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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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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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