2. Complete each in the sentences (a-h) with a suitable ending (1-8).

1. Climate in Russia varies greatly

2. The legislative power is

3. The executive power belongs to

4. The judicial branch is represented by

5. Russia produced and still produces

6. Russia still remains the country which has

7. The most of Russia is

8. Bat most of the country has

1. cars, planes, machines, high-technology equipment.

2. the Supreme Court.

3. from polar in the north to subtropical in the south.

4. in Asia.

5. to the Government which is headed by the prime minister.

6. vested in the Federal Assembly.

7. a moderate continental climate.

8. great cultural and spiritual traditions.

3. Fill the gap with the appropriate word from the list.

about

by

on

from

in

to

for

of

1. But in spite …… the economic problems some spheres of industry are continuing to develop.

2. The country is washed …… 12 seas of 3 oceans.

3. Its total area is ….. 17 million square kilometers.

4. Russia is famous ….. its hydropower resources.

5. Russia borders ….. 14 countries on land.

6. Russia is very rich …. mineral resources.

7. Climate in Russia varies greatly from polar in the north to subtropical in the south.

Texts

1. Read and translate the text. The Russian Federation

The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometers. The most part of Russia is in Asia. The country is washed by 12 seas of 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. Russia borders on 14 countries on land.

The relief of our country is varied: there are mountains, vast plains, steppes, tundra regions and semi-deserts in it. There are several mountain chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Altai and others.

There are over two million rivers in Russia. Europe's biggest river - the Volga -flows into the Caspian sea. The main Siberian rivers - the Ob and the Lena - flow from the south to the north. Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. Lake Baikal is the deepest in the world (1600 m).

Climate in Russia varies greatly from polar in the north to subtropical in the south. But most of the country has a moderate continental climate.

Russia is very rich in mineral resources. There are iron ore, coal, non-ferrous metals and oil on its territory. Forests cover four-fifth of its territory. Russia is famous for its hydropower resources.

The population of Russia is more than 145 million . There are about 200 nationalities and ethnic groups in the country.

Under the Constitution Russia is a presidential republic. The federal government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly, consisting of the Council of Federation and the State Duma. The executive power belongs to the Government which is headed by the Prime Minister. The judicial branch is represented by the Supreme Court. Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-colored banner.

The capital of Russia is Moscow. It is its largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial center.

Russia used to be a great industrial state. It produced and still produces cars, planes, machines, high-technology equipment though the production of them has decreased. At present the political and economic situation in the country is very complicated. Russia is facing a lot of problems in the national economy. The prices are constantly increasing, the rate of inflation is high. Lots and lots of factories and plants are going bankrupt, so many people are becoming unemployed.

But in spite of the economic problems some spheres of industry and science are continuing to develop. For example, space exploration is being continued by Russian engineers and scientists.

Russia still remains the country which has great cultural and spiritual traditions, which gave the world a lot of men of genius: poets, writers, painters, musicians, dancers, scholars who are famous all over the world

Russia is a unique country, it has a lot to be proud of, and first of all its people. I think it has a lot of opportunities to become one of the leading countries in the world again.

Questions

1. What area has Russia got?

2. What waters is the country washed by?

3. What is the relief of our country?

4. What mountain chains do you know in Russia?

5. What are the longest rivers in Siberia?

6. What climate has most of our country?

7. What is Russia rich in?

8. What is the population of Russia?

9. What does the Federal Government consist of?

10. What is the legislative power vested in?

11. What are the executive and judicial branches represented by?

12. What symbols of Russia do you know?