1. .
2. , .
3. , , , , , , . .
4. , , , , , , , , . .
5. , , , , , , .
6. , , .
7. (), , , , .
8. , .
Ask your group- mate about his/her experience in having small talk and tell him/her what you think about this experience.
UNIT 3
Topic: Russia and my native city.
Text 1. Russia.
Vocabulary:
to border on
variety
natural resources
ferrous and non-ferrous metals
heritage
destination ,
nicknamed ,
comprise
The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. The country is situated in Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia. It occupies over 17 million square km.
Our land is washed by 12 seas, most of which are the seas of three oceans: the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. In the south and in the west the country borders on fourteen countries. It also has a sea border with the USA.
There is hardly a country in the world where such a great variety of flora and fauna can be found as in our country. Our country has numerous forests, plains and steppes, taiga and tundra, highlands and deserts. There are over two thousand rivers in our country.
There are 11 time zones. The climate conditions are rather different: from arctic and moderate to continental and subtropical. Our country is one of the richest in natural resources countries in the world. There is oil, natural gas, coal, different ores, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other minerals.
The rich cultural heritage and great natural variety of the country attract crowds of tourists. Major tourist routes in Russia include a journey around the Golden Ring of ancient cities, cruises on the big rivers like the Volga, and long journeys on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway.
The most visited destinations in Russia are Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Moscow displays Soviet architecture at its best, along with modern skyscrapers, while St Petersburg, nicknamed Venice of the North, boasts of its classical architecture, channels and bridges.
|
|
|
Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, registered a brand The Third Capital of Russia, though a number of other major cities, such as Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Novgorod, compete for this status.
The most famous natural destination in Russia is Lake Baikal, the Blue Eye of Siberia. This unique lake, the oldest and deepest in the world, has crystal-clear waters and is surrounded by taiga-covered mountains. Other popular natural destinations include Kamchatka with its volcanoes and geysers, Karelia with its lakes and granite rocks, the snowy Altai Mountains, and the wild steppes of Tyva.
The Russian Federation is a multinational state. It comprises many national districts, several autonomous republics and regions. The population of the country is over 140 million people. The official language is Russian. Our country is a constitutional republic headed by the President. Moscow is the capital of our Motherland.
Answer the questions:
1. What is the total area of the Russian Federation?
2. What can you say about its geographical position?
3. What can you say about our flora and fauna?
4. What is the climate in Russia?
5. What natural resources can be found in Russia?
6. Is Russia attractive for tourists?
7. What are the most famous natural destinations in Russia?
8. What can you say about the political structure of Russia?
Text 2. Moscow.
Vocabulary:
to be regarded
to be surrounded
to be adorned
to be erected
to draw
to house
graceful
Cathedral of the Dormition
Cathedral of the Annunciation
Palace of Facets
Terem Palace
Armoury
Grand Kremlin Palace
St. Basils Cathedral
Church of the Intercession
Moscow, the capital of Russia, draws people from all over the world like a magnet. Moscows past, present and future makes it a city of unique interests.
The Kremlin is the top sightseeing in Moscow. It is as old as Moscow itself. Its earliest wooden walls and towers were built in the 12th century. The red brick walls and towers that we see today date back to the 15th century. All in all, there are twenty towers in the Kremlin, but only five have ruby stars atop. The Spasskaya Tower, with its world-famous clock, is regarded as the main Kremlin tower.
The Cathedral Square inside the Kremlin is the most beautiful sight in Moscow. It is surrounded by such remarkable architectural monuments as the Cathedral of the Dormition and the Annunciation, the superb Palace of Facets and Terem Palace, and the magnificent Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, with its 18 richly decorated bells. All these buildings were created by the best architects from Novgorod, Suzdal, Vladimir and Pskov under the supervision of the Italian masters Fioravanti, Ruffo and Solari.
The Armoury, Russias oldest museum, is also situated in the Kremlin. Besides weaponry it has a splendid collection of various works of art from gold and silverware to royal thrones and costumes. The Armoury also houses the Diamond Collection, featuring jewelry, unique specimens of sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, gold nuggets and other treasures.
|
|
|
The Grand Kremlin Palace is another beautiful sight. Important state assemblies and diplomatic meetings are held there.
Red Square is the geographical and historical center of Moscow. It makes a harmonious whole with the Kremlins architectural ensemble. The square is adorned by St. Basils Cathedral, which was built in the 16th century by two Russian architects Posnik and Barma. The building was erected as a monument of Russian military glory. In front of the Cathedral is the monument to Minin and Pozharsky. This is the first sculptural monument in Moscow. On the opposite side of the square there is the State History Museum. It was built in the 19th century. Its more than 300 thousand exhibits tell of Russias history.
The citys cultural life is so rich that it may be difficult to choose something to your liking. There are more than 120 museums, which display millions of interesting things.
The Tretyakov Gallery is considered to be one of the most popular. The Gallery displays the remarkable works of art from early paintings and icons to the 19th century. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts can boast a fine collection of West European painting, including the works of French Impressionists. The countrys leading musical theatre is the Bolshoi with about 50 operas and ballets. This theatre is famous for its traditions, school and artistic standards.
While in Moscow, the visitors admire its architecture. More than a thousand architectural ensembles and monuments have been taken under state protection in Moscow. The magnificent ensemble of the Novodevichy Monastery, founded in 1524, the graceful 16th century church at Kolomenskoe, the ornate Church of the Intercession in Fili and the open air museums of Arkhangelskoe, Abramtsevo and Kuskovo are included in the list of major monuments of the worlds culture.
Answer the questions:
1. Is Moscow the capital of Russia?
2. When was Moscow founded?
3. Who is the founder?
4. What can you say about the Kremlin?
5. What can you say about the Cathedral Square inside the Kremlin?
6. What is the most beautiful square in Moscow?
7. What can you see there?
8. What can you learn from visiting the History Museum?
9. What can be said about the Tretyakov Gallery and the Museum of Fine Arts?
10. Have you ever been to Moscow?
11. What places did you visit or would like to visit?
