Reading

21. Scan the text quickly.

The new boom

T he new boom began with the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway in 1890s, when the merchants flocked to the city on the rail-and-river junction. Many trade companies opened stores and offices here. They built an elaborately decorated district of the city and brought the hustle-and-bustle of modern transportation, means of communications and entertainment here. Foreign powers, including the British, Dutch and Germans, opened consulates to represent their commercial interests. The pinnacle of success came to Omsk with the lavish Siberian Exposition of Agriculture and Industry in 1910. For this Exposition a complex of buildings and fountains was constructed. The constructions as well as the “wonders” of that Exposition influenced the observers greatly so Omsk was called as "Chicago of Siberia".

22. Read the statements and say whether they are true or false.

1. The new depression began with the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway.

2. The merchants flocked to the city to hide out from the gendarmes.

3. Trade companies built an elegant district of the city.

4. Foreign Governments opened consulates in Omsk to represent their commercial interests.

5. By 1910 a complex of buildings and fountains had been constructed.

23. Give answers to the questions below.

1. What was the new boom of Omsk connected with?

2. What modern achievements of those days were there in Omsk?

3. What was called as the pinnacle of success?

4. Why was Omsk called as "Chicago of Siberia"?

Vocabulary Training

24. Read the following words and word combinations:

Shortly after, pro-monarchy, forces, Provisional Government of Russia, decorated war hero, Imperial gold reserves.

25. Remember the following words and word combinations:

key to power – островок власти

eventually – в конечном счете

retreat – отступить

seize – захватить

Reading

26. Read the text quickly.

“White” period

S hortly after the 1917 revolution, the pro-monarchy "white" forces seized control of the city. The "Provisional Government of Russia" was established in 1918, headed by the polar explorer and decorated war hero Admiral Kolchak. He was named Supreme Ruler (Verkhovnyi Pravitel). And Omsk was proclaimed the Capital of Russia, and its central bank kept the Imperial gold reserves. The city proved to be a key to power in Siberia. Eventually, Kolchak, the government, and the gold retreated along the Trans-Siberian eastward to Irkutsk, and the bolshevik "red" forces took control in 1919.

27. Answer the questions to the text above.

1. Who headed the “Provisional Government of Russia”?

2. When was Omsk proclaimed as the Capital of Russia?

3. What year was the control taken by the “red” forces?

Speech practice

28. Work with your partner.

Partner A Partner B

Vocabulary Training

29. Remember the following words and word combinations:

designate – номинировать, провозглашать prompt – побуждать, вызывать dampen – ослаблять, останавливать spark – вспыхивать, искрить

rival – конкурент boost – подъем to be responsible for – (зд.) быть инициатором, автором

30. Translate the words given below:

soviet era, provisional, capital, military, industry, victory

31. Look through he abbreviated names of design sections or bureas and match them with the full variants and the comments

1. OKMO	1. Omsk Transmash design bureau	1. Metallurgy and heavy machine-building bureau
2. KBTM	2. Experimental Design Mechanical Section	2. The main tank design team in the Soviet Union during the early 1930s.