Файл: Л.С. Пасынков Россия - независимое государство (английский язык).pdf

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2.Законодательная власть осуществляется Федеральным Собранием, избираемым всенародным голосованием на четыре года.

3.Во главе каждой из палат стоит спикер.

4.Законопроект представляется на рассмотрение в одной из палат, потом одобряется обеими палатами и подписывается президентом.

5.Судебная власть представлена Конституционным Судом, Верховным Судом и др. судами

6.К государственным символам относятся флаг, гимн и герб.

THE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES

Russia, or the Russian Federation, is the largest state of the new Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). It covers a total area of over 17 million square kilometres. The country is washed in the North by the Arctic Ocean and its seas: the Barents, Chukchee, East Siberian, Kara, Laptev and White Seas; in the South by the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas; in the East by the Bering Sea, the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk Sea; in the west by Baltic Sea.

The immensity of the Russian Federation is hard to imagine. A flight from Moscow to Magadan takes eight hours. Russia borders on fourteen countries including the former republics of the USSR, which are now independent states.

Russia is a land of long rivers and large lakes. The North Dvina, the three mighty Siberian rivers: Ob, Lena and Yenisei, and the Amur rank with the Nile and the Amazon among the world’s longest rivers. The largest of all Russia’s rivers is the Volga. This river is a major transport route from North to South and a source of hydroelectric energy. The three largest lakes in Russia are Baikal in South-Eastern Siberia, Ladoga and Onega in Northern Russia. Baikal is the world’s most ancient lake and the deepest one.

The relief of Russia is mostly flat. Russia is located on two plains: the Great Russian Plain and Western Siberian Plain. There are three main mountain chains in Russia. The Caucasus is a range of mountains, which extends from the Black Sea to Caspian Sea. The highest mountain in the Caucasus, in the Russian Federation and in the whole Europe is Mount Elbrus.

Здесь карта!

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1. Practise the reading of the following words and phrases. Look at their Russian equivalents and try to remember them.

Commonwealth of Independent Содружество Независимых

2. Pre-reading task.

What do you know about the geographical position and physical features of the Russian Federation? Look at the map.

Read the questions and mark with “V“ symbol those you can answer; and “X” symbol those you think you can answer but you are not sure of; and ”?” symbol those you don’t know how to answer.

1. What area does Russia cover?

2.What seas is Russia washed by?

3.How many countries does Russia border on?

4.How long does a flight from Moscow to Magadan take?

5.What are the longest rivers in Russia?

6.What is the role of the Volga?

7.What do you know about Lake Baikal?

8.What can you say about the relief of Russia?

9.Is Elbrus the highest mountain in the Russian Federation?

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1. Reading task.

Read the text and check yourself. Make the necessary notes.

2. Vocabulary work.

Read the following geographical names. Consult the dictionary if necessary.

Make the table. Match these geographical names with the appropriate columns.

1.Add your own examples about Kuzbass, Kemerovo.

2.Check yourself.

Translate into English.

1. Россия – самое большое государство нового Содружества Независимых Государств.

2.Необъятность Российской Федерации очень сложно представить.

3.Полет из Москвы в Магадан длится 8 часов.

4.Россия граничит с 14 странами, включая бывшие республики Советского Союза, которые сейчас являются независимыми государствами.

5.Россия – земля длинных рек и больших озер, не так ли?

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6.Самая большая река в России – Волга, она является главным транспортным путем с севера на юг и источником гидроэнергии.

7.Самое старейшее и глубокое озеро – Байкал, оно содержит одну пятую чистой воды во всем мире.

CLIMATE IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

It’s difficult to tell about the climate of our country in few words. The country is very large, that is why there are various types of climate on the territory of Russia. It’s very cold in the North most of the year; and, on the other hand, it’s rather warm in the South even in winter.

Winter lasts five months in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kemerovo (from November to March), but up to nine months in Siberia, with snow falling even in May and frosts starting in August. In the South there are no frost and snowfalls. Spring and Autumn are very warm there, and Summer is really hot. Many trees and plants are always green. The climate in general is very favourable. That is why many people go to the South, especially to the Black Sea coast during the swimming season.

The brief Siberian summer is the time of heat, with temperature reaching over +30 degrees centigrade. The climate of Siberia is continental, which means hot dry summers and very cold winters.

Corresponding to climate there are six vegetation zones stretching a cross the country. From North to South these are: the tundra, the taiga (or pine forest), mixed forest, steppe, semi-desert and desert. Each vegetation belt has its own flora, fauna and natural resources.

1.Practise the reading of the following words and phrases, try to remember their meanings.

