англ.м.-МК

TEXT: GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF UKRAINE

(1) Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia. It is situated in the south-east of Europe. On the east it has border with Russia, on the north - with Russia and Byelorussia, on the west - with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. On the south it is washed by the Black and Azov Seas.

(2) The total area of ​​Ukraine is 603, 700 square kilometers. 95 per cent of the Ukrainian area is flat and the rest of it is mountainous. The Carpathians and the Crimean Mountains make up those 5 per cent of its area. The population of Ukraine is about 52 million people, among them Ukrainians, Russians, Byelorussians, Jews, Poles and other nationalities. There are 24 administrative regions and the Crimean autonomous republic in Ukraine. The largest cities in Ukraine are Kyiv, the country capital and economic, cultural, and educational center; Kharkiv, noted for its engineering expertise, machinery plants, and educational institutions; Dnipropetrovsk, a center of metallurgical and aerospace industries; and Donetsk, known for mining and metallurgy. Odesa, on the Black Sea coast, is the country`s largest seaport.

(3) Ukraine has a wealth of rivers. It is located in the watershed of the Dnipro River, Europe's third largest river, which divides the country into Right-bank and Left-bank territories. The major rivers are the Dniester, the Bug, the Danube, the Donets and others. Ukraine's rivers on the whole belong to the basins of the Black and Asov Seas. Only the Western Bug and some other rivers empty into the Baltic Sea. Ukraine has more than 3000 small lakes that cover about 3 per cent of its territory.

(4) Ukraine possesses rich and conveniently located natural resources. About half of its territory, especially the central and southern regions, contains the exceptionally fertile chernozem, a type of soil that is ideal for agriculture. Forests cover 16 per cent of Ukraine's territory. The Donets Basin in the southeast is well endowed with large deposits of coal, while the east central Kryvyi Rih area is rich in iron ore. Ukraine also has some of the world's largest manganese deposits, located in the south central region at Nikopol. There are considerable deposits of oil and natural gas in the Carpathian foothills, the Donets Basin, and along the Crimean coast.

(5) The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical location. Ukraine's territory lies in the temperate zone. In general the country climate is temperately continental with cold winters and warm summers. The southern coast of the Crimea, however, has a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The average temperature of the coldest month of January ranges from -7 0 C and +4 0 C. In the hottest month of July the average temperature is +18 0 C. The highest rainfall is in the Carpathians and Crimean mountains. The differences in climate in different regions of Ukraine contribute to the richness of the national economy enabling agriculturists to grow various kinds of plants.

COMPREHENSION EXERCISES

I. Find where in the text it is said:

♦ що Дніпро розділяє країну на Лівобережну та Правобережну Україну

(3) Ukraine has a wealth of rivers. It is located in the watershed of the Dnipro River, Europe's third largest river, which divides the country into Right-bank and Left-bank territories;

♦ що близько половини території України займають чорноземи

(4) Ukraine possesses rich and conveniently located natural resources. About half of its territory, especially the central and southern regions, contains the exceptionally fertile chernozem, a type of soil that is ideal for agriculture. ;

♦ що різниця в кліматичних умовах сприяє багатству національної економіки

(5)The differences in climate in different regions of Ukraine contribute to the richness of the national economy enabling agriculturists to grow various kinds of plants.

II. Explain the following phrases taken from the text (paragraph numbers are given). Use a dictionary if necessary:

1. administrative regions (2)

Administrative-territorial(regions) unit in Ukraine - is a compact part of the single territory of Ukraine, which is the spatial basis for the organization and operation of public authorities and local governments.

2. natural resources (4)

Natural resource a material source of wealth, such as timber, fresh water, or a mineral deposit, that occurs in a natural state and has economic value.

3. fertile chernozem (4)

Fertile chernozem  - a type of soil that is ideal for agriculture.

III. Answer the following questions. Try to express your answers in your own words if possible:

1. Where is Ukraine situated? 

Ukraine is situated in the south-east of Europe.

2. What countries does Ukraine border on? 

On the east it Ukraine border with Russia, on the north - with Russia and Byelorussia, on the west - with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.

3. How many administrative regions are there in Ukraine?

There are 24 administrative regions and the Crimean autonomous republic in Ukraine.

4. What are the major rivers of Ukraine?

The major rivers of Ukraine are the Dniester, the Bug, the Danube, the Donets and others.

5. What natural resources is Ukraine rich in? 

About half of Ukraine territory, especially the central and southern regions, contains the exceptionally fertile chernozem, a type of soil that is ideal for agriculture. Forests cover 16 per cent of Ukraine's territory. The Donets Basin in the southeast is well endowed with large deposits of coal, while the east central Kryvyi Rih area is rich in iron ore. Ukraine also has some of the world's largest manganese deposits, located in the south central region at Nikopol. There are considerable deposits of oil and natural gas in the Carpathian foothills, the Donets Basin, and along the Crimean coast.

6. What can you say about the climate of Ukraine?

The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical location. Ukraine's territory lies in the temperate zone. In general the country climate is temperately continental with cold winters and warm summers. The southern coast of the Crimea, however, has a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The average temperature of the coldest month of January ranges from -7 0 C and +4 0 C. In the hottest month of July the average temperature is +18 0 C. The highest rainfall is in the Carpathians and Crimean mountains. The differences in climate in different regions of Ukraine contribute to the richness of the national economy enabling agriculturists to grow various kinds of plants.

IV. Make up a plan covering the main ideas. Discuss the text according to the plan with your fellow students.

1. Location of Ukraine

2. Administrative division of Ukraine

3. Rivers of Ukraine

4. Natural resources of Ukraine

5. Climate of Ukraine

V. Write a short summary of the text.

Ukraine is situated in the south-east of Europe. On the east it has border with Russia, on the north - with Russia and Byelorussia, on the west - with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. On the south it is washed by the Black and Azov Seas.

The total area of Ukraine is 603, 700 square kilometers. 95 per cent of the Ukrainian area is flat and the rest of it is mountainous. The population of Ukraine is about 52 million people, among them Ukrainians, Russians, Byelorussians, Jews, Poles and other nationalities. There are 24 administrative regions and the Crimean autonomous republic in Ukraine. The largest cities in Ukraine are Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odesa.

Ukraine is located in the watershed of the Dnipro River, Europe's third largest river, which divides the country into Right-bank and Left-bank territories. The major rivers are the Dniester, the Bug, the Danube, the Donets and others. Ukraine has more than 3000 small lakes that cover about 3 per cent of its territory.

The main natural resources of Ukraine: fertile chernozem, a type of soil that is ideal for agriculture; large deposits of coal; iron ore; largest manganese deposits; considerable deposits of oil and natural gas. Forests cover 16 per cent of Ukraine's territory.

Ukraine's territory lies in the temperate zone. In general the country climate is temperately continental with cold winters and warm summers. The southern coast of the Crimea, however, has a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The average temperature of the coldest month of January ranges from -7 0 C and +4 0 C. In the hottest month of July the average temperature is +18 0 C. The highest rainfall is in the Carpathians and Crimean mountains.