There were only 30,000 words in Old English. Modern English has the largest vocabulary in the world — more than 600,000 words.
There are about 60,000 words in common use.
About 450-500 words are added to the English vocabulary every year.
70 per cent of the English vocabulary are loan words and only 30 per cent of the words are native.
There are are words from 120 languages in English, including Russian.
The most frequently used words in written English are: the, of, and, to, a, in, that, is, I, it, for and as.
The most frequently used word in conversation is I.
The longest word in the English language is: Pneumonoultamicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (a lung disease).
The commonest letter is "e".
More words begin with the letter "s" than any other.
The most overworked word in English is the word set. It has 126 verbal uses and 58 noun uses.
The newest letters added to the English alphabet are "j" and "v", which are of post-Shakespearean use.
The largest English-language dictionary is the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, with 21,728 pages.
The commonest English name is Smith. There are about 800,00 people called Smith in England and Wales, and about 1,700,000 in the USA.
ТЕМА 3
RUSSIA. CITIES OF RUSSIA
Text 1. THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Vocabulary
national character – национальный характер
to border on smth – граничить с чем-то
to be rich in sth – быть богатым чем-то
deep valley – глубокая долина
mountain range – горная цепь
fresh - water lake – пресноводное озеро
to have deposits of – иметь месторождения
oil - нефть
gas - газ
ferrous - железо
non ferrous metals – цветные металлы
market economy – рыночная экономика
collapse of the Soviet Union – распад Советского Союза
agriculture – сельское хозяйство
to face recession – переживать кризис, экономический спад
tо start recovering – начать возрождаться
current population – современное население
Head of State – глава государства
the Orthodox Church – Православная церковь
dominant religion – главная религия
The Russian Federation, or Russia is the largest country in the world, his vast territory lies in the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. The country is washed by three oceans (the Arctic, the Atlantic, the Pacific) and twelve seas (the White Sea, the Barents Sea, the Okhotsk Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Azov Sea and others). Russia borders on many countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania in the north, China, Mongolia, North Korea and others in the south-east, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine in the west, and others. The land of Russia varies very much from forests to deserts, from high mountains to deep valleys. Mountain ranges are found along the southern borders, such as the Caucasus and the Altai, and in the eastern parts, such as the Verkhoyansk Range. The Caucasus contain Mount Elbrus, Russia's and Europe's highest point at 5,633 m. The more central Ural Mountains, a north-south range that forms the primary divide between Europe and Asia, are also notable. There are a lot of great rivers and deep lakes in the country. Notable rivers of Russia in Europe are the Volga, Don, Kama, Oka and the Northern Dvina, while several other rivers originate in Russia but flow into other countries, such as the Dnieper and the Western Dvina. In Asia, important rivers are the Ob, Yrtysh, Yenisei, Angara, Lena, Amur and Kolyma. The largest lakes are Baikal, Ladoga and Onega. Baikal is the deepest fresh-water lake in the world and its water is the purest on Earth. The climate of Russia is varied, from arctic and subarctic in the north, continental in the centre, to subtropical in the south.
The Russian Federation is extremely rich in natural and mineral resources. It has deposits of oil, gas, iron, gold, non-ferrous metals and many other minerals.
The economy of Russia is going through a transitional period from the centrally planned socialist economy to a market economy. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 the greater part of industries were privatized, agriculture and land underwent partial privatization later and are still under-going it. After the crisis of 1997 and the depreciation of the rouble followed by sharp deterioration in living standards for most of the population, Russia's economy faced recession. The economy started recovering in 1999, partially because of high export prices on oil and gas which Russia is rich in Russia is still heavily dependent on export of oil, gas and timber, while its industrial and farming sectors are still weak as compared with those of the developed countries, but the rate of economic growth of the country is very high. If the rate is the same within a period of several years, Russia will he the second largest European economy after Germany.
The current population of Russia is about 143 million people. The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow, with a population of about 11 million people.
Russia is a parliamentary republic. Head of State in the country is President, directly elected for a four-year term, who has considerable executive power and is head of the executive branch of the government. The government consists of three branches: legislative (the Federal Assembly, consisting of the Federation Council and the State Duma), executive (the (government, or the Cabinet of Ministers) and judicial (the system of courts, including the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and other courts). The national flag of Russia is a white-blue-and-red banner. The national language of the Russian Federation is Russian. The Orthodox Church is the dominant religion in Russia.
Russian culture abounds in names which are famous all over the world. Actually, there is no field in science or arts where Russia failed to contribute to the world's intellectual and artistic treasure-houses.
Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Считается, что географическое положение и климат оказывают влияние на экономику, стиль жизни страны и национальный характер.
