Россия

Астраханский Государственный Технический Университет.

Кафедра ИЯГЕНО

Методическая разработка разговорной темы:” Российская Федерация” для студентов I- курса всех специальностей.

Астрахань 2005

Составитель ассистент кафедры ИЯГЕНО : Ремизова И.В

Рецензент: к.п.н. доц. кафедры « ИЯГЕНО» Фёдорова О.В

Методическая разработка утверждена и одобрена на заседании кафедры: ИЯГЕНО.

Протокол№

Пояснительная записка:

Настоящее пособие представляет собой страноведческий текст, являющийся также полно изложенной устной темой.

Также здесь даны дополнительные тексты для чтения: Москва, Санкт-Петербург.

Тексты снабжены словарём, географическими названиями с транскрипцией и переводом.

Автором были разработаны упражнения, предназначенные для формирования навыков устной речи.

Цель данного пособия – усовершенствовать навыки чтения, перевода и пересказа иностранных текстов.

Методическое пособие предназначено для студентов 1-го курса всех специальностей.

The Russian Federation.

Read the words and master the active vocabulary:

Names

the Ukraine - Украина

the Great Russian Plain - Русская (Восточно-Европейская равнина)

the West Siberian Lowland - Западно-Сибирская низменность

the Urals - Уральские горы

the Caucasus - Кавказ

the Altai - Алтай

the Volga - Волга

the Caspian Sea - Каспийское море

the Ob - Обь

the Yenisei - Енисей

Amur - Амур

lake Baikal - озеро Байкал

the Far East - Дальний Восток

Vocabulary.

to occupy - занимать

surface - поверхность

eastern - восточный

to wash - омывать

to border on - граничить с

sea- border - морская граница

variety - разнообразие, множество

scenery - пейзаж, ландшафт

vegetation - растительность

steppe -степь

plain - равнина

midland - средняя полоса

highland - высокогорная местность

desert - пустыня

chain - цепь

to flow into - впадать

to count - считать

bottom - дно

to concentrate - сосредотачиваться, концентрироваться

vast - обширный

various - различный

climate - климат

subtropical - субтропический

copper - медь

mineral resources - полезные ископаемые

parliamentary - парламентский

legislative - законодательный

to exercise - осуществлять

scientific - научный

Federal Assembly - федеральное собрание

the Council of Federation - Совет Федерации

chamber - Палата

Supreme Court - Верховный суд

executive - исполнительный

commander-in-chief - главнокомандующий

to be engaged in - быть занятым где-то

a dairy product - молочный продукт

abundant - обильный, изобилующий

Read and translate the text:

The Russian Federation.

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one-seventh of the earth's surface. It covers the eastern part of Europe and northern part of Asia. It' s total area is about 17 million square kilometres. The country is washed by 12 seas of 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic. In the south Russia borders on China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders on Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Belorussia, the Ukraine. It also has a sea-border with the USA.

There is hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can be found. We have steppers in the south, plains and forests in the midland, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts in the east.

There are two great plains in Russia: the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. There are several mountain chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia.

There are over two million rivers in Russia. Europe's biggest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian sea. The main Siberian rivers – the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena- flow from the south to the north. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. The world's deepest lake ( 1,600 metres) is Lake Baikal. It is much smaller than the Baltic sea, but there is much more water in it than in the Baltic sea. The water in the lake is so clear that if you look down you can count the stones on the bottom.

Russia has one-sixty of the world's forests. They are concentrated in the European north of the country, in Siberia and in the Far East.

On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical in the south. In the middle of the country the climate is temperate and continental.

Russia is very rich in oil, coal, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel and other mineral resources. Three -quarters of the republic’s mineral wealth is concentrated in Siberia and the Far East. Russia s a highly industrialised – agrarian republic. Approximately 10 million people are engaged in agriculture and the produce half of the region’s grain, meat, milk and other dairy products.

The Russian Federation is set up by the Constitution of 1993.

Under the Constitution Russia is a presidential republic. The federal government consists of three branches; legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by the President. The President is also the commander- in- chief of the armed forces.

