LESSON 15

Ukraine

He loves his country best who strives to make it best.

The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border? 

Men love their country, not because it is great, but because it is their own.

The proper means of increasing the love we bear our native country is to reside some time in a foreign one.

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

1. Geographical position, climate	1. Географічне положення, клімат
to extend(ed) / to stretch(ed)	простягатися, тягтися
to border (on)	межувати
to be washed (by)	омиватися
boundary	кордон, межа
black-soil / picturesque steppes	чорноземні / мальовничі степи
temperately continental	помірно континентальний
damp / dry	вологий / сухий
resort area	курортна місцевість
mineral (natural) resources / deposits	природні ресурси / поклади (родовища)
iron / coal / ore / oil	залізо (чорний метал) / кам’яне вугілля /руда/ нафта
crops / rye / wheat / corn / sugar beet	урожай / жито / пшениця / кукурудза / цукровий буряк
2. National symbols	2. Національні (державні) символи
coat of arms (National Emblem)	герб
trident/ flag	тризуб / прапор
anthem / verse	гімн / вірш
3. Political system	3. Політична система / устрій
authority,power / state power	влада / державна влада
single-chamber Parliament	однопалатний Парламент
to vote(d) for	голосувати (за)
elections / election campaign	вибори / виборча кaмпанія
to be ruled by law	керуватися законом
to adopt(ed) the law	прийняти закон
to be nominated (by) / to be appointed	призначати (на посаду)
to cooperate(d) / to participate(d)	співпрацювати / брати участь
system of state administration	система державного управління
the National Armed Forces	Національні збройні сили
the Security Service	Служба безпеки і охорони
to establish good relations	налагоджувати гарні стосунки
economic ties	економічні зв’язки

Introductory text Ukraine

Notes to the text:

sovereign state – суверенна держава to fall(fell, fallen) into – впадати to possess(ed) – володіти lead – свинець non-ferrous metals – кольорові метали to cover(ed) – покривати administrative regions – адміністративні райони autonomous republic – автономна республіка textile industry – текстильна промисловість

coal-mining industry – вуглевидобувна промисловість ship-building – будівництво кораблів agriculture – сільське господарство cattle-breeding – розведення худоби research work – дослідницька робота nuclear physics – ядерна фізика space exploration – дослідження космічного простору the Council of Europe – Рада Європи

Ukraine is a sovereign state. It is situated in the south-eastern part of central Europe. The country is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It borders on Belarus in the North, Russia in the East and Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova in the West.

Ukraine has very rich and beautiful nature. There are 23 thousand rivers in it and more than half of them fall into the Dnieper. It is the Dnieper that is the largest river of the country. The earth of Ukraine possesses almost all chemical elements of Mendeleev’s table: aluminium, lead, zinc, nickel, etc. The land of the country is rich in coal, ore, iron, oil, non-ferrous metals.

Ukraine covers an area of 603,700 square kilometers. Its population is about 48 million. Its capital is Kyiv. There are 24 administrative regions and the Crimean autonomous republic in Ukraine.

The South-Western economic zone is characterized by machine-building and textile industry.

The Donetzk-Dnieper economic zone is famous for mines and coal-mining industry.

Ship-buildingand tourism are well developed in the Southern economic zone.

The agriculture of Ukraine consists of cattle-breeding and crop-growing branches. The country produces planes and liners, locomotives, tractors, combines, excavators, instruments, TV sets, computers and synthetic diamonds.

Ukrainian scientists do important research work in biology, medicine, nuclear physics, space exploration and bridge construction.

Ukrainian literature, theatre, music and art are well-known all over the world.

Our country is a member of the United Nations. In 1995 Ukraine became a member of the Council of Europe.

Ukraine is a parliamentary state with the presidential governing. The President himself is not appointed but popularly elected. He is elected every 5 years.

The main law of the country is the Constitution. The new Constitution was adopted in July, 1996.

1. Comprehension questions.

1. Where is Ukraine situated?

2. What countries does Ukraine border on?

3. How many rivers are there in Ukraine? What is the largest one?

4. What is the land of Ukraine rich in?

5. What can you say about its population and the capital?

6. What does Ukrainian industry produce?

7. In what fields do our scientists achieve much success?

8. Is our country important on international arena?

2. Complete the sentences.

   1. The country is washed by ………. .

   2. Ukraine covers an area of ………. .

   3. There are ………. and the Crimean autonomous republic in Ukraine.

   4. ………. is famous for mines and coal-mining industry.

   5. Ship-building and tourism are well developed in ………. .

   6. The agriculture of Ukraine consists of ………. .

   7. Ukrainian scientists do important research work in ………. .

   8. ………. is not appointed but popularly elected. He is elected every 5 years.