Завдання № 1

Read and translate orally the chapters of the book on Ukraine: “Climates”, “Water resources”, “Agriculture”. Write out the meanings of the following words from the dictionary and memorize them:

to determine

to obstruct

to empty

to dig

to breed

to supply

to link

poultry

latitude

proximity

fluctuation

drought

precipitation

tributary

husbandry

cattle

bitter

shallow

sufficient

arid

Завдання № 2

Match the numbers with the resources, as shown below, and translate each sentence in a written form:

-42˚C – The record low temperature in January.

2285 –

2000 –

3000 –

423000 –

+40˚C –

Завдання № 3

Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple, Present Perfect or Past Perfect (Active or Passive):

1. The absence of the proper environmental protection until recent years (to give) rise

2. Some climate features (to contribute) to the creation of one of the best resort areas in Ukraine.

3. The lecturer said that absence of proper environmental protection until recent years (to give) arise to water pollution throughout Ukraine.

4. During last century Ukraine (to have) very favourable conditions for the development of agricultural production.

5. Canals (to dig) already from reservoires on the Dnieper to provide water to the arid regions of the country.

Завдання № 4

Answer the following questions on the text:

1. What is the main feature of Ukraine’s climate?

2. Why is the Crimea the best resort area in Ukraine?

3. How deep is the Black Sea?

4. Which of the seas freezes ever in winter?

5. What are the Danube’s largest tributaries?

6. What Ukraine’s rivers empty into the Black Sea?

7. What is the principal grain crop in Ukraine?

8. What position does sugar beet occupy among the industrial crops?

9. What vegetable crops is called the second bread in Ukraine?

10. What are the most important branches of animal husbandry?

Завдання № 5

Translate in written form marked in the text passages:

Climate

The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical location. Ukraine's territory lies in the temperate belt. In general the country's climate is temperately continental, being subtropical only on the southern coast of the Crimea. The differences in climate are caused by many factors: the latitude, relief, altitude, and proximity to seas and oceans. The climate varies not only from north to south, but also from the northwest to the southeast as the warm damp air masses moving from the northwestern Atlantic weaken and become drier. A characteristic feature of the climate is an increase in its continental nature from west to east.

A feature of Ukraine's climate is the considerable fluctuation in weather conditions from year to year. Alongside very wet years there can be droughts, whose effect increases to the south and east. There are frequent oscillations in weather in the regions of the Crimean and Carpathian Mountains.

The average yearly temperature in Ukraine varies between +5,5, + 7°C(42,44,50F) inthenorthand+ll,+130C (52, 55,5°F) in the south. The coldest month is January, with a record low of 42°C. The warmest month is July with a record high of 40°C.

Precipitation (rain, snow, and other forms of moisture) ranges from about 30 inches (76 cm) a year in the north to about 9 inches (23 cm) in the south. The highest rainfall is in the Carpathian and Crimean mountains (31, 5 to 63 inches).

On the southern coast of the Crimea the climate is subtropical Mediterranean, inasmuch as the Crimean Mountains obstruct the movement of cold Arctic air to the coast. These climatic features have contributed to the creation of one of the best resort areas in Ukraine.

Water Resources

The southern coast of Ukraine is bordered by the Black Sea the Sea of Azov.

The Black Sea has a surface area of 423,000 sq. km. There are only a few islands in it. Its depth is 2 000 m. In the northwest, however, the sea is only 30-60 m deep. The important ports of Odessa, Kherson, Mykolayiv and Sevastopol lie on the Black Sea. The animal life is limited. Among the best known fish are sturgeon, goby, mullet, plaice and such typically Black Sea fish as horse mackerel and scomber.

The Sea of Azov is much less picturesque. Swash Bay with bitter and very salty waters forms part of the sea. There are wonderful sandy beaches on its northern coast and it is very rich in life. In the winter the Sea of Azov freezes over. It is a small sea, and is the world's most shallow sea, its average depth being 5-7 m.

Rivers are the principle part of Ukraine's water resources. Ukraine has a wealth of rivers. More than a hundred of them are longer than 100 km. The largest rivers are the Dnieper, Dniester, Danube, Southern Buh, Siversky Donets and Tisa. Ukraine's rivers on the whole belong to the basins of the Black and Azov Seas. Only the Western Buh and some other rivers empty into the Baltic Sea.

Ukraine's rivers are predominantly flat, with winding channels. They flow slowly in wide valleys. Rivers flowing off the Carpathian and Crimean Mountains are narrow, shallow and fast. In some of the southern regions there are almost no rivers.

Rivers and other water resources (reservoirs, lakes, ponds) play an important role in water supply, and are used as sources of energy. Navigable rivers are important for transport.

The Dnieper River has its source in the Valdai Plateau in Smolensk Province and flows into the Black Sea. It is 2285 km long. In size it is Europe's third-largest river (after the Volga and Danube). The Dnieper's largest tributaries are the Prypiat and Desna.

Another large river is the Dniester, which flows along the border of Ukraine and Moldova having its source in the Carpathians and emptying into the Black Sea. It floods not only in spring, but also in summer after heavy rainfalls. Its largest tributaries are the Stry and Zbruch.

The Danube passes through Ukraine in its lower reaches. It is an important water route linking the country with many European countries. The largest of the Danube's tributaries are the Tysa and Prut.

There are over 3,000 lakes throughout Ukraine. They are located mostly in Polissia, the Black Sea lowlands and the Crimea. The largest freshwater lakes are Yalpuh (220 sq. km) in the Danube flood plain and Svytiazke in Polissia (27 sq. km).

Ukraine has insufficient water supplies. The scarcest water resources are in southeastern Ukraine in the area where industry is centered. There are no local sources of water supply in such large cities as Kharkiv, Lviv and Kryvy Rih. Thus canals have been dug from reservoirs on the Dnieper to provide water to the arid regions of the country.

Agriculture

Ukraine has very favourable conditions for the development of agricultural production: fertile soils temperately warm climate, a well-developed industry processing agricultural raw materials.

All the principle areas of plant cultivation are: grain and industrial crops, meadow culture, fruit and vegetable raising. Almost half the cropping area is occupied by cereals such as winter wheat, maize and legumes, rye, oats, barley. The principal grain crop, winter wheat, is sown mainly in the Steppe and Forest-Steppe zones. Liaise is grown mostly in Transcarpathia and Steppe zones. Buckwheat, millet, rice play an important role.

Among the industrial crops such as sugar, beet, sunflower, flax the leading position is occupied by sugar beet.

Close to 40 types of vegetable crop are grown in Ukraine: cabbage, tomato, cucumber, red beet, carrot, onion, garlic, eta. Melon-growing is practised mainly in the south. Potatoes occupy 6% of total area under cultivation.

Animal husbandry is the second-largest component of agriculture. Like plant cultivation, livestock, production is divided into branches. The most widespread branch is cattle breeding, pig raising is another important area. Sheep farming is also practised.

The poultry industry is spread through all the provinces. Birds farmed include chicken, duck, goose, turkey. There are large mechanized poultry factories to produce eggs and meat.

Fish farming is growing in importance, with carp, being the most common fish. Trout, which is to be found in the mountain rivers, is of commercial interest.

Bee-keeping is spread through all zones. It is extensively practiced on private plots. Fur animals being farmed include the silver and blue fox, mink and nutria.

ВАРІАНТ № 13