For the first time Russians got acquainted with Altai in the 17th century. Exploration of Altai proceeded faster after Beloyarskaya (1717) and Bikatunskaya (1718) forts had been constructed.
Altai had long been known as the region of metal mining. Father and son Kostylevs are by rights considered to be discoverers of ore deposits in Altai. Their godsend was quite successfully taken by a well-known Ural mine-owner Akinfy Demidov who got a monopoly right to building works and mines in Altai in 1726. And on September, 21, 1729 there started to function the firstling of Altai’s metallurgy - Kolyvano-Voskresenskiy Factory.
In 1730 Demldov's messengers, who were searching for more convenient location for constructing a new bigger factory, chose the mouth of the Barnaulka river. It is 1730 that dates the foundation of Barnaul.
Altai's interiors were rich in silver. In 1744 Demidov's assistants started silver-melting production. And in 1747 empress Elizaveta Petrovna issued a decree by which Altai became a property of Russian tsars - and the Cabinet was in charge of Demidov's former enterprises. In the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries 90% of Russia’s silver was smelted in Altai. Gold extracting was also accelerating. By the end of the century there functioned 70 placer mines and about 1680 kg of gold were extracted annually.
The discovery of rich reserves of jaspers, porphyries, marbles and granites promoted the development of stone-cutting industry. In 1802 in the village of Kolyvan, not far from Mountain Sinukha was founded a lapidary works. Here there were created famous masterpieces of stone-cutting art many of which are preserved till present times. They are exhibited in the largest world museums. The largest vase in the world - "Queen of Vases" decorates one of the Hermitage's halls.
By the end of the 19th century mining industry underwent the period of crisis and almost all works were closed. Merchant and agrarian Altai came to change the previous epoch. In the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries private manufacturing industry was presented by flour and grain mills, distillery works, winter footwear works and sheepskin wear works. Agriculture was becoming the basis of Altai's economy. In addition to growing grain there developed potato planting and apiculture was in rapid development as well. In the beginning of the 20th century first positions in agriculture was occupied by dairy farming and butter manufacturing. Altai butter was exported to the countries of Western Europe.
Stolypin's land reform had a great impact on peopling and development of Altai: labor resources grew considerably, a new advanced culture was introduced into agricultural production, and commodity-money relations expanded.
By 1915 Altaiskaya railway had been built and it connected Novonikolaevsk, Barnaul and Semipalatinsk. The water transport was modernized as well.
In 1917 provisional government formed Altaiskaya Guberniya with Barnaul as its center. It existed up till 1925, in the period from 1925 to 1937 the Altai Territory was a part of Western- Siberian Krai, and in 1937 Altai Krai was formed.
The economic development of Altaiskaya Guberniya was greatly affected by building of Turkestano-Sibirskaya railway in the end of the 1920s. Barnaul Blended Yarn Factory was constructed in Altai for processing cotton from Middle Asia. There were constructed grain elevators in Barnaul, Biysk and Kamen-on-the-Ob; sugar processing factories appeared in Biysk and Aleisk, meat processing factories were built in Rubtsovsk and the village of Pospelikha. An extensive metal processing and building material production commenced in Altai; the transportation network also enhanced. By the end of the 1930s Altai changed into one of the largest agro-industrial regions of Siberia. During World War II period about 100 industrial enterprises were evacuated to Altai from western regions of our country, including 24 factories of national significance. After the war the extensive exploration of new engineering and technology began in Altai. The growth rates of industrial production in Altai were six times higher than the national average. The industrial development influenced agriculture positively. But the greatest event was the development of virgin lands (about 2,619 thousand hectares). Altai gained strength, its popularity grew, and by the 1990s it stood in the lineup with leading regions of the country.
