5. Переведите на русский язык.

1) The members of the committee suggested that the agenda (should) be changed.

2) He suggested that the meeting (should) be held as soon as possible.

3) The diplomats proposed that negotiations (should) start at once.

4) I insisted that they (should) accompany us.

5) The leader of the group proposed that they (should) conduct a research in a nember of organizations.

6) The scientists suggested that the experiments (should) be resumed.

7) A radical reconstruction of economy requires that enterprises be self-financing.

8) The Head of the Federal Customs Service of Russia insisted that customs administrations

(should) institutу a range of changes to systems, procedures and administrative responsibilities.

9) The minister suggested that business executives (should) be looking for ways

to improve productivity and quality.

10) The president said that improvements in the development of managers ( should) be made.

6. Переведите на английский язык.

1). Если завтра у меня будет время, я напишу отчет.

2) Если бы у меня было время сегодня, я написал бы отчет сегодня.

3) Если бы у меня вчера было время, я бы уже написала отчет.

4) Если бы у нас было больше времени, можно было бы провести более широкое исследование.

5) Если нет вопросов, конференция закончена.

6) Если бы я была на твоем месте, я бы приняла их предложение.

7) Если бы у нас были необходимые приборы, мы могли бы тогда провести уровень загрязнения воды.

8) Жаль, что у нас так мало единомышленников.

9) Жаль, что эти здания снесли.

10) Жаль, что нам раньше не пришло в голову это решение.

Prepositions

1. Will you pay …. cash?

2. Last year our family went … holiday to Thailand.

3. He bought a small house …. the suburbs.

4. There is a lot of traffic … the streets of our city.

5. Tom is sitting … a café.

6. Where is Helen? She is … the café.

7. When we arrived … the airport, the plane had already taken … .

8. The Johns are staying … a large hotel.

9. Our house is … 23 Oxford street.

10. The people were all standing … a queue.

11. Their flat is … the ground floor.

12. I am afraid I’ve got … the wrong bus.

13. There are some notes … the bottom of the page.

14. The most enjoyable day I had when we went .. a trip … boat.

15. My father often travels … business.

16. All my money was … German marks.

17. Fill in the form … pencil first.

18. Must we do the exercise … writing?

19. …. my opinion, you are mistaken.

20. …. my point of view, there must be more instructive programs on our TV.

21. The boss is arriving … the 8 o’clock plane.

22. I bought this blouse … the outskirts of Bangkok.

23. We were so tired that we went directly … the hotel … taxi.

24. There was a lot of smog .. the air.

25. The old man is snoring … the armchair.

26. …. a way that disaster was a blessing.

27. How many days are there … January?

28. What are you doing … the weekend?

29. Classes start … 8.30.

30. We have been here … two months already.

31. We always go out … Friday night.

32. ….Sundays we don’t have to go to the Academy.

33. I’ll meet you … the station.

34. Shall we take a bus or go … foot.

35. Where is Peter? Why, he’s .. home.

36. Would you like to spend a couple of weeks … an island?

37. There was a terrorist attack … the border yesterday.

38. My life is living … the crossroads.

39. I’ve lost my way … the city but … chance I found a helpful policeman. So … the end I got home.

40. The train left … time.

41. We were .. time for the 11 o’clock train.

42. I stayed in Paris … the Christmas holidays.

43. …. she was … holiday, she wrote me a letter.

44. You must finish the project… a week.

45. You can have a break … you have finished your test.

46. Let’s go .. … a walk?

47. My mom told me I should be home ….. 10 o’clock.

48. I found Spanish difficult … the beginning.

49. There is usually a preface … the beginning of a book.

SECTION III

Tests

Контрольная работа № 1.

Var. I

Text

Employee influence policy.

At all levels of an organization, managers must face the task of arranging people, information, activities and technology. In other words, they must define and design work.

Top management plays a very important role in balancing and integrating the interests of many stakeholders of the enterprise: shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, labor unions, trade associations, governments and so on. Top managers should consider how the interests of various stakeholders differ, how much weight those distinct interests should be given, and the mechanisms by which those various stakeholders can exercise influence over the enterprise.

Employees are major stakeholders in the enterprise, so it is critical for managers to design and administer various mechanisms for employee influence.

All policies, the design and implementation of technology and work systems, the design and administration of compensation, and the design and administration of systems for hiring, promoting, placing, and terminating employees should be examined from the perspective of how much influence employees are given over decisions in these areas. Thus, the employee influence policy area goes well beyond the traditional activities of union-management relations or employee relations or even participative management initiatives that some companies have undertaken. The policy area poses a question much broader than that typically associated with these personnel practices: how to develop a process of mutual influence between two sets of stakeholders – management and employees. Stating the task this way allows the inclusion of worker councils, grievance systems, sensing groups, open-door policies, attitude surveys, ombudsmen, and other due process mechanisms as alternatives or additions to the mix of practices that may be applied in the interest of achieving a mutual influence process appropriate to the strategy of the firm, the values of top management, and the expectations of employees and society. The task of designing and managing a process of mutual influence is primary; the means or the activity is secondary, and is to be judged on the basis of its contribution to this basic Human Resource Management task.

Tasks:

1. Answer the questions:

1) What task do managers face?

2) What do their choices affect?

3) Whose interests should managers balance?

4) Who are major stakeholders in the enterprise?

5) From what perspective should all policies be examined?

6) What question does employee influence policy area pose?

7) What aspects does the employee influence policy include?

2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) …all levels…. an organization, managers must face the task …arranging people, information, activities and technology.

2) Management choices ….these arrangements affect…. the quality …the decisions people make, coordination …functions and tasks, the extent …which people’s competencies are utilized.

3) Management choices also affect the extent …which people are committed …organizational goals.

4) Top management plays a very important role …balancing and integrating the interests …many stakeholders …the enterprise.

5) Top managers should consider the mechanisms …which various stakeholders can exercise influence ….the enterprise.

6) It is critical …managers ….design and administer various mechanisms ….employee influence.

7) The employee influence policy area goes well …the traditional activities …union-management relations.

8) The employee influence policy area poses…. a question broader than that typically associated …. personnel practices.

9) A mix …practices may be applied ….the interest …achieving a mutual influence process appropriate …the strategy …the firm, the values …top management, and the expectations …employees and society.

10) The means …designing and managing a process …mutual influence is to be judged …the basis …its contribution …the basic Human Resource Management task.

