Discussion

Discuss the following points in groups of two or three and give your major conclusions.

1. Everyone should understand basic economics.

2. Economics is sometimes called “the study of scarcity and choice”. How does this relate to your budget for the month?

3. In studying the economy, it is useful to break economics into two categories: microeconomics and macroeconomics.

4. The type of economic system used by a nation is the result of political decision.

5. No nation can produce enough goods and services to satisfy all needs of its people.

Unit II the belarusian economy Warming up

Answer these questions. Add some more information that you can remember about our republic.

1. Where is Belarus situated?

2. What are the country’s main regions?

3. In what part of Belarus does the vast majority of population live?

4. Which nationality groups make up the largest percentage of the total population?

5. What are the two official languages of Belarus?

6. When did Belarus proclaim its independence?

7. Who is the country’s president at the moment?

8. Who is the head of the government in Belarus nowadays?

9. What is the most highly developed sector of the Belarusian economy?

10. What are some of the leading agricultural products in Belarus?

11. What nations are main trading partners of Belarus?

12. What are the major problems facing Belarus today?

Topical Vocabulary

Nouns

agriculture –

agriculture production -

agricultural goods –

agricultural machinery –

agricultural sector –

crops –

principal crops –

a variety of crops –

leading agricultural crops –

engine – машина, мотор, двигатель; средство, устройство;

industrial engines –

engineering – машиностроение

engineering equipment –

farming –

mixed farming –

livestock farming -

crop farming –

fuel –

liquid fuel –

fossil fuel –

fuel requirements –

source of fuel –

livestock –

chief livestock -

livestock breeding –

livestock products -

machine – машина, механизм; станок;

machine industry =machine-building industry –

machine works –

machine tool –

machinery – машины; машинное оборудование; механизмы;

petroleum (syn. oil) –

petroleum refining (oil refining)– переработка (перегонка) нефти;

petroleum refinery –нефтеперерабатывающий завод;

petrol –

petrol engine –

petrol station -

petrochemicals –

trade –

foreign trade –

trade (trading) partner –

trading nation -

Verbs

to account for– давать отчёт, объяснять, являться причиной; приходиться на долю.

to conduct – вести, руководить; вести себя;

to conduct trade –

to conduct a policy –

to contribute –

to contribute to a charity –

to contribute to economy –

to ensure –

to ensure a profit –

to ensure prosperity –

to possess –

to possess property –

to possess wealth -

to process –

to process raw materials –

to process data –

food processing –

timber processing –

to raise –

to raise cattle (livestock) –

to raise crops –