Lesson 1. Ukraine

Active Vocabulary:

government – уряд; anthem – гімн; to border on – межувати з; total area – загальна площа; mountain – гора; tributary – приток; moderate – помірний; fertile – родючий; black soil – чорнозем, agricultural – сільськогосподарський; to be rich in – бути багатим; equipment – устаткування; instrument – прилад; consumer goods – споживчі товари; legislative – законодавчий; executive – виконавчий; judicial – судовий; to be elected – бути обраним.

Ukraine is situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe and has its own territory, government, national emblem, flag and anthem. It borders on Russia, Byelorussia, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Poland on land and Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey on sea. The population of Ukraine is over 47 million. The total area of the country is 603,700 km²(45^th country in size). The capital of Ukraine is Kiev.

The territory of Ukraine is mostly a level, treeless plain, called “steppe”. There are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean peninsula and the Carpathians in the west, but they are not very high. The territory of our country has an astonishing variety of landscapes. We have high mountains, vast steppes, end­less forests, beautiful rivers and lakes. The largest lake of Ukraine is Swytyaz, its total area is 24.2 square kilometers and the depth is 58.5 meters. Ukraine has 131 rivers; among them are the Dnieper with its tributaries such as the Desna, the Prypyat, the Dniester, the Bug, the Do­nets. The flora and fauna of our country are extremely rich. Almost all kinds of European animals and birds can be found on the territory of our vast land. Ukraine has inex­haustible natural wealth. It possesses enormous tracts of woodland, vast tracts of fertile arable lands and fine pas­tures.

The climate of the country is moderate. Winter is rather mild, with no severe frosts but with regular snowfalls everywhere except the south. The rivers and lakes freeze in winter. The average winter temperature varies from -20 Centigrade in the north to -5 in the south. Summer is quite hot and dry, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The fertile black soil is well watered in spring and autumn and gets plenty of sunshine in summer.

The country is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore, coal, color metals, oil, gas, mineral salts, clay and potential water power. It has developed a varied industry, concentrated mostly in and around such big cities as Kiev, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Dnyeprodzerzhinsk, Odessa, Kharkov, Lviv, Nickolayev and others. It produces planes and ships, lorries and busses, motorcars and locomotives, computer and electronic equipment, precision instruments and agricultural machines, TV and radio sets, chemicals and textiles and various consumer goods. Odessa, Sebastopol, Nickolayev, Kherson and Kerch are main Ukrainian ports.

Due to the favorable climatic conditions, Ukraine is traditionally an agricultural area. It grows wheat, maize, buckwheat and other corn, red and green vegetables, all kinds of fruit, melons and berries. Ukraine is one of the world’s main centers of sugar production. It produces sugar both for its own needs and for export.

Ukraine is a parliamentary-presidential democracy with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Declara­tion of Ukrainian Independence was proclaimed on August 24, 1991 by the Ukrainian Parliament. The President of Ukraine is elected by countrywide popular vote and is the head of the executive branch. The Prime Minister is appointed by the 450-seat parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. The parliament also approves the Cabinet of Ministers, offered by the Prime Minister and the President. The heads of all central agencies and regional and district administrations are appointed by the President.

Ukraine is subdivided into twenty-four oblasts (provinces) and one autonomous republic, the Crimea. Additionally, two cities, Kiev and Sebastopol, have a special legal status.

Ukraine has its own original culture and art. Ukraine has many professional theatres and Philharmonic societies. The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, the Gryhory Veryovka Ukrainian People’s Choir, and the Dance Com­pany of Ukraine are known not only in the country but all over the world.

Over the last years people of Ukraine display a keen interest in the Ukrainian history and artistic heritage. There is a new approach to the development of culture, arts and languages.

Запам’ятайте зразки виразів для розповіді про країну.

U. is situated in ___; U. ___ is washed by ___; U. ___ borders on ___; the total area of U. is ___; the population of U. is ___; the capital of U. is ___; the main rivers are ___; the climate is mostly ___; U. is rich in ___; the main industrial centers are ___; U. produces ___; as an agricultural country U. grows ___ ; as for political system U. is a ___; the head of the state is ___; U. is subdivided into ___; U. is also famous for its ___.

Вправа 1. Доповніть речення словами: rivers; proclaimed in 1991; state power; various mineral resources; about 47 million; agriculture.

1. Ukraine has its own territory, higher and local bodies of ___. 2. The geographical position of Ukraine is favorable for ___. 3. The population of Ukraine is about ___. 4. The declaration of Ukrainian independence was ___. 5. The Dnieper, the Bug, the Danube are the major ___. 6. Ukraine is rich in ___.

Письмове завдання

Вправа 2. Заповніть таблицю відомостями про Україну

Location
Total area
Border countries
Capital
Population
Mountains
Main rivers
Climate
Natural resources
Main industries
Main industrial centers
Agricultural products
Political system
The Declaration of Independence (Date)
Head of the state
Main legislative body
Administrative divisions

Читання

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