Language study

(A) Exercise 1. Make sure that you know the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations:

современные технологии и исследования, общая площадь с/х угодий, богатые плодородные почвы, ферма среднего размера, производство молока, свиноводство, основные зерновые культуры, малые количества, небольшие традиционные хозяйства, крупные промышленные фермы, частные леса, основной источник пищи.

(A) Exercise 2. Put in the missing words using appropriate words from the text:

1. The total agricultural acreage of Great Britain is about … acres.

2. In hill countries large areas are used for ….

3. An … farm is about 30-40 acres.

4. There are three main types of … in Great Britain.

5. … and … are reared in the hill and moorland areas of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and south-eastern England.

6. Small farms are … disappearing nowadays.

7. Potatoes are grown for …, for … and for ….

(A) Exercise 3. Say “yes” or “no”.

1. Wheat, barley, oats are vegetables.

2. British agriculture is based on modern technology and research.

3. Great Britain doesn’t import agricultural products.

4. British farms are large.

5. Meat production is more profitable than milk production.

6. Arable farms are mainly in the northern part of the country.

7. Potatoes are grown for sale, for fodder and for seed.

8. Britain’s second source of food is the seas.

(B) Exercise 4. Read the text and find

1) the words which denote climate and topography

2) the words dealing with cattle-breeding

3) the words dealing with crop-sowing

(B) Exercise 5. Find in the list below the words corresponding to the following definitions:

1. – farms used (or suitable) for growing crops;

2. – farming which involves keeping sheep, cattle, etc.

3. – the method of farming in which crops are grown and animals are kept on the same farm;

4. – a type of grass which is cultivated to produce grain, or food made from grain which is eaten;

5. – the study or activity of cultivating gardens;

6. – to buy or bring in products from another country;

7. – the material on the surface of the ground in which plants grow;

8. – food that is given to cows, horses or other farm animals;

9. – a plant such as grain, fruit or vegetable grown in large amounts by farmers;

(C) Exercise 6. Fill in the blanks with the suitable words from the following list:

1. Britain today is … in milk, eggs, potatoes, barley, oats.

2. Great Britain is a country with a highly developed industry and ….

3. In hill countries large areas are used for ….

4. An … sized farm is about 30-40 acres.

5. British farmers … milk and milk products, meat, wool and eggs for the population.

6. Before the Second World War Britain … one-third of its total food requirements.

7. … crops are fruit, vegetables and flowers.

8. … farming is concentrated in the hill moorland areas of highland Britain.

9. It is more … to import cheaper products from overseas, mainly from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

10. The land utilized for … is about 251.000 hectares.

(C) Exercise 7. Find the key-sentence of each paragraph of the text. Read and translate the key-sentences.

(C) Exercise 8. Insert prepositions where necessary.

1. British agriculture supplies 2/3 … country’s food.

2. It is based … modern technology.

3. Soils vary … the poor ones … rich and fertile.

4. Britain is self-sufficient … meat, potatoes, wheat.

5. The main cereal crops … Britain are wheat, barley, and oats.

6. Potatoes are grown … sale, fodder and seed.

7. Modern machines are used … British farms.

8. Private woods make … 56 % of the total forest area.