Главная | Обратная связь | Поможем написать вашу работу! Архитектура Биология География Искусство История Информатика Маркетинг Математика Медицина Менеджмент Охрана труда Политика Правоотношение Разное Социология Строительство Физика Философия Финансы Химия Экология Экономика Электроника Text C. Тhе Russian Federation ⇐ ПредыдущаяСтр 6 из 18Следующая ⇒ I am а citizen of the Russian Federation or Russia. The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about 1/7 (one seventh) of the Earth surface. The country is situated in Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia. Its total area is over 17 million square km. Our land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are the seas of three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. In the south and in the west the country borders on fourteen countries. It also has а sea-border with the USA. There is hardly а country in the world where such а great variety of flora and fauna can be found as in our land. Our country has numerous forests, plains and steppes, taiga and tundra, highlands and deserts. The highest mountains in our land are the Altai, the Urals and the Caucasus. There are over two thousand rivers in the Russian Federation. The longest of them are the Volga, the Ob, the Yenisei, the Lena and the Amur. Our land is also rich in various lakes with the deepest lake in the world, the Baikal, included. On the Russian territory there are 11 time zones. The climate conditions are rather different: from arctic and moderate to continental and subtropical. Our country is one of the richest in natural resources countries in the world: oil, natural gas, coal, different ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other minerals. The Russian Federation is а multinational state. It comprises many national districts, several autonomous republics and regions. The population of the country is over 140 million people. Moscow is the capital of our Homeland. It is the largest political scientific, cultural and industrial center of the country and one of the most beautiful cities. Russian is the official language of the state. The national symbols of the Russian Federation are а double headed eagle and а white-blue-red banner. The Russian Federation is а constitutional republic headed by the President, the country government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The President controls only the executive branch – the government, but not the Supreme Court and Federal Assembly. The legislative power belongs to the Federal Assembly comprising two chambers: the Council of Federation (upper Chamber) and the State Duma (lower Chamber). Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. The executive power belongs to the government (the Cabinet of Ministers) headed by the Prime Minister. The judicial power belongs to the system of Courts comprising the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and federal courts. Our country has а multiparty system. The foreign policy of the Russian Federation is that of international cooperation, peace and friendship with all nations irrespective of their political and social systems. I am proud of being а citizen of Russia. Text D. The System of Government of the Russian Federation THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
HEAD OF THE STATE THE PRESIDENT Elected for 4 years by direct popular vote (over 35 years old; a citizen of Russia, a resident of the country for at least 10 years)
LEGISLATIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH FEDERAL ASSEMBLY
The COUNCIL of FEDERATION		The STATE DUMA
Two representatives from each subject of Federation		450 members elected for 4 years
EXECUTIVE BRANCH The GOVERNMENT of the RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The PRIME MINISTER		The CABINET
Appointed by the President and approved by the State Duma		Formed by the Prime minister and approved by the President
JUDICIAL BRANCH
The CONSTITUTIONAL COURT	The SUPREME COURT		The ARBITRATION COURT
All appointed by the Council of Federation

5. Comprehension check. Complete the following sentences:

1. The president is at the *

2. The federal government consists of three branches:*

3. The president is elected for *…

4. The president is elected by *…

5. The president must be *…

6. The legislative branch is represented by *…

7. There are two chambers in *…

8. The members of the State Duma are elected for *…

9. The executive power belongs to *…

10. The judicial branch is appointed by *…

11. The judicial branch is represented by *…

Text E. Russia: the 20^th– 21^st  centuries

The history of Russia in the end of the 20^th – the beginning of the 21^st centuries is of central importance to all our lives. When we listen to the news, we are all involved in the history of Russia.

In 1900 Russia was under the rule of the tsar – the head of the royal family. The Tsar’s family ruled Russia until 1917.

The participation of Russian Empire in World War I led to the seizure of power by the communists and the formation of the Soviet Union (USSR). The brutal rule of Josef Stalin (1924-1953) and Russian Victory in World War II (1939 – 1945) resulted in numerous people losses – over twenty two million lives.

