Topic: the russian federation Topical Vocabulary

Europe; Asia; to span; the immensity; to imagine; mineral resources; gold; oil; gas; the Urals; Finland; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; the Ukraine; Poland; Mongolia; China; vast; steppes; according to; the Constitution; a Presidential Republic; the state symbol; the three-coloured banner; a horizontal stripe; to symbolize; the national emblem; a two-headed eagle.

Total area – общая площадь; barren – бесплодный; a high peaked mountain – горная вершина; a deep valley – глубокая долина; the current population – население на данный период; a highly-industrialized-agrarian republic – республика с высокоразвитой промышленностью и сельским хозяйством; vast mineral resources – богатые запасы полезных ископаемых; a non-ferrous metal – цветной металл; mineral wealth – запасы полезных ископаемых; agriculture – сельское хозяйство; grain – зерно; a dairy product – молочный продукт; a granary – житница.

To be set up by smth. – быть учрежденным, основанным в соответствии с чем-либо; under the Constitution – в соответствии с конституцией; to be checked by smb. – контролироваться кем-либо; to be balanced by smb. – сбалансироваться, уравновешиваться кем-либо; the Federal Assembly – Федеральное собрание; the Council of Federation – Совет Федерации; legislature – зд. законопроект; commander-in-chief – главнокомандующий; the armed forces – вооруженные силы; to make a treaty – заключить договор; to enforce a law – «проводить закон в жизнь»; on appointment – после назначения; the Constitutional Court – Конституционный суд; the Supreme Court – Верховный суд; a regional court – региональный суд; to be elected by popular vote – быть избранным всенародным голосованием; a banner – знамя; the Ruricovitches – Рюриковичи.

Text 1 The Russian Federation

Russia is one of the largest countries in the world. It occupies about one-seventh part of dry land. It is situated in Europe and in Asia. Its total area is over 17 million square kilometers. From West to East it spans almost ten thousand kilometers and has 11 time zones. The immensity of Russia is hard to imagine. The flight from Moscow to Magadan takes 8 hours.

The population of Russia is 145,2 million people (2003). 80% of the population are Russians. Moscow, with 10 million people, is its capital.

Russia is very rich in mineral resources, such as gold, oil, coal and gas. It has many long rivers and deep lakes. The Volga is the longest river in Europe, the Yenisei and the Ob are the longest rivers in Asia. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. The most famous mountains in Russia are the Urals.

Russia borders on fourteen countries including Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Ukraine, Poland, Mongolia, China and others.

Within Russia there are many types of climate. There are vast areas of cold treeless tundra in the North. Further to the south there are forests, steppes and mountains.

According to the Constitution Russia is a Presidential Republic.

The state symbol of Russia is the three-coloured banner with three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolizes the earth, the blue one – the sky, and the red one symbolizes liberty.

The national emblem of Russia is a two-headed eagle which is the most ancient symbol of Russia.