GREAT RUSSIA

Russia is one of the largest countries in the world (more than 17 mln. sq. km.). The vast territory of Russia lies in the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia.

Russia is washed by twelve seas and three oceans. The oceans are: the Arctic, the Atlantic, and the Pacific. The seas are: the White Sea, the Barens Sea, the Okhotsk Sea, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and others.

Russia borders on many countries such as Mongolia and China in the south-east, Finland and Norway in the north-west; and so on.

There are all the main types of climate on the territory of Russia except the tropical one.

The land of Russia varies a lot. Forests, deserts, high moun­tains and deep valleys are found here. The main mountain chains are the Urals, the Caucasus, and the Altai. There are a lot of great rivers and lakes on its territory. The longest rivers are the Volga in Europe and the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena in Asia. The largest lakes are the Ladoga and the Baikal. The Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and its water is the purest on earth.

The Russian Federation has no equal in natural and mineral re­sources. It is rich in oil, gas, coal, iron, gold and many others.

The population of Russia is more than 150 mln. people. The European part of the country is densely peopled and most population lives in cities and towns and their outskirts.

There are many villages in Russia famous for their specific crafts: painted boxes in Palekh, wooden tableware¹ in Khokhloma, and toys in Dymkovo. Log² houses, usually decorated with wood carving³ are typical for Russian villages.

Not long ago people in Russian villages performed traditional khorovods (a kind of round dance) and chastushki (folk chanted rhymes⁴) and rode in troikas (carriages drawn by teams of three horses abreast).⁵ Now young people prefer modern dances, motorcycles and motor cars. However, village residents still prefer to drink tea from samovars.

Traditional Russian cooking includes porridges, pancakes, va­rious aspics⁶, cabbage, chicken and fish soup, pirozhki (turnovers), and kvass (a beverage made of fermented rye bread).⁷

The national property which makes us proud is its greatness: talented scientists, famous philosophers, outstanding inventors, musicians, writers, artists.

¹ tableware ['teiblweә] - посуда

² log house ['log] - изба

³ wood carving ['ka:viη] - резьба по дереву

⁴ chanted rhymes ['t∫a:ntәd) - куплеты

⁵ carriages drawn by teams of three horses abreast ['kærid ], [ә'brest] - экипажи, запряженные упряжкой из 3-х лошадей в одном ряду

⁶ various aspics ['æspiks] - различные заливные

⁷ beverage made from fermented rye bread ['bevәrid ], [fә'mentәd] - напиток, изготовленный из дрожжевого ржаного хлеба

vast territory ['va:st 'teritәri] - обширная территория

to lie ['lai] - лежать, находиться

to be washed by ['w ∫] – омывать что-то

to border on ['b:dә] – граничить с

to vary ['vεәri]] - изменяться

desert ['dezәt] - пустыня

valley ['væli] - долина

a mountain chain ['mauntin 't∫ein] – горная цепь

pure ['pjuә] - чистый

to be rich in ['rit∫] – быть богатым чем-то

natural and Blneral resources ['næt∫rәl], ['minәrәl] – природные ресурсы и полезные ископаемые

oil ['oil] - нефть

gas ['gæs] - газ

coal ['koul] - уголь

iron ['aiәn] - железо

gold ['gould] - золото

to be densely peopled ['densli] - быть густонаселенным

outskirt ['autskә:t] - пригород

national property ['næ∫nәl 'pr pәti] - национальное достояние

craft [kra:ft] - достояние

Задание 1. Прослушайте текст, переведите его.

Задание 2. Повторите географические названия:

Europe; Northern part of Asia; the Arctic Ocean; the White Sea; China; Norway; Finland; the Urals; the Caucasus.

Задание З. Подберите правильный перевод:

Задание 4. Вставьте правильный предлог.

1. Russia lies... the eastern part of Europe.

2. It borders... manу countries and is washed... 12 seas.

3. The land... Russia varies very each..

4. Log houses are decorated... wood carving. It's typical... Rus­sian villages.

5. People in Russian villages performed... traditional knorovods.

6. There are a lot... great rivers and deep lakes... its territory.

7. The Russian Federation is rich... mineral resources.

8. Most population live... cities and their outskirts.

Задание 5. Закончите предложения, используя русскую подсказку:

1. Russia borders on (Монголия, Китай, Финляндия, Норвегия).

2. The land of Russia varies from (леса, пустыни, горы, долины).

3. The main mountain chains are (Кавказские, Уральские, Алтайские).

4. The R.F. is rich in (природные ресурсы и полезные ископаемые: нефть, газ, уголь, железо, золото).

5. Traditional russian cooking includes (каши, блины, заливные, щи, пирожки, квас).

6. The country is proud of (знаменитые изобретатели, писатели, музыканты).

Задание 6. Выразите мысль иначе:

1. Mу sister is fond of folk music. She likes chastushki.

2. Not long ago Russians rode in troikas.

3. Kvass is our national drink.

4. In villages people performedkhorovods.

Задание 7. Попросите своего собеседника ответить на вопросы, и Вы поймёте, знает ли он географию России.

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. What mineral resources are there in Russia?

6. What is the population of Russia?

7. Where do Russians usually decorate their houses with wood carving and prefer to drink tea from samovars?

8. What is the national property of Russia?

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