Читать книгу Новый страноведческий учебник для преподавания английского языка. Учебник для бакалавриата по специальности «Культурология», «Лингвистика» - Елена Александровна Тинякова - Страница 16

1 декабря – День математика (дата выбрана ко дню рождения великого русского математика Н. Лобачевского)

1 December – Mathematician’s Day (the date was chosen for the birthday of the great Russian mathematician N. Lobachevsky)

3 декабря – Международный день инвалидов

3 December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

3 декабря – День юриста

3 December – Lawyer’s Day

12 декабря – День Конституции Российской Федерации

12 December – Constitution Day of the Russian Federation

17 декабря – День Ракетных войск стратегического назначения

17 December – Day of the Strategic Missile Forces

20 декабря – День работников органов государственной безопасности Российской Федерации

20 December – Day of workers of state Security bodies of the Russian Federation

22 декабря – День энергетика

22 December – Power Engineer Day

27 декабря – День спасателя МЧС

27 December – Day of the rescuer of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

31 декабря – Новогодний праздник

31 December – New Year’s holiday

Tasks

1. Classify the Russian holidays and memorable days.

2. What holidays and memorable days are most interesting for you? Why?

3. Whats holidays and memorable days coincide with those in your country?

4. What international holidays are supported by Russia?

5. What professions are marked by special days in Russia?

6.Make up a story of one memorable day you choose (explore and add yourself).

7. What holidays have the state status?

8. What military memorable days does Russia have?

9. How is the peace policy reflected in Russian memorable days?

10. What holiday would you like to visit? Why?

11. What holidays and memorable days are connected with history of Russia?

12. How is protection of nature reflected in the Russian calendar?

Note: your answer may be a short phrase or a story.

§1.5. Богатая природа России 1.5. Rich nature of Russia

The diversity of Russia’s nature is due to its large extent from north to south and from west to east, climatic and soil differences, varied topography and the proximity of the oceans.

Natural zones in Russia are diverse: from arctic deserts with eternal frost to deserts and semi-deserts in the south of the country, where it is very dry and air temperatures can rise above 30 degrees. The largest area in the country is occupied by the forest zone: closer to the north, south of the tundra, stretches the taiga, where only hardy coniferous trees grow. As you move south, it gives way to a zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests, dominated by heat-loving trees.

The seas, rivers and lakes of Russia are washed on three sides by the seas of three oceans: the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic. The country has many large and small rivers, lakes and reservoirs. The largest lake in Russia and throughout the world is the Caspian Sea.

More than 570 thousand species of trees grow in Russia. Many of them are valuable species.

Some types of trees in Russia:

Conifers: pine, spruce, Siberian cedar. Most of the coniferous forests are located in the north of Russia and belong to the taiga natural zone.

Deciduous: oak, chestnut, linden, walnut and others. They can be found in the European part of the country and in the south of the Far East.

Fruit: apple, pear, plum and cherry.

Among the most common trees in Russia:

Larch. According to forestry experts, larches make up approximately 35% of Russian forests (over 270 million hectares).

Pine. Various species are found both in the European part of Russia and in Siberia, and their share of the forest area is estimated at approximately 15% (about 116 million hectares).

Birch. Birch forests also account for about 15% of all Russian forests. Birch trees grow mainly in the European part of Russia and Western Siberia.

Spruce. The area of spruce forests is estimated at approximately 78 million hectares (10% of the country’s forests).

Aspen. Aspens grow on an area of about 25 million hectares, making up about 3% of the country’s forests.

Fir. Various types of fir grow in the south of European Russia, Siberia and the Far East, and their area is estimated at approximately 15 million hectares, which corresponds to 2% of all forests.

Russian forests account for 20% of the world’s total forest area.

The nature of Russia has a rich world of animals. October 4th is International Animal Day.

More than 1.5 thousand species of vertebrate animals live on the territory of Russia. These are 320 species of mammals, 732 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, 29 species of amphibians, 343 species of freshwater fish. In the seas surrounding Russia, there are 1.5 thousand species of marine fish. Our task is to preserve this unique diversity, to save every species of animal. In Russia, animals in nature are protected.

According to statistics from the Zapovedtsentr, almost 95% of mammal species living in Russia, 86% of bird species and 93% of amphibian species live in specially protected natural areas of federal significance.

Top 10 wild animals of Russia that every tourist should see

Red or mountain wolf

A rather large animal with fluffy fur and a long tail, it looks like a wolf, a fox and a jackal at the same time. Adults weigh from 11 to 22 kg and have a length of 55 to 110 cm. Red wolves are social animals that live in groups of 7—16 individuals.

