Active vocabulary

1. a republic under a mixed semi-parliamentary semi-presidential system

2. to be elected by popular vote for a five-year term

3. normative acts are subject to judicial review

4. local councils exercise control over local budgets

5. to agree to give up all nuclear weapons to Russia for "disposal"

6. to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state

7. to take consistent steps toward reduction of conventional weapons

8. to enforce the mandated ceasefire agreement

9. to set a deeper cooperation with the alliance

10. regional differences on questions of identity

11. to subsidize state-run industries and agriculture by uncovered monetary emission

12. loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels

13. to be slow in implementing structural reforms

14. widespread resistance to reforms within the government stalled the reform efforts

15. to exempt state-owned enterprises from the privatization process

16. to approve a stand-by loan of $16.5 billion for the country

17. the average nominal salary reached 1,930 hryvnias per month

18. to live below the national poverty line

19. to produce the fourth largest number of post-secondary graduates in Europe

20. built up in accordance with the structure of education defined by UNESCO and the UN

COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. Answer the following questions to check how carefully you have read the text.

1. What is the system of governing in Ukraine?

2. What is the characteristic feature of the elements of legislative branch in Ukraine?

3. What steps did Ukraine undertake in its foreign policy after the collapse of the Soviet Union?

4. How can you characterize the role of Ukraine in peacekeeping operations around the world?

5. What is the position of our country relatively the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

6. What is the system of Ukrainian subdivisions?

7. Are there any clear regional differences on questions of identity in Ukraine?

8. How can you characterize the transition process of our country from a planned economy to a market economy?

9. What steps were undertaken by the government in order to implement structural reforms

in the economy of the country?

10. What is the peculiarity of religious divisions in the territory of Ukraine?

2. What do these letters stand for? Give situations where they are used in the text.

1. UNESCO

2. GDP

3. START

4. IMF

5. CIS

6. NATO

7. CIA

8. UN

9. NNPT

3. Translate the sentences into Russian/Ukrainian.

1. The organization of higher education in Ukraine is built up in accordance with the structure of education of the world's higher developed countries, as is defined by UNESCO and the UN.

2. The transition process was difficult for the majority of the population which plunged into poverty.

3. The country was slow in implementing structural reforms.

4. However, widespread resistance to reforms within the government and from a significant part of the population soon stalled the reform efforts.

5. In May 1992, Ukraine signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in which the country agreed to give up all nuclear weapons to Russia for "disposal".

6. In May 1992, Ukraine signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in which the country agreed to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state.

7. The country plans to convert the current conscript-based military into a professional volunteer military not later than in 2011.

8. A Ukrainian unit was deployed in Lebanon, as part of UN Interim Force enforcing the mandated ceasefire agreement.

9. The government was leaning towards the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and a deeper cooperation with the alliance was set by the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan signed in 2002.

10. Laws, acts of the parliament and the cabinet, presidential decrees, and acts of the Crimean parliament may be abrogated by the Constitutional Court