2017-11-01
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The Russian Federation
The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one-seventh of the earth’s surface. It covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometres. The country is washed by 12 seas and 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. In the south Russia borders on China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders on Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine. It also has a sea-border with the USA.
There is hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can be found. There are steppes in the south, plains and forests in the midland, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts in the east.
There are two great plains in Russia: the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. There are several mountain chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia.
There are over 2 million rivers in Russia. Europe’s biggest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea. The main Siberian rivers – the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena – flow from the south to the north. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. The world’s deepest lake (1,600 metres) is Lake Baikal. It is much smaller than the Baltic Sea, but there is much more water in it than in the Baltic Sea. The water in the lake is so clear that if you look down you can see the stones on the bottom.
Russia has one-sixth of the world’s forests. They are concentrated in the European north of the country, in Siberia and in the Far East.
On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical in the south. In the middle of the country the climate is temperate and continental.
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Russia is reach in oil, coal, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel andother mineral resources.
Russia is a constitutional republic. The Head of State is the President. The legislative power is exercised by the Federal Council.
The capital of Russia is Moscow. It is its largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial centre. It is one of the oldest Russian cities.
Today there are a lot of opportunities for this country to become one of the leading countries in the world. It has great past and promising future.
Topical Vocabulary
| to occupy | занимать |
| to border on | граничить с |
| a variety of scenery | разнообразие природы |
| steppes | степи |
| tundra | тундра |
| taiga | тайга |
| highlands | высокогорья |
| deserts | пустыни |
| mountain chains | горные цепи |
| to separate | отделять |
| climate | климат |
| arctic | арктический |
| subtropical | субтропический |
| temperate | умеренный |
| continental | континентальный |
| oil | нефть |
| coal | уголь |
| iron ore | железная руда |
| natural gas | природный газ |
| copper | медь |
| nickel | никель |
| mineral resources | минеральные ресурсы |
| constitutional republic | конституционная республика |
I. Translate into English:
1. Россия занимает около 1/7 всей земной поверхности.
2. Едва ли найдется еще одна страна в мире с таким разнообразием ландшафта и растительности.
3. Обширная территория страны охватывает различные климатические зоны от арктической на севере до субтропической на юге.
4. Законодательная власть осуществляется Думой.
II. Answer the questions:
1. Where is the Russian Federation situated?
2. What is the total area of the country?
3. What countries does Russia border on?
4. What mountain chain separates Europe from Asia?
5. How many rivers are there in Russia?
6. Which is the longest river in Europe?
7. What do you know about the Baikal?
8. What mineral resources is the Russian Federation rich in?
9. What is the climate like in Russia?
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia, its administrative, economic, political and educational centre.
It is one of Russia’s major cities with the population of about 9 million people. It’s total area is about 900 thousand square kilometres.
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The city was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky and was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147. At that time it was a small frontier settlement. By the 15th century Moscow had grown into a wealthy city.
In the 16th century, under Ivan the Terrible, Moscow became the capital of the state of Muscovy. In the 18th century Peter the Great transferred the capital to St. Petersburg, but Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon’s attack in 1812. During the war of 1812 three quarters of the city were destroyed by fire, but by the middle of the 19th century Moscow was completely rebuilt.
Present-day Moscow is the seat of the government of the Russian Federation. President of Russia lives and works here; government offices are located here, too.
Moscow is a major industrial city. Its leading industries are engineering, chemical and light industries.
Moscow is known for its many historical buildings, museums and art galleries, as well as for the famous Bolshoi, Maly and Art theatres. There are more than 80 museums in Moscow, among them the unique Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Andrey Rublyov Museum of Early Russian Art and many others.
Moscow is a city of science and learning. There are over 80 higher education institutions in the city, including a number of universities.
