Fill in the gaps. use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given. as i was talking to my grandfather the other day | realised that things couldn't 1) easy for him when he was at school. he 2) to wako up at 6: 30 every day and grab something to eat. unlike me, he didn't have his breakfast (proparo) and waiting on the table for him as his parents were already out working in the fields at that time. also, his school was 5 km away and there was no public transport. so he 4) to make the whole distance 5) foot, come rain or shino. in the afternoon, he would return home exhausted, but he still found the enorgy to focus 6) schoolwork. on top of that, he 7) (oblige) to holp around the house and do some farm work every day. despite the difficulties, grandpa told me that he 8) (never/miss) a single day of school. i really admire him for 9) ) so determined. all i know is that if i had been in his shoes, i 10) (complain) every single day!

The head of Scotland 

The head of Scotland is the English monarch – Queen Elizabeth II. It has been in political union with England since the beginning of the 18thcentury.

The official flag of the country consists of a white cross on a blue background and is known as St. Andrew’s Cross.  

Scottish towns

They say that Scottish towns differ from the English ones. Their distinct features are cobblestone streets, medieval style houses, green parks and plenty of historic architecture.The financial and industrial center of the country is Glasgow. Other major cities include Perth, Aberdeen, Livingstone and Dundee. 

Cultural heritage

Scotland is well-known for its Loch Ness monster, delicious haggis and traditional festivals.

Perhaps, everyone in the world has heard of the famous writer and poet Robert Burns. He was the first person to write songs about the Scottish Highlands and their breathtaking views. It is significant that the highest mountain of the British Isles, Ben Nevis, is also situated in Scotland.

Public holidays

Scottish people like all kinds of celebrations. Their most favourite public holidays are Christmas and New Year. On the last day of the year they celebrate Hogmanay. It used to be a pagan holiday to welcome the winter solstice.

There are many special customs and rituals for this holiday, among them fireball swinging, street carnivals, singing and dancing, storytelling and eating tasty goodies.

Popular among tourists

Every year thousands of tourists visit Scotland to see its sights and to participate in local festivals. It’s a suitable country for students as well. Those, who study English, often participate in international exchange programs to learn more about the local peculiarities.

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, located on the British Isles. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh, famous for its castles. Glasgow is the industrial capital of Scotland. It is the third largest city in the UK. Golf is a Scottish national game and it originated in this country. And, of course, everyone knows about the Loch Ness monster. They say, "Nessie" has a length of about six meters and a long thin neck. Scotland is also a country of myths and mysteries; every castle has its own ghost.