Practice

Reading (B1): Ukraine on the map

A B1 Ukrainian reading text about Ukraine's geography: its neighbours and seas, the Carpathians and Hoverla, forest, forest-steppe and steppe, the Dnipro, and the historical regions. With comprehension questions and grammar from the text: на + locative for directions, чим … тим and superlatives.

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What you will practise

Read a B1 text about the land and regions of Ukraine, answer questions about it, and practise grammar taken from it: на пі́вночі and на за́ході, із сімома́, чим да́лі … тим, and the superlative.

Intermediate (B1) · 9 questions · multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching and word order

Read the text first. The questions below are about it, and you can scroll back to it at any time. Check each answer, read the explanation, and continue. Hints and “Show answer” are there when you need them. Stress marks are optional when you type.

The text

Read by a computer-generated voice (OpenAI text-to-speech), not individually checked by a listener. It is not a recording of a native speaker, and a computer voice can occasionally stress or pronounce a word wrongly: the text, with its stress marks, is the reference.

Україна на карті

Украї́на лежи́ть на схо́ді Євро́пи, на півні́чному бе́резі Чо́рного мо́ря. Це одна́ з найбі́льших краї́н Євро́пи. Її́ столи́ця — Ки́їв, а держа́вна мо́ва — украї́нська. Незале́жною держа́вою Украї́на ста́ла 24 се́рпня 1991 ро́ку.

Украї́на межу́є із сімома́ краї́нами. На пі́вночі — Білору́сь, на півні́чному схо́ді й схо́ді — Росі́я. На за́ході — По́льща, Слова́ччина й Уго́рщина, а на півде́нному за́ході — Руму́нія і Молдо́ва. На пі́вдні краї́ну омива́ють Чо́рне й Азо́вське моря́.

Бі́льша части́на Украї́ни — рівни́на. На за́ході краї́ни — Карпа́ти. Тут є найви́ща гора́ Украї́ни — Гове́рла, 2061 метр. На її́ схи́лах почина́ється рі́чка Прут.

З пі́вночі на пі́вдень приро́да змі́нюється. На півні́чному за́ході росту́ть ліси́, да́лі лежи́ть лісосте́п, а на пі́вдні та схо́ді — степ. У степу́ ду́же родю́ча чо́рна земля́, чорнозе́м. Бі́льшу части́ну ціє́ї землі́ обробля́ють, і найбі́льше тут виро́щують пшени́цю. Чим да́лі на схід, тим суво́ріша зима́, а чим да́лі на пі́вдень, тим сухі́ша земля́. На бе́резі Чо́рного мо́ря клі́мат схо́жий на середземномо́рський.

Найбі́льша рі́чка Украї́ни — Дніпро́. Він тече́ з Росі́ї та Білору́сі, а по́тім че́рез центр Украї́ни на пі́вдень, до Чо́рного мо́ря. На берега́х Дніпра́ стої́ть Ки́їв — столи́ця і найбі́льше мі́сто краї́ни.

В Украї́ні 24 о́бласті. Але́ лю́ди ча́сто гово́рять і про істори́чні регіо́ни: Галичина́ зі Льво́вом, Воли́нь на півні́чному за́ході, Закарпа́ття, Букови́на, Поді́лля, Полі́сся і Слобожа́нщина з Ха́рковом. Ці регіо́ни ма́ють рі́зну істо́рію і рі́зні краєви́ди.

Words to know
держа́вна мо́ва
state language
незале́жна держа́ва
independent state
межу́є з (+ instrumental)
borders (a country)
омива́ють
wash (of a sea: lie along the coast)
рівни́на
plain, flat land
схил
slope
лісосте́п
forest-steppe: woodland mixed with open grassland
родю́ча
fertile
чорнозе́м
chornozem, black earth
обробля́ють
(they) farm, cultivate
виро́щують
(they) grow (crops)
пшени́ця
wheat
чим да́лі…, тим…
the further…, the…
суво́ріша
harsher (суво́рий: harsh, severe)
о́бласть (24 о́бласті)
oblast, region (24 oblasts)
краєви́д
landscape, view
Grammar in this text

In the north, in the west: на + locative

The points of the compass take на: на пі́вночі (in the north), на пі́вдні, на схо́ді, на за́ході. An adjective in front agrees, in the locative: на півні́чному схо́ді, на півде́нному за́ході. З … на … gives a direction: з пі́вночі на пі́вдень, from north to south.