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1.Pre-reading task.

a)Discuss the climate in Russia. Fill in the table with the information you know. If you are not sure of it, leave spare space.

What can you say about the climate?

a) What do you want to know from the text? Make some questions.

1. Reading task.

Read the text. Check whether you were wrong or right and add all necessary information.

2. Creative work.

What can you say about nature in Russia?

Read an exciting fragment about nature. Enjoy it.

Write your own composition, using the text below as an example.

NATURE IN RUSSIA

Listen and enjoy yourself. It is dawn. The first appearance of daylight in the morning. Everything is coming out to meet the Sun’s light. The meadows, forests, rivers and lakes are feeling happy at this moment showing their fresh and vital beauty.

Flowers, birds, animals and people – all of them are filling themselves with the great power of the sun expressing it in their own language. The flowers are showing their colours: yellow, red, orange, violet, rose, white, and pink. The birds are singing their wonderful songs; the animals are silently observing the surroundings. The butterflies and bees are dancing in the air.

Every creature on Earth is thankful to the Sun. Indeed, there is a lot to be thankful.

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This is beauty. This is joy forever!

FROM THE HISTORY OF RUSSIAN ECONOMY

Russia was the most populous state of the former USSR and also the wealthiest one. It produced 78 per cent of all its natural gas, 60 per cent of steel, 80 per cent of timber and 91 per cent of oil. It also has one of the world’s largest fishing industries.

The history of Russian industry goes back to the middle of the seventeenth century. The development of new industries and crafts – metal working, textiles, brick making and china manufacture – was encouraged under Peter the Great. During the reign of Catherine the Great, the Urals became the focus for iron industry and Russia became the world’s largest iron producer.

After 1870 the fast railway engineering in Russia was stimulated by industrial boom. Some deals were made with western companies to develop Russia’s immense oil resources. By 1903 Russia had been the world’s largest oil producer.

Before the Revolution, Russia was one of the world’s largest grain producers and exporters. But lately Russia became one of its biggest importers as a result of collectivization and mismanagement of agriculture.

In Soviet times, the central planning system was inefficient as regards both production and distribution of goods. By 1980’s the quality gap between home and western products could no longer be ignored and called for reforms. Entering the world market demands from Russian economists the creation of effective management in industry and agriculture.

Until its industry can be modernized, Russia will remain dependent on the energy sector. Before 1986 it was planned that an expanded nuclear programme could help the conservation of other resources. But after the Chernobyl disaster, these plans were sharply curtailed.

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However, disposal of nuclear waste and closing down of old power plants remains major problems not only for Russia but for other industrial countries as well.

1. Practise the reading of the following words, looking at their

Think over and mark what you know about the history of Russian econo-my. Share your ideas with the group-mates. Begin like this:

feel It’s my opinion that … In my opinion …

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Student B:

I think so too.

I see what you mean, but …

I agree with you in a sense, but … I don’t think so.

That’s your opinion, not mine.

2. Reading task.

Read the text and answer these questions as quick as possible.

1. What was the economical position of Russia in the former USSR?

2.What industries and crafts were encouraged in Russia under Peter the Great?

3.What do you know about Russian economy in the second part of the 19th century?

4.When was Russia one of the biggest grain producers and exporters?

5.Was the quality gap between home and western products an important factor for economical reforms in Russia?

6.What was planned to do in the energy sector before Chernobyl disaster?

1. Vocabulary.

1) Remember the following negative prefixes of the words in the right hand column.

1) Find the following words in the text. Use them with the negative prefixes: populous, management, expanded, effective, wealthy, dependent, natural, industrial.

2) Word formation: explain the difference between management and mismanagement. Find the sentences in the text where these words are used. Translate them.

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1. Dictionary work.

The following words are in the text. Complete the chart practising word formation. Consult the dictionary if necessary.

Read the text once more. Translate these sentences into English. Consult the text only in the case of great necessity.

1. Россия была как наиболее населенной, так и наиболее богатой республикой бывшего СССР.

2.История российской экономики берет начало в середине 17-го столетия, когда во времена правления Петра Великого поощрялось развитие новых промышленностей и ремесел.

3.При Екатерине Великой Россия стала самым крупным производителем железа в мире.

4.Индустриальный бум конца 18-го столетия эффективно стимулировал быстрое строительство железных дорог в России.

5.После революции Россия стала импортировать зерновые продукты, хотя до этого была одним из самых крупных экспортеров зерна.

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6.Результатом неэффективного производства и распределения товаров стали коллективизация и плохое управление сельским хозяйством.

7.Проблема сохранения и размещения ядерных отходов остается основной проблемой не только России, но также и других индустриальных стран.