1. Welcome to Ukraine

2. Love Ukraine as you would love the sun, The wind, the grass and the streams together… Love her in happy hours, when joys are won, And love her in time of stormy weather.

3. Geographical position Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe. Ukraine is situated in the eastern part of Europe. It borders on Russia in the east, Belorussia in the north, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova in the west. Ukraine is washed by the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea in the south. The area of Ukraine is more than 603 thousand square kilometers. The most part of its area is flat. There are the Crimean Mountains in the south and the Carpathians in the west.

4. Territory The major part of the territory is flat and only 5% of the whole territory is mountainous. The two mountainous areas in Ukraine are the Carpathian Mountains and the Crimean Mountains, but they are not very high. The highest mountain is Hoverla.

5. The territory of our country lies in three main zones: mixed forests, forest-steppes and steppes. The flora and fauna of our country are extremely rich. The nature of Ukraine is especially beautiful. There are 131 rivers in Ukraine. The longest rivers are the Dniester, the Donets, the Bug. The rivers of Ukraine are navigable. There are more than three hundred cities and towns in Ukraine.

6. Rivers The longest river of Ukraine is the Dnipro. The main rivers are the Dniester, the Buh, the Donets and others.

7. Climate The climate of Ukraine is temperate continental. The average tem­perature in January is 7 degrees below zero, in July it is 17 degrees above zero. The winters are frosty. Sometimes the temperature is 20-25 degrees below zero. The weather varies greatly from year to year. Sometimes it often rains throughout a year and sometimes it is very dry. On the main part of the country rain falls enough to cultivate different agricultural plants. The climate of the Crimea differs from that on the main territory. The climate here is subtropical. The winter temperature is about 4 degrees above zero and the average temperature in summer is about 22 degrees above zero. There are a lot of evergreen plants in the Crimea. Comparing the climate in Ukraine with the climate in other European countries we may say that summers are hotter in Ukraine and winters are colder. The climate of the country is mild and soft in the west and in the centre, warm and dry in the east and hot in the south.

8. Population The population of Ukraine is about 47 mln inhabitants. Many nationalities inhabit our country: Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, Moldavians, Jews, Greeks, etc.

9. Capital The capital city of Ukraine is Kyiv. It stands on the picturesque banks of the Dnieper. Kyiv is an industrial, scientific and cultural centre of Ukraine. Its population is over 3 mln inhabitants. As one of the oldest cities of Europe it has many places of interest:St. Sophia’s Cathedral, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the Golden Gate, Mykhailivska Church and others.

10. It is an administrative, industrial, scientific and cultural centre. Ukraine is rich in mineral resources: coal, oil, gas. different ores. Some of them are of industrial importance. Ukraine is a developed industrial country. Ukraine produces up-to-date instruments, electronic microscopes, synthetic diamonds. Ukraine is an agricultural country. Its soil is fertile. The geographical position of Ukraine is favourable for maintaining close economic relations with many European countries.

11. KEY FACTS Official name: Ukraine Area: over 603,000 square km Borders on: Poland, Russia, Belarus, Hungary,Moldova, Slovakia, Romania Population: 47 mln people Main river: the Dnieper Capital: Kyiv

12. Is Ukraine situated in the eastern part of Europe? Is Ukraine washed by the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea in the south? Is Kyiv the smallest city of Ukraine ? Are there four countries in United Kingdom of Great Britain: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? Is London the capital of Wales?

13. True or False sentences The UK lies on an island. Northern Ireland is separated from the rest of the country. Great Britain has 4 parts. Great Britain is washed by seas from all sides. The rivers in Great Britain are neither long nor deep. There are a few mountains in the north of Great Britain. The climate of Great Britain is neither hot nor sunny.