Ex. II Read and translate the text. The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical location

CLIMATE OF UKRAINE

The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical location. Ukraine’s territory lies in the temperate belt. In general the country’s climate is temperately continental, being subtropical only on the southern const of the Crimea.

The differences in climate are caused by many factors: the latitude, relief, altitude and proximity to seas and oceans. The climate varies not only from north to south, but also from the north-west to the south-east as the warm damp air masses moving from the north-western Atlantic weaken and beco­me drier. A characteristic feature of the climate is an increase in its continental nature from west to east.

A feature of Ukraine’s climate is the considerable fluctuation in weather conditions from year to year. Alongside very wet years there can be droughts, whose effect increases to the south and east. There are frequent oscillations in weather in the regions of the Crimean and Carpathian Mountains.

The average yearly temperature in Ukraine varies between +5.5 C, +7 ° С (42 °, 44.5 ^F) in the north and +11 °, +13 ° С (52 °, 55.5 ° F) in the south. The coldest month is January, with a record low of -42 ° С (-44 ° F). The warmest month is July with a record high of 40 ° С (104 ° F).

Precipitation (rain, snow and other forms of moisture) ranges from about 30 inches (76 cm) a year in the north to about 9 inches (23 cm) in the south. The highest rainfall is in the Carpathian and Crimean Mountains (31.5 to 63 in­ches).

On the southern coast of the Crimea the climate is subtropical Mediterranean, inasmuch as the Crimean Mountains obstruct the movement of cold Arctic air to the coast. These climatic features have contributed to the creation of one of the best resort areas in Ukraine.

Ex. III Answer the following questions.

1. Where is Ukraine situated?

2. What is the climate of Ukraine?

3. What is the climate of Ukraine determined by?

4. What factor are the differences in climate caused by?

5. Does the climate vary from north to south?

6. What is the average yearly temperature in Ukraine?

7. What is the coldest month?

8. What is warmest month?

9. Where is the highest rainfall?

10. What is the climate on the southern coast of the Crimea?

Ex. IV Are the following sentences true or false?

1. Ukraine’s territory lies in the temperate belt.

2. The differences in climate are caused by only one factor – the latitude.

3. The coldest month is February.

4. The warmest month is July.

5. On the southern coast of the Crimea the climate is subtropical

Mediterranean.

6. The climate of Ukraine is determined by its geographical.