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Тopic 3. Russia. Vocabulary. Great Britain
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Тopic 3
Russia
At 17, 075, 400 square kilometers, Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of the Earth’s land area; with 142 million people, it is the ninth largest by population. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning 11 time zones and incorporating a great range of environments and landforms. Russia has the world's greatest reserves of mineral and energy resources, and is considered an energy superpower. It has the world's largest forest reserves and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's unfrozen fresh water.
According to the Constitution, which was adopted by national referendum on 12 December 1993 following the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, Russia is a federation and formally a semi-presidential republic, wherein the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Russian Federation is fundamentally structured as a representative democracy. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the Federal Assembly. The government is regulated by a system of checks and balances defined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which serves as the country's supreme legal document and as a social contract for the people of the Russian Federation.
Russia has the world's largest natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves and the eighth largest oil reserves. It is the world's leading natural gas exporter and the second leading oil exporter. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of Russian exports abroad. Since 2003, however, exports of natural resources started decreasing in economic importance as the internal market strengthened considerably. Despite higher energy prices, oil and gas only contribute to 5. 7% of Russia's GDP and the government predicts this will drop to 3. 7% by 2011. Russia is also considered well ahead of most other resource-rich countries in its economic development, with a long tradition of education, science, and industry. The country has more higher education graduates than any other country in Europe.
Vocabulary
| cover | Охватывать, накрывать |
| population | население |
| environment | Окружающая среда |
| to be considered | Считаться к-л., ч. -л. |
| adopt | принимать |
| head of state | Глава государства |
| democracy | демократия |
| Executive power | Исполнительная власть |
| Legislative power | Законодательная власть |
| define | Определять, обозначать |
| coal reserves | Запасы угля |
| timber | лесоматериалы |
| decrease | Уменьшаться, убывать |
| strengthen | усиливать |
| Despite | Несмотря на |
| contribute | Содействовать, способствовать |
| economic development | Экономическое развитие |
| graduate | Выпускник высшего учебного заведения |
Questions:
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1. What territory does Russia occupy?
2. What is the population of Russia?
3. Russia is considered an energy superpower, isn’t it?
4. What is the political system in Russia?
5. How is the Russian Federation structured?
6. How is executive power exercised?
7. How is the government regulated?
8. What resources is the Russian Federation rich in?
9. Why did exports of natural resources start decreasing since 2003?
10. Russia has more higher education graduates than any other country in Europe, doesn’t it?
Тopic 4
Great Britain
Great Britain is the larger of the two main islands of the British Isles, the largest island in Europe and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is also the second richest island in the world (after Japan) with the world's 5th largest economy and 58 million people. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe, with Ireland to the west, and makes up the largest part of the territory of the country known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is surrounded by over 1, 000 smaller islands and islets.
England, Scotland and Wales are mostly situated on the island, along with their capital cities, London, Edinburgh and Cardiff respectively. The earliest known name of Great Britain is Albion (Ἀ λ β ί ω ν ) or insula Albionum, from either the Latin albus meaning white. The population of the United Kingdom is over 57 mln. The majority of the British population lives in cities and towns. The country is washed by the North and Irish Seas, the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel.
Great Britain is a highly developed industrial power. It possesses some mineral resources: coal, iron ores, oil, gas, and some metals. The country is known as one of the world largest producers and exporters of electronics and machinery, chemicals and textile, various aircraft and navigation equipment.
Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The official language of the state is English. The national symbol of the UK is “Union Jack” – the British state flag having 3 white and red crosses on the dark blue field. The weave of crosses symbolizes power and might.
Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch – Queen Elizabeth 2 – as the head of the State. Queen’s power is limited by the Parliament. Parliament is the supreme legislative authority in Britain and the Prime Minister is the virtual ruler of the country.
Parliament comprises the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen in her Constitutional role.
Government in Britain since 1945 has alternated between only 2 political parties, the Conservatives and the Labor party.
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