II. Read, translate and reproduce the dialogues:
| 1. peculiarity 2. feature 3. to be situated 4. equal 5. crossing 6. ancient trade routes 7. besides 8. search 9. freedom 10. century 11. silver 12. treasury 13. it seems to me 14. no wonder 15. according 16. scientist 17. researcher 18. engaged 19. study 20. origin 21. development 22. emergence 23. various 24. as a proof 25. unique 26. species 27. insects 28. to found 29. as far as I remember 30. to become 31. in former times 32. to include 33. province 34. famous 35. motherland 36. sharply 37. to call 38. corner of paradise 39. landscape 40. varied 41. hilly 42. mountainous 43. smooth 44. plane 45. surface 46. to turn 47. pine 48. to stretch 49. lake 50. the others 51. salina 52. water chestnut 53. relict one 54. raspberry pink 55. pink-crimson shade 56. due to 57. planktonic crustaceans 58. saline 59. consistent 60. to lie 61. to sink 62. bottom 63. reservoir 64. salt crust 65. to possess 66. curative properties 67. border 68. district 69. to mean 70. meat 71. kind 72. sandy beach 73. it’s worth it 74. to be treated 75. foothills 76. to flow 77. to wash 78. to link | особенность черта располагаться равный пересечение древние торговые пути кроме того поиск свобода век серебро сокровищница мне кажется не удивительно согласно ученый исследователь занимающийся изучение происхождение развитие появление различный как доказательство уникальный виды насекомые основать насколько я помню становиться в давние времена включать губерния знаменитый родина резко называть уголок рая ландшафт разнообразный холмистый горный гладкий равнинный поверхность сменяться сосна простираться озеро другие соленое озеро чилим реликтовое растение малиновый розово-малиновый оттенок из-за планктонные рачки соленый плотный лежать тонуть дно водоем соленая корка обладать лечебные свойства граница район означать мясо вид песчаный пляж это того стоит расцениваться подножье течь омывать соединять |
Dialogue 1
· Could you tell me a few words about Altai and its peculiarities?
· One of the peculiar features of Altai is that it is situated at an equal distance from the four oceans, as the crossing of ancient trade routes. Besides it was the place where people came in search for land and freedom. In the XVIII century the territory of Altai was "the Silver Treasury of Russia".
· It seems to me already, that Altai is the heart of the land.
· No wonder. According to some scientists and researchers, engaged in the study of the origin and development of biological life forms on the Earth, Altai was the centre of the emergence of various forms and kinds of life. As a proof of this there are unique species of insects, animals, birds and plants in Altai Krai.
· When was the Altai territory founded?
· As far as I remember, Barnaul became the center of the Altai Territory in 1937. But in former times Altai was included in Tomsk province.
· How many towns are there in Altai?
· The territory has 12 towns, and the capital city is Barnaul.
· Is Altai famous for talented people?
· Yes, Altai is the motherland of many talented people such as German Titov, Vasily Shukshin, Valery Zolotuhin, Michail Kalashnikov and others.
· Thank you, it was very kind of you to tell me about your territory.
Dialogue 2
· What is the climate like in the Altai Territory?
· The climate is sharply continental with long and cold winter, which lasts as long as six months, and hot summer due to which Altai is called "a Corner of Paradise".
· What can you say about the landscape of Altai?
· The landscape of Altai is varied. It's hilly and mountainous in the east; the smooth plane surface turns into steppe in the west. The unique pine forests stretch for hundreds of kilometers.
· Are there many lakes? What are they famous for?
· Altai is famous for thousands of blue lakes. Some of them have fresh water, the others are salinas. The largest is Kulundinskoye lake. One can see water chestnuts in the lake, this plant is a relict one and is put in the Red Book.
· Have you ever been to the lake?
· No, but I’ve been to Malinovoye Lake.
· Is it really raspberry pink?
· It’s true. The water in the lake has a pink-crimson shade. Such a colour is due to a special kind of small planktonic crustaceans living in the lake. The water is very saline and consistent; you can lie on the surface of the water and not sink. At the bottom of the reservoir there is a salt crust, possessing curative properties.
· It’s very interesting!
· Yeah, and last year I rested near Utkul Lake. It is situated on the border of the Troitsky and Zonalny districts. The name of the lake from the Tatar language means «meat lake» which is the lake with a lot of fish. And it is really so. It has very many different kinds of fish. The lake is warm, the water is fresh, and has sandy beaches.
· Oh, I’d like to visit this lake one day.
· I think it’s worth it.
· Why is the Ob treated to be the most important water route?
· There are few such rivers on the globe. Its length is five thousand kilometers. It begins at the foothills of the Altai Mountains and flows up to the Arctic Ocean. It washes the area of about 3 million square kilometers and links Altai with the Northern territories of Western Siberia.
III. Ask your friend:
· где расположен Алтайский край;
· какая общая площадь Алтайского края;
· какова численность населения;
· какой город является столицей края;
· с какими регионами граничит Алтайский край;
· какой реки протекают по территории края;
· какой ландшафт преобладает в крае;
· почему Алтайский край называют житницей;
· родиной каких знаменитостей является Алтайский край.
