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Vocabulary

Ex. 1. Find in the text “Belarus” the English equivalents to the following Russian sentences.

1. Официально она называется Республика Беларусь. Это суверенное независимое государство, со своим правительством, конституцией, государственным гербом, флагом и гимном. 2. Беларусь находится почти в центре Европы, в самой западной части Восточно-европейской равнины в бассейне Днепра, Западной Двины и верхнего течения Немана. 3. Озера примечательны своей глубиной, прозрачностью вод и красотой пейзажей. 4. Леса, сосновые боры, дубравы с могучими дубами, березовые рощи и все виды смешаных лесов являются очарованием, богатством и гордостью нашей Родины. 5. Беларусь – страна с уникальной историей и богатым культурным наследием. Она интересна и с туристической точки зрения.

Ex. 2.Сomplete the sentences with the proper words:

1. Belarus is my …. 2. Belarus … for 560 kilometres from … to … and for 650 kilometres from … to …. 3. The lakes are … … in the North. 4. The largest forests are called …. The Byelovezhskaya Pushcha is famous for its …. 5. The climate of Belarus varies from … to … due to a strong … of the maritime air from the Atlantic.

Ex. 3. Choose the right variant:

b) Belarus is a member-state of

1. the CIS; b) the NATO; c) the UNESCO.

c) Its present-day population is

a. about 260 million people; b) about 10.3 million people; c) over 1.5 million people.

d) The highest mountain is Mt. Dzerzhinskaya reaching

a. 978 metres above sea level; b) 3210 metres above sea level; c) 350 metres above sea level.

e) Belarus is situated in the temperate zone of 200-500 kilometres away from

a. the Atlantic Ocean; b) the Baltic Sea; c) the Black Sea.

Ex. 4. Answer the questions:

1. Is Belarus a member of the UNO? 2. What countries does Belarus border on? 3. Is Belarus a large country? 4. What are the largest rivers and lakes? 5. Why are our forests the charm, wealth and the pride of our homeland? 6. How many regions is Belarus divided into?

Ex. 5. Divide the text into part and give the title to them.

Ex. 6. Arrange the following points according to the text.

1. The climate of Belarus. 2. A sovereign, independent state. 3. The size and population of Belarus. 4. The forests of Belarus. 5. Rivers and lakes. 6. The geographical position of Belarus.

Ex. 7. Speak about

1. The geographical position of Belarus. 2. The population of Belarus.

3. The climate of Belarus.

History of Belarus

Belarus is a unique country. Its history is a little-known page in the world history. More over the Belarusians know the history of their Motherland not better than their neighbours do. But they can be proud of their past, culture and art.

Man came to these lands in the middle Palaeolithic times. But it was only in the middle of the first millennium that Slavs settled here. East-Slav tribes of Krivichi, Dregovichi and Radimichi were the Belarusian people’s ancestors. They settled around the Polota (a Western Dvina tributary) and were later named Polotchane. They had formed local principalities, such as those of Pinsk, Turov, Polotsk, Slutsk and Minsk by the 8^th to 9^th century. These all came under the general suzerainty of Kievan Rus, the first East Slavic State, beginning in the mid-9^th century.

They took up honey collecting, fur hunting and agriculture. Trade developed as the Dieper was part of the “water road” from Constantinople via Kiev and Novgorod to the Baltic Sea. Trading settlements multiplied and many towns of the present-day Belarus were founded by the end of the 12^th century. Polotsk and Turov first appeared in historical documents in 862 and 980 respectively, Brest – 1017, Minsk in 1067.

The geographical position of the country, the development of trade attracted Dutch herring-salters, Muscovite trappers, Jewish financiers, Hungarian wine-merchants, Turkish spicers, Tatar tanners and Chinese silkmen who bought in exchange furs, dried fish, salt, linen, sailcloth, ropes, timber, tar and foodstuffs. These international contacts influenced the most distinctive features of the Belarusian national character – tolerance and hospitality.

The advantageous geographical position – on the cross-roads from east to west and from north to south – more than once turned into disadvantage. Belarus was the arena of many wars, invasions and aggressions. In the 11^th century the Tatar-Mongols attacked Polotsk and Turov principalities in the east and south. In the 13^th century the Crusaders invaded Belarus from the west. Sweden conquered the north of Belarus. Belarus was devastated by Russian-Polish wars (16 – 18^th centuries), the Napoleon invasion (1812), World War I (1914 – 1918), the Soviet-Polish war which ended with Western Belarus ceded to Poland and the World War II and Nazi occupation (1941 – 1944), the longest and the greatest fighting for freedom and independence during which Belarus lost every fourth citizen. All these tragic events slowed down but didn’t stop the development of the nation. Though Belarusians belong to the East Slavic ethnic group there is a strong mixture of Baltic and Scandinavian elements in their racial, linguistic and cultural background. Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (14^th century), Poland and the Russian Empire (18^th century). It was a backward province where 80% of the population were illiterate. People suffered from many diseases and there was only one doctor per 7,000 patients.

