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GeographyThe Czech Republic is a
land−locked country, meaning itdoesn't have a border with
thesea, but is surrounded by othercountries (Poland,
Germany,Slovakia and Austria). Thecountry is made up of tworegions,
Bohemia in the westand Moravia to the east.
The Czech landscape is quite varied.Bohemia is surrounded by
mountains withthe highest point of Sněžka (1,602 m).Moravia in the
east is hilly and in thesouth low−country. The climate is amixture
of maritime and continentalinfluences, it is temperate with
warmsummers and cold winters.
HistoryBeginning in the 4th century B.C.,
Celtic tribes settled in the region,followed by Germanic and
Slavic tribes.The country began to form in the 9thcentury with the
creation of GreatMoravia. After its fall, the Czech stateemerged
with help from the Premyslids.The kingdom of Bohemia was
importantand powerful in the region, but conflictslike the Hussite
Wars in the 15th centuryand the 30 Years War (the 17th century)hurt
it. Under the reign of the Habsburgs
it became part of the Empire of Austria−Hungary.
This empire collapsed after WWI, andtogether with its Slovak
neighbors, theCzechs formed a new country, known asCzechoslovakia.
WWII was againdestructive to the country, which wasoccupied by the
Germans. After the warended, Czechoslovakia fell under theinfluence
of the Soviet Union. The countryremained a Communist state until
thepeaceful revolution in 1989. The Czechsand Slovaks split, and in
1993, thecountry we call the Czech Republic wasput on the map.
Political systemAfter overthrowing Communism, the
country set up a parliamentarydemocracy. The parliament consists
oftwo houses; the Chamber of Deputiesand the Senate. The head of
state is thepresident, and it is he who appoints aprime minister.
There are 200 people inthe Chamber of Deputies, and they servea
4−year term. The 81 Senate membersare elected for 6 years. The
president iselected every 5 years by the parliament.
The Czech Republic's flag is red, white and bluewhich are
traditionally Slavic colors and many ofits neighbor flags include
them. On the left is a blue triangle, which was addedto the flag in
1918 to represent Slovakia. Thetop band is white; the bottom band
is red, thetraditional colors of Bohemia and Moravia.
The Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic
The highest Czech mountain Sněžkais located in the Krkonoše
mountains.
The main square in Olomouc. TB
Total area: 78,866 sq km Population: 10 millionCapital:
Prague
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stud
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The CzecheducationsystemTASK: Read the following articleand try
to fill in the gaps with the mostappropriate words from the box
below.(Solution on p.3)
In the Czech Republic all children goto school from the 1)
............... of 6 to15, because school attendance iscompulsory.
Six−year−olds enroll in thenine−year 2) ............... school.
Mostchildren attend 3) ............... schoolswhere education is
free of charge butthere are also some 4) ...............schools
where parents have toparticipate in covering expenses of
theeducation of their children, and churchreligious schools.
Physically or mentally5) ............... children are educated
inspecial schools.
Primary schools have 2 stages.Children in the first five grades
aremostly taught by one class teacher. Olderchildren (6 − 9 grade)
have more teacherswho specialize in various 6) ...............
−Czech, math, physics, chemistry, history,geography, biology,
etc.
Pupils in the CR do not wear7) ................ to school. The
schoolyear starts on 1st September, and endson June 30th, when
pupils get theirschool report with 8) ............... from1 to 5.
In the 5th, 7th or 9th class,children try to pass 9)
...............exams and continue their studies at a secondary
school.
Students can enroll in secondarygeneral school (grammar school)
whichprepares its students for universitystudies and lasts 4, 6 or
8 years.Students complete their studies witha 10) ...............
exam, which isrequired for all universities andcolleges. The exam
is taken in4 subjects. Czech and a foreignlanguages are 11)
............... and math,history, biology, physics,
chemistry,geography, music, art or civics are12)
.................
Secondary technical schools (SOŠ)train students for various
branches:chemistry, glassmaking or agriculture.Economics can be
studied at 13) ............... colleges, culture,singing, dancing
and drama at14) ............... schools. Most of thecourses last 4
years and then thestudents can apply for university or goto
work.
Secondary vocational schools (SOU)train apprentices − future
bakers,bricklayers, hairdressers etc. forpractical 15)
.................
University education is provided from3 to 6 years. Most
secondary school16) ............... have to pass anentrance exam.
Students can study atthe School of Economics, Faculty ofLaw,
Faculty of Journalism, Teacher'sTraining College, Faculty of
Medicine,Faculty of Science etc. The university isfinished with a
17) ............... exam.Students have to defenda 18)
............... in order to receivea diploma at a graduation 19)
................ After 3−year coursesthey receive a Bachelor's 20)
..............., after 4 and 5−yearcourses a Master's degree.
Jana Kubánková (teacher of English at the
Gymnázium Budìjovická in Prague 4)
age, art, business, ceremony,degree, entrance,
grades/marks,graduates/students,handicapped/disabled,
jobs,obligatory/compulsory, optional,primary/elementary,
private,school-leaving, state, state,subjects, thesis, uniforms
vocabularyborder ["bO:d@] − hranicemixture of maritime and
continental influences["mIkstS@ "m&rItaIm kQntI"nEnt(@)l
"InflU@nsIz]
− smìs pøímoøských a vnitrozemských vlivùtribe [traIb] − kmento
settle ["sEt(@)l] − usadit seSlavic ["slA:vIk] − slovanskýto emerge
[I"m@:dZ] − objevit seempire ["EmpaI@] − øíšedestructive
[dI"strVktIv] − nièivýto split [splIt] − rozdìlit seto overthrow
[@Uv@"Tr@U] - svrhnoutto set up − ustanovitChamber of Deputies
["tSeImb@(r) "depjutiz] -poslanecká snìmovnato appoint [@"pOInt] −
jmenovatto commemorate [k@"mEm@reIt] − pøipomínat si
The Novohradské mountains in the south ofBohemia are a paradise
for hikers.
HolidaysSome of the most important holidays
celebrated by Czechs are St. WenceslasDay, Independence Day, and
Struggle forFreedom and Democracy Day. They areall important dates
in Czech history.Celebrating the patron saint of thecountry, St.
Wenceslas happens onSeptember 28. On October 28,Independence Day is
celebrated tocommemorate the date in 1918 whenCzechoslovakia was
formed. TheStruggle for Freedom and DemocracyDay is on November 17,
and remembersthe students who protested both againstthe Nazis and
Communism.
Zuzana Pernicová, Jacy Meyer (USA)
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