Структура экзаменационного билета

 

1. Чтение, перевод, краткий пересказ экономического текста

(1200-1500 печатных знаков)

2. Чтение, перевод, пересказ общественно-политического текста (1200-1500 печатных знаков).

3. Беседа, сообщение по теме.

 

ТНЕ RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The Russian Federation is the largest country of the world. It occupies about 1/7 of the Earth surface. The country is situated in Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia. Its total area is over 17 million square km.

Our land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are the seas of three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. In the south and in the west the country borders on fourteen countries. It аlso has а sea-border with the USA.

There is hardly а country in the world where such а great variety of flora and fauna can be found as in our land. Our country has numerous forests, plains and steppes, taiga and tundra, highlands and deserts. The highest mountains in our land are the Altai, the UraIs and the Caucasus. There are over two thousands rivers in the Russian Federation. The longest of them are the Volga, the Ob, the Yenisei, the Lena and the Amur. Our land is also rich in various lakes with the deepest lake in the world, Baikal, included.

On the Russian territory there are 11 time zones. The climate conditions are rather different: from arctic and moderate to continental and subtropical. Our country is one of the richest in natural resources countries in the world: oil, natural gas, coal, different ores, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other minerals.

The Russian Federation is а multi-national state. It comprises many national districts, several autonomous republics and regions. The population of the country is over 140 million people.

Moscow is the capital of our Homeland. It is the largest political scientific, cultural and industrial center of the country and one of the most beautiful cities on the globe. Russian is the official language of' the state. The national symbol of the Russian Federation is а white-blue-red banner.

The Russian Federation is а constitutional republic headed by the President, the country government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. The President controls only the executive branch - the government, but not the Supreme Court and Federal Assembly.

The legislative power belongs to the Federal Assembly comprising two chambers: the Council of Federation (upper Chamber) and the State Duma (lower Chamber). Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. The executive power belongs to the government (the Cabinet of Ministers) headed by the Prime Minister. The judicial power belongs to the system of Courts comprising the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and federal courts.

Our country has a multi-party system. The largest and most influential political parties are the Communist party, the "Fatherland-All Russia", Liberal-Democratic and some others.

The foreign policy of the Russian Federation is that of international cooperation, peace and friendship with all nations irrespective of their political and social systems.

 

VOCABULARY

 

to occupy - занимать

surface - поверхность

total area - общая площадь

to border on - граничить с

numerous - многочисленные

steppes - степи

taiga - тайга

highlands - горные возвышенности

the Urals - Уральские горы

the Caucasus - Кавказ

climate conditions -климатические условия

moderate - умеренный

ore - руда

ferrous - из черного металла

state - государство

comprise - включать, охватывать

banner - знамя, флаг

legislative - законодательный

executive - исполнительная

judicial - судебная

Federal Assembly - Федеральное Собрание

the Council of Federation - Совет Федерации

State Duma - Государственная Дума

Supreme Court - Верховный суд

influential - влиятельный

foreign policy - международная политика

irrespective - независимо

 

REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN

The Republic of Bashkortostan - а sovereign republic within the Russian Federation - is located along the South Urals and the adjacent plains. Its territory is 143,600 square kilometers and the population is over 4 million people. In terms of population, Bashkortostan ranks seventh among Russia's republics, territories and regions. About а hundred nationalities inhabit the Republic. The indigenous population is Bashkirs.

From the point of natural conditions Bashkortostan can be divided into three parts - western, mountainous and Bashkir Trans Urals. The western part is located upon the Russian Plains. It is most favourable for life and business activities. It is here that the majority of the population lives. Highland Bashkortostan encompasses the South Ural Mountains, least auspicious to farming and manufacturing and thus least developed. Bashkir Тгans-Urals forms а narrow strip to the east of the Ural Mountains along the Republic's eastern border merging with the West Siberian Plains.

Bashkortostan's climate is continental with moderately warm, sometimes hot, summers and cold winters.

More than 600 rivers and 800 lakes trim the beauty of the Republic's nature. Many of the rivers, including the largest - the Ural and the Aghidel belong to the Caspian Sea basin.

Bashkortostan is rich in forests, the predominant species being birch-tree, conifers, lime-tree, oak and maple. About 6 million cubic meters of timber are annually procured and more than half of these are subsequently processed. The Republic accounts for nearly а third of all lime-tree forests of Russia. It is the lime-tree that makes Bashkir honey world-famous. The latter's taste and bouquet, as well as the superb quality of the famous healing koumiss (fermented mare's milk) are contributed to by а гаге combination of the vegetation growing in Bashkortostan.

