1. Written vs. Unwritten constitutions. Their pros and cons;

b) Constitutions of other countries.

Unit 3 ukraine

1. Read and memorize the following words and word-combinations:

to border on	межувати з
to cover territory	обіймати територію
mineral resources	мінеральні ресурси
iron ore	залізна руда
petroleum refinery	нафтопереробний завод
domestic consumption	внутрішнє споживання
poultry	свійські птахи
livestock	велика рогата худоба
wheat	пшениця
to consist of	складатися з
fertile soils	родючі землі

to contribute сприяти

shipyard верф

temperate belt помірний пояс

embrace охоплювати

flax льон

china and pottery фарфор та фаянс

2. Read the text. Use dictionary if necessary.

Ukraine is a rich farming and industrial region in south-eastern Europe which appeared on the world political map in 1991. Its population is about 47 million people. The country is inhabited by representatives of 128 nations, nationalities and ethnic groups. The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.

Ukraine covers about 603,700 sq km being larger than any other country in Europe. From east to west Ukraine stretches for more than 1,300 km and from north to south for almost 900 km. It borders on Belarus and Russia in the north and in the east. In the south it is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In the west Ukraine is bounded by Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

The main territory of Ukraine is flat, but 5 per cent of it make up mountains. The major rivers are the Dnieper, the Dniester, the Bug, the Donets and others. Great areas are occupied by steppes and forest-steppe regions. Lowlands occupy a considerable part of the country.

Within the borders of Ukraine we find the Carpathian Mountains with the highest peak Hoverla (2,061 m). The Crimean Mountains stretch in three parallel ranges rising to 1,500 m above the sea level. Their highest peak is Roman Kosh (1,545 m).

The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical position. In general, its climate is temperate continental being subtropical only on the southern Crimean coast. These climatic features have contributed to the creation of one of the best resort areas in Ukraine.

Ukraine's proximity to the Black Sea and the presence of large navigable rivers running through its territory have promoted the development of trade and culture. The Black Sea is not only a means of communication with Transcaucasia and Turkey but also with the rest of the world through the Mediterranean Sea. Ukraine also lies on the Danube thus giving it access to European countries.

The territory of Ukraine is criss-crossed by railroads and highways, oil and gas pipelines and high-voltage transmission lines. Ukraine is very rich in mineral resources including iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulphur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel and mercury. Three oil and natural gas regions have been discovered in the Subcarpathian, Dnieper-Donets and Black Sea regions. The black coal industry is concentrated in two basins: Donets and Lviv-Volyn.

Ukraine is one of the richest places in the world for reserves of manganese ore which is used in the manufacture of high-quality steel. Several deposits of it are located within Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions. Titanium is important in the space, chemical, atomic and other areas. It has been discovered in Dnipropetrovsk region.

Industry is the most important area of Ukraine's economy. In the current structure of Ukraine's industry a great proportion is occupied by heavy industry, especially the steel, machine-building and coal industries. A considerable part is played by the food and light industries.

Ukraine has a strong power generation industry. Large thermal and hydroelectric stations have been built including nuclear power plants in Rivne, Zaporizhia, Khmelnytsky, the Crimea and Mykolayiv regions.

The metallurgical branch includes the ferrous and non-ferrous industries. Metallurgical plants are spread through eastern regions of Ukraine.

Shipbuilding is now an important branch of industry too. Seagoing vessels are built at shipyards located in Mykolayiv, Kherson and Kyiv.

Buses are produced in Lviv, passenger cars in Zaporizhia, lorries in Kremenchuk, and both passenger and transport vehicles in Lutsk and Kharkiv. Aircraft industry is well developed in Ukraine with major plants being in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

The manufacture of tractors and combine harvesters is concentrated in large plants such as Kharkiv Tractor Works.

The chemical industry embraces the production of acids, salts, fertilizers, detergents, plastics, synthetic fibres, pharmaceuticals and other products.

Ukraine's food industry is located mostly in the Forest-Steppe (sugar), the Steppe (vegetable oils), the South (fruit canning, wine).

There are many textile enterprises in Ukraine: cotton (Kherson, Ternopil), linen (Rivne, Zhytomyr), wool (Chernihiv, Luhansk), silk (Kyiv, Cherkasy). China and pottery enterprises have developed in Kharkiv and Novohrad-Volynsky. In the Carpathian region the timber, furniture and paper industries have been developed substantially.

Almost half of the cropping area is occupied by cereals such as winter wheat, maize, rye, oats, barley. Among the industrial crops we find sugar-beet, sunflower and flax with sugar-beet occupying the leading position.

Close to 40 types of vegetable crops are grown in Ukraine including cabbage, tomato, cucumber, red beet, carrot, onion, garlic, etc. Watermelon and melon-growing is practised mainly in the South.

Livestock production is divided into branches. The most widespread branches are cattle breeding and pig raising. Sheep farming is also practised.

The poultry industry is spread through all the regions. Fish farming is growing in importance, with carp being the most common fish.

