Belgorod Region (social and economic survey)

1. The modern Belgorod region was formed within the present boundaries on January 6th, 1954 as a result of separation of some parts of the Kursk and Voronezh regions and formation of a new territorial unit on their basis. Its area is 27.1 thousand square kilometers. Among the regions of the Russian Federation, it takes the 64th place by the size of its territory and the 39th place by its population (about 1.5 million people).

2. The Belgorod region is located on the south-west and south slopes of the Middle Russian Hills in the basins of the Dnepr and the Don Rivers. The extent of the region from north to south is about 190 km, from west to east – about 270 km. The total length of the boundaries is 1.150 km, out of which the Ukrainian boundary makes up 540 km.

3. The most important rail-way lines and motorways of an interstate significance cross the territory of the region. They connect Moscow with southern regions of Russia and Ukraine. Among the most important motorways are Moscow-Simferopol, Kharkiv-Valuiki-Lisky-Saratov, Belgorod-Voronezh ones.

4. Farming land is more than 2.700 thousand hectares, 77 per cent of which are represented by black-earth soils. Among the regions of the Central Black-Earth Soil zone, the Belgorod region is distinguished by a powerful territory-industrial sector based on exploitation of mineral resources of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly and by its agricultural and industrial complex formed on the basis of available fertile black-earth soils.

5. Having only 1 per cent of the area and 0.5 per cent of the total population of CIS countries, the region produces 10 per cent of iron ore, 12 per cent of sugar, 5 per cent of cement, 5 per cent of asbestos and cement products, about 6 per cent of vegetable oils. The region share in industrial output of Russia’s Central Black-Earth Soil Zone amounts to 15 per cent of production of industrial goods, 1/5 – the manufacturing and rolling of ferrous metals, production of more than 1/3 of crystallized sugar, more than 1/4 of vegetable oil and 1/4 of meat.

6. The region is rich in mineral and non-mineral resources: iron ore, clay, sand, etc. Two large iron-ore mining and dressing plants are the Stoilensky and Lebedinsky plants. They conduct the mining of iron-ore deposits by an open-pit method. The development of these plants caused a vigorous growth of the industrial-transport center formed in the towns of Stary Oskol and Gubkin. Its production capacity amounts to more than 85 million tons of iron quartzite.

7. 17 miles away from Belgorod the Yakovievo mines are located. They are currently under construction. The reserves of this iron-ore deposit are 15 times bigger than those of the Ukraine’s Krivoy Rog basin. The Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant is a leader of the region’s metallurgical and machine-building complex. This is the first enterprise in Russia at which steel is produced without a blast-furnace process. Now this plant produces 1.6 million tons of steel, 1.5 million tons of rolled metal per annum. Among other large enterprises of the Belrogod region we can indicate such plants as “Belgorodenergomash”, “Belcement”, Stary Oskol Cement Plant, Stary Oskol Plant of Automobile and Tractor Electrical equipment, etc.

8. The production of cement is very high in the region. The annual production capacity of the region’s cement plants is 6 million tons. A prominent place in construction industry is taken by the asbestos and cement plant, two plants of silicate materials, a great number of plants producing reinforced concrete units and materials.

9. The region has a well-developed agro-industrial complex. It comprises the manufacture of machines and equipment for agriculture production, farming and fishing industries as well as plants of food processing. This complex industry is represented by 367 farming companies, 195 joint-stock companies of closed type, 88 cooperative farms. In the region there are 1,678 farms. Each farm possesses 40.8 hectares of farming land on the average. Among all regions of the Central Black-Earth Soil Zone, the Belgorod region is well-known by its great share of live-stock production in agricultural output. Live-stock production is represented by cattle breeding oriented towards milk and meat production, pig breeding, poultry-farming and sheep production.

10. A diverse base of raw materials stimulates the development of food industry. 11 sugar factories produce 440 – 450 thousand tons of sugar per annum.

7. Read Text 5B and answer the following questions.

1. When was the Belgorod region formed?

2. What is its area?

3. Where is the Belgorod region situated?

4. What connects Belgorod with Moscow and southern regions of Russia and Ukraine?

5. What is the Belgorod regions distinguished by among the region of the Central Black-Earth Soil Zone?

6. What does the region produce?

7. What mineral and non-mineral resources is the region rich in?

8. What are the two large iron-ore mining and dressing plants?

9. What is Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant famous for?

10. What enterprises of the Belgorod region do you know?

11. What can you say about the cement production in the region?

12. What is the agricultural complex of the region characterized by?

13. What other industries are developed in the region?

Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions and reproduce the context in which they are used.

