Exercise 2. Answer the following questions

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 519.

Russia

Text A

Unit 2. Russia and English-speaking countries

Лексика 2 раздел 9 класс

affect (v) – оказывать влияние

car fumes – выхлопные газы

cause (v,n) – вызывать, причина

damage (v,n) – разрушать, разрушение

global warming (n) – глобальное потепление

poisonous chemicals – вредные химикаты

pour (v) – наливать, сливать

put at risk (v) – пустить на риск!

release (v) – освобождать

threat (n) – угроза

threaten (v) – угрожать

waste (v) – тратить

garbage (n) – мусор (кухонные остатки)

litter (n) – мусор (придорожный мусор)

rubbish (n) – мусор (бытовой мусор)

trash (n) – мусор (хлам, макулатура)

waste (n) – отход (отходы производства)

dump (v,n) – сбрасывать, свалка / мусорная куча

fine (v,n) – штрафовать, штраф

recycle (v) – перерабатывать

reduce (v) – сокращать

refuse (v) – отказываться

reuse (v) – использовать повторно

Russia is one of the largest countries in the world. It occupies about one-seventh part of dry land. It is situated in Europe and Asia. Its total area is over 17 million square kilometers. The population of Russia is about 150 million people. 83 per cent of the population are Russians. 70 per cent of the population live in cities.

The country is washed by seas and oceans. There are different types of climate on the territory of the country. It is very cold in the North even in summer. The central part of the country has mild climate: winters are cold, springs and autumns are warm or cool, summers are hot and warm. In the South the temperature is usually above zero all year round, even in winter. Summer is really hot, the climate is very favourable. The climate of Siberia is continental: summers are hot and dry, winters are very cold.

Some parts of our country are covered with mountains and hills. There are many rivers in Russia, the longest rivers are the Volga in Europe and the Yenisei and the Ob in Asia. The deepest lakes are the Baikal and the Ladoga.

The Russian Federation is very rich in mineral resources, such as oil, natural gas, coal, iron, gold and others.

Russia borders on many countries. Among them are Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Poland, China, Mongolia, Korea.

Moscow is the capital of our country. It was founded in 1147. It is a wonderful city. There are many sights in Moscow. You can see many museums, art galleries, theatres, churches and monuments in our capital. People of our country are proud of the Moscow Kremlin. There are also many big beautiful cities in Russia.

I'd like to say a few words about the traditions of my native land - Russia. First, about Russian people. To my mind, one of the main traits of their characters which differ them from other people is hospitality. Besides our people are hardworking, patient, never loosing hope for better life. The Russians are the talented nation. Russia gave the world beautiful names of Pushkin and Lermontov, Chaikovsky and Repin, thousands of names of world famous poets, writers, composers, scientists. All of them are the pride of the nation because they are the beauty of our nature and people.

Besides these great names in literature and music, our country is famous for Russian traditional specific crafts and its skilled craftsmen. The names of Gzhel and Khokhloma are considered to be the symbols of Russia as well as matryoshkas and samovars. The history of khokhloma goes back into the 17th century Producing of tableware (dishes, spoons, mugs) was begun at that time in the villages of Suomino and Khokhloma in the Nizhniy Novgorod Province. On the banks of the great Russian river Volga many carpenters, painters have been working since the revival of traditions of old masters. And nowadays this craft is sure to be saved, it will be developed and brought into the future by the new generation of painters.

The reviving of old crafts is connected with the reviving of the traditional arts of all peoples inhabiting our big country. There are about 100 old crafts. They revive their culture, costumes, dances and language. It is the revival of our souls. Now we celebrate the forgotten holidays - Troisa, Maslenitsa, Easter. We again sing Russian folk songs and chastushki, dance Barinya and perform khorovods, ride in troikas. We begin to build and reconstruct churches. The example of it is the building of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. It is the symbol of reviving human feelings, national pride and patriotism.

Exercise 1. Give English equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

сухой; общая площадь; омываться; различный; мягкий климат; благоприятный; горы и холмы; нефть; уголь; железо; граничить; достопримечательности; гордиться; черты характера; отличать; гостеприимство; трудолюбивые; терпеливые; терять надежду; ремесла; искусные мастера; столовые приборы; тарелки; ложки; кружки; плотники; художники; возрождение традиций; спасать; поколение; старые ремесла; души; человеческие чувства; национальная гордость.

1.Where is our country situated?

2.What is the total area of Russia?

3.What is the population of Russia?

4.What can you say about the climate of Russia?

5.What are the longest rivers in Russia?

6.When was Moscow founded?

7.What are the main traits of the character of Russian people?

8.Is Russia famous for traditional specific crafts?

9.What forgotten holidays do we celebrate now?

10.Why do we begin build and reconstruct churches?