Sara Ribotta's English Corner: 5A RIM Test Preparation

Study Guide

PATH: UK Geography (cf pp 314,315,354,355 and notes)

What does the expression “British Isles” refer to?

What countries does the UK include?

How big is the UK?

Where is the capital city of the UK situated?

What country in the UK is the least densely populated?

What country in the UK is the most densely populated?

Why are Bristol and Leeds considered important industrial and financial hubs in the UK?

Where is Bristol located?

What industries are based in Bristol?

Why is Bristol considered an industrial centre in the UK?

Why is Bristol considered a popular tourist destination?

Where is Leeds located?

What is Leeds famous for?

Why is Leeds considered a popular tourist destination?

How many people live in the UK?

What is the official religion in the UK?

Where do the majority of UK immigrants come from?

In what way has the family unit changed in the UK in the last few years?

2. PATH: UK Economy (cf pp 376-380, 139 and notes)

What sector employs 86% of the workforce in the UK?
What sector employs 8% of the workforce in the UK?
What is the fastest growing industry in terms of employment in the UK?

How does the UK oil industry rank compared to the rest of Europe?
How does the UK gas industry rank compared to the rest of Europe?
Where are the main UK oil and gas industries located?
In what way are investments in renewable energy sources on the increase in the UK?
What are the principal products of the agricultural industry in the UK?
What is the main cereal cultivated in the UK?
Where are the most densely wooded areas in the UK?
How many people are employed in the forestry?
How does the UK fishing industry rank compared to the rest of Europe?
Where are the main fishing areas in the UK?

How many people work in the manufacturing sector?
What share of the UK’s GDP is represented by manufacturing?
What are the 3 biggest manufacturing industries in the UK?
What new kinds of manufacturing companies are entering the market?
What effects has globalization had on the UK manufacturing industry?

What share of the UK’s GDP is represented by the tertiary sector?
What share of the UK’s workforce is employed in the tertiary sector?
What are the 5 main industries in the tertiary sector?

What are the three UK’s top trading partners for the year 2014?

3. PATH: International Trade (cf 138, 146, 144, 140-141 and notes)

What are the three main reasons for trading internationally?
What are the risks associated with trading internationally?
What is a trading bloc?
How do governments control imports and exports?
How do embargoes restrict free trade?
What is the role of HM Revenue and Customs?
What is an economic indicator?
What are the most important economic indicators?
What are the main aims of economic indicators?
What institutions are economic indicators used by?
What does the Gross Domestic Product represent?
What does the consumer price index measure?

4. PATH: UK Political System (cf pp 398-400, 402 and notes)

What type of political system runs the UK?
Who is the head of State?
What are the monarch’s governing powers restricted by?
What is the British constitution formed by?

What is the role of the Parliament?
What parts is the Parliament composed of?
Where does the business of the Parliament take place?
What is the function of the House of Commons?
How is it possible for a candidate to be elected as an MP in the House of Commons?
What is the function of the House of Lords?
What is the function of the monarch in the legislative branch of the political system of the UK?
When did Devolution in the UK take place?
What is the Cabinet and who is the Cabinet formed by?
Where does the Cabinet meet?
What is the role of the Cabinet?
What political party can form the government?
Who is the head of the executive branch of the political system of the UK?
Who is the Prime Minister?
How is it possible to become Prime Minister?
What is the role of the Prime Minister?
Who chooses the ministers and who appoints them?

What is the current voting system in the UK?
When are usually general elections held in the UK and in what case is not this rule respected?

What are the main political parties in the UK?
What is the political position of the Labour Party?
Who is its current leader?
What is the political position of the Conservative Party?
Who is its current leader?

5. PATH: International Organisations (cf pp 414, 404-406, 231, 416, 155, 154 and notes)

What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
How many people are there in the Commonwealth of Nations?
Who is the head of the Commonwealth of Nations?
What do all the members of the Commonwealth of Nations have in common?
What does the Commonwealth of Nations promote?

