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Bibliography

1.Adrianova, I. Learn and celebrate / I. Adrianova, N. Toumanova. –

Новосибирск : «Инфолио-пресс», 1992. – 159 c.

2.Dale, D. The little book of Australia / D. Dale. – Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2010. – 261 p.

3.Hornby, A. S. Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary / A.S. Hornby. – Oxford University Press, 2000. – 1540 p.

4.http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Economy_of_the_United_ Kingdom&action=history

5.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

6.http://eng.1september.ru

7.http://news.bbc.co.uk

8.http://www.bbclearningenglish.com И

9.http://www.onestopenglish.com

10.Nauton, J. Profile 1. Student’s Book.ДIntermediate / J. Nauton. – Oxford university Press, 2005. – 143 p.

11.Nauton, J. Profile 2. Student’s Book. Intermediate / J. Nauton. – Oxford university Press, 2005. – 175Аp.

12.Wood, N. Business and Commerce Workshop / N. Wood. – Oxford university Press, 2005. – 40бp.

13.Powell, Martinez, Jillett. New Business Matters. Coursebook / Powell, Martinez, Jillett. иThomson HEINLE, 2004. – 2000 p.

14.Speak Out: Журнал для зучающих английский язык. – 2005. –

№1. С

15.Speak Out: Журнал для зучающих английский язык. – 2005. –

№4.

16.Speak Out: Журнал для изучающих английский язык. – 2005. –

№6.

17.Speak Out: Журнал для изучающих английский язык. – 2008. –

№4.

18.Kay, S. Inside Out. Student’s Book. Pre-intermediate / S. Kay, J. Vaughan, P. Kerr. – Oxford : Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2006. – 143 p.

19.Evans, V. Enterprise 3. Course Book. Pre-intermediate / V. Evans, G. Dooley. – Berkshire : Express Publishing, 2002. – 142 p.

20.Кузовлев, В.П. English. 10 – 11 классы. Activity Book / В.П. Ку-

зовлев. – M. : Просвещение, 2006. – 112 с.

313

RUSSIA

Module 7

 

 

 

 

И

 

 

 

Д

 

 

А

 

 

б

 

 

и

 

 

 

С

 

 

 

 

314

The Russian Federation

1.What do you know about theАRussianДcountryИprofile?

2.Work in two groups, Aбand B. Group A, match the headings (1-12) with the information (a-l). Group B, ask questions to find out the facts about Russia (pic. 188)и.4. Area Сd) 59 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)

5.

Major language

e) Russian Federation

6.

Major religions

f) 142.5 million (UN, 2007)

7.

Life expectancy

g) Moscow

8.

Main exports

h) 17 million sq km (6.6 million sq miles)

9.

GNI per capita

i) Christianity, Islam

10.

Internet domain

j) .ru

11.

International

k) Oil and oil products, natural gas, wood and

dialling code

wood products, metals, chemicals, weapons

12.

President

and military equipment

 

 

 

l) Russian

315

3. Help your partner to make up sentences using the information above and the words from the box.

to cover

to number

to export

to speak

to occupy

to count

surface

territory

economy

resources

E.g. The full name of our country is the Russian Federation.

 

4.Now work with a partner from the other group to ask and answer questions as in the example.

E.g. What is the full name of our country? - The Russian Federation.

5.Imagine, that you are talking to a foreign friend about the Russian country profile. Use the information from Иex. 2 – 4 to complete the conversation.

You: So the time has come to say goodbye,ДMike?And so on….. А

 

 

б

 

 

 

и

 

 

6. Work in pairs, ask your partner if he/she knows the words concern-

ing the geographical location of some country.

 

 

С

 

 

 

E.g. Do you know what the word area mean? – Yes, I do. It means territo-

ry.

 

 

 

 

area

climate

plains

economy

resources

nature

desert

executive

opportunity

legislative

border

subtropical

diversity

highland

parliamentary

cover

count

territory

vegetation

scientific

Europe

various

forests

steppes

iron ore

occupy

mountain

chamber

variety

temperate

south

arctic

judicial

tundra

decrease

surface

territory

council

supreme

continental

7. Use the words from ex. 6 to complete the sentences:

1)Russia is the largest … in the world.

2)The … in Russia is very rich.

3)Russia is extremely rich in … .

316

4)The country impresses with its … and size.

5)The climate ranges from the Arctic north to the generally ... south.

6)The Russian Federation occupies the first place in the world for its … .