3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).

a) to arrange; to design; to affect; to utilize; goal; to integrate; various; distinct; to exercise; to administer; compensation; participative; grievance; mix; primary

b) to include; diverse; complaint; combination; to organize; to influence; to use; to devise; aim; to dispense; payment; taking part; definite; to exert; fundamental

4. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:

Задача организации; определить и спланировать работу; необходимые механизмы; покупатели и поставщики; степень, в которой; профсоюзные ассоциации; решения руководства; преданны целям организации; оказывать влияние; выходит за рамки; осуществление рабочих схем; потребности в развитии; определенные интересы; организация компенсации; системы найма, продвижения по службе, размещения и увольнения служащих; нужды удовлетворяются.

5. Translate from Russian into English:

1) Менеджеры высшего звена должны учитывать насколько отличаются интересы разных пайщиков.

2) Менеджмент играет важную роль в объединении и уравновешивании интересов пайщиков клиентов, поставщиков, работников, профсоюзов и профессиональных объединений, правительства.

3) Вся политика – проектирование и осуществление всех рабочих схем, планирование и организация компенсации и так далее должна рассматриваться с точки зрения степени влияния работников предприятия на решения руководства.

4) В области политики задача менеджмента – гораздо шире чем в тех, которые традиционно связаны с работой с персоналом – а именно, уделять главное внимание взаимоотношениям между работодателями и подчиненными.

Var. II

Text.

President Medvedev offers promise of change.

St.Petersburg - President Dmitry Medvedev raced between panels and podiums this weekend to make the case that change in Russia is afoot, promising to reduce taxes and barriers to foreign capital to attract an urgently needed “investment boom”.

“We have changed – first of all because the whole world has changed,” Medvedev said in his keynote address Friday to a packed hall of Russian and foreign investors at the St.Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Medvedev announced a lower capital gains tax on long-term direct investment starting in 2011 and a huge reduction in the number of strategic companies with restrictions on foreign investment.

Plans to exempt investors from long-term capital gains taxes were first presented by the Finance Ministry in March in hopes of stimulating private equity and venture capital investment. But reports at the time said this would only apply to shares of companies not traded on exchanges.

Strategic industries like energy, aerospace, defense and media have been limited for foreign investment since a 2008 law that requires foreign companies wishing to invest to seek special permission from a commission chaired by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Medvedev said that he had signed a law on Friday morning that reduced the number of strategic enterprises from 208 to 41.

The new law will also reduce the number of so-called federal unitary enterprises from 230 to 159, he said. These enterprises have been criticized as stifling competition and inviting wasteful government spending.

Medvedev said that if conditions remained favorable, corporate taxes would be further reduced in the coming years. He said he had ordered the government to set up a new investment fund focusing on modernization where every ruble in state cash would be supplemented by 3 rubles from the private sector.

The president acknowledged that economic reforms could not be achieved by orders from above. Instead, he said, the government should focus on creating favorable overall conditions. “The state should not tear apples from the tree of economics. What it should do is help to grow our apple orchard, to develop our economic environment,” he said.

Forum participants reacted positively to the speech.

Former World Bank president James Wolfensohn said that while Medvedev was openly addressing the right problems, the country now needed new approaches to solve its overly heavy dependence on natural resources. The government, he added, should also pay more attention to changing the education system. “If you don’t do that, then your ability to confront the technological challenges becomes much less,” he said. Medvedev announced a state-sponsored exchange program to send more Russian students to the world’s leading research institutions.

Tasks.

1. Answer the questions:

1) Why should taxes be reduced in Russia?

2) Whom were plans to exempt investors from long-term capital gains taxes presented by?

3) Will it apply to all companies?

4) What industries have been limited for foreign investment? Why?

5) What kind of enterprises are going to be reduced in number?

6) What did the President compare economics to?

7) How did the Forum participants react to Medvedev’ speech?

8) What does our economy depend on according to James Wolfensohn?

9) What other fields of our life should be reformed?

2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) Medvedev announced a lower capital gains tax ….long-term direct investment starting …2011 and a huge reduction …the number …strategic companies …restrictions …foreign investment.

2) Plans to exempt investors ….long-term capital gains taxes were first presented …the Finance Ministry …March …hopes …stimulating private equity.

3) Reports ….the time said this would only apply …shares …companies not traded ….exchanges.

4) A law that reduced the number ….strategic enterprises ….208 ….41 had been signed …Friday morning … the President.

5) President Medvedev ordered the government to set ….a new investment fund focusing ….modernization where every ruble ….state cash would be supplemented …. 3 rubles …the private sector.

6) Forum participants reacted positively ….the speech.

3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).

a) afoot; to reduce; to attract; boom; keynote address; direct; restrictions; exempt; venture; apply; to require; permission; to chair; to stifle; to focus on; supplement; overall; dependence

b) to relate; underway; reliance; increase; to risk; general; to lessen; to preside; leave; to fascinate; limitations; to concentrate on; main speech; to demand; to add; immediate; to repress

free

4. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:

Уменьшить налоги; убрать барьеры; способствовать объективному отношению к частному капиталу; стимулировать капиталовложения; налог на увеличение рыночной стоимости капитала; долгосрочные прямые инвестиции; требовать от иностранных кампаний; получить специальное разрешение; возглавляемая премьер-министром; налог на корпорации; душить конкуренцию; сосредоточить усилия на; государственная казна; нуждаться в новых подходах; программа обмена; спонсируемый государством

5. Translate from Russian into English:

1) Министерство Финансов впервые представило свой план освободить инвесторов от налогов с увеличения рыночной стоимости капитала в марте этого года.

2) Премьер Министр России Владимир Путин возглавил комиссию, которая дает разрешение иностранным компаниям вкладывать средства в российские предприятия.

3) Так называемые федеральные унитарные предприятия душат конкуренцию и требуют дополнительных расходов правительства.

4) По мнению бывшего главы Всемирного Банка если российское правительство намерено справиться с предстоящими изменениями в технологиях производства, оно должно изменить систему образования в стране.

Контрольная работа № 2.

Text.

The living trends in the UK economy.

As agriculture and forestry have declined in importance to the UK’s overall economy, so rural society has changed dramatically.

A hundred years ago most villages were peopled by families which had lived there for generations. The majority would have worked on the land, their children would have gone to the village school and there would have been a clear social structure, headed by the biggest local landowner, the vicar and perhaps the doctor.

