Lesson 1. Translate the words and phrases and try to pronounce them correctly.

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Translate the words and phrases and try to pronounce them correctly.

transcontinental adj. crossing the continents

area n. geographical region of indefinite boundary

mineral and energy resources natural resources in the form of minerals: natural resources producing energy (gas, oil etc.)

border n. a line determining the limits of an area

population n. the people who inhabit a territory or state

vary v. become different

steppes n. huge plain without trees

plains n. flat open land

forests n. land that is covered with trees

tundra n. vast plain without trees in the arctic regions

taiga n. thick forests in the northern regions

mild adj. soft

heat n. high temperature

unbearable adj. impossible to bear, to stand

moderate adj. not extreme

continental adj. typical to Europe

READING

Read the following text aloud:

RUSSIA

Russia is a transcontinental country lying both in Asia and Europe. With an area of over 17000000 km², Russia is the largest country in the world. It has rich mineral and energy resources. Russia has the world's ninth-largest population. Russia shares land borders with 17 countries. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia is the Soviet Union's successor state in diplomatic matters.

Natural conditions of Russia vary greatly. There are steppes in the south, plains and forests in the midlands, tundra and taiga in the north. Because of its size, Russia's climate is also varied. In the south-west the weather is usually mild and wet. Northern Asia is one of the coldest places on earth. In the south the heat is unbearable, and the climate is subtropical. But in the middle of the country the climate is moderate and continental.

Russian is the official language of the country. Russian is also the language of such great writers as Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekov, Pasternak and Solzhenitsyn.

Moscow is Russia's capital and largest city (population 8.3 million). Moscow is also important as an economic and business center. Its cultural tradition is rich, and there are many museums devoted to art, literature, music, dance, history, and science, as well as hundreds of churches and cathedrals.

Wikipedia

READING COMPREHENSION

I. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases.

полезные ископаемые и энергетические ресурсы, девятый по величине, граничить, развал Советского Союза, государство-преемник, быть посвященным чему-то, собор.

II. Correct the statements if you find them wrong. Use such phrase as: I agree with you. You are right. or I’m afraid I don’t agree with you. That’s not true/right.

1. Russia is situated in Eurasia.
2. Russia is larges country in Asia
3. The area of Russia is about 20 million square kilometers.
4. Russia has the world's largest population.
5. The climate of Russia is not varied.

III. Answer the following questions using the text.

1. Where is Russia situated?
2. Russia is rich in mineral and energy resources, isn’t it?
3. Is Russia the Soviet Union's successor state?
4. Does Russia share borders with 17 or 7 countries?
5. What is the Russian nature like?
6. Why is Russia’s climate so varied?
7. What is the official language of the country?
8. What is Moscow?
9. How big is the population of Moscow?
10. Is Moscow only an economic and business center?

Speaking Practice

Discuss with your partner: a) the territory of Russia; b) the climate of Russia; c) the capital of Russia, using newly learnt words.

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