Of the Russian Federation, the UK and the USA

The Russian Federation (or Russia) is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Europe and Asia and occupies about one-seventh of the earth's surface. With an area of more than 17 million square kilometers, it is the largest country in the world by land mass, washed by 12 seas of 3 oceans. Russia is now an independent country and an influential member of the Commonwealth of Independent States since 1991.

Russia is a parliamentary republic with the President as the Head of State. The legislative powers are exercised by the Duma. The capital of Russia is Moscow, one of the oldest cities, the largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial centre.

Though Russia is very rich in coal, iron ore, copper, nickel and other mineral resources, it remains heavily dependent on exports of oil, natural gas, metals, and timber, which account for about 80% of exports. In recent years, however, the economy is showing the strengthening of its own internal market.

But in spite of the problems Russia is facing at present, there are a lot of opportunities for this country to become one of the leading countries in the world.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland(or Britain) is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and above five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244 000 square kilometers. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen, but in practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. The Liberal party is ruling the country nowadays.

The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It’s known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. Agriculture is also developed in the country: there are a lot of crops grown there and a developed animal husbandry.

The United States of America (or America) occupies most of the southern part of the continent of North America. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean in the west across to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and down to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. The United States is the world's third largest country by land area. The total area of the country is over nine million square kilometers.

The country is made up of fifty states. It is considered to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world, and has existed for over 200 years. The nation operates as a presidential system also known as a congressional system. There are three levels of government: federal, state, and local.

The USA is the world’s wealthiest country. The value of the goods its factories produce, the crops its farms grow and the services it provides are larger than those from Russia, Japan and Germany combined. It also has a great wealth of natural resources, with many valuable minerals found below its ground.

The United States of America has vast economic, political and military influence on a global scale, which makes its foreign policy a subject of great interest and discussion around the world.

Notes:

to stretch – растягивать, простираться;

influential – влиятельный;

strengthening – укрепление, усиление;

to reign – царствовать, господствовать;

chamber – камера, зд. палата

animal husbandry – животноводство;

to consider – считать, полагать, рассматривать;

the wealthiest – самый богатый;

valuable – ценный, значимый;

value – значение, ценность, зд. величина

to influence (v) – влиять, оказывать влияние;

influence (n) – влияние.

Задание II. Выберите правильный ответ на вопрос.

 

1. What country stretches over Europe and Asia?

a) Russia

b) Britain

c) America

2. What is the political system of Russia?

a) a constitutional republic

b) a parliamentary republic

c) a monarchy

3. What natural resources is Russia rich in?

a) Russia is very rich in coal, iron ore, copper and nickel.

b) Russia is very rich in oil and timber.

c) Russia is very rich in natural gas.

4. What countries is the United Kingdom made up of?

a) England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

b) England, Wales and Northern Ireland

c) England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

5. Who rules the UK?

a) The Queen

b) The Prime Minister

c) The Parliament

6. What is Britain famous for?

a) It’s the world’s largest agrarian country.

b) It’s the wealthiest country in the world.

c) It’s one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment

7. Where is the United States of America situated?

a) …in the southern part of the continent of North America.

b) … in the western part of the continent of North America.

c) … in the eastern part of the continent of North America.

8. How many states are there in the USA?

a) fifty-one

b) fifty

c) fifty-two

9. How many years has the country existed?

a) … over 300 years

b) … over 200 years

c) … over 250 years

10. What kind of influence does the United States of America have in the world?

a) little influence

b) no influence

c) vast influence

 

Задание III. Определите, соответствуют ли данные предложения тексту (True/False/Not mentioned in the text):

1. Russia occupies about one-fifth of the earth's surface. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

2. Russia is an influential member of the Commonwealth of Independent States since 1991. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

3. There are a lot of opportunities for Russia to become one of the leading countries in the world. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

4. The United Kingdom is made up of three countries: England, Scotland, Wales. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

5. The Head of State is the Queen, the Queen reigns and rules the country. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

6. There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

7. The UK is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

8. The total area of the USA is less than nine million square kilometers. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

9. The value of the goods is larger than those from Russia, Japan and Germany combined. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

10. The United States of America has a little economic, political and military influence on a global scale. a) true; b) false; c) not mentioned in the text

Задание IV. Выберите правильный вариант. Обратите внимание на формирование времен группы Continuous Active (таблица № 3)

 

1. A lot of countries ____a lot of various problems at present.

a) is facing; b) am facing; c) are facing.

2. The economy of Russia _____the strengthening of its own internal market now.

a) is showing; b) was showing; c) will be showing.

3. The Liberal party_____ the country nowadays.

a) was ruling; b) is ruling; c) shall be ruling.

4. My friends______ sightseeing when we met them near the museum.

a) are going; b) was going; c) were going.

5. The country_____a great number of hand-made things the whole decade last century.

a) was producing; b) were producing; c) is producing.

6. This famous writer _____ in the USA for most of the 1990s.

a) am living; b) was living; c) is living.

7. I___soon______my studies in King's College.

a) was__starting; b) am___starting; c) shall___be starting.

8. The factories ______lot of goods when they install up-to-date equipment.

a) will be producing; b) were producing; c) are producing.

9. What___you_____when we rang you up?

a) are___doing; b) were____doing; c) will____be doing.

10. Russia_____a new economic strategy all next year long.

a) will be developing; b) is developing; c) was developing.

 

MODULE IV

 

Тема: Экология транспорта и защита окружающей среды.

Задание I. Прочитайте и переведите текст.