FINLAND

                         T E X T

      Finland borders Norway, Sweden and Russia. It is a country of thousands of lakes and islands. There are 187,888 lakes and 179,584 islands. Forest covers 86% of the country's area. It is the largest producer of wood in Europe. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during Summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days during Winter.  The coldest Winter days of southern Finland are usually under -4°F and the warmest days of July and early August can be over 86°F.  The largest and most important cities in Finland are the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. Other large cities include Tampere, Turku and Oulu. Turku is the oldest city and it was the first capital of Finland. It is also the official Christmas city of Finland.

      In 1906, Finland was the first nation in the world to give full suffrage to all citizens, including women. Finland has been an Independent Republic since December 6, 1917. Before that, it was a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. And before that, it was part of Sweden.

      There are 342 municipalities, and most have fewer than 6,000 residents. Today, there are 20 universities in Finland, mostly state owned. Students do not have to pay study fees.

      In 2008, President Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

                          

                    TEXT COMPREHENSION

01-Check the CORRECT sentence according to the text:

a) Most Finnish cities are overpopulated.

b) Finland produces little wood.

c) There are thirty universities in Finland.

d) There are few lakes in Finland.

e) The temperature of July and early August can be over 30° C.

02- Finland is bordered by _________countries.

a) seven

b) six

c) five

d) four

e) three

 

03- The women were given the right to vote and run for office in ___________________________________.

a) nineteen eighteen

b) nineteen seventeen

c) nineteen twenty

d) nineteen oh six

e) nineteen oh two

04- The city of Santa Claus is ______________.

a) Helsinki

b) Tampere

c) Turku

d) Espoo

e) Vantaa

05- Check the CORRECT sentence according to the text:

a) The whole Finland is cold all through the year.

b) Forests cover the majority of the total land area.

c) In nineteen nineteen, Finland declared its independence.

d) Finland belonged to Germany.

e) On December 6, 1906, Finland became a republic

06- Check the CORRECT sentence according to the text:

a) The midnight sun may be experienced in the Finnish

northernmost point.

b) The polar night occurs all through Finland.

c) The sun does not set during Autumn.

d) The sun does not rise during Spring.

e) There are few islands in Finland.

     

SWITZERLAND

                                                  SWITZERLAND

                  Switzerland is a landlocked country. It lies in Europe and its capital city is Bern. It is bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. Its largest city is Zurich. The flag of the Red Cross is the flag of Switzerland with the colors inverted.

              Switzerland has four national languages – German, French, Italian and Romansch. But they

vary greatly in the number of speakers. Most products in the Swiss stores are labeled in German, French and Italian.

                  Out of the twenty six cantons in Switzerland, German is spoken in seventeen.

French is spoken in four cantons. Cantons Bern, Fribourg and Valais are bilingual – German/

French. Italian is spoken in Ticino and four southern valleys of canton Graubünden. Romansch

is spoken in the only trilingual canton, Graubünden.

                  Some other facts about Switzerland:

•    Nestlé, founded by Swiss Henri Nestle, is the biggest food company in the world.

•    Swiss Guards protect the Pope at the Vatican.

•    The famous pharmaceutical companies Roche and Novartis are based in Switzerland.

•    The Swiss Franc is among the world's most stable currencies.

      Some famous Swiss people:

•    Actress Ursula Andress

•    Engineer Loius Chevrolet

•    Linguist Ferdinand de Saussure

•    Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau

•    Pedagogue Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

•    Psychologist Jean Piaget

                                        TEXT COMPREHENSION

01- The largest city in Switzerland is ________________.

a) Zurich

b) Basel

c) Geneva

d) Lausanne

e) Bern

02- ______________is Switzerland's least-used national language in terms of number of speakers.

a)Spanish

b) Romansch

c) German

d) French

e) Italian

03- The Swiss Confederation consists of __________________cantons.

a) twenty four

b) twenty five

c) twenty six

d) twenty seven

e) twenty eight

04- Switzerland is bordered by ___________countries.

a) nine

b) eight

c) seven

d) five                                                                                                                                                        

e) six                                                                                                                                           

05- _______________is Switzerland's most-used national language in terms of number

of speakers.

a) Romansch

b) French

c) Spanish

d) Italian

e) German         

UK

            The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country located in Europe. It is an island nation. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United kingdom with a land border with another sovereign state, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland.

Dublin is the Irish capital and most populous city of Ireland. Guinness has been brewed at the St. James's Gate Brewery since 1759. Great Britain is linked to continental Europe by the Channel Tunnel.

            The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. London is the capital of England. It has five international airport and forty three universities. The London Underground network is the oldest underground railway network in the world. Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh are the capitals of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland respectively.

            The flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Flag (also referred to as the Union Jack).

                    TEXT COMPREHENSION

01- Northern Ireland borders ______________.

a) France

b) Germany

c) Spain

d) the Republic of Ireland

e) Italy

02- Edinburgh is the capital city of ______________.

a) Northern Ireland

b) Republic of Ireland

c) England

d) Wales            

e) Scotland

03- Check the correct alternative.

a) London has 4 international airport

b) Cardiff is the capital city of Scotland

c) The Union Flag is the United Kingdom flag

d) Belfast is the capital city of the Republic of Ireland

e) London has 42 universities

 04- Guinness is a brewery in

a) England

b) Wales

c) Scotland

d) the Republic of Ireland

e) Northern Ireland

05- The capital city of Scotland is _____________.

a) Edinburgh

b) Dublin

c) Cardiff

d) Belfast

e) Glasbow

06- The capital city of the Republic of Ireland is ______.

a) Belfast

b) Cardiff

c) Edinburgh

d) London

e) Dublin