  • На пі́вночі — Білору́сь, на півні́чному схо́ді й схо́ді — Росі́я. To the north is Belarus, to the north-east and east Russia.
  • На за́ході краї́ни — Карпа́ти. In the west of the country are the Carpathians.

Read more: The locative case

The further…, the…: чим … тим

Чим … тим with comparatives means the more…, the more…: чим да́лі на схід, тим суво́ріша зима́. The comparative agrees with its noun: суво́ріша зима́, сухі́ша земля́ (feminine).

  • Чим да́лі на схід, тим суво́ріша зима́, а чим да́лі на пі́вдень, тим сухі́ша земля́. The further east you go, the harsher the winter, and the further south, the drier the land.

Read more: Comparing things

The largest, the highest: най-

Най- + comparative makes the superlative, and it agrees like any adjective: найбі́льша рі́чка (feminine), найбі́льше мі́сто (neuter), найви́ща гора́. Одна́ з найбі́льших краї́н means one of the largest countries: з + genitive plural.

  • Найбі́льша рі́чка Украї́ни — Дніпро́. The largest river in Ukraine is the Dnipro.
  • Тут є найви́ща гора́ Украї́ни — Гове́рла, 2061 метр. Here is the highest mountain in Ukraine, Hoverla, 2,061 metres.
  • Це одна́ з найбі́льших краї́н Євро́пи. It is one of the largest countries in Europe.

Read more: Comparing things

Seven countries, 24 oblasts, 2061 metres

Numbers change for case: межу́є із сімома́ краї́нами (instrumental of сім, after з). After 2, 3 and 4 the noun is in the nominative plural: 24 о́бласті. After a number ending in one, the noun stays singular: 2061 (дві ти́сячі шістдеся́т оди́н) метр.

  • Украї́на межу́є із сімома́ краї́нами. Ukraine borders seven countries.
  • В Украї́ні 24 о́бласті. Ukraine has 24 oblasts.

Read more: Numbers

A date in full

In a full date, the day is a number, and the month and the year are in the genitive: 24 се́рпня 1991 ро́ку. After ста́ти (to become), the role is in the instrumental: ста́ла незале́жною держа́вою.

  • Незале́жною держа́вою Украї́на ста́ла 24 се́рпня 1991 ро́ку. Ukraine became an independent state on 24 August 1991.

Read more: Ordinal numbers, dates and the time

English translation

Ukraine lies in the east of Europe, on the northern shore of the Black Sea. It is one of the largest countries in Europe. Its capital is Kyiv, and its state language is Ukrainian. Ukraine became an independent state on 24 August 1991.

Ukraine borders seven countries. To the north is Belarus, to the north-east and east Russia. To the west are Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, and to the south-west Romania and Moldova. To the south, the country is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Most of Ukraine is a plain. In the west of the country are the Carpathians. Here is the highest mountain in Ukraine, Hoverla, 2,061 metres. The river Prut begins on its slopes.

From north to south, the natural landscape changes. In the north-west there are forests, further on lies the forest-steppe, and in the south and east, the steppe. In the steppe the black earth, chornozem, is very fertile. Most of this land is farmed, and wheat is grown here more than anything else. The further east you go, the harsher the winter, and the further south, the drier the land. On the shore of the Black Sea the climate is like that of the Mediterranean.

The largest river in Ukraine is the Dnipro. It flows from Russia and Belarus, and then through the centre of Ukraine to the south, to the Black Sea. Kyiv, the capital and the largest city in the country, stands on the banks of the Dnipro.

Ukraine has 24 oblasts. But people often talk about the historical regions too: Galicia with Lviv, Volhynia in the north-west, Transcarpathia, Bukovyna, Podillia, Polissia and Slobozhanshchyna (Slobidska Ukraine) with Kharkiv. These regions have different histories and different landscapes.