As to its political structure, Ukraine is a parliamentary-presidential democracy. The state power in Ukraine is based on the division of authority into legislative, executive and judicial. The President is Head of State. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet of Ministers is the senior executive body. The parliament (Verkhovna Rada) which is the highest legislative authority, nominates the Prime Minister. The parliament adopts legislation, ratifies international agreements, and approves the budget. Its 450 members are elected to five-year terms. Judicial power in Ukraine is vested in the courts of law. The Constitution ensures a pluralistic political system and protection of basic human rights and liberties in Ukraine.

Notes: Transcaucasia - Закавказзя

3. Give English equivalents for:

• з‘явитись на політичній мапі;

• простиратись з півночі на південь;

• наближеність до моря;

• визначатись географічним положенням;

• сприяти розвитку торгівлі та культури;

• зосереджуватись в;

• виробництво високоякісної сталі;

• чорні та кольорові метали;

• тваринництво;

• птахівництво;

• рибне господарство;

• законодавча влада

• надавати владу

• меблева та паперова промисловість

• значна частина

3. Find in the text and read the following information:

   • Territory of Ukraine

   • Water resources

   • Population

   • Climate

   • Deposits of natural resources

   • Main branches of industry

   • Agricultural production

   • Political system

3. Think of 8-10 questions to ask your group-mates about Ukraine.

4. Did any facts about Ukraine impress you?

5. Compare geographical positions and climate of Ukraine and Great Britain.

6. Work in groups of 3-4. Discuss the following topics:

   • Political system of Ukraine.

   • Natural resources.

   • Economy of Ukraine.

7. Work in pairs. Tell your partner about your country.

8. You are going to travel around Ukraine. Which regions would you like to visit? Why?

9. Make up reports on the following topics:

• National parks of Ukraine

• Famous Ukrainian writers, poets and composers

• Prominent Ukrainian scientists

• Sports in Ukraine

KYIV

1. Read and memorize the following words and word combinations:

cradle	колиска
fraternal peoples	братні народи
to be impressed	бути враженим
to give access to	надавати доступ до
holy place	святе місце
to worship	поклонятися
watch tower	сторожова вежа
masterpiece of architecture	шедевр архітектури

2. Before you read the text, tell what you know about Kyiv and its history.

3. Read and translate the text. Use dictionary if necessary.

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine and one of the biggest cities in Europe. It was the capital of ancient Rus, the cradle of three fraternal peoples – the Russian, the Ukrainian and the Byelorussian.

Nowadays it is a large political, industrial, scientific and cultural centre of Ukraine. Its population equals 2,6 million inhabitants. It is the seat of Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) and the Cabinet of Ministers.

Kyiv is famous not only for its history, but for its beauty and places of historic interest in it. Kyiv is situated on the Dnieper River which divides the city into two unequal parts. The western or right bank is larger of the two. On this side lies the modern city and the historical Old Town. The eastern or left bank is on an extensive flat plain characterized by a 10 km stretch of beaches and a lovely recreational area.

The most efficient and convenient way to see the city is to take a sightseeing tour of the whole city. For sightseeing purposes Kyiv can be divided into sections. The main street of the Modern City is Khreshchatyk Street. Its name comes from the word “khreshchennya” meaning baptism. The Old Town, also known as Upper Town, contains most of the city’s surviving historical and architectural monuments.

Kyiv’s monuments of the past attract a lot of visitors. They are impressed by the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery (dating back to the 11^th century) which stands on the green hill above the Dnieper and its sparkling, golden cupolas can be seen from outside the capital. A complex of churches, masterpieces of architecture by themselves, has been a holy place of worship for devoted Christians. Famous for its catacombs with the saints’ relics, Lavra is also called the Monastery of Caves. Museum collections of miniatures and church treasures amaze visitors from all over the world. The Golden Gate was the centre of ancient Kyiv during the reign of princes Volodymyr the Great and Yaroslav the Wise. Constructed in 1037, the Golden Gate served as the main entrance to the city as well as a watch tower. The doors and cupolas of the gate-church were covered with gilded copper sheets, giving the gate its name.

Volodymyrska Street runs into one of the city’s major squares, St. Sophia’s Square. There is a 10 meter bronze monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky standing on the spot where Kyivites gave him a triumphal welcome in 1648 after the defeat of Polish invaders.

Near the square is St. Sophia Cathedral. It was built by Yaroslav the Wise in 1037 to commemorate his victory over the invading Pechenegs. About 300 metres southeast of St. Sophia is Mykhaylivska Square with the newly built centre of spiritual life - Mikhailivsky Cathedral. The monument to Ukrainian Saints Olha, Andrew, Cyril and Methodius was unveiled in 1996.

To the north of Volodymyrska street is the National Historical Museum of Ukraine, founded in 1899. At the end of Volodymyrska Street there is another landmark, St.Andrew Church at the top of Andriyivska Hill. The rococo church was built during the period from 1747 to1753.

