- •Белгород 2005
- •Unit 1 student life reading and discussion
- •My studies
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Express in one word the meaning of each of the following phrases. All the words required are in the Text. You are given the first letter of each word and the number of letters in it.
- •3. Choose the Russian equivalents from the right column to the following English words and phrases.
- •4. Finish up the sentences of the Text.
- •5. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •6. Make up a plan of the Text and reproduce it according to the plan.
- •My working day
- •7. Read Text 1b and answer the following questions.
- •8. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions and reproduce the context in which they are used.
- •9. Say whether you agree or disagree with these statements. Give your reasoning. The following phrases may be helpful:
- •10. Put the following headings in a logical order according to the Text.
- •11. Read Text 1b again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •Studying away from home
- •12. Ask your groupmates about Text 1c and let them answer these questions.
- •13. Consider the following statements.
- •14. Discuss pros and cons of living and studying away from home.
- •15. Retell the story as if it happened to you.
- •16. Make up a story about your student life based on the information given in the above Texts. Speaking
- •Talking of exams
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •Talking of studying english
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •Discussing the timetable
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “Student Life” about Oleg Petrov’s study at the Belgorod State Technological University.
- •24. Listen to the Text “The Student Rob Fellows” about Rob who is a student in England.
- •The Belgorod shukhov State technological university reading and discussion
- •The university I go to
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Indicate one of the meanings in which the given word is used in the Text, the paragraph number is given in brackets.
- •3. Choose the synonyms from the right column to the phrases given in the left one.
- •4. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •5. Put questions to which these are the answers. The important words in the answer are underlined. Act the dialogue.
- •6. Make up a plan of the text and reproduce it according to the plan.
- •Training specialists at the Belgorod shukhov State Technological University
- •7. Read Text 2b and answer the following questions.
- •My university
- •12. Read Text 2c and answer the following questions.
- •13. Consider the following statements and say if you agree or disagree with them. The following phrases may be helpful:
- •14. Speak on the following subjects.
- •15. Read Text 2c again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •16. Make up a story about the Belgorod State Technological University based on the information given in the above Texts. Speaking
- •Meeting a friend
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1.
- •Talking of studying at the university
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •A seminar on electrical engineering studies
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “Foreign Students at the Belgorod State Technological University”.
- •24. Listen to the Text “Moscow University.”
- •Reading and discussion
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Substitute the underlined parts of the following sentences for the words and word combinations from the Text.
- •3. Choose the antonyms from the right column to the phrases given in the left one.
- •4. Say what is true and what is false. Correct the false sentences.
- •5. Answer the following questions.
- •6. Make up a plan of the Text and reproduce it according to the plan.
- •Some cities of Russia
- •7. Read Text 3b and answer the following questions.
- •8. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions and reproduce the context in which they are used.
- •9. Say whether you agree or disagree with these statements. Give your reasoning. Use the introductory phrases from the previous Units.
- •10. Which parts of the Text correspond to the following headings? Put them in a logical order.
- •11. Read Text 3b again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains. Use the expressions given below.
- •Siberia
- •12. Read Text 3c and answer the following questions.
- •Speaking
- •On the Isle of Kizhi
- •18. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •19. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model and the information given.
- •St. Petersburg
- •20. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •21. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue “The Altai”.
- •22. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •23. Make up and act dialogues concerning the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •24. Listen to the Text “Resources of Russia” about natural resources found in the Russian Federation.
- •25. Listen to the Text “St. Petersburg” about the second largest city of the Russian Federation.
- •The Capital of the Russian Federation
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Express in one word the meaning of each of the following phrases. All the words required are in the Text. You are given the first letter of each word and the number of letters in it.
- •3. Put the words omitted in the following. The sentences are all in the piece you have just read.
- •4. Finish up the sentences of the Text.
- •5. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •6. Reproduce the Text “The capital of the Russian Federation” in English according to the plan made up.
- •Moscow – a leading center of science
- •7. Read text 4b and answer the questions.
- •8. Reproduce the parts of the Text in which these words and phrases are used. Use these phrases in short stories of your own.
- •9. Discuss the Text in pairs. Use the pattern below as a model and guidelines.
- •10. Find and reproduce the key sentence in each paragraph expressing the main idea.
- •11. Retell the Text according to the plan made up.
- •Moscow Places of Interest
- •12. Read Text 4c and answer the following questions.
- •14. Speak on the following subjects.
- •15. Read Text 4c again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •16. Make up a story about Moscow based on the information given in the above Texts. Speaking
- •Doing the sights of Moscow
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •Seeing Moscow
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •Driving to Ostankino
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “The Tretyakov Gallery”.
