17. Answer the questions to the text.

1. What for was the wooden fort of Omsk erected?

2. What works were erected on the right bank of the Om in the late 1700s?

3. Why do you think Omsk became an administrative centre of Western Siberia in the 19^th century?

18. Work with your partner.

Dates	Places	Rivers	Buildings

Vocabulary Training

19. Read and remember the following words and word combinations

merchant – купец

flock – стекаться, собираться

junction – место пересечения, соединения

elaborate - тщательно, детально разработанный, продуманный

hustle-and-bustle – энергично развивающийся, передовой

pinnacle - вершина

20. Skim the text below and say that in English

транс-сибирская железная дорога, место пересечения рек и дорог, иностранные державы, огромная выставка, вершина успеха, сибирский Чикаго

Reading

21. Scan the text quickly.

The new boom

The new boom began with the construction of theTrans-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

Shortly 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.