II. Read, translate and retell the text: Text 1 The Altai Territory

The Altai Territory is situated in the south- east of Western Siberia. The territory borders on Novosibirskaya and Kemerovskaya territories, Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Altai. Its territory covers 169.1 thousand square kilometers (sq.km.), the population is 2.7 million people. The territory has 12 towns, 11 urban and 60 rural districts. The capital of the territory is Barnaul.

There are more than 3 thousand lakes in the territory. The largest lake is Lake Kulundinskoye (728 sq. km.). Two types of landscape prevail in the territory: mountainous in the East and steppe in the West. Considerable areas are covered with taiga forests.

"The Belokurikha" health resort with its famous radon baths is situated in a picturesque corner of the Altai foothills. Visitors of Lake Yarovoye use its curing mud. Herbs are prepared in Altai in large quantities.

Today Altai produces engines, tractors, tractor ploughs, tyres and so on. Altai is called "the Breadwinner". Altai is a major agricultural producer in Russia. It produces millions of tons of grain, meat, milk, vegetables and potatoes. Altai is a great producer of sugar beet, oil-giving sunflowers and soy. A number of other crops are grown here: buckwheat, oats, millet, rye, and flax. Fruits and berries are also grown here.

Altai ranks first in Russia in the output of cheese and second in the output of butter. Breeding animals for furs is highly developed in Altai. Principle branches of agriculture are crop production, livestock farming, fodder production, maral breeding and bee keeping. Livestock farming specializes in meat, milk, dairy products, wool. Food processing industry is the second in the industrial structure of the territory. There are dairy, meat processing, confectionery, baking, sugar and cheese making enterprises in the Altai Territory.

World famous is the Altai stone-cutting art. Artistic articles made by Kolyvan masters decorate many palaces and museums. The unique "Queen of Vases" is kept in the State Hermitage.

Text 2 The Altai Territory

The Altai Territory is situated in the south-east of Western Siberia. Its territory is 169.1 thousand square kilometres. The population of the territory is 2.7 million people. The territory has 12 towns. The capital of the territory is Barnaul.

There are many lakes in the territory. There are mountains and steppes in Altai. There are a lot of forests in the territory. The Altai territory has many health resorts.

Today Altai produces engines, tractors, tractor ploughs, tyres and so on. Altai is a great agricultural producer in Russia. It produces grain, meat, milk, vegetables and potatoes. Farmers grow buckwheat, sugar beet, soy, oats, flax, fruits and berries in the region.

Altai is a great producer of cheese and butter. Farmers breed animals for furs in Altai. The main branches of agriculture are crop production, livestock farming, fodder production, maral breeding and bee keeping. Food processing is very developed in the territory. There are dairy, meat processing, confectionery, baking, sugar and cheese making enterprises in the Altai Territory.