3.3. Translate the following word-groups.

The country is situated; it occupies; the land is washed (by); the country borders (on); it is rich (in), the conditions are different; the Arctic Ocean influences; winter lasts; as long as six months; the system consists (of); the Federal Assembly is divided (into); the house is headed (by); the President controls, as well as.

3.4. Read the text. The russian federation

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. Its total area is over 17 million square kilometers and it occupies about 1/6 of the earth surface. The population of Russia is about 150 million people. The country is situated in Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia. The land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are the seas of three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. In the south and in the west the country borders on fourteen countries. The greater part of the territory of Russia is vast plains with high mountains and long rivers. The highest mountains of our land are the Altai, the Urals and the Caucasus. The Volga and the Ural are the longest rivers in the European part of the country. The longest rivers in the Asian part are the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena. Russia has also got numerous forests and steppes, taiga and tundra, highlands and deserts. The country is rich in various lakes, the deepest of which is the Baikal.

As Russia is a very large country, the climate conditions are rather different: from arctic and moderate to continental and subtropical. The Arctic Ocean influences the weather on a great territory of the country. In some parts of the country winter lasts as long as six months. The Russian Federation is one of the richest in mineral resources countries in the world especially in natural gas, oil, coal, different ores, ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

The Russian Federation is a constitutional republic headed by the President. The political system consists of three branches of power:

– the legislative branch which consists of the Federal Assembly that is divided into two houses – the Upper House, that is the Federation Council, and the Lower House, the Duma. Each house is headed by the Speaker.

– the executive branch is the government with the Prime Minister at the head.

– the judicial branch which consists of the system of Courts comprising the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and federal courts.

The President controls only the executive branch – the government, but not the Supreme Court and Federal Assembly.

The capital of Russia is Moscow, the largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial center as well as one of the most beautiful cities of the world. Russian is the official language of the state. The national symbols of the Russian Federation are a white-blue-red banner and a double-headed eagle.

The foreign policy of Russia is that of international cooperation, peace and friendship with all nations and countries.

3.5. Complete the following sentences with the expressions from the box.

total area borders on is rich in consists of is washed by international cooperation the official language is situated is headed by a constitutional republic cultural and industrial center

1. France … … Germany and Denmark.

2. The Russian Federation is … … … and it … … … the President.

3. They speak Spanish in Brazil. It’s … … … of the country.

4. Canada is a very big country. Its … … is about eleven million square kilometers.

5. The western part of the country … … numerous plains and forests.

6. Brazil … … … oil, gas and coal.

7. The island … … … the Pacific Ocean.

8. The House of Parliament … … in the center of London.

9. My native town is a … … … … of Siberia.

10. The most important direction of the foreign policy is that of … … .