The British Isles – Scotland
October 25, 2025
🏴 THE BRITISH ISLES – SCOTLAND
🧠 Vocabulary to Learn
| English | Pronunciation | Lithuanian |
|---|---|---|
| agriculture | /ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃə/ | žemdirbystė |
| astronomy | /əsˈtrɒnəmɪ/ | astronomija |
| cattle-breeding | /ˈkætl ˈbriːdɪŋ/ | gyvulininkystė |
| confluence | /ˈkɒnfluəns/ | santaka |
| geography | /dʒɪˈɒɡrəfɪ/ | geografija |
| inhabitant | /ɪnˈhæbɪtənt/ | gyventojas |
| meridian | /məˈrɪdɪən/ | dienovidinis |
| peak | /piːk/ | viršūnė |
| peninsula | /pəˈnɪnsjələ/ | pusiasalis |
| population | /ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən/ | gyventojai |
| telescope | /ˈtelɪskəʊp/ | teleskopas |
| valley | /ˈvælɪ/ | slėnis |
| vegetable-farming | /ˈvedʒtəbl ˈfɑːmɪŋ/ | daržininkystė |
📖 Text – Scotland
There are many rivers in Scotland, but they are not very long.
The longest and most beautiful one is the Clyde River.
Pines and birches grow in the territory of Scotland. Summers are not always warm enough, and cherries or apples often do not ripen there.
That is why there are so many greenhouses in some parts of Scotland.
A thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. Long ago, the Norsemen landed on the eastern coast, planning to occupy the country and take the Scots by surprise.
At night, they took off their shoes to move quietly. One Norseman stepped on a thistle and cried out in pain. The Scots heard the noise and fought back — the enemy ran away.
At the beginning of the sixth century, the Scots founded a settlement there.
🎶 Culture – Love Will Find a Way
Scotland is famous for its traditional costume — the kilt.
Men wear this short pleated skirt made of colourful tartan cloth when walking through wet moorlands.
The bagpipes are a national musical instrument.
🗣️ Vocabulary
| English | Pronunciation | Lithuanian |
|---|---|---|
| pine | /paɪn/ | pušis |
| birch | /bɜːtʃ/ | beržas |
| thistle | /ˈθɪsl/ | usnis |
| Norseman | /ˈnɔːsmən/ | senovės skandinavas |
| Scot | /skɒt/ | škotas |
| costume | /ˈkɒstjuːm/ | kostiumas |
| kilt | – | škotų sijonas |
| pleated | /ˈpliːtɪd/ | klostuotas |
| tartan | /ˈtɑːtn/ | languota medžiaga |
| moorland | /ˈmʊələnd/ | viržynas |
| bagpipes | /ˈbæɡpaɪps/ | dūdmaišiai |
| settlement | /ˈsetlmənt/ | gyvenvietė |
✅ All facts and grammar are correct.
⚠️ Note: “Bagpipes are a national musical instrument.” (plural noun – verb are)
Exercises
Exercise 1Fill in the blanks
Complete the sentences with words from the lesson.
- The longest river in Scotland is the __.
- Summers are not always __ in Scotland.
- The national emblem of Scotland is the __.
- Men wear the __ made of tartan cloth.
- The __ are the national musical instrument of Scotland.
Exercise 2Choose the correct answer
Choose the correct answer.
-
The Clyde is:
- a) a mountain
- b) a river
- c) a valley
-
The thistle became a national emblem because:
- a) It is a beautiful flower.
- b) It helped the Scots avoid attack.
- c) It grows in every garden.
-
The kilt is made of:
- a) silk
- b) tartan
- c) linen
-
The bagpipes:
- a) is a musical instrument
- b) are a musical instrument
- c) were a musical instrument
Exercise 3True or False
Write T or F.
- The rivers in Scotland are very long.
- Cherries and apples ripen easily in Scotland.
- The Scots heard the Norsemen because of a thistle.
- The kilt is a traditional Scottish costume.
- The bagpipes are still played today.
Exercise 4Match the pairs
Match the words with their meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| thistle | national flower of Scotland |
| kilt | traditional Scottish skirt |
| tartan | checked cloth pattern |
| Norseman | ancient Scandinavian |
| bagpipes | Scottish musical instrument |
Exercise 5Word formation
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets.
- The Scots built a small __ there. (settle)
- Summers are not very __ in Scotland. (warm)
- The national __ of Scotland is the thistle. (symbolic)
- The Norsemen tried to __ the country. (occupy)
- A kilt is a part of Scottish __ costume. (tradition)
Exercise 6Fill with prepositions
Complete with the correct prepositions.
- The Norsemen landed __ the eastern coast.
- They wanted to take the Scots __ surprise.
- The thistle grew __ the grass.
- Men wear kilts __ walking through moorlands.
- The Scots opened fire __ the enemies.
Exercise 7Short answers
Answer briefly.
- What is the national emblem of Scotland?
- Why did the Norsemen take off their shoes?
- What is the kilt made of?
- What do the bagpipes represent?
- What trees grow in Scotland?
Exercise 8Sentence building
Put the words in the correct order.
- the / emblem / is / thistle / Scotland’s / of
- kilt / wear / Scots / the / men / traditional
- by / they / the / heard / noise / Scots / the
- bagpipes / are / Scottish / national / instrument / a
- land / the / Norsemen / coast / the / on / eastern
Exercise 9Fill in the correct verb forms
Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
- The Norsemen __ (land) on the eastern coast.
- The Scots __ (hear) the cry and opened fire.
- The enemy __ (run) away.
- A settlement __ (build) there in the sixth century.
- The bagpipes __ (be) popular even today.
Exercise 10Writing task
Write 5–6 sentences describing Scotland.
Include its rivers, plants, and national symbols such as the thistle, kilt, and bagpipes.