7)Most of Russia consists of vast stretches of … that are predominantly

to the south and heavily forested to the north, with along the northern coast.

8. Match a word on the left with a word on the right to make common expressions:

arable;

 

country;

energy;

 

distances;

fishing;

 

fleet;

forest;

 

land;

fresh;

 

republic;

mineral;

 

reserves;

semi-presidential;

Д

 

resources;

transcontinental;

А

superpower;

vast;

water;И

 

federal;

 

subjects.

9. Now use the phrases from ex. 8 to complete the sentences:

1.

The Russian Federation is a ... extending over much

of

northern

Eurasia.

 

 

 

С

 

 

2.

Russia has the world’sбgreatest reserves of mineral and …, and is

considered an … .

 

 

3.

Russia has the world’sиlargest … and its lakes contain unfrozen … .

4.

Russian … are a major contributor to the world's fish supply.

 

5.

Russia possesses 10% of the world's .

 

 

6.

The largest and most prominent of Russia's bodies of

is Lake

Baikal.

10. Read the text and find the sentences from ex. 9 to check your answers.

The Russian Federation (pic. 189 - 190) is a transcontinental country extending over much of northern Eurasia. Russia shares land borders with the following countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Abkhazia, Georgia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. It also borders

317

the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Caspian Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Black Sea. Russia is close to the United States (Alaska) and Japan.

At 17,075,400 square kilometers (6,592,800 sq mi), Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of the Earth’s land area; with 142 million people, it is the ninth largest by population. Russia has the world's greatest reserves of mineral and energy resources, and is considered an energy superpower. It has the world's largest forest reserves and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's unfrozen fresh water.

The Russian Federation with its topography, its climates, vegetation, and soils span vast distances. From north to south the East European Plain is clad sequentially in tundra, coniferous forest (taiga), mixed and broad-

leaf forests, grassland (steppe), and semi-desert (fringing the Caspian Sea)

as the changes in vegetation reflect the changes in climate.

 

 

 

И

 

 

Д

 

А

 

 

б

 

 

и Pic. 189

 

Russia has the world's largest forest reserves and is known as “the

С

 

 

 

lungs of Europe”. It provides a huge amount of oxygen for not just Europe, but the world. With access to three of the world's oceans — the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific — Russian fishing fleets are a major contributor to the world's fish supply. The Caspian is the source of what is considered the finest caviar in the world.

318

Pic. 190

Mountain ranges are found along the southern borders, such as the Caucasus (containing Mount Elbrus, Russia's andИEurope's highest point at

5,642 m / 18,511 ft) and the Altai, and in the eastern parts, such as the Verkhoyansk Range or the volcanoes onДKamchatka. The Ural Mountains

form a north-south range that divides Europe and Asia, rich in mineral resources. Russia possesses 10% of the world's arable land.

Russia has thousands of riversАand inland bodies of water, providing

it with one of the world's largest surface water resources. The largest and most prominent of Russia'sбbodies of fresh water is Lake Baikal, the

world's deepest, purest, most ancient and most capacious freshwater lake. Other major lakes includeиLake Ladoga and Lake Onega, two largest lakes

in Europe. Of Russia's 100,000 rivers, The Volga is the most famous – not only because itСis the longest river in Europe but also because of its major

role in Russian history. Europe's biggest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea. The main Siberian rivers (the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena) flow from the south to the north. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean.

On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate. It ranges from the Arctic north to the generally temperate south. In the middle of the country the climate is temperate and continental.

11. Work in pairs. Ask your partner the following questions to complete the table below.

1)Where is the Russian Federation situated?

2)What oceans is our country washed by?

3)Can you name any seas, which Russia is washed by?

4)What is the total area of the country?

319

5)What countries does the Russian Federation border on in the west (in the east)?

6)What can you say about the relief in Russia?

7)What mountain chains are there on the territory of our country?

8)What sea does the Europe's biggest river flow into?

9)What is the world's deepest lake famous for?

10)What types of climate are there in Russia?

11)What mineral resources is Russia rich in?

total area

 

 

 

 

……

 

countries

 

 

 

 

……

 

relief

 

 

 

 

……

 

oceans

 

 

 

 

……

 

seas

 

 

 

 

Caspian, ……

rivers

 

 

 

 

……

И

lakes

 

 

 

 

……

mountain chains

 

 

 

……

types of climate

 

 

 

……

mineral resources

 

 

 

……

 

 

 

 

 

Д

12. Tell the group about the geographical location and mineral re-

sources of our country using the information from the table above.

