Land reclamation and improvement

УСТНЫЕ ТЕМЫ ДЛЯ ПОДГОТОВКИ К ЗАЧЕТУ И ЭКЗАМЕНУ

ABOUT MYSELF

1. What is your name?

2. How old are you?

3. When and where were you born?

4. Where do you live now?

5. Where do you study?

6. Where do you work?

7. Is your family large or small?

8. Have you a brother/sister?

9. Are you married or single?

10. Have you any children?

11. How old are your children?

12. Where does your wife/husband work?

13. What are you fond of?

14. How do you (your family) usually spend your free time?

15. What do you dream of?

1. My name is …

2. I am … (years old).

3. I was born in …. in …

4. I live in …

5. I study at Volgograd State Agricultural Academy (VSAA).

6. I work as… at ….

7. My family is…

8. I have…

9. I am…

10. I have a son/a daughter.

11. My son/my daughter is … (years old).

12. My wife/husband works as…. in/at …

13. I am fond of ….

14. In my free time I …

15. I dream of …

VOLGOGRAD STATE AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY

Volgograd State Agrarian University is one of the largest agrarian universities of our country. It was founded in 1944 in Uryupinsk and after the war, in 1948, it was transferred to Stalingrad.

Since that time over 42 thousand specialists have graduated from the university.

At present 9 thousand students (both full-time and correspondent course ones) study here. The university has 8 faculties. They are:

· Agrotechnological faculty,

· Faculty of Biotechnology and Veterinary medicine,

· Engineering and Technological andFaculty,

· Electrification and Energetics Faculty,

· Ecological and Land Improvement Faculty,

· Faculty of Economics,

· Faculty of Technology of Production and Processing of Agricultural Products.

· Service and Tourism Faculty

The educational process is conducted by 560 teachers including 3 academicians and 65 professors. The academic year starts in September and ends in June. The students take exams twice a year. During the terms they attend lectures, carry out laboratory tests and do practical work. The students have a 5-year course of study, after it they can enter a post-graduate course.

Nowadays the Volgograd State Agrarian University has 6 educational buildings, 6 students’ hostels, the fleet of motor vehicles and the economic base “Gornaya Polyana”. There is also a scientific research complex, an information and analytical center, centers of amateur arts activities, lecture rooms, laboratories, a museum, a library, a nice assembly-hall, a printing-office and other subdivisions.

The university has old and good traditions. Its aim is to create all the necessary conditions for the students to develop their talents, enrich their minds, and improve their physical state and cultural level.

Notes to the Text:

To be founded – быть основанным

To transfer – переместиться

To graduate from – окончить (вуз)

both …and… - как…, так и …

full- time students – студенты очной формы обучения

RUSSIA

Russia is one of the largest countries in the world. The territory of Russia lies in the eastern part of Europe and northern part of Asia.

Russia is washed by twelve seas and three oceans. The осеans are: the Arctic, the Atlantic, the Pacific. The seas are: the White Sea, the Barents Sea, the Okhotsk Sea, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and others.

Russia borders on many countries, such as Mongolia and China in the south-east, Finland and Norway in the north- west, and so on.

The land of Russia varies very much from forests to deserts, from high mountains to deep valleys. The main mountain chain are the Urals, the Caucasus and the Altai. There are a lot of great rivers and deep lakes on its territory. The longest rivers are the Volga in Europe and the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena in Asia. The largest lakes are Ladoga and Baikal. Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and its water is the purest on earth.

The Russian Federation is rich in natural and mineral resources. It has deposits of oil, gas, coal, iron, gold and manyothers.

The current population of Russia is more than 140 million people. The European part of the country is densely peopled and most population live in cities and towns and their outskirts.

The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow, with the population of about 10 million people.

Russia is a presidential republic. It is one of the leading powers in the world.

Notes to the Text

border on – граничить с…

vary – различаться, быть разнообразным

deposit – запас

be densely populated – быть густо заселенным

lLeading power – ведущая держава

VOLGOGRAD

Volgogradis a big industrial center, situated on the western bank of the Volga River and has a population over 1 million people. The city was made famous for its resistance and extensive damage during World War II.Volgograd originated in 1589 as a fortress to defend the unstable southern border of Tsarist Russia. It soon became the nucleus of a trading settlement. It was captured twice by Cossack rebels, under Stepan Razin and Yemelyan Pugachev. Tsaritsyn became an important river port and commercial centre in the 19th century.

