Find in the text Russian equivalents.

Topical Vocabulary

homeland n. - отечество, родина

sovereign a. ['sɔv(ə)rɪn] - суверенный, независимый

independent a. - независимый, самостоятельный

state emblem - государственный герб

anthem n. ['ænθəm] - гимн

extreme a. – самый

plain n. - равнина

within the basin - в бассейне (реки)

to stretch for v. [streʧ] - иметь протяжение, простираться, тянуться

rolling а. - холмистый

particularly adv. [pə'tɪkjuləlɪ] - особенно, в особенности

numerous а. ['njuːm(ə)rəs] - многочисленный

depth n [depθ] - глубина

transparent а. [træn'spær(ə)nt] - прозрачный

scenery n. ['siːn(ə)rɪ] - пейзаж

aurochs n. ['ɔːrɔks] - зубр

diverse а. [daɪ'vɜːs] - разнообразный, разный

elk n. - лось

deer n. - олень(олени)

wild boar n. - кабан

beaver n. ['biːvə] - бобр

lynx n. [lɪŋks] - рысь

myriad n. ['mɪrɪəd] - мириады, несметное число

mighty а. ['maɪtɪ] - могущественный, мощный

grove n. [grəuv] - роща

maritime а. ['mærɪtaɪm] - морской, приморский

heritage n. ['herɪtɪʤ] - наследство, наследие

officially adv. [ə'fɪʃ(ə)lɪ] - официально

CIS [ˌsiːaɪ'es] - СНГ (Содружество Независимых Государств)

founder-member п. - государство-основатель

to be noted for v. - примечательный (чем-то)

temperate a. ['temp(ə)rət] - умеренный (о климате)

unique а. [juː'niːk] - уникальный

flax [flæks] – лен

crop - урожай

Lithuania [ˌlɪθju'eɪnɪə] Литва

Latvia ['lætvɪə] Латвия

Bulgaria [bʌl'gɛərɪə] Болгария

Austria ['ɔstrɪə] Австрия

Belgium ['belʤəm] Бельгия

Greece [griːs] Греция

Hungary ['hʌŋg(ə)rɪ] Венгрия

Portugal ['pɔːʧəg(ə)l ] Португалия

Slovakia [slə'vækɪə] Словакия

Belarus

Belarus is my homeland. Officially it is called the Republic of Belarus, a sovereign independent state with its own government, constitution, state emblem, flag and anthem. Belarus is a member-state of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) and one of the UN (United Nations) founder-members.

Belarus is situated nearly in the centre of Europe in the extreme western part of the East-European Plain within the basins of the Dnieper, the Western Dvina and the Upper Neman. It borders on Poland in the west, the Baltic States -Lithuania and Latvia - in the north-west, on Russia in the north and east, on the Ukraine in the south.

Belarus stretches for 560 kilometres from south to north and for 650 kilometres from east to west. It occupies the territory of 207.6 thousand square kilometres. It is much larger than such countries as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Its present-day population is about 10.3 mln people: 78% of Belarusians, 12% of Russians, 4% of Poles and 2% of Ukrainians. 68% of the population live in towns and cities. The largest of which are Minsk, Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Grodno and Brest.

Belarus is situated on a rolling plain rising to hills, the highest of which is Mount Dzerzhinskaya (350 metres high).

There are more than 3,000 rivers in Belarus. The Dnieper, Neman, Western Dvina, Pripyat, Berezina, Sozh and Viliya are more than 500 kilometres long each.

Belarus is a lake-country. There are about 10,800 lakes here. The lakes are particularly numerous in the North. The largest is Lake Naroch - 80 square kilometres. The lakes are noted for their great depth, transparent water and beautiful scenery.

A third of Belarus is under forest. The largest forests are called pushchas. The Belovezhskaya Pushcha is famous for its aurochs (European bisons). Fauna is rich and diverse there: one can see elks and deer, wild boars and wolves, bears and foxes, beavers and lynxes, not mentioning myriads of birds.

Forests, pinewoods, mighty oak groves, birch groves and all sorts of other mixed forest formations are the charm, wealth and pride of our homeland.

Belarus is situated in the Temperate Zone of 200-500 kilometres away from the Baltic Sea. The climate of Belarus varies from maritime to continental due to a strong influence of the Atlantic. This results in temperate and mild climate.

The territory of Belarus is divided into 6 regions: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, and Mogilev. The capital of Belarus is Minsk with a population of about 2 mln people.

Before the revolution Belarus was a backward agrarian province. But today Belarus is one of the main economic regions in Europe. It produces tractors, combines, automobiles, TV-sets, radio sets, program-controlled machine tools, oil products, radio equipment, cameras, watches, fabrics, shoes and other goods. Agriculture specializes in milk and meat production. The main crops cultivated here are potatoes, flax, grain, herbs and vegetables.

Belarus is a republic of well developed science and culture. There are more than 37 state higher educational establishments, the Academy of Science, about 400 professional schools. Secondary education is compulsory and free of charge in this country.

By the way, Belarus is a country of unique history and rich cultural heritage. It is an interesting region from the tourist point of view.

Belarus (exercises)

Find in the text Russian equivalents.

Sovereign independent state

State anthem

A member-state of the CIS

To border on

To occupy the territory

A rolling plain

A lake-country

To be noted for

Wealth and pride of the country