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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Gabriella: Hi, I’m Gabriella.
Gina: And I’m Gina. Test Your Knowledge Of the UK.
BODY
Gabriella: Ah, there was a word in the lesson title that jumped out at me.
Gina: What word was that?
Gabriella: “Test”
Gina: Oh, don’t be nervous! It’s going to be a fun and easy test, I promise!
Gabriella: I think I’ll be the judge of that after the test is finished.
Gina: So in this lesson, we’re going to talk more about the UK and give a bit more background to Britain.
Gabriella: Through a test...
Gina: An easy test! I’ll ask you the first question – “Great Britain” consists of which countries?”
Gabriella: Ah, I know this one.
Gina: Told you it was easy!
Gabriella: There’s England, Scotland, Wales and… is Northern Ireland in Great Britain?
Gina: Hey, I’m asking the questions! You decide if Northern Ireland is in Great Britain or not.
Gabriella: I don’t think it is. So, my answer is England, Scotland and Wales.
Gina: Correct! Great Britain is those three countries. Now, the United Kingdom, the UK, is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Gabriella: Northern Ireland is in the United Kingdom, but not in Great Britain.
Gina: That’s right! But the UK can also be referred to as Britain sometimes, so it gets a little confusing…
Gabriella: Yes, it does! Each country is still a country in its own right and has its own capital. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland even have their own governments that handle local issues, but most of the major decisions are made in London.
Gina: Okay, next question. “One of the most famous dishes from the UK consists of fish and a potato-based food. What is it commonly known as?”
Gabriella: I know this one too as I love eating this whenever I go to the seaside. It’s fish and chips!
Gina: Yes! Fish and chips has become pretty famous across the world, so it may be that our listeners already know what it is.
Gabriella: But for those who don’t, it’s fish such as cod or haddock, fried in batter and served with sliced potatoes that are also fried.
Gina: Some other English-speaking countries call chips, “fries”. Fish and chips is quite a versatile food, as you can eat it in a nice restaurant with tartar sauce or salad on the side.
Gabriella: Or, you can eat it as finger food straight out of the paper it’s wrapped in as you walk down the street... after showering it in salt and vinegar ofcourse!
Gina: I prefer it as finger food.
Gabriella: Me too! I think I’m getting the hang of these questions, so let’s hear the next one!
Gina: You’re getting eager! Okay, question 3 is “What are the three ways that you can cross the sea, the English Channel, from the UK to France?”
Gabriella: The English Channel is the name of the small sea that separates England from France, right?
Gina: Yes, at its smallest point, there is only 21 miles, or 34km, between the two countries.
Gabriella: People swim it, don’t they?
Gina: They can, but that isn’t one of the three answers.
Gabriella: I didn’t think it was! Well, as it’s a sea it can obviously be crossed by boat. And by aeroplane too.
Gina: So that’s two of them. What about the third way?
Gabriella: Ah, I know this. It’s by train, isn’t it?
Gina: It is! In 1994, they opened the Eurotunnel which runs underneath the English Channel and connects London to Paris and Brussels via a high-speed train line.
Gabriella: Have you ever taken the train?
Gina: The Eurostar? No. When I went to France, I took the ferry across. Are you ready for question four?
Gabriella: Of course!
Gina: “What is the name of the currency used in Britain?”
Gabriella: I know that Britain is part of the European Union and many countries in the EU switched over to the Euro, right?
Gina: They did.
Gabriella: But, I don’t think Britain did. So, my answer is that Britain still uses the pound.
Gina: Correct again! Yes, Britain still uses the pound, or pound Stirling, and each pound is made of 100 pence.
Gabriella: I like British money because every coin and every note has a picture of Queen Elizabeth II on the front.
Gina: They do. The coins have different emblems and symbols that represent the different countries of Britain on the back and notes have pictures of famous Britons and their achievements, such as Charles Darwin.
Gabriella: By my maths, we have one question left.
Gina: We do, that’s correct.
Gabriella: Can I ask you the question? I feel like being quizmaster.
Gina: Okay. Make it an easy one.
Gabriella: Right. “What is, or are, the official languages of the UK?”
Gina: I feel this is a trick question. English is obvious.
Gabriella: But is it only English, or is there another one?
Gina: Hmmm. I think there might be another one.
Gabriella: Why do you think that?
Gina: Because you’ve asked me if there is another one! You gave the game away!
Gabriella: Oops! (laughs)
Gina: But, also because I’ve been on holiday to Wales and have seen how the road signs are written in two languages.
Gabriella: So what is your answer?
Gina: English, and Welsh.
Gabriella: Correct! Although only 19% of the Welsh population consider themselves to be speakers of Welsh, it is still an official language of the UK.
Gina: It’s a very different language to English as it is a Celtic language, not a Germanic one, and has a lot of different sounds.
Gabriella: That’s right. The government is required to issue all information in English and Welsh, and there is even a Welsh TV channel.
Gina: Well, between us we managed to answer all five questions correctly.
Gabriella: We’re good!
Gina: We are! I hope the listeners found our quiz informative and entertaining.
Gabriella: Me too.

Outro
Gina: Ok, everyone. I think that’s all for this lesson.
Gabriella: Thank you for listening everyone. See you next time!

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