Things are very different today. Now farming and forestry combined account for at most 11% of the local economy in even the most rural of areas. Nationally it accounts for less than 3% of GDP, and in the areas surrounding big cities its direct impact is negligible. Despite this, land prices remain high, particularly in areas within commuting distance of big employment centres. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the south-east or on the outskirts of major cities like Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

The reason is that improvements in transport mean it is possible to enjoy the benefits of living in the countryside, while cashing in on higher urban salaries. As incomes continue to rise, many couples with children are particularly likely to make the move, drawn by the attraction of a relatively small pollution – and traffic-free environment, not to mention small rural schools.

Older couples taking early retirement also feature in the general exodus. Between them, these groups have put huge development pressures on many rural areas. The trend is exacerbated by a falling birth-rate and the growing number of people choosing to live alone.

This means that up to 4.4 million new homes will be needed within the next 20 years while the population remains static or even falls.

Although everyone agrees that ideally new homes should be built within cities or on former industrial land, for various reasons this is frequently impractical.

One problem is a shortage of suitable sites in the areas of highest demand and another is the high cost of reclaiming land which is frequently contaminated by past industrial activity. The biggest problem, however, is simply the huge demand for homes in the countryside within easy reach of major towns, particularly in the south-east corner of England. This inevitably means the birth of new villages and towns on what were once green fields.

1. Answer the questions:

1) What fields of the UK economy have declined in importance lately?

2) How has it affected the structure of the rural society?

3) Where are the land prices highest in Great Britain?

4) What parts of the UK population are most attracted by living in the countryside?

5) What happens to the birth-rate in the UK?

6) How many new homes will be needed in the nearest future?

7) Why is the construction of new homes on former industrial land impractical?

8) Why is it difficult to construct new homes within cities?

2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary.

1) Agriculture and forestry have declined …importance …the UK’s economy.

2) A hundred years ago most villages were peopled ….families which had lived… there ….generations.

3) Farming and forestry combined account … ….most 11% …the local economy …even the most rural …areas.

4) ….this, land prices remain high, particularly ….areas ….commuting distance …big employment centres.

5) Nowhere is this more apparent than …the south-east or …the outskirts ….major cities.

6) Improvements …transport mean it is possible to enjoy… the benefits ….living …the countryside, ….cashing … … higher urban salaries.

7) These groups have put …huge development pressures …many rural areas.

8) … … 4.4 million new homes will be needed …the next 20 years.

9) Ideally new homes should be built …cities or …former industrial land but …various reasons this is frequently impractical.

10) The biggest problem is the huge demand …homes …the countryside …easy reach …major towns.

3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).

a) to decline; dramatically; to people; to account for; impact; negligible; apparent; benefits; to cash in; to feature in; exodus; to exacerbate; static; shortage; contaminate; reclaim; once

b) formerly; decrease; be a part of; departure; be estimated as; lack; influence; strongly, radically; stable; aggravate; to populate; pollute; advantages; evident; restore; insignificant; take advantage of

4. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:

Играть менее важную роль; в течение многих поколений; сельское хозяйство и лесная промышленность вместе; возглавляемая; составлять 5%; прямое воздействие; в пределах езды; центры занятости; пользоваться преимуществами; растущие доходы; не говоря уж; менее загрязненные; уходить на пенсию рано; фигурировать в общей миграции; оказывать влияние на развитие; тенденция обостряется; уровень рождаемости; нехватка подходящих мест для строительства; районы, пользующиеся наибольшим спросом; высокая стоимость; загрязненные промышленными отходами; поблизости

5. Translate from Russian into English:

1) Сто лет назад большая часть населения Великобритании занималась сельским хозяйством, дети ходили в сельские школы и структура общества была четкой и простой: во главе общины стояли крупный землевладелец, местный викарий и иногда доктор.

2) Сейчас цены на землю остаются высокими, особенно в тех областях, которые находятся в пределе нескольких часов езда от больших населенных центров.

3) Причина подобного положения вещей – в том, что современные средства транспорта дают возможность людям наслаждаться благами жизни на природе и в то же время получать более высокую зарплату .

4) По мере того, как доходы людей растут, многие семьи с детьми все чаще переезжают в сельскую местность, где плотность населения ниже, а экология более здоровая, не говоря уж о таких преимуществах как небольшие сельские школы.

5) Люди пожилого возраста также участвуют во всеобщей миграции населения.

Var. II

Text.

A growing class of workaholic Russian freelancers.

No one keeps track of Russia’s exact number of freelancers – the consultants, independent

contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees and the self-employed who set their own hours and often work from home. But experts agreed that their number has soared amid the crisis-related layoffs.

Full-time freelancers account for 500,000 to 600,000 people in Russia’s 70 million-member work force, triple the figure before the recession hit in late 2008, said Denis Strebkov, a sociologist from the Higher School of Economics.

Russia’s largest online portal for freelance workers, Free.lance.ru, alone boasts more than 600, 000 members, or twice as many as 18 months ago. Twenty-two percent of Russian freelancers work solely as freelancers, while 44 percent continue to hold a full-time job. Other categories of Russian freelancers include students, entrepreneurs and housewives. Fifty-eight percent of all Russian freelancers are young – between 18 and 26 – while only 6 percent are 41 and older. More than half of all freelancers have university degrees.

The most popular industries among freelancers are the IT sector, design and multimedia, followed by work with texts, business consulting and engineering.

For most of them, interest in the work takes precedence over the salary. This puts them in sharp contrast with traditional full-time workers, 96 percent of whom identify their salaries as their top criterion in choosing a workplace. This set of values unites Russians with freelancers from other countries. They show much more initiative at work, tend to be workaholics and care about job stability much less than the average Russian. They set their own schedule and choose the kind of work they would like to do.

But this freedom of work often comes at a cost. The top complaint for freelancers – both Russian and foreign – is the unpredictability of their incomes. Even if a project pays well, salary delays are frequent, and half of all freelancers fear that they will be cheated by their work associates. Freelancers get no work benefits or future pension accumulations, however small. They often run into obstacles when trying to get a loan at a bank, applying for a visa to go abroad or doing anything that requires documented sources of income.

Unlike in the US, where freelancers often act as independent contractors and can easily access all information about the taxes they have to pay, Russian freelancers lag behind on legalizing their work.

Tasks:

1. Answer the questions:

1) Why has the number of freelancers soared recently?

2) How many people have become freelancers in Russia?

3) Do they work part-time or full-time?

4) How old are most freelancers?

5) Are they unqualified people only?