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 members of the Federal Assembly are elected by popular vote for a four- year period. 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 comprising the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and federal courts.

Our country is a multinational state. It comprises many national districts, several autonomous republics and regions. The population of the country is over 140 million people.

The European part of the country is densely populated.

Moscow is the capital of our homeland. It is largest political scientific, cultural and industrial centre of the country and one of the most beautiful cities. Russian is the official language of the state. The national symbols of the Russian Federation: a double headed eagle and a white-blue-red banner. The white stripe of the banner symbolizes the Earth, the blue one stands for the sky, and the red one symbolizes liberty.

The largest cities of Russia are St.Petersburg, Volgograd, Vladivostok, Krasnodar, Irkutsk and so on.

1. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is the Russian Federation situated?

2. What is the total area of the country?

3. What countries does Russia border on?

4. How many seas and oceans are the country washed by?

5. What scenery and vegetation can be found in Russia?

6. What mountain chain separates Europe from Asia?

7. How many rivers are there in Russia?

8. Which is the longest river in Europe?

9. What do you know about Lake Baikal?

10. What is the climate like in Russia?

11. What mineral resources is the Russian Federation rich in?

12. What is the political system of Russia?

13. Whom does the legislative power belong to ?

14. How many chambers are there in the Federal Assembly?

15. Who heads the Russian Federation?

16. What is the judicial system of Russia?

17. What is the population of Russia?

18. What is the official language of the state?

19. What are the national symbols of the Russian Federation?

20. What are the largest cities of the Russian Federation?

2. Give Russian equivalents for these words and word combinations:

To Occupy, surface, total area, to be washed by, in the south, to border on, scenery, vegetation, plains, midland, desert, mountain chains, to separate, to flow into ( from), to be rich in, types of climate, temperate, copper, oil, mineral resources, state, to comprise, population, to be headed by, to consist of, branch, legislative power, to belong to, chamber, court.

2. Find in the text the English equivalents for these words and word combinations:

Иметь морскую границу, едва ли, Прибалтийские государства, разнообразие, высокогорная местность, считать, сосредотачиваться, обширная территория, субтропический, железная руда, осуществлять, исполнительная, Государственная Дума, судебный, главнокомандующий, быть густонаселённым, двуглавый орёл, с высокоразвитой промышленностью и сельским хозяйством, быть занятым в… .

2. Fill in the blanks with the articles a, an, the where necessary.

1. Russia is … largest country in … area.

2. It extends from … Arctic Ocean to … Black Sea.

3. … President is … head of … state.

4. … Siberia has … continental climate.

5. … Russia has … world's largest oil and natural gas resources.

6. … two-headed eagle is … most ancient symbol of … Russia.

7. … symbol of … country should be approved by … Federal Assembly.

8. … government of … country is headed by… Prime Minister.

9. … Lake Baikal is … deepest in … world.

10. … thousands of … tourists try to visit … lake.

5. Analyse grammar forms with the ending “ –s ”

The world’s largest country, square kilometres, Russian borders many countries, the President appoints, the forests and grasslands, ministers, stripes, rivers and lakes, the world’s deepest lake, its bridges, climatic zones, events, traces, summers and winters, natural resources, large deposits, Russia’s major cities, three-quarters, the government works, most of Russia’s people, it attracts tourists, ethnic Russians, its cathedrals, monuments, St Basil’s Cathedral, cities, towns, all peoples, it extends.

2. Insert the prepositions :

1. The country is washed … 12 seas.

2. … the south Russia borders … China and Mongolia.

3. It also has a sea – border … the USA.

4. The Urals separates Europe … Asia.

5. The Volga flows … the Caspian sea.

6. The Yenisei and the Lena flow … the south … the north.

7. Russia is rich … beautiful lakes.

8. If you look down you can count the stones … the bottom.

9. There are various types … climate, … arctic … subtropical.

10. The Russian Federation is headed … the President.

11. The country government consists … three branches.

12. The legislative power belongs … the Federal Assembly.

7. Fill in the blanks with proper conjunctions.

1. It is known, … Russia is the world’s largest country in area.

2. … you look at the geographical map of Russia, you will find many rivers and lakes there.

