Three hundred years ago a young Russian calling himself Peter Mikhailov disembarked at Zaandam. near Amsterdam. He quickly found work as a naval carpenter and so began one of the most fruitful and significant journeys in Russian history.
Mikhailov was Tsar Peter, later to be known as Peter the Great, one of the most enterprising rulers Russia has known. His incognito fact-finding trip to the Netherlands is to be commemorated by the Dutch through a year-long series of cultural exchanges, exhibitions, concerts and political visits. An exhibition is also planned which will gather items collected by Peter on his travels around Europe.
By the time Tsar Peter returned to Moscow in 1698 he had gained first-hand knowledge of the tamed Dutch shipbuilding industry, spoke the language fluently and had recruited 640 Dutch engineers, craftsmen and artists These were to provide with the expertise he needed to propel Russia into the 18th century.
As Peter van Vliet, co-ordinator of events during Peter the Great Year, explained the Tsar had simply gone to learn from the naval experts: "In the 17th century Holland was the most powerful entity on earth. It had the biggest fleet and it sailed all over the world. Peter took knowledge from the Dutch and set up the Russian fleet "
He also liked Amsterdam so much that he decided to use it as a model tor his new capital, St. Petersburg, laying out a network of interlocking canals and bridges. The Dutch are pushing the boat out for Peter the Great Year in the hope that a closer con temporary relationship can be forged.
. 2 .
2 WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT
"Three hundred years of history in Dutch-Russian relations started with Peter the Great's visit to Amsterdam," said Van Vliet.
As holders of the six-monthly rotating European Union presidency from January next year, the Dutch hope to make the Russians more aware of the Netherlands and its rolein Europe, and assist in the gradual integration of Russia into European institutions
"Today we are raced with a new Russia as in the time of Peter the Great", said Van Vliet "When he came to the Netherlands, Russia had been closed off fromthe rest of the world and he returned there with new ideas
"Today there is a similar comparison to be made. Russia can look upon Holland, as it did back then, as a window on Europe."
It a new golden age in Dutch-Russian relations is on the way, it may mean that an outstanding argument between the two nations may be resolved. The whereabouts of the Dutch Koenig art collection has long been a bone of contention in Moscow and the Hague.
The collection of 500 works was looted by the Nazis but then seized by the Soviet Army in 1945. Van Vliet said the subject would be raised informally during the year. Solving that question would be a fine way to celebrate the anniversary of the Tsar's year abroad.
Handsome is that handsome does.
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III. .
1. The good results have given us something to celebrate.
2. We celebrated her birthday with a party.
3. - I've passed all my exams at last.
- Well, that calls tor celebration.
4 There will be a festival held commemorating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare
5. Expertise is a skill, a know-how in a particular field
6. She displayed considerable expertise in bringing the horse under control
7 Since the war Germany had been divided and it had not been one political entity for many years.
8. A canal is an artificialwaterway dug in the ground to allow ships or boats to
travel along.
9. The Panama canal joins two oceans.
10. A channel is a narrow sea passage connecting two seas.
11. The English Channel separates England and France.
12. To be aware of something means to have knowledge or understanding (of). 13. I am well aware that this is a risky investment. But I am ready to take the risk.
14. To argue is to provide reasons for or against something.
\5. They could argue this point for hours without reaching any conclusions. 16. He made a strong convincing argument against accepting the offer 17 In search of evidence the police examined several items of clothing.
18. The escaped prisoner's whereabouts is/are still unknown.
19. New efforts should be made to forge unity in our political party.
20. She didn't do very well when she first went to school, but she has forged
ahead in the last two years.
IV. 3 .
3
The 17 century was a time of some social unrest, with the Moscow riots of 1648 and 1662 and the revolt led by Stepan Razin (1670 - 71) This tension was still evi-dent in 16S2 when Tsar Fyodor died, as the unruly garrison of streltsy or musketeers intervened violently to ensure the dual reign of Fyodor's younger brothers Ivan and Peter.
Ivan and Peter were little more than children and effective power was held by the Regent, their sister Sofya Alekseyevna. Under Sofya and her favourite V.V. Golitsyn. there was tentative Westernization. But the Regency ended in 1689 Sofya was forced to retire to the convent and a new era began under Peter I (1682 - 1725). known to history as Peter the Great (The feeble Ivan died in 1996).
V. 1 2.
Incognito tact finding tap. the famed Dutch ship-building industry, interlocking canals and bridges, enterprising ruler, a year-long series of cultural exchanges, firsthand knowledge, powerful entity, naval experts, six-monthly rotating European Union presidency, outstanding argument.
VI ( ).
) (, . 1)
You roll my log, I'll roll yours.
We are in the same boat.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Lite is not a bed of roses.
Let's return to our muttons.
No pains, no gains.
He can't say "boo" to a goose.
Cut the coat according to the cloth.
Can a leopard change his spots?
What's the use of crying over the split milk.
A bone of contention
Many men, many minds.
A little bird told me.
To kill two birds with one stone.
)
(, . 4):
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Still waters run deep. Dead as a door nail.
) .
(, . 2):
1. There are two birds on the jury whom I don't like. They have a prejudice
against mice playing while the cat is away.
2. There is no help for split milk and your husband could not be given the job
again.
3. The testimony of a devoted wife doesn't carry much weight Blood is thicker
than evidence.
4. If you believe it was all my fault you are putting the saddle on the wrong
horse
5. Lady Mont crossed the room and took up the book from her daughter
"The leopard", she read the title
"Did he change them, Ann?"
"No. he didn't, Mum. He bad no spots to change "
6. "I've changed my will, son. You can cut your coat a little longer now."
7. He decided to take an opportunity and speak to his boss. A word in time saved
nine.
) .
Ben Johnson, a popular detective story writer was introduced to a peer. The latter was so struck with Ben's homely appearance that be exclaimed: "What! Are you Ben
Johnson? why, you look as if you could not say 'boo" to a goose.' "Boo" said John son turning to the peer pen and making a bow
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The Tower of Babel: a Juda's kiss; Pyrrhic victory; Procrustean bed; Sword of
Damocles ( , . ;
; )
VII. 4 .
4
THE UNDERWATER BRIDGE
Britain's queen and Fiance's president made history Friday, officially opening the "channel" that reconnects Britain and the European Continent. Britain was part of the Continent thousands of years ago, before the sea cut through and made the British Isles. The French have had design on tunneling under the English Channel lor more than two centuries. Not so the British For even longer they have valued the channel as God-given protection against armed invaders and other alien intruders - bugs as well as human beings.
All traffic through the tunnel moves by rail, from the platform in Calais to the one at Folkestone, in a swift 35 minutes, and eventually between London and Paris in two and a half hours. Soon after Queen Elizabeth II and the then President Francois Mitterand finished their ceremonial duties Friday. railroad cars were to start transporting trucks carrying freight. Passenger service between London and Paris and cross-channel service for automobiles began later.
The channel's $15 billion cost was roughly twice the original estimate, and completion was a year behind schedule. But the Suez Canal cost more than twice as much as planned, and was also a year late.
Vive le grand project!
The New York Times
I. o (, , )
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As you sow you shall mow - ' , ".
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Like the cat round the hotmilk. " ".
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take to the heels.
To give the cold shoulder.
To be on the sate side.
2. :
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Two heads are better than one " , ".
Custom is second nature. "- ";
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Be born with a silver spoon in his mouth. " "; ) ( ), : Take the cake. " "
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( rob Peter to pay Paul)
( rob Peter pay Paul " "
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: A new broom (: A new broom sweeps clean);
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Don't poke your (officious) nose into my (family) affairs
Blood is thicker than evidence (: Blood is thicker than water);
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Baker's dozen( ). " " ( )
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As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb.
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, , . . , : " ", : " 9" , : "Each cook praises this broth" - " ".
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. This decision willdrive a number of nails into the Tory coffin and we are ready to fight tooth and nail with them.
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Never say die. - .
Rome was not built in aday. - He .
Who would trust crocodile tears? - .
. . - , 1996
To carry coals to Newcastle. - .
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5. . , , 's, . : The Netherlands is...
The United Arab Emirates is...
The Philippines. Algiers, Athens. Brussels. Naples. Wales is... The United States ofAmerica is a federal republic of 50 states.
. The Hague () , . g. The Netherlands is oftencalled Holland Amsterdam is its capital and The Hague is the seat of government
14
( )
facade n
in the facade
tier n
to measure
E.g the room measures 30 feet 30
across
It measures 61 by 20.5 m 61 20,5
Its measure is 202 sq m 202
to be dedicated to smth -
highest military decoration
order n
to establish an order
order in honour of -. (-.)
bearer of some order
arms, coat of arms
V.C. (Victoria Cross) (
, 1856 )
suite . ; , ,
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amusements . pi , , , '"
royal court ()
theatrical performances
to strike (struck) by smth , -
striking . ,
I. I .
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1
The Great Kremlin Palace in front of the Cathedral of the Annunciation stretches some 125 m along the crest of the Kremlin hill K.A. Thon built it in what
has been called the Russo-Byzantine style, the design is really eclectic, combining.1 Classical regularity with Old Russian elements like the arcade and the Moscow Baroque window decorations. Its main facade faces the Moscow River and appears to be three-storeys high, but in tact there are only two, the upper having its windows in two tiers.
As you enter the palace, to the right is a staircase, which joins the palace with the Cathedral of the Annunciation and facing you is the main staircase At the top of the stair-case behind tall golden doors is the White St. George Hall. Intended as the largest room in the palace, it measures 61 mlong, 20.5 m wide, 17.5 m high and can seat tree thousand
Above the entrance a bas-relief depicts St. George slaying the dragon: the hall is dedicated to the Order of St. George, established in 1769 as the highest military decoration in Imperial Russia, corresponding in some of the grades to our British V The motto of the Order was "For Service and Gallantry".
The western wing consists of a suite of ceremonial rooms. One of the rooms is the Hall of St. Catherine with rose and silver walls - the colours of the Order of St. Catherine (est. 1714). The Hall was the place where foreign ambassadors would present their credentials to the government. The 1963 Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty was signed here.
The northern wing of the Great Kremlin Palace consists of the Terem Palace. one of the most picturesque structures in the Kremlin It is unfortunately difficult to see much of the exterior, which is between the new facades of the Great Kremlin Palace (in the S) and the Palace of Congresses (in the N). The rows of windows are decorated with carved stone surrounds. One window in the second row from the top is more decorated than the others. This is the so-called Petition Window of the Tsar's Throne-Room, from here on a rope hung a box into which people could place petitions
Almost at the same time as the Terem Palace the Poteshny (Amusements) Palace was rebuilt as a theater. It was here that the royal court put on various theatrical performances and other "amusements"
. , . :
murals, stonemasons, suite. luxurious, luxury, elaborate, tiers, amusements, facade, frescoes, picturesque, the exterior, the interior, gilded root, a two-storey house, to face the river, in two tiers, slay the dragon, St. George, the Victor, gilded onion dome, to strike by smth. to measure 6/15 m, facade, to measure 202m. coat of arms, theatrical performances, contemporary, baptize, give an impulse to smth.
Measure thrice before you cut once.
III. . :
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If we 't as we could, we must do as we can.
V. 2
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