Text 7 kaluga.
Exercise 2. Read and translate the text.
Kaluga is one of the oldest Russian cities. It stands on the banks of the Oka River. At every step we can come across with many fine monuments dating back to the 16th-17th centuries. In different parts of the city we can see old churches and cathedrals. The oldest of them are church of the 17th century “of Cover on the Ditch” and the Cathedral of St. George “past the hill” of the same period. Several years ago St. Trinity Cathedral renewed its work. There are a lot of other churches here. The most famous are “of Women Myrrh Bearers”, of St. John the Precursor, of St. Nickolas the Miracle Worker, the Church of St. Kozma and Domian, the Church of Lord’s Transfiguration which is the Representation Church of Pafnuty-and-Borovsk monastery.
There are many other architectural monuments in Kaluga. Among them there is the building of the Local Lore Museum. The museum itself was established in 1897. Since 1922 it has been placed in the former town estate of the merchant Zolotaryov that was built in 1805-1808. Remained wall and ceiling murals, highly artistic bas-reliefs and encrusted floor belong to the work of first-class painters, architects and marble-masters in Russia of the beginning of the 19th century, worked in the workshop of Compioni. Two exposition departments – of history and nature of the land of Kaluga – are arranged in the museum halls. The museum unites 10 subsidiaries, situated in the region districts.
One of the most precious private residences of the first decades of the 19th century of the Bilibins (Chistokletovs) merchants houses the Regional Art Museum. It was organized in 1918 on the bases of the collection of doctor Nikanor Ivanovich Vasilyev, the gratis given to the city. At present the museum contains about 7000 works of painting, graphics, architecture and decorating and applied art. Over 200 of them are exposed in the halls of ancient Russian (16th-18th centuries), Russian (18th-20th centuries) and West-European (16th-19th centuries) art. Art works of painters, such as Tropinin, Levitsky, Aivazovsky, Shyshkin, Polenov, Yaroshenko, Surikov, Savrasov, Korin, Grigoryev, Fonvizin and others are exhibited in the museum. The museum has two subsidiaries: in Tarusa and Ulyanovo picture galleries.
The Korobovs’ Chambers is the first stone building in Kaluga built in the 17th century. According to the legend Marina Mnishek lived in this house but the documents say that the building was constructed several years later her coming. Now it is the branch of Kaluga Local Lore museum. The Makarovs’ Chambers are of the similar design.
The Stone Bridge across the Berezuyevsky Ravine was built in 1780 in honour of Kathenine II’s visit to Kaluga. There are only a few bridges of such design in Europe. The whole architectural complex including the Central Park of Culture and Rest, the Stone Bridge and the building of Prisutstvenniye Mesta (Places of the Attendance) was designed by the architect Nikitin.
An Inn Yard (Gostiny Dvor) was built in memory of the past. It was an old trade centre in the 18th-early 19th centuries.
Many famous people visited Kaluga. N.V.Gogol spent several years in Kaluga and wrote here a part of his famous “Dead Souls” (Myortviye Dushi). There is a memorial in the place of the house where he lived. You can see it in Tsiolkovsky park. The Decembrists were exiled to Kaluga and in Pushkin street you can see a memorial plate on one of the houses. It tells that Obolensky lived here. Also in Pushkin street there is a house where Shamil lived during his exile. Certainly Kaluga is connected with the name of Pushkin. In Polotnyany Zavod not far from Kaluga there was an estate of the Goncharovs. Now it is a museum with a wonderful park. And certainly Kaluga has been visited by cosmonauts of Russia and of foreign countries and by scientists who work in the field of space exploration.
Now Kaluga is an important industrial centre because there are some industrial enterprises in it. Some of them are joint ventures, for example Volkswagen, Citroёn and others.
There are more than 50 secondary schools in Kaluga. Some of them are gymnasiums and lyceums. Young people can continue their education at vocational and technical schools. If they want to get higher education they can enter higher educational schools some of which are branches of famous Moscow and St. Petersburg universities and institutes.
Kaluga is also a cultural centre. Citizens like visiting our Drama theatre which is more than 230 years old. Children can see performances of Kaluga Puppet theatre and the theatre of the Young Spectator. Also people can go to a concert hall, an exhibition hall and cinemas in Kaluga. Pupils, students and researchers have the possibility to work in libraries. The richest one in Kaluga is the library named after V.G.Belinsky.
The main streets of Kaluga are straight and wide. Bus, trolley-bus lines stretch the city in different distance.
Kaluga is decorated with many parks and squares. The oldest one is the Central Park of Culture and Rest. Here one can enjoy the scenery of the Oka and its picturesque banks from the observation platform of this park. The next favourite place of spending free time is the Square named after cosmonaut Volkov. Many sports and cultural events are held here. Due to the greenery Kaluga is called “a corner of St. Petersburg”.
