Unit 3 Topic: Russia and my native city. Text 1. Russia.

Vocabulary:

to border on – граничить с

variety – разнообразие

natural resources – природные ресурсы

ferrous and non-ferrous metals – черные и цветные металлы

heritage – наследие

destination – направление, место посещения

nicknamed – прозванный, по прозвищу

comprise – состоять из

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. The country is situated in Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia. It occupies over 17 million square km.

Our land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are the seas of three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. In the south and in the west the country borders on fourteen countries. It also has a sea border with the USA.

There is hardly a country in the world where such a great variety of flora and fauna can be found as in our country. Our country has numerous forests, plains and steppes, taiga and tundra, highlands and deserts. There are over two thousand rivers in our country.

There are 11 time zones. The climate conditions are rather different: from arctic and moderate to continental and subtropical. Our country is one of the richest in natural resources countries in the world. There is oil, natural gas, coal, different ores, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other minerals.

The rich cultural heritage and great natural variety of the country attract crowds of tourists. Major tourist routes in Russia include a journey around the Golden Ring of ancient cities, cruises on the big rivers like the Volga, and long journeys on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway.

The most visited destinations in Russia are Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Moscow displays Soviet architecture at its best, along with modern skyscrapers, while St Petersburg, nicknamed Venice of the North, boasts of its classical architecture, channels and bridges.

Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, registered a brand The Third Capital of Russia, though a number of other major cities, such as Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Novgorod, compete for this status.

The most famous natural destination in Russia is Lake Baikal, the Blue Eye of Siberia. This unique lake, the oldest and deepest in the world, has crystal-clear waters and is surrounded by taiga-covered mountains. Other popular natural destinations include Kamchatka with its volcanoes and geysers, Karelia with its lakes and granite rocks, the snowy Altai Mountains, and the wild steppes of Tyva.

The Russian Federation is a multinational state. It comprises many national districts, several autonomous republics and regions. The population of the country is over 140 million people. The official language is Russian. Our country is a constitutional republic headed by the President. Moscow is the capital of our Motherland.

Answer the questions:

1. What is the total area of the Russian Federation?

2. What can you say about its geographical position?

3. What can you say about our flora and fauna?

4. What is the climate in Russia?

5. What natural resources can be found in Russia?

6. Is Russia attractive for tourists?

7. What are the most famous natural destinations in Russia?

8. What can you say about the political structure of Russia?