6. Using the information from the text above, complete these sentences.

1. Russia is a … .

2. Russia shares its borders with … .

3. Russia is the largest … .

4. Russia has the world’s greatest … .

5. Russia is considered … .

6. Russia’s lakes contain … .

7. forest reserves are … .

7. Work with your partner. Compose 4 or 5 questions to the text.

Vocabulary Training

8. Read the following words and word combinations:

AD (Anno Domini) – от Рождества Христова

Emerge – появляться

Byzantine Empire – Византийская империя

Ultimately – в конце концов

Principality – княжество

cultural and political legacy – культурное и политическое наследие

annexation – аннексия (присоединение)

successor state – государство-правопреемник

Grand Duchy of Moscow – Великое княжество Московское

9. Read the following words and expressions and guess their meaning:

nation's history, a noble Viking warrior class, Byzantine Empire, many small feudal states, reunification process, independence struggle

10. Scan the text quickly and find the English equivalents of the following words and word expressions:

восточные славяне, различимая группа, государство-правопреемник, посредст-вом завоеваний, простираясь от.

Reading

11. Read and translate the text about early days of Russian history.

Early History of Russia

The nation's history began with that of theEast Slavs. They emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD (Anno Domini). The first East Slavic state was Kievan Rus'. It arose in the 9th century and was founded and ruled by a noble Viking warrior class and their descendant. Kievan Rus' adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire in 988. It was the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures and that defined Russian culture for the next millennium. Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated and the lands were divided into many small feudal states. The most powerful successor state to Kievan Rus' was Moscow (or Grand Duchy of Moscow). Moscow served as the main force in the Russian reunification process and independence struggle against the Golden Horde.

Moscow gradually reunified the surrounding Russian principalities and came to dominate the cultural and political legacy of Kievan Rus'. By the 18th century, the nation had greatly expanded through conquest, annexation and exploration to become theRussian Empire. And it was the third largest empire in history, stretching from Poland eastward to the Pacific Ocean and Alaska.

12. Give the answers to the questions below.

1. When did the East Slavs emerge?

2. What was the first East Slavic state?

3. Who were the founders of Kievan Rus'?

4. What was the source of Russian Christianity?

5. What was the result of Kievan Rus' disintegration?

6. By what time has Russia become the Russian Empire?

13. Complete the following sentences using the contents of the text.

1. East Slavs emerged as a recognizable group in Europe … .

2. Kievan Rus' was … .

3. It was founded and ruled by … starting from 9^th century.

4. Kievan Rus' adopted Christianity from … .

5. Moscow was … .

6. Gradually Moscow reunified … and … the cultural and political legacy of … .

7. By the 18th century the nation … to become the Russian Empire.

Vocabulary Training

14. Read the following words and word combinations:

cede – уступить

Ingria – Инжора

Serfdom – крепостное право

Alexander the Blessed – Александр Благословенный

Spur – побуждать

Enact – определять, вводить, устанавливать, узаконивать

Aggravate – обострять, усугублять

Downfall – падение

15. Say that in English making use of the text below.

Петр Великий, официально провозгласить, мировая держава, доступ к морю, заставить уступить, при правлении династии Романовых, в союзе с Пруссией, Екатерина Великая, наследник Николая, повсеместное существование крепост-ного права.

Reading

16. Skim the text and define the general message of this text.

Peter the Great officially proclaimed the existence of the Russian Empire in 1721. Under the Romanov dynasty and Peter I (Peter the Great), the Russian Empire became a world power. Ruling from 1682 to 1725, Peter defeated Sweden in the Great Northern War. He forced it to cede West Karelia and Ingria – the two regions lost by Russia in the Time of Troubles, Estland, and Livland. That secured Russia's access to the sea and sea trade. It was in Ingria that Peter founded a new capital, Saint Petersburg.

Catherine II (Catherine the Great) ruled from 1762 to 1796 and continued the efforts to establish Russia as one of the Great Powersof Europe.

In alliance with Prussia and Austria, Russia stood against Napoleon's France in the reign of Alexander I (1777–1825) (Alexander the Blessed).

The prevalence of serfdom and the conservative policies of Nicolas I (1796–1855) impeded the development of Russia in the mid-nineteenth century.

Nicholas's successor Alexander II (reign: 1855–1881) enacted significant reforms, including the abolition of serfdom in 1861. These "Great Reforms" spurred industrialization. However, many socio-economic conflicts were aggravated during Alexander III’s reign and under his son, Nicholas II. Those conflicts as well as World War I brought the Russian monarchy to its downfall.