UNIT 5. RUSSIA

Read, translate and retell the text:

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometers. It occupies most of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Russia is bordered by Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Litva, Belarus, the Ukraine, Azerbaijan and China. Our land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are the seas of three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific.

There is hardly a country in the world where such a great variety of flora and fauna can be found as in our land. Our country hasnumerous forests, plains and steppes, taiga and tundra, highlands and deserts. Russian Federation is located on two plains, the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. The longest mountain chains are the Urals, the Caucasus and the Altai. Russia's most important rivers are the Volga, the main Siberian rivers and the Amur. The total number of rivers in Russia is over two million. The world's deepest lake – Lake Baikal, with the depth of 1600 meters, is situated in Russia, too. The climate in Russia varies from the arctic in the north to subtropical in the south. Russia is a highly-developed industrial and agricultural country. Its vast mineral resources include oil, natural gas, coal, iron, zinc, aluminum, gold and other non-ferrous metals.

The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow, with the population of about 10 million people. The Russian Federation is a multinationalstate. It comprises many national districts, several autonomous republics and regions. The current population of Russia is about 150 million people.

Russia is a constitutional republic with president as Head of State. The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly, consisting of the Council of Federation and the State Duma.

ADD TO YOUR ACTIVE VOCABULARY:

to be bordered by – граничить с

to be located on – находиться, располагаться

Great Russian Plain – Великорусская равнина

West Siberian Lowland – Западносибирская низменность

depth – глубина

to vary – изменять, меняться

mineral resources – полезные ископаемые

non-ferrous metals – цветные металлы

legislative power – законодательная власть

to be vested in – передаваться

to consist – состоять

Ex. 1. Answer the questions:

1. What is the total area of the Russian Federation?

2. How many countries is Russia bordered by?

3. What oceans wash the borders of the Russian Federation?

4. Is the Russian Federation located on two plains?

5. What are the longest mountain chains?

6. The total number of rivers in Russia is over two million, isn’t it?

7. Are Russian flora and fauna various?

8. What is the climate inRussia like?

9. What is the current population of Russia?

10. What does the Federal Assembly consist of?

Ex. 2. Finish the sentences below using words from the text:

1. The Russian Federation is …

2. It occupies most of Eastern Europe and …

3. The longest mountain chains are …

4. The total number of rivers in Russia is …

5. The climate in Russia varies from the arctic …

6. Russia is a highly-developed industrial and …

7. The capital of the Russian Federation is …

8. Russia is a constitutional republic with …

Ex. 3. Translate from Russian into English

1. Российская Федерация занимает большую часть восточной Европы и северной Азии.

2. Россия граничит с восемью государствами, включая Финляндию, Латвию, Белоруссию, Китай и некоторые другие.

3. В Российской Федерации более двух миллионов рек. Самые крупные из них – Волга, Амур и реки Сибири.

4. Климат Российской Федерации меняется от арктического на севере до субтропического на юге.

5. Россия – высокоразвитая промышленная и сельскохозяйственная страна.

Ex. 4. Your English friend is planning a visit to Russia. Help him to choose where to go and what to see in our country. Work in pairs:

Ex. 5. How well do you know your Homeland? What is (are):

• the biggest Russian lake?

• the longest Russian river (in European and Asian parts of the Russian Federation)?

• a city with subtropical climate?

• cities with arctic climate?

• agricultural regions?

• old historical cities?

• places of recreation and tourism?