VII. Study Text С and use it as a model for a talk between an Englishman and a Russian who is on his first visit to England.

VIII. Fill in the words north, west east, south, or their derivatives:

1. The ... half of our country consists mainly of low plains, while the greater part of the ... half of Russia is cov­ered with mountain chains. 2. In Siberia the biggest rivers are the Ob, the Yenissei and the Lena. They flow ... through a vast area parallel to one another. 3. The climate contrasts are quite striking in Russia. You can find the ... braving the frosts that reach 70 degrees below zero Centigrade and at one and the same time the ... basking In the sun on ... sea­shores lined with green palms. 4. The Leningrad region lies to the ... of Moscow. 5. A ... is a person who lives in the ... and a ... is one who lives in the ... . 6. Devon and Cornwall are situated on the ... peninsula of England.

IХ. Supply articles where necessary:

There is no other country in ... world whose nature is more varied than that of ... Russia. ... western half of ... country consists mainly of... low plains. The country is divided into two parts by ... Ural mountains.... greater part of ... eastern half is covered with vast plateaus and mountain chains. Here, on ... Kamchatka Peninsula ... biggest active volcanoes of ... Old World are located.

In ... south ... plains of ... western half of ... country are bounded by... huge mountain ranges. Here are ... country's highest peaks.

Many of ... rivers of... Russia are among ... world's great­est ... most important rivers of ... western plain are ... Volga, ... Western Dvina,... Don and ... Northern Dvina.

In ... Far East... Amur flows into ... Pacific.

In ... lakes, too, our country is extremely rich. Among them are ... world's greatest lake ... Caspian Sea and ... deepest — ... lake Baikal.

X. Discuss the following topics (use the map):

1. English scenery and climate.

2. Agricultural districts of England.

3. The most important industrial regions in England.

4. Physical background of Russia.

5. The surface of Russia.

6. The climate of Russia.

Note: Evaluate these talks according to their information content: amount and quality of information.

XI. Supply prepositions where necessary:

Our motherland is immense. It's ... far the largest and richest country both ... Asia and Europe. Its frontier line is the longest... the world.

Natural conditions ... Russia vary greatly. If you cross Russia ... the extreme North ... the South you will get a good idea ... the climate contrasts, to say nothing ... the difference ... scenery and vegetation, characteristic ... various geographical zones. Siberia unlike ... the Urals, the face ... Ta-tary differs ... that... the Caucasus. One region is rich ... one thing, another is rich ... another.

Perhaps no country's geographic location has played such ah important part... its history as Russia's. Half... Eu­rope and half... Asia, its history has revolved ... this basic fact.

XII. 1. Describe the scenery, climate and industries of your home town, region or republic. 2. Choose four slides or postcards and give a commen­tary on them. With the first picture, concentrate on describing what there is in the picture. With the second one try to give the position of things accurately. You can use the third one for talking about how and when the picture was taken. And the last one can be the starting point for a story or joke. (See "Classroom English" Section V.)

XIII. Finish up the sentences according to the model. (Consult a diction­ary.):

Englishmen live in England, they speak English.

... in Scotland,.... ... in Ireland, .... ... in Sweden, ....

... in Norway, .... ... in Denmark,.... ... in Holland, ...

... in Spain, ... ... in the USA, .... ... in Switzerland,....

XIV. Make up dialogues between an English and a Russian student on the topics:

1. Moscow and London — cultural and industrial centres.

2. The main industrial centres (towns, ports, etc.) of Rus­sia and England.

3. Rural areas of both countries.

XV. Translate the following, putting it into your own words: