"Learn about geography" ("Познакомимся с географией")

LEARN ABOUT GEOGRAPHY

TEXT 1

Russia has nine main ecoregions spanning its borders. In southwestern Russia lies the Caucasus mixed forest ecoregion, which extends through the Caucasus mountains. Also in this part of Russia is the Crimean Submediterranean forests complex, a relatively small ecoregion located along the shores of the Black Sea. A large grassy region Caucasus, the Pontic-Caspian steppe stretches north of the Black and Caspian seas. The Kazakh steppe, less grassy than its neighbor, is a flat, semi-arid region that stretches into Kazakhstan. Mostly located in Mongolia and China, the Mongolian-Manchurian grassland just barely crosses over into southeastern Russia. The East Siberian taiga ecoregion is found deep in the heart of Siberia. In the northern part of Russia near Poland lies The Romincka Forest. The Sarmatic mixed forests stretch through central parts of European Russia, and the Scandinavian and Russian taiga extends through northern parts of European Russia.

TEXT 2 THE ARCTIC DESERT

We associate deserts with hot, dry climates, so it^,s surprising to learn that they exist in the Arctic, where snow and ice are abundant. Looks can be deceiving, though; in Russia^,s Arctic desert, for instance, precipitation per year is less than 20 centimetres and plant life is almost nonexistent. In addition to that, darkness rules the land for around nine months out of the year. This peculiar desert resides on Russia^,s northern most islands, which are anywhere from 100 to 800 kilometres from the mainland. Not much goes on up there, aside from a few polar bears trying to subsist in the harsh climate. Most of what little plant life that does exist only grows a few centimeters tall. Temperatures remain below 10 degrees Celsius during even the warmest months, and naturally, no human beings make their home in this region.

TEXT 3 THE TAIGA

The taiga isn^,t a very well-known ecoregion, despite being the world^,s largest. The region encompasses most of northern Russia, Canada, The US and parts of Scandinavia and Japan. It is characterized by dense pine forests and freshwater lakes, cold blustery winters and short summers with moderate rainfall. Along Arctic and tundra regions, which are farther north and typically have harsher, longer winter seasons, the taiga region generally experiences even lower temperatures, going below -50 degrees Celsius, with the lowest recording being in Russia. With such a punishing climate, it^,s hard to believe that world^,s largest congregation of forests resides in this ecoregion. Because of its dense vegetation, a wide variety of flora and fauna exist, including fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, several species of deer and thousands of species of insects. Hundreds of thousands of people reside in this region, with the largest cities being Arkhangelsk, Tobolsk, Yakutsk and the port city of Murmansk.

TEXT 4 THE SUBTROPICS

Subtropical climates are those regions of the world between temperate climates with typical seasonal changes and tropical climates characterized by constant warmth and humidity. A subtropical ecoregion, while generally warm and humid, will experience winter temperatures of almost freezing cold, if only for a very brief period. The city of Sochi happens to be in a region that falls in this category. Situated on the shores of the Black Sea with the Caucasus Mountains as a backdrop, Sochi receives a great deal of moisture from the sea and is protected from harsh, northerly weather by steep mountain ranges. The region is lush in vegetation, even dotted with palm trees, and Sochi is regarded as a winter getaway destination. Other notable subtropical regions in the world are the deep South in the US, the Po river valley of Italy, southern China and the region of Buenos Aires.

I.Write down all geographical names from the first text and translate.

II.Translate the following words.

1. a relatively small ecoregion

2. to span

3. stretch

4. a flat, semi-arid region

5. mixed forests

6. to extend

7. associate

8. precipitation

9. the harsh climate

10. to subsist

11. the mainland

12. human beings

13. experience

14. dense vegetation

15. congregation

16. shrubs

17. a punishing climate

18. humidity

19. lush in vegetation

20. a winter getaway destination

III.Translate into English, using the texts. Make up 3 your own sentences.

1. трудно поверить

2. удивительно узнать

3. эта особенная пустыня

4. по большей части расположена

5. протянулся через центральные части Европейской равнины

6. относится к этой категории

7. известные субтропические регионы

IV. Make up word-phrases, using the text. Make up your own sentences. (3-5)

1. Blustery a. humidity

2. Steep b. grassy

3. Less c. species

4. Several d. mountain ranges

5. Constant e. winter

6. Well-known f. lower temperatures

7. Peculiar g. changes

8. Experiences h. climate

9. Dense i. period

10. Seasonal j. desert

11. Punishing k. pine-forests

12. Brief l. Ecoregion

1 вариант

V. Answer the following questions:

1. Which region do you imagine covers the smallest area in Russia?

2. What can you say about taiga?

3. Which region is likely the most difficult to access? Why?

4. Why is plant life almost nonexistent in the arctic desert?

5. What flora exists in the region of Sochi that is more likely found on a tropical island?

6. What ecoregion is situated deep in Siberia?

2 вариант

V. Answer the following questions:

1. Which region covers the greatest amount of land?

2. Where is the arctic desert situated?

3. How can you characterize a subtropical desert?

4. In which region would you likely find yourself all alone?

5. Why is it surprising that the lowest of temperatures occur in the taiga?

6. Why doesn^,t Sochi ever experience blizzard-like weather?