6) What industries are most popular among freelancers?

7) What kind of people are freelancers?

8) What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a freelancer?

2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary.

1) The number…. freelancers has soared ….the crisis-related layoffs.

2) Freelancers account ….500,000 …600,000 people ….Russia’s 70 million-member work force, triple the figure ….the recession hit …late 2008.

3) Twenty-two percent …Russian freelancers work solely …freelancers.

4) Fifty-eight percent …all Russian freelancers are young –…18 and 26.

5) For most… freelancers, interest …the work takes precedence ….the salary.

6) Freelancers are …sharp contrast ….traditional full-time workers, 96 percent …whom identify their salaries …their top criterion …choosing a workplace.

7) Freelancers show initiative …work, tend to be workaholics and do not care much ….job.

8) However, freelancers often run ….obstacles when trying to get a loan …a bank, applying …a visa to go abroad or doing anything that requires documented sources …income.

9) In the US freelancers often act ….independent contractors and can easily access all information ….the taxes they have to pay.

3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).

a) contractor; contingent; to soar; recession; to boast; solely; to take precedence; to identify; average; unpredictability; income; to cheat; associate; accumulation; benefits; obstacles; to access; to lag behind

b) provider; barriers; to drag behind; to be superior over; to equate; usual; accidental; to rise; to deceive; partner; to be proud of; decline; impossible to predict; earnings; gains; exclusively; fund; to receive

4. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:

Следить за; независимый подрядчик; человек на временной работе; увольнения, связанные с кризисом; насчитывать; рабочая сила; наступил упадок; работать исключительно на договорной основе; предприниматели; иметь постоянную работу; доминировать над; склонны быть; рабочий график; демонстрировать инициативу;

иметь оборотную сторону; задержки выплат; подвергаться обману со стороны партнеров; не иметь никаких льгот; сталкиваться с препятствиями.

5. Translate from Russian into English:

1) Число независимых подрядчиков – консультантов людей работающих неполный рабочий день, на временных условиях, свободных предпринимателей за последнее время значительно выросло.

2) Более половины людей, работающих исключительно на договорной основе, имеют высшее образование.

3) Для большинства из них удовлетворение, получаемое ими от работы – важнее заработка, что резко отличает их от тех, кто работает на постоянной основе.

4) Однако, свободный график и независимость имеют свою оборотную сторону.

5) Даже если дело оказывается выгодным, заработки свободных предпринимателей – как в России так и в других странах – нерегулярны, и задержки случаются довольно часто. К тому же, половина свободных предпринимателей боятся, что их обманут партнеры.

6) Я думаю, что пенсионные отчисления – пусть и небольшие лучше, чем когда этих отчислений нет вообще.

Контрольная работа № 3.

Var. I

Text.

Nobel prize in economics goes to social scientists.

In a departure from prevailing economic theory, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science was awarded Monday to two social scientists for their work in demonstrating that business people, including competitors, often develop implicit relationships that supplement and resolve problems that arise from free-market competition.

Elinor Ostrom of Indiana University was cited “for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons,” and Oliver E. Williamson of the University of California, Berkeley, “for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm.”

Ms. Ostrom becomes the first woman to win the prize for economics. Her background is in political science, not economics. “It is part of the merging of the social sciences,” Robert Schiller, an economist at Yale, said of the awards Monday. “Economics has been too isolated, and these awards are a sign of the greater enlightenment going around today. We were too stuck on efficient markets, and it was derailing our thinking.”

The prize committee, in making the awards, seemed to be influenced by the credit crisis and the severe recession that in the minds of many mainstream economists have highlighted the shortcomings of an unregulated market-place, in which “economic actors”, left to their own devices, will act in their own self-interest. Classical free-market theory holds that in doing so they enhance everyone’s well-being.

The committee, in effect, said that theory was too simplistic and ignored the unstated relationships and behaviors that develop among companies and within companies that compete. “Basically there is a common understanding that develops even among competitors when they are dealing with each other”, Mr Schiller said, adding that “when people make business contact, even competitors, they can’t anticipate everything, so an element of trust comes in.”

In its announcement, the committee said that Ms Ostrom “has challenged the conventional wisdom that common property is poorly managed and should be better regulated by central authorities or privatized. Based on numerous studies of user-managed fish stocks, pastures, woods, lakes and groundwater basins, Ms Ostrom concludes that the outcomes are, more often than not, better than predicted by standard theories.”

Mr. Williamson’s research, the committee said, found that “when market competition is limited, firms are better suited for conflict resolution than markets.”

The economics prize was created in 1969 by the Swedish central bank in honor of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who established the awards for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, peace and literature.

Tasks:

1. Answer the questions:

1) How many people were awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences this year?

2) Who is the first woman to win the prize in economics? Does she specialize in economics?

Where does she come from?

3) Why was she awarded the prize?

4) Why is the classical free-market theory considered to be too simplistic nowadays?

5) What kind of relations do people who make business contract have?

6) What view does Ms Ostrom challenge?

7) What does she base her conclusions on?

8) Who was the second scientist to win the prize in economics? Where does he come from?

9) What does his research show?

10) Whom was the economics prize created by?

2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) The Nobel Memorial Prize …Economic Science was awarded Monday …two social scientists ….their work …demonstrating that business people, including competitors, often develop…. implicit relationships that supplement and resolve…. problems that arise ….free-market competition.

2) Economics has been too isolated, and these awards are a sign …the greater enlightenment going ….today.

3) …. the minds …many mainstream economists the credit crisis and the severe recession have highlighted …the shortcomings …an unregulated market-place.

4) Economic actors, left ….their own devices, act …their own self-interest.

5) The theory ignored the unstated relationships and behaviors that develop ….companies and ….companies that compete.

6) Common understanding develops even ….competitors when they are dealing ….each other.

7) Based …numerous studies …user-managed fish stocks, pastures, woods, lakes and groundwater basins, Ms Ostrom concludes that the outcomes are, more often ….not, better ….predicted ….standard theories.

8) The economics prize was created …1969 …the Swedish central bank …honor …Alfred Nobel, the inventor …dynamite, who established …the awards …achievements …some field.

