British Culture and Civilization Quiz

United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland: This course explores the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, covering geographical terms, landscapes, climate, and migration patterns.

Full Name: The formal name of the country is the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.
Short Terms: 'UK' and 'Britain' are also commonly used.
British Isles: The country is part of a group of islands called the British Isles, off the northwest coast of mainland Europe.
Great Britain: England, Scotland, and Wales form the largest island, called Great Britain.
Republic of Ireland: Ireland (or Eire) is the second largest island. It became independent from Britain in 1921.
Crown Dependencies: The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are not part of the UK, but are "crown dependencies."
Geographic Regions: The United Kingdom is made up of several geographic regions including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each has its own specific capital cities.

Earth Movements: Mountain ranges in Britain were created by earth movements over time.
Fossil Deposits: Ancient forests contributed to coal deposits in certain parts.
Rivers: The country has significant rivers such as Clyde, Forth, Tweed, Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn, Thames, Bann and Foyle. These rivers and their characteristics are dictated by a combination of geographical features.
Lowlands and Uplands: The land area of the UK is divided into lowlands and uplands, notably in England.
Mountain Ranges: England has several mountainous regions like the Pennines, Cheviot Hills, and the Cumbrian Mountains in the north and west, and the Cornis Heights in the southwest.
Scotland: Scotland features distinct areas: The Northern Highlands, Central Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands; Ben Nevis is the highest mountain.
Wales: Wales is mostly covered by the Cambrian Mountains.

Temperate: The climate of the UK is generally temperate, influenced by the North Atlantic current.
Altitude: Variations like cool summers and cold winters are partly due to altitude.
Rainfall: Rainfall is heavy in the West and North of the UK.
Other Factors: Southwest winds and the North Atlantic current also influence the temperature.
Fauna: Common animal species include red deer, foxes, otters, squirrels, and rabbits.

Waves of Migration: Migration has occurred in waves in the UK.
Great Famine: A million people migrated from Ireland to Great Britain due to famine.
German Immigrants: German immigrants were prominent in the 19th century.
Russian Jews: The largest immigrant group after 1891.
Colonies: A large influx of immigrants occurred from the colonies (and recently independent former colonies) after WWII due to the legacy of empire and a labor shortage.
19th Century Emigration: Millions of British and Irish emigrated from the UK, often to North America.
Contemporary trends: There are many immigrants from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, South Africa, Poland, and Somalia currently living in the UK.

English: English is the official language of the UK, spoken by 95% of the population.
Other Languages: Smaller percentages speak languages from South Asia (Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati), and Polish, especially in England.
Celtic Languages: The Celtic languages of Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Cornish are also present in the UK.

Various Stereotypes: Stereotypes exist regarding national characteristics; for example, the Irish's famous talkativeness, the prudence of the Scots, and reserve of the English.
Caution: Stereotypes should be viewed with caution, as they are not accurate representations of all people.

History: Scotland was joined with England and Wales in 1707 to form the United Kingdom.
Distinct Aspects: Important aspects of life (education, law, religion) are organised differently from the rest of Britain.
Scottish English Dialects: The Scottish way of speaking English has its unique dialects.
Scottish Culture: Key events (Burns' Suppers) and symbols of Scottish culture are highlighted.

Annexation: Wales was annexed by England and integrated into the English legal system.
Welsh Language: Still has a presence and is commonly used in public life.
Welsh Public Life: The public life in Wales is similar to England's.
Symbols: Wales' national symbols and importance of the language are emphasized.

Political Polarisation: Northern Ireland's society is strongly divided.
Protestant vs. Catholic: Two main groups are Protestants (ancestors from England/Scotland) and Catholics (native Irish) with contrasting political views on the UK.
Distinctive Culture: Despite living close to each other, the lifestyle, communication, and social practices of these two groups significantly differ.