In the news: Scotland

The future of Scotland is being decided today as a referendum on whether it should be an independent country takes place. Scotland is a country located in the north of Great Britain and is part of the United Kingdom. Scotland has been completely merged with England to form the UK since 1707.

Across Scotland voters will answer yes or no to the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" Only people living in Scotland are allowed to vote in the referendum. The 'Yes' and 'No' campaigns have been neck-and-neck in the polls. Those who want independence believe the people who live in Scotland are the best people to run the country rather than a government based in London.

The ‘No’ campaign says and independent Scotland would be weaker on the world stage and would have to raise taxes to pay for institutions and services it currently shares with England.

If Scotland votes for independence the official split is scheduled for March 2016.

Now choose the definition for each of the following words:

• 1) Referendum means:
  
  The act of controlling somebody or something
  Facts or details about a subject
  When all the people of a country can vote on an important issue
  
  
• 2) Independent means:
  
  Changes created by politicians
  Not controlled or ruled by anyone else
  Not ruled by a king or queen
  
  
• 3) Voters means:
  
  The people we vote for
  The people who count votes
  The people who vote
  
  
• 4) Neck-and-neck means
  
  Very angry
  Very close together
  Very hardworking
  
  
• 5) Polls means
  
  The media of a country
  A way of making decisions
  A way of getting general opinions
  
  
• 6) Government
  
  The people who live in a country
  The people who work in a country
  The people who run a country