Compare how Britain and America are governed, and master the passive voice along the way.
Read the text carefully, then answer the comprehension questions using the dropdown menus.
Although the United Kingdom and the United States share a language and a long history, their systems of government are very different.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the country has a king or queen as head of state, but real political power is held by Parliament. Laws are made by Parliament, which is divided into two houses: the House of Commons, whose members are elected by the people, and the House of Lords. The leader of the government is the Prime Minister, who is normally the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons. The UK does not have a single written constitution; instead, its rules have been developed over many centuries.
The United States, in contrast, is a federal republic with a written constitution that was signed in 1787. The head of state is the President, who is elected by the people every four years and is both head of state and head of government. Power is divided between the federal government in Washington and the fifty individual states. Laws are made by Congress, which, like the British Parliament, has two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. A system of "checks and balances" is used so that no single person or group can become too powerful.
1 The UK is a constitutional .
2 In the UK, real political power is held by .
3 Members of the House of Commons are .
4 The leader of the UK government is the .
5 The US Constitution was signed in .
6 In the USA, the head of state is the .
7 In the USA, power is divided between the federal government and the fifty .
8 The system that stops anyone becoming too powerful is called .
In formal texts about politics, the passive is very common because the action matters more than who does it. Choose the correct passive form for each gap.
1 In the UK, laws by Parliament.
2 The US Constitution in 1787.
3 After an election, the Prime Minister by the King to form a government.
4 Members of the House of Commons by the people.
5 Last year, a new law to protect the environment.
6 The American President every four years.
7 Many important decisions in Washington.
8 The White House in the late 18th century.
Read each active sentence, then choose the correct passive version. Keep the same tense!
1 The people elect the President.
→ The President
by the people.
2 Parliament makes the laws.
→ The laws
by Parliament.
3 Congress passed the law in 2020.
→ The law
by Congress in 2020.
4 They will hold an election next year.
→ An election
next year.
5 The government has increased taxes.
→ Taxes
by the government.
6 Workers built the Capitol in 1800.
→ The Capitol
in 1800.
7 The King opens Parliament every year.
→ Parliament
by the King every year.
8 People speak English in both countries.
→ English
in both countries.
Write a paragraph (80–120 words) explaining how Germany is governed, OR giving your opinion on whether it is better to have a president or a monarch as head of state. Use at least three passive sentences.
Review your answers below, then send them to your teacher.
Click the button below to send your answers directly to your teacher.