Инглиш / Belarus

USEFUL VOCABULARY

to border (on) v - граничить

sovereign state – суверенное, независимое государство

population n - население

construction materials – строительные материалы

deposit(s) n – залежи, хранение; депозит (в банке), первый взнос (в банке)

shortage n – нехватка, недостаток, дефицит

export n – экспортируемый товар, вывоз

import n – импортируемый товар, ввозимые товары

facilities n – удобства; оборудование (syn. equipment)

exploration n – исследование, изучение

the volume of production – объёмы продукции

economic transition (to) – экономический переход

manufactory n – предприятие, фабрика, завод

sustainable development – устойчивое развитие

to reduce v - сокращать

to launch v – начинать, запускать продукцию, выпускать на рынок

implementation n – осуществление, реализация

legislative power – законодательная власть

executive power – исполнительная власть

judicial power– судебная власть

welfare n – благополучие, благосостояние

to account for v –составлять, насчитывать

rich in smth. adj – богатый на что-либо, с богатым содержанием чего-либо

human capital – человеческий капитал (способности и трудовые навыки, приносящие доход)

centralized distribution – централизованное распределение (доходов, ресурсов и т.д.)

engineering (mechanical engineering) industry – машиностроение

timber (woodworking)industry – деревообрабатывающая промышленность

mining industry – горнодобывающая промышленность

crop growing – возделывание сельскохозяйственных культур

livestock breeding – животноводство

subsidiary n – дочерняя компания

to amount to v – равняться, представлять собой, насчитываться

outsourcing n – привлечение услуг сторонних организаций

revenue n – доход

light industry – лёгкая промышленность

petrochemical complex – нефтехимический комплекс

sustainable development – устойчивое развитие

renewable energy sources – возобновляемые источники энергии

READING

Text 1

1. Read the text about the Republic of Belarus and explain whether it occupies a favorable geographical position and what natural resources it possesses.

The Republic of Belarus

The Republic of Belarus is located in the centre of Europe, on the cross-roads of trade between East and West, South and North. It borders on Ukraine in the south-east, on the Russian Federation in the east and north, on Latvia and Lithuania in the north-west and on Poland in the west. Nowadays Belarus is an independent sovereign state, however, it has at times been in union with or a part of nearly each bordering country – the medieval Kievan Rus state, the Grand Dutchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, interwar Poland and the Soviet Union. The Republic of Belarus came into existence at the end of 1991 as the independent successor state of the BSSR.

The landscape is mostly flat. The highest point, Dziarzhynskaya Mountain, is only 345 metres above sea level. Elevated areas occupy about one-third of the republic’s territory. Southern Belarus is made up of marshes, swamps and forests. The vast, forested swamps (the largest in Europe) are called the Prypiats Marshes (Palesse).

Belarus is a country of long rivers and numerous rivulets and streams and beautiful lakes. The major rivers are the Neman and the Western Dvina flowing into the Baltic Sea and the Dnieper flowing into the Black Sea. Lake Naroch, located in the picturesque pine-covered country, is the largest. Lake Svitsiaz is more famous for its marvelous beauty and fascinating legends.

Forests cover 40 percent of the country’s surface. The best known are the Belavezha Forest (Pushcha) and the Naliboki Forest. The Belavezha Pushcha is the largest surviving area of majestic old spruces and rare animals. Up to a point, it’s the major home of the European bison (aurochs).

Belarus has a continental climate moderated by maritime influence from the Atlantic Ocean. Average January temperatures range from -4 °C to – 8 °C, but thaw days are frequent. Maximum temperatures in July are about + 17 °C to + 19 °C. Rainfall is moderate, with its maximum from June to August.

Belarus consists of 6 regions: Minsk, Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel, where Minsk is the capital of the country. The population of the Republic of Belarus is about 10 million people, unfortunately, the country shows some decrease in its population nowadays, especially in rural areas. Belarusian and Russian are two official languages spoken on the territory of the country.

Despite the fact that Belarus is a relatively new country that has started developing as an independent state since 1991, it has great potential for its advancement in political and economic spheres. Thus, Belarus has a fairly rich mineral and raw material base for the production of construction materials. The most significant are deposits of raw cement, dolomite, chalk, building and decorative stone, clay for the manufacture of coarse ceramics and lightweight aggregates, silicate and construction sand, gravel and other materials. Up to a point, “”Belaruskaliy” occupies the major place in the county’s economy, especially in exporting potash salt abroad. Recently, “Belaruskaliy” has become one of the major revenue sources for the country among all joint stock companies. However, there is a shortage of glass sands, clays for the production of high-quality bricks.

