- •National economy
- •I. Anticipating the Issue
- •II. Background Reading
- •Economic Potential in Belarus
- •III. Vocabulary Reinforcement
- •3. What do the following prefixes mean? Choose the right meaning. Find the sentences containing these words in the text and paraphrase them.
- •1. Which of the words and phrases below are associated with:
- •1. Understanding Expressions: give the best explanation for each of these phrases used in the text.
- •2. According to the text, mark these statements t (true) or f (false).
- •4. Complete: use appropriate information from the text to finish the following sentences.
- •5. Translate: give the English equivalents for the following word combinations.
- •3. Give the best definition for the following economic terms.
- •5. Give profound answers to the following questions.
- •1. Find the paragraphs of the text dealing with the following concepts.
- •V. Speaking
4. Complete: use appropriate information from the text to finish the following sentences.
A specific feature of Belarusian consumer goods industry is … .
Belarus outperforms some neighboring countries in terms of … .
Belarus is a net exporter of … .
The agricultural sector and forestry account for … .
The Belarusian tourist market is … .
There are three agricultural regions in Belarus: … .
The Central Bank of Belarus issues subsidized credits to … .
The present top priorities of the economic policy in Belarus are … .
5. Translate: give the English equivalents for the following word combinations.
Масштабная сфера деятельности; действовать через филиалы; внедрение инновационных технологий; вносить вклад в экономику; крупнейший поставщик; многоотраслевой комплекс; брошенная земля; проверять уровень радиации; сырьё; лесное хозяйство и лесозаготовка; месторождение нефти и газа; частные наделы; установленная сетка заработной платы; рост ВВП; обойти соседние страны по уровню роста ВВП.
IV. Reading
A. Reading for the Main Idea
Read the text to understand the main idea of it and answer the following questions.
What does the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2006 Report say about economic potential in Belarus?
What agricultural zones can Belarus be divided into? What do they specialize in?
What mineral resources are found in Belarus?
Which industries contribute to the development of the national economy of Belarus?
B. Reading for Details
Read the text again to understand details and try the following tasks.
1. Understanding Expressions: give the best explanation for each of these phrases used in the text.
Industrial base; sustained high gear; to purify land; to be an embryo (about tourism); natural ecosystem; to be in abundance; to be abandoned; World Heritage List; to have a devastating effect on smth.; energy intensity; financial aid; to absorb the bulk of the fallout; to account for; novel textile; improved hygienic property; to have capacity.
2. According to the text, mark these statements t (true) or f (false).
During the Soviet era, agriculture in Belarus consisted mainly of state and collective farms, now it is transformed into joint-stock companies and family plots.
In terms of GDP growth rate Belarus lags behind neighboring Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.
Tourism and ecotourism have always been key industries in Belarus.
The tariff system in Belarus is totally independent of the budget sector.
Belarus inherited one of the highest standards of living in the former Soviet Union (FSU).
Much attention is given to reengineering of the industries engaged in processing of agricultural products and building up the export potential of the agricultural sector.
Belarusian raw materials remain the main export going mostly to the Russian Federation, the country's main trading partner.
Peat used in the chemical industry is imported from neighboring Poland.
Former Soviet republics export Belarusian milk, meat, eggs, potatoes, etc.
Commercial banks in Belarus distribute state financial resources and fulfill mostly technical functions.