3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).

a) to prevail; departure; including; competitor; to supplement; to resolve; to arise; to cite; governance; boundaries; background; to merge; enlightenment; to be stuck on; to derail; recession; mainstream; highlight; shortcoming; unregulated; enhance; trust; to challenge; conventional; outcome; predict; suited for; establish

b) free; dominate; result; education; rival; common; deviation; management; improve, increase; comprising; fit for; foresee; defect; to add; customary; to originate; bounds, limits; to emphasize; chief direction; to refer to; to settle; decline; to dispute, argue; expertise, specialization; to unite; to set up; to be crazy about; to lead to a disaster; chief; confidence

4. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:

В отход от общепринятой экономической теории; включая конкурентов; подспудно развивать отношения; возникать из рыночной конкуренции; управление экономикой; полномочия фирм; завоевать награду; специализация в; соединение общественных дисциплин; более просвещенный взгляд на ситуацию; зациклиться на эффективности рынка; ограничивать мышление; острый экономический спад; улучшать всеобщее благосостояние; слишком примитивный; подспудные отношения; вести деловые контакты; государственная собственность; угодья, находящиеся в руках тех, кто работает на них; решение конфликтов; в честь; достижения в деле борьбы за мир

5. Translate from Russian into English:

1) В отход от общепринятой экономической теории, Нобелевская Преимя в области экономики была в присуждена в этом году двум ученым занимающимся общественными дисциплинами.

2) Ученым удалось доказать, что между различными предпринимателями – даже в условиях конкуренции часто устанавливаются подспудные отношения, которые способствуют развитию бизнеса и помогают справиться с проблемами, возникающими при конкуренции свободного рынка.

3) Принимая решение о присуждении премии, нобелевский комитет учитывал кризис в банковской системы и условия экономического упадка, которые по мнению многих видных ученых-экономистов выявили недостатки нерегулируемого рынка, участники которого действуют в собственных интересах.

4) Когда люди заводят деловые контакты – даже если они и конкуренты – они не могут рассчитать все до мелочей, поэтому им приходится в какой-то мере опираться на честность партнеров и доверять им.

5) Когда рыночная конкуренция ограничена, фирмы решают спорные проблемы эффективнее чем рынок.

Var. II

Text.

Customs staff compensation.

Staff compensation is a crucial factor in HR management. It should be sufficiently high to attract and retain staff with necessary qualifications to start work at customs. However, overall staff salaries are often inadequate and the difference between the compensation of management and lower level staff is much narrower than what prevails in the private sector. While compensation is not the only motivating factor for doing a good job, it certainly ranks high. Developing esprit de corps and pride in the office are complementary motivators that are often not sufficiently emphasized.

In most cases customs does not have much flexibility in setting salary levels and must adhere to the civil service pay scale. Frequently, fiscal stringency has caused this pay scale to lag substantially behind the prevailing pay scale for equally qualified staff in the private sector. This situation discourages staff and often leads them to seek out facilitation money. It is not unusual for the most valuable staff members to leave the service, often to use their acquired knowledge to work as brokers. Inside knowledge of the customs service and familiarity with customs staff can both facilitate trade formalities for their customers, and potentially undermine integrity. The integrity risk has led some countries to prevent customs staff from providing customs brokerage services for several years after ending employment with customs.

A partial solution to the salary scale rigidities is to provide bonuses to staff. While many customs services pay bonuses, only a few pay them in a way that enhances effectiveness and efficiency. To do so, bonuses must be large enough to begin to bridge the gap between what private sector workers earn (discounted for the job security in the public sector), and satisfy a number of stringent criteria. Bonuses must have internal and external legitimacy, and be objective, transparent, and easy to administer. In addition, they should be SMART, that is, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed.

Internal legitimacy requires that customs staff perceive the bonus system to be distributed justly, without favoritism, with transparency, and with possibilities to appeal. External legitimacy refers to the acceptability of the bonuses outside customs, a requirement for allocating the necessary budget resources that pay for these bonuses. In the absence of either internal or external legitimacy, the bonus system will not be sustainable.

An alternative to providing substantial bonuses would be to put revenue staff on a higher pay scale than the rest of the civil service, in light of the crucial importance that resource mobilization plays in running the government. Better pay would also protect customs staff somewhat against the temptations of accepting bribes from traders. A higher pay scale would need to be combined with overall customs reforms that provide guarantees of enhanced effectiveness and efficiency.

Tasks:

1. Answer the questions:

1) What is a crucial factor in HR management?

2) Why do customs officers feel discouraged and seek out facilitation money?

3) How does staff use their acquired knowledge?

4) How do customs administrations in some countries cope with the situation of staff turnover?

5) How can bonuses prevent staff from leaving the public service?

6) Why should bonuses have internal legitimacy?

7) What does external legitimacy refer to?

2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) …most cases customs does not have much flexibility ….setting salary levels and must adhere ….the civil service pay scale.

2) Fiscal stringency has caused the current pay scale to lag substantially ….the prevailing pay scale ….equally qualified staff ….the private sector.

3) The integrity risk has led some countries to prevent customs staff ….providing customs brokerage services ….several years …..ending employment ….customs.

4) A partial solution ….the salary scale rigidities is to provide bonuses ….staff.

5) Internal legitimacy requires that customs staff perceive the bonus system to be distributed justly, ….favoritism, ….transparency, and ….possibilities to appeal.

6) External legitimacy refers ….the acceptability ….the bonuses ….customs, a requirement ….allocating the necessary budget resources that pay …these bonuses.

7) An alternative ….providing substantial bonuses would be to put revenue staff …a higher pay scale than the rest …the civil service, ….light …the crucial importance that resource mobilization plays ….running the government.

8) Better pay would also protect customs staff somewhat …..the temptations ….accepting bribes ….traders.

3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).

a) crucial; sufficiently; to retain; to prevail; to rank; esprit de corps; complementary; to emphasize; flexibility; to adhere; stringency; to discourage; facilitation; to undermine; integrity; to enhance; legitimacy; transparent; to administer; to allocate

b) to allot; to stick to; team spirit; lawfulness; to hold; significant; to dissuade; honesty; enough; to improve; to rate; to weaken; open; to triumph; to dispense; compliance; aid; additional; to accent; strictness

4. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:

Важный фактор; управление персоналом; необходимые навыки; зарплата в целом; стимулирующее средство; цениться высоко; чувство солидарности; устанавливать уровень зарплаты; ограниченность финансовых средств; существенно отставать; дополнительные деньги; подвергать испытанию честность; маклерство; частичное решение; жесткая шкала в зарплате; внутренняя и внешняя законность; объективны и открыты; возместить разницу; существенные вознаграждения; конкретные и умеренные; жизнеспособная система; соблазн брать взятки; усовершенствованная эффективность

5. Translate from Russian into English:

1) Как правило зарплата работников таможни недостаточно высока и разница между оплатой труда менеджера и обычных работников гораздо меньше чем в частном секторе.