The mineral riches of Bashkortostan include iron ore, copper, gold, zinc, aluminum, chromium, brown coal, natural gas, salt, manganese, gypsum, lime-stone and many other deposits numbering well over three thousand.

OiI is the main mineral resource of the land. Oil related industries - power generation, oil refining, chemical, gas and petrochemical - have become most prominent.

Diverse natural riches, а favourable pattern of population distribution, and а convenient geographical location promote the development of manufacturing and agribusiness. Bashkortostan ranks second in the Urals region as regards its manufacturing potential, and outstrips Russia's republics аnd many of the CIS countries in terms of national income.

Being the focal point of the major cargo traffic between the European and Asian parts of the country, the Republic of Bashkortostan offers extensive facilities for exports and imports of raw materials, fuel and manufactured items, maintaining trade and business ties with both the West and the East.

The BAL (Bashkir Airlines) carrier connects Ufa with the largest cities in Russia, the post-Soviet republics and abroad.

The length of railways is 2,900 km, and that of navigable river routes is 960 km.

*****

Adoption on October 11, 1990, of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Bashkortostan opened up а new phase in the evolution of our Republic as а sovereign state within the Russian Federation, а state possessing an immense economic and spiritual potential. The Republic has established itself as а reliable, economically and politically stable region, which is prepared to соoperate and interact on an equal footing with all regions of Russia, with the federal authorities, and foreign partners.

Sovereignty has given to the Republic an opportunity to independently determine its economic policy, to rationally manage its natural riches, production capability and earnings in the best mterest аnd for the benefit of the people. legislative body of the Republic According to the Constitution of the Republic of Bashkortostan, only the State Assembly is entitled to adopt а Constitution, Codes, Laws, and any amendments thereto; it determines, jointly with the President, the domestic and foreign policies of the Republic, endorses the State Budget, supervises its execution; gives its consent to the President's nomination of а Prime Minister; passes а decision to hold elections of the President, deputies of the State Assembly and local authorities; elects the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Arbitration; appoints the Procurator and the Commissioner of the Republic of Bashkortostan for Нuman Rights. At least once а year the Parliament shall hear and discuss the President's message on the main guidelines of the home and foreign policies. The State Assembly wields many оther powers and authority as well.

The State Assembly is elected for the term of five years.

А Secretariat is formed to maintain its activities.

The republican legislative base will have to eliminate imperfections and conflicts existing with federal laws, со create а comprehensive system for legal regulation of the economy conforming to up-tо-date conditions and requirements the reforms. Streamlining is required for the legislation on investment activities (including those involving foreign capital), on consumer and manufacturing cooperatives, on finance-industrial groups, and on registration by the state of real еstate and on transactions therewith.

Against the background of political tension in many of the country' s regions Bashkortostan stands out for stability and peaceful atmosphere.

The Republic numbers 21 cities, the largest being Ufa, Sterlitamak, Salavat, Neftekamsk, Oktyabrski.

 

BASHKIR STATE UNIVERSITY

 

The Bashkir State University was founded in 1957 on the basis of the Bashkir State Pedagogical Institute named after К.А.Timiryazev. The University is actually the legal successor of the Ufa Teachers' Training Institute (est. 1918) - the first higher education institution of the Republic of Bashkortostan, which in 1920 was transformed into the Institute of Public Education and later into the Pedagogical Institute. Today this major scientific, educational and cultural centre of the Republic ranks among the top ten classical universities of the Russian Federation.

The University currently employs about 700 instructors, including 90 Doctors and 373 Candidates of Sciences. 28 Doctors have been elected Full Members and Corresponding Members of various academies.

More than 5,000 full-time students are trained in 32 trades, with 3,500 students studying рart time. The University incorporates 12 departments in Ufa and three branches located in Sibai, Neftekamsk and Sterlitamak. Instruction is effected by 73 chairs. The University provides post-graduate training in 38 specialties and doctorate training in 6, there being 11 boards for theses defence.

Science is represented by the R&D centre, three problem and multi-branch laboratories, the R&D Institute for Sociology, the Bashkir Patent Centre, the "Zaryad" experiment and design bureau focusing on building computer systems, measuring instruments and machine tools for the engineering industry.

The University instructors annually issue 30 titles of monographs, textbooks and teaching aids.

The Bashkir University participates in international integration activities, cooperating on а contractual basis with universities in the U.S.А., Turkey, Germany, France, Italy, Egypt, Hungary and Japan in the sphere of science and higher education.

The Bashkir University is а vibrantly growing institution. The transition is currently accomplished to а multi-level system of higher professional training. The high standard of theoretical and methodological background of the professor an instructor staff supported by academic traditions facilitates training highly-qualified specialists.

The University is justly proud of its graduates. More than 53,000 specialists have been trained here since 1957 thus contributing significantly to Bashkortostan's intellectual potential. Over а thousand University graduates have been awarder honorary titles of the Russian Federation and those of the Republic of Bashkortostan, and 67 of them are members of the Writers' Union of Russia.

 

Discussion

 

1. When was the University founded? 2. How many faculties or departments are there at the University? 3. Name some of the faculties or departments. 4. How many Universities are there in Ufa? 5. What can you say about the R&D (research ant development) potential of the University? 6. Who is the University Rector? 7. What is the organizational structure of the University? 8. What can you say about the University's international соoperation and exchanges of students and instructors? 9 What countries does the University maintain соoperation with? 10. What is the procedure for entering the University? 11. Which applicants for entry are given special preference or privileges? 12. Do all students get their scholarships? 13. What do students dо after graduating from the University degree? 15. Are you more inclined towards R&D or practical activities? 16. Dо you take part in any research activities? 17. What do students do in their fifth year at the University? 18. How many years do studеnts of the correspondence/extra-mural department study? 19. Which students of уоur group take part in amateur arts contests and concerts?

 

LICENSING

When a company is small it cannot sometimes enter a foreign market. It can sign a licensing agreement with a foreign firm. A license is a legal agreement in which one firm gives another a right to manufacture and sell its product. A company that obtains this right pays the licenser a royalty. Royalty is a certain percentage of the income from the sale of the product.

Businesses that have patents or trademarks usually can use licensing to protect them against counterfeiters. The licensee gains a successful product and the know-how. The licenser often controls the quality of the goods which the licensee produces, because high quality guarantees the reputation of the licenser. The licensee chooses the selling strategies because he knows more about how to sell the product in the foreign market.

 

VOCABULARY

 

licensing – лицензирование

agree – соглашаться

agreement – соглашение

small – маленькая (-ий), небольшая (-ой)

enter – входить, вступать, поступать

legal – юридический, правовой

right – право

manufacture – производить

product – продукт

obtain – приобретать, добывать

license – лицензия

licenser – лицензиар

licensee – лицензиат

royalty – лицензионный платёж

certain – определённый

percentage – доля в процентах

income – доход

trademark – торговая марка, торговый знак

protect – защищать

counterfeit – подделка, подлог

counterfeiter – фирма, незаконно использующая чужую торговую марку

gain – получать, достигать

success – успех

successful – пользующийся успехом

often – часто

control – контролировать

guarantee – гарантировать

reputation – репутация

strategy – стратегия

patent - патент

 

 

QUESTIONS

1. What does a company sign if it cannot enter a foreign market? 2. What is a license? 3. What is royalty? 4. What does the licensee gain? 5. What strategies does the licensee choose? 6. Who knows the market better – the licenser on the licensee?

 

JOINT VENTURES

To go international a large firm can set up a joint venture with a company in another country. In this case two companies pool their resources to design, manufacture and sell the product. Both firms profit by the results of this arrangement. They also share responsibility. One of the firms provides the necessary funds and know-how for producing goods. In return it gets a foothold in the foreign market. The other firm obtains financial aid and technical assistance. And it takes responsibility for handling red tape and organizing sales in the local market.

In the late 1980-s, for example, a Connecticut engineering company set up a joint venture with Russian oil refineries and petrochemical plants. The venture gives the Russians the necessary technology and the Connecticut company has gained a foothold in the world's largest oil industry in return.

 

VOCABULARY

to go international – выйти на международную арену

joint – совместное

venture – рискованное предприятие

joint venture – совместное (чаще всего краткосрочное) предприятие

pool – объединять, создавать общий фонд, капитал и т.д.

resources – ресурсы

design – разрабатывать

arrange - организовывать

arrangement - организация

share - разделять

responsibility - ответственность

return – возврат, возвращаться

in return – в обмен

foothold - опора

finance – финансы, система финансов

financial - финансовый

technical - технический

aid - помощь

assistance - поддержка

handle – управляться, иметь дело

red tape – (перен.) бюрократия, волокита

organize - организовать

local - местный

late 80-s – конец 80-х годов

 

Упражнение

Выберите наиболее правильное продолжение.

 

1. Firms go international because: a) their officers want to go abroad more often b) they want to save money from local taxes c) they need technical and financial assistance from abroad.

2. Large foreign companies take part in joint ventures in Russia because: а) they want to get a foothold in the Russian market, b) they want to save money from taxation in home countries, c) can't work well enough at home.

 

SUBSIDIARIES AND BRANCHES

 

A company can set up a branch in the foreign country to handle the sales of the product abroad. A parent company specifies the tasks and goals of a branch. Those usually consist of marketing and selling the product.

