What is the biggest country in the world by land area?
Russia
What is the main language spoken in Russia?
Russian
Following WWII, the Soviet Union and the U.S. almost went to war in a period of high tension known as __________________.
The Cold War
What is communism?
The government controls everything
What is the area in southern Russia that functions as the nation's best farmland due to its richer soil and warmer climate?
The Steppe
Much of the Russian north coast is permafrost. What is permafrost?
Permanently frozen soil
Name one famous piece of Russian artwork that we have discussed in class.
Russian nesting dolls, faberge eggs, the Nutcracker
Russia's launch of Sputnik was a major victory in which competition with the United States?
The Space Race (the Cold War is not specific enough)
What position holds the most power in Russia?
The president
Why is it tough to access the natural resources in Eastern Russia?
The conditions are too harsh, the climate is too extreme
What is unique about Lake Baikal in Russia?
It is the deepest freshwater lake in the world.
What is the main religion in Russia?
Eastern Orthodox Christianity, otherwise known as Russian Orthodox Christianity
What year did the Soviet Union collapse?
1991
What kind of government did the Soviet Union have?
Communist
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia adopted which kind of economy?
Market economy
Which section of Russia do most of its people live AND why?
The West, or European part, because the climate is milder and land is better for farming.
What aspect of Russian culture is world-famous and considered top-level?
Their ballet companies
What was the name for the Russian Emperors before the Russian (Bolshevik) Revolution?
Czar
What happened to all of the countries included in the Soviet Union, including Russia, when the Soviet Union collapsed?
They became independent
What is the most important natural resources to the Russian economy today?
Oil and natural gas
Which geographic feature is considered the boundary between Europe and Asia?
The Ural Mountains
Why was religion suppressed, or limited, in Russia for several decades?
The Soviet Union was anti-religion and closed many of the churches and places of worship
Why did Russia have to drop out of WWI in 1917?
They were experiencing a communist revolution. (Russian Revolution, Bolshevik Revolution)
What type of government does Russia have today?
Federal Republic with a strong executive
What kind of economy did Russia have during the Soviet Union era?
Command economy, where the government controls everything