 

 

 

 

А

 

13. Match a word on the left with a word on the right to make common

 

 

 

б

 

 

 

 

и

 

 

 

expressions:

С

 

 

 

 

appoint;

 

 

 

contract;

approve;

 

 

 

government;

federal;

 

 

 

referendum;

national;

 

 

 

to the position;

social;

 

 

 

treaties.

 

14. Match the expressions from ex. 13 with the following definitions:

1)competition and mutual restraint among the various branches of government;

2)submission of an issue of public importance to the direct vote of the electorate;

3)an agreement, entered into by individuals, that results in the formation of the state or of organized society, the prime motive being the desire for protection, which entails the surrender of some or all personal liberties;

320

4)a formal agreement or contract between two or more states, such as an alliance or trade arrangement;

5)to assign officially, as for a position, responsibility.

15. Find and underline the sentences with the following words in the text (ex. 16).

adopt;

 

 

 

 

 

 

bicameral;

 

 

 

 

 

 

branch;

 

 

 

 

 

 

chamber;

 

 

 

 

 

 

checks and balances;

 

 

 

 

constitutional crisis;

 

 

 

 

declare war;

 

 

 

 

И

deem;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

executive power;

 

 

 

Д

legal document;

 

 

 

legislative power;

 

 

overturn;

 

 

 

 

power of the purse;

б

representative democracy;

 

supreme;

 

и

А

 

wherein.

 

 

С

 

 

16. Read the text to find out:

 

 

 

1.

When was the Russian constitutional crisis?

2.

When was the Constitution adopted according to which Russia is a

federation?

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

What is the head of the state?

 

 

 

4.

What is the head of the government?

 

5.

What branches does the federal government comprise?

6.

What do these branches consist of?

 

 

321

Pic. 191

Pic. 192

 

 

Government and Politics in Russia

 

According to the Constitution, which was

adopted by

national

referendum on 12

И

Russian

December 1993 following

the 1993

constitutional crisis, Russia is a federation and formally a semi-presidential

republic, wherein the President is the head of the state and the Prime

chambers of the Federal Assembly. TheДgovernment is regulated by a system of checks and balances defined by the Constitution of the Russian

Minister is the head of the government. The Russian Federation is

fundamentally structured as a representative democracy. Executive power

is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the two

Federation, which serves as the country's supreme legal document and as a

social contract for the people of theАRussian Federation.

 

The federal government is composed of three branches:

 

С

Legislative: The bicameralбFederal Assembly, made up of the State

Duma and the Federation Council adopts federal law, declares war,

approves treaties, hasиthe power of the purse, and has power of

impeachment, by which it can remove the President.

Executive: The president is the commander-in-chief of the military,

can veto legislative bills before they become law, and appoints the Cabinet and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies.

Judiciary: The Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Arbitration and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the president, interpret laws and can overturn laws they deem unconstitutional.

322

Pic. 193

The president (pic. 193) is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 2 March 2008. The national legislature is the Federal Assembly, which consists of two chambers; the 450-member State Duma

and the 176-member Federation Council. Leading political parties in

Russia include United Russia, the CommunistИParty, the Liberal

Democratic Party of Russia and Fair Russia.

 

Д

17. Use your answers to tell about the government and politics in Rus-

sia (pic. 191 - 192).

А

18. In pairs, discussиthe problemбof presidential term extending to a

six-year term. Imagine you are one of the Duma’s members. One of you agrees with this idea, and another disagrees. Prove your ideas.

19. Look at the word economics. Write your associations with this

word.

С

E n e r g y

C

O

N

O

M o n e y

I

C

S

323

20. Match the words (1-12) with their definitions (a-l).

1)consumption;

2)currency;

3)energy;

4)industry;

5)investment;

6)money;

7)nuclear power;

8)office;

9)oil;

10)outlook;

11)regrowth;

12)supply.

a)the resurgence of an industry, economy, etc.;И

b)a source of power; Д

c)the official currency, in the form of banknotes, coins, etc.;

d)a metal or paper medium of exchange that is in current use in a particular country; А

e)a room or set of rooms in which business, professional duties, clerical work, etc.; б

f)power, especially electrical or motive, produced by a nuclear reactor;

g)another name for petroleum;и

h)organized economic activity concerned with manufacture, extraction and processing Сof raw materials, or construction;

i)expenditure on goods and services for final personal use;

j)the act of investing money;

k)willingness and ability to offer goods and services for sale;

l)view or prospect.

