F. Which words below have a positive meaning? Which have a negative one? Use these words to complete the sentences below.
leading tight falling intensive highly mechanized efficient
to reduce to contain to emerge from to outpace to decline to enjoy
to cut to stimulate to stabilize to suspend to oppose
1) The English do … life.
2) Production processes in Europe are … …
3) It is also an … time for the production team.
4) The health care could be more …
5) It is one of the UK’s …producers.
6) Creditconditions remain …, while affordability, especially in London, is still poor.
7) UK house prices saw a slight rally last month after …at the end of the year.
8) High interest rates, rising oil and food prices are likely to … growth at about 7.5%, analysts said, down from 9% or more in previous years.
9) … reservesof North Sea gas and oil mean that by the end of the decade, the UK will be a net energy importer for the first time since the Industrial Revolution.
10) The Scottish economy is likely to … recession and return to weak growth by the spring.
11) The rise in London house prices has dramatically … Londoners' salary increases.
12) The prime minister regards help for people on low incomes as the most efficient way to … the economy.
13) Government faced a choice between … taxes, boosting infrastructure spending and helping people on low incomes.
14) But more needs to be done to … financial markets and support economic growth
15) The institution has asked the European Union's highest court to annul a decision by EU finance ministers to temporarily … the rules.
16) Conservative party leader … city parking tax.
17) Northern Ireland’s health trusts have made significant progress in … their financial deficits.
G. Draw the table ‘Britain’s economy over the last decades’ and complete it.
Britain’s economy over the last decades
Period of time
Critical activities
over the past two decades
since 1992
in the late 2008
H. Answer the following questions about the text.
1) How is Britain’s economy characterized in general? What is the statistic used to measure the economy? How do you understand the following – “one of the quintet of trillion dollar economies”?
2) The first ingredient of a nation's economic system is its natural resources. What about the UK?
3) What is the UK’s CB? Does the UK undertake an independent monetary policy? Is Britain a member of the euro zone?
4) What is the key sector of Britain’s economy? What does it cover? How much does it contribute to GDP? What industries decline? How do you understand the following – “a net importer of energy”?