Reading. The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world

Text 1

Russia

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometers. It covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. The country is washed by 12 seas and three oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic. Russia borders on many countries.

The population of Russia is about 142 million people. The capital of Russia is Moscow, its political, administrative, cultural and scientific center.

Russia is a land of long rivers and deep lakes. The Europe’s biggest river is the Volga. The world’s deepest lake is Lake Baikal. There are high mountains (the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai) and vast plains, forests and steppes.

Russia is very rich in mineral resources: oil, coal, natural gas, iron ore and others. On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate. But most part of the country has temperate continental climate.

The Russian Federation is a parliamentary republic. The Head of State is the President. The legislative powers are exercised by the Duma.

Answer the following questions:

1. Where is Russia situated?

2. What is the total area of the country?

3. What is the climate like in Russia?

4. What is the country washed by?

5. What mineral resources is the Russian Federation rich in?

6. What is the longest river in Europe?

7. What countries does Russia border on?

8. Who is the head of the country?

9. What do you know about Lake Baikal?

Text 2

Russia is My Beautiful Motherland

I am proud that I live in Russia, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Here you can find high snow-capped mountains and vast green lowlands, long wide rivers and deep lakes, thick forests and spacious steppes. The Russian land is rich in gold and diamonds, oil and gas, fish and wild animals. The people of Russia are famous for their hospitality and friendly relations to other people of the world. People from all over the world are eager¹ to see Russia, its beautiful churches with ancient icons, magnificent² multi-domed cathedrals, to enjoy the charming nature of the northern land – the land of white nights. Russia has a lot of most beautiful and original places to see and enjoy. Russian and foreign tourists like to visit St. Petersburg and its suburbs³ to see outstanding pieces of Russian art. Magnificent architectural ensembles, sculptures, a unique system of numerous fountains, fine examples of park-landscape art make me proud of the generations⁴ of Russian people who have managed to create in rotten swamp⁵ such great masterpieces⁶ of human genius.

Karelia, a country of one thousand lakes, and more than 23 thousand rivers, attracts attention of many tourists. About half of Karelia's territory is covered with woods, mostly pine and fir.

One more masterpiece of Russian people, the Kizhy, is called " Russian Wonder". The most precious thing in Kizhy is 22-cupola Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Преображения) built in 1714. Its walls, ceilings and roof were made of pine trees without any nails, using only an axe. The 22 cupolas are of different size which give the cathedral a fairy-tale look. People from every corner of the world keep coming here. They speak different languages but all agree on one point: Kizhy is incomparable.

Notes:

1. to be eager – хотеть

2. magnificent – великолепный

3. suburbs – пригород

4. generation – поколение

5. rotten swamp – гниющее болото

6. masterpiece – шедевр

Answer the following questions:

1. Are you proud of your Motherland and why?

2. Why are people from all over the world eager to see Russia?

3. What is St. Petersburg famous for?

4. What does Karelia attract attention with?

5. Why is Kizhi called Russian Wonder?

V. Выполните проверочную работу по теме «Россия»:

I. Сопоставьте даты и события

Dates: 1147, 1941, 1961, 1703, 1980, 1918, 1991, 1812, 1237.

Events:

1. Napoleon tries to conquer Russia.

2. The October Revolution takes place.

3. Moscow holds the XX Olympic Games.

4. Yuri Dolgoruky founds Moscow.

5. Yuri Gagarin makes a space flight on the board spaceship “Vostok”

6. Peter the Great founds St. Petersburg.

7. Khan Batyi of the Golden Horde conquers Moscow.

8. Russia becomes an independent country after the break up of the Soviet Union.

9. The USSR enters the World War II.

II. Ответьте на вопросы по-английски:

10. What sea washes Russia in the South?

11. What is the longest river in Europe?

12. What is the official name of the Russian Parliament?

13. Who is the Head of the RF republic?

14. What marshal was four times awarded (награжден) with the title “the Hero of the country”?

15. What great scientist founded Moscow University in 1755?

16. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a famous ….

17. Who was the author of “War and Peace”

18. What is the current name of the city known as Stalingrad?

19. Which Russian bank note features (изображает) a picture of the Bolshoi Theatre?

20. What holiday is celebrated with present-giving by Father Frost, decorating a fur tree and joyful parties?