Nowadays the East Siberian University of Technology is one of the leading schools of higher learning of the region. The specialists of more than 60 directions and specialities are trained here. The history of the University began in 1962. Then the first technical college - the East Siberian Institute of Technology - has been opened on the basis of three specialities of the technological faculty of the Buryat Agricultural Institute. For the last years the number of students has considerably grown. Today more than 10 000 students are trained here.

The history of the East Siberian State Academy of Culture and Arts began in 1960. At that time the East - Siberian Library Institute was opened. The opening of the institute played a very important role in the cultural and scientific life of the Republic of Buryatia and all Eastern Siberia. In 1964 the institute was renamed into the East - Siberian State Institute of Culture, and in 1995 it received the status of academy. Today the East Siberian State Academy of Culture and Arts is one of the leading educational institutions among higher schools of culture of the Russian Federation.

About 6000 students are trained at the academy. Preparation is conducted under all forms of training. Educational process, research and creative activity in the academy are provided with the highly skilled scientific and pedagogical staff. In the structure of the academy there are 2 institutes, 6 faculties, 36 chairs, post-graduate courses on four scientific specialities, dissertational councils, the international department, a publishing department, scientific laboratories, Opera studio, student's theatres, the Educational academic complex of culture and arts and welfare technologies of Eastern Siberia and the North.

Topic 4

GREAT BRITAIN

Exercise 1. Read the following proper names paying attention to the use of the definite article.

· the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

· the Highlands

· the Lowlands

· the Severn

· the Thames

· Lough Neagh

· the Atlantic Ocean

· the Gulf Stream

· the Queen

· the Prime Minister

· the Houses of Parliament

· the Conservative Party

· the Labour Party

· England

· Wales

· Scotland

· Oxford and Cambridge

· Europe

· Ben Nevis

· Manchester

· Glasgow

· Edinburgh

· Leeds

· Birmingham

Exercise 2. Study the following words and word combinations.

1. to be composed of (to consist of) - 2. among - 3. urban - 4. landscape - 5. wide - 6. narrow - 7. to vary - 8. mountainous - 9. vast plain - 10. influence - 11. mild - 12. seldom - 13. to fall - 14. machinery - 15. chemicals - 16. aircraft - 17. navigation - 18. shipbuilding - 19. custom - 20. to be considered - 21. the head of the state - 22. to rule - 23. to elect - 24. legislative - 25. to be exercised by - 26. a chamber - 27. hereditary or life peers and peeresses - 28. executive - 29. the majoring party leader - 30. to be appointed by - 31. judiciary branch - 32. to determine common law - 33. to be independent of - 34. at heart - 35. to look like - 36. well-ordered - 37. a meadow - 38. cotton and woolen goods -	состоять из среди, между городской ландшафт, пейзаж широкий узкий, незначительный отличаться гористый огромная равнина оказывать внимание мягкий редко падать машинное оборудование химикалии самолеты судоходство кораблестроение обычай считается, что глава государства править выбирать законодательный осуществляться кем-либо палата наследственные или пожизненные пэры и пэрэссы исполнительный лидер партии большинства назначаться кем-либо судебная власть (ветвь) определять гражданский закон не зависеть от в глубине души выглядеть упорядоченный луг хлопчатобумажные и шерстяные изделия

Exercise 3. Read and translate the text.

GREAT BRITAIN

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. It consists of four parts: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. England, Wales and Scotland occupy the territory of Great Britain. Northern Ireland is situated in the northern part of Ireland.

The territory of the United Kingdom is about 244,000 square kilometers, it takes the 75-th place among other countries in the world. The population is more than 60 million people. About 80% of the population is urban. The capital of the country is London.

Great Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel, which is 34 km wide in its narrowest point. The country is also washed by the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape of Great Britain varies greatly. The northern and western parts of the country are mountainous and are called the Highlands. All the rest: south, east and the center are a vast plain, which is called the Lowlands. The mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343m). There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one. The largest lake is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland.

The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of Great Britain. It is mild the whole year round. The summer is not very hot and winter temperature seldom falls below zero. It is often foggy and rainy. Weather is one of the favorite subjects for discussion when Englishmen meet.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of iron and steel products, machinery and electronics, chemicals and textiles, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding. Liverpool and Glasgow are the main seaports, where it is highly developed. Glasgow is also associated with heavy industry. Birmingham is the country's major engineering center. Manchester is the world's leading producer of cotton goods and Leeds became the leading producer of woolen goods.

Great Britain is rich in coal, iron, non-ferrous metals. There is much coal in Wales. It is a big coal-mining district of the country.

Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The most famous educational centers are Oxford and Cambridge Universities. They are considered to be intellectual centers of Europe. All British children study at school from the age of 5 until they are 16. Then they get higher education at universities and colleges of Great Britain.

