Wales
Country
Nick Smith; http://commons.wikimedia.com; CC BY 2.0
 Wales is a country which forms one of the components of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain. Wales is 20,779 sq km (8,022 sq mi) in size, and has a population of around 3 million people (2011 estimate). The capital and largest city is Cardiff.
Nick Smith; http://commons.wikimedia.com; CC BY 2.0
Wales is bordered by England to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to the west. It has a 1,200-km coastline, inclusive of its offshore islands, the largest of which, Anglesey, is also the largest island in the Irish Sea.

Wales is a mountainous country. Its highest mountain is Snowdon, which is 1,085m (3,560 ft) above sea level. The country is divided into 22 council areas responsible for local government services.
Texts by Timothy Tye; http://www.my-world-travelguides.com/wales.htm; CC BY-SA 3.0
History
Wales was once an independent, though rarely unified nation, but when King Edward I defeated Llywelyn the Last in 1282, the nation fell under the jurisdiction of England. At first, it was ruled as a separate country, but since has been part of a changing Union, which currently consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Prior to the industrial revolution, Wales was a sparsely populated country dependent on local agricultural trade. However, due to the abundance of coal in the South Wales valleys, there was a phenomenal growth in population and a dynamic shift in the economy of South Wales during the 18th and 19th centuries. The areas of central Glamorgan, in particular, became national centers for coal mining and steel production, while the ports of Cardiff and Swansea established themselves as commercial centers, offering banking, shopping and insurance facilities. Moreover, places on the north coast, such as Rhyl and Llandudno, developed into fun-fair type resorts serving the expanding populations of the major industrial cities of Lancashire.
In recent years, coal mining has ceased and heavy industry declined. However, Wales' stunning scenery and rich history has lent itself to the development of tourism, while at the same time, Cardiff and Swansea have retained their rankings as centers of commerce and cutting-edge industry. A blue class super computer installed at Swansea University is enhancing Wales' standing in this respect.
Tasks
1.	Read the text carefully.
2.	Look up words you don't know with your partner in a dictionary or online.
3.	Prepare 8 to 10 questions for your classmates to answer after they've read the text.
4.	Prepare a sheat with answers to your questions so your fellow students can check their answers.
Text: http://wikitravel.org/en/Wales; CC BY-SA 3.0