The climate of the Russian Federation is formed under the influence of several determining factors. The enormous size of the country and the remoteness of many areas from the sea result in the dominance of the humid continental and subarctic climate, which is prevalent in European and Asian Russia except for the tundra and the extreme southeast. Mountains in the south obstructing the flow of warm air masses from the Indian Ocean and the plain of the west and north make the country open to Arctic and Atlantic influences. Throughout much of the territory there are only two distinct seasons — winter and summer; spring and autumn are usually brief periods of change between extremely low temperatures and extremely high. The coldest month is January (on the shores of the sea—February), the warmest usually is July. Great ranges of temperature are typical. In winter, temperatures get colder both from south to north and from west to east. Summers can be quite hot and humid, even in Siberia. A small part of the Black Sea coast around Sochi has a subtropical climate. The continental interiors are the driest areas.

Russia's population was 141.91 million as of January 2009, a very slight decrease from the previous year according to the government statistics service and the Ministry of Public Health. The birth rate in 2008 was the highest recorded in the last 15 years. Moreover, in Russia the majority of population is concentrated in European zone. There are lots of reasons of it and one of them is better climate than in Siberia or the Far East. The improvements may in part be attributed to the implementation of a National Priority Health Project and financial incentives to mothers having two or more children. Life expectancy remains low compared to developed countries, but rose to 61.4 years for men and 73.9 for women in 2007. Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, traffic accidents, and violence continue to be major causes of death among working age men. Many premature deaths are attributed to excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. A truly healthy Russia will require serious improvements in the health sector and some major changes in current cultural norms. To combat the looming demographic crisis, in October 2007 then-President Putin approved the concept of demographic policy for the years 2008-2025. The program aims to increase life expectancy, reduce mortality, increase the birth rate, improve the population's health, and develop a sound migration policy. The government instituted the National Priority Health Project and "mother's capital" in order to slow the population decline. These programs had short-term success; Russia's population declined by 0.25% in 2008, compared to 0.4% in 2007. It is unknown if such programs offer a long-term solution. In April 2008, the government approved joining the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which is expected eventually to reduce extremely high smoking rates, and the government put significant amounts of money into prevention of smoking and alcohol abuse in the 2009-2011 budget. The economic crisis, however, raises doubts about the future of such spending.

Active vocabulary

Humid - влажный , мокрый , сырой , отсыревший

Prevalent – зд. преобладающий

Except for - исключая, кроме, за исключением

To obstruct - заграждать, преграждать

Government statistic service – государственный комитет по статистике (госкомстат)

Life expectancy - средняя продолжительность жизни, ожидаемая продолжительность жизни

Incentives – средства, поощрения, стимулы; зд. материнский капитал

Cardiovascular diseases – сердечно-сосудистые заболевания

Cancer - рак

Premature death - безвременная смерть

Looming – зд. увеличивающийся

Mortality - смертность

Life expectancy - средняя продолжительность жизни

Birth rate - уровень рождаемости, рождаемость

To develop a sound migration policy – развивать правильную миграционную политику

In order to – для того, чтобы

Long-term solution – долгосрочное решение

Smoking and alcohol abuse – злоупотребление алкоголем и наркотиками

Ex. I Mach the word combination with its definition:

1. Life expectancy

2. Incentives

3. Cardio-vascular disease

4. Looming

5. Mortality

6. Birth rate

a. It is the average life span of an individual.

b. It is something that incites or has a tendency to incite to determination or action

c. It is the disease involving the heart and blood vessels.

d. It means to appear in an impressively great or exaggerated form.

e. It is the number of deaths in a given time or place.

f. It is the ratio between births and individuals in a specified population and time.