On the lowlands of south-eastern England there are almost no minerals. This part of the country is an agricultural region. Seven per cent of the population is engaged in farming and cattle breeding. Most of England's wheat is grown there. Much of the soil in this part is under such crops as wheat, barley, rye and oats. Fruit-growing is extensively developed. An Englishman is fond of gardening. He is at heart a great lover of Nature. England in truth looks like one great well-ordered park with its old trees and green meadows.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and the Queen is the head of the state. But in practice it is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The Queen's power is limited by Parliament. The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Houses of Parliament. The Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords is composed of hereditary or life peers and peeresses. The members of the House of Commons are elected by people. The executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Prime Minister is the majority party leader and is appointed by the Queen. The judiciary branch of the Government determines common law and is independent of both legislative and executive branches.

There are two main political parties in Great Britain: the Conservative party and the Labour party. The Labour party with Anthony Blair at the head is the ruling party nowadays.

Exercise 4. Answer the following comprehension questions.

1. Where is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland situated?

2. What parts does it consist of?

3. What is the territory and the population of Great Britain?

4. What is the capital of the country?

5. What is Great Britain separated from the continent by?

6. What seas and oceans is Great Britain washed by?

7. What is the landscape of the country? What parts does it consist of?

8. Are there any rivers, mountains and lakes?

9. What is the climate of Great Britain?

10. What goods does the British industry produce?

11. What are the main industrial cities of the country and what do they produce?

12. Are there any educational establishments in Great Britain?

13. When do students start education?

14. Which part of the country is an agricultural region?

15. What crops are grown in Great Britain?

16. Are Englishmen fond of gardening?

17. Who is the head of the state?

18. How many chambers does the British Parliament consist of?

20. What are the main political parties of Great Britain?

21. Who is the Prime Minister of Great Britain nowadays and what party does he represent?

Exercise 5. Complete the following sentences.

1. The UK consists of …

2. The country is washed by …

3. The territory of Great Britain is …

4. The population equals to …

5. The northern and western part of the country is called …

6. The southern and eastern is called …

7. The climate of the country is …

8. Great Britain is a producer and exporter of …

9. The main industrial cities are …

10. Oxford and Cambridge Universities are considered to be …

11. The population in the south-eastern part of England is engaged in …

12. England in truth looks like …

13. The Parliament consists of …

14. There are such political parties as …

Exercise 6. Make up sentences using the table below.

1.

The climate of Russia	is (are) considered to be	the highest mountain
Manchester		the highlands
Potatoes		diverse
Englishmen		an agricultural region
Ben Nevis		Great lovers of Nature
South-eastern England		the most important crop
The northern and western parts of Great Britain		The world's producer of cotton goods

2.

The British Isles	consist(s) of	21 republics
Russia		2 large islands
Peter's family		4 ingredients
Buryatia		10 members
A mixture		4 members: a father, a mother and two children
The committee		the House of Lords and the House of commons
The British Parliament		mainly low plains

3.

Great Britain	is (are) known as	Englishmen
The 14th of February		The motherland of tulips (тюльпаны)
Holland		University towns
Glasgow		the Highlands
People living in England		a country of fogs and rain
A vast plain in Great Britain		St. Valentine's Day
Oxford and Cambridge		the largest seaport

Exercise 7. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Британские острова расположены на континентальном шельфе.

2. Считается, что Шотландия такая же красивая как Голландия.

3. Уэльс - один из крупнейших угледобывающих районов.

4. Сегодня Великобритания - крупный производитель железа и стали, электронного и машинного оборудования, изделий текстильной и химической промышленностей.

5. Кембриджский Университет состоит из 19 колледжей.

6. Глава государства - королева, но она не правит, ее власть ограничена Парламентом.

7. Глазго является центром кораблестроения и судоходства.

8. Англичане - почитатели природы; они платят больше налоги для того, чтобы сохранить сады и парки в стране.

9. Манчестер известен как мировой производитель хлопчатобумажных изделий.

10. Англия считается огромным упорядоченным парком с ее зелеными лугами и большими деревьями.

Exercise 8. Make up the plan of the text.

Exercise 9.Study the following narration clichйs and try to memorize them.

· I would (I'd) like to tell you about …

· First, I'd like to dwell upon (to touch upon, speak about, to narrate of …)

· Next (further on, then, to succeed), I'd say that …

· Speaking about… I should mention …

· I'd like to say a word or two about (a few words about) …

· As far as … is concerned, I'd add …

· To finish with (in conclusion, to sum it up) …

Exercise10. Retell the text using your plan and narration clichйs from ex.9. Make use of the following key words:

(to consist of, to occupy, to equal to, the capital, mild climate, the landscape, a producer and exporter of, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, to be occupied in, the main crops, like a park, a lover of Nature, a constitutional monarchy, two chambers, to be exercised by, political parties)

Exercise 11. * Prove the fact that:

· One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding;

· Englishmen are Nature lovers;

· Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country in the world;

Explain the statements, using clichйs from ex. 9:

· The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy;

· The climate of the country is mild;

· South-eastern England is an agricultural region.

Exercise 12. *

1. Make up as many questions as you can about the text.

2. Study the following openers and the model. Make up mini-dialogues according to the model.

Expressing personal interest	Asking for information	Giving information	Gratitude Acknowledgement
-You know I am interested in … -I'm fond of … -I'm more(rather) interested in … -What I really want to know is …	-Could you tell me what (where, who)… -Sorry, but could you explain me … -I wanted to know exactly what (where, when)… -I was wondering if… -Do you think you could tell me … -I wonder if …	-Oh, with pleasure! -Certainly, I can. -Most willingly! -Glad to help you! -Yes, please.	-Thank you for your information! -Thank you! It's good to know this! -I see, thanks!