Part II
The Engineering Faculty
Engineer
I. Learn the words you need by heart. Read, translate and retell the text:
| 1. Engineering 2. profession 3. to be defined as 4. application 5. science 6. branch 7. to be based 8. empirical information 9. to depend on 10. observation 11. experience 12. mechanical engineer 13. ability 14. to calculate 15. mechanical advantage 16. interaction 17. strong material 18. sources of power 19. analytical frame of mind 20. imagination 21. design 22. equipment 23. the like 24. to require 25. creative 26. working knowledge 27. various 28. available 29. area 30. manufacture 31. research 32. development 33. to keep up 34. successfully 35. to compete 36. table 37. to apply 38. to prepare 39. educational establishment 40. direction 41. equipment engineers 42. car serviceman 43. product processing 44. to be responsible 45. machinery fluent operation 46. preventive maintenance 47. repair 48. resistance 49. sowing and harvesting seasons | инженерное искусство, инженерия профессия определять как применение наука отрасль быть основанным эмпирическая информация зависеть наблюдение опыт инженер-механик способность подсчитывать, рассчитывать механическое преимущество взаимодействие прочный материал источники энергии аналитический склад ума воображение проектирование оборудование тому подобное требовать творческий практическое знание различный доступный область производство исследование развитие следить за успешно конкурировать таблица применять подготавливать образовательное учреждение направление инженер по оборудованию инженер по сервисному обслуживанию переработка продуктов быть ответственным плавная работа оборудования превентивное техобслуживание ремонт сопротивление сезоны посадки и сбора урожая |
Text 1
Engineer
Engineering is an old profession. Engineering is often defined as a practical application of theoretical sciences such as physics and mathematics. Many of the early branches of engineering were based not on science but on empirical information that depended on observation and experience.
Nowadays the mechanical engineer has the mathematical ability to calculate the mechanical advantage from the complex interaction of different mechanisms. He also has new and strong materials to work with and different sources of power. The engineer has an analytical frame of mind and imagination.
Engineers design and make machines, equipment and the like. Such work requires creative abilities and working knowledge of scientific principles. The engineer must also have the understanding of the various processes and materials available to him. He can work in any of the following areas: the organization of manufacture, research and development, design and construction.
This profession requires special education. Engineers must keep up with changes in their profession. A mechanical engineer who does not know about new materials and "know-how" cannot successfully compete with one who does. An engineer must understand engineering tables and formulas and apply them in his work.
The Altai territory is an agricultural region, that's why it is important here to prepare good specialists for agriculture. The main higher educational establishment working in this direction is Altai State Agrarian University where I’m studying now. I'm a second-year student of the Engineering Faculty. Our Faculty trains agricultural equipment engineers, electrical engineers, car servicemen and specialists in the area of agricultural product processing.
An engineer is responsible for machinery fluent operation, its preventive maintenance and repair. It is necessary for an engineer to know the equipment with which he works. Modern agricultural machines are equipped with computers. That's why we study many theoretical subjects, such as theoretical mechanics, resistance of materials, theory of machines and mechanisms, modern computer science, tractors and automobiles, details of machines, agricultural equipment, mathematical modeling and many others.
To study theoretical subjects is not enough to become a good engineer, so every year the students of our university have practice on different farms of our region. Students work on combines, tractors and other agricultural equipment during sowing and harvesting seasons, help technicians and mechanics to repair and maintain machines.
Text 2
| 1. engineering 2. to use 3. science 4. strong 5. equipment 6. source of power 7. to design 8. manufacture 9. research 10. development 11. construction 12. to be responsible 13. operation 14. machinery 15. preventive maintenance 16. repair 17. to be interested in 18. technique 19. ability 20. observation 21. thinking 22. sense 23. managerial 24. to requires 25. education 26. subject 27. one day | инженерия использовать наука крепкий, прочный оборудование источник энергии проектировать производство исследование разработка строительство быть ответственным работа машины превентивное техобслуживание ремонт интересоваться техника способность наблюдательность мышление чувство организаторский требовать образование предмет однажды |
Engineer
Engineering is an old profession. Engineers use such sciences as physics and mathematics in their work. Engineers work with new and strong materials, new equipment, and different sources of power. Engineers design and make machines and equipment. Engineers can work in the organization of manufacture, research, development, design, and construction. They are responsible for good operation of machinery, its preventive maintenance and repair.
