1 The Romans came to England for the first time in August 55 B.C.
2 The original name of the British capital was Londinium. By the year 400, there were 50,000 people in the city.
3 The Romans left Britain soon after 400.
4 William the Conqueror came to England from Normandy in 1066. He built the White Tower in the Tower of London because he was afraid of the people of London.
5 The Great Fire of London started in the bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire lasted five days. One-third of London was destroyed and about 100,000 people were made homeless.
6 It may have been caused by a spark from the baker's oven falling onto a pile of fuel nearby.
7 The official name of Great Britain is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
8 When people say "Great Britain" they mean the United Kingdom.
9 Great Britain consists of Wales (Cardiff), England (London), and Scotland (Edinburgh).
10 The narrowest part of the English Channel is called the Strait of Dover.
11 No, they aren't. The people who were born in Britain are British.
12 The Union Jack consists of three heraldic crosses: the cross of St George, patron saint of England (a red cross on a white ground); the cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, (a diagonal white cross on a blue ground); the cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, (a diagonal red cross on a white ground). The Union Jack symbolizes unity as well as diversity.
13 The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of countries most of whom were formerly part of the British Empire. The most prominent of these, apart from Britain itself, are Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan and New Zealand, but the Commonwealth also includes a number of African, South-East Asian and Caribbean states. Some countries, like Mozambique, have no connection with the British Empire.
14 The power in the UK belongs to the Queen.
15 In the UK laws are made by the Parliament.
Write the following sentences in the passive voice
1. People eat 40 million hamburgers every day.
40 million hamburgers are eaten every day.
2. Mark's mother raised him in a small town.
Mark was raised by his mother in a small town.
3. They are building a new road near my house.
A new road is being built near my house.
4. We will have signed the deal by this time next week.
The deal will have been signed by us by this time next week.
5. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928.
6. When did they translate this book into English?
When was this book translated into English?
7. Some dangerous looking men followed me home.
I was followed home by some dangerous looking men.
8. The students all have to read, "Lord of the Flies" for their exam.
"Lord of the Flies" has to be read by all the students for their exam.
active or passive
1. The company was shut down by the police. - passive
2. She is writing the reports now. - active
3. Someone has broken our window! - active
4. The delicious meal was enjoyed by everyone. - passive
5. The litter was all picked up by the children. - passive
6. The farm workers will soon milk the cows. - active
7. The teacher read a story to her class. - active
8. The story was enjoyed by all the children. - passive
9. My mother has cleaned the whole house. - active
10. That car looks like it has never been washed! - passive
11. This year's budget has not been approved yet. - passive
12. The school secretary opens the mail every morning. - active
13. Those children have all been very well brought up. - passive
14. A new home has been found for the stray dog. - passive
15. The police arrested the criminals. - active
16. The shoplifter stole many items from the shop. - active