3. Moscow is a political centre, … the government works there.

4. Moscow attracts tourists from all over the world , … it is a cultural centre.

5. … you want to know any country well, you should know the people’s customs and traditions.

8. Make up general and disjunctive questions, and answer them according to the models.

a)Model. Moscow is the capital of Russia.

Is Moscow the capital of Russia? – Yes, it is.

Moscow is the capital of Russia, isn’t it?- Yes, it is.

1. Russia is the world’s largest country in area.

2. The climate in Siberia is continental.

3. It is warm in the south.

4. The head of the state is the President.

5. The head of the government is the Prime Minister.

6. There are different climatic zones in Russia.

7. There are abundant natural resources in our country.

b) Model. Russia borders on many countries.

Does Russia border on many countries?

Russia borders on many countries, doesn’t it?. – Yes, it does.

1. The Russia Federation extends from the Arctic Ocean to the Baltic Sea.

2. The President appoints the ministers.

3. The government works in Moscow.

4. Moscow attracts tourists from all over the world .

5. The federal government consists of three branches.

IX.. Make up questions the answers to which will be words in italics. The words in brackets will help you.

1. Russia is located in Europe and Asia (what).

2. Natural resources include large deposits of gas, coal, and iron ore ( what).

3. The President appoints the ministers ( who).

4. You can see lowlands on its territory (what).

5. The red colour symbolizes the liberty on the Russian flag ( what).

6. About 70 per cent of the people prefer to live in cities, towns and their outskirts (how many).

7. Moscow was founded in 1147 (when).

8. The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea (where).

Х. Ask the questions to the underlined words.

1. Russia covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia.

2. The Russian Federation borders on Finland, China, Korea.

3. The largest mountain chain, the Urals separates Europe from Asia.

4. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean.

4. Russian forests are concentrated in the European north of the country.

5. The legislative power in Russia is exercised by the Duma.

6 The Russian Federation produces machines, airplanes, ships, TV sets, refrigerators and other things.

7. The depth of Lake Baikal is 1600 metres.

8. In the middle of the country the climate is continental.

9. The President controls only the executive branch.

10. The population of the country is over 140 million people.

11.Eighty per cent are ethnic Russians in our country.

ХI. . Put the verbs in brackets into the right form:

1. I (to be) a citizen of the Russian Federation.

2. The Russian Federation ( to occupy) about one seventh of the Earth surface.

3. The Russian Federation ( to border) on fourteen countries.

4. It ( to have ) a sea –border with the USA.

5. The highest mountains in our land ( to be) the Altai, the Urals, the Caucasus.

6. Our country ( to have) a multiparty system.

7. The Black sea ( to be) a very popular place for people who ( to prefer) to spend their holidays at the seaside.

8. As for me, I ( to visit) a lot of places in my country.

ХII .Make up as many words as you can by combining different parts of the words.

differ -ent - ment

continent - ence - dom

govern - al

in- free

education - ful

region

use

ХIII. Try to match up the adjectives in column A with the nouns in column B

to form meaningful phrases.

A B

1. large a) territory

2. total b) deposit

3. official c) stripes

4. wide d) emblem

5. different e) zones

6. natural f) resources

7. russian g) flag

8. vast h) grasslands

9. horizontal i) language

10. national j) area

ХIV. Decide which of the verbs on the left collocate with the nouns on the right

to border… deposits

to o include… ministers

to appoint… the city

to restore… tourists

to attract… countries

ХV. Divide the following words into tree groups, those which describe a) surface, b) climate, c) flag

Surface, cold, warm, grasslands, stripes, highlands, summer, lakes, rivers, to symbolize, mountain chains, plains, continental, mild, forests, freedom, sky, national symbol, climatic zones, low-lands, two-headed eagle, to separate.

ХVI. Find the words which have the similar meanings as the following words (synonyms).

The biggest, territory, whole, different, a lot of, plentiful, to contain, towns, liberty, to ruin, nice, famous, centre.

ХVII. Find the words which have the opposite meanings to the following words. ( antonyms).

