Vocabulary. Read the following words and word-combinations. Try to memorize them.
1. CIS –ТМД
2. United Nations – БҰҰ(Біріккен Ұлттар Ұйымы)
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organization. – Шанхай Ынтымақтастық Ұйымы
4. OSCE – ЕҚБҰ (Еуропа Қауіпсіздік және Бірлесу Ұйымы)
5. consider - считаться
6. terrain n. – жер көлемі
7. extend v. - созылу
8. desert n. – шөл
9. approve – қабылдау, мақұлдау
10. amend – түзету енгізу
11. рrotection- қорғау
12. extraction.- щығару
13. dissemination –тарату
14. heritage – мұра
15. preservation – сақтау
16. universal suffrage – жалпы дауыс беру құқығы
17. secret ballot. – жасырын дауыс беру
Read and translate the following text:
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is situated in Central Asia, deep in Eurasian continent. It is territory is as large as 2.724.900 sq km. In terms of the area it is the second largest among the CIS states. It occupies the ninth place in the world according to its square after Russia, China, USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and Australia.
Kazakstan borders upon the following states: China- 1.460 km; Kyrgyzstan- 980 km; Turkmenistan-380 km; Uzbekistan- 2.300 km; the Russian Federation- 6.467 km. The terrain extends west to east from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains and North to South from the Plains of Western Siberia to the oasis and deserts of Central Asia. The Kazakh steppe, with an area of around 804.500 square kilometers, occupies one-third of the country and is the world’s largest dry steppe region. Important rivers and lakes include: the Aral Sea, the Ili River, the Irtysh River, the Ishim River, the Ural River, Lake Balkhash, and Lake Zaisan. The climate is continental, with hot summer and colder winter.
Its population is about 17 million. The population lives mostly in cities and towns and large villages. The largest cities are Astana, Almaty, Karaganda, Shymkent and Pavlodar. Astana is the capital of the Republic. Astana is situated in the central part of the country.
Political system of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan declared itself as an independent country on December 16, 1991. Nursultan Nazarbayev became the country's first president. Kazakhstan's international prestige is growing. It is considered to be the dominant state in the Central Asia. The country is a member of many international organizations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In 2010, Kazakhstan chaired the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the main law of Kazakhstan. It was approved by referendum on August 30, 1995. It was amended once in 2007.The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan guarantees: the right to own property, protection of state symbols, the freedom of speech and dissemination of information, the right of free secondary education, and the protection of the environment, the protection of historical and cultural heritage the preservation of natural resources.
The head of state is President. The head of government is Prime Minister. The Government of Kazakhstan exercises executive power, heads the system of executive bodies and provides guidance of their activities. Prime-minister is appointed by the President. This appointment must be approved by the majority of Parliament. The government consists of the Prime-Minister, Vice Prime-Minister, 3 Prime-Minister deputies and 16 ministers.
The legislative branch in Kazakhstan is represented by a bicameral Parliament: a Lower Chamber - the Majilis, and an Upper Chamber - the Senate. According to the Constitution, the Parliament is a highest representative body of the Republic which carries out legislative functions. Parliament considers the republican budget, ensures the execution of the republican budget, and adopts laws.
There 39 deputies in the Upper Chamber, 32 of them are elected, 7 are appointed by the Head of State. Majilis deputies are elected on the basis of direct, equal and universal suffrage at secret ballot. There are 77 deputies in the Lower Chamber of Parliament.
Economy of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is rich in mineral resources. Development of petroleum, natural gas and mineral extraction attracted over $40 billion in foreign investment in Kazakhstan. According to some estimates, Kazakhstan has the second largest uranium, chromium, lead and zinc reserves, the third largest manganese reserves, the fifth largest copper reserves, and ranks in the top ten for coal, iron and gold. It is also an exporter of diamonds.