I. Find answers in the text:

1. Did Russia (or the USSR as it was known) trade freely with the outside world?

2. By what was the trade with outside countries limited?

3. Was our country self-sufficient in energy recourses and primary goods?

4. Did we sell our products abroad?

5. Investment from abroad was not encouraged at that period. Why?

6. What is growing more rapidly now: exports or imports?

7. What is the energy export today?

8. What place does Russia hold in steel industry?

9. What are our primary goods for export?

10. What is the danger for Russia concerning exports and imports?

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II. Complete the sentences as in the text.

1. Russia was self-sufficient in energy resources and primary goods, its manufacturing industry was… 2. The Soviet government wanted full… 3. Both exports and imports have grown recently, but… 4. Energy resources make up over… 5. Oil prices increased and former Soviet republics found ….

III. Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box.

Arms, broke ties with, domestic consumption, fall back on, infrastructure, open to, privileged elite, run down, Socialist Bloc, the future holds, turnover.

1. Factories become if management don’t look after

buildings and invest in new equipment.

2. Nobody really knows what but you should make

plans anyway.

3. Many countries make lots of money selling like

tanks and guns to foreign armies.

4. In the West, the communist countries of the USSR were called the

5. When he left the company, he all his old colleagues.

6. It’s good to have some savings to during hard

times.

7. The company was very my proposal for a new range of

products.

8. Most of the wealth in modern industrial countries is owned by a small

9. Products for are only sold in the country where they

are made.

10. The means the roads, railways, power and

communication networks that industry needs.

11. The of our new products has been very high and we

have gained a good income from them.

IV. Now read the text again and decide whether these statements are true or false.

1. During the Soviet times, Russia did not trade with other nations.

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2. The value of exports is growing faster than the value of imports.

3. Metals are Russia’s largest export.

4. Many of Russia’s old trading partners cannot afford its prices any more.

5. Russia no longer trades with communist nations.

6. Weapons are Russia’s biggest export.

7. Economists believe that Russia needs to invest more in its manufacturing industries.

V. Discuss these questions with your partner.

• What do you think are Russia’s main exports and imports?

• Where do you suppose most goods that you buy in Russian shops these days are made?

• Do you have any idea which is Russia’s strongest industry today?

• Russia is the second largest oil producer in the world. It also produces huge amounts of natural gas. How many other oil or gas producing nations can you name?

VI. Say what you have learned about:

• Manufacturing industry for domestic use in the Soviet period

• Energy resources of Russia`s export

• Huge amounts of foreign currency in Russian economy

• Changes in Russia`s trading partnership and gas export

Think and give extensive answers.