Topic Topical Vocabulary

1.Remember the following words and word combinations:

to exist існувати

to designate позначати, вказувати

foreign invaders іноземні загарбники

to enslave обертати в рабство

ancient древній

mining гірничопромисловий

armed forces збройні сили

to maintain підтримувати

to stretch простягатися

to possess володіти

lead свинець

ore руда

coal вугілля

iron ore залізна руда

oil нафта

non-ferrous metals кольорові метали

access доступ

pipeline трубопровід

alpine альпійський

average середній

precipitation опади

breadbasket житниця, основний зерновий район

due to завдяки

steppe степ

prairie степ, прерія

deposits поклади

reserve запас

resort курорт, часто відвідуване місце

to dot усіювати

paradise рай

southernmost tip самий південний схил

peninsula півострів

Remember the pronunciation of the following proper names:

Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, the Carpathian Mountains, the Crimean Mountains

2.Read and translate paying attention to the active words and word combinations.

Ukraine

Today, Ukraine is included in all the world atlases. But there did exist maps on which Ukraine was not designated. In the past foreign invaders tried more than once to destroy and enslave the country.

Now Ukraine is a rich farming, industrial and mining region in south-eastern Europe. It is an independent democratic state. Its population is about 49 million people. Its capital is Kyiv. Ukraine has its own armed forces and maintains its own diplomatic relations with foreign countries.

The territory of Ukraine is 603,700 square kilometers. Two such countries as Italy can be placed on this territory. Ukraine stretches for more than 1300 km from east to west and about 900 km from north to south.

Ukraine borders on Belarus in the North, Russia in the East and Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova in the West. The country is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in the South. The depth of the water area near the Ukrainian coast is no more than 120 metres and only at the south coast of Crimea it is up to 2 kilometres. The geographical position of Ukraine is ideal for the development of its resources. Its earth possesses almost all chemical elements of Mendeleev’s table: aluminium, lead, zinc, nickel, etc. The land of the country is rich in coal, ore, iron ore, oil, non-ferrous metals.

Within the borders of Ukraine there are the Carpathian Mountains with the highest pick Hoverla 2061m high and the Crimean Mountains with the highest pick Roman Kosh 1545m high.

Ukraine is the country of many rivers. The Dnieper/Dnipro river divides Ukraine into two parts: Right-Bank and Left-Bank Ukraine. The Danube gives Ukraine access to European countries and the Siversky Donets – to the Don.

The economic potential of Ukraine is great. Ukraine is criss-crossed by railroads and highways, oil and gas pipelines.

The climate of Ukraine is different in different parts. Most of Ukraine has a moderately continental climate, though it is alpine in the Carpathians and subtropical in parts of the Crimea. The north and the north-east regions are the coldest. The climate on the territory along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov is much warmer than in other parts of Ukraine. Average temperatures vary from – 8C in the north and 4C in the south in January, to 18C in the north and 24C in the south in July. Annual precipitation also varies, from an average of 1500 mm in the Carpathians to 300 mm on the sea coasts; the south often suffers of drought.

The differences in climate in different regions of Ukraine contribute to the richness of the national economy, enabling agriculture to grow various kinds of plants.

Questions:

1.Is Ukraine included in modern world atlases?

2.Where is Ukraine situated?

3.What is the capital of the country?

4.Does it have its own armed forces?

5.What area does Ukraine cover?

6.What kind of state is it?

7.What is its population?

8.What countries does Ukraine border on?

9.Does Ukraine have any marine borders?

10.What is the depth of water area near Ukrainian coast?

11.Is the geographical position of Ukraine perfect for the development of its resources?

12.What minerals is Ukraine rich in?

13.Are there any mountain ranges on the territory of Ukraine?

14.What are the main rivers of Ukraine?

15.What is the climate of Ukraine? Is it the same in different parts?

3.Read the following information, do the tasks below and be ready to speak about Ukraine as a great mixture of

• agricultural farmland

• mountainous regions and

• beachy tourist resorts

a)Ukraine has for many years been known as the Breadbasket of Europe. This is mainly due to its ability to produce vast amounts of grain. Central and southern Ukraine is almost all steppe, or prairie land with very fertile black soil perfect for farming grain. In the east is the industrial capital of Ukraine, containing large reserves of mineral deposits, known as the Greater Donbas or Donetsk Basin.

Although many people imagine Ukraine to be very flat, agricultural and generally not interesting geographically, this is not the case. The northern and western parts of Ukraine are very hilly and heavily forested. Picturesque mountain resorts are dotted throughout the Carpathian mountain range. Lying on Ukraine’s western border the Carpathians provide a paradise for those who like winter sports such as skiing. On the southernmost tip of Ukraine is the semitropical Crimean mountain range which divides the Crimean peninsula. The Crimea has long been a favourite holiday destination for Ukrainian tourists.

So, overall, Ukraine is a great mixture of agricultural farmland, mountainous regions and beachy tourist resorts.

b) Match the words with their definitions

1.grain 2.steppe 3.deposit 4.resort 5.paradise 6.peninsula

a place often visited for a particular purpose a place of perfect happiness small hard seed of food plants such as wheat and rice wide area of land with grass but no trees layer of solid matter (often buried in the earth) area of land almost surrounded by water

c)Match the word combinations in English and Ukrainian, find and read out the sentences with them in the text.

1.breadbasket of Europe 2.vast amounts of grain 3.fertile black soil 4.mineral deposits 5.heavily forested 6.mountain range 7.picturesque mountain resorts 8.paradise for those who like winter sports 9.beachy tourist resorts 10.favourite holiday destination

а)улюблене місце для проведення відпустки b)густо покритий лісами c)мальовничі гірські курорти d)багато зерна e)туристичні пляжні курорти f)житниця Європи g)гірський хребет h)родючі чорноземи i)поклади корисних копалин j)рай для тих, хто любить зимові види спорту

d)Complete the sentences

1.Ukraine is called the Breadbasket of Europe due to . . . . . . .

2.Central and southern Ukraine is . . . . . . .

3.In the east is . . . . . . .

4.The northern and western parts of Ukraine are . . . . . .

5.The Carpathian mountain range lies on . . . . . ..

6.On the southernmost tip of Ukraine is . . . . . . . .

4.Situation. You are invited to take part in the TV programme about Ukraine. You are asked to give the most essential information for those who have never heard about the geographical position of this country. You may use the map. Remember that you are limited in time. No more than 1min. is at the disposal of each.