Under Stalin, the city became a center of heavy industry and transshipment by rail and river, and as a result the city became the site of one of the pivotal battles of the war. In 1945 Stalingrad was awarded the title Hero City for its heroism. The huge memorial complex was created on the top of Mamayev Kurgan to memorize the victory of Russian people.Modern

Volgograd remains an important industrial city. Industries include shipbuilding, oil refining, steel and aluminium production, manufacture of machinery and vehicles, and chemical production. A large Volgograd Hydroelectric Plant stands a short distance to the north of Volgograd.Volgograd is a major railway junction linking Moscow, Saratov, Astrakhan, the Donbas region of Ukraine, the Caucasus and Siberia. The Volga-Don Canal, opened in 1952 links the two great rivers of Southern Russia.

Volgograd is a big cultural center, with its sights, museums, theatres and cinemas. On public holidays the citizens like to come to the Сentral Embankment.

Notes to the Text

was made famous - приобрел известность

extensive damage - сильное повреждение

originate - зд. быть основанным

trading settlement - торговое поселение

suffer heavy bombardment - подвергаться массированной бомбардировке

major railway junction - крупный железнодорожный узел

THE UNITED KINGDOM

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. The population of the UK is over 57 million. About 80 percent of the population is urban.

The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The capital of the UK is London.

The British Isles are separated from the Continent by the North Sea, the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called Highlands. The south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called Lowlands. There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild all year round.

The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It produces and exports machinery, electronics, textiles. One of the major industries of the country is shipbuilding.

The UK is a constitutuional monarchy with a parliament and the Queen as the Head of State.

Notes to the Text

urban – городской

to be separated from – отделяться от…

plain – равнина

to influence – оказывать влияние

industry – отрасль промышленности

LONDON

London is the capital of the United Kingdom, its economic, political and cultural center. It is one of the world’s major cities. The population of Greater London is about 11 million people.

London has a long history. It originated about 2 thousand years ago as a small Roman town on the north bank of the Thames. Some of its ancient buildings still exist.

The vast urban territory of Greater London is divided into 32 London boroughs in addition to the ancient City of London. The West End is London's main entertainment and shopping district attracting tourists. The East End is the area closest to the original Port of London, known for its high immigrant population, as well as for being one of the poorest areas in London.

London's largest industry is finance, Around 325,000 people are employed in financial services in London. London has over 480 overseas banks, more than any other city in the world. More than half of the UK's top companies and over 20 per cent of Europe's largest companies are headquartered in Central London. The City of London is home to the Bank of England, London Stock Exchange, and Lloyds of London insurance market. Along with professional services, media companies are concentrated in London

London is one of the world's leading tourism destinations, offering an array of famous tourist attractions. London attracts almost 15 million international visitors per year, making it the world's most visited in terms of international visits. Visitors usually want to see The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St.Paul’s Cathedral. London is also noted for its museums, art galleries, theatres and parks.

Notes to the Text

major – главный

originate – происходить, быть основанным

be employed – работать

headquarter – центр, управление

destination – направление

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is an important branch or economy. Economic growth of any country depends on the development of agriculture which supplies the people with food and clothing and industry with raw materials.

The word "agre" is a Latin word. It means the cultivation of fields in order to grow crops. Now agriculture also includes the use of land to breed farm animals.

We do not know when people began to grow crops. It was many thou­sand years ago. Now crop production and animal husbandry are highly developed branches of agriculture.

Life is impossible without plants. They play a highly important role in everyday life of people. Plants that are grown by farmers are known as farm crops. They are used for many different purposes. Most of them are used directly as food for people, some are consumed by farm animals, oth­ers are used in industry and medicine.

In order to increase crop yields and animal products our farms apply widely intensive technologies.

Notes to the Text

in order to – чтобы, с целью

crop production – растениеводство

animal husbandry – животноводство

LAND RECLAMATION AND IMPROVEMENT

There are many lands that are unfit for cultivation because they are too wet or dry. These lands need reclamation and improvement. There are many ways of reclaiming and improving such lands. Drainage and irrigation are the most common practices. The purpose of drainage is to increase the productiveness of agricultural soils. This purpose can be achieved by removing the free water which excludes air and inhibits the growth and activity of plant roots. Drained soils are more easily and sooner worked. Drainage ensures a longer growing season and earlier ripening. The useful action of microorganisms is stimulated, and there is a more rapid liberation of plant food.

Irrigation is an important practice in arid regions where the annual rainfall is very low. All crops need water very much. Some crops are more drought-resistant, others are less drought-resistant. Plants with a long growing season – sugar-beet, potatoes and especially grasses – require more water than cereals. Irrigation is especially useful for orchards.

Notes to the Text

unfit – непригодный

drought-resistant - засухоустойчивый

practice – прием, метод