Contents

UNIT I. THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Introductory Text 1 “The World Behind the Mirror”

1

Introductory Text 2 Panacea for Society

2

LESSON ONE. Focus on Russia’s History

Text 1 The Setting of Russian History

4

Text 2 The Early Russian State

7

For You To Know

9

Text 3 History of Russia / Soviet Union

10

LESSON TWO. Land and People

13

LESSON TREE. Resources and Economy

15

Russia – A Market-Oriented Economy

16

LESSON FOUR Politics and Government

20

Russia’s Foreign Policy

23

UNIT 2. ST PETERSBURG

Introductory Text 1 St. Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad…

26

LESSON ONE. Named After Saint Peter

28

LESSON TWO. Exploring the City

31

Text 1 A Kaleidoscope of Palaces

32

Text 2 The Spit of Vasilevsky Island and the University Embankment

35

Text 3 St. Petersburg’s Bridges

37

Text 4 The Squares of St. Petersburg

38

Text 5 A Pearl Necklace of Suburbs

41

Contents

43