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Text 1. The republic of Bashkortostan

legislative - законный

representative - представительный

executive - исполнительный

inhabit – населять, жить

establish - основать

helming - управлять

adjacent - примыкающий

ramified - разветвленный

superficial reservoirs - поверхностные резервуары

deposit - месторождение

displays – показ, выставка

petroleum - нефть

coal - уголь

iron ores – железная руда

manganese - марганец

limestone - известняк

lime-tree - липа

honey - мед

The republic of Bashkortostan is a sovereign republic within the Russian Federation. It was proclaimed on October 11, 1990. The Head of State and the top official is the president. The supreme body of the representative branch is the bicameral State Assembly – Kurultai. It consists of two Houses – House of the Representatives and Legislative House. The highest executive organ is the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Bashkortostan.

About a hundred nationalities inhabit Bashkortostan: Bashkirs, Russians, Tatars, Chuvashes, Maris, Ukrainians, Germans. Most numerous of them – Russians (39,3 %), Tatars (28,4%), Bashkirs (21,9%). The indigenous population is Bashkirs. The population is over 4 million people.

The republic is made up of 54 administrative districts, 21 cities and towns and 4,620 villages.

Railways, roads, oil, gas and water pipelines and electricity networks are found throughout the republic and provide valuable links between the country and the outside world.

Bashkortostan is located along the South Urals and the adjacent plains. Its territory is 143.600 square kilometres. In the west it borders on Tatarstan and Udmurtia, in the north – on Perm and Yekaterinburg regions, in the east – on Chelyabinsk, and in the south and south-west – on Orenburg regions.

Geographical features including mountains, rich foresters, large steppes, beautiful lakes, all give Bashkortostan a natural beauty.

The territory of the republic is covered by ramified network of superficial reservoirs. There are 800 lakes, 1120 rivers, and 6 large reservoirs. The river Aghidel is a component of uniform deep-water transport system of the Russian European part.

The common number of various natural deposits and displays of minerals is over three thousand. There are petroleum and gas condensate, brown coal, cooper, iron ores, gold etc. Additionally republic has stone coal, manganese, chromium, stone salt, and limestone.

The republic accounts for nearly a third of all lime-tree forests of Russia. It is the lime-tree that makes Bashkir honey world famous.

I. Find the international words in the text and translate them into Russian.

II. Copy out the irregular verbs from the text and make up your own sentences using them.

II. What paragraph is about:

- the nationalities living in Bashkortostan;

- its boards;

- organisation of the authority;

- natural deposits.

IV. Which statement is not correct:

1. The territory of the Republic is 143.600 square kilometres.

2. The Head of State and the top official is the Parliament.

3. The indigenous population is Bashkirs.