Study the following text. Great Britain is highly developed industrial capitalist country

Great Britain is highly developed industrial capitalist country. It is a member of the Common Market. Before the Second World War the country was an old naval powerful state. After the war Great Britain has lost almost all its colonies, some of them feel under the influence of the USA, others obtained independence.

During the last decades there has been a great change in the structure of British industry. The main British exports were coal and textiles. But now British export of machinery, vehicles and electrical goods has greatly increased. Many new branches of industry have developed: such as the production of motor cars, radio and television sets and others.

There is no variety mineral resources in the country, but coal deposits take the 6^th place in the world. Coal-mining is one of the oldest industries together with ship-building and cotton industries. In the centre of England there is a district called the Black country. From here coal and iron are brought to many industrial cities.

Recently deposits of oil and natural-gas have been found in the British sector of the North Sea. Production of oil from offshore wells in the North Sea began in 1975, and the country is self-sufficient in petroleum. Other mineral resources include iron ore, tin, limestone, salt, china clay, oil shale, gypsum, and lead.

The country's main exports are manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, food and beverages, and tobacco. The main imports are manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, and foodstuffs. The United States, Germany, France, and the Netherlands are the main trading partners, and the Commonwealth countries are also important.

Britain has a large and sophisticated service sector. The service industries include finance, retailing, wholesaling, tourism, business services, transport, insurance, investment, advertising, public relations, market research, education, administration, and government and professional services. Telecommunications has become a dynamic growth industry, particularly with telex, facsimile, and e-mail communications

Sheffield is the centre of steel industry. Everything one needs in life is manufactured in Birmingham. Manchester is a textile centre. Liverpool is an important part as well as London. Clydeside and Belfast are famous for their ship-building.

Today the development of British industry is destroyed by the extreme expansion of the military sector in it. One-third of the budget has been devoted to arms expenditure. Military industry receives more state funds.

Four-fifth (4/5) of the land is devoted to agriculture. It provides employment for more than 1 million people. The main branch of British agriculture is dairy-farming. Milk and milk products are famous all over the world. The main grain crops are wheat and barley. But a number of agricultural products is still imported.

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