Sea lion (or Pacific eared seal)

The three-meter sea animal weighs about a ton, swims in water all its life and only comes to land to reproduce. A true giant is not afraid of either storms or polar bears. He only gives in to a man with a gun.

Amur (ussuri) tiger. The large wild cat is about 2 m long, not counting the tail, and is not at all afraid of snow and Russian cold. Tigers lead a solitary lifestyle and find a mate only during mating.

Musk deer (kabarga).An unusual antlerless deer can be found in Eastern Siberia and Sakhalin. Thanks to an impressive pair of fangs on the upper jaw, the artiodactyl animal does not particularly resemble its fellow deer.

Przewalski’s horse. A squat, large-headed animal, the coat is colored sandy-red. The body length of horses is 200 cm, height is up to 135—136 cm, and weight is about 250—300 kg. They eat mainly grains. Przewalski’s horses live up to 20—25 years.

Forest dormouse. The tiny rodent weighs only 30—40 g, has a cute appearance and a fluffy tail. The animal has a luxurious skin. For the sake of the fur from which women’s fur coats and hats were made, the dormouse was actively hunted. Now it is a protected species, so the dormouse is no longer exterminated.

Far eastern leopard. This beautiful predator knows how to hunt masterfully, but is considered the most peaceful of all large cats. He never attacks people. There is not a single evidence in the world that the Far Eastern leopard harms humans.

White-faced dolphin. A large dolphin with black sides and fins has a length of 3 m and a weight of 350 kg. In Russia, white-faced dolphins live in the Barents and Baltic seas. Marine mammals can swim at speeds of up to 30 km/h. They live in flocks and love to dive next to boats.

Snow leopard (irbis). A rare big cat can be found in the mountains of Central Asia. The snow leopard hunts mountain goats, ground squirrels and marmots. It is not easy to see it, because the snow leopard is extremely careful and has very good camouflage.

Ussuri sika deer. Sika deer were hunted by people and other predators. Graceful animals were killed for tasty meat, good skin and horns – antlers. Now they are under protection and live in the Primorsky Territory.

Atlantic Walrus. The sea giant has a long body and weighs 800—900 kg. On land, walruses are sedentary and clumsy, but in water they are much more agile. They plow open deposits of benthic vegetation with their huge fangs and feed mainly on mollusks.

Tasks

1. Compile a vocabulary of words on nature, classify them in groups.

2. Make up dialogues on geography and nature of Russia.

3. Think of riddle type questions on animals in Russia.

4. Make up a story (up to 20 sentences) «Travelling across Russia».

§1.6. Выдающиеся русские учёные 1.6. Outstanding Russian scientists

Tasks (use the vocabulary given below the paragraph)

1. What biography catched your interest most?

2. What Russian scientists are new in your acquaintance and what scientists did you know before?

3. Choose a biography that you like most and prolong it by your own exploration. Make up a story.

4. Make up a test on Russian scientists (at least 30 questions of the types-Yes/No; Choose from three statements correct one; Guess the scientist; etc.).

5. How many basic branches of science did you notice in biographies?

6. What Russian scientists got the Nobel Prize? For what inventions?

7. Name outstanding Russian scientists in medicine

– physics

– mechanics

– cosmos exploration

– research for peace

8. What Russian scientists can you add to the list?

Русские учёные внесли огромный вклад в развитие мировой науки. Открытия русских учёных дали инициативу для продвижения важнейших научных технологий и идей. Всего русским, советским, а потом российским, учёным и писателям присуждали Нобелевскую премию 18 раз. Русские учёные прославили свою родину абсолютно во всех научных дисциплинах, начиная от медицины и биологии, и заканчивая разработками в сфере космических технологий. Русские учёные оставили для нас, своих потомков, огромный клад научных знаний, чтобы обеспечить нас колоссальным материалом для создания новых великих открытий.

Russian scientists have made a huge contribution to the development of world science. The discoveries of Russian scientists have given the initiative to promote the most important scientific technologies and ideas. In total, Russian, Soviet, and then Russian, scientists and writers were awarded the Nobel Prize 18 times. Russian scientists glorified their homeland in absolutely all scientific disciplines, from medicine and biology to developments in the field of space technology. Russian scientists left for us, their descendants, a huge treasure of scientific knowledge in order to provide us with colossal material for creating new great discoveries.