Lowlands, narrow, in the south, hot, small, majority, vertical, black, to restore, weaker, above, agricultural.

ХVIII.. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Самое глубокое озеро на земном шаре – озеро Байкал.

2. Законодательная власть в России принадлежит Федеральному Собранию, состоящему из двух палат.

3. Едва ли есть ещё одна страна в мире с такой разнообразной флорой и фауной.

4. Россия богата углём, нефтью, газом, медью и другими полезными ископаемыми.

5. Самые крупные города России: Москва, Санкт-Петербург, Иркутск, Краснодар, Владивосток и др.

6. Исполнительная власть в стране контролируется Президентом.

7. Россия омывается тремя океанами: Тихим, Северным Ледовитым и Атлантическим.

8. На юге и на западе Российская Федерация граничит с четырнадцатью странами.

9. Судебная власть в государстве принадлежит системе судов, включающей Конституционный суд, Верховный и федеральные суды.

10. На огромной территории России существуют различные климатические пояса.

11. Москва – один из самых крупных городов мира, политический, научный, промышленный и культурный центр нашей страны.

12. Россия расположена в восточной части Европы и северной части Азии.

13. Население, занятое в сельском хозяйстве производит зерно, мясо и молочные продукты.

14. Государственными символами России являются флаг и герб.

ХIХ. Read and translate the following dialogue.

Memorize and dramatize the dialogue.

Act out similar dialogues according to the information in the text.

1. Hi, Dima! You have come at last. Glad to see you.

2. Hi, Max! Glad to see you too.

1. Have you prepared for your History classes?

2. Yes, I have. We should have prepared texts about the state system of the Russian Federation.

1. You are absolutely right. But I was busy yesterday and didn’t manage to prepare the material. Will you be so kind as to tell me about it in brief?

2. Certainly. Don’t worry. It is not too complex. Hope, that you do know who is at head of our country.

1. Naturally. The President, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He also appoints ministers in the government.

2. That’s fine. Do you know what branches the federal government consists of?

1. I wish I knew.

2. You see, the federal government includes three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative power is realized by the Federal Assembly, which consists of two chambers :the Upper Chamber, The Council of Federation, and the Lower Chamber, the State Duma. The executive power belongs …

1. Oh, sorry for interrupting you. I do know about it. It belongs to the Government, which is headed by the Prime Minister.

2. Good for you. And the judicial power is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the regional courts. That’s all.

1. I don’t know how to thank you.

2. Not at all. It was a real pleasure for me to do it.

20. Act as an interpreter.

The History of Russia.

A conversation between a Russian student and an American student is taking place in the library.

1. – Привет, Джон. Что ты здесь делаешь?

10. Hi, Andrew. You see, I am reading a book on Russian history.

1. Замечательно. Знать историю любой страны полезно.

10. You are absolutely right. It helps me to understand better your people’s customs and traditions.

А. - У нашей страны очень богатая история.

10. – I agree with, but it is too complex.

А. – Тебе не всё понятно? Могу я помочь?

10. To tell the truth, I haven’t quite got why in the 18^th century French became the official language in your country.

1. – Если я не ошибаюсь, к концу 18 века русская аристократия приняла европейскую одежду и речь…

10. – I see. It was during the reign of Catherine the Great, a period, which was characterized by the great cultural growth.

1. – Да, это было давно.

10. Well, the 20^th century was difficult for Russian history.

1. Да, ты прав.

XXI. Do you know ?

1. the biggest Russian lake?

2. The longest Russian river ( in European and Asian parts of the Russian Federation) ?

3. A city with subtropical climate?

4. Cities with arctic climate?

5. Agricultural regions?

6. Old historical cities?

7. Places of recreation and tourism?

ХXII. Speak on the following topics:

1. The geography and scenery of Russia.

2. Climate and mineral resources.

3. The political system of Russia.

XXIII. Discuss the following proverb together with your friend, and say if you agree with it.

There is no place like home.

24. Arrange role-plays on the following subjects. Be as imaginative as you can.

1. At the Tourist Agency in Russia.

2. You are a guide to a foreigner.

Test.