21. Use the dictionary to find the definitions to your own associations to the word ‘economics’ in ex. 19.

324

22. Read the text below about Russia’s economy and complete the table.

average salary in Russia in 2000, in

……

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russians lived below the national

……

 

poverty line in 1998, in 2007

 

 

 

unemployment in Russia in 1999, in

……

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

world's largest reserves

 

 

……

 

second largest reserves

 

 

……

 

eighth largest reserves

 

 

……

 

Russian exports

 

 

 

……

 

world’s largest gas producer and ex-

……

И

porter

 

 

 

 

 

Russia is well ahead with

 

 

……

Russian foreign reserves in 1999, in

……

2008

 

 

 

 

 

middle class in 2000, in 2006

 

……

Russian financial position

since

……

 

1998

 

 

 

 

Д

principal factor in Russia's growth

……

 

Putin’s years in office:

 

 

……

 

industry

 

 

 

А……

 

investments

 

 

б

……

 

agricultural production

……

 

construction

 

и

 

……

 

real incomes

 

 

……

 

 

 

 

 

 

average salary

 

 

 

……

 

consumer credit

 

 

 

……

 

 

С

 

 

decreased from 30% in 2000 to

people living below the poverty line

 

 

 

 

 

14% in 2008

arms sales

 

 

 

 

……

 

IT industry

 

 

 

 

……

 

space launch industry

 

 

……

 

nuclear power plant companies

 

……

 

electronics

 

 

 

 

……

 

main source of hard currency

 

……

 

Russian agriculture

 

 

 

……

 

325

Economy

Since the turn of the century, rising oil prices, increased foreign investment, higher domestic consumption and greater political stability have bolstered economic growth in Russia (pic. 194 - 195). In 2007, Russia's GDP was $2.076 trillion (est. PPP), the 6th largest in the world, with GDP growing 8.1% from the previous year. Growth was primarily driven by non-traded services and goods for the domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports. The average salary in Russia was $640 per month in early 2008, up from $80 in 2000. Approximately 14% of Russians lived below the national poverty line in 2007, significantly down from 40% in 1998 at the worst of the post-Soviet collapse. Unemployment in Russia was at 6% in 2007, down from about

12.4% in 1999.

 

 

 

 

И

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Д

 

 

 

А

 

 

 

б

 

 

 

и

Pic. 194

 

 

 

 

 

Russia has the world's largest natural gas reserves, the second largest

 

С

 

 

 

 

coal reserves and the eighth largest oil reserves. It is the world's leading natural gas exporter and the second leading oil exporter. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of Russian exports abroad. Since 2003, however, exports of natural resources started decreasing in economic importance as the internal market strengthened considerably. Despite higher energy prices, oil and gas only contribute to 5.7% of Russia's GDP and the government predicts this will drop to 3.7% by 2011. The state-run gas monopoly Gazprom is the world’s largest producer and exporter, and supplies a growing share of Europe’s needs. Russia is also considered well ahead of most other resource-rich countries in its economic development, with a long tradition of education, science, and

326

industry. The country has more higher education graduates than any other country in Europe.

The federal budget has run surpluses since 2001 and ended 2007 with a surplus of 6% of GDP. Over the past several years, Russia has used oil revenues from its Stabilization Fund of the Russian Federation to prepay all Soviet-era sovereign debt to Paris Club creditors and the IMF. Oil export earnings have allowed Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion in 1999 to $597.3 billion on 1 August 2008, the third largest reserves in the world. The country has also been able to substantially reduce its formerly massive foreign debt.

The economic development of the country though has been uneven geographically with the Moscow region contributing a disproportionately high amount of the country's GDP. Much of Russia, especially indigenous and rural communities in Siberia, lags significantly behind. Nevertheless, the middle class has grown from just 8 million persons in 2000 to 55 million persons in 2006. Russia is home to the largest number of billionaires in the world after the United States, gaining 50 billionaires in

2007 for a total of 110.

