Ex.5. Speak about our country. Ex. 1. Read the text and translate it using a dictionary:

(142 million people), its density is low because of the country's enormous size. Population is the densest in European Russia, near the Ural Mountains, and in southwest Siberia.

The enormous size of Russia and the remoteness of many areas from the sea result in the dominance of the humid continental climate, which is prevalent in all parts of the country except for the tundra and the extreme southeast. Mountains in the south obstruct the flow of warm air masses from the Indian Ocean, while the plain of the west and north makes the country open to Arctic and Atlantic influences. Thus, in the south-west the weather is usually mild and wet; in the middle of the country the climate is moderate and continental; northern Asia is one of the coldest places on the Earth; a small portion of the Black Sea coast, most notably in Sochi, possesses a humid subtropical climate with unusually wet winters.

Russia’s highest air temperature, +45,4^oC was recorded at Utta (Kalmykia) in July 2010, whilst the lowest – 71,2^oC was registered in Oymyakon in 1924.

There is hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can be found. We have steppes in the south, plains and forests in the midland, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts in the east. The wild animal life is rich and comprises polar bear, reindeer, walrus, tiger, leopard, brown bear, elk, porcupine, turtle, sable and others, diverse birds and insects.

6. What kind of climate is there in the country?

7. What rivers can you name?

8. What kind of mineral resources has Russia?

9. Who is the Head of the country?

10. What is the capital of Russia?

11. When was it founded?

12. What are the symbols of Russia?

13. Where is Chuvashia situated?

14. What regions does Chuvashia border on?

15. Is Chuvashia a densely populated republic?

16. What climate does the republic have?

17. Chuvashia is a picturesque place, isn’t it?

18. How does the state flag of the republic look like?

Ex.4. Fill in the blanks:

1. The … Ocean and its seas wash the frontiers of Russia in the north; the …, … and … seas in the south, in the east the frontiers are washed by the … Ocean, in the west by the … Sea.

2. We have two great plains: the … Plain and the … Lowland.

3. There are three main mountain chains in Russia. They are: … .

4. There are … volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, … of which are active.

5. The world’s deepest lake is the … . It is famous for its … scenery.

6. Russia is rich in … and other minerals.

7. Russia is a … republic. The Head of the country is the … .

8. The national anthem of Russia is … .

9. Chuvashia lies in the heart of … in the … region.

10. Woods cover third of its territory, mainly … .

m) in the Caucasus. The Urals extend from the Arctic Ocean to the steppes and cut the territory into two unequal parts (the European and Asian ones). The Altai Mountains lie south of Lake Baikal and along the border with Mongolia. The Altai contains Mount Belukha, which at 4,506 m. is the highest point of Asian Russia. There are 150 volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, 30 of which are active. Russia takes the first place in the world in water resources. There are over 120 thousand rivers and two million lakes in Russia. The Volga, the largest river in Europe flows into the Caspian Sea. The main Siberian rivers – the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena – flow from the south to the north. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean. The world’s deepest lake (1,620 metres deep) is the Baikal. It has the greatest supply of fresh water. Lake Baikal is also famous for its picturesque scenery. Its water once was the purest in the world. Now environment protection organizations' leaders want it to be restored and kept safe and pure. They demand removing industrial enterprises out of its shore. Other major lakes include the Ladoga and the Onega, two of the largest lakes in Europe.

Russia is one of the richest countries in the world in natural resources. It has large reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, diamonds, copper, lead, gold, silver, nickel and other minerals.

Russia has one-fifth of the world’s forests. They account 40 per cent of the land and are concentrated in the European north of the country, in Siberia and in the Far East.

There are 12 cities with the population over one million people: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Kazan, Rostov, Volgograd, Ufa.

records already in 1620 (that time it was the village of Sundyr). Its nature impresses with rolling hills and deep ravines, centuries-age oaks and peaceful stream of the Volga. There are two park areas in Mariinsky Posad, and a juniper groove - a place of rare birds inhabitance - is under federal protection. One of local nature attractions is Gosudareva hill (Sovereign’s hill) at the foot of which there well out remedial springs.

Alatyr is another town of attraction in Chuvashia. The Exaltation of the Cross church was erected here in 1827, the architecture of which combines archaic traditions and classicism elements. Here one of Chuvashia’s best monuments has remained: the building of a merchant club constructed in 1895. The construction of a real college in 1908 has become a bright sample of modern style. Alatyr is well known for ancient industry architecture as well. The most interesting industrial constructions are railway workshops built in 1892. Nowadays, there is an engineering plant there.

There are a lot of rarely beautiful architectural monuments spread in towns and villages of Chuvashia, for example, a stone cathedral in the village of Belovolzhskoe (1698), the house of Baryshnikov in the town of Yadrin (the beginning of the 20th century), and others.

Ex. 3. Answer the questions:

1. Where is the Russian Federation situated? Which part is located in Europe – the larger or the smaller one?

2. What mountain chain separates Europe from Asia?

3. What is the territiry of the country?

4. What countries does Russia border on?

5. Russia is a highly developed country, isn’t it?

political, scientific, cultural and industrial centre. It is one of the oldest Russian cities.

Russia is a parliamentary republic. The Head of the country is the President, the head of the Council of Ministers is the Prime Minister. The Russian Parliament, i.e. the Federal Assembly, consists of 2 houses: the Federal Council (the upper House) and the State Duma (the lower House). The Head of the Federal Council is its Chairman. The Head of the State Duma is its Speaker.

The national anthem of Russia is the Patriotic Song by A. Alexandrov. The official symbol of Russia is the Russian flag; it has 3 wide stripes – white, blue and red. Red symbolizes love and bravery, blue – honesty and devotion, white has always meant nobility and sincerity. The National Symbol is a two-headed eagle which is the most ancient symbol of Russia. A lot of people believe that traditional symbols of the country are: the birch tree; the Russian “troika”; Dymkovo toy, khokhloma; ethnic Russian musical instruments like gusli and balalaika; Matryoshka doll, etc.

Ex. 2. Read the text using a dictionary:

Chuvashia