Model:

A:You know, I'm interested in Great Britain's geography. Do you think you could tell me what the territory of the UK is?

B:Most willingly! The territory of the UK is about 244.000 square kilometres.

A:I see, thanks.

3.Study the role cards below and make up a dialogue according to the model. Use openers:

A B

You are: a student from the Buryat State Academy of Agriculture. Your interlocutor is: your English friend. Place: at your place Situation: Your friend has come from Great Britain. You are interested in Great Britain's geography. You are talking to him about it. Try to find out: - where the UK is situated; - how many parts it consists of; - what the capitals of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are; - what the territory of the UK is; - what the population of the country is; - if there are mountains and plains in Great Britain; - if there are rivers in the country; - what the climate of Great Britain is; - if it rains often in the country.	You are: an English student. Your interlocutor is: your Russian friend. Place: at your friend's Situation: You are visiting your friend in Buryatia. Now, you are talking to him about your motherland. Being keen on Great Britain's geography, he asks you some questions. Be ready to answer them. Say that: - the UK is situated on the British Isles; - It consists of four parts; - The capitals of these parts are Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively; - Great Britain occupies the territory of 244.000 sq. km. - The population equals to 60 mln. people; - There are mountains in Great Britain. There are also the Lowlands and the Highlands; - The most important rivers are the Severn and the Thames; - Rain and fog are common things in Great Britain, especially in autumn and in winter.

4.Make up role cards on Britain's industry, agriculture, political system and education, exchange your role cards and make up dialogues.

Exercise 13*. Read the text and find out what customs and traditions are to be found in Great Britain. Be ready to use the information in the topic "Great Britain".

Some English customs and traditions are famous all over the world. Bowler hats, tea and talking about the weather, for example. From Scotland to Cornwall, the United Kingdom is full of customs and traditions. Here are some of them.

St. Valentine's is the saint of people in love and St. Valentine's Day is February 14th. On that day, people send valentine cards and presents to their husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. You can also send a card to a person you don't know. But traditionally you must never write your name on it. Some British newspapers have a page for Valentine's Day messages on February 14th.

April, 1 is April Fool's Day in Great Britain. This is a very old tradition from the Middle Ages. At that time servants were masters for one day of the year. Now April Fool's Day is different. It's a day for jokes and tricks.

May, 1 was an important day in the Middle Ages. In the very early morning young girls went lo fields and washed their faces with dew. They believed this made them very beautiful for a year after that. Also on May Day young men of each village tried to win prizes with their bows and arrows, and people danced round the Maypole.

November, 5 is Guy Fawkes's Day. All over the country people built wood fires, or 'bonfires', in their gardens. On top of each bonfire there is a guy, this is a figure of Guy Fawkes. On November, 5 1665, Guy Fawkes tried to kill King James I. He and a group of his friends put a bomb under the Houses of Parliament in London. But the king's men found the bomb and Guy Fawkes. They took him to the Tower of London, where his head was cut off. Before November 5, children use guys to make money. They stand in the street and shout: "Penny for the guy".

Boxing Day is on December, 26. People usually gave "Christmas boxes" or gifts of money to servants on this day. Today many people still give a Christmas gift to papergirls and boys.

Christmas Day is the most popular holiday in Great Britain. It is celebrated on December, 25. On this day many people go to churches, open their Christmas presents, eat a Christmas dinner of roast turkey and Christmas pudding.

Notes:

a bowler hat - котелок

dew - роса

Maypole - Майский шест

to build a bonfire - устроить костер

to use a guy - использовать чучело

Topic 5

LONDON

Exercise 1. Study the following words and word combinations.

1. commercial - 2. separate boroughs - 3. numerous - 4. to concentrate - 5. the Old Bailey - 6. masterpiece - 7. cathedral - 8. royal - 9. Armour - 10. church - 11. architect - 12. Buckingham Palace - 13. to stretch - 14. Westminster Abbey - 15. to bury - 16. wealth - 17. luxury - 18. Trafalgar square - 19. representative - 20. priceless - 21. ancient - 22. financial - 23. neither … nor… - 24. Madame Tussaud's museum - 25. wax - 26. musician - 27. shady avenues - 28. to float - 29. a pond - 30. unbelievable - 31. heavy traffic - 32. smoke - 33. a resident - 34. to be proud - 35. to be called - 36. cockneys - 37. hereditary - 38. an inhabitant -	коммерческий, торговый отдельный пригород многочисленный сосредоточиваться центральный уголовный суд шедевр собор королевский доспехи церковь архитектор Букингемский дворец простираться Вестминстерское аббатство хоронить богатство роскошь Трафальгарская площадь характерный, показательный бесценный древний финансовый ни … ни … Музей Мадам Тюссо восковый музыкант тенистые аллеи плыть пруд невероятный движение дым, копоть постоянный житель гордиться называться уроженец Ист-Энда наследственный житель

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text.