You can get down to Podil by descending Andriyivsky Uzviz from

St. Andrew church. On this long, winding street – the city’s most popular tourist walk - artists sell their works. Also numerous galleries, shops and small cafes flourish there. At 13 Andriyivsky Uzviz is the Mikhail Bulgakov Museum.

Kyiv is the centre of cultural life. It is famous for its theatres and concert halls such as the National Opera House, the Musical Comedy Theatre, the Puppet Theatre and others.

There are a lot of museums in Kyiv: the Museum of Ukrainian Art, the Museum of Russian Art, the Shevchenko Museum, the Lesya Ukrainka Museum, and others.

Many research institutes and higher educational establishments are found here, such as Kyiv Mohyla Academy, Taras Shevchenko University, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and others.

The picturesque green banks and hills, plentiful flowerbeds, wonderful beaches of the Dnieper, Khreshchatyk - one of the widest and most beautiful street in our country – all this adds up to the beauty of the Ukrainian capital.

4. Give English equivalents for:

   • його населення становить

   • відомий своїми святинями

   • в період правління Володимира Великого

   • центр духовного життя

   • ділити місто на дві частини

   • урочисто вітати

   • дивувати туристів

   • щоб ознаменувати перемогу

   • його назва походить від

   • побудований на пагорбах

5. Your group has decided to visit Kyiv. Think of 5-7 questions to ask about Kyiv.

6. Work in pairs. Take turns to tell your partner about your native city/town.

7. Work in pairs. Make up dialogues about Kyiv. Student A is a visitor and Student B is a guide.

8. Make up reports on the following topics:

• Famous people who lived in Kyiv

• Historical places of Kyiv

• Famous streets of the city

• Bridges of Kyiv

• Your native city/town

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

1. Read the texts about Lviv and St.Sophia Cathedral. Which information impressed you most of all?

LVIV

Lviv is the historical capital of Galicia and Western Ukraine and after Kyiv the second cultural, political, and religious center of Ukraine. In terms of population it is the seventh largest city in Ukraine.

Lviv was founded in the mid-13^th century by Prince Danylo Romanovych and had been named after his son Lev. In 1265 Lviv became the capital of the Principality of Galicia-Volyn.

Today Lviv covers an area of 155 sq km. Its core is the medieval town with a rectangular market square. The City Hall stands at the center of the street grid, which is encircled by broad green boulevards at the site of the old walls. The core is densely built up with tall stone buildings, many of them in their original style. The most impressive part of Lviv includes Shevchenko Avenue, Mickiewicz Square and Horodetska Street.

There are a lot of picturesque parks in the city. The Lychakiv Cemetery contains some famous monuments to noted Ukrainian and Polish residents of Lviv. The cemetery with other 200 graves of fighters for Ukraine's independence resemble a huge park.

The oldest monument in Lviv consists of the foundation and walls of

St. Nickolas Church, built by Prince Lev Danylovych in the 13^th century. The remnants of Vysoky Zamok date back to the 13^th century too. There is a great number of the medieval churches built in the Byzantine Romanesque style in Lviv.

Lviv is the only city in Ukraine that still has some original Renaissance architecture. The finest examples of the style are the Dormition Church and the Chapel of Three Saints and some other buildings.

The main monuments in the city are to A.Mickiewicz, I.Franko, V.Stefanyk, I.Fedorovych.

Lviv is the leading scientific and cultural center of Western Ukraine. It has a number of well-known research institutes, higher educational establishments, theaters and libraries.

ST.SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

St. Sophia Cathedral was built in the 10^th century during the reign of Prince Yaroslav the Wise to commemorate the great victory gained by Kyivans at this site over the Pechenegs who had been constantly threatening Kyiv and devastating Rus lands.

St. Sophia Cathedral suffered destiny of many other structures of Old Rus. It was ruined in the 13^th century during the Tatar invasion and subsequently suffered from wars and religious strife.

Metropolitan Petro Mohyla restored the cathedral in 1633. During the 17^th -18^th centuries, as a result of many alterations, the cathedral acquired the architectural aspect which has come down to us.

Of unique value, from the scientific and the artistic points of view, are the ancient mosaic decorations in the cathedral.

Most of the ancient frescos were covered by later oil paintings. As a result of research work conducted in the cathedral, the original frescos were discovered. Of considerable interest are the portrait representations of the members of the family of Yaroslav the Wise: his wife Irina and three daughters — Anna, Yelizaveta and Anastasia. On the opposite side two figures of his younger sons have been preserved. The image of Yaroslav the Wise, which was painted on the western wall, has not come down to us.

The frescos of the two staircase towers depict the life and manners of Old Rus. Here we have hunting scenes, dances, performances of musicians, buffoons, and so forth.

A precious specimen of artistic carving is the white marble sarcophagus of Yaroslav the Wise.

The cathedral and the entire set of buildings are of great cultural value for the Ukrainian people. It has therefore been declared a state monument-museum.

Notes: Byzantine Romanesque style – Візантийсько-романський стиль