- •24. Listen to the Text “The Kremlin”.
- •Belgorod
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Choose the Russian equivalents from the right column to the following English words and phrases.
- •3. Substitute the underlined parts of the following sentences for the words and word combinations from the Text.
- •4. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •6. Reproduce the Text “Belgorod” in English according to the plan made up.
- •Belgorod Region (social and economic survey)
- •7. Read Text 5b and answer the following questions.
- •8. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions and reproduce the context in which they are used.
- •9. Say whether you agree or disagree with there statements. Give your reasoning. Use the introductory phrases from the previous Units.
- •10. Put the following headings in a logical order according to the Text.
- •11. Read Text 5b again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •Memorial in honour of heroes of the Battle of Kursk
- •12. Ask your fellow students about Text 5c and let them answer these questions.
- •Speaking
- •Talking of the home town
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as model.
- •Visiting the monument to victory in Prokhorovka
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •Talking of Belgorod places of interest
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “Some Industries of the Belgorod region”.
- •24. Listen to the Text “Newcastle, My Home Town”. Study the following commentary.
- •Reading and discussion
- •The system of Higher education in Russia
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Indicate one of the meanings in which the given word is used in the Text. The paragraph number is given in brackets.
- •3. Choose the synonyms from the right column to the phrases given in the left one.
- •4. Correct the following sentences beginning with: “I am afraid that is wrong” or “That is not true to the fact”.
- •5. Answer the following questions.
- •6. Reproduce the Text “The System of Higher Education in Russia” in English according to the plan made up.
- •Education in Russia
- •7. Read Text 6b and answer the following questions.
- •8. Reproduce the parts of the Text in which these words and phrases are used. Use these phrases in short stories of your own.
- •9. Discuss the Text in pairs. Use the patterns below as a model and guidelines.
- •10. Find and reproduce the key sentence in each paragraph expressing the main idea.
- •11. Retell the Text according to the plan made up. Text 6c getting higher education in Russia
- •12. Read Text 6c and answer the following questions.
- •13. Consider the following statements and say if you agree or disagree with them. Use the introductory phrases from the previous units.
- •14. Speak on the following questions.
- •15. Read Text 6c again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •16. Make up a story about higher education in Russia based on the information given in the above Texts.
- •Speaking
- •Dialogue 1
- •An interview for applicants for entry
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •Dialogue 2 talking of studies
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Using Dialogue 2 as a model, make up a dialogue about two friends discussing pros and cons of full-time and part-time (correspondence) education. Dialogue 3
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Fill in the missing remarks in the following dialogue and finish it up.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “St. Petersburg University”.
- •24. Listen to the Text “Some Facts of the History of Education in Russia”.
- •Unit 7 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Choose the Russian equivalents from the right column to the following English words and phrases.
- •3. Put in the words omitted in the following; the sentences are all in the piece you have just read.
- •4. Finish up the sentence of the Text.
- •5. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •6. Reproduce the Text “Great Britain” in English according to the plan made up.
- •Cities of Great Britain
- •7. Read Text 7b and answer the following questions.
- •8. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions; reproduce the context in which they are used.
- •9. Say whether you agree or disagree with these statements. Give your reasoning. Use the introductory phrases from the previous Units.
- •10. Put the following headings in a logical order according to the Text.
- •11. Read Text 7b again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •Speaking
- •An interview
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •Talking of impressions about britain and the British a British reporter puts questions to three American students who recently spent a year at British universities.
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •Talking of the British
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “Wales” about one of the parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- •24. Listen to the Text “William Shakespeare’s Birthplace” about Stratford-on-Avon.
- •Reading and discussion
- •The capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Find proper explanations to the following.
- •3. Substitute the words and word combinations from the Text for the parts underlined.
- •4. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •5. Put questions to which these are the answers. The important words in the answer are underlined. Act the dialogue.
- •6. Reproduce the Text “The Capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” in English according to the plan made up.
- •London traffic
- •7. Read Text 8b and answer the following questions.
- •The Tower of London
- •12. Read Text 8c and answer the following questions.
- •13. Consider the following statements and say if you agree or disagree with them. Use the introductory phrases from the previous Units.
- •14. Speak on the following subjects.
- •15. Read Text 8c again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •16. Make up a story about London and its places of interest based on the information given in the above Texts or from other sources. Speaking
- •Places of interest in London
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •Sightseeng in London
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 2 as a model.
- •Walking round the city of London
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “Trafalgar Square”.
- •24. Listen to the Text “Big Ben”.
- •Reading and discussion
- •The system of Higher education in Great Britain
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. For each of the following phrases find another one in the Text that explains it.
- •3. Supply the missing member of the pair in each case based on the Text.