 

 

 

И

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Д

 

 

А

 

 

б

 

 

и

 

 

 

С

 

 

 

 

Pic. 195

Over the last five years, fixed capital investments have averaged real gains greater than 10% per year and personal incomes have achieved real gains more than 12% per year. During this time, poverty has declined

327

steadily and the middle class has continued to expand. Russia has also improved its international financial position since the 1998 financial crisis. A principal factor in Russia's growth has been the combination of strong growth in productivity, real wages, and consumption. The upward trend continued in the first quarter of 2008, driven largely by rising food costs. Infrastructure, ageing and inadequate after years of being neglected, is considered to be a bottleneck to economic growth. The government has said $1 trillion will be invested in infrastructure by 2020.

 

 

И

 

Д

Pic. 196

 

А

 

During Putin's eight years in office (pic. 196), industry grew by 75%,

б

 

 

investments increased by 125%, and agricultural production and

construction increasedиas well. Real incomes more than doubled and the

average salary increased eightfold from $80 to $640. The volume of

consumer creditСbetween 2000–2006 increased 45 times, and during that same time period, the middle class grew from 8 million to 55 million, an increase of 7 times. The number of people living below the poverty line also decreased from 30% in 2000 to 14% in 2008.

Arms sales have increased to the point where Russia is the first in the world in sale of weapons, the IT industry has recorded a record year of growth concentrating on high end niches like algorithm design and microelectronics; Russia is now the world's third biggest destination for outsourcing software behind India and China. The space launch industry is now the world's second largest behind Arian Space of Europe and nuclear power plant companies are going from strength to strength, selling plants to China and India, and recently signed a joint venture with Toshiba to

328

develop cutting edge power plants. Russia is experiencing a regrowth of Electronics. Among Russia's biggest television sets producers is Rolsen.

The large majority of Russia's exports are made up by raw materials and fertilizers, although exports as a whole accounted for only 8.7% of the GDP in 2007, compared to 20% in 2000.

The mineral-packed Ural Mountains and the vast oil, gas, coal, and timber reserves of Siberia and the Russian Far East make Russia rich in natural resources. However, most such resources are located in remote and climatically unfavorable areas that are difficult to develop and far from Russian ports. Oil and gas exports continue to be the main source of hard currency. Russia is a leading producer and exporter of minerals, gold, and all major fuels. The Russian fishing industry is the world's fourth-largest,

behind Japan, the United States, and China. Natural resources, especially energy, dominate Russian exports. Ninety percent of Russian exports to the United States are minerals or other raw materials.

its arid climate and inconsistent rainfall. NorthernИareas concentrate mainly on livestock, and the southern parts and western Siberia produce grain.

Restructuring of former state farms hasДbeen an extremely slow process. The new land code passed by the Duma in 2002 should speed restructuring

Russia comprises roughly three-quarters of the territory of the former

Soviet Union but has relatively little area suited for agriculture because of

and attract new domestic investment to Russian agriculture. Private farms

and garden plots of individuals accountАfor over one-half of all agricultural

production.

б

 

23. Match the beginnings of the sentences (1-8) with their endings (a-h).

1.

и

Since the turn of the century, rising oil prices, increased foreign

investment, higher domestic consumption and …

2.

Growth was primarily driven by non-traded services and goods for the

...

С

 

3.

Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for …

4.

Russia has also improved its international financial position since …

5.

A principal factor in Russia's growth has been the combination of …

6.

Arms sales have increased to the point where …

7.

However, most such resources are located in remote and climatically

unfavorable areas that are …

8.

The new land code passed by the Duma in 2002 should speed

restructuring and …

a) more than 80% of Russian exports abroad.

329

b)greater political stability have bolstered economic growth in Russia.

c)strong growth in productivity, real wages, and consumption.

d)difficult to develop and far from Russian ports.

e)domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports.

f)the 1998 financial crisis.

g)Russia is first in the world in sale of weapons.

h)attract new domestic investment to Russian agriculture.

24.Discuss with your partner if the modern economic situation in Russia is on the rise. Prove your ideas with the facts from the text you have read.

25.Read the text in ex. 22 again and draw up its plan.

26.Tell about the development of Russia’sИeconomy using your own plan. Д

27.Make the correct word boundaries. Give the main idea of the text you have got after correction. Аб

TECHANGEMELTSARCTICICEANDBELIEVINGTHEAREACONTAINSLи С

ARGERESERVS OFUNTAPPEDOILANDNATURALGASONAUGUST22007RUSSIANEXP LORERSINSUBMERSIBLESPLANTEDTHERUSSIANFLAGONTHEARCT

ICSEABEDSTAKINGACLAIMTOENERGYSOURCESRIGHTUPTOTHEN ORTHPOLEREACTIONTOTHEEVENTWASMIXEDPRESIDENVLADIMI RPUTINCONGRATULATEDTHEEXPLORERSFORTHEOUTSTANDING SCIENTIFICPROJECTWHILECANADIANOFFICIALSSTATEDTHEEXP EDITIONWASJUS APUBLI SHOW

Do you think it was only a show? What advantages will Russia get from this event? Give the examples.

