Ukraine

Ukraine is an independent democratic state. The Republic has its own Constitution, Government, Supreme Council, President and Court. It got independence in 1991. The national flag is yellow-blue. The national emblem is “Trident”. The state language is Ukrainian. The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv. It is situated on the longest river of Ukraine - the Dnieper.

Ukraine is situated in the south-east of Europe. It borders on Russia, Byelorussia, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

The territory of Ukraine is 604, 000 square kilometers. The population of Ukraine is about 52 million.

In the south Ukraine is washed by the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. The major part of Ukraine is flat and only 5% of its territory is mountainous. There are the Carpathian mountains in the west and the Crimean Mountains in the south but they are not high. The geographical position of Ukraine is very favourable because the country lies on the crossroads of the ways from Asia to Europe. The main rivers are the Dnieper, the Dniester, the Bug, the Donets, the Danube. There are many sea ports in Ukraine, for example: Odesa, Kherson, Mykolayiv, Izmail, Illichivsk. Due to favourable climatic conditions Ukraine is traditionally an agricultural country. Wheat, maize, vegetables, all kinds of fruit are grown here.

Ukraine is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore, coal, nonferrous metals, oil, gas. The main branches of industry are: coal and ore mining, iron and steel engineering, machine and shipbuilding. Ukraine produces planes, ocean-liners, lorries, cars, tractors, combines, excavators, buses, electronic equipment, agricultural machines, TV and radio sets, synthetic diamonds and other goods.

A lot of Ukrainian scientists do important research work in biology, medicine, nuclear physics. They are members of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.

Ukraine has an ancient history. It has its own original culture and arts. Ukraine has many professional theatres, sing and dance companies, world known singers and composers.

Ukraine has diplomatic relations with many countries of the world. These relations are built on the basis of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in other country’s international affairs.

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is Ukraine situated?

2. What countries does Ukraine border on?

3. What area does Ukraine cover?

4. Are there any mountains in Ukraine? Where are they situated?

5. What is the population in the country?

6. What is the national emblem of Ukraine?

7. What is the state language of Ukraine?

8. What are the main rivers of Ukraine?

9. Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine, isn’t it?

10. What are the main branches of industry in Ukraine?

11. Is Ukraine an agrarian country?

12. Has Ukraine its original culture and arts?

13. When did Ukraine get independence?

14. Ukraine has diplomatic relations with other countries, hasn’t it?

15. What are these relations built on?

Exercise 3. Complete the following sentences:

1. Ukraine is ….

2. Ukraine is situated ….

3. The territory of Ukraine is….

4. The population of Ukraine is ….

5. The major part of Ukraine is ….

6. The geographical position of Ukraine is very ….

7. Ukraine is rich in ….

8. Ukraine produces ….

9. Many Ukrainian scientists do ….

10.Ukraine got ….

Exercise 4. Speak on the topic “Ukraine”, using the sentences from the above exercise as a plan in your story.

Тема 6. Exercise 1. Read and translate the following text: