NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF UKRAINE

I. Study the following words:

coat of arms [ ] герб

seal [ ] печать

anthem [ ] гимн

alternate [ ] заменять

trident [ ] трезубец

contemporary [ ] современный

dignified [ ] величественный

device [ ] эмблема

renascence [ ] возрождение

wreath [ ] венок

The national emblems of Ukraine: the coat of arms, the flag, the seal and

the anthem, were alternated during the history of our state owing to various

political, social and cultural factors.

The contemporary national coat of arms of Ukraine, a trident, is the most

ancient and dignified symbols of our state. The archeological finds of tridents in

Ukraine go back to the first century A.D. This emblem was a mark of authority and

a mystic symbol of one of the ethnic groups, which inhabited ancient Ukrainian

territory and which came to compose the Ukrainian nation.

After the renascence of independent Ukraine on January 22, 1918, the

trident was adopted by a law as a national device of the Ukrainian national

Republic. It represented the classic trident of Volodymyr the Great in an

ornamental wreath.

The composition of national colours was decreed by a law in 1918. The

light blue above yellow flag was a symbol of the all-Ukrainian unity.

The Ukrainian anthem “Ukraine has Not Yet Perished” is of quite recent

origin. In 1863 the Lviv Journal “The Goal” published the poem of P.Chubynsky.

The same year it was set to music by composer M.Verbytsky. This song rapidly

became popular and gained broad acceptance among Ukrainians. In 1917 it was

officially adopted as the anthem of the Ukrainian state.

16

STATE AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES OF UKRAINE

I. Study the following words:

legislative [ ] - законодательный

constituency [ ] - избирательный округ

autonomous [ ] - автономный

ballot [ ] - голосование

Ukraine is a parliamentary republic with presidential form of administration. The

highest body of legislative power is the Parliament, which operates, partly on a

professional basis. The Parliament has 450 seats, which are filled by deputies

from territorial constituencies. Elections are held every four years. The executive

power in Ukraine is headed by the President. The term of Presidency is five years.

The President forms the Government – the cabinet of Ministers. The territory of

Ukraine administratively consists of 24 regions and 1 autonomous republic (the

Republic of Crimea), which in their turn consist of districts. The presidential

elections, elections to the Supreme Council and to local bodies are universal,

direct, and equal by secret ballot.

Ukraine a brief chronology

I. Study the following words:

1. to contribute [ ] – делать вклад

2. to establish [ ] – устанавливать

3. sovereign [ ] – независимый

4. to adopt [ ] – принимать

5. to accept [ ] –допускать, признавать, принимать

6. empire [ ] – империя

7. to proclaim [ ] – провозглашать, объявлять

8. invasion [ ] – вторжение, нашествие

9. fortification [ ] – укрепление

10.descendant [ ] – потомок

11.to survive [ ] – пережить, выжить

12.warrior [ ] – воин, боец

13.pagan [ ] – языческий

14.Scythians [ ] –скифы