- •4. Correct the following sentences beginning with: “I am afraid that is wrong” or “That is not true to the fact”.
- •5. Answer the following questions.
- •Universities and colleges
- •6. Read Text 9b and answer the following questions.
- •7. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions and reproduce the context in which they are used.
- •8. Say whether you agree or disagree with these statements. Give your reasoning. Use the introductory phrases from the previous Units.
- •9. Put the following headings in a logical order according to the Text.
- •10. Read Text 9b again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •Oxford University
- •11. Ask your groupmates about Text 9c and let them answer these questions.
- •12. Consider the following statements.
- •13. Discuss pros and cons of the fact that some people think that Oxford and Cambridge Universities are too old-fashioned, traditional, and elitist.
- •14. Retell Text 9c.
- •15. Make up a story about higher education of Great Britain based on the information given in the above Texts.
- •16. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •17. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •18. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •19. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •20. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •21. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •22. Listen to the Text “Universities” about higher education in Britain.
- •23. Listen to the text “Modern Universities”.
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Indicate one of the meanings in which the given word is used in the Text. The paragraph number is given in brackets.
- •3. Choose the synonyms from the right column to the phrases given in the left one.
- •4. Finish up the sentences of the Text.
- •5. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •6. Reproduce the topic “The United States of America” in English according to the plan made up.
- •The melting pot
- •7. Read Text 10b and answer the following questions.
- •New York
- •12. Read Text 10c and answer the following questions.
- •13. Consider the following statements and say if you agree or disagree with them. Use the introductory phrases mentioned in the previous Units.
- •14. Speak on the following subjects.
- •15. Read Text 10c again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •16. Make a story about the United States of America based on the information given in the above Texts. Speaking
- •American cities
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model. Collect the necessary information.
- •Talking of the usa
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue. The most populated state
- •Alaska, the largest state in the us
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “New Orleans”. Study the following notes:
- •24. Listen to the Text “American English”.
- •American English British English
- •Unit 11 Washington, d.C. Reading and discussion
- •The capital of the United States of America
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Express in one word the meaning of each of the following phrases. All the words required are in the Text, you are given the first letter of each word and the number of letters in it.
- •3. Put in the words omitted in the following: the sentences are all in the piece you have just read.
- •4. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogue? Act it.
- •5. Put questions to which these are the answers. The important words in the answer are underlined. Act the dialogue.
- •6. Reproduce the topic “The Capital of the United States of America” in English according to the plan made up.
- •Sightseeing in Washington, d.C.
- •7. Read Text 11b and answer the following questions.
- •8. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions and reproduce the context in which they are used.
- •9. Say whether you agree or disagree with these statements. Give your reasoning. Use the introductory phrases given in the previous Units.
- •10. Put the following headings in a logical order according to the Text.
- •11. Read Text 11b again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •The White House
- •Speaking
- •Washington, d.C.
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •The streets of Washington
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •Washington cabs
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “Position of the City” about geographical and climatic features of Washington, d.C.
- •24. Listen to the Text “Different Washingtons”. Study the following notes and commentaries:
- •Unit 12
- •The system of Higher education in the United States of America
- •Active vocabulary to remember
- •Exercises
- •1. Pronounce correctly.
- •2. Choose the Russian equivalents from the right column to the following English words and phrases.
- •3. Substitute the words and word combinations from the Text for the parts underlined.
- •4. Correct the following sentences beginning with: “I am afraid that is wrong”, or “That is not true to the fact”.
- •5. Answer the following questions.
- •6. Reproduce the Text “The System of Higher Education in the United States of America” in English according to the plan made up.
- •The historical background of higher education in the usa
- •7. Read Text 12 b and answer the following questions.
- •8. Reproduce the parts of the Text in which these words and phrases are used. Use these phrases in short stories of your own.
- •9. Consider the following statements and say if you agree or disagree with them. Use the introductory phrases given in the previous Units.
- •10. Speak on the following subjects.
- •11. Retell the Text according to the plan made up.
- •Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- •12. Read Text 12 c and answer the following questions.
- •13. Discuss the Text in pairs. Use the pattern below as a model and guidelines.
- •14. Find and reproduce the key sentence in each paragraph expressing the main idea.
- •15. Read Text 12 c again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.
- •16. Make up a story about higher education in the United States of America. Speaking
- •Talking of the system of higher education in the usa
- •17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.
- •18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as a model.
- •Talking of the general pattern of the system of higher education and degrees
- •19. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.
- •20. Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.
- •Talking of the cost of education
- •21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
- •22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
- •Listening
- •23. Listen to the Text “Instruction Conducted at Colleges and Universities”.
