Exercises:

1. Translate the following words into Russian:

Bless, exceptional, natural, heritage, stunning, stretch, skyline, celestial, immeasurable, extraordinary, wildlife, culture, generous, hospitable, tradition, coexistence, deep, respect, harbour, diverse, biogeography, attendant, biological, diversity, cover, diverse, biogeography, attendant, biological, diversity, region, forest-steppe, lowland, arboreal, influence, disappear, extensive, steppe, desert, ecosystem, dominate, saline, freshwater, extensive, marsh, majority, contain, different, type, forest, alpine,m meadow, tundra, permanent, snow, belt, glacier, expansive, sturgeon, shovelnose, starlet herring, roach, spectacle, rival, mammal, reptile, amphibian, enigmatic, dormouse.

2. Give Russian equivalents of the following word combinations:

Forest-steppe, Siberian lowland, arboreal influence, extensive steppe, desert ecosystems dominate, the richest desert complexes in Eurasia, large freshwater bodies, extensive reed beds and marshes, the majority of the rivers, natural boundaries, different types of forest, alpine meadows, permanent snow belts and glaciers, land-locked country, western border, the smallest species of seal, the economy of the Caspian countries, wildlife spectacles, familiar species, bizarre-looking saiga antelope, huge-horned argali sheep, desert dormouse, swan goose, relict gull, Siberian crane, sociable lapwing, enigmatic snow leopard, bizarre-looking saiga antelope, huge-horned argali sheep, desert dormouse, swan goose, relict gull, Siberian crane, sociable lapwing.

3. Put special questions to the following sentences.

1.Kazakhstan harbours a richly diverse biogeography and attendant biological diversity. 2. The northernmost region is covered with the taiga, mixed forest and forest-steppe of the Siberian lowland. 3.The Central Asian deserts are the richest desert complexes in Eurasia..4.The fisheries of the Caspian are very important both in terms of biodiversity and the economy of the Caspian countries. 5. The fauna of Kazakhstan is as exciting and diverse as the landscape it inhabits, with wildlife spectacles to rival anything on Earth.

4. Retell the text Text 15: Birds and Beasts of mountain and steppe

(continuation)

The meadow viper and Central Asian salamander are two of the more exotic reptiles and amphibians. There are also exceptional numbers of invertebrates, with more than 100,000 species described so far and tens of new species being added each year, such is the country's geographic size and diversity.

Many of these species have cultural value, forming part of the spirit and identity of Kazakhstan. The national flag features the majestic golden eagle, one of 35 species of bird of prey found in Kazakhstan. The beautiful and elusive snow leopard is considered a national icon, often depicted supporting the equally iconic golden warrior of Almaty. The charismatic saiga, an antelope of the harsh desert, is emblematic of the region; esteemed in local culture and folklore, it reflects the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the people of the steppe.

T he saiga is the keystone species of the steppe and deserts that cover almost two-thirds of Kazakhstan. It is perfectly adapted to the harsh and unpredictable conditions of the region, with a distinctive oversized and flexible nose that warms the air in winter and filters out the dust in summer. Historically, saiga occurred in vast herds 100,000 strong. Their migration across these dusty arid plains was a spectacle to rival the mass ungulate migrations of East Africa. Until the middle of the last century these herds were accompanied by predators including wolf and wild dog, Asiatic cheetah and Caspian tiger. Sadly, only the wolf can now be seen in Kazakhstan, and tragically the last Caspian tiger was hunted to extinction in the 1950s. Recent changes in land management and high levels of illegal poaching decimated the saiga herds—from more than a million individuals just two decades ago, perhaps fewer than 40,000 now remain, although intervention by the government has now halted the population collapse

Kazakhstan is a grazer’s paradise, originally home to a wealth of herbivores, including Asiatic wild ass (kulan or koulan), Bactrian camel and Przewalski's horse. Domesticated camels are now common, and are a key component of the rural economy. Przewalski's horse is locally extinct and the wild ass very rare, but conservation efforts are being initiated to help them both recover in the region. Rodents are abundant in all the habitats of Kazakhstan. In the steppe and semi-desert ecosystems they play an important role, their ground disturbance recycling nutrients and activating seeds. Marmots, sousliks, hamsters, gerbils and jerboas are common, and several rodent species are only found here, such as the desert dormouse and comb-toed jerboa.