Within the boundaries, a territorial unit, to make up, a rail-way line, a motorway, a farming land, available, a cement product, a share, to manufacture, to be rich in smth., iron ore mining, an ore dressing plant, an iron ore deposit, to cause, production capacity, per annum, live-stock production.

Say whether you agree or disagree with there statements. Give your reasoning. Use the introductory phrases from the previous Units.

1. The Belgorod region was formed on January 6th, 1953.

2. The region is situated on the Middle Russian Hills.

3. The region does not produce any iron ore and cement.

4. The Belgorod region is not very rich in mineral resources.

5. Chalk is not produced in the region.

6. The development of the Stoilensky and Lebedinsky iron-ore mining and dressing plants did not have any effect on the growth of industry in Gubkin and Stary Oskol.

7. The cement production per annum is 6 million tons.

8. There are not any cooperative farms in the region’s agricultural complex.

9. Live-stock production is not developed in the region at all.

10. Sugar production is very high in the region.

Put the following headings in a logical order according to the Text.

1. Some specific features of the Belgorod region.

2. The location of the region.

3. Live-stock production.

4. Iron-ore dressing plants.

5. The agro-industrial complex.

6. The formation of the Belgorod region.

7. Mineral and non-mineral resources.

8. Farming.

9. The Oskol Electrometallurgical plant.

10. The area of the Belgorod region.

11. The main industries developed in the region.

12. Food industry.

13. The main rail-way lines and motorways.

14. The population of the region.

15. The Yakovlevo mines.

16. Farming land.

17. Large enterprises of the region.

18. The boundaries of the Belgorod region.

19. Cement production.

Read Text 5B again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.

TEXT 5C

Memorial in honour of heroes of the Battle of Kursk

1. More than fifty years have passed since the day when the Soviet Army hoisted the Banner of Victory over the thrown Reichstag. The Second World War unleashed by the fascist Germany lasted from 1939 to 1945 and carried away dozens of millions of human lives.

2. Many heroic pages have been added by the Soviet people-conquerors and the Red Army into the chronicle of World War II and one of most glorious is the defeat of German troops in the battle of Kursk.

3. In the honour of the heroes of the great battle in 1973 the Memorial was built on the 624th kilometer of the Moscow-Simferopol highway. The authors of the project are the painters from Belgorod A.I.Grebenyuk, V.I.Kazak, V.D.Leus and the architect A.T.Bozhko.

4. In the foreground there is a monument to the Soviet tankmen - a legendary tank T-34. In the hall of Battle Glory there is a display of sacred relics testifying to the feats of combined arms and services, tank and aviation units which took part in combat operations against German-fascist troops in the Belgorod direction. Here are some samples of arms, private things, documents, photos of soldiers and commanding officers. In the common grave which is near the entrance to the hall of Battle Glory there are remains of the perished soldiers-gunners.

5. In the southern part of the Memorial at the attitude of 254.5 trenches, means of communication and a dug-out preserved since war times have been restored.

6. In the center of the Memorial the Everlasting Fire has been set in the memory of the valorous soldiers of Fatherland.

Ask your fellow students about Text 5C and let them answer these questions.

1. What heroic pages have been added into the chronicle of World War II?

2. Why was the defeat of the German troops in the battle of Kursk so important?

3. When and where was the Memorial to the heroes of the battle of Kursk built?

4. Who are the authors of the Memorial?

5. What is the hall of Battle Glory like?

6. What are the displays in this hall?

7. Where is the common grave situated?

Reproduce the parts of the Text in which these words and phrases are used. Use these patterns in short stories of your own.

To hoist a banner, to throw down, to unleash, to add, glorious, in smb.’s honour, a display, to testify to, to take place in something, a sample, an altitude, to restore, in the foreground, sacred relics, valorous.

Find and reproduce the key sentence in each paragraph expressing the main idea.

Retell Text 5C according to the plan made up.

Make a story about one of the places of interest in Belgorod and its regions dedicated to heroic events of the Great Patriotic War.

SPEAKING

DIALOGUE 1

Talking of the home town

Mary: Where are you from, Peter?

Peter: From Kazan. What about you, Mary?

Mary: I’m from Ekaterinburg, the capital of the Urals region.

