Q: Scotland (; Scots: ; ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It shares a border with England to the south, and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the south-west. In addition to the mainland, the country is made up of more than 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.

The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent sovereign state in the Early Middle Ages and continued to exist until 1707. By inheritance in 1603, James VI, King of Scots, became King of England and King of Ireland, thus forming a personal union of the three kingdoms. Scotland subsequently entered into a political union with the Kingdom of England on 1 May 1707 to create the new Kingdom of Great Britain. The union also created a new Parliament of Great Britain, which succeeded both the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England. In 1801, Great Britain itself entered into a political union with the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Within Scotland, the monarchy of the United Kingdom has continued to use a variety of styles, titles and other royal symbols of statehood specific to the pre-union Kingdom of Scotland. The legal system within Scotland has also remained separate from those of England and Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in both public and private law. The continued existence of legal, educational, religious and other institutions distinct from those in the remainder of the UK have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and national identity since the 1707 union with England.

Answer the following questions:
1. when did scotland become an independent state?
2. what is it part of?
3. where was James VI the king?
4. how did he become king?
5. when?
6. who joined to create great britian?
7. what percentage of the island is Scotland?
8. what contributes to the national identity of Scotland?
9. when was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland formed?
10. what is scotland surrounded by?
A: 1. in the Early Middle Ages
2. the Kingdom of Great Britain
3. Scotland, England, and Ireland
4. By inheritance.
5. in 1603
6. Scotland and the Kingdom of England
7. one third
8. The continued existence of distinctly Scottish legal, educational, religious and other institutions
9. In 1801
10. the Atlantic Ocean

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Fifty-three years ago Barbie Millicent Roberts first appeared in the world of toys. Since then, Barbie doll, as everyone called her, has become the most successful toy doll in history. Her parent, the Mattel Company, said that 90% of all American girls between 3 and 10 have at least one Barbie at home. However, Barbie is facing some trouble at present . There are many similar dolls on the market in competition with her. Another doll named Bratz, for example, came to life thirteen years ago. She looks more like today's pop stars with heavy makeup and miniskirts. And her company offers more kinds of clothes too. It seems that Barbie has lost her magic among older girls. 'For younger girls, playing with a Barbie is much fun. But when you get older, you want something smarter and more modern,' says Vera Shepherd, a shop assistant in a New York toy store. It is good news that on the international market, Barbie is still No. 1. Although Mattel is selling fewer barbie in the United States these years, sales in other countries are still going up. In January 2009, Mattel opened its first Barbie store in Shanghai, where girls can shop, eat, drink or even become _ for their own Barbies. Mattel is planning big celebrations for Barbie's 53rd birthday. She has called Fashion designers from all over the world to make new dresses for Barbie. How long will Barbie stay popular in the world of toy dolls? It is hard to say, but 53 is surely not the age to retire .

1. Who makes the doll?
2. What is her full name?
3. How old is she?
4. Is she still popular in the United States?
5. Is she still popular elsewhere?
6. What did Mattel do in response to her international popularity?
7. When did they open it?
8. What can girls do there?
9. Is the company planning anything for Barbie's birthday?
10. Who have they invited?
11. What did they ask them to do?
12. Who does Mattel say own the most dolls?
13. Does Barbie have competition?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Mattel
2. Barbie Millicent Roberts
3. Fifty-three
4. yes
5. yes
6. opened a store in Shanghai
7. January 2009
8. shop, eat, drink or become _ for their own Barbies
9. planning big celebrations
10. Fashion designers from all over the world
11. make new dresses for Barbie
12. American girls between 3 and 10
13. yes

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Kindergarten (; from German , which literally means "garden for the children") is a preschool educational approach traditionally based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. At first such institutions were created in the late 18th century in Bavaria and Strasbourg to serve children whose parents both worked out of the home. The term was coined by the German Friedrich Frobel, whose approach globally influenced early-years education. Today, the term is used in many countries to describe a variety of educational institutions and learning spaces for children ranging from two to seven years of age, based on a variety of teaching methods.

In 1779, Johann Friedrich Oberlin and Louise Scheppler founded in Strasbourg an early establishment for caring for and educating pre-school children whose parents were absent during the day. At about the same time, in 1780, similar infant establishments were established in Bavaria. In 1802, Princess Pauline zur Lippe established a preschool center in Detmold, the capital of the then principality of Lippe, Germany (now in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia).

In 1816, Robert Owen, a philosopher and pedagogue, opened the first British and probably globally the first infants school in New Lanark, Scotland. In conjunction with his venture for cooperative mills Owen wanted the children to be given a good moral education so that they would be fit for work. His system was successful in producing obedient children with basic literacy and numeracy.

1. what happened in 1802?
2. where?
3. which country was this?
4. what is the article about?
5. is this an English word?
6. then what?
7. what does it mean?
8. is it still being used today?
9. where?
10. when were kindergartens first made?
11. where?
12. what was their purpose then?
13. is that the same purpose today?
14. then what?
15. when was the first infant school?
16. where?
17. was this the first one globally?
18. was it the first anywhere?
19. where?
20. What was his goal?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. Princess Pauline zur Lippe established a preschool
2. Detmold
3. Germany
4. Kindergarten
5. No
6. German
7. garden for the children
8. yes
9. in many countries
10. late 18th century
11. Bavaria and Strasbourg
12. to serve children whose parents both worked out of the home
13. no
14. it's a learning space for children ranging from two to seven years of age
15. 1816
16. New Lanark, Scotland
17. probably
18. yes
19. British
20. he wanted the children to be given a good moral education