2. Обширная территория России омывается тремя океанами и двенадцатью морями и граничит со многими странами.
3. Ландшафты (land) разнообразны, от лесов до пустынь, от высоких гор до глубоких долин и включают большое количество горных цепей, в том числе Кавказ с самой высокой точкой Европы — горой Эльбрус, Уральские горы, Алтай и т. д.
4. В России много больших рек и озер, в том числе Байкал, самое глубокое и чистое пресноводное озеро в Европе.
5. После распада Советского Союза Россия проходит через переходный период— от социалистической экономики, основанной на централизованном планировании, к рыночной экономике.
6. Большая часть отраслей промышленности России уже приватизирована, а сельское хозяйство все еще проходит приватизацию.
7. Кризис и обесценивание рубля привели к резкому падению уровня жизни большей части населения, Россия переживала экономический спад.
8. Хотя Россия до сих пор сильно зависит от экспорта нефти, газа и леса, а ее промышленный и сельскохозяйственный сектора слабы, темп экономического роста очень высок.
9. Россия — парламентская республика, в которой главой государства и исполнительной власти является президент, избираемый прямым голосованием на четырехлетний срок.
10. Законодательная власть представлена Федеральным Собранием, состоящим из Совета Федерации и Государственной Думы, исполнительная власть представлена президентом и советом министров, судебная власть состоит из Конституционного суда,
Верховного суда и других судов.
11. В культуре России очень много известных имен, поскольку Россия внесла большой вклад в мировую интеллектуальную и художественную сокровищницу.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the official name of your country? 2. What is special about the geographical position of Russia? 3. What mountains divide Russia into two parts? 4. What is the total area of the country? 5. What countries does Russia border? 6. What seas and oceans wash Russia? 7. Russia is a very rich country. What is it rich in? 8. What river is the longest in Europe? 9. What do you know about Lake Baikal? 10. What is the climate like in Russia? 11. What Russian symbols do you know? 12. What national emblems and colours does Russia have?
Text 2. Russian Character
Vocabulary
Russians — Обратите внимание: названия национальностей могут употребляться как с определенным артиклем, так и без артикля
burst — вспышка, прилив (энергии)
harsh — суровый
to overcome — преодолевать
hardships — трудности, лишения
cautious — осторожный
reticent — молчаливый, скрытный
reserved — сдержанный
hospitable — гостеприимный
according to — согласно, в соответствии с
to welcome — приветствовать
to be devoted — быть преданным
to fight — бороться, сражаться
independence — независимость
enemy — враг
on the contrary — напротив, наоборот
to encourage — способствовать, поддерживать
research — исследование
innovation — нововведение, новшество
outstanding — выдающийся
to agree — соглашаться
There are a lot of wonders in Russia. But it is true to say that Russia is most famous for its people.
To understand Russian people, one must know from where they come. Nature has not been kind to Russia. Winters in Russia any cold, windy and snowy. So in old Russia people could do little during; long winter months. But in spring there was a lot to be done, and in a short period of time. Perhaps, this explains why the Russians are; often inactive for long periods of time and then show bursts of energy
The harsh climate explains the Russians' strength and their ability to overcome hardships. Climate has also made them cautious.
Yet most of the Russians are open people. They are neither reticent nor reserved as the British. Russian people love to sit down for a nice long chat. They like having parties and receiving guests!; The Russians are known to be a hospitable people. According to old traditions, a guest should always be welcomed with the symbol of life-giving food — bread and salt.
Russian people have always loved their country, though life in Russia has never been easy. They have always been devoted to their Motherland, fighting for peace and independence against enemies.
We can't say that the Russians are conservative. On the contrary, they encourage research and innovation. Still, there are a lot of customs and traditions in their life. For example, before leaving on a journey, many Russian people sit down quietly together for a few minutes.
Russian people are clever and talented. We can name a lot of outstanding Russians who are well-known all over the world. And we can say that we are a nation that has done a lot for the world civilization.
When foreign guests leave Russia, they usually say different things about the country. Some of them like it, others don't. But practically everybody agrees that Russian people are wonderful. They are friendly, kind and very hospitable.
Answer the following questions:
1. How much is the Russian national character influenced by geography? 2. How can you describe your nation? 3. How different or alike do you think the Russians and the British arc? 4. Why don't the Russians trim the grass, bushes or trees? Why does everything just grow wild? 5. Why do Russian people often gather around the samovar on holidays or when guests come to their places? 6. The British are said to be polite. And what about the Russians? 7. What are the main traits of the Russian character? 8. How can you prove that Russian people are very hospitable? 9. What Russian traditions do you know? 10. Do the Russians have a sense of humour? 11. Do Russian people love their Motherland? And what about you?