28. Read the supplementary information about foreign relations and military of our country (pic. 197 - 198). Before reading the text find the meaning of the following words and expressions in the dictionary.

330

albeit;

implement;

assets;

international treaty;

assume;

joint collaboration;

conscription term;

maintain relations;

defense industry;

procurement;

draft;

production facilities;

embassy;

proliferation;

equal partners;

stockpile;

fleet;

volatile.

foreign policy;

Foreign relations and military

The Russian Federation has a permanentИseat on the UN Security Council, membership in other international organizations, the rights and obligations under international treaties and property and debts. Russia has a multifaceted foreign policy. It maintainsДdiplomatic relations with 178 countries and has 140 embassies. Russia's foreign policy is determined by the President and implemented byАthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia plays a major role inбmaintaining international peace and security, and plays a major role in resolving international conflicts by participating in the Quartet on theиMiddle East, the Six-party talks with North Korea, promoting the resolution of the Kosovo conflict and resolving nuclear proliferation issues.СRussia is a member of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations, the Council of Europe, OSCE and APEC. Russia usually takes a leading role in regional organizations such as the CIS, EurAsEC, CSTO, and the SCO. Former President Vladimir Putin had advocated a strategic partnership with close integration in various dimensions including establishment of four common spaces between Russia and the EU. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has developed a friendlier, albeit volatile relationship with NATO. The NATORussia Council was established in 2002 to work together as equal partners to pursue opportunities for joint collaboration.

331

Pic. 197

Russia assumed control of Soviet assets abroad and most of the Soviet Union's production facilities and defense industries. The Russian

military is divided into the Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force. There are also three independent arms of service: Strategic Rocket Forces, Military Space Forces, and the Airborne Troops. In 2006, the military had 1.037 million personnel on active duty.

 

 

 

 

И

 

 

 

Д

 

 

А

 

 

б

 

 

и

 

 

 

С

 

Pic. 198

 

 

 

 

 

Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. It has the second largest fleet of ballistic missile submarines and is the only country apart from the U.S. with a modern strategic bomber force. The country has a large and fully indigenous arms industry, producing all of its own military equipment. Russia is the world's top supplier of weapons accounting for around 30% of worldwide weapons sales and exporting weapons to about 80 countries. Following the Soviet practice, it is mandatory for all male citizens aged 18–27 to be drafted for two years' Armed Forces service. But there are still various problems associated with

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this, such as dedovschina (institutionalised hazing). This explains why the armed forces have reduced the conscription term from 18 months to 12 since 2008, and are planning to increase the proportion of contract servicemen to 70% of the armed forces by 2010. Defense expenditure has quadrupled over the past six years. Official government military spends $40 billion for 2008 and makes Russia the eighth largest country in the world. But it is important to note that various sources, including US intelligence, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, have estimated Russia’s military expenditures to be considerably higher. Currently, the military is undergoing a major equipment upgrade with about $200 billion on procurement of military equipment between 2006 and 2015.

29.Look at the following abbreviations fromИthe text. What do they stand for?

OSCE; APEC; CIS; UN; EU; NATO; ICBM; U.S.

30.What is the English for: Д

ОБСЕ, Организация по безопасности и сотрудничеству в Европе;

АТЭС, Азиатско-Тихоокеанский экономический совет;

СНГ, Содружество Независимых Государств;

ООН, Организация О ъединённых Наций;

ЕС, Европейский союз;

А

 

НАТО, Североатлант ческ й союз;

б

МБР, межконт нентальная баллистическая ракета;

США, Соединенные Штаты Америки.

 

и

 

31. Match the Сfacts from the text “Foreign relations and military” with the following figures.

1.037; 30; 26; 2008; 70; 2010; 200; 2015; 18-27; 40.

32. In pairs. Ask and answer your own questions using information from the text (ex. 28).

33. Work in group. Discuss the perspectives of Russian economic development. Use all information you have learnt from the previous texts and exercises.

