The History of Kyiv

Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is one of the oldest cities of Eastern Europe. It is situated on the hilly right bank and on the low left bank of the Dnieper River.

Inimitable in the beauty and variety of its green landscape, a garden city, a city of museums, Kyiv is the historic, political, religious, scientific and cultural center of Ukraine.

A ccording to the Rus Primary Chronicle, the founders of Kyiv were three brothers Kyi, Schek, and Khoriv, leaders of the Slavonic Polianian tribe. The city was named after the eldest, Kyi. The memory of the other two brothers has been preserved in the names of two hills – Shchekavytsia and Khorevytsia – and in the names of the streets. Kyiv was founded in the latter half of the 5^th, or the early 6^th century.

During the reign of Volodymyr the Great Kyiv consisted of two parts - the fortified Upper City and Podil, the lower part. In the upper part of the city lived the prince and his retainers- boyars and the prince’s bodyguard. Podil was inhabited by artisans, fishermen and merchants.

At this time the construction of brick buildings decorated with wall painting and mosaics was begun in Kyiv. The brick Desiatynna Church was among these buildings it was so called because Prince Volodymyr contributed one-tenth of his income to the construction and maintenance of this church.

During the reign f Yaroslv the Wise three gates led to the city. The remains of only one of the, the brick Golden Gates have come down to us. In 1037 the foundation was laid for the magnificent Sophia Cathedral, which formed the architectural center of the new “Yaroslav’s City”.

At that time Kyiv was surrounded by dense forests and the site of present-day Khreshchatyk was a wooded valley. Beyond the Khreshchatyk ravine was the prince’s suburban village of Berestove, in the vicinity of which the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery arose in the 11^th century.

Considerable progress was noted in the development of Rus culture the center of which was Kyiv. It was during this period that the first schools were built. Literacy began to spread among the princes, boyars and rich citizens.

Exercise 35

Read the dialogues in pairs and translate them

Dialogue N 1

• How are you? Here I am. What would you like to begin with?

• You see, we are on the way to the center of Kyiv, to Kreshchatik. It is one of the oldest streets of Kyiv. Unfortunately it was completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. It is the business centre of Kyiv.

• Would you like to visit Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square?

• The matter is that we visited St. Sophia’s Cathedral the other day and we saw Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square. We would like to visit a beautiful church. It is not far from St.Sophia Cathedral.

• You mean Saint Andrew’s church, an outstanding creation of the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, don’t you? It rises about 92 meters above the Dnieper

• I guess, it is very beautiful

• The church interior is also magnificent. But we would better go there on Saturday or Sunday an listen to recordings of the 17-18^th century Ukrainian and Russian music. What about Pechersk Lavra? Have you seen it? I is the most beautiful place in Kyiv

• We are eager to visit the Museum of Ukrainian Folk Art

• Your desire meets my plans. We shall visit it on our way back to the hotel. It is not far from our hotel, too

• Let’s begin with the Museum then

• Settled, let’ go.

Golden Gate

Dialogue N 2

• After a month in Ukraine, what are your impressions of the country and people?

• Well, everyone we have met has been really nice, really friendly

• Do you feel that it is possible to get knowing the real Ukraine in such a short time?

• Of course. We see so much. So many places of interest, it is just wonderful.

• But tell me, where exactly have you been already? Which places?

• Well, we started in Kyiv, then Chernihiv. From there we went to Poltava. Now we are here in Kharkiv

• So what is happening on the rest of the trip?

• We are going to have a few days in Zaporizhia

• Well, visiting of Zaparizhia’s always very exciting. This place is closely connected with the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people for their freedom

• It is so interesting.

Exercise 36

Select the odd word that does not fit into a list, giving reasons for your choice

A: cathedral, church, palace, monument, house

B: ancient, historical, wonderful, hereditary

C: acid rain, smog, toxic waste, nature

Exercise 37

Complete the sentences:

1. Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is……………………………………….

2. During the reign of Volodymyr the Great Kyiv consisted of two parts…………………………………………………………………..

3. According to the Rus Primary Chronicle, the founders of Kyiv were..

4. The pollution develops due to………………………………………...

5. Ukrainians like other nations have…………………………………...

6. Ukrainian mentality was formed influenced by many factors………..

7. Ukrainians are well known for……………………………………….

8. The growing importance of consumer goods is reflected…………….

9. General foundations of political system of Ukraine are defined………………………………………………………………..

10. The worst destabilising factor in the modern Ukrainian community……………………………………………………………

Exercise 38

Read this summary of the text. There are some mistakes in it. Say if the sentences are true or false

1. Ukraine is an independent developing country with its own bodies of state power and government.

2. The territory of Ukraine is smaller than the territory of any state in Western Europe.

3. Geographical position does not make it possible to develop intensive agriculture.

4. Rivers and other water resources play an important role in water supply.

5. The Crimea has the most favorable climate conditions for developing agriculture.

6. The Sea of Azov is the deepest sea in Europe.

7. Ukraine has rich deposits of oil and gas

8. Kyiv was founded in the 11^th century as a trade centre on the Dnieper river

9. The founders of Kyiv have not been mentioned b the chronicles

10 St.Sophia Cathedral, St.Andrew church, the Kyiv Pechery Monastery are outstanding historical monuments and cultural values of the Ukrainian people.

GRAMMAR EXERCISES:

Exercise 1

Put the verb in brackets into the Future Perfect

1 By next winter he (to sold) all his things. 2 He (to leave) when you arrive. 3 By next month he (to write) hid fourth play. 4 We (to solve) this difficult problem by the end of the week. 5 The wind (to drop) by then. 6 When the sun sets I (to read) this book. 7 If you come at nine they (to have) dinner. 8 If you ring me up after nine o’clock, I (to speak) to the doctor. 9 We (to travel) twenty miles more before we cross the frontier. 10 Next year we (to be) together for ten years.

Exercise 2

Translate from English into Ukrainian

1. I shall leave for Moscow as soon as I have finished my business here.

2. He will not see you before I have spoken to him.

3. She will return this magazine after she has read it.

4. Do not come here before you have finished writing this latter.

5. I shall lend you this journal as soon as I have read it.

6. As soon as I have come home, I will call you.

7. After you have finished writing this document, please, call the manager about it.

8. When you have done the work, you still will have plenty of time.

9. As soon as you have got any news, let me know.

Exercise 3

Translate from Ukrainian into English

1. Чи прийдеш ти додому до 5 години?

2. Він не підпише цю угоду, доки ретельно не ознайомиться з нею.

3. Чи відремонтуєш ти свій годинник до п’ятниці?

4. Він ретельно перевіряє машину перед тим як купити її.

5. До п’ятої години ми зробимо цей переклад.

UNIT 7

GRAMMAR: Modal Verbs