The Victory of the Soviet Union over Germany and Japan in World War II strengthened the dominance of the Soviet Union in the world; the destroyed Soviet economy and society were reconstructed and progressing. However, in the last decades of the 20^th century after huge achievements the economy began stagnating.

Newly elected in 1985 General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize communism. But his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 broke up the USSR into 15 independent republics. Since then Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political and economic controls of the communist period.

Reforms and innovations have been lasting till now.

3. Discussion

1. Which do you think the most important events are in the history of Russia of the 20^th century? Why?

2. Which were the problems Russia faced in the 20^th century? Name some of them.

3. What political system replaced the communist period?

4. What did Mikhail Gorbachev introduce?

5. Who was the first President of Russia?

Text F. Global Thinking in the 21^st Century

At the end of the 20th century, the world was changing in important ways. Until recently, nations acted independently. Each country did its business and tried to solve its problems alone. But now, the economy is worldwide and communications technologies have connected people all over the globe. Many problems are global, too, and can no longer be solved by individual nations.

Environmental destruction is one of these problems. As the world's population has grown and technology has developed, the environment has suffered. Some nations have begun to try to stop the pollution and the environmental destruction. But the environment is global – the atmosphere, the oceans, and many forms of life are all connected. Thus, the solutions require global thinking.

The problem of ocean pollution is а good example. All the oceans of the world are connected. Pollution does not stay where it begins. It spreads out from every river and every harbor and affects bodies of water everywhere.

For centuries, people have used the oceans as а dumping place. Many cities take tons of garbage out to sea and dump it there. The quantity of garbage that ends up in the water is incredible. Five million plastic containers are thrown into the world’s oceans every day! Aside from plastics, many other dangerous substances are dumped in oceans. These include human waste and chemicals used in agriculture. And every year, oil tankers accidentally spill millions of gallons of oil into the sea.

Some people believe that the oceans are so large that chemicals and waste will disappear. However, many things, such as chemicals and plastics, stay in the water and create problems. They eventually float to shore and are eaten by tiny sea creatures. Then the larger animals that eat the tiny creatures are poisoned and die. Harbors and coasts around the world have become unsafe for humans or animals. The world’s fish populations are rapidly shrinking.

Another global pollution problem concerns the atmosphere. Until recently, chlorfluorocarbons (CFCs) were used around the world in manufacturing refrigerators. Scientists discovered that these CFCs were destroying the ozone layer in the atmosphere. The ozone layer helps protect the earth from the sun’s rays. Without this layer, most forms of life on earth – including humans – probably would not be able to live.

CFCs will soon be completely banned in the United States and in most developed countries. But many other countries still use CFCs in manufacturing. Among these countries are some of the most populous on earth, such as India and China. These countries need to change their refrigerator factories to non-CFC processes. But they may not be able to make this change alone. They will need help from the industrialized countries. This is what global thinking means – working together for solutions.

Text G. Holidays

International Women’s Day was established in 1909 to mark the victory of women textile workers in New York who went on strike to protest long hours and little pay. The movement quickly spread across the Atlantic to Europe, where women numbering in the millions took part in meeting to demand suffrage.

The first marches in Russia were held in 1913 on the last Sunday in February, as part of the peace movement brewing on the eve of World War I. Four years later, with 2 million Russia soldiers killed in the war, an army of women took to the streets on March 8. They called for bread and peace. Less than a week later, Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate and the provisional government granted women the right to vote.

Now, more than 80 years after its explosive beginnings, International Women’s Day is still an essential part of the calendar. A combination of Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, old and young alike see it as a tradition that should continue.

6. Discussion

Answer the questions on the text.

- What holiday is the text about?

- How long has it been celebrated in Russia?

- Why is it celebrated on the 8^th of March?

- In what way is this day celebrated in your family?

7. Match A and B