1. Choose the proper words and fill in the blanks.

1. We are proud … the country.

A in B of C on D to

2. … rivers include the Volga in Europe, the Yenisei, the Ob, the Lena in Asia.

A abundant B national c major D total

3. The greatest … of natural gas are located in Siberia and the Far East.

A mineral B concentrate C deposits D plains

4. The city was … restored after the Tartar invasion.

A especially B densely C naturally D gradually

4. St Basil's Cathedral has many …

A eagles B domes C chambers D counts

6. The … power is realized by the Federal Assembly.

A executive B judicial C legislative D federal

7. The Upper chamber of the Federal Assembly is called the … of Federation.

A Duma B Council C Court D State

8. AT the end of the 18^th century the Russian aristocracy … the European clothes and speech.

A approved B appointed C adopted D destroyed

9. The period, when Catherine the Great …, was characterized by the great cultural growth.

A reigned B adopted C ruined D restored

10. Now we can easily travel abroad, enjoy … of speech and religion.

A abundant B wealth C court D freedom

Additional text.

Moscow.

Vocabulary.

historian - историк

to accept - принимать, допускать

gradually - постепенно

powerful - сильный, могущественный

liberation - освобождение

tartar yoke - татарское иго

united - соединённый, объединённый

target - мишень, цель, объект

to destroy - разрушать

occupation - оккупация

ancient - древний

masterpiece - шедевр

architecture - архитектура

to blind - ослепить

mansion - особняк

to reconstruct - перестраивать, восстанавливать

unique - единственный, уникальный в своём роде

higher educational institution - высшее учебное заведение

Names.

Ivan the Terrible - Иван Грозный

Peter the Great - Пётр Великий ( Пётр I)

St Basil’s Cathedral - собор Василия Блаженного

the bell Tower of Ivan the Great - колокольня Ивана Великого

the Tzar – Cannon - Царь – пушка

the Tzar-Bell - Царь-колокол

Barma and Postnic - Барма и Постник

the Pushkin Museum - Музей изобразительных искусств имени Пушкина

the State Tretyakov Gallery - Государственная Третьяковская галерея

the Andrey Rublev Museum

of Early Russian Art Музей древнерусского искусства имени Рублёва

Alexei Bakhrushin Theatre - Театральный музей имени Бахрушина

Mikhail Glinka of Museum Culture - Музей музыкальной культуры имени Глинки

the Bolshoi Opera House - Большой театр оперы и балета

Moscow.

Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. It was founded 8 centuries ago by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Historians have accepted the year of 1147 as the start of Moscow’s history. Gradually the city became more and more powerful. In the 13^th century Moscow was the centre of the struggle of Russian lands for the liberation from the tartar yoke. In the 16^th century under Ivan the Terrible Moscow became the capital of the new united state. Though Peter the Great moved the capital to ST Petersburg in 1712, Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon’s attack. Three-quarters of the city was destroyed by fire during Napoleon’s occupation, but by the mid-19^th century Moscow had been completely restored. After the October revolution Moscow became the capital again.

Now Moscow is one of the largest cities in the world. Its total area is about nine hundred square kilometers. The population of the city is over 8 million.

Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The heart of Moscow is Red Square. It has more historic associations than any other place in Moscow. The Kremlin and ST Basil’s Cathedral ( Vasily Blazheny) are masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture. The main Kremlin tower, the Spasskaya Tower, has became the symbol of the country. On the territory of the Kremlin you can see old cathedrals, Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Palace of Congresses, the Tzar- Connon and the Tzar-Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world. St Basil’s Cathedral was built in the mid-16^th century in memory of the victory over Kazan. There is a legend that Ivan the Terrible blinded the architects Barma and Postnic, because he didn’t want them to create another masterpiece.

There are a lot of beautiful places, old mansions, cathedrals, churches and monuments in Moscow. Now Moscow is being reconstructed and we all hope that in a few years the city will become even more beautiful.

There are more than 80 museums in Moscow. The largest museums are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Other unique museums in Moscow include the All-Russian Museum of Folk Arts, the Andrey Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art, Alexei Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Mikhail Glinka Museum of Musical Culture and many others.