Part III. Political and Administrative System of Our Country.

Our country is formed by 16 autonomous republics, 5 autonomous regions and other territorial units. The population of the country is 143 million people. 83 per cent of them are Russians. But our country is multinational and equal rights are given to each nation and nationality. There are over 130 of them and some of these nationalities are less than 1000 people. More than one hundred languages are spoken in our country.

The Russian Federation is a democratic republic. At the head of the country there is a president elected for a period of four years. The Federal Assembly has two houses, the 176-seat Federation Council and 450 -seat State Duma. The members of Duma are elected for four years too. The heads of all territorial units are the members of the Federation Council. The Constitutional Court is the highest in the country. Russia's voting age is 18. The Government is headed by the Prime Minister.

Now the political situation is very difficult. There is no the USSR already. Each of 15 former republics of the country is independent now, but 11 of them have formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The heads of the republics meet regularly to discuss their problems. The relations among the nations and nationalities in Russia are difficult too. We still have national and religious conflicts.

The national flag has three horizontal stripes of white, blue and red colours.

The national coat-of-arms consists of a two-headed eagle on the red shield. There is Victorious George on a white horse with a spear in his hand on the background of the eagle.

The national anthem was created by Mikhalkov (text) and Aleksandrov (music).

We celebrate the Day of Independence on the 12^th of June and the Day of National Flag on the 21^st of August. The Constitution Day is on the 12^th of December.

Part IY. National economy.

The Russian Federation is a large industrial country. We have a highly developed industry and great mineral resources. Goods we produce are used not only in our country, but in other countries too. Our national economy has good heavy industry, machine-building, chemical and construction industries. The centres of aircraft industry are in Saratov and Samara. Shipbuilding is developed in our ports: Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Murmansk, Novorossiysk, and Saint Petersburg. Coal-mining industry is developed in Kuzbass, in the Urals, in Vorkuta. Our light industry produces textile, clothes, leather and footwear. In all large cities are factories of food industry. As our country has many rivers, there are a lot of hydroelectric power stations. To that there are several atomic power stations in the country. Russia also produces electronics, radio and TV sets, cars and lorries, carriages and space rockets.

Our agriculture is also developed. Farmers grow wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, and flax. Vegetable growing and gardening is developed all over the country. There are poultry farming and cattle-farming near every large city. 

Part Y. Our culture.

Russia has a great culture. Since the very beginning of our state our country had been known as the country with rich cultural traditions, just remember the fact that the level of literacy was much higher in ancient Russia than in Western Europe. Our literature is one of the richest in the world. Almost everybody knows our music, ballet, and opera. One can make up a very long list of outstanding Russian scientists, writers, poets, composers, painters, singers and ballet dancers. There are a lot of museums, libraries, theatres and art galleries all over the country.

But now let’s speak about folk-crafts, folk-art and some habits and traditions of our country. One can see that every region has its own folk-craft. The Far North is famous for its bone-carving. Beautiful laces are made in Vologda and Eletz. Everybody knows Khokhloma and Gorodetz tableware, trays form Zhestovo and Nyzhny Tagil, Bogorodsky wooden carved toys, Dymka clay toys and Gzhel faience, lacquered boxes of Palekh. Log houses, usually decorated with wood carving, are typical for Russian villages. As our country is a multinational one, the variety of models in clothes strikes everybody visiting our country. And it is usually richly decorated with embroidery and laces.

As it has already been told there are rich cultural traditions. Not long ago people in Russian villages performed traditional khorovods (a kind of round dance) and chastushki (folk chanted rhymes) and rode in troikas. There are still a lot of people who like to play the accordion and balalaika and other folk musical instruments. The orchestras of folk instruments and ensembles of folk songs are popular in our country. There are many folk holidays in our country.

Can you make up your own list of 100 persons - the most outstanding people of our country - political leaders, Statesmen, generals and admirals, scientists, public men, poets and writers, singers and ballet dancers? What are these people famous for?

  

A) Translate into Russian

The Republic of the Russian Federation; the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics; the Great Russian Plain; the West Siberian Plain; Far East; Far (Extreme) North; semi-deserts; the Black Sea Coast; mineral resources; deposits of oil and natural gas; walrus; ermine; elk; boar; iron tree; multinational; Federal Assembly; Federal Council; voting age; Commonwealth of Independent States; two-headed eagle; shield; on the background of the eagle; highly developed industry; chemical industry; aircraft industry; shipbuilding; coal-mining industry; hydroelectric power stations; atomic power stations; carriages; poultry farming; cattle-farming; level of literacy; bone-carving; folk-crafts; folk-art; tableware; log house; political leader; folk chanted rhymes; public man.

B) Translate into English

Общая площадь; бывший; независимое государство; болото; горные цепи; самая чистая вода; тундра; субтропические джунгли; полярная ночь; часовой пояс; железная руда; руды цветных металлов; северный олень; рысь; соболь; пробковое дерево; женьшень; автономная республика; равные права; демократическая республика; Государственная дума; Конституционный суд; премьер-министр; горизонтальные полосы; герб; Георгий Победоносец; копье; гимн; День Независимости; товары; тяжелая промышленность; машиностроение; строительная промышленность; легкая промышленность; пищевая промышленность; овощеводство; садоводство; кружево; подносы; деревянные резные игрушки; глиняные игрушки; лакированные шкатулки; резьба по дереву; вышивка; государственный деятель; общественные деятели.   

 

C). Tell us about:

1. the geographical situation of Russia;

2. the climate, mineral resources and wildlife of the country;

3. the political and administrative system of the country;

4. industry and agriculture of Russia;

5. cultural traditions of our country.