VI. A. A) Read the text the Zabaikalsky region (krai) and discuss it

The Zabaikalsky region was established in 1937. It occupies the southern part of Eastern Siberia. The region borders on Mongolia, China, Yakutia, the Amur region and Buryat Republic. The area of the region is 431,500 square kilometres. Its population is 1,300,000 people.

The nature is very picturesque. The flora and fauna are rich and various. One can find volcano zones, lowlands, plains, steppes, sands. Over 60 % of the region is covered with forests. The region is a mountainous country. The highest peaks are Kodar and Udokan, some 3000 metres high.

There are many rivers in the region, the longest of them are the Shilka, the Argun, the Vitim, the Ingoda, the Onon and others. Some rivers are suitable for navigation. There are many lakes in the region, the Ivan-Arakhley, Leprindo, Torey and others. There are some lakes (the Ugdan and the Arei) with medical mud.

The region is rich in natural resources: coal, building materials, clay, ores, fluor-spar, ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals – gold, silver, tin, copper, etc. The region is famous for its mineral springs: Darasun, Molokovka, Kuka, Yamarovka. Some of them are used in medicine. Mining, coal, wool, light, food industries, metal-working, non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering are of great economic importance. The main industrial centres are Chita, Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky, Krasnokamensk, Balei, Orlovsk and others. They produce machines and equipment, wood, sawn timber, metal-cutting machine tools, tantalum, lithium, lead, beryl, molybdenum, tungsten, tin and wool.

The region’s territory is characterized by highly developed transport system: railways, motor transport, airlines. They connect our region with China, Japan, USA, Korea, Mongolia and some other countries.

The climate of the region is continental. The summer is hot and the winter is long and severe with little snow and sunny dry weather.

The region has several higher schools which train personnel in natural science, humanities, medicine, geological research, architecture, forestry, etc.

VI. B. A) Insert articles where necessary

1. The Zabaikalsky region occupies … southern part of Eastern Siberia. 2. The nature is very … picturesque. 3. The region is … mountainous country. 4. … highest peaks are Kodar and Udokan. 5. … longest rivers are the Shilka, the Argun and others.

b) Choose the right variant

1. The Zabaikalsky region was / were established in 1937. 2. It occupy / occupies the southern part of Eastern Siberia. 3. The region border / borders on Mongolia. 4. Some rivers is / are suitable for navigation. 5. Mining are / is of great economic importance.

c) Insert prepositions where necessary

1. The region borders … Mongolia. 2. The Zabaikalsky region occupies … the southern part of Eastern Siberia. 3. Some rivers are suitable … navigation. 4. There are some lakes … medical mud. 5. The region is rich … natural resources. 6. The region is famous … its mineral springs. 7. Mining is … great economic importance. 8. Higher schools train personnel … natural science and humanities.