An engineer must be interested in technique. He must be independent, active, creative. He must have technical abilities, technical observation, and technical thinking. An engineer must have a sense of responsibility and managerial abilities
This profession requires special education. That’s why I entered Altay State Agrarian University. I’m studying at the Engineering Department now. We study many theoretical subjects and have practice on different farms. And one day, as I hope, I’ll become a good engineer.
Text 3
| 1. to typify 2. century 3. direction 4. large-scale enterprise 5. analytical frame of mind 6. imagination 7. either 8. to design 9. to invent 10. performance 11. to be engaged in 12. development 13. drawing 14. specifications 15. to deal with 16. to determine 17. equipment 18. quality 19. to be in charge 20. installation 21. handling 22. kind 23. various 24. assembly station 25. tool 26. die 27. jig 28. assembly fixture 29. welding 30. automotive body 31. source of power 32. alloy 33. purposes | характеризовать век управление масштабное предприятие аналитический склад ума воображение либо проектировать изобретать работа заниматься разработка чертеж технические требования иметь дело с… определять оборудование качество быть ответственным установка транспортировка вид различный сборочная станция инструмент штамп зажимное приспособление сборочное приспособление сварка автомобильный корпус источник энергии сплав цель |
Engineer
The engineer typifies our century. In the organization and direction of large-scale enterprises we need his analytical frame of mind and imagination.
He is either designing the product itself or inventing new products or testing the product, its components and the materials in it; or analyzing its performance and making a mathematical analysis.
He may be engaged in the development of the new product, making drawings and specifications.
He may deal with the development of a new production process or the adaptation of a current process to a new product.
He may use his engineering know-how in determining the best processes and equipment for the mass production of high-quality products.
He may be the project engineer in charge of the design and installation of a highly automatic conveyer system for handling different kinds of parts between various assembly stations.
He may be working on designing and developing tools, dies, jigs, assembly fixtures and welding fixtures for the production of an automotive body.
He has many new sources of power. He works hard to develop better materials, new alloys for special purposes.
II. Read, translate and reproduce the dialogues:
Dialogue 1.
Peter: I have just finished school and I want to work at a plant.
Misha: That's a good idea. You may learn to become a turner like me. It is a very good specialty.
Peter: What can you tell me about the plant where you work?
Misha: Our plant is very big. It is equipped with modern machines. We produce high-quality goods.
Peter: How much do you work every day?
Misha: We work in two shifts. Every shift lasts about 12 hours.
Peter: What can you say about people working with you?
Misha: Oh, they are different as so often is the case in such matters. Some of them are cheerful and the others are gloomy. A plant is a good school to learn how to be on friendly terms with many people.
Peter: What are your wages?
Misha: My wages are high as I am a qualified turner.
Peter: Please tell me, what do you do after working hours?
Misha: Last year I entered Altai State Agrarian University. Now I am an external student of the Engineering Faculty. I want to become an engineer. So I am busy with my studies.
Peter: I see. But have you time for the cinema, theatre or concerts?
Misha: Yes, I have. I go to the theatre on my days off. I like music very much and I often go to concerts.
Peter: Now I understand that you have a really interesting life.
Dialogue 2.
Interviewer: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Paul Smith: Sure.
Interviewer: First of all, what do you do for your living?
Paul Smith: I am a motor mechanic. I work in a tire assembly workshop. I remove different defects in cars.
Interviewer: Isn't it rather a dirty work? And a very noisy one?
Paul Smith: Yes, there are difficult moments. We work for about 10 hours a day in every season. We often work in the open air and it is natural that all the advantages and disadvantages of the weather affect us.
Interviewer: And then what is the charm of your profession?
Paul Smith: You know like it can be: a man with a trouble finds help in your workshop and you are happy with it, and of course, money. You've got good money for your good work. I am a qualified specialist and I always have many clients. Everybody knows me in my district. I have a good reputation.
Interviewer: Can you remember your first steps in this field of activities?
Paul Smith: Yes. My father was a fine mechanic. He loved engines. Before I could walk, the workshop was my playroom. My father put me there so that he could keep an eye on me all day long. My toys were springs and pistons that lay around all over the place. So I was to fall in love with engines and automobiles.
Interviewer: Thank you Mr. Smith, it was very interesting to speak to you.
