The UK
Schools
Family Relationships
Food
100

Who is the official head of the UK and who has political power there?

The UK is a monarchy and King Charles III is the official Head of the country. However, the British monarch does not have political power because Parliament makes the laws.

100

What is your favourite school subject and why?

As for my school, we study a lot of different subjects: English, Russian, Literature, Maths, Science, ICT and so on. But my favourite subject is … because I’m very good at it.

100

Why is family important?

Family is very important for everyone. They are the people who always trust you and give advice. They teach us the value of love and care. If you have a good and strong family, you can reach any goals, make a career and stay happy all your life.

100

What food do you prefer?

As for me, I prefer eating healthy food like fruit, vegetables, fish, meat and dairy products and drinking water or tea. But sometimes I enjoy having a snack or going to a fast food restaurant.

200

Who is Prince William and what are his royal duties?

Prince William is a member of the British royal family. He is the eldest son of King Charles III and his first wife Diana. William is the future King of the United Kingdom. William and his wife Kate live in a large apartment in Kensington Palace in London with their three children. William has a lot of royal duties: he meets foreign kings, queens and presidents and he helps a lot of different charities. He is famous all around the world, but he doesn’t want his home life to be special or different.

200

What do you know about the school system in the UK?

Education is very important for young generation. In most countries primary education is free and children go to state schools. It means that almost all children have the opportunity to get primary education and their parents don’t have to pay. Students start secondary school when they are eleven and leave when they are eighteen. Most secondary schools in the UK are mixed. Students go to school from Monday to Friday, but not at the weekend. In some private schools, students have lessons on Saturday, but no one goes to school on Sunday.

200

Do you have siblings? How can you describe your relationship?

In my view, brothers and sisters play an important role in our lives, because there are more advantages than disadvantages of having siblings. They are your biggest supporters; you can always rely on them in the most difficult situations. As for me, I have got a brother/sister. Sometimes we argue, but he/she often helps me with my homework and gives good advice.

200

Why is junk food bad for children?

Food is a very important part of our life. People can’t live without food because it gives us energy and strength. To be healthy and fit is fashionable now.

However, junk food is still very popular with children and teenagers. They are used to food and drink adverts on TV and even in computers games. Junk food is full of fat and sugar, for example burgers, biscuits, sweets and fizzy drinks, and is believed to be responsible for a lot of obesity in children. In schools, students can use vending machines to buy chocolate bars and crisps.

300

Where does the King live when he is in London?

One of the most famous buildings in England is Buckingham Palace. It is the King’s home. When he is staying at the palace, you can see the flag on the roof of the building. In August and September tourists can visit some of the rooms in the palace. Visitors like to take photos of the palace and of the soldiers outside. London is full of museums and art galleries, theatres and clubs.

300

Are there any unusual schools in the UK? Tell us about them.

There are some unusual schools in the UK. For example, the BRIT school and democratic schools. The BRIT School near London is for students with one ambition: to get a job connected with performing arts (music, theatre, film and so on). Students in the BRIT school study all normal subjects and have extra classes in performing arts. In democratic schools students choose the subjects they want to study. Teachers don’t usually mark students’ work, classes are mixed-ability and often have students of different ages.

300

What are the advantages of having siblings?

Although we don’t always get on well with our brothers and sisters, we can get a lot of benefits from them. A big brother or sister is an advantage at school. When your big brother or sister does well at school, you do well too. This is because they help you with homework. It’s wonderful to have a person who is very close to you and who will always talk to you, help and support you in a difficult situation. And this is priceless.

300

Who are wild foragers?

People should watch what they eat. Wild foraging is a good way of eating healthy and saving money and resources. Wild foragers are people who look for food in the countryside. They do this because the food is free, and it is fresh and healthy. Wild foragers believe that rich countries grow too much food – and that isn’t good for the environment. You can find a lot of wild food in the countryside: mushrooms, leaves, grasses, fruit, vegetables, seeds, herbs and nuts.

400

What interesting places would you like to see in London?

I would like to visit London because I think it is a fantastic experience. I’d like to see the Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and the London Zoo.

The London Eye is of the main sights of the city and over 4 million visitors come to see it every year. The London Eye was called the Millennium wheel at first because it was opened in 2000. The wheel is 135 meters high and it takes 30 minutes to complete one ride. There are 32 capsules and 25 people can fit in one of them.

The London Eye can be seen from different parts of the city. At night time it’s illuminated. Tourists love taking photos of it because they come out so pretty.

400

What do you know about homeschooling?

Some children don’t go to school, they choose home education. Homeschooling is popular in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and many other countries. Homeschooled students start their lessons when they want to and have lessons at different times every day. They study all the usual subjects and take national exams.

400

What are the advantages of having siblings?

However, it is not always easy to get on well with all members of your family. Most teenagers have difficult relationships with their brothers and sisters. In general, teenagers are not worried about their siblings when things go badly for them. Some people think that it is better to be an only child. One of the main disadvantages of having siblings is that you have to look after them when parents are not at home. Finally, jealousy and rivalry are very common between siblings. Sometimes children think that their siblings get more attention from their parents than they do.

400

What is freeganism?

Another good way of not wasting food and drink is freeganism. Freegans collect good food that supermarkets throw away, and they eat it or give it to people who are hungry. Freegans do this not because they don’t want to spend money but because they want to change the way people live and make the environment better. When people waste food, they waste money, time and resources. Freegans don’t eat food from rubbish bins outside shops. Supermarkets usually put food in bags and leave them outside. The food is fresh and unopened. This happens because supermarkets order too much food and they throw away the extra food.

500

What countries does the UK consist of and what are their capitals?

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about seven hundred small islands. Its population is over 67 million.

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast. The capital of the UK is London.

500

How dangerous is the way to school in some countries?

Sometimes the way to school can be dangerous. For example, Banpo Elementary school in China is on a mountain. The path to school is very narrow and children have to walk in a line. In Sumatra, Indonesia, children cross a wide river every morning on their way to school. The bridge is broken so about 20 children have to walk across the rope. The rope is ten metres above the water. After that, they have to walk 10 kilometres through the jungle. Students in Vietnam have to cross the river every day. There are no bridges or boats, so children swim.

500

What are some tips for getting on well with your siblings?

We have to follow some tips to get on well with our brothers and sisters. So, when your brother or sister uses your things, don’t get angry about it – learn to share. Imagine your brother or sister is a friend – and be nice. Don’t tell people your brother’s or your sister’s secrets. And don’t forget to give your brother or sister some time alone when they need it.

500

How do restaurants attract their customers?

However, some people like to eat out and enjoy the atmosphere of a restaurant. To attract their customers, most restaurants try to offer good food and great service. But some restaurants offer a gimmick – something unusual to make their restaurant different from all the others. Sometimes the gimmick is the restaurant’s location. There are restaurants on a volcano, under water, in the sky or inside an aeroplane. In some restaurants, customers sit in hammocks or on beds. Some restaurants ask their customers to work for their food. For example, in a fish restaurant in Japan people have to catch the fish that they want to order from the menu.