Vocabulary

total area общая площадь non-ferrous metal цветной металл

to border on граничить (с) current population население на

sea-border морская граница данный период

former бывший ethnic Russians коренные

to encompass содержать, россияне

заключать в себе temperate умеренный

immense огромный, constitutional конституционная

необъятный republic республика

to vary from smth. варьировать от чего- legislative power законодательная

to smth либо до чего-либо власть

barren desert бесплодная пустыня to be vested in осуществляться

high peaked горная вершина (чем-либо)

mountain Upper Chamber верхняя палата

deep valley глубокая долина Lower Chamber нижняя палата

to be located быть расположен- executive исполнительный

ным judicial судебный

Mountain chain горная цепь Constitutional Конституцион-

to flow into впадать (в) Court ный Суд

deposits залежи lead свинец

oil нефть gold золото

iron ore железная руда

Exercises

1. Pronounce correctly:

Norway, Caucasus, Belorussia, Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, West Siberian Lowland, Urals, Amur, ethnic, lead, barren desert, aluminium, legislative.

2. Translate into Russian:

total area, to occupy, to encompass, immense, plain, arctic, to flow into, iron, barren desert, to vary from smth. to smth., mineral resources, to border on, temperate, current population, to include oil and natural gas, multinational, ethnic, former, non-ferrous metal, arctic, legislative, to be vested in, executive, judicial.

3. Translate into English:

глубокая долина, свинец, арктический, континентальный, субтропический, никель, граничить (с), варьировать от чего-либо до чего-либо, горная вершина, впадать (в), население на данный период, цветной металл, коренные россияне, законодательный, конституционная республика, включать, исполнительный, судебный.

4. Complete the following sentences:

1. The Russian Federation occupies…, its total area is…

2. Russia encompasses within its territory…

3. Russia is washed by…

4. The Russian Federation borders on…

5. The land of Russia varies a lot from…

6. The Federation is located on…

7. The world’s deepest lake is…

8. Russia’s most important rivers are…

9. Russia is rich in…

10. The current population of the Russian Federation is…

11. The climate of Russia is…

12. The capital of Russia is…

13. The legislative power is vested in…

14. The executive power belongs to…

15. The judicial branch is represented by…

16. The State symbol of Russia is…

17. The National Emblem of Russia is…

5. Answer the questions:

1. What territory does Russia occupy?

2. What oceans is Russia washed by?

3. How many countries does Russia border on?

4. What can you say about the relief of the Russian Federation?

5. What are the main mountain chains in Russia?

6. What mountain chain divides the European and Asian parts of Russia?

7. What do you know about Lake Baikal?

8. What can you say about the most important rivers of the Russian Federation?

9. What mineral resources is Russia rich in?

10. What is the population of Russia?

11. How can you characterize Russia’s climate?

12. What is the political system of the Russian Federation?

13. Can you depict the State symbol of Russia?

14. What is the National Emblem of Russia?

6. Translate from Russian into English:

1. Россия – самая большая страна в мире с общей площадью около 17 миллионов квадратных километров.

2. Российская Федерация граничит с четырнадцатью странами, включая бывшие республики СССР, которые сейчас являются независимыми государствами.

3. Самое глубокое озеро в мире – озеро Байкал.

4. Среди крупнейших горных цепей России – Урал, отделяющий Европу от Азии.

5. Волга, крупнейшая река России, впадает в Каспийское море.

6. 70 процентов населения Российской Федерации живет в городах.

7. Россия – страна с богатейшими запасами полезных ископаемых.

8. Законодательная власть в России принадлежит Федеральному собранию.

MOSCOW

Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, educational and cultural centre.

Moscow’s history covers about two thousand years, though the earliest annals set the date of its foundation as 1147. Because of its location, in the centre of the European Russia, Moscow became a focal point for important trade routes. In the 13^th century it was the centre of the struggle with the Tatar invasion. 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 was the main target of Napoleon’s attack and three quarters of the city were destroyed by fire. After the October revolution Moscow became the capital again.

Now Moscow is a great metropolis with the population of about 10 million people and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is known for its wonderful palaces, old mansions, cathedrals, churches and monuments. The heart of Moscow is Red Square, which has more historical associations than any other place in the capital. The Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral are masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture. The symbol of the Kremlin is the Spasskaya Tower. It is notable for its clock whose melodious chimes are well known to all citizens.

The role of the capital in the cultural life of the country is an important one. Many glorious pages of Russian opera and ballet history are connected with the Bolshoi Theatre. The Academic Maly Theatre, the Sovremennik Theatre, the Puppet Theatre and many others are extremely popular with theatre-goers. There are more than 80 museums in Moscow. The largest ones are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery, which has a splendid collection of Russian paintings. Moscow is also known for its libraries, the most famous one is the Russian State Library. Its bookstock houses over 41 million copies of different publications in 166 languages.

Moscow has contributed greatly to the development of Russian and world education and science. There are over eighty higher educational establishments there. The Moscow State University named after Lomonosov is one of the best ten universities in the world, where thousands of people from Russia and other countries get their education. Its magnificent 32 storied building is unique and of special interest. Moscow is also the home of the Russian Academy of Sciences with its numerous research institutes and laboratories.

The capital is constantly growing and changing. The major feature of Moscow’s present development is the establishment of the industries requiring highly skilled labour and the branches producing high-quality apparatus, as well as the development of new technologies.

Moscow is the railway, highway and international airway crossroads. Every day one million visitors stream into the city, that is why it has a serious transport problem. The most convenient and reliable means of transport is the Metro. It has 158 stations, which are more like palaces due to the unique architecture and the artistic design.

The capital is the main political and administrative centre. It is not only the seat of the government, but the headquarters of different political parties and international organizations.

Moscow today is an enormous modern city with first-rate hotels, restaurants, theatres, exhibition halls, shops and gigantic transport arteries. But in spirit Moscow remains its traditional incomparable image. It is the embodiment of the Russian character and history.