Topical Vocabulary
| an administrative, economic, political and educational centre | административный, экономический, политический центр, центр образования |
| a major city | крупный город |
| total area | общая площадь |
| to be founded by smb. | быть основанным кем-либо |
| a prince | князь |
| to be first mentioned in the chronicles | быть впервые упомянутым в летописях |
| to grow into a wealthy city | превратиться в процветающий город |
| under Ivan the Terrible | при Иване Грозном |
| to transfer the capital to | перенести столицу в какой-либо город |
| to remain the heart of Russia | остаться сердцем России |
| to become the main target of Napoleon’s attack | стать главной целью нападения Наполеона |
| to be destroyed by fire | быть разрушенным пожаром |
| to be completely rebuilt | быть полностью отстроенным |
| present-day Moscow | современная Москва |
| the seat of the government | местонахождение правительства |
| a government office | правительственное учреждение |
| to be located | быть расположенным |
| the leading industry | ведущая отрасль промышленности |
| engineering | машиностроение |
| chemical industry | химическая промышленность |
| light industry | легкая промышленность |
| unique | уникальный |
| a city of science and learning | город науки и образования |
| a higher education institution | вуз |
I. Answer the questions:
1. What is the role of Moscow in Russia?
2. When was Moscow founded?
3. When did it become the capital?
4. What part does the present-day Moscow play in the life of Russia?
II. Translate into English:
1. Москва – административный, экономический, политический центр России и один из крупнейших городов страны.
2. Москва была основана Юрием Долгоруким и впервые упоминалась в летописях в 1147 году.
3. Из пограничного поселка Москва превратилась в процветающий город, столицу Московии.
4. Москва осталась центром России и стала основной целью Наполеона при нападении на Россию.
5. Москва – крупный промышленный город, город науки и образования.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousands small islands. Their total area is over 244000 square kilometres.
The United Kingdom is one of the world’s smaller countries. Its population is over 57 million. About 80 percent are urban.
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively.
The British Isles are separated from the Continent by the North Sea, the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.
The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The North of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands. The South, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The North and the West of England are mountainous, but the eastern, central and south-eastern parts of England are a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343 m). There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.
The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild the whole year round.
The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It produces and exports machinery, electronics and textile. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy with a parliament and the Queen as Head of State.
Topical Vocabulary
| to be situated on | быть расположенным на |
| to consist of smth. | состоять из чего-либо |
| total area | общая площадь |
| population | население |
| urban | городской |
| to be made of smth. | состоять из чего-либо |
| to be separated from … by | отделяться от чего-либо чем-либо |
| to be washed by | омываться чем-либо |
| surface | поверхность |
| to vary | варьироваться, меняться |
| mountainous | гористый |
| a valley | долина |
| a plain | равнина |
| to influence smth. | оказывать влияние на что-либо |
| mild | умеренный |
| a highly developed industrial country | высокоразвитая промышленная страна |
| to produce smth. | производить что-либо |
| to export smth. | экспортировать что-либо |
| machinery | станки |
| electronics | электроника |
| textile | текстиль |
| the chief industry | ведущая отрасль промышленности |
| shipbuilding | судостроение |
| a constitutional monarchy | конституционная монархия |
| Head of State | глава государства |
| The Queen | королева |
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I. Answer the questions:
1. What islands is the United Kingdom situated on?
2. What is the country’s population?
3. What is the United Kingdom made up of?
4. What is the United Kingdom washed by?
5. How can you characterize the surface of Great Britain?
6. What is the climate of Great Britain?
7. What are the Britain’s chief industries?
8. What is Britain’s political system?
II. Translate into English:
1. Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии расположено на Британских островах, состоящих из двух больших и пяти тысяч малых островов.
2. Население Великобритании составляет более 57 миллионов человек.
3. Соединенное Королевство состоит из четырех частей; в Великобританию входят Англия, Шотландия и Уэльс.
4. Британские острова омываются Атлантическим океаном, Ирландским морем, Северным морем и проливами Ла-Манш и Па-де-Кале.
5. Британские острова состоят из гористой части и низменностей.
6. Реки в Великобритании не очень длинные.
7. На климат в Великобритании оказывает влияние Гольфстрим.
8. Великобритания производит и экспортирует станки, электронику, текстиль, суда.
9. Великобритания – конституционная монархия.
