Discussion

1. How does the student’s life differ from that of pupil’s?

2. What are your impressions about the institute (teachers, subjects, buildings, timetable, activities, canteen, etc.)?

3. Tell about St. Tatyana’s Day.

4. Why did you decide to enter economics?

Project

Prepare an interactive excursion about your university.

Unit 5. Russia

Vocabulary & Speech Exercises

1. Read the following definitions and match to them the nouns from the box.

population variety climate government anthem natural resources nationality river

1. a patriotic song usually sung by a choir or a group of people.

2. a quantity of different kinds of things.

3. a large stream of water flowing in a natural channel.

4. a group of people who are in charge of (отвечают за) the public affairs in the country.

5. the people who live in a country; the total number of these people.

6. the condition of belonging to a particular nation.

7. the regular weather conditions of an area.

8. a material source of wealth, such as timber, fresh water, or a mineral deposit, that occurs in a natural state and has economic value.

2. Put in the words from the box.

located separated situated headed washed spoken rich covered

1. The Cabinet of Ministers is … by the Prime Minister.

2. Russia is … in natural resources.

3. Our country is … in both Europe and Asia.

4. The Russian language is … in many countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

5. Europe is … from Asia by the Urals.

6. A large area of Russia is … by permafrost (вечная мерзлота).

7. Russia is … by twelve seas and three oceans.

8. The capital of Russia is … on the Moskva River.

3. Put in the words from the box.

occupies make up borders belongs comprises consists include

1. Russia … on 14 countries.

2. The Russian Federation … 83 federal subjects.

3. Russians … the majority of the population of the Russian Federation.

4. Most of the territory of Russia … of vast plains.

5. Russia … a territory of 17 million square kilometres.

6. About 85percent of the Russian population … to European ethnic groups.

7. Leading political parties in Russia … United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and a Just Russia.

4. Look at the hotel information table and tell about its daily regimen.

5. Look at the map of Great Britain and tell about its geographical position. Use the phrases below.

is located is washed by … is separated from … by …

consists of … the capital … the largest cities …

the longest rivers … the highest mountains … the biggest islands …

6. Complete the sentences with the necessary information. Use the map if necessary.

1. Russia is situated …

2. It occupies …

3. It is washed by …

4. It borders on …

5. Its population …

6. Its capital …

7. The flag …

8. The state emblem …

9. The largest rivers …, the largest mountain chains …, the deepest lake …

10. Russia is rich in …

11. The legislative power belongs to …, the executive power …, the juridical power …

12. Leading parties …

7. Choose the right variant.

1. the longest river in Russia (the Volga / the Yenisei / the Amur)

2. the longest river in the world (the Nile / the Amazon / the Yangtze)

3. the largest country in the world (Russia / China / the USA)

4. the deepest lake in the world (Michigan / Victoria / Baikal)

5. the highest mountain peak in Russia (Mount Narodnaya / Elbrus / Belukha)

6. the highest mountain peak in the world (Everest / Whitney / Snowdon)

7. the longest mountain chain in the world (the Alps / the Andes / the Cordillera)

8. the longest mountain chain in Russia (the Altai / the Urals / the Caucasus)

9. the largest city in Russia (Saint Petersburg / Kazan / Moscow)

10. the largest city in the world (New York / Tokyo / Mexico)

8. Compare these things and creatures using the comparative constructions and the words below.

… than …; as … as …; not so … as … .

Heavy, dangerous, fast, fierce; expensive, cheap, slow, comfortable; dirty, friendly, intelligent, noisy.

9. Match the public Russian holidays with the dates when they are celebrated. Then answer the questions below.

Holiday	Date
New Year	7 January
Christmas	1 May
Defender of the Fatherland Day	8 March
International Women’s Day	1 January
International Workers’ Day	12 June
Victory Day	4 November
Russia Day	23 February
Unity Day	9 May

1. Which holiday commemorates the first mass draft (массовая запись) into the Red Army in 1918?

2. Which holiday commemorates the popular uprising (народное ополчение) which expelled the Polish invaders from Moscow in November 1612?

3. Which holiday commemorates the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War?

4. Which holiday commemorates the adoption of the declaration of state sovereignty of Russia?

5. Which holiday commemorates the demonstrations in the early 20^th century to promote equal rights for women?

6. Which holiday commemorates the demonstrations for the eight-hour workday?

7. Which holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ?

8. Which holiday marks the beginning of the calendar’s year?

Note:

commemorate [kəʹmeməreit] – отмечать (событие), увековечивать в памяти

10. Explain how people in Russia celebrate these holidays.

Text 1

Read and translate the text into Russian. Answer the questions below. Practise good reading of the text.

Russia is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one seventh of the earth’s surface and is almost the size of the USA and Canada combined. On the Russian territory there are 9 time zones. The country is situated in Eastern Europe and Northern and Central Asia. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometres. Our land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are seas of three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. In the south and in the west Russia borders on 14 countries, and it also has a sea-border with the USA. The population of Russia is over 140 million people. Moscow is the capital and the biggest city. Russians make up 83 percent of the population, and Russian is the official language, but there are more than a hundred other nationalities and languages including Tatars, Ukrainians and Bashkirs. The country’s official name is the Russian Federation. The national flag of Russia is a white-blue-and-red banner. The state emblem is a double-headed eagle. The national anthem is by Alexander Alexandrov and Sergey Mikhalkov.

There is hardly a country in the world with such a great variety of flora and fauna as in Russia. Our country has various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical in the south, but the temperate zone with four seasons prevails. Russia is located on two plains: the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Plain. There are several mountain chains: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai, and others. The largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia. More than one third of Russia is covered with vast forests. Russia is also a land of long rivers and deep lakes. The longest rivers are the Volga, which is also Europe’s longest river, the Ob, the Yenisei, the Lena and the Amur. The deepest lake is the Baikal, which is also the world’s deepest lake. Our country is one of the richest in natural resources in the world: there is oil, natural gas, coal, different ores and other minerals.

Russia is a semi-presidential republic headed by the President. The country’s government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The legislative power belongs to the Federal Assembly comprising two chambers: the Council of Federation (upper Chamber) and the State Duma (lower Chamber). Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. The executive power belongs to the government (the Cabinet of Ministers) headed by the Prime Minister. The judicial power belongs to the system of courts including the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and federal courts. The President controls only the executive branch. The country has a multiparty system. The foreign policy of Russia is that of international cooperation, peace and friendship with all nations.

Notes:

the Arctic [ʹa:ktik] – Северный Ледовитый океан

the Atlantic [ətʹlæntik] – Атлантический океан

the Pacific [pəʹsifik] – Тихий океан

Siberia [saiʹbi:tiə] – Сибирь

the Urals [ʹju:rəlz] – Уральские горы

the Caucasus [ʹko:kəzəs] – Кавказ

the Federal Assembly [aʹsembli] – Федеральное Собрание

the Council of Federation [ʹkaunsil] – Совет Федерации

the Supreme Court [sju: ʹpri:m] – Верховный суд

Questions:

1. What is the official name of Russia?

2. What are the size and location of Russia?

3. How big is the territory of Russia?

4. How many countries have borders with Russia?

5. What oceans wash the borders of Russia?

6. What is the population of Russia?

7. What is the capital of Russia?

8. What nationalities live in Russia?

9. What are the national symbols of Russia?

10. What can you say about the climate of Russia?

11. What can you say about the landscapes of Russia?

12. What government body represents the legislative (executive / judicial) power?

13. Who is the head of the state (the Council of Federation and the State Duma / the Cabinet of Ministers)?

14. How many parties are there in Russia?