to have diplomatic relations with the country” mean?
5.What are the scientific and cultural projects between the countries?
3.Fill in the gaps with the words and word-combinations from the topical vocabulary.
1. Ukraine … with the English-speaking countries in policy, economics, science, culture, education and sport.
2. There are … of many countries in Ukraine.
3. Ukraine … not only with English-speaking countries but with many others from different continents of the world.
4. Will your name any … ?
5. There are many …where the partners are from different countries but not from one.
6. Achieving great successes in science a country tries … rockets.
7. … gives an opportunity to help the country in its development.
8. English is taught in schools and many other … .
4.Translate into English.
1.Широкі зв’язки з різними країнами дають можливість Україні стати розвинутою державою.
2.Іноземні посольства надають консультації громадянам про умови від’їзду в іншу країну.
3.Спільні політичні та економічні проекти допомагають країнам зблизитися.
4.Культурний обмін відкриває можливість людям пізнати світ іншого народу.
5.Спільні проекти в освіті сприяють розвитку науки.
5.What are the misunderstandings in the relations between Ukraine and other countries.
6.Speak on the relations of Ukraine with English-speaking countries.
TALKING POINTS
Dialogue A.
Read, learn and act.
-Who do you work for at the moment, Ms Mann?
-Um, I work for BBC World Service.
-Ah, and how long have you worked for the BBC?
-I’ve been for the BBC for five years. Yes, exactly five years.
-And how long have you been their German correspondent?
-For two years.
-And what did you do before the BBC?
-I worked as an interpreter for the EU.
-As you know , this job is based in Geneva. Have you ever lived abroad before?
-Oh yes, yes I have.
-And when did you live abroad?
-Well, in fact, I was born in Argentina and I lived there until I was eleven. Also, I lived and worked in Brussels for two years when I was working for the EU.
-Mmm … That’s interesting. Have you travelled much?
-Oh yes, yes indeed. I’ve travelled all over western and eastern Europe, and I’ve also been to many parts of South America.
-Mmm … And why did you go to these places?
-Well, mostly for pleasure, but three years ago I went back to Argentina to cover various political stories in Buenos Aires for the BBC.