The life changed for the better at the beginning of the 20^th century. On January 1, 1919 the Declaration on the formation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted. In December 1922 it joined the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (the USSR) as one of its founders. On the disintegration of the USSR, Belarus proclaimed its sovereignty on July 27, 1990. In December 1991 it was one of the three Slavic republics of the former USSR to form the CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States) with the headquarters in Minsk.

Nowadays Belarus is a country of developed industry, agriculture, science and culture. Belarusian industry produces heavy-duty trucks and tractors, large-capacity dump trucks, refrigerators. TV sets, fertilisers, meat and dairy products. They make its chief exports. Timber processing, furniture making, match and papermaking, textile and clothing manufacture, food processing are the main industries for local consumption.

Most of the country has mixed crop and livestock farming with a strong emphasis on flax growing. Grain, chiefly barley, rye, oats, and potatoes are main field crops, a large percentage of which is used for animal feed. Cattle and pig raising are also important.

Belarus is a country of well-developed science, culture and education. There is an Academy of Sciences, 37 higher educational establishments, and a lot of theatres, museums, and art galleries there.

The long history has taught Belarusians to overcome difficulties. Today they are optimistic because their historical experience makes them sure they will do their best to preserve their unique culture, language and revive industry and agriculture. But they are anxious about the future of their children after the Chernobyl catastrophe, 1986. And still they hope for the best.

Vocabulary

Ex. 1. Find in the text sentences corresponding to the following Russian equivalents.

1. Они поселились в районе реки Полота (приток Западной Двины) и позже были названы полотчане. 2. Торговля развивалась благодаря тому, что Днепр был частью водного пути из Константинополя через Киев и Новгород к Балтийскому морю. 3. Географическое положение страны, развитие торговли привлекали сюда датских рыбаков, московских охотников, еврейских финансистов, венгерских виноторговцев, турецких торговцев специями, татарских дубильщиков кож и китайских торговцев шелком, которые в обмен на свои товары покупали меха, сушеную рыбу, соль, полотно, парусину, веревки, лес, деготь и продукты питания. 4. Беларусь была ареной многих войн, вторжений и агрессий. 5. Хотя белорусы принадлежат к восточнославянской этнической группе, в их происхождении, языке и культуре смешались балтийские и скандинавские элементы. 6. Долгая история научила белорусов преодолевать трудности. 7. Но они обеспокоены будущим своих детей после чернобыльской аварии 1986 года.

Ex. 2. Insert the missing words.

1. Its history is a … page in the world history. 2. But it was only in the middle of the first … that Slavs … here. 3. Trading settlements … and many towns of present-day Belarus … by the end of the 12^th century. 4. These international contacts influenced the most … … of the Belarusian national character - … and …. 5. It was a … province where 80% of the population were …. 6. In December 1991 it was one of the three … republics of the former USSR to form CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States) with the … in Minsk. 7. And today they are optimistic because their historical experience makes them sure they will do their best to … their unique culture, language and … industry and agriculture.

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences using the given variants.

Man came to these lands in

the middle Palaeolithic times; b) the Middle Ages; c) the middle of the first millennium.

They took up

paper making; b) honey collecting, hunting and agriculture; c) heavy-duty trucks and tractors producing.

Belarus is a country of the well developed

industry and agriculture; b) science, culture and education; c) travelling business.

Grain is the main field crop, which

gives two harvests a year; b) is used for animal feed; c) is the main foodstuff.

Ex. 6. Answer the questions.

1. What tribes were the Belarusian people’s ancestors? 2. When did Belarusian towns first appear in historical documents? 3. Who conquered Belarus during its history? 4. When was the BSSR proclaimed? 5. When did it join the USSR? 6. When did Belarus become a sovereign state? 7. What does the Belarusian industry produce nowadays? 8. What are the main agricultural products? 9. Can you prove that Belarus is a country of well-developed science, culture and education?

Ex. 7. Divide the text into three of more parts. Give the type titles to them.

Ex. 8. Make up the plan of the text using the following points.

1. Belarus nowadays: political status, economical development and social life. 2. The Belarusian people’s ancestors: the first settlers, their occupations, the development of trade and nation. 3. Belarus as the arena of wars and aggressions. 4. Belarusian racial, linguistic and cultural background.

Ex. 9. Render the text, using the facts from it.

1. The life of the East-Slav tribes on the territory of Belarus. 2. The advantages and disadvantages of the geographical position of Belarus. 3. Belarus nowadays.

