Kazakhstan’s famous landmarks

Kazakhstan is a country located right in the heart of Eurasia. It borders three countries of Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Its size by area makes Kazakhstan the ninth largest country in the world.

The first one is the highest of all the Kazakhstan’s Landmarks that you can't miss when arrive in Kazakhstan is Khan Tengri. It is the most northerly "seven-thousander" as they call in the mountaineering circles. It's a marble rock, shaped like a pyramid. Its correct geometrical shape beautifully reflects the sun in different colors depending on the time of the day.

Another one of many Kazakhstan landmarks is the Charyn Canyon. Some call it as the "Grand Canyon" of Kazakhstan or the "little Kazakh brother of the Grand Canyon". The Charyn Canyon is situated about 200 km east of Almaty. It stretches 154 km alongside the Charyn River.

Have you ever been to Singing Sand Dunes? Well, if you are in Almaty then you are only 182 km away from this beauty. They are also called Singing Barkhan, Singing Sand, Singing Dunes. Why singing? When there is a slightest impact on the sand from the outside, the sand produces weird whistling, booming, roaring squeaking, humming and vibrating sounds. Some say it sounds like siren of riverboats, some say like jet planes. Marco Polo wrote on his Gobi Desert travel notes that it sounds like "all kinds of musical instruments, and also of drums and the clash of arms”.

Surrounded by mountains and close to the China border in East Kazakhstan is an astonishingly beautiful mountain lake, situated 1,485 meters above sea level, Markakol. It is 38km long, up to 19km wide and reaches 30 meters deep in some places, and is full of fish, including the uskutsh, a type of lenok trout prized by fishermen.

Task 5. Read the text and write a suitable heading to each paragraph.

Exercise 6. Discuss the following questions about travelling.

1.Do you prefer to travel by plane, train or coach?

2.What is the most recent holiday you had?

3. People say: “Travel broadens the mind”. What do you think about it?

E

Hotel

I thought the hotel was very comfortable…,it was a pity we.…

xercise 7. You were asked by travel company to write a report about your holiday. Write: about travel arrangements, hotel (80 words).

Travel arrangements

….. The coach which was supposed to take us to airport was late…,

Example:

Exercise 8. It’s said that English old buildings have ghosts. Discuss the given questions.

1. Do you know anyone who has seen, or think he/she has seen, a ghost? If yes, please explain.

2. What would you do if you saw a ghost?

3. Do you believe in the paranormal? Why/not?

4. How much do you think TV and movies affect your opinions and beliefs? Please explain.

5. What are some of your favourite ghost and/or horror movies from Hollywood? Why do you like them?

1. Choose the correct variant: I'd prefer _____ rather than walk home.

1. eat at home

2. to get a taxi

3. go alone

4. go for a swim

2. Choose the correct variant: I'd rather _____ my own business than work for somebody else.

1. start

2. to start

3. starting

4. started

3. Choose the correct variant: “a famous building or object that you can see and recognize easily” means:

a) ) landscape

b) landmark

c) landslip

d) landmine

4. Find the meaning of the highlighted word: You know, they have free guided tours of the