2) Пока еще недостаточно ценится та роль, которую играют честь мундира и профессиональная гордость в привлечении нового персонала.

3) Недостаток финансовых средств приводит к тому, что работники одной и той же квалификации в государственном и частном секторе получают разные зарплаты.

4) Знание системы работы таможни изнутри и знакомство с персоналом таможни может помочь работнику частного сектора ускорить таможенное оформление груза или багажа потенциального клиента, а это часто сопряжено с подделкой документов.

5) Бонусы должны иметь внутреннюю и внешнюю законность и быть объективными, прозрачными и простыми в распределении.

Контрольная работа № 4.

Var. I

China Races by Japan to become No. 2 global economy

China has roughly the same land as the United States, but it is burdened with a fifth of the world’s population and insufficient resources.

Its per capita income is more on a par with those of impoverished countries like Algeria, El Salvador and Albania – which, along with China, are close to $3,600 – than that of the United States, where it is about $46,000.

Yet there is little disputing that under the direction of the Communist Party, China has begun to reshape the way the global economy functions by virtue of its growing dominance of trade, its huge hoard of foreign exchange reserves and U.S. government debt, and its voracious appetite for oil, coal, iron ore and other natural resources.

China is already a major driver of global growth. The country’s leaders have grown more confident on the international stage and have begun to assert greater influence in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with things like special trade agreements and multibillion-dollar resource deals.

“They’re exerting a lot of influence on the global economy and becoming dominant in Asia,” said Edwar S. Prasad, a professor of trade policy at Cornell University in New York. “A lot of other economies in the region are essentially riding on China’s coattails, and this is remarkable for an economy with a low per capita income.”

In Japan, the mood was one of resignation. Though increasingly eclipsed by Beijing on the world stage, Japan has benefited from a booming China, initially from businesses moving production there to take advantage of lower wages and, as local incomes have risen, from tapping a large and increasingly lucrative market for Japan goods.

Beijing is also beginning to shape global dialogues on a range of issues, analysts said. Last year, for instance, it asserted that the dollar should be phased out as the world’s primary reserve currency.

And while the United States and the European Union are struggling to grow after the worst economic crisis in decades, China has continued to gain by investing heavily in infrastructure and backing a stimulus plan worth 4 trillion renminbi, or $588 billion.

“This is just the beginning,” said Wang Tao, an economist at UBS in Beijing. “China is still a developing country. So it has a lot of room to grow. And China has the biggest impact on commodity prices in Russia, India, Australia and Latin America.”

There are huge challenges ahead, though. Economists say that China’s economy depends too heavily on exports and investment and that it needs to encourage greater domestic consumption, something China has struggled to do.

State-run banks in the country have recently been criticized for lending too aggressively in the last year while shifting some loans off their balance sheets to disguise lending and evade rules meant to curtail the supply of credit.

The country also faces huge environmental challenges that could undermine its expansion.

China is also locked in a fierce debate over its currency policy, with the United States, European Union and others accusing Beijing of keeping the renminbi artificially low to bolster exports, leading to huge trade surpluses for China but major bilateral trade deficits for the United States and the European Union.

Regardless, China’s rapid growth suggests that it will continue to compete fiercely with the United States and Europe for natural resources, while also offering great opportunities for companies eager to tap its market.

Tasks:

I. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) China is burdened …. a fifth …. the world’s population and insufficient resources.

2) …. the direction of the Communist Party China has begun to reshape the way the global economy functions …virtue ….its growing dominance … trade.

3) China is exerting a lot …influence … the global economy.

4) Japan has benefited ….a booming China, initially ….businesses moving production there to take advantage ….lower wages and ….tapping a large and increasingly lucrative market …Japan goods.

5) China has asserted that the dollar should be phased …as the world’s primary reserve currency.

6) The United States, European Union and others accuse Beijing ….keeping the renminbi artificially low to bolster exports, leading ….huge trade surpluses …China but major bilateral trade deficits ….the United States and the European Union.

II. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b):

a) roughly; dispute; voracious; to assert; to eclipse; to boom; impact; challenge; to evade; to curtail; to undermine

b) to destroy; difficult problem; influence; debate; to maintain; to avoid; to outshine; to grow; greedy; approximately; to reduce

III. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents from the text:

Быть обремененным чем-то; бедные страны; растущее господство; волчий аппетит; движущая сила мирового масштаба; оказывать влияние на; миллиардные сделки; вытеснена с мировой арены; воспользоваться более низкой зарплатой; прибыльный рынок; внутреннее потребление; валютная политика; активный торговый баланс; наравне с; на душу населения; пойти в гору благодаря связям

IV. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1) Япония, хотя и чувствует себя вытесненной с мировой арены, выиграла от растущей экономики Китая тем, что многие японцы завели в Китае свой бизнес, пользуясь тем, что заработные платы там ниже.

2) Следует согласиться, что Китай утвердился себя в роли мирового лидера не только в экономике, но и в политике.

3) Китай оказывает огромное влияние на развитие мировой экономики благодаря своему господству в торговле, огромным запасам иностранной валюты и долгу правительства США.

4) В то время как США и многие европейские страны пытаются выйти из экономического кризиса, экономика Китая продолжает набирать темп роста, превращаясь в движущую силу мирового масштаба.

5) Китай уже оказывает огромное влияние на цены на товары во многих странах Азии.

Var. II

Tangled triangle of Russia, China and the U.S.

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks marked the beginning of the end of the U.S. global domination. The U.S. fall from the stars was accelerated by its unsuccessful, taxing military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq and the deep economic crisis.

By 2009, it became obvious that the “Pax Americana” global empire was a pipe dream, and the United States – now under the leadership of a more pragmatic and realistic President Barack Obama – began looking for new alliances. One of the Obama administration’s ideas was sharing the burden of responsibility for global security with China, whose economy continued to grow at full speed during the global crisis.

In February 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton proposed creating a U.S.-Chinese superpower alliance to collectively solve the most pressing global economic and political problems. But the Chinese leadership flatly rejected Clinton’s proposal. How could China possibly create an “axis” with the United States when both are locked in a fierce geopolitical rivalry and are unable to overcome thorns in the bilateral relationship such as the sale of U.S. weapons to Taiwan?

