I. Find answers in the text:

I. What are the top most expensive cities of today? 2. How do we call the economic system of the former USSR? 3. Did we feel the shortage? 4. Why was it so? 5. By what have the state-run shops been replaced recently? 6. When did the economic reforms begin? 7. Is the real GDP of Russia increasing steadily in the XXIst century? 8. What is the «shock therapy» that was used in our country? 9. Did it give the desired effect? 10. Is the cost of living increasing in our days?

II. Complete the sentences as in the text.

1. For many years Moscow was the heart of the world’s biggest…

2. The situation improved from 1998, Russians GDP increased…

3. Shock therapy was introduced with severe fiscal… 4. New laws were introduced to allow private… 5. These measure were intended to create conditions for … 6. Foreign investors began to show confidence in …

III. Match the words and phrases with the definitions.

1. expatriate

2. consumer goods

3. state-run

4. hardship

5. reform

6. severe

7. subsidy

8. crumbling

9. staple goods

10. fixed incomes 11 . to balloon

12. hyperinflation

13. enviable

14. to stabilize

A. very high inflation

B. financial help from the government for a business

C. change

D. something that other people want

E. managed by the government

F. very strict or cruel

G. basic things like food that everyone needs H. to grow very big very quickly

I. things that people buy but don’t really

need J. falling apart or collapsing K. very difficult times – poverty L. someone who lives and works away

from their home country M. salaries or pensions that do not grow

with inflation N. become steady, unchanging

120

IV. Now read the text again and match each paragraph with the correct heading.

Paragraph 1……………………………………… Paragraph 2……………………………………… Paragraph 3……………………………………… Paragraph 4……………………………………… Paragraph 5………………………………………

A. Recovery

B. Drastic measures

C. Ups and downs

D. Hard times

E. Then and now

V. Discuss this question with your partner.

— Has everyone benefited from the changes in the Russian economy in recent years? Think about who is better off and who is poorer.

VI. Say what you have learned about:

• Top ten most expensive cities of the world

• Shortage of simple things in planned economy countries

• Expensive shopping centers and the highest property prices just now

• Russia’s GDP is increasing year after year at present

— Food and energy prices are controlled by the government Think and give extensive answers

Grammar exercises

VII. Translate the conditional sentences (if-clauses), paying attention to real and unreal clauses (§ 23).

Practise the use of if-clauses.

1. If you want the company’s management to be efficient, you must have extensive information about the company’s output.

2. The production cost would be lower provided obsolete equipment was replaced.

3. If immigration barriers were eliminated in developed countries, wages of resident workers in them would fall.

121

4. Provided the managers had considered all aspects of business activity, the company would have earned more money.

5. Unless irrigation had been required because of the very hot monthes, the farmers would have attained higher profits.

6. The company will achieve a higher sale if the price is decreased.

7. If government reduces restrictions and tariffs, it will expand world trade.

8. If prices are above the equilibrium price, there will be excess supply.

9. If the output decreases, the company’s costs per unit of the goods produced will rise.

10. If current liabilities exceed, the company will be forced to sell off its assets for the debts.