LONDON

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. It covers more than 600 square miles and consists of 33 separate boroughs, including the City, the West End, the East End and houses of over 12 million people.

London is situated on the river Thames. The city is very old. It has more than a 20 century-old history.

The heart of London is the City - its commercial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are concentrated here, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Few people live in the City but over a million come to work here. Two masterpieces are situated within the City: St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. Now it is a museum of Armour and the place where Crown Jewels are kept. St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest English church, was built in the 17^th century by a famous English architect, Sir Christopher Wren.

Westminster is the aristocratic official part of London. It includes Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives and the Houses of Parliament stretching for nearly 1000 feet along the north bank of the Thames. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as “Big Ben”. Westminster Abbey is the place where coronation of nearly all kings and queens has taken place. Many of them are buried here as well as some other famous people of the country (G. Chaucer, Tennyson, Newton, Ch. Dickens, T. Hardy, R. Kipling, etc.).

The West End is the richest and the most beautiful part of London. It is a symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs, parks and houses are situated there.

Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in the memory of Admiral Nelson's victory at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson's Column stands in the middle of the square.

Opposite the Nelson's monument there is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery was founded in 1824 and shows a representative collection of great paintings from European schools. Not far from the National Gallery there's the British Museum - the biggest Museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of different things (ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc.). The British Museum is famous for its library (about 7 000 000 books).

The famous Tate Gallery was opened in 1897 with the financial support of Sir Henry Tate. The Gallery contains a unique collection of British paintings from the 16^th century to the present day.

There is a number of museums in London, which are neither art museums nor galleries. You are sure to know about Madame Tussaud's Museum. It contains hundreds of wax figures, which are sculpture portraits of famous personalities, political figures, painters, musicians, sportsmen and even criminals.

You cannot leave the city without visiting Hyde Park. When you are walking along its shady avenues, sitting on the grass or watching swans and ducks floating on the ponds, it seems almost unbelievable that all around there is a large city with its heavy traffic and smoke.

The East End is an industrial district of London. There are many factories and the Port of London there. The East End is especially famous as the centre of the clothing industry in London and as the market place. Every Sunday morning it becomes one of the sights of London. Old residents of the East End are proud to be called cockneys, which means true Londoners, hereditary inhabitants of the area. They love the district very much.

Exercise 3. Answer the following comprehension questions.

1. What is the capital of Great Britain?

2. Is London a big city?

3. What is its population?

4. What river does London stand on?

5. What parts is London divided into?

6. Why is the City called the business centre of London?

7. What places of interest does Westminster include?

8. Who is buried in Westminster Abbey?

9. What is the West End famous for?

10. Why is the central square in London named Trafalgar Square?

11. Where is the National Gallery situated?

12. What do you know about the British Museum?

13. The East End is a working class area, isn't it?

14. What is situated in the East End?

15. Is London the city of big contrasts?

16. Would you like to live there?

17. What part of London would you like to live in?

Exercise 4. Complete the following sentences.

1.London is situated on the banks of the river...

2.The oldest part of London is ...

3.Its population is ...

4.The aristocratic official part of London is called ...

5.The symbol of wealth and luxury is ...

6.The industrial district of London is called ...

7.The well-known people of England are buried in ...

8.Most Government offices in London are situated in ... street.

9.The official residence of the Prime Minister is in ...

10.One of the busiest shopping centres in London is in ... street.

11.The place where the Monarch lives is called...

12.The place of meetings and demonstrations in London is called ...

13.In the middle of Trafalgar Square there is a ...

14.The museum which contains a great collection of pictures of different schools is called ...

15.The largest park in London is ...

16.Old residents of the East End call themselves...

Exercise 5. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Лондон -- самый большой город в Европе. Он простирается почти на 30 миль.

2. Вместе с окраинами и пригородными районами город называется «Большой Лондон».

3. «Сити» -- это старейшая часть города. Именно с этого места начал расти Лондон.

4. Во время второй мировой войны «Сити» был сильно разрушен.

5. Трафальгарская площадь -- это то место, где обычно проводятся различные демонстрации.

6. Картинные галереи Лондона -- богатейшие в мире.

7. «Сохо» -- район города, где живут люди творческих профессий: художники, писатели, артисты.

8. В Британском музее содержится большое количество древних рукописей, монет, скульптур.

9. Лондон гордится своими прекрасными мостами через Темзу. Из 15 мостов наиболее известны - Лондонский мост, Тауэрский и Вестминстерский.

Exercise 6. Ask your friend:

-if he has ever been to London;

-if it is possible to see anything of London in one day;

-if he is interested in churches and cathedrals;

-if he knows the history of Britain;

-if Great Britain took part in World War II;

-if London was bombed during the war;

-if he knows famous theatres in London;

-what big University he knows in London;

-what places of interest he would like to see first.

Exercise 7. Make up sentences using the following key words:

(a 20 century-old history, to be concentrated, a palace, to include, to stretch, to be famous for, to take place, a geographical centre, at the battle of, to be populated by, to be called.)

