14. Answer the following questions.

1. When did the early Russian State come into being?

2. When did the first settlements appear?

3. Did Russia develop like the rest European countries of that time?

4. When did the Golden Horde invade most of Russia?

5. Who was first tsar of Russia?

6. When was the Tatar yoke thrown off?

7. What changes took place in Russia in the 18^th century?

8. How did Peter I reform education in Russia?

9. Why was Moscow made the capital after the October Revolution?

15. Complete the following sentences:

1. Russia’s history (относится к) the year 862.

2. During the 10^th century Svyatoslav, (великий князь) of Kiev, began to (объединять) the land of Russia.

3. Just as in Western Europe the early Russian state began to (распадаться на отдельные княжества).

4. After the (монгольского нашествия) such principality as Novgorod (продолжал процветать).

5. Peter I (осуществил) a number (административных и военных реформ).

6. (Создание постоянной армии по западному образцу) was one of the legacies of the tsar.

7. Peter the Great (переместил столицу) to the newly built St. Petersburg which had been constructed as a European city (с участием многих знаменитых архитекторов).

8. Peter didn’t like Moscow because of the so-called (старых порядков и старого образа жизни).

9. After the Revolution t. Petersburg was moved back to Moscow because it was (слишком близко) to Finland and (мог быть легко завоеван).

16. Find in the text and read information about.

a. the foundation of the Early Russian State.

b. Russia’s development during Feudalism.

c. Tatar’s invasion.

d. The 18^th century as a period of great reforms.

e. The new Russian Empire in the reign of Peter I.

f. Peter’s newly built capital of Russia.

17. Give the short summery of the text.

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION STATE SYSTEM

1.Practice the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations.

The Russian Federation, Parliament, representative and legislative organ, the Council of Federation, the State Duma, term, executive and administrative body, the Government of Russia, rather numerous, the courts of different instances, district people’s court, for a term, the majority of the criminal and civil cases, horizontal stripes, to symbolize liberty, two-headed eagle, heraldic emblem, to be elected directly by people.

2.State a part of speech of the following words.

Direction, economic, cultural, development, dissolve, unconstitutional, representative, chamber, numerous, direction, directly, economic.

3.Give 3 forms of the following verbs.

To set, to have, to make, to become, to be, to stand.

4.Read and translate the text a.

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION STATE SYSTEM

The Russian Federation is set up by the Constitution of 1993. Under the Constitution Russia is a presidential republic. The President of the Russian Federation is the head of the state and is elected directly by the people. In fact he has much power. The President serves as the commander- in-chief of the armed forces, he makes treaties, enforces federal laws may veto a bill approved by the Federal Assembly. The President can even dissolve the Duma.

The Federal Government consists of 3 branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by President. The parliament of the Russian Federation is the representative and legislative organ of the state consisting of two chambers: the Council of Federation and the State Duma, which makes laws. The Council of Federation is the upper chamber and the State Duma is the Lower Chamber. Each chamber is headed by a speaker and is elected for a term of 4 years.

The highest executive and administrative body of state authority of Russia is the government of Russia, which is headed by the Prime Minister. The Powers the Government has are rather numerous for example-direction of economic, social and cultural development, drafting current and long term plans and the Budget of the country.

Justice is administrated by the courts of different instances. The Supreme Court is the highest and the district (city) people’s courts are the lowest in the judicial system. The Supreme Court represents the judicial branch of power. In our country the majority of the criminal and civil cases are considered in the people’s courts. The Constitutional Court has the right to declare actions of the President the Federation Assembly and the Federal Government unconstitutional.

Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-coloured banner. It has 3 horizontal stripes: white stripe symbolizes the earth, the blue one stands for the sky, and the red one symbolizes liberty. It was the first state symbol that replaced the former symbols in 1991.

A new national emblem is a two-headed eagle. It is the most ancient symbol of Russia. It originates from the heraldic emblem of Ryricovitchies.

At present, the political and economic situation in the country is rather complicated. There are a lot of problems in the national economy of the Russian Federation. But in spite of the problems Russia is facing at present there are a lot of opportunities for our country to become one of the leading countries in the world.

5. Match English and Russian equivalents.

1. Legislative organ	не смотря на проблемы
2. The Council of Federation	утверждать законы
3. the highest executive body	наложить вето на законопроект
4. Direction of cultural development	руководство культурным развитием
5. To draft current state plans	бюджет страны
6. The Budget of the country	Совет Федерации
7. justice	суды разных инстанций
8. In spite of the problems	прежние символы
9. Courts of different instances	законодательный орган
10. Former symbols	двуглавый орел
11. Two-headed eagle	правосудие
12. To make treaty	исполнительный высший орган
13. To veto a bill	заключать договор
14. to enforce law	заключать текущие государственные план