Text1. The Russian Federation

The Russian Federation occupies a vast territory in Eurasia. Russia has an extensive coastline along the Arctic and the Pacific Oceans, as well as the Baltic, the Black and the Caspian seas. The country has approximately one-quarter of the world's unfrozen fresh water reserves. The Volga is the longest river. The major lakes are Lake Baikal, Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. Lake Baikal is the world's deepest and purest freshwater lake. Russia has the world's largest forest reserves. That’s why the country is sometimes called “the lungs” of Europe. Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain peak in Russia. Russia has the largest natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves and the eighth largest oil reserves in the world. 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 export. Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. The population of the city is more than 10 million people. The population of the Russian Federation is about 140 ml people. The country is a multi-ethnic society; it has 160 different ethnic groups. However, Russian is the only official language, though the Constitution gives the federal subjects the right to make their native language co-official. The flag of the country is the white-blue-red banner. The coat of arms is the two-headed eagle; the national anthem is “Russia, the Holy Land”. According to the Constitution of Russia, the country is a federation and 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 multi-party representative democracy with the federal government composed of three branches and the President as the Head of state. The President is the Supreme Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces; he can veto legislative bills before they become law, and appoints the government of Russia. The president is elected by popular vote for a six-year period and is eligible for a second term. According to the Constitution, the country comprises eighty-five federal subjects, including the Republic of the Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol. All subjects have equal representation—two delegates each—in the Federation Council. However, they differ in the degree of autonomy they enjoy. Federal subjects are grouped into eight federal districts administered by envoys. They are responsible for overseeing the compliance of the federal laws. Legislative power is represented by the Federal Assembly. It is made up of the State Duma (lower chamber) and the Federation Council (upper chamber). The bicameral Federal Assembly of Russia, made up of the 450-member State Duma and the 166-member Federation Council, adopts federal laws, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse and the power of impeachment of the President.. The leading political parties of Russia are the United Russia, the Communist Party, A Just Russia and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. Executive power is exercised by the Government. The Prime Minister is head of the Government. The current Russian government is made up of the Prime Minister, two first deputy prime ministers, seven deputy prime ministers and 17 ministers. Most ministries and federal services report directly to the Prime Minister, who in his turn reports to the President. Judicial power belongs to the system of courts. The Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Arbitration and lower federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the President, interpret laws and can overturn laws they deem unconstitutional. Being one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia plays a major role in maintaining international peace and security. Russia is a member of the Council of Europe, OSCE and APEC. Russia usually takes a leading role in regional organisations such as the CIS, EurAsEC, CSTO, and the SCO.

Задание 1. Озаглавите каждую часть текста и передайте содержание каждого абзаца одним предложением.

Задание 2. Скажите, какие предложения не соответствуют содержанию текста.

1. The country is rich in mineral resources.

2. Russia occupies the whole continent of Eurasia.

3. Legislative power is exercised by the Government.

4. The Prime Minister is the head of the General Assembly.

5. The current Russian government is made up of the Prime Minister, two first deputy prime ministers, seven deputy prime ministers and 17 ministers.

6. Most ministries and federal services report directly to the Prime Minister.

7. The Russian Parliament is called the State Duma.

8. The President controls all the branches of the government.

Задание 3. Сопоставьте слова, данные в левом столбике, с определениями, данными в

правом столбике.

1) constitution	a) the elected head of a republican state
2) government	b) all the inhabitants of a particular place
3) president	c) the basic written set of principles and precedents of the state
	d) the group of people with the authority to govern a country

Задание 4. Переведите следующие выражения на английский язык.

- занимать территорию -

- многонациональное государство -

- законодательная/исполнительная/судебная ветви власти -

- верхняя и нижняя палаты-

-конституционный/ верховный/ федеральный суды-

- поддерживать безопасность и мир во во всем мире-

Задание 5. Переведите следующие предложения на английский язык.

1. Вам нужно рассказывать подробно об экономике Российской Федерации. 2. Она никак не хотела ехать на озеро Байкал. 3. Не могли бы вы рассказать нам, из каких палат состоит российский парламент? 4. Может ли Дума отстранить президента от власти? 5. Кем должен назначаться Премьер Министр в России? 6. Следует ли Украине вступать в НАТО? 7. Могу я подробнее узнать информацию о лидерах политических партий? 8. Мы должны провожать делегацию представителей Дальневосточного округа? – Нет. 9. В России президент избирается на 6-и летний срок.

Задание 6. Допишите предложения, выбрав правильный вариант ответа.

1. There are a lot of books which Ann (did not have/need not have) to read as part of her university course. 2. These books are on the wrong shelf. They (shouldn't/mustn't) be here. 3. The theatre tickets were free, so we (did not have to/needn't) pay for them.

Задание 7. Дайте развернутые ответы на следующие вопросы:

1. Why do we say that Russia is “the lungs” of Europe?

2. What are the natural reserves of Russia?

3. What can you tell us about the capital of Russia?

4. What are the symbols of Russia?

5. Who is the head of the Russian Federation?

6. Who appoints the Cabinet of Ministers?

7. Who represents the executive power of the RF?

8. What are the leading political parties of Russia?

9. What does the judicial system include?

10. What international organisations is the RF a member of?

Задание 8. Опираясь на информацию текста, сделайте краткое сообщение по теме "Россия ".