1. Найдите и выпишите все слова, связанные со следующими темами: a)climate b) industry c) government.
2. Прочитайте текст и напишите его краткое изложение (5–6 предложений, иллюстрирующих основные идеи текста).
Russia
I. The official name of our country is the Russian Federation. It is the largest country in the world. No other country equals it in size. Our country is situated both in Europe and Asia. Its total area is over 17 million square kilometers.
Our land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are the seas of the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. In the south and in the west our country borders on 14 states. It also has sea borders with the USA and Japan.
The country has a great variety of flora and fauna. There are numerous forests, endless plains and steppes, taiga and tundra, highlands and deserts on the Russian territory. The country’s highest mountains are the Caucasus, the Altai and the Urals.
In the Russian Federation there are over 2 million rivers. The longest of them are the Volga, the Lena, the Yenisei, the Ob, the Amur and some others. Our Motherland is also rich in lakes (over 200 000 lakes), with the deepest, oldest and unique lake of sweet (fresh) water in the world, the Baikal, included.
On the Russian territory there are 11 time zones. Due to the vast territory, the climate conditions are rather different: from arctic and mild to continental and subtropical.
Russia is one of the richest in the natural resources countries in the world: oil, gas, coal, different ores, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other minerals. It is also one of the highly developed agro-industrial powers in the world. The main industrial branches comprise aerospace, aircraft, atomic, machine building, ship building, automobile, chemical, coal-mining, metallurgical, electrical-engineering, textile, food and some others.
II. The Russian Federation is a constitutional state headed by the President. It comprises over 80 subjects: two cities of the federal status (Moscow and St. Petersburg), several autonomous republics, provinces (krais), regions (oblasts) and some autonomous districts (okrugs), each having equal rights.
The state powers are divided among the legislative, executive and judicial branches which are independent of one another.
The legislative power belongs to the Russian Parliament, called the Federal Assembly, consisting of two Chambers: the Council of the Federation (the Upper Chamber) and the State Duma (the Lower Chamber). Each Chamber is headed by the Speaker.
The executive power belongs to the President and our country Government (the Cabinet of Ministers) headed by the Prime Minister. The country Prime Minister is appointed by the President and approved by the State Duma.
The judicial power belongs to the system of courts: the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, as well as federal and regional courts.
The state language of the Russian Federation is Russian. The national symbols of our country are the white-blue-red Flag (Tricolour) and the Golden Two-Headed (or Bicephalous) Eagle.
Russia is a multinational state. It is a unique country hosting a great variety (over 150) of nationalities, nations, ethnic groups, cultures and epochs. It ranks sixth in the world in population after China, India, the USA, Indonesia and Brazil. According to the last census, our country population is about 150 million. Our country has a multiparty system. The most influential and largest political parties are the United Russia, the Liberal Democratic, the Communist and some others.
The foreign policy of the Russian Federation is that of international cooperation, peace and friendship with all the nations of the Globe, irrespective of their political and social systems.
The role of the Russian Federation in the today’s world is great and extremely significant. Being the major source of raw materials for many countries of the Globe, Russia is also an important mechanism of developing these countries’ economies.
In addition, due to its immense territory, our unique country is a bridge connecting Europe and Asia. It is able to provide more than 7% of the world’s transport corridor to transit various cargoes from Europe to Asia and backwards.
II. Прочитайте новые слова и их перевод:
| State – государство To be returned – быть возвращенным To be situated – находиться, располагаться Bank – берег (реки) Seat – зд. местонахождение Light industry – легкая промышленность Fatherland – отечество | Establishment – организация, учреждение Numerous – многочисленный Remarkable– замечательный, выдающийся Variety – разнообразие Epoch – эпоха Marvelous – изумительный, удивительный Unforgettable – незабываемый Monument – памятник |
1. Посмотрите на новые слова в течение минуты, затем закройте их и попытайтесь вспомнить как можно больше слов с переводом.
2. Прочитайте текст и скажите, чем примечательна наша столица.
Moscow
The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow. It is the main city of our Motherland, its political, cultural and economic center. And it is also one of the largest and most beautiful cities on the Globe.
Moscow is over 850 years old. It was founded in 1147 by the Russian Prince Yuri Dolgoruky and in the XVI century it became the capital of our state.
In 1712 Peter the Great moved the capital of our countryto St. Petersburg. However after the October Revolution Moscow was returned its status as the state capital. In fact, it has always been the heart of our land.
At present Moscow is a large modern city. It is situated on the banks of the river Moskva. More than 12 million people live in it now. Moscow is the seat of the Russian Federation Government and the center of our country political life. The President of our state lives and works here.
Moscow is the largest industrial center of Russia. Its major industries are automobile, engineering, textile, light, chemical and some others.
The city is also the largest scientific and educational center of our Fatherland. Having got over 100 higher educational establishments, Moscow is known as the city of students. It is also one of the biggest publishing centers in the world.
Moscow is famous for its wonderful theatres, with the Bolshoi, the Maly and the Arts theatres included. Its numerous museums and galleries are remarkable for the greatest variety of styles, historic epochs and national art schools: the Museum of Moscow History, the Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Andrey Rublev Museum of Early Russian Arts and many others, over 80 museums all together.
The city is also known as one of the biggest centers of the world cinema industry due to its famous Film Studios and International Film festivals.
Every day Moscow attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. They are eager to visit the capital’s places of interest: the Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, the ancient Kremlin with marvelous Cathedrals, unique Tsar-Cannon and Tsar-Bell, unforgettable Russian churches, museums and galleries, the Exhibition of Achievements and numerous monuments.
3. Перечитайте текст и скажите, верны ли следующие утверждения. Приведите доказательства из текста.
1. Moscow is the heart of our state.
2. It is a rather young city.
3. The city was founded in the XIX century.
4. Moscow became the capital of our Motherland in the XX century.
5. At present Moscow is one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the world.
6. More than 10 million people live in the city now.
7. Moscow is the largest political, economic, cultural and industrial center of the Russian Federation.
8. The President of our state lives and works in St. Petersburg.
9. The latter is also the seat of the country Government.
10. Today Moscow is the largest cultural, scientific and educational center of our land.
11. It is one of the biggest publishing centers in the world too.
12. Moscow lacks several museums and galleries.
13. The city is famous for its numerous places of interest.
14. The tourists from all over the world are eager to visit the Russian capital.