Exercise 8. Retell the text, using your answers to the questions from the exercise 3 as a plan.

Exercise 9*. You are planning a visit to London for some Russian businessmen. What would you advise them to see in London?

Exercise 10*. Prove that:

· London is considered to be the largest cultural centre of the world.

· the City is the business centre.

· the East End is an industrial district.

Make use of the following expressions:

-I (really) believe (that) ... think

-In my opinion ...

-As to my mind ...

-As for me...

Exercise 11*. Read the text and learn about those places of interest you have not known before.

Buckingham Palace was made official London residence of the Sovereign by Queen Victoria. The Royal Standard flies when the Queen is in residence, but you are unlikely to see her unless an important occasion, such as royal wedding, brings the family out into the famous first-floor balcony. St. James's Palace was built by Henry VIII but did not become the principal royal residence until the end of the 17-th century.

The Victorian-Gothic Tower Bridge was opened in 1894. It is the most easterly bridge on the Thames and one of the world's best-known bascule bridges, which still opens to allow tall ships to pass through.

Its fine collection of buildings including Wren's Royal Naval College, and old royal park, make Greenwich a very popular choice for day trips. The National Maritime Museum was founded in 1934 and is the largest of its kind in the world. The famous Greenwich Meridian is in the Old Royal Observatory, so you can stand in eastern and western hemispheres at the same time.

The elegant Cutty Sark, last and fastest of the Victorian tea clippers, is now in permanent dry dock beside the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. On board there is a fascinating collection of photographs and figure heads.

Although it is such a large city, London still has identifiable "villages". One of the liveliest is Soho in Central London where the thriving Chinese community brings a distinctive flavour to the area. Gerrard Street is generally acknowledged as the centre of Chinatown. There are numerous Chinese restaurants, businesses and shops in the surrounding streets. Another centre of activity in Soho is Berwick Street, which hosts a noisy and hectic market every day except Sunday.

Notes:

Sovereign - монарх

Bascule Bridge - подъемный мост

clipper - клипер (быстроходное парусное судно)

hemisphere - полушарие

permanent - постоянный

dry dock - сухой док

fascinating - обворожительный, очаровательный.

Topic 6

RUSSIA

Exercise 1. Study the following words and word combinations.

1. to lie - 2. to be washed by - 3. to border on - 4. to vary from…to… - 5. a desert - 6. a valley - 7. a mountain chain - 8. pure - 9. a deposit of smth. - 10. oil - 11. iron - 12. lead - 13. diamonds - 14. mineral wealth - 15. non-ferrous metals - 16. the current population - 17. outskirts - 18. power - 19. a branch - 20. legislative - 21. executive - 22. judicial - 23. double-headed eagle - 24. to be exercised by - 25. to be performed by - 26. Federal Assembly - 27. Council of Federation - 28. State Duma - 29. to be headed by smb.- 30. to be elected by the people - 31. to belong to smth. (smb.) - 32. the Supreme Court - 33. census of the population - 34. national anthem -	лежать, находиться омываться (чем-либо) граничить с (чем-либо) варьировать, изменяться от чего-либо до чего-либо пустыня долина горная цепь чистый месторождение чего-либо нефть железо свинец алмазы запасы полезных ископаемых цветные металлы население в настоящий момент пригороды власть, держава ветвь (власть, как часть правительства) законодательный исполнительный судебный двуглавый орел осуществлять (-ся) кем-либо осуществлять (-ся) чем-либо Федеральное Собрание Совет Федераций Государственная Дума возглавляться кем-либо избираться народом принадлежать чему-либо, кому-либо Верховный Суд перепись населения национальный гимн

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text.

RUSSIA

Russia is the largest country in the world. The current population is about 150 million people according to the last census of the population. Russia covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia.

Russia is washed by 12 seas and 3 oceans. The oceans are: the Arctic, the Pacific, and the Atlantic. The seas are: the White sea, the Okhotsk sea, the Black sea, the Baltic sea and others.

Russia borders on many countries such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China in the South-east, Finland and Norway in the north-west, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and the Ukraine in the west, Georgia and Azerbaijan in the south-east.

The land of Russia varies very much from forests to deserts, from high mountains to deep valleys. The main mountain chains are the Urals, the Caucasus and the Altai. There are a lot of great rivers and deep lakes on the territory of Russia. The Volga is the longest river in Europe. The main Siberian rivers are the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena. The largest lakes are Ladoga and Baikal. Baikal is the deepest lake in the world (1600 meters) and its water is the purest on earth.

The climate in Russia is very diverse: it is cold in the north, severe and continental in the east, subtropical in the south and mild in the west.

Russia is rich in natural and mineral recourses. It has deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron, zinc, lead, nickel, aluminium, other non-ferrous metals, gold and diamonds. Three quarters of all the mineral wealth are concentrated in Siberia and the Far East.

There are many beautiful cities and small villages in Russia.

The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow.

Russia is a highly industrialized agrarian country. Agriculture is a major branch of our economy. About 10 million people are engaged in agriculture. They produce grain, meat, milk and other dairy products. The farmers raise cattle, pigs, sheep, horses and poultry. They also grow wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, potatoes, fruit and vegetables.