Even if these problems didn’t exist, a long-term U.S.-Chinese or Russian-Chinese alliance would be difficult to achieve. For one, after being burned by the failed alliances with Washington and Moscow, Beijing has vowed to avoid formal alliances with a superpower; this has become a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy. Second, China has historically vowed to “fight against hegemony”. China has always insisted that it has no ambitions to become a hegemony and is opposed to any global domination by any superpower.

China learned its lesson in the early 1980s when, after cozying up to the United States to oppose the Soviet Union, it quickly realized the downside of this alliance – that it had a negative impact on China’s reputation in the Third World, which was China’s traditional basis of support and which shared Beijing’s opposition to U.S. hegemony.

Thus, Washington must come up with another way to preserve its dominant position in global affairs. If China doesn’t want to play ball, it could mean that it is intent on decreasing U.S. political and economic influence when and where it can. This is why many U.S. policy-makers view China as the country’s largest threat.

How can the United States counter this threat? In part, with Russia’s help. And so, once again, Washington has courted Moscow to help the United States counterbalance China’s growing global influence. But the United States doesn’t realize that Russia has no interest in alienating China. Moscow is more interested in cooperating with Beijing than counterbalancing it, particularly when Russia’s primary goal is modernization.

Eighteenth century French philosopher Charles de Montesquieu said, “Small countries perish from external enemies, and large countries perish from internal ones.” Russia has more than enough internal problems that it needs to solve without having to worry about conflicts with China.

Tasks:

I. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) After September 11, 2009, the United States ….the leadership ….a more pragmatic and realistic President Barack Obama began looking ….new alliances.

2) One ….the Obama administration’s ideas was sharing the burden ….responsibility ….global security …. China.

3) It seems that both the USA and China are locked …. a fierce geopolitical rivalry and are unable to overcome thorns ….the bilateral relationship such …. the sale …. U.S. weapons …. Taiwan.

4) ….. cozying … …. the United States to oppose the Soviet Union, China quickly realized the downside … this alliance – that it had a negative impact …. China’s reputation … the Third World.

5) Washington must come … … another way to preserve its dominant position … global affairs.

II. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b):

a) to accelerate; obvious; to look for; alliance; pressing; flatly; fierce; rivalry; thorns; hegemony; cornerstone; to cozy up; downside; to be intent on; to decrease; to counter; primary; to perish

b) to collapse; to quicken; evident; fundamental; to be eager; to make friends with; axis; urgent; supremacy; obstacles; competition; disadvantage; to diminish; decisively; wild; to resist; to search for; center

III. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents from the text:

Глобальное господство; безуспешная военная кампания; несбыточная мечта; искать новые союзы; разделять бремя ответственности; прямо отвергнуть предложение; геополитическое соперничество; преодолеть барьеры; несостоявшиеся союзы; краеугольный камень политики; негативная сторона альянса; разделять отрицательное отношение; выступить с идеей; противостоять угрозе; внешние враги

IV. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1) Отрезвление США произошло тем быстрее, что оно сопровождалось безуспешными дорогостоящими военными кампаниями в Афганистане и Ираке и глубоким экономическим кризисом.

2) В феврале 2009 года Государственный Секретарь США Хилари Клинтон выступила с предложением создать союз двух супердержав – США и Китая, чтобы вместе решать важнейшие глобальные проблемы в области экономики и политики.

3) Даже если бы этих проблем не существовало, долгосрочный союз США и Китая или Китая и Росси вряд ли был бы возможен.

4) Китай всегда настаивал на том, что не стремится стать господствующей державой и в принципе против того, чтобы какая-либо сверхдержава претендовала на мировое господство.

5) США не понимают, что Россия совсем не заинтересована в отчуждении Китая. Москва гораздо более заинтересована в том, чтобы сотрудничать с Китаем, нежели в противостоянии ему – особенно сейчас, когда главной целью России является модернизация экономики.

Контрольная работа № 5.

Var. I

Customs Union Agreed with Belarus, Kazakhstan.

Moscow – President Dmitry Medvedev met with his counterparts Alexander Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev in Minsk on Friday, where they agreed to the creation of a unified customs tariff, which will start Jan.1, as well as a unified customs code, which will go into effect on July 1.

About 92 percent of the new tariff regime is based on current Russian duties, First Deputy Prime minister Igor Shuvalov said.

And, as Russia has, on average, the highest tariffs of the group, that means that Kazakhstan and Belarus will be raising duties on a wide swathe of items.

“We had to agree with our partners on lowering certain customs tariffs on certain groups of goods, and our partners had to raise certain tariffs,” Shuvalov said, adding that Kazakhstan had to raise tariffs on more than 5,000 items.

“This is a difficult process… It was necessary to make compromises in order to ensure all the decisions could go into effect starting Jan.1”, he said.

But with Russia as the largest external market for both Belarus and Kazakhstan, raising tariffs remains a lucrative bet for both countries.

“The creation of the customs union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan will allow the three countries to raise their gross domestic product 15 percent by 2015,” Nazarbayev said. “A common market with GDP of $2 trillion will be attractive for investors.”

Nevertheless, there are still several sore points remaining in the formation of a unified customs tariff, said Alexander Portansky, head of the information office for Russia’s WTO bid.

“These sore points will affect the economies of each of the three countries – for example, the customs duties on cars in Belarus, which are lower than those in Russia,” Portansky said.

The countries still haven’t agreed to a set of automobile tariffs, but the Russian side is concerned that the tentative plan for duties would lead to a flood of used cars from Belarus and Kazakhstan and crush the domestic auto market.

While tariffs for Belorussian dealers would jump to the same level as the Russian tariffs, duties for individuals would remain several times lower, which could result in caravans of Belorussian auto runners streaming into Russia.

A number of decisions regarding the customs union don’t correspond to the interests of Belarus in full, Lukashenko said, adding that he hoped that the decisions would nevertheless bring a balance of interests and “common results for all sides.”

Medvedev repeated his assertion that entering the customs union would not affect Russia’s plans to join the WTO.

“There are two options: either enter the WTO with the customs union, which no longer exists only on paper, or each country can enter with the agreed-upon positions, but separately,” he said, adding that both options were acceptable.

But experts say the new customs union could create an entirely new set of hurdles for Russia’s accession to the WTO.

Tasks:

I. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) President Dmitry Medvedev met … his counterparts Alexander Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev … Minsk … Friday, where they agreed … the creation … a unified customs tariff.

