2. U

   |.Esson 1 a local profile

   1 Colour in the flag and unjumble the text about the Russian flag by putting the lines in the correct order (1-9).

   njumble these words which are geographical features.

1. A A L С P T I

2SPADULN

3TNTEO I CNN

4. A D N L

5. A E О N С

6. R R E В О D

7. I R E R V

8. 0 1 R N E G

9. IOATNPOUPL

10. E

    I

    S A

2. Put the verbs in brackets in the appropriate tenses.

FROM RUSSIA WITH GLOVES

Jamaican reggae singer Lenky Roy has left the Caribbean for Russia to promote his new album, Siberia. Roy and his crew, which includes a documentary film team, flew into Moscow. After several days of travel they arrive in Yakutsk.

We are in the air for eight hours, speeding northeast. At 2 a.m. Moscow time, the sun

1. (Rise) above the horizon. Looking down we (2)

(see) land for the first time — a bizarre-looking tangle of ice and water. As we draw closer to our

destination, I (3) (find) it impossible to believe there can be an airport, much

less a major city, waiting for us.

The captain (4) (just, announce) the final approach: light winds from the

north and minus 32 degrees Celsius. The approach (5) (be) all ice and bare

trees. Coming in low, I see no sign of life at all: not a single road ... nothing. At 300 feet I see a real road

and a lone warehouse swamped by snow. We (6) (land) and now in front of the

plane there are many industrial structures. Large drilling platforms (буровые платформы) are visible

ahead in the distance. Plumes of steam (7) (rise) from anything that moves,

mechanical or living. We step out onto the runway and quickly into our escort’s van. We (8)

.

. (go) outside

(be not dressed) properly, but David and I (9).

while the group (10). we (11)

to the heated van. We (13).

and never be without our heads covered. We (14)

really (15)

not to be messed with.

(wait) for the luggage to be unloaded. Within minutes

. (be) frozen solid and (12) (have) to return

(be warned) to breathe only through our noses

(hear) these warnings, but

(not, think) they were serious. Now it’s clear to us — the cold is

B

4 Read the text and fill in the articles where necessary.

BLUE BRIDGE

Right between (1) St Isaac’s Cathedral and (2) City Hall

there is (3) bridge that is very hard to see. It is as wide as

4. ) adjacent Isaakievskaya Square. And it currently serves as

5. ) parking lot. Yet, at 97.3 metres the so-called Blue Bridge

(SiniyMost) is (6) widest bridge in (7) world. To the

disappointment of (8) people of (9) St Petersburg

.Widest Bridge in (12)

(10).

lue Bridge was not accepted as (11).

Guinness Book of (14) Records. The reason for this is unknown (probably there is no reason at all).

If you find (15) wider bridge elsewhere in (16) world, please, let us know.

(17) Blue Bridge was designed by architect V. I. Geste and built of cast iron in 1818. In 1842-

1844 it was reconstructed and widened. The name “Blue Bridge” originated from (18) tradition of

c

lower part of (20).

Blue Bridge is still painted blue.

olour-coding downtown bridges. (19).

28

T

Г

1

Lessons 2-3 Special people, special places