Great Russia

Russia is my country. It is one of the biggest countries in the world. Russia is situated in two continents: Europe and Asia. The Urals form a natural border between the continents.

If you fly over its territory in a plane you will see wonderful sights: blue lines of rivers, blue mirrors of lakes and seas, green patches of the meadows, grassy hills, beautiful plains, wild forests, high mountains, green valleys, large ports, small harbours, ancient buildings, small towns and big cities.

Our land is remarkable for its wealth. There is gold, platinum, diamonds, coal, iron, nonferrous metals, peat, oil, gas and wood.

There are many rivers in Russia. The longest ones are the Volga in Europe, the Yenisei and the Ob in Asia. The deepest lakes are the Baikal and the Ladoga. The Baikal is the largest fresh-water lake in the world.

Seas and oceans wash Russia in the north, south, east and west. The Black Sea is in the South, the Baltic Sea is in the west. The Arctic Ocean washes my country in the north and in the east is the Pacific Ocean.

Four beautiful seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn are distinctly expressed in this country.

Our Russian symbol is the Russian national flag with three wide stripes on it. The other symbol of Russia is the birch tree. People sing beautiful songs about birch trees and plant them near their houses. In old Russian towns people often called young lovely girls little birch trees. The national emblem is a double-headed eagle holding a scepter and a mace (жезл).

The nature and peoples inhabiting our country are given the most important things – faith and patience. It is great faith that brings us together. It’s faith that creates harmony. It’s faith that makes us patient and understanding, the qualities which help us live and survive in the most hard times.

The national property which makes us proud is its greatness: talented scientists, famous philosophers, outstanding inventors, musicians, writers, artists.

Glory to all of them, dead or living!

When foreign guests leave Russia they usually say different things about the country. Some of them like it, others do not. But practically everybody says that Russian people are wonderful. They are open, kind and very hospitable.

Exercises

1. Suggest the Russian for:

to be situated, natural border, wonderful sights, green patches of meadows, grassy hills, remarkable for its wealth, diamonds, wood, distinctly, expressed, wide stripes, plant, inhabit, hard times, greatness, scientists, outstanding inventors, musicians, wonderful.

2. Suggest the English for:

голубое зеркало озер, равнины, высокие горы, долины, гавани, древний, железо, уголь, цветные металлы, торф, нефть, пресноводное озеро, на севере, на востоке, на юге, на западе, березка, вера, терпение, качества, выжить, национальное достояние, слава, добрый, гостеприимный.

3. Say whether you agree with the following. While answering use the following phrases:

Right you are -Вы правы

Just it -Именно так

I’m of the same opinion -Я того же мнения

It’s not quite so -Это не совсем так

Far from it -Это далеко не так

I don’t think so -Я так не думаю

1. They say that Russia is an Asiatic country because it lies in Asia. 2. Russia is a country of hills and mountains. 3. Our land is remarkable for oil and gas. 4. The longest rivers in Europe are the Volga and the Ob. 5. The Baikal is the largest fresh-water lake in Europe. 5. The Baltic Sea is in the west. 6. All seasons are distinctly expressed in our country. 7. The most important quality of the Russians is trustfulness. 8. It’s hard work that helps Russian people to survive. 9. The national property which makes us proud is its greatness. 10. When foreign guests leave Russia they usually say they don’t like the country.