Peter: Oh, I do remember now, I heard you sing a song about the Urals at the student concert. You are very fond of your native town, aren’t you? Mary: Yes, I am. I adore it. I am always dreaming of going back to my native lands. Very often I am home-sick.

Peter: When did you last visit your parents?

Mary: A year ago. But I often write to them. My mother and father are missing me terribly, and so am I.

Peter: Would like you to tell me something about Ekaterinburg?

Mary: With pleasure, but not at this moment. Now I am in hurry. Tonight I’m going to Helen’s birthday party.

Peter: Well, I send her my best regards and wish her many happy returns of the day. Excuse my detaining you. Hope to see you tomorrow.

Mary: So long, Peter. Drop in tomorrow evening if you have time.

17. Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 1.

18. Make up dialogues of your own using Dialogue 1 as model.

Situations: You meet your groupmate and talk about:

a)your native town;

b) some places of interest of your native town;

c) the letter you received from a friend of yours who lives in

your native town.

DIALOGUE 2

Visiting the monument to victory in Prokhorovka

A.: Have you seen the Monument of Victory built on the tank battle field of Prokhorovka?

B.: Do you mean Prokhorovka which is not far from Belgorod?

A.: That’s right. The tank battle of Prokhorovka is a part of the battle of Kursk which lasted 50 days and became a conclusive stage of the radical turn in the course of Great Patriotic War. You should see it by all means.

B.: Well, I saw some monuments yesterday when I was on a tour of Belgorod and its region. But I’m not sure that was the one you are talking about.

A.: There’s no doubt you saw some other monuments. There are a lot of them in this city and its region. If you’d seen that memorial, you wouldn’t have mixed it with anything else.

B.:When was the Monument to Victory in Prokhorovka constructed?

A.: Its construction started in October, 1993 and ended in April, 1995.

The Monument was unveiled in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Victory over the fascist Germany.

B.: Who are the authors of this monument?

A.: They are V.M.Klykov, R.I.Simerdzhiev and G.K.Silohin.

B.: What does the Monument symbolize?

A.: The majestic Monument symbolize love for the native land, pride in deeds

of the great ancestors, readiness to sacrifice oneself to Motherland.

B.: Oh, I see. That’s marvelous beyond any words. A surely impressive

Monument.

Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 2.

Fill in the missing remarks of the dialogue.

A.: Excuse me, could you tell me the way to Prokhorovra. I’d like to see the Monument to Victory.

B.: ….

A.:Thank you much. How far is it from here?

B.: ….

A.:Is there a bus?

B.: ….

A.:Thank you.

DIALOGUE 3

Talking of Belgorod places of interest

Pete: What are you going to do this week?

An.: Well, I don’t really know.

Pete: Why not visit the Museum of Fine Arts?

Ann: Well… I’ve been there. I’ve done a lot of sightseeing since I came here. I’ve also been to the Museum of Local Lore.

Pete: Have you been to the Kursk Bulge Diorama?

Ann: On, yes. I’ve been there more than once. You know how keen I am on

history. I’ve heard some good lectures there too.

Pete: Have you seen the Monument to M.Schepkin?

Ann: Yes, I went there a week ago. But I haven’t seen Preobrazhensky

Cathedral since I was here last time.

Pete: Oh, it is worth seeing.

Ann: But I really ought to think about the business side of my visit now. I haven’t been to the cement plant yet. I expect things have changed over the past five years.

Pete: I’m sure they have. Yes, there have been some very big developments

since you were here last. Tell me – would you like to go and see the

Energomash Plant which manufactures power engineering equipment?

Ann: Yes, I would.

Pete: They have a big modern plant, and I happened to know the Personnel

Manager there.

Ann: Thank you. I’d be very grateful to you.

Memorize and reproduce Dialogue 3.

Make up and act dialogues considering the following assignments.

1. Your friend who came to Belgorod for the first time asks you about some places of interest in Belgorod.

2. You are a guide of the Museum of Fine Arts / the Museum of Local Lore / the Kursk Bulge Diorama.

LISTENING

23. Listen to the Text “Some Industries of the Belgorod region”.

a) Fill in the chart.

The industry of the region	Export	Mineral raw material base	Iron-ore mining and metallurgical complex	Mechanical engineering and metalworking

b) You will hear some numbers in the Text, write them down and say what these numbers refer to.

c) Check your answers with your groupmates and Tapescript 5A of the Text.

d) Retell the Text.

