Text-study

I. Learn the following words.

Incidence – уровень;

transition period – переходный период;

contraction – сокращение;

income – денежные доходы;

inequality – неравенство;

entrepreneurship – предпринимательство;

wage income – доходы по заработной плате;

unemployment – безработица;

span – короткий промежуток времени;

allowance – содержание, довольствие;

payroll – платежная ведомость;

household utilities – коммунальные услуги.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What are the reasons for poverty incidence increase in Russia?

2. What are the reasons for increased income inequality and decline in wage income?

3. Is poverty in Russia relatively transitory or constant?

4. Which group should be targeted by the UN social assistance schemes and anti-poverty programmes?

5. What are public transfer programmes in Russia aimed at?

6. Are the public transfer programmes in Russia successful in preventing a rise in poverty? Why (why not)? What are the main reasons for this?

7. Why are many transfer programmes inherited from the Soviet era inappropriate for a market economy?

III. Choose a), b) or c) to complete the following statements about the text.

1. The incidence of poverty … in Russia during its period of economic transition.

a) fell sharply;

b) didn’t change;

c) increased sharply.

2. The two main reasons for the rise are a sharp economic contraction during much of the transition period and … .

a) a decrease in income inequality;

b) a large increase in income inequality;

c) total rise of income.

3. Despite its large incidence, much of the poverty in Russia is … .

a) relatively transitory;

b) practically constant;

c) rather low.

4. … should be an important target group for social assistance schemes and anti-poverty programs.

a) The short-term poor;

b) The long-term poor;

c) The middle class.

5. Many transfer programmes inherited from the Soviet era, such as low administered prices for food, rent, household utilities, and guaranteed employment, ... .

a) are to be completed in market economy:

b) are necessary for social security;

c) are not appropriate for market economy.

IV. Match the verbs with the appropriate nouns.

1. to distribute	a) resources
2. to escape	b) benefits
3. to allocate	c) income
4. to receive	d) decrease
5. to suggest	e) poverty

V. Make up sentences with the phrases you’ve got.