The Republic of Belarus does not have a massive mineral resource base, and in this regard, the country imports a large number of fuels and raw materials required for its facilities. Nevertheless, the geological exploration works held in the country constantly restock its mineral resources. Nowadays, about 5 thousand deposits representing about 30 types of minerals have been identified and explored in the depths of Belarus. In terms of the economy, the strategically important resources include potash and rock salts, oil, peat, construction materials and raw materials for their production, underground fresh and mineral water. Despite the reserve of oil, associated gas, peat, brown coal, Belarus is unable to meet the demand for fuel resources from its own raw materials. The volume of oil production in the country amounts to only 12-13 % of the demand, and in the future this ratio will not change.

Currently Belarus is undergoing an economic transition to market relations. In spite of some economic difficulties faced by the country, it struggles for better conditions on the economic arena. For example, Belarus is known world-wide for its heavy-duty trucks and tractors. Its plants and factories manufacture computers, engineering equipment, metal-cutting tools, and such consumer goods as bicycles, clocks and watches, motorcycles, refrigerators, etc. Moreover, Belarusian forests yield many wood products. As for agriculture, the country’s major crops include barley, flax, potatoes, rye and sugar beat. Farmers raise cattle and pigs.

Systematic work is conducted to shift the economy to “green” principles in Belarus. Belarus pays considerable attention to the problem of climate change, considering it a serious global challenge on the way to sustainable development. Sharing responsibility for the safe future of the planet, Belarus joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2000) and the Kyoto Protocol (2005).

The republic is making a lot of effort in order to be an example of managing and caring for nature in the region. The country has all the conditions to reduce energy intensity, greenhouse gas emissions and prevent pollution of surface water and groundwater. Belarus has a legislative framework, which is close to the European one, high professional level of public administration and a quality control system of the environment. The launch of new productions with low emissions, the use of innovative technologies – alternative and resource-saving also contributes to the development of a green economy.

2. Mark the statements as true or false. Correct the false statements:

1. The landscape of Belarus is majorly flat, however, elevated areas occupy two-thirds of the republic’s territory.

2. Forests cover 40% of the country’s surface that yield many wood products.

3. The Republic of Belarus shows some increase of its population, especially in urban areas.

4. The Republic of Belarus does not have a massive mineral resource base, and in this regard, the country exports a large number of fuels and raw materials required for its facilities.

5. At the moment, about 5 thousand deposits representing about 30 types of minerals were identified and explored in the depths of Belarus.

6. Belarus is able to meet the demand for fuel resources from its own raw materials because it possesses its own reserve of oil, associated gas, peat and brown coal.

7. Belarus is undergoing an economic transition to market relations, that is why, it is known world-wide for its heavy-duty trucks and tractors of high quality.

8. Belarus pays considerable attention to the problem of a “green” economy.

3. Find 8 logical mistakes in the summary of the text below:

The Republic of Belarus is located in the centre of Europe, on the cross-roads of trade between East and West, South and North. Despite dramatic historical past, the country has retained its natural beauty of the surface that is covered with numerous marshes, swamps, forest, rivers and lakes among which the majestic ones are the Belavezha Pushcha, Kensington Gardens, the Palesse, etc. The population of the Republic of Belarus is about 7 million people, unfortunately, the country shows some decrease of its population nowadays, especially in urban areas.

Belarus can be proud of its advancement in political and economic spheres. Thus, Belarus has a fairly poor mineral and raw material base for the production of construction materials. Nevertheless, The Republic of Belarus does not have a massive mineral resource base, and in this regard, the country exports a large number of fuels and raw materials required for its facilities because it is unable to meet the demand for fuel resources from its own raw materials as the volume of oil production in the country amounts to only 35 % of the demand.

Currently Belarus is undergoing an economic transition to market relations as it struggles for better conditions on the economic arena. For example, Belarus is known world-wide for its heavy-duty trucks and automobiles. Its plants and factories manufacture computers, engineering equipment, metal-cutting tools, and such consumer goods as bicycles, clocks and watches, motorcycles, refrigerators, etc. that are spread world-wide.

Up to a point, Belarus has always concerned about environmental issues as the climate change is viewed as a serious global challenge on the way to sustainable development. That’s why, the country constantly tries to apply alternative and resource-saving technologies to contribute to the development of a market economy.

4. Answer the following questions:

1. How can you prove that the Republic of Belarus has dramatic historical past?

2. What is the landscape of the country? What natural beauties is it rich in?

3. What natural resources does Belarus possess? What are strategically important resources?

4. What natural resources does the country lack? What does it import to meet the country’s needs?

5. What products is the Republic of Belarus famous for on the market economic arena?

6. What is a “green” economy? Why is it so important for the development of the country? Provide necessary arguments.