What treaty established the European Union?
When was the European Union established?
What institutions is the legislative branch of the European Union formed by?
What are the key functions of the European Parliament?
Who are the members of the European Parliament elected by?
What are the key functions of the Council of the European Union?
What institution is the executive branch of the European Union formed by?
What are the key functions of the European Commission?
Who are the European Commissioners appointed by?
What institution is the judicial branch of the European Union formed by?
What are they key functions of the Court of Justice of the European Union?
What is the European System of Central Banks?
What are its basic tasks?
What are the three main issues which the European Union is facing nowadays?
What is Brexit?
Why did the UK call for a referendum on UK’s EU membership?
When was the referendum held?
Who headed the “Leave” campaign and who headed the “Remain” campaign?
What were the key issues of the campaigners in the weeks leading up to the referendum?
What were the results of the vote?
When did the Brexit process start?
What are the most important issues that UK and EU must settle?
What are the 3 possible scenarios?

What is the UN?
When did the United Nations officially come into existence?
How many member countries does it count?
When did Britain become a member country?
When did Italy become a member country?
What are the 3 main goals of the UN?
What are its main institutions?
Where are the UN headquarters located?
Which institution carries out the day to day running of the UN?
Who is the current Secretary General of the United Nation?
Who appoints the Secretary General of the United Nations?
What is the main function of the General Assembly?
What is the main function of the Security Council?
Which institution passes judgment upon disputes between states?
What are the 6 official languages used at the UN?
Who is a Goodwill Ambassador?
What is the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees?
Which agency of the UN looks after the interests of the children in the world?
What is the main goal of the World Food Programme?
What is the main goal of the United Nations Environment Programme?
What is the role of the UNESCO?
What does the Agenda 2030 consist of?
What is the main aim of the 17 sustainable development goals?

When and where did the UN Bretton Woods Conference take place?
What did the delegates discuss about?
Which two international organisations were established during the UN Bretton Woods Conference?
What is the International Monetary Found?
How many member states make up the IMF?
Who is the current Managing Director of the IMF?
Where are its headquarters located?
What does the IMF promote?
What are the main functions of the IMF?
What is the World Bank?
Who were the founders of the World Bank?
What is the aim of the World Bank?
What are its main functions?
What is the World Trade Organisation?
How many member states make up the WTO?
Who is the current Director-General of the WTO?
Where are its headquarters located?
What is the main aim of the WTO?
What are its main areas of activity?
What principle is behind the WTO and its operations?
What are its main functions?

What is a trading bloc?
What is the main purpose of a trading bloc?
What is the European Free Trade Association?
What are its member states?
What is its mission?
What is the North American Free Trade Agreement?
What are its member states?
What is its mission?
What is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries?
What are its member states?
What is its mission?
What is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation?
What are its member states?
What is its mission?
What is the Mercado Comun del Sur?
What are its member states?
What is its mission?
What is the Association of South-East Asian Nations?
What are its member states?
What is its mission?

6. PATH: Globalization (cf pp 276-281, 286 and notes)

What is globalisation?
What is the KOF Index of Globalisation?
According to the KOF Index of Globalization, what are the three dimensions of globalisation?
What does each dimension consist of?
Is globalisation a recent phenomenon? Why? Why not?
What are some examples of early globalisation?
What were the two historical waves of modern globalisation?
What events have fostered globalisation in the 1990s?
What do you know about the Cold War?
In what way is the flow of information affected by globalisation?
In what way is culture affected by globalisation?
In what way is language affected by globalisation?
What does economic globalisation consist of?
What factors have fostered the phenomenon known as economic globalisation?
What are the four main players in the economic globalisation?
What issues does Robert Guest examine in his book “Borderless Economics”?
In what way are health issues affected by globalisation?
According to Bill Gates, what is the most likely cause of a global catastrophe?
What do you know about the Ebola outbreak and epidemic in 2014?
Can you outline Bill Gates's analysis of the Ebola outbreak and epidemic in 2014? What does he state?
What are the two main points of view on globalisation?
What are 3 convincing advantages of globalisation?
What are 3 convincing disadvantages of globalisation?
What opportunities does globalisation create for developing countries?
What threats does globalisation create for developing countries?
What opportunities does globalisation create for developed countries?
What threats does globalisation create for developed countries?
How could globalisation diminish the threat of war between countries?
What are the possible consequences of globalisation on the environment?
What is global sustainability?
What does the model known as “sustainable development” consist of?
What is its main aim?
What is its main advantage?
What does the model known as “de-growth” consist of?
What is its main aim?
What is its main advantage?