Russia is multinational parliamentary state. The head of the state is the President. The government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The president controls each of them.

The legislative power is exercised by the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers: the Council of Federation and the State Duma. The President and the members of the Federal Assembly are elected by the people for four years.

The executive power belongs to the Government - the Cabinet of Ministers. The government is headed by the Prime Minister.

Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-coloured banner. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolizes the earth, the blue one stands for the sky and the red one symbolizes liberty. A new national emblem is a double - headed eagle. The national anthem of Russia is “the Patriotic song” by A.B Alexandrov and S.V Mikhalkov.

Exercise 3. Answer the following comprehension questions.

1. Where does the vast territory of Russia lie?

2. What oceans and seas is Russia washed by?

3. What countries does Russia border on?

4. What are the main mountain chains, rivers and lakes in Russia?

5. How can you characterize Russia's climate?

6. What mineral and natural resources is Russia rich in?

7. What is the population of Russia?

8. What branches does the government consist of?

9. What is the legislative power exercised by?

10. What body does the executive power belong to?

Exercise 4. Translate the sentences into English.

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

2. Обширная территория России омывается 12 морями и тремя океанами.

3. Россия граничит с Монголией, Китаем, Финляндией и другими странами.

4. В России имеется большое количество месторождений полезных ископаемых.

5. Полезные ископаемые России включают нефть, газ, уголь, железо, цинк, золото, алмазы, цветные металлы и другие.

6. Россия является крупным производителем нефти и природного газа.

7. Россия - парламентская республика с президентом во главе государства.

8. Исполнительную власть представляет кабинет министров, возглавляемый премьер-министром.

9. Законодательная власть в стране принадлежит Федеральному Собранию.

10. Судебная власть осуществляется Конституционным Судом, Верховным Судом и региональными судами.

11. Национальная эмблема России - двуглавый орёл.

Exercise 5. a) Transform the following sentences in English, changing the positive degree of the adjectives into the comparative degree according to the model. английский устная разговорная

Model: Russia is rich in natural resources (Poland).

Russia is richer in natural resources than Poland.

1. The climate of Russia is cold in the North (in the South).

2. The Lena is a long river (the Volga).

3. The Caucasus are high mountains (the Carpathians).

4. Fresh - water lake Baikal is very deep (Ladoga).

5. Moscow plays a great role in the life of the country (St.Petersburg).

b)Transform the following sentences in English changing the positive degree of the adjectives into the superlative degree according to the model.

Model: The Volga is a long river (in Europe).

The Volga is the longest river in Europe.

1. The Lena is a long river (in Russia).

2. Baikal is a deep lake (in the world).

3. Russia is a rich country in minerals (in the world).

4. Baikal water is pure (on earth).

5. Moscow is a big political centre (in our country).

Exercise 6. Put the following sentences into the active voice.

Model: An area of 17 million square kilometers is covered by Russia.

Russia covers an area of 17 million square kilometers.

1. Russia is washed by 12 seas.

2. Russia is linked by 3 oceans.

3. A great amount of minerals are exported by Russia.

4. The legislative power is exercised by the Federal Assembly.

5. The members of the Federal Assembly are elected by the people for four years.

6. The Government is headed by the Prime Minister.

7. Grain, meat, milk and dairy products are produced by the farmers.

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

9. Each chamber is headed by the Speaker.

10. The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and regional courts.

Exercise 7. Are the sentences true or false? Correct the false sentences.

1. In Russia there are no long rivers and high mountains.

2. The climate of Russia is very mild.

3. About a third of the entire area of Russia is covered with forests.

4. Moscow is the capital of Great Britain.

5. Russia is not rich in mineral resources.

6. The Volga, the biggest river in Russia, flows into the Black sea.

7. Russia is not a parliamentary republic.

8. The executive power belongs to the State Duma.

9. The judicial power belongs to the system of courts.

10. The legislative power is exercised by the Constitutional Court.

Exercise 8. Study the plan of the text and use it in your retelling.

· Russia occupies the vast territory.

· Russia is washed by 12 seas and 3 oceans.

· It borders on many countries.

· The climate of Russia.

· Natural and mineral resources of Russia.

· The current population of Russia.

· The capital of the Russian Federation.

· Industry and agriculture in Russia.

· The state system of Russia.

Exercise 9*.

1. Prove that the climate of Russia is very diverse.

2. Compare the territory of Buryatia with that of Russia.

3. Explain how the state system of Russia differs from that of Great Britain.

Exercise 10*. Read the dialogues and say what new information you've got from them.

F.-foreign guest; R.- Russian man.

№ 1

F: We have been touring Russia for about two weeks and I must say it is a very, very large country.

R: In fact, it is the largest country in the world.

F: And the second largest country in the world is Canada, by the way.

R: That's right, but its population is about a twelfth of ours. Russia is the third largest state in the world as to the number of people living in it.

№2

F: I have read Russia is very rich in natural resources and mineral deposits.