Day after day Kaluga is growing. New residential areas appear in former outskirts of the city.
Exercise 2. Correct the statements according to the contents of the text. Begin your sentence with: “I’m sorry but you are wrong…”, “I can’t agree with you …”, “According to the text…”, “You are partly right…”, etc.
1). The oldest churches of Kaluga are the Church of “Cover on the Ditch” and the Church of St. John the Precursor.
2). The Local Lore museum has been housed in the Zolotaryovs’ town estate since 1897.
3). In the expositional departments of the Local Lore Museum we can get to know about the history of Kaluga land.
4). Kaluga Regional Art museum was organized due to the collection of the merchant Chistokletov.
5). In the halls of the Art museum we can see the works of Russian art from the 12th century.
6). The Korobovs’ Chambers is the only stone building in Kaluga built in the 17th century.
7). Nikitin designed only the Stone Bridge which is unique in Europe.
8). There are few establishments in Kaluga where people can get higher education.
9). There are no places in Kaluga where children and adults can see theatrical performances.
10). From the observation platform in the Central Park one can admire the view of Kaluga.
Exercise 3. Using the knowledge of our city say in what streets we can see:
the Church “of Cover on the Ditch”,
the Cathedral of St. George “Past the Hill”
St. Trinity Cathedral
the Church of Wives Myrrh Bearers
the Church of St. Nickolas Miracle Worker
the Churchl of Kozma and Domian
the Church of Lord Transfiguration = the Representation church of Pafnuty-and-Borovsk monastery
the town estate of the merchant Zolotaryov
the house of the Chistokletovs
the Korobovs’ Chambers
the Makarovs’ Chambers
the memorial house-museum of Tsiolkovsky
the Tsiolkovsky museum of History of Space Exploration
the monument to Tankmen
the monument to a Medical Nurse
the monument to the Liberation of Kaluga
Exercise 4. Answer the questions using the information of all three text devoted to Kaluga and you own knowledge.
1). When was Kaluga founded?
2). What role did Kaluga play in the history of Russia?
3). What happened on Kaluga land during the Tatar-Mongol yoke?
4). What events took place on Kaluga land at the beginning of the 17th century?
5). What role did Kaluga play in the war of 1812?
6). What places in Kaluga region are connected with the events of the Great Patriotic War?
7). What monuments devoted to the Great Patriotic War do you know in Kaluga?
8). What monument is situated at the entrance of the city?
9). What churches and cathedrals can we see in Kaluga?
10). What buildings are both architectural monuments and museums in Kaluga?
11). What is included into the architectural ensemble designed by Nikitin?
12). Can you prove that Kaluga is a cultural centre? Do, please.
13). Why is Kaluga called “a corner of St. Petersburg”?
14). Can you prove that Kaluga is growing day after day? Do, please.
15). Do you know what famous people visited Kaluga?
Text 8
Exercise 1. Read the text and get ready to fulfill the tasks.
A trip to Novgorod is a wonderful journey into Russian history. This city was first mentioned in chronicles in 859 A.D.
If you arrive in Novgorod by train, it does not strike you as an ancient city at first sight – everywhere there are new modern buildings – houses, cinemas, shops, cafes and so on. Then suddenly you notice a graceful church at the end of the street, a cathedral at the end of another, and another old church in the third street. Novgorod is planned in such a way that cupolas of its churches and monasteries and the towers of its Kremlin can be seen from every street and every square of the city, wherever you happen to be. All of them are wonderful monuments of architecture, painting and culture of old times. I think no other ancient city of Russia has preserved so many splendid examples of Russian architecture and monumental painting of the 11th-17th centuries as Novgorod.
There are a lot of monasteries in and around the city. One can mention the 12th century Yuryevsky monastery. Its cathedral was built by a Russian master in 1119. Massive and towering it looks like a group of knights in helmets on the lookout for the enemy. Many people come to Novgorod to admire the frescoes by Theophanous, the famous Byzantine artist. The images on his murals are very expressive.
You will also be impressed by the Kremlin, this traditional landmark of all ancient Russian cities. It is in the centre of Novgorod. The simple walls and towers of the Kremlin surround a great many unique relics of different eras.
Exercise 2. Agree or disagree. Begin your sentence with “It’s right…, It’s wrong…, I’m afraid you are wrong…, According to the text…, You are quite right…”, etc.
1. The city was first mentioned in the historical records of the 1st century AD.
2. Novgorod is planned in such a way that we can see beautiful houses in all streets.
3. In many other ancient towns of Russia we can find so many examples of architecture of the 11th-17th centuries.
4. Yuryevsky monastery was founded in the 12th century.
5. The Kremlin is a traditional landmark of all European cities.