Vocabulary notes

to stretch — протянуться;

to be equal (to) — равняться (чему-либо);

to border (on) — граничить (с);

to exercise power — осуществлять полномочия;

executive / legislative power — исполнительная / законодательная

власть;

direct popular vote — прямое всеобщее голосование;

to develop — развивать, разрабатывать;

severe land — суровый край;

to settle — поселиться;

to convert to Christianity — обращать в христианство;

relatively mild — относительно мягкий;

coniferous forest — хвойный лес;

volume of timber resources — объем запасов древесины;

similar — подобный, похожий;

marshland — болото;

to come across — встретить к.-л.;

resident and migratory — неперелетные и перелетные;

total output — общий объем продукции;

to make contribution (into) — вносить вклад;

salmon, white salmon, grayling — лосось (семга), сиг, хариус;

boreal forest — бореальный (северный) таежный лес;

virgin forests — девственные леса;

natural gas deposits — месторождения природного газа;

reindeer stock — поголовье оленей;

animal husbandry — животноводство.

Vocabulary exercises

I. Translate the words and word combinations into Russian

The far northeast; from southwest to northeast; the total area; several European states put together; huge territory; the seat of the Republican administration; the executive power; the Head of the Republic; the members of the State Council; to elect by popular vote; a four-year term; hunters and fishermen; to be converted to Christianity; severe climate; the mean temperatures; forested area; the volume of mature wood; forests give place to tundra; species of birds; salmon; boreal forest; virgin forests; the largest expanse; rich in natural resources; the share of the timber industry; timber products; synthetic materials; furniture; rich in natural resources; to mine coal; meat-and-dairy farms; a pig-breeding farm; reindeer stock; reindeer breeding; to grow oats; technologically advanced plants; to expand ties.

II. Translate the sentences into Russian

1. The republic stretches for 1275 km from southwest to northeast. 2. Though the territory is huge the population is only 1.2 million people. 3. The executive power is exercised by the Head of the Republic and the Republican Government. 4. It is difficult to say when man began to develop this severe land. 5. Many centuries ago the Komi settled on the banks of the Pechora, Vytchegda and Mezen. 6. At the beginning of the 15^th century the Komi people were converted to Christianity. 7. Stephen Permsky was also the first to translate the religious books into the Komi language and to open the first school for the Komi children. 8. The climate is severe in the north and relatively mild in the southwest. 9. The greater part of the Komi territory is covered with coniferous forest which makes 71 per cent of the whole area. 10. The volume of the timber resources is constantly growing. 11. The fauna is similar to that of northwestern Europe. 12. In our forests we can come across a fox, bear, marten, elk. 13. Around 32,800 km² of mostly boreal forest in the Republic have been recognized in 1995 as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 14. Virgin Komi Forests also includes Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve and Yugyd Va National Park. 15. The mining industry is a very important part of our economy. 16. The Komi Republic also produces timber products, furniture, machines, synthetic materials, food. 17. A third of the reindeer stock of the European North is concentrated in our republic. 18. New technologically advanced plants are being built, new good roads and railways are being constructed.