- •24. Listen to the Text “Harvard University”.
- •Student life
- •The student Rob Fellows
- •Foreign students at the Belgorod State Technological University
- •Moscow University
- •Resources of Russia
- •St. Petersburg
- •The Tretyakov Gallery
- •The Kremlin
- •Some industries of the Belgorod region
- •Newcastle, my home town
- •St Petersburg University
- •Some facts of the history of education in Russia
- •Universities
- •American English
- •Unit 11
- •Different Washingtons
- •Instruction conducted at colleges and universities
- •Harvard University
- •Оглавление
- •Гарагуля Сергей Иванович
- •308012, Г. Белгород, ул. Костюкова, 46
21. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.
22. Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.
1. You are at the mathematics lesson. Your teacher asks you some questions about mathematics.
2. The teacher conducts the English lesson and asks you some questions about the use of the Present Simple Tense (or some other grammar aspects).
Listening
23. Listen to the Text “Foreign Students at the Belgorod State Technological University”.
a) Answer the questions that follow.
1. What degree courses do foreign students choose?
2. Why does a course of study for foreign students last six years?
3. Why do foreign students have to take a preparatory course?
4. How long does a preparatory course last?
5. What are the entrance requirements for foreign students?
6. What privileges of the Russian system of education do foreign students enjoy?
b) Read Tapescript 2A of the Text. Look up the words you do not know in your dictionary.
c) Retell the Text about foreign students studying at the Belgorod State Technological University.
d) If you know personally a foreign student studying at the Academy, tell your groupmates about his/her student’s life.
24. Listen to the Text “Moscow University.”
a) You will hear some numbers in the Text. Write them down and say what these numbers refer to.
b) Check your answers with your groupmates and Tapescript 2B of the Text.
c) Retell the Text.
UNIT 3
The Russian Federation
Reading and discussion
TEXT 3A
Russia
1. The vast territory of the Russian Federation lies in the eastern part of Europe and in the Northern part of Asia. It is one of the largest countries in the world. Its total area is over 17 million square kilometers.
2. Russia is washed by twelve seas and three oceans. The oceans are: the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific. The northern and eastern coasts of Russia are washed by the White Sea, the Barents Sea and the Okhotsk Sea.
3. There are various types of climate on the territory of Russia. It is very cold in the North even in summer. The central part of the country has mild climate. In the South the temperature is usually above zero all year round even in winter, the climate is very favourable.
4. The land of Russia varies a lot from thick forests to barren deserts, from high peaked mountains to deep valleys. Russia is located on two plains: the Great Russian plain and the West Siberian plain. The Urals, the longest mountain chain, separates Europe from Asia.
5. Russia is a land of long rivers and deep lakes. The broad Volga river system is of great historic, economic and cultural importance to Russia. Numerous canals join all the rivers in the European part of Russia, making it the 1argest inland water transportation route in Europe. The Volga River runs into the Caspian Sea, which is in reality, the largest lake in the world. The Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.
6. Russia is rich in natural resources. It has deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, nickel, etc.
7. Russia borders on fourteen countries, including the former republics of the USSR, which are now independent states.
8. Russia has all modern branches of industry. It is a foremost producer of cement, metal-cutting machines, timber, woollen cloth, sugar and butter. It takes one of the leading places in Europe in industrial output and electric energy production.
9. The population of Russia is about 150 million people. 83 per cent of the population is Russians. 70 per cent of the population lives in cities.
10. Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation. It was founded in 1147. It is a nice city. There are a lot of places of interest in Moscow. You can see a lot of museums, art galleries, theatres and monuments in our capital. There are also other big beautiful cities in Russia, such as St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and others.
11. The history of Russia dates back to the year 862. Now Russia is a Presidential Republic. The Russian Federative Republic is set up by the Constitution of 1993. The Federal Government consists of three branches: the legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by the President.
12. The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers. The Upper Chamber is the Council of Federation. The Lower Chamber is the State Duma. Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. Legislature may be initiated in either of the two chambers. However, to become a law a bill must be approved by both chambers and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill.
13. The President is Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he makes treaties, enforces laws, and appoints ministers to be approved by the Federal Assembly.
14. The executive power belongs to the Government, which is headed by the Prime Minister. The first action by the Prime Minister on appointment is to form the Cabinet. The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and regional courts. The members of the Federal Assembly are elected by the popular vote for a four-year period.
15. Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-coloured banner. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolises the earth, the blue one stands for the sky, and the red one symbolises liberty. A new national emblem is a two-headed eagle. It is the most ancient symbol of Russia. It originates from the heraldic emblem of the Ruricovitchies.
16. Russia has always played an important role in the word. It is one of its leading powers.