Russia
vast territory обширная, огромная территория
to lie лежать, находиться
to be washed by омываться (чем-либо)
to border on граничить с (чем-либо)
to vary from smth. to smth. варьировать, изменяться от … до …
a desert пустыня
a valley долина
a mountain chain горная цепь
pure чистый
to be rich in smth. быть богатым чем-либо
natural and mineral resources природные ресурсы и полезные ископаемые
a deposit of smth. месторождение чего-либо
oil нефть
gas газ
coal уголь
iron железо
gold золото
the current population население в настоящий момент
to be densely peopled быть густонаселенным
outskirts пригороды
the capital столица
a presidential republic президентская республика
a power держава
Russia is one of the largest countries in the world. 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, the Pacific. The seas are: the White Sea, the Barents Sea, the Okhotsk Sea, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and others.
Russia borders on many countries, such as Mongolia and China in the southeast, Finland and Norway in the northwest, and so on.
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 its territory. The longest rivers are the Volga in Europe and the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena in Asia. The largest lakes are Ladoga and Baikal. Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and its water is the purest on earth.
The Russian Federation is rich in natural and mineral resources. It has deposits of oil, gas, coal, iron, gold and many others.
The current population of Russia is more than 140 million people. The European part of the country is densely peopled, and most population live in cities and towns and their outskirts.
The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow, with the population of about 10 million people. Russia is a presidential republic. It is one of the leading powers in the world.
Exercise 1. Answer the 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. What mineral resources are there in Russia?
6. What is the population of Russia?
7. What is the form of government in Russia?
Exercise 2. Translate into English:
1. Россия расположена в восточной части Европы и северной части Азии.
2. Обширная территория России омывается Северным Ледовитым, Атлантическим и Тихим океанами.
3. Россия граничит с Монголией, Китаем, Финляндией и другими странами.
4. Россия располагает большим количеством месторождений полезных ископаемых.
5. Полезные ископаемые России включают (include) нефть, газ, уголь, железо, золото и др.
6. Форма правления (form of government) в России, одной из ведущих мировых держав, - президентская республика.
State System of Russia
a parliamentary republic парламентская республика
Head of State глава государства
the President президент
to consist of smth. состоять из чего-либо
a branch власть (как часть правительства)
legislative законодательный
executive исполнительный
judicial судебный
to control smth. контролировать что-либо
to be exercised by осуществляться (кем-либо, чем-либо)
the Federal Assembly Федеральное собрание
a chamber палата
the Council of Federation Совет Федерации
the State Duma Государственная дума
to be headed by smb. возглавляться кем-либо
the Speaker спикер
to introduce a bill внести законопроект
to become a law стать законом
to be approved by smb., smth. быть одобренным кем-либо
to be signed by smb. быть подписанным кем-либо
to veto a bill наложить вето на законопроект
to make an international treaty заключить международный договор
to appoint a minister назначить министра
to be elected by the people избираться народом
to belong to smth., smb. принадлежать кому-либо
the Cabinet of Ministers кабинет министров
the Prime Minister премьер-министр
a system of courts система судов
the Constitutional Court Конституционный суд
the Supreme Court Верховный суд
a banner знамя
double-headed eagle двуглавый орел
Russia is a parliamentary republic. Head of State in this country 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. Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. A bill may be introduced in any chamber. A bill becomes a law if it is approved by both chambers and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill. He can make international treaties. The President may also appoint ministers; the Federal Assembly approves them. The members of the Federal Assembly are elected by the people for four years.
The executive power belongs to the Government, or the Cabinet of Ministers. The government is headed by the Prime Minister.
The judicial power belongs to the system of courts. It consists of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and other courts.
The national symbol of Russia is a white-blue-and-red banner. The coat-of-arms of the Russian Federation is the double-headed eagle.
Exercise 3. Answer the questions:
1. What branches does the Government consist of?
2. What is the legislative power exercised by?
3. How is a law made?
4. What body does the executive power belong to?
5. What does the system of courts consist of?
6. What are the national symbols of Russia?
Exercise 4. Translate into English:
1. Глава парламентской республики России - президент.
2. Законопроект становится законом, если президент не наложит на него вето.
3. Законопроект должен быть одобрен обеими палатами и подписан президентом.
4. Исполнительную власть представляет кабинет министров, возглавляемый премьер-министром.
5. Судебная власть осуществляется Конституционным судом, Верховным судом и другими судами.
Moscow
a major city крупный город
total area общая площадь
to be founded by smb. быть основанным кем-либо
a prince князь
to be first mentioned in the chronicles быть впервые упомянутым в летописях
to grow into a wealthy city превратиться в процветающий город
under Ivan the Terrible при Иване Грозном
to transfer the capital to перенести столицу в …
to remain the heart of Russia остаться сердцем России
to become the main target of Napoleon's attack стать главной целью нападения Наполеона
to be destroyed by fire быть разрушенным пожаром
to be completely rebuilt быть полностью отстроенным
the present-day Moscow современная Москва
the seat of the government местонахождение правительства
a government office правительственное учреждение
to be located быть расположенным
the leading industry ведущая отрасль промышленности
engineering машиностроение
chemical industry химическая промышленность
light industry легкая промышленность
unique уникальный
a city of science and learning город науки и образования
a higher education institution вуз
Moscow is the capital of Russia, its administrative, economic, political and educational centre. It is one of Russia's major cities with the population of about 9 million people. Its total area is about 900 thousand square kilometres.
The city was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky and was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147. At that time it was a small frontier settlement. By the 15th century Moscow had grown into a wealthy city.
In the 16th century, under Ivan the Terrible, Moscow became the capital of the state of Muscovy. In the 18th 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 19th 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; government offices are located here, too.
Moscow is a major industrial city. Its leading industries are engineering, chemical and light industries.
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 80 museums in Moscow, among them the unique Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Andrey Rublyov Museum of Early Russian Art and many others.
Moscow is a city of science and learning. There are over 80 higher education institutions in the city, including a number of universities.
Exercise 5. Answer the questions:
1. What is the role of Moscow in Russia?
2. When was Moscow founded?
3. When did it become the capital?
4. What part does the present-day Moscow play in the life of Russia?
Exercise 6. Translate into English:
1. Москва - административный, экономический, политический центр России и один из крупнейших городов страны.
2. Население Москвы - около 9 миллионов человек, общая площадь - 900 000 кв. километров.
3. Москва была основана Юрием Долгоруким и впервые упоминалась в летописях в 1147 году.
4. Из пограничного поселка Москва превратилась в процветающий город, столицу Московии.
5. Москва осталась центром России и стала основной целью Наполеона при нападении на Россию.
6. Москва - крупный промышленный город, город науки и образования.