Minsk

Minsk is the capital of Belarus, an ancient and beautiful city with a long and exciting history.

It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1067 in connection with the battle of the Nemiga River during which it was completely destroyed. It was destroyed, burned, ruined by the conquerors many times during its 930 year history: by the Crimean Tatars in 1505, French troops in 1812, German occupants in 1919-1920, fascists during World War II. But each time it rose from the ruins and ashes as the mythical bird Phoenix. Many conquerors have passed through Minsk because it is situated on the cross-roads of the busiest trade-routes connecting the Baltic and the Black seas.

Efrosinya Polotskaya

When discussing outstanding people of Belarus, we can’t but mention the name of Efrosinya Polotskaya, a princess, a philosophical and spiritual leader in Polotsk principality in the 12^th century.

She was born in Polotsk into the family of Izyaslavovichy in 1100. She was the granddaughter of the famous Vseslav Charodey. She was a highly educated person of that period. She had a good knowledge of geography, Greek, Latin, mythology and other sciences. She was well aware of both Christian and pagan beliefs. At the age of 12 she refused to marry and entered the Convent as the rest of the members of the family were sent to the Byzantine Empire. First she was a nun and later Mother Superior of the Convent.

She did a lot of charitable work which included opening schools and hospitals. She taught other people, wrote and rewrote books by hand. She founded the Spass-Efrosinya church in Polotsk. On her request in 1161 a famous jeweller Lasar Bogsha created a Cross to symbolize Christianity in Belarus and the unity of the nation. Efrosinya Polotskaya raised her voice against intestine strife which could destroy the state. The Cross was decorated with gold, silver and precious stones. There were icons of saints, the founders of the Christianity, Efrosinya and her parents on it. It became a national sacred thing. Unfortunately, the Cross was taken out of the country during the Great Patriotic War and disappeared.

In 1173 Efrosinya decided to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Some months later she got seriously ill and died. She was buried in Jerusalem. Twelve years later the body was transported to Kiev and then returned to Polotsk to be reburied in Spass-Efrosinya church which she had founded.

Now Efrosinya Polotskaya is considered to be the protectress of Belarus. Paying tribute to her great service to the Motherland, the Belarusians restored the Cross of Efrosinya Polotskaya and placed it in the Spass-Efrosinya church in 1998. It has become one of the sacred things in Belarus.

Vocabulary

Ex. 1. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following sentences.

1. Ефросиния Полоцкая родилась в Полоцке в 1100 году в семье Изяславовичей. 2. Сначала она была простой монахиней, а затем стала настоятельницей монастыря. 3. Она основала Спасо-Ефросиньевскую церковь в Полоцке. 4. В 1173 году Ефросиния решила совершить паломничество в Иерусалим. 5. Крест Ефросинии Полоцкой стал одной из святынь Беларуси.

Ex. 2. Insert the missing words.

1. When discussing … people of Belarus, we can’t but … the name of Efrosinya Polotskaya, a …, a … and … leader of the 12^th century. 2. She was well … of both … and … beliefs. 3. On her … a famous … Lasar Bogsha created a … to symbolize Christianity in Belarus. 4. She was … in Jerusalem, twelve years later the body was … to Kiev and then … to Polotsk to be … in the Spass-Efrosinya church which she had founded. 5. Now she is … to be the … of Belarus.

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences, choosing the right variats.

She had a good knowledge of

geography, English and medicine; b) philosophy, Greek and other sciences; c) geography, Greek, Latin, mythology and other sciences.

At the age of 12 she refused to marry and entered the Convent as the rest of the family

were sent to the Byzantine Empire; b) were killed; c) were not religious.

3. Unfortunately, the Cross was taken out of the country during

the Napoleon invasion; b) The Great Patriotic war; c) The Civil war.

4. Paying tribute to her great service to the Motherland, the Belarusians

have found the Cross of Efrosinya Polotskaya and placed it in the Spass-Efrosinya church; b) Have restored the Cross and placed it in the Spass-Efrosinya church; c) Have restored the Cross and placed it in the museum.

Ex. 4. Answer the questions.

1. What was Efrosinya Polotskaya? 2. Was she a highly educated person of her time? 3. When did she become a nun? 4. Did she do a lot of charitable work? What did she do? 5. What kind of cross did Lasar Bogsha create? 6. Why did the Belarusians restore the Cross of Efrosinya Polotskaya? 7. Where is she buried?

Ex. 5. Read the text, divide it into parts and give the titles to them.

Ex. 6. Make up the plan of the text, using the following points.

1. Efrosinya’s charitable work. 2. Philosophical and spiritual leader of the time. 3. The symbol of Christianity in Belarus. 4. Pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 5. The Protectress of Belarus.