24. Listen to the Text “Newcastle, My Home Town”. Study the following commentary.

The river Tyne [tain] – река Тайн

Gateshead [‘geitshэd] – город Гейтсхэд

Geordie [‘dζэ:di] – Джорди, прозвище жителя или уроженца графства

Нортумберленд, особ. Тайнсайда (Tyneside), по северо-английскому произношению имени George

a) Answer the questions that follow.

1. Where is Newcastle situated?

2. What is Newcastle like?

3. What is the population of Newcastle?

4. Where is one of the biggest shopping centers in the world situated?

5. What industries are developed in Newcastle?

6. When did the character of this story move to Newcastle?

7. Why does the character of this story miss the people of his home town?

8. What are the people who were born near the river Tyne called?

b) Read Tapescript 5B of the Text. Look up the words you do not know in the dictionary.

c) Retell the story about Newcastle.

d) Tell your groupmates about your home town.

UNIT 6

Higher education of Russia

READING AND DISCUSSION

TEXT 6A

THE SYSTEM OF Higher education in Russia

Citizens of Russia have the right to education, which is guaranteed by the Constitution and ensured by the broad development of secondary education, vocational, specialized secondary and higher education, by the development of correspondence and evening courses, by the provision of state scholarships and privileges for students.

2. In Russia there is a nine-year compulsory education, but to enter a higher educational institution one has to study two years more.

3. After finishing secondary school, lyceum or gymnasium one can go on to higher education. All applicants must take competitive examinations. Entrance examinations are held in July and August. Higher educational institutions are headed by Rectors. Vice-rectors are in charge of the academic and scientific work. Higher educational institutions train students in one or several specializations. Faculties are headed by Deans. There are departments within faculties. The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of the autonomy of higher educational institutions, expansion of academic freedoms of faculties and students, development of a new financial mechanism. All Russian schools until recently have been state-subsidised.

4. In the terms of the ratio of students to the total population Russia ranks among the top ten countries in the world.

5. The Russian educational policy is a combination of economic and social objectives. On the one hand, an educated person contributes more to the society and, on the other hand, education gives a person the prospect for professional advance. The citizens of Russia show a great concern for education for themselves and their children.

6. Institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, teachers' training colleges, universities and academies which offer master's and doctoral degree programmes.

7. The faculties have specialized councils for conferring advanced academic degrees.

Active vocabulary to remember

1. advance   advanced	- продвижение вперед - успех, прогресс, улучшение - продвинутый, повышенного типа
2. to be in charge of smth.	- отвечать за что-либо, нести ответственность за что-либо, заведовать чем-либо
3. concern [kэn'sэ:n]	-интерес, забота, отношение
4. to contribute	- содействовать, способствовать
5. a Dean	- декан
a Rector a Vice-Rector	- ректор - проректор
6. a degree a bachelor's degree a master's degree a doctoral degree to confer a degree   7. education	- звание, ученая степень - степень бакалавра - степень магистра - степень доктора -присваивать, присуждать степень - образование
compulsory education higher education secondary education vocational education	- обязательное образование - высшее образование - среднее образование -профессионально-техническое образование
8. to ensure [in'∫uэ] 9. to enter the Academy 10. a faculty ['fækэlti] a department 11. to head [hed] 12. an objective [эb'dζektiv]	- обеспечивать, гарантировать - поступить в академию - факультет - кафедра, отделение - возглавлять, вести - цель, стремление
13. to rank 14. a scholarship 15. a school a secondary school a gymnasium [d im'neiziэm] a lyceum [lai'si:эm]	- занимать какое-либо место - стипендия - школа - средняя школа - гимназия - лицей

Exercises

Pronounce correctly.

broad [brо:d] competitive [kэm'petэtiv] compulsory [kэm'plsэri] contribute [kэn'tribju:t] council ['kaunsl] decentralization [di:,sentrэlai'zei∫n] financial [fai'næn∫эl] guarantee ['gærэnti] institution [,insti'tju:∫n]

mechanism ['mekэnizm] provision [prэ'viζn] ratio ['rei∫iэu] social ['sэul] specialization [,spe∫эlai'zei∫n] subsidize ['sΛbsidaiz] through [оru:] transitional [træn'zi∫nl] vocational [vэu'kei∫nэl]

Indicate one of the meanings in which the given word is used in the Text. The paragraph number is given in brackets.

1. a citizen (1, 5) 2. a right (1) 3. secondary (1)	- горожанин, гражданин - справедливость, правильность, право - средний, вспомогательный, вторичный, побочный, второстепенный
4. vocational (1)   5. correspondence (1) 6. provision (1) 7. compulsory (2) 8. an applicant (3) 9. entrance (3)	- профессиональный, ремесленный, профессионально- технический - корреспонденция, заочный, соответствие - снабжение, обеспечение, постановление - обязательный, принудительный - претендент, кандидат, абитуриент - вступительный, входной
10. to head (3) 11. academic (3) 12. several (3) 13. a faculty (3) 14. a department (3)	- озаглавливать, направлять, возглавлять - учебный, академический, теоретический - каждый, отдельный, несколько - способность, дар, факультет - ведомство, отдел, кафедра, факультет
15. transitional (3) 16. an objective (3) 17. recently (3) 18. ratio (4)	- промежуточный, переходный - стремление, цель, объект, объектив - недавно, на днях - коэффициент, пропорция, отношение, норма, соотношение
19. to contribute (5) 20. a council (7) 21. a degree (7)	- жертвовать, содействовать, способствовать - совещание, совет - ступень, градус, степень, звание

Choose the synonyms from the right column to the phrases given in the left one.

to ensure broad higher education	1. an establishment 2. to be responsible 3. to provide
a scholarship to enter an institution to go on	4. to undergo 5. further education 6. a holder of a degree 7. to award
to be held a rector a vice-rector to be in charge	8. the head of university, college 9. a student grant 10. a matter of interest 11. increase
to train a graduate student a dean to go through an expansion	12. to take place 13. wide 14. to have a place 15. the head of a faculty 16. to be accepted
in the terms of to rank a concern to offer	17. with regard to 18. to educate 19. to guarantee 20. to continue
to confer	21. a pro-rector

4. Correct the following sentences beginning with: “I am afraid that is wrong” or “That is not true to the fact”.

1. The right to education is guaranteed by the government.

2. One has to complete a nine-year compulsory course to enter a higher educational institution.

3. All applicants for entry to higher educational institutions are not supposed to take competitive examinations.

4. Higher educational institutions are headed by Deans.

5. Faculties are headed by Vice-rectors.

6. The system of higher education has already completed its reform.

7. All Russian schools are private.

8. An educated person does not contribute to the society or education.

Answer the following questions.

1. What is the right to education ensured by?

2. What is compulsory education in Russia?

3. When can one go on to higher education?

4. When are entrance examinations held?

5. What are Vice-rectors in charge of?

6. Who do higher educational institutions train?

7. What is the difference between a faculty and a department?

8. What are the main objectives of the higher educational reform?

9. What do institutions of higher education include?

10. Where are advanced academic degrees conferred?

6. Reproduce the Text “The System of Higher Education in Russia” in English according to the plan made up.

TEXT 6B

Education in Russia

1. Every citizen of this country has the right to education. This right is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not only a right but a duty, too. Every boy or girl must get secondary education. They go to school at the age of the six or seven and must stay there until they are 14-17 years old. At school, pupils study academic subjects, such as Russian, Literature, Mathematics, History, Biology, a foreign language and others.

2. After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the10th and 11th form. They can also go to a vocational or technical school, where they study academic subjects and receive a profession. A college gives general knowledge in academic subjects and a profound knowledge in one or several subjects.

3. After finishing a secondary, vocational, technical school or college, young people can start working or enter a university or an academy. Universities and academies train specialists in different fields. A course at a university usually takes 5 years. Many universities and academes have part-time and correspondence departments. They give their students an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs. Universities and academies have post-graduate courses, which give candidate or doctoral degrees.

4. Education in this country is free at most school. There are private primary and secondary schools where pupils have to pay for their studies. Students of universities and academies get scholarships. At many universities and academies there are also departments at which students have to pay for their education.

Read Text 6B and answer the following questions.

1. How is the right to education in Russia guaranteed?

2. Why is education a duty?

3. At what ages must Russian children stay at school?

4. What subjects do pupils study at school?

5. What can pupils do after finishing 9 forms at a secondary school?

6. What is the difference between a vocational or technical school and college?

7. What can young people do after finishing the 11th form at a secondary school?

8. What departments do many higher educational institutions have?

9. What is a post-graduate course? Who can take it?

10. Do pupils and students in this country have to pay for education?

Reproduce the parts of the Text in which these words and phrases are used. Use these phrases in short stories of your own.

The right to education, secondary education, higher education, to continue, a form, a vocational or technical school, a college, a higher educational institution (a university, an academy), a profound knowledge, in different fields, to give an opportunity, a post-graduate course, a candidate degree, a doctoral degree.

