Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the box.
| plain forests mountains | Europe the Black Sea mineral resources | steppes river |
1) Ukraine is the largest country in _____ .
2) Ukraine stretches from the _____ in the west to the _____ in the south.
3) Ukraine’s longest _____ is the Dnipro, which flows south to _____.
4) Ukraine is mostly a flat _____.
5) Ukraine is famous for its _____ with plantations of pine, oak, beech and birch.
6) Ukraine has 5% of the world’s _____.
READING AND speaking
Here are some opinions. Say what you feel about them (agree or disagree).
ü We, Ukrainians, love our country.
ü We would like other nations to know, understand and love our homeland.
ü It isn’t necessary to learn to speak about Ukraine in English.
ü Everybody in the world has heard about Ukraine.
ü We have nothing interesting to tell the foreigner about Ukraine.
ü We have places in this country that can attract foreign tourists.
You may find the following phrases helpful.
| You agree Just so. I quite agree here. Certainly. Sure. Exactly. | You are not sure Yes, but. . . I’m afraid I don’t agree. I don’t think you are right. I can’t agree with you there. I’m not so sure. | You disagree On the contrary! Certainly not. Just the other way round. |
Read the text about Ukraine.
Ukraine
Ukraine is situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe and has its own territory, government, national emblem, flag and anthem.
Ukraine is the largest country in Europe (after European part of Russia). Its territory is equal to 603 700 sq km or 5,7% of the European territory. Ukraine borders on Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Poland. Its southern territories are washed by the Black Sea and the Azov Sea.
The population of Ukraine is about 46 mln people. Ukrainians are the largest nationality living in Ukraine, constituting 73% of the population. Russians make up another 21%, and they live primarily in cities and in Eastern Ukraine. The remaining 6% is divided between Jews, Belarusian, Moldavians, Bulgarians, and Poles.
The state language in Ukraine is Ukrainian although Russian is also widespread. Many people believe that the Ukrainian language is very melodious, the second most melodious in the world after Italian.
Natural scenery of Ukraine is picturesque. The territory of the country is mostly a level, treeless plain, called "steppe". Forests cover about 14% of Ukraine’s territory. There are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean peninsula and the Carpathians in the west, but they are not very high. The highest mountain peak is Hoverla (2061 m) in the Carpathian Mountains.
There are almost 23,000 rivers within the borders of Ukraine. Its longest river is the Dnieper (Dnipro) which is some 966 kilometers long. Other notable rivers include the Dniester, Donets, Danube and Southern Buh. There are over 3000 natural lakes and about 22,000 artificial water reservoirs, as well as many sources of mineral water and therapeutical mud which are used to treat many diseases.
Ukraine has a developed economy with significant agricultural and industrial sectors. It possesses rich and conveniently located natural resources. About half of its territory, especially the central and southern regions, consists of the exceptionally fertile black soil that is ideal for agriculture. The Donets Basin in the southeast has large deposits of coal, while the east central Kryvyy Rih area is rich in iron ore. Ukraine has some of the world’s largest manganese deposits, located in south central Ukraine. There are also considerable deposits of oil and natural gas.
The largest cities in Ukraine are Kyiv, the country’s capital and economic, cultural and educational centre; Kharkiv, noted for its machinery plants and educational institutions; Dnipropetrovsk, a centre of metallurgical and aerospace industries; and Donetsk, known for mining and metallurgy. Odesa, on the Black Sea coast, is the country’s largest seaport.
The climate of the country is moderate. It is subtropical only on the southern Crimean coast. Winter is rather mild, with no severe frosts but with regular snowfalls everywhere except the south. The rivers and lakes freeze in winter. Summer is quite hot and dry, with occasional showers and thunderstorms.
Answer the questions.
1) Where is Ukraine located?
2) What area does it occupy?
3) What countries does Ukraine border on?
4) What is its population?
5) What ethnic groups live on the territory of Ukraine?
6) What is the state language?
7) Are there any mountain ranges within the borders of the country?
8) What are the main Ukraine’s rivers?
9) Is Ukraine rich in mineral resources?
10) What is the climate of the country like?