8. Fill in the gaps with suitable words given below. Consult a dictionary if necessary. Forestry

The republic of Belarus possesses 1._____ wood resources, the 2._____ area of wood stock makes about 43 % of the territory of the country. According to the national legislation, woods are public 3._____ and are owned by the state. The quality of timber, especially coniferous, is 4._____ high. The most widespread woods are pine, fur, birch, black alder, oak and aspen woods. Woods are of great 5._____ not only as a supply of timber. In 1996 forestry 6._____ 937 thousand tons of berries, 206 tons of mushrooms, 44 tons of medical raw material, 47 tons of honey. Rich is the animal world of Belarusian woods. Today on the hunting list there are more than fifty 7._____ of animals and birds.

Belarusian woods can also be a good place for rest, especially for towns-people. They also have a 8. _____ influence on soil, climate, they constrain high waters, storms, make the air purer and 9._____ soil from erosion, and they also 10._____ some other unpredictable natural phenomena.

importance, raw, species, favorable, total, fairly, prevent, provided, propriety, huge, protect

9. Find the words in the text to match these dictionary definitions.

1. land near the dividing line between two countries

2. the body of salt water covering approximately 70 per cent of the earth’s surface

3. an area of soft wet land

4. the catchment area of a particular river and its tributaries or of a lake or sea

5. to live in

6. a book or other document written by hand

7. the amount found by adding together several quantities and then dividing by the number of quantities

8. to experience pain or difficulty

9. a record or account, often chronological in approach, of past events, developments, etc

10. ability or capacity to do something

11. a large amount of money and possessions

12. the beginning of something; first stage or part

13. independent of outside authority

14. a person without any religion; heathen

IV. Speaking Practice.

1. Dwell on the following:

• geographical position

• nature

• climate

• population

• natural resources

• industry/agriculture

• educational establishments

• state system

• the origin of the name

• tragic history

• some other facts

2. Here are the answers to some questions. Ask the questions.

1. _____? – Belarus

2. _____? – It’s about 200,000 sq. km.

3. _____? – Five countries.

4. _____? – Yes, quite a lot of. About 3,000.

5. _____? – I’ve no idea. Probably Naroch.

6. _____? – Six.

7. _____? – No, it’s less than 80 per cent. It’s about 70 per cent.

8. _____? – On April 26, 1986.

9. _____? – Quite mild in winters and warm in summers.

10. _____? – The President.

11. _____? – 150.

12. _____? – In milk and meat production.

13. _____? – Potatoes, flax, grain and vegetables.

14. _____? – “A land of Bogs”.

15. _____? – Legislative, Executive and Judicial.

16. _____? – With more than 40 countries in different parts of the world.

17. _____? – In the 14 century.

18. _____? – East-Slavonic lands.

19. _____? – During the Great Patriotic War.

20. _____? – On July, 1990.