R: That's right. We have rich deposits of coal, iron, ore, oil, gas, non-ferrous metals and so on, in other words, all the elements of the Mendeleyev Periodical Table.

F: Yes, but the climate of your country is severe.

R: That isn't correct. The climate is different in different parts of the country. On the same autumn day, for example, there may be 25 degrees C (Centigrade) below zero in Taimyr

(the Arctic region of the country) and 25 degrees C above zero in Sukhumi (its tropical region).

Exercise 11*. Read the text and say what holidays there are in Russia.

Holidays in Russia

There are many national holidays in Russia, when people all over the country do not work and have special celebrations .The major holidays are: New Year's day, Independence Day and National Reconciliation Day.

New Year's day is the first holiday in a year. It is very popular. There is a New Year tree in every house and in the streets. Father Frost and Snow Maiden present children and adults with gifts. People see the New Year in the midnight on the 31^st of December. They greet the New Year with wine glasses of sparking champagne and say toasts “Happy New Year!” People consider New Year's Day to be a family holiday.

Christmas is renewed holiday in our country .It is celebrated on the 7^th of January. The holiday is connected with the birth of Jesus Christ. On that day Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Day of Defender of Motherland is celebrated on the 23^rd of February .We congratulate our fathers, grandfathers and young men with the presents.

Women's Day is celebrated on the 8^th of March. We congratulate all the girls, mothers and grandmothers with this holiday. Usually they get flowers, cards and present s. On the 8^th of March all the boys and men try to be polite, they help to cook meal and do everything about the house.

May Day is called now the Day of Spring and Labour .The members of the Trade Unions have their demonstrations on this day.

Victory Day is the greatest national holiday in our country. On the 9^th of May 1945 the Soviet Army and its allies completely defeated the German fascists and the Great Patriotic War ended for our people. We lost 30 million people during this war. Many veterans meet on this day. They also participate in the military parade on the Red Square and lay wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On the 9^th of May there are many people in the streets, squares, parks. Young people usually give flowers to the veterans and thank them for the victory.

Independence Day is a new holiday in our country. On the 12^th of June 1992, the first President of Russia was elected.

The 7^th of November is the National holiday. In November 7, 1917 the Revolution was in Russia. We have celebrated this day as the Day of the Revolution for many years. Now it is called the National Reconciliation Day. Different parties have their meetings and manifestations on this day. They express their points of view at the development of the situation in Russia.

Topic 7

MOSCOW

Exercise 1. Study the following words and word expressions.

1. frontier - 2. settlement - 3. prince - 4. to grow into a wealthy city - 5. under Ivan the Terrible - 6. to transfer the capital to - 7. to remain - 8. target - 9. to destroy - 10. the present day - 11. the seat of the government - 12. a major city - 13. engineering - 14. cathedral - 15. church - 16. monastery - 17. unique - 18. to be represented - 19. to cease - 20. fortress - 21. chime - 22. masterpiece - 23. magnificent - 24. to hold receptions - 25. in honour of foreign ambassadors - 26. the Tsar Cannon - 27. the Tsar Bell - 28. Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed - 29. Cathedral of Christ of Saviour - 30. shopping center - 31. to display - 32. relics - 33. millennium - 34. B.C. (before Christ) -	граница поселение, поселок князь превратиться в процветающий город при Иване Грозном перенести столицу в оставаться мишень разрушать современный местонахождение правительства крупный город машиностроение собор церковь монастырь уникальный быть представленным прекращать крепость бой часов шедевр великолепный устраивать приемы в честь иностранных послов царь Пушка царь Колокол собор Василия Блаженного собор Христа Спасителя торговый центр выставлять реликвии тысячелетие до нашей эры

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text.

MOSCOW

Moscow is the capital of Russia, its administrative, economic, political and educational centre with the population of about 10 million people.

Its total area is about 1000 square kilometres. The city was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1147. At that time it was a small frontier settlement. By the 15-th century Moscow had grown into a wealthy city. In the 16-th century under Ivan the Terrible, Moscow became the capital of the state of Muscovy. In the 18-th century Peter the Great transferred the capital to St. Petersburg, but Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon's attack in 1812. During the war of 1812 three quarters of the city were destroyed by fire but by the middle of the 19-th century Moscow was completely rebuilt.

The present-day Moscow is the seat of the government of the Russian Federation. President of Russia lives and works here; governmental offices are located here, too.

Moscow is a major industrial city. Its leading industries are engineering, chemical and light industries.

There are a lot of beautiful palaces, old mansions, cathedrals, churches, monasteries and monuments in Moscow.

Moscow is known for its many historical buildings, museums and art galleries as well as for the famous Bolshoi, Maly and Art theatres. There are more than 100 museums in Moscow. The largest museums are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov Gallery houses a unique collection of Russian painters. Almost all famous Russian painters are represented there. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts displays cultural and artistic relics of various times and nations, from the 4-th millennium B.C. up to the present. Other unique museums in Moscow include the All-Russian Museum of Folk Arts, the Andrey Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art, Alexey Bakhrushin Theater Museum, Mikhail Glinka Museum of Musical Culture and many others.