34. Draw a plan of the text in ex. 28.

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35.Write an essay on the topic (not less than 200 words) without looking back at the text. You may use your plan.

36.What do you know about our region economy? What industries do you consider to be the most important? Brainstorm ideas.

Regional

 

economy

 

(Omsk)

И

 

38. Read the text about the development of Omsk Metro. Give its summary. Compare with your partner’s.

37. Use the Internet to find the information about one of the Omsk

 

 

 

Д

industrial enterprises. Imagine you are talking to a foreigner; tell

him/her about it. You may use the following words:

to be situated; products; to produce;Аindustry; to belong to; to develop;

environment restrictions; to satisfy; to work; enterprise; to want; the future

plans etc.

 

б

 

 

и

 

 

С

 

 

Omsk Metro (Omsky metropoliten) is currently under construction in Omsk, Russia. After long delays, the first section is scheduled to open in 2010, which will make it Siberia's second metropolitan underground railway system after the Novosibirsk Metro system that was opened in the mid 1980s.

Central planners in Moscow first identified Omsk as a metro-eligible city during the 1960s, due to its length along the Irtysh River and its relatively narrow streets. But after the plan was approved and financed, the planners decided to build an express tram instead, and the money allocated to Omsk was given to Chelyabinsk. In 1979, a Gosplan commission rejected a plan to build an express tram system since it was predicted to be

334

unable to handle projected passenger flows without severely discomforting riders. In 1986, metro plans were revisited and financing began, along with the demolition of residential buildings to make way for tracks and a yard.

Construction began in 1992 between the stations Tupolevskaya (Russian: Туполевская) and Rabochaya (Russian: Рабочая ~ Workers' Station). The initial plans involved opening the section between the stations Marshala Zhukova and Rabochaya on the right bank of the Irtysh River to connect downtown to the manufacturing district, and then later to connect the line to the opposite bank of the Irtysh. Due to poor financial circumstances, by 2003 just the section between Tupolevskaya and Rabochaya was completed (with no intermediate stations). At this time the plans changed and the authorities decided to connect the two banks of the

Irtsh with a metro bridge, going between one station on the right bank and three on the left bank. The combined metro (lower level) and motorvehicle (upper level) bridge was built and opened to vehicular traffic in 2005.

 

 

 

 

И

 

 

 

Д

 

 

А

 

 

б

 

 

и

 

 

 

С

 

 

 

 

Pic. 199

The current phase of construction involves four stations:

Biblioteka Imeni Pushkina (Библиотека имени Пушкина ~ Pushkin Library)

Zarechnaya (Заречная ~ Over the River)

Kristall (Кристалл)

Sobornaya (Соборная ~ Cathedral Station)

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November 11, 2008 http://wikipedia.ru/

This section is 6.1 km in length. The average speed is expected to be 36 km/h and travel time along the entire route is expected to be 10 minutes 12 seconds. Daily ridership is projected at 190,000 passengers and yearly ridership at 69 million.

Stations

All of the stations will be shallow.

Biblioteka Imeni Pushkina was planned as Krasny Put' (Красный Путь ~ Red Way).

Kristall was planned as Bulvar Arkhitektorov (Бульвар Архитекторов ~ Boulevard of the Architects)

Sobornaya was planned as Avtovokzal (Автовокзал ~ Bus Terminal).

Future development

Plans call for the line to be extended on the right bank of the Irtysh to Rabochaya station (the section between TupolevskayaИand Rabochaya is

partially complete). The first line is planned to have 11 stations and a total

length of 13.6 km, with an additional metroДbridge over the Om River, by

2015 or 2016 (the latter date is the 300th anniversary of Omsk). When the line is complete, it is expected to have a daily ridership of 330,000 passengers. А

Construction of the second line will start after 2015. It will go on the right bank of the Irtysh, mostlyбparallel to the river. Transfer to the first line will be available at Biblioteka Imeni Pushkina. This line is expected to have twenty stations.иAt the same time, the first line is planned to be extended on the left bank by four stations.

The third lineСwill not be built until the distant future. If built, it will likely be on both banks of the Irtysh, like the first line.

39. Use the Internet or some other resources to find the information about the current phase of construction. Prepare a short presentation.

40. Work with a partner. Discuss the following questions (pic. 199):

What kind of transport do you prefer to take? Why?

Is it necessary to construct the metro in our city? Why?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the metro construction?

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