Question 1 of 9

Where does Ukraine lie, according to the first sentence?

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About the topic

Culture

Ukraine: an introduction

Where Ukraine is, what its land looks like from the Carpathians to the Black Sea, how its regions differ, and which languages people speak, with a few Ukrainian words for places and directions.

Grammar

The locative case

Locative endings in the singular and plural, when masculine nouns take -і, -у or -ові, the consonant changes in на нозі and у руці, and the prepositions в/у, на, по, при and о.

Grammar

Comparing things

The comparative and superlative of adjectives and adverbs, with -іший and -ший, the consonant changes, the irregular forms such as кращий, the forms with більш and найбільш, and how to say "than" with ніж, за and від.

Grammar

Numbers

The cardinal numbers, the form of the noun after 1, after 2 to 4 and after 5 and above, the case forms of один, два, три, чотири and п’ять, and numbers in prices and ages.

Grammar

Ordinal numbers, dates and the time

Ordinal numbers and how they agree, dates with the month in the genitive, years, and telling the time in full, with о котрій, пів на, чверть на and за п’ять.

Grammar

The instrumental case

Instrumental endings in the singular and plural, including ніччю and сіллю, and its uses for tools and transport, with з, after бути, стати and працювати, for time and the way you go, and after під, над, за, перед and між.

Grammar

The genitive case

The genitive singular and plural endings, how masculine nouns choose between -а and -у, and the main uses of the genitive, from "of" and quantities to нема́є and the prepositions без, для, до, з, від, біля, після and у.

Sources

The Ukrainian in this set was checked against these references and the site's lessons. It has not been reviewed by a native speaker or teacher.

  • Constitution of Ukraine (official English text) (Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine)

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: Kyiv is the capital (Art. 20), Ukrainian the state language (Art. 10), and the 24 oblasts (Art. 133).. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading texts “Ukraine on the map” and “The city of Lev”: independence on 24 August 1991; which neighbours lie in which direction; the area, which makes Ukraine one of the largest countries in Europe.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Ukraine (National Geographic Kids)

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: the seven neighbouring countries, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south, a mostly flat country with the Carpathians in the west.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Geography of Ukraine (physical) (Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: mostly flat land; forest in the north-west, forest-steppe, steppe in the south and east; harsher winters to the east, drier to the south, a Mediterranean-like climate on the Black Sea shore.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Hoverlia (Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: Hoverla (2,061 m), the highest mountain in Ukraine, in the Carpathians; the Prut rises there.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Dnipro River (Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: the Dnipro, the largest river in Ukraine, flows from Russia and Belarus south through the centre of Ukraine to the Black Sea.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Steppe (Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: the steppe on chornozem (black earth), mostly cultivated, with wheat as the main grain.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Kyiv (Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: Kyiv is the capital and the largest city, on the Dnipro.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Featured topics: the land and regions of Ukraine (Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading text “Ukraine on the map”: the historical regions (Galicia, Volhynia in the north-west, Transcarpathia, Bukovyna, Podillia, Polissia, Slobidska Ukraine around Kharkiv).. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Lviv (A. Figol, V. Kubijovyč, A. Zhukovsky (updated 2016), Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine (Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies))

    In English. Used for: the reading texts “The city of Lev” and “Ukraine on the map”: the largest city of the western oblasts and historic capital of Galicia; founded by Prince Danylo in the mid-13th century and named after his son Lev, first mentioned under 1256; the castle hill (413 m); the Poltva covered since 1841; the trade routes; the town hall and its four fountains (1827–35); the Black House; the Gunpowder Tower; the Latin and Armenian cathedrals and the Dormition Church.. Accessed 7 November 2026.

  • Горох — онлайн-бібліотека словників української мови: Словозміна, Тлумачення (goroh.pp.ua)

    In Ukrainian. Used for: stress, gender, plurals, aspect and full word forms for the examples, tables and vocabulary lists on every page; the dictionary definitions (СУМ) used for the meanings of ти and ви, the case each preposition takes, and words such as чи, ні and нема́є.. Accessed 29 October 2026.