Discuss the Text in pairs. Use the patterns below as a model and guidelines.

I. A.: It has been stated that every boy or girl must get secondary education.

B.: I think it’s debatable. As a matter of fact there are some pupils having very poor progress in their studies. Why should such pupils get secondary education? I think they should only finish 9 forms of a secondary school.

A.: Well, I can’t agree with you ….

II. A.: It has been stated that many universities and academies have part-time and correspondence departments.

B.: I think such departments should be closed. As far as know the graduates of these departments usually have very poor knowledge of the courses chosen.

A.: Oh, no. I can’t agree with you at all ….

Find and reproduce the key sentence in each paragraph expressing the main idea.

Retell the Text according to the plan made up.

TEXT 6C

GETTING HIGHER education in Russia

1. The history of higher education in Russia goes back to 1755 when the first university was founded in Moscow on the initiative of M.V.Lomonosov and in accordance with his plan. Later, universities were opened in many other big cities of the country.

2. After the revolution of 1917, education was guaranteed to the Soviet cities by the constitution and was free of charge, including higher education. The system of education was the same throughout the country.

3. In 1991 the former fifteen republics of the Soviet Union became independent states. The Russian Federation, the biggest and the most powerful of them, began to develop as a democratic state. From the very start, democratic reforms began to take place in many fields of life. Changes in political, economic and social conditions required changes in the system of education. Its aim is to prepare the growing generation for independent life and work under new conditions.

4. Nowadays every year thousands of young men and women enter Universities and Academies of higher education. Moscow and St. Petersburg Universities may be the aim of many applicants although there are many more institutions all over Russia where students get their higher education in various subjects. Besides full-time departments, there are part-time and correspondence departments for those students who work during the day.

5. The applicants go in for entrance examinations in July or August before the new academic year begins. A written examination in the Russian language is compulsory as well as written or oral examinations in the subjects the students are going to major in. If the applicants want to have a good command of the subjects in which they will take examinations, they attend preliminary courses.

6. At the present time to get higher education is not always free of charge as it used to be. There are many higher educational institutions at which students have to pay for their education.

7. Most students receive scholarships (grants). The amount depends on the results of the term examinations.

8. The first two years of study are generally most difficult. The students may have up to 30 hours a week of seminars, lectures and classes. Apart from the major subjects and their allied subjects, University or Academy students take courses in Socio-Political History of the 20th century, Philosophy and Foreign Languages.

9. Sport is also compulsory during the first years of study.

10. Student life is a very full one, both academically and culturally.

11. Students have holidays twice a year, at the end of each term they take end-of-term tests and examinations. In winter, when examinations are over, students may spend their vacation in the country where they skate and ski, or they may go to warmer places where it is possible to sunbathe and swim even at this time of the year. Unfortunately, some students fail their exams. They stay in town and cram for their failed exams.

12. Now more and more young people understand that education provides the younger generation not only with formal learning, but also with social, moral and political ideas.

Read Text 6C and answer the following questions.

1. What year does the history of higher education in Russia go back to?

2. What was the system of education in the Soviet Union like?

3. What are the specific features of the system of education in Russia today?

4. What do applicants have to do in order to be accepted to a higher educational institution?

5. Do students have to pay for their study?

6. Why are the first two years of study the most difficult ones for students?

7. What do the students have to do if they fail their end-of-team tests and examinations?

8. What does higher education provide young people with?

13. Consider the following statements and say if you agree or disagree with them. Use the introductory phrases from the previous units.

1. M. V. Lomonosov wanted to found the first University in Russia but he failed to do that.

2. Students had to pay for their education in the Soviet Union.

3. No democratic reforms have been effected since 1991.

4. Many applicants would like to be accepted to Moscow or St. Petersburg Universities.

5. There are no part-time or correspondence departments at higher educational institutions in Russia.

6. Entrance examinations in Russia are optional ones.

7. It is difficult for most students to study during the first two years.

8. Students have holidays once a year.

9. Those students who fail their end-of-term tests and examinations have to prepare themselves for them working hard during holidays.

10. Education only provides the younger generation with formal learning.

Speak on the following questions.

1. Your entrance examinations.

2. Your English classes.

3. Your preparation for your future end-of-term examinations.

4. Your new friends at the academy.

Read Text 6C again. Give a brief outline of the information each paragraph contains.

Make up a story about higher education in Russia based on the information given in the above Texts.

SPEAKING

DIALOGUE 1

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