Moscow has a large concentration of educational institutions, and its centers of higher education draw students from throughout Russia. Moscow Sate University (1755) is the leading educational institution. The city's many specialized educational institutions include the Moscow Timiryazev Academy of Agriculture and the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatoire.

The oldest part of Moscow is the Kremlin. This is the main tourist attraction in Moscow. The Kremlin stands at the heart of the city. The word “Kremlin” means “fortress” and the Moscow Kremlin used to be a fortress. Twenty towers of the Kremlin wall were constructed at the end of the 17-th century. By that time Moscow had already ceased to be a fortress. The towers were built for decoration and had no military significance. Five of towers were gates.

If the Kremlin is a symbol of Russia, then the Spasskaya Tower is the symbol of the Kremlin. It was built in 1491 and got its name from the icon of the Spas. The star-topped tower is 71 metres high. It is notable for its clock, whose melodious chimes are well-known to all those who listen to Moscow radio. At the first sight the clock does not seem very large but this impression is an illusion. Its diametre is 6 metres 12 cm and the figures are 72 cm high. The melody is produced by ten bells, the smallest of which weighs 320 kg and the largest - 2,160 kg.

Granovitaya Palata is a masterpiece inside the Kremlin wall. Moscow tsars held magnificent receptions in honour of foreign ambassadors there.

The Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell attract crowds of tourists too.

Outside the Kremlin Wall there is the famous Red Square. Tourists can look at the magnificent Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, the Lenin Mausoleum and the monument to K.Minin and D.Pozharsky.

Moscow is growing day after day and is becoming more and more beautiful. Some old buildings are being repaired, a lot of new buildings appear in different districts of Moscow. Among the new sights that have appeared recently are the Monument in Poklonnaya Gora and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in the centre of Moscow.

Exercise 3. Answer the following comprehension questions.

1. What is the role of Moscow in Russia?

2. When was Moscow founded?

3. When did it become the capital?

4. What is the history of Moscow?

5. What is Moscow known for?

6. Does the Tretyakov Gallery house a unique collection of Russian paintings?

7. What industries are there in Moscow?

8. What museums do you know in Moscow?

9. Why is Moscow called a city of science and learning?

10. Why is the Spasskaya Tower the symbol of Russia and Moscow?

Exercise 4. Complete the sentences.

1. Moscow is situated on the banks of the river...

2. Its population is...

3. One of busiest shopping centers in Moscow is ...

4. The place of meetings and demonstrations in Moscow is called ...

5. By the 15-th century Moscow had grown into ...

6. President of Russia lives and works in ...

7. Moscow has a large concentration of ...

8. The word “Kremlin” means ...

9. Granovitaya Palata is ...

10. The Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell attract ...

Exercise 5. Agree or disagree with the statements, making use of the following expressions.

-It is right ... - It is not right, I'm afraid…

-I agree that ... - On the contrary.

-I believe that ... - I wouldn't agree with you here.

1. The capital of Russia, Moscow, was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1150.

2. In the 18-th century Peter the Great transferred the capital to St. Petersburg.

3. The towers of the Kremlin wall were built only for decoration.

4. Granovitaya Palata is a masterpiece, it is situated in St. Petersburg.

5. The present day St. Petersburg is the seat of the government of the Russian Federation.

6. The most popular museums in Moscow are the Tretyakov Gallery, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the Andrey Rublev Museum of Early Arts.

7. The Tretyakov Gallery houses a unique collection of Eastern painters.

8. The word “Kremlin” means “palace”.

9. There are ten towers in the Kremlin.

10. Among the new sights are the Monument in Poklonnaya Gora and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in the centre of Moscow.

Exercise 6. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Москва - административный, экономический, политический центр России и один из крупнейших городов страны.

2. Население Москвы - около 10 млн. человек, общая площадь - 1000 кв.км.

3. Москва была основана Юрием Долгоруким в 1147 году.

4. Из пограничного поселка Москва превратилась в процветающий город, столицу Московии.

5. Москва осталась центром России.

6. Москва - крупный промышленный город, город науки и образования.

7. 25 башен Кремлевской Стены были построены в 17 веке.

8. Москва знаменита своими художественными музеями, в которых размещаются уникальные коллекции произведений русских и зарубежных художников.

9. Кремль привлекает миллионы туристов каждый год.

10. Москва становится краше с каждым днем.

Exercise 7. Retell the text, using the following key-words.

Population, total area, wealthy city, to transfer, government, to locate, cathedral, church, city of science, to include, relics, tower, museum, theater, magnificent, monument, heart of city, to attract, to appear, to repair.

Exercise 8. Prove that:

1. Moscow is the political centre.

2. Moscow is the educational centre.

3. Moscow is famous for its places of interest.

4. Moscow is growing day after day.

Exercise 9*. Compare:

1. Moscow and any other city of our country.

2. Moscow and any foreign city you know.

Exercise 10*. Make up a short summary of the text.

Exercise 11. Act as a guide. What would you tell the tourists about Moscow? Where would you take them first of all?

Exercise 12. Read the text and say what new information you have learned. Use the information in the topic “Moscow”.

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is one of the biggest, industrial, scientific and cultural centres of the world.

...