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5.What are two great natural dangers in Japan?

6.Why do Japanese build their pauses made of light materials?

7.What happened in Tokyo and Yokohama in 1923?

8.Are there long rivers in Japan?

9.What sea considered to be an important waterway for the Japanese?

10.What is the climate in (of) Japan influenced by?

11.What is the ocean currents that pass the Japanese coast?

12.What's the influence of typhoons and the Asiatic monsoon on the climate of Japan?

Ex. 6. Make up a concise survey of Japan, considering the following points

a)Japan's geographical position;

b)rivers and lakes;

c)climate and landscape.

Economy

Japan's spectacular economic growth – the greatest of any nation since the 1940s – has brought the country to the forefront of the world economy. It is now one of the world's principal shipbuilders and is a major producer and exporter of manufactured goods, including automobiles, electrical products, chemicals, and steel. An important feature of the burgeoning economy is the prevalence of large, quasi monopolistic industrial companies. Japan has become the second largest free-market economic power, ranking only behind the United States. Although Japan's standard of living did not increase as rapidly as did the overall economy in the last decades – it has gradually become comparable with the other developed countries.

Japan's system of economic management is probably without parallel in the world. Although the extent of direct state participation in economic activities is limited, the government's control and influence over business is stronger than in most other free-enterprise countries. This control is not exercised through legislation or administrative action but through constant consultation with business and through the authorities' deep indirect involvement in banking. Consultation is mainly by means of joint committees and groups that keep under review of, and set targets for nearly every branch and sector of the economy. The system works well, without any major crises in government – business relations, because of the unusual self-discipline of Japanese businessmen in their dealings with the authorities and the government's deep understanding of the role, needs, and problems of business.

Although Japan's mineral deposits are fairly diverse, with a few exceptions the reserves are small and production is inadequate to meet more than a small part of domestic requirements. Coal, iron ore, zinc, lead, copper, chromite, and

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manganese are among the most important minerals, and although a large number of others are mined on a minor scale, there is an almost complete lack of nickel, cobalt, rock salt, phosphates, and oil. Natural gas is produced in Honshu: two major fields are in the South Kanto region and in Niigata Prefecture.

Because of the country's mountainous terrain, the supply of agricultural land is limited. Timber resources are extensive, consisting of broadleaved and coniferous forests, but a sizable proportion on the forest land is located in inaccessible mountain areas. Most of the forest area is privately owned, and much of it is distributed among a large number of relatively small holders.

The most notable feature of Japan's economic growth has been the rapid development of manufacturing. Japan has become a greatly feared competitor whose products are in increasing demand. The most spectacular growth has been in the production of motor vehicles, iron and steel, machinery (including robots), petrochemicals, precision equipment (notably cameras), and advanced electronic products (including computers, telecommunications equipment, and consumer goods). The lumber and wood industry, textiles, and food stuffs have failed to match the expansion in manufacturing as a whole.

Japan has one of the largest catches of fish of any nation in the world. Despite the efforts of the government to create larger and more efficient fishing units, small and medium-sized enterprises and individual fishermen still account for the bulk of the total income. Imports of fishery products exceed exports. Because of Japan's meager natural resources, the bulk of its imports is raw materials, foodstuffs, and fuels. The major components of manufactured goods are machinery and allied products and chemicals. Japan's largest suppliers include East and Southeast Asia, the United States, the Middle East, Western Europe, and Australia.

Vocabulary

spectacular – грандиозный, потрясающий principal – основной, главный

feature – черта

burgeoning (economy) – увеличивающийся, разрастающийся prevalence – распространение

quasi-prefix –полу -

to rank – ставить (в ряду) rapidly – быстро participation – участие

free-enterprise – свободное предпринимательство to exercise – осуществлять

legislation – законодательство involvement – вовлечение, причастность diverse – разнообразный

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coniferous – хвойный inaccessible – недоступный manufacture – производство vehicle – зд. автомашина precision – зд. точный (точность)

advanced – продвинутый, передовой efficient – эффективный

meager – скудный, ограниченный

allied products (similar, related) – смежный, родственный supplier – поставщик

Ex. 1. Make the correct form of the verb in brackets, using Present or Past Simple, Active Voice

1.At the end of the 1950s Japan (to become) one of the world's principal shipbuilders and a major producer and exporter of manufactured goods.

2.As a free-market economic power Japan only (to rank) behind the United States.

3.Although Japan's standard of living (not, to increase) as rapidly as its overall economy in the last decades, it (to reach) the level of the4 other developed countries.

4.The government's control and influence over business (to be) stronger than in most other free-enterprise countries.

5.Timber resources of Japan (to consist) of broad-leaved and coniferous forests.

Ex. 2. Make the correct form of the verb in brackets, using Present or Past Simple, Passive Voice

1.The government's control over business (not, to exercise) through legislation but through constant consultation with businessmen.

2.A large number of mineral deposits in Japan (to mine) on a minor scale.

3.A large proportion of the forestland (to locate) in inaccessible mountain

areas.

4.From the late 60-s most of the forest area in Japan privately (to own), and much of it (to distribute) among a large number of small holders.

5.Many best known brands of cars (to manufacture) in Japan.

Ex. 3. Insert prepositions if necessary

1. The standard of living in Japan became comparable … the other developed countries.