2) Russia has, … average, the highest tariffs … the group, that means that Kazakhstan and Belarus will be raising duties … a wide swathe … items.

3) It was necessary to make compromises … order … ensure all the decisions could go … effect.

4) The Russian side is concerned that the tentative plan …. duties would lead …. a flood … used cars … Belarus and Kazakhstan.

5) A number … decisions regarding the customs union don’t correspond … the interests … Belarus … full, Lukashenko said.

II. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b):

a) counterpart; to be based on; to raise; swathe; in order to; to ensure; lucrative; sore; concerned with; dealers; assertion; option; acceptable; hurdle; accession

b) admission; profitable; to be grounded on; barrier; difficult to solve; range; with the purpose of; pleasing; businessmen; to guarantee; worried about; claim; alternative; colleague; to increase

III. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents from the text:

Единый таможенный тариф; ныне существующий тарифный режим; повышать пошлины; ряд товаров; добиться компромисса; вступать в силу; выгодная сделка; внутренний валовый продукт; общий рынок; точки разногласия; предполагаемый план; внутренний рынок; в отношении чего-то; отвечать интересам; существовать на бумаге; совершенно новый ряд барьеров; вступление в ВТО

IV. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1) Мы вынуждены были уступить нашим партнерам и снизить некоторые таможенные тарифы на определенные группы товаров; в свою очередь наши партнеры повысят некоторые тарифы.

2) Так как Россия является самым крупным внешним рынком как для Белоруссии так и для Казахстана, повышение тарифов является прибыльным для обеих стран.

3) Тем не менее, в создании единого таможенного тарифа есть ряд пунктов, вызывающих разногласия.

4) В то время как тарифы для бизнесменов Белоруссии достигнут того же уровня, что и в России, пошлины, которые для физических лиц будут в несколько раз ниже – что может привести к тому, что потоки белорусских машин устремятся в Россию и обрушат внутренний рынок.

5) Существуют две возможности для выбора: либо вступить в ВТО всем таможенным союзом, который теперь существует де факто, либо каждая страна будет вступать в него отдельно, согласовав позицию с остальными членами Таможенного Союза.

Var. II

Putin Says Customs Union Delayed.

Moscow – Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday conceded that a Russian-led customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan would not come into force by the planned July 1 deadline, casting serious doubts on Moscow’s commitment to the plan.

Several key disagreements were not resolved on Friday when Putin met with the Belorussian and Kazakhstan prime ministers in St. Petersburg, including Moscow’s desire to keep protectionist measures for its auto and aerospace industries.

The union “cannot come into full force”, Putin told Mir, a television channel for the Commonwealth of Independent States, in an interview posted on the government’s web site.

“If we allow this or that product into our customs zone, de facto without import duties, this will have long-term effects… In essence, it would jeopardize whole industries in Russia,” Putin said.

Analysts had been skeptical about the union’s chances for success, often citing Russia’s intermittent enthusiasm for joining the World Trade Organization. Moscow submitted its application to join the WTO in June 1993 – nearly 17 years ago – and remains the largest economy outside the bloc.

Regular trade disputes with Belarus have also hampered negotiations on the customs union.

On Friday, Putin said 18 more agreements would need to be signed before the July 1 deadline. The three states previously agreed to introduce a common external tariff and set up rules and customs duties by that time.

Now, Moscow will seek to establish the common economic zone by July 1, 2012, six months later than previously planned, Putin said in the interview.

The remarks indicate that his suggestion a day earlier to enlarge the customs union, potentially to include six new states, may have been premature.

“I don’t know of a single Eurasian Economic Community member who would not want to join the work of the customs union,” Putin said at a meeting of the group in St. Petersburg on Friday.

Besides Belarus and Kazakhstan, the EEC’s members are Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine have observer status.

In comments at the meeting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov did not express any eagerness to join the customs union, saying only that he hoped bilateral trade with its members “would not change for the worse,” Interfax reported.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych indicated last week during a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev that Ukraine, a WTO member, would pursue further economic integration with the European Union rather than with Russia.

Still, Putin praised the union’s progress, saying it “has grown out of its purely economic format and is becoming a new geopolitical reality.” He also called it the main driving force of integration between EEC countries.

Russia will gradually remove barriers to free migration of labor within the zone and “measures to protect the domestic market that were introduced during the crisis,” he said.

Tasks:

I. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:

1) A Russian-led customs union … Belarus and Kazakhstan will not come … force … the planned July 1 deadline, which casts serious doubts … Moscow’s commitment … the plan.

2) Analysts are skeptical …. the union’s chances … success, often citing Russia’s intermittent enthusiasm … joining the World Trade Organization.

3) … comments … the meeting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov did not express any eagerness to join the customs union.

4) Putin praised the union’s progress, saying it “has grown … … its purely economic format and is becoming a new geopolitical reality.”

5) Russia will gradually remove barriers … free migration … labor … the zone and measures to protect the domestic market that were introduced … the crisis.

II. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b):

a) to concede; key; disagreements; to jeopardize; to cite; intermittent; to hamper; to seek; to set up; previously; to indicate; premature; eagerness; to pursue; to remove

b) to establish; to admit; to withdraw; willingness; before; interest in; uneven; hasty; to follow; chief; to refer to; to hinder; to mean; to strive for; to threaten; disputes

III. Match the word combinations with their English equivalents from the text:

Подставить под сомнение; основные разногласия; защитные меры; размещенный на сайте; иметь долгие последствия; подать заявление; препятствовать переговорам; крайний срок; поспешное предложение; статус наблюдателя; двусторонняя торговля; измениться к худшему; стремиться к дальнейшему экономическому объединению; снять барьеры;

по сути

IV. Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1) В пятницу, когда три премьер- министра встретились в Петербурге, ряд основных разногласий еще не был решен.

2) Если мы разрешим ввоз того или иного товара в зону нашего таможенного контроля, фактически без уплаты пошлин, это подставит под угрозу целые отрасли промышленности в России.

3) Москва намерена установить общую экономическую зону к первому июля 2012 года, то есть шестью месяцами позже условленного срока.

4) Эти замечания свидетельствуют о том, что высказанное им днем раньше предложение расширить таможенный союз, включив в него еще шесть государств, возможно, было преждевременным.

5) Россия будет постепенно снимать барьеры для свободного движения трудовых ресурсов, а также ослабит меры по защите внутреннего рынка, введенные во время кризиса.

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