If the managers of the parent company decide to arrange the company's own production facilities (plants, factories, etc) overseas, they set up a subsidiary. A subsidiary works under the laws of the foreign country and to the profit of its parent company. Some subsidiaries are to a great extend independent of their parent companies because the home management believes that the on-site managers are in the best position to make decisions.

 

VOCABULARY

subsidiary – филиал, дочерняя компания

parent – родитель, родительский

specify – определять, специфицировать

task – задача, задание

goal - цель

marketing - маркетинг

manager – менеджер, управляющий

facility – средство, устройство

facilities – средства производства

etc. (etcetera) – и так далее

overseas – букв. за морем, на заморских территориях, за границей

law – закон, законы

under the law – в соответствии с законом

to a great extend – в значительной мере

independent of – независимый от

management - управление, менеджмент

on-site – букв. на месте

position – положение, позиция

decision – решение

 

QUESTIONS

1. Why do companies set up branches in a foreign country? 2. What does a parent company do when it sets up a branch overseas? 3. What are the tasks and goals of a branch? 4. In what cases do the managers decide to set up a subsidiary? 5. What laws does a subsidiary work under? 6. Who profits by the work of a subsidiary? 7. When and why do some subsidiaries become independent of their parent companies?

 

QUOTAS AND TARIFFS

Sometimes the government can encourage or discourage imports and exports of goods. It imposes quotas on certain products. An export quota specifies how much of a product can a manufacturer ship out. An import quota allows you to import to certain limit. The quota may be absolute (we reach a certain amount and can ship no more) or the government can combine it with a special tariff on all units over that amount. For example, we had an import quota of 6.000 automobiles. We had bought 6.000 automobiles with a 6.5 % tariff by the end of the last year, and all others we bought with a 45 % tariff.

The government also imposes special taxes or duties on imported goods. These are tariffs. Tariffs discourage imports because they make foreign goods more expensive. There are revenue tariffs that generate tax revenues and protective tariffs that protect home manufacturers. The purpose of the revenue tariffs is to raise money, and therefore these tariffs are rather low. The protective tariffs are much higher.

 

VOCABULARY

 

quota - квота

tariff – тариф

government - правительство

encourage – поощрять, поддерживать

discourage – препятствовать, ставить преграды, лишать стимулов

impose – навязывать, облагать (налогом)

absolute - абсолютный

reach – достигать, доставать (до чего-либо)

amount – сумма, количество, объём

combine – комбинировать, соединять

unit – единица (продукции)

revenue – (государственные) доходы, выручка

revenue tariff – фискальный тариф

generate – создавать, генерировать

protective – протекционистский (тариф)

raise – поднимать, аккумулировать (средства)

therefore - поэтому

rather – довольно, достаточно

 

 

QUESTIONS

1. How can a government encourage or discourage imports and exports of goods? 2. What does an export quota specify? 3. What does an import quota allow you to do? 4. What is an absolute quota? 5. What can a government combine a quota with? 6. What are tariffs? 7. How do tariffs discourage imports? 8. What two sorts of tariffs are there? 9. What is a revenue tariff? 10. What is a protective tariff? 11. What is the purpose of the revenue tariff? 12. Which of the two sorts of tariffs is higher and why?

 

EMBARGOES AND SANCTIONS

Governments can prohibit the import or export of certain products for military, sanitary, moral or political reasons. A military embargo prevents weapons going to a certain country. The United States prohibit the import of certain birds and animals for sanitary reasons. Moral reasons are the grounds for embargoing cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Sometimes governments prevent the export for political reasons. For example, the United Nations set embargo on sales to, and purchases from, Rhodesia before it became Zimbabwe.

Sanctions are a form of reaction to illegal actions of another party. There are sanctions against dumping, for example. Dumping means shipping large amounts of a product to another country at prices below the selling price.

 

VOCABULARY

 

embargo – эмбарго

embargoing – наложение эмбарго

sanctions – санкции

prohibit – запрещать

military – военный

sanitary – санитарный

moral – моральный

political – политический

reason – причина

prevent – препятствовать, ставить преграды

weapon – оружие, орудие

bird – птица

animal – животное

grounds – основание

drug – лекарство, наркотик

reaction – реакция

illegal – незаконный

actions – действия

party – партия; сторона

dumping – демпинг

price – цена

below – ниже

 

QUESTIONS

1. Why do governments prohibit the import or export of certain products? 2. What is the reason for a military embargo? 3. What reasons are there for a sanitary embargo? 4. Why do most of the governments prohibit the import of drugs? 5. What reasons are there for a political embargo? 6. What are sanctions? 7. What is dumping? 8. Why do the governments set sanctions against dumping?