Kazakhstan

In short stories

Сборник лингвoстрановедческих материалов

на английском языке

г.Усть-Каменогорск

2012г.

Введение

PART I: GEOGRAPHY

OUR NATIVE COUNTRY

Kazakhstan has always been a country of mystery and attraction for foreigners. We, people, living in Kazakhstan love our country and are proud of it. We would like other nations to understand and love our homeland.

The official name of our country is the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is situated in the central part of the Eurasian continent. In the east and the north it borders on the Russian Federation. It has also common borders with China, Kyrgyzia, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Its area is 2,724 thousand square kilometers, and it is divided into 14 regions. There are 83 cities and 204 townships in the country.

Astana is the capital of our country. As far as you know, it is a new capital and it is developing now. Many modern buildings are being built there and in future Astana is sure to become one of the most beautiful and developed cities of the state. Other major cities are Almaty, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Semipalatinsk, Shymkent, Ust- Kamenogorsk and others.

The population of Kazakhstan numbers 15,641,000 people of 120 ethnic backgrounds. They are Kazakhs, Russians, Germans, Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Tatars, Turks, Koreans, and many others. The state language of the Republic of Kazakhstan is Kazakh. The Russian language has the status of the language of international communication and it is used equally with the Kazakh language. Minority group languages are freely spoken as well.

• Find English equivalents in the text:

1. Tam строится много современных зданий.

2. Государственный язык Республики Казахстан – казахский.

3. На востоке и севере он граничит с Российской Федерацией.

4. Русский язык имеет статус языка межнационального общения.

5. Казахстан всегда был таинственной и привлекательной страной для иностранцев.

• Read the end of the sentence and find its beginning in the text:

1. … and is divided into 14 regions. There are 83 cities and 204 townships in the country.

2. … and developed cities of the state.

3. … and are proud of it.

4. … and it is used equally with the Kazakh language.

5. … part of the Eurasian continent.

• Find antonyms in the text and read the sentences with them:

1. ugly, b) village, c) majority, d) different, e) less than

• Choose the correct word in the box:

the minority, mystery, are proud, official, continent, borders, occupies, divided, developing, major, The state

1. … language of the Republic of Kazakhstan is Kazakh.

2. We, people living in Kazakhstan, love our country and … of it.

3. The …name of our country is The Republic of Kazakhstan.

d) Kazakhstan has always been a country of … and attraction for foreigners.

e) In the eаst and north it … on the Russian Federation.

6. It … the territory of 2724 thousand square kilometres and it is …into 14 regions.

7. As far as you know, it is a new capital and it is … now and many modern buildings are being built there.

h) It is situated in the central part of the Eurasian… .

i) Other …cities are Almaty, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Semipalatinsk, Shymkent, Ust- Kamenogorsk, and others.

j) The languages of …groups are freely spoken as well.

k) The …name of our country is the Republic of Kazakhstan.

PART II: POLITICAL SYSTEM

THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF KAZAKHSTAN

The main law of the state – the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted in 1995. According to the Constitution the Republic of Kazakhstan is a unitary state with a presidential form of government, which proclaims itself as a democratic, secular, legal and social state. The president of the state is elected for a five-year term by universal, equal and direct voting. The first President of the Republic Nursultan Nazarbaev was elected in 1991. His term was extended by the national referendum (1995) to the year 2000, and then to the year 2005.

The highest representative body that performs legislative functions is the Parliament of the Republic. The Parliament consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Majilis acting on a permanent basis. The Senate is formed of 47 deputies (40 of which are two persons, elected from each region; seven deputies are appointed by the President of the Republic). Majilis consists of 67 deputies, elected by one-mandate constituencies (territorial parts). The period between Parliamentary elections is four years.

The Government implements the executive power in the country. It is headed by the Prime Minister who is appointed by the President with the approval of the Parliament. The Government is responsible for its work to the President and the Parliament.

The judicial system of the republic is represented by the Supreme Court and the local courts of the state. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body for civil and criminal cases. The legacy of their actions is under the control of the Constitutional Council, which consists of 7 members who are elected for a period of 6 years.

Local representative and executive bodies exercise control over regional matters. Local representative bodies (Maslikhats) express the will of the population of the corresponding administrative – territorial units. An oblast’s administrative government led by an Oblast Akim oversees executive power in each of Kazakhstan’s regions (Oblasts). Oblast Akims are nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the President.

• Answer the questions:

1. What is the main law of the state?

2. When was the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted?

3. Who is the first President of Republic of Kazakhstan?

4. How many deputies is the Senate formed by?

5. Who is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan now?

6. Do you know any other information about the political system of Kazakhstan?

7. What do you know about foreign policy?