The irtysh river

• Pre-reading task:

1. What rivers of Kazakhstan do you know?

2. What rivers are there in our region? Read the text and answer the questions.

The Irtysh is the deepest river in Kazakhstan. Only 1400 kilometers of its 4248 kilometers length* are within* the Republic. Springing* from the western slopes* of the Mongolian Altai mountains at an altitude of 2500 meters, «Kara Ertys» or the «Black Irtysh», flows into Lake Zaisan. The outlet* waters from Zaisan Lake are called the ‘Irtysh’ river. Its width* varies from 120 to 150 meters.

On the map of Kazakhstan it crawls* like a blue ribbon across two oblasts: East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar. One of the longest rivers in the world, it travels from the Mongolian Altai mountains through Lake Zaisan, courses in a northern direction into a narrow canyon through the mountains, flows past Ust-Kamenogorsk, and slows its pace* over the west-Siberian plain near Semipalatinsk. Thousands of motorboats, barges and passenger ships ply* the full length of this navigable* river.

Two large hydroelectric stations supply electric power for the region, and the third is under construction. Many towns, villages, large factories, plants and integrated works* line* the banks of the Irtysh.

Vocabulary:

Length - длина

Within - внутри

Spring – брать начало

Slope - склон

Outlet - вытекающий

Width - ширина

Crawl – тянуться

Slows its pace – замедляет скорость, бег

Ply - курсировать

Navigable - судоходный

Integrated work - комбинат

Line – здecь: располагаться

• Are the sentences true or false? Correct false sentences.

1. The Irtysh is one of the deepest rivers in Kazakhstan.

2. The Irtysh springs from the western slopes of the Mongolian Altai Mountains.

3. The Irtysh crawls through Almaty, East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and North Kazakhstan oblasts.

4. There are two hydroelectric stations on this river.

5. The Irtysh is the longest river in the world.

6. The Irtysh is called ‘White Irtysh’ and flows into Lake Markakol.

• Write a similar text about other rivers of our region.

• Draw a map of our region and mark these rivers on it.

Town near chinese gates

• Pre-reading task:

1. Do you know what countries border on our country?

As historians testify, “Zaisan was founded in 1868 when the necessity appeared to found a military post here for supporting and controlling the region”. In 1876 A. Brem, the author of the world-known work “Life of animals” had a trip over West Siberia. He and his colleague – a well known German scientist, Doctor O. Finch visited Zaisan and wrote in the book “Travel to West Siberia”, “Zaisan military post has rather quickly developed into a rather large village. This place makes quite a pleasant impression with its broad streets where willows grow and irrigation canals are on either side of them. Its little brick houses with flat roofs look not very impressive but they are comfortable enough. There is a small nice church with a bell tower and a large school building”.

In 1893 Zaisan received a town status. It took its name from the ancient lake which, as the beautiful old legend tells, has also another name of The Lake of Ringing Bells. The mountains are covered with woods. There are wild animals in them and a lot of birds. Lakes and rivers are full of fish. Climate conditions of this wonderful land allow growing grapes, apples, water-melons, vegetables. Mountain slopes are covered with barberry, currant, and other plants.

• Write out the verbs in the Past Indefinite Tense from the text, put them into the Past Continuous Tense and make up sentences of your own with them.

• Write the summary of the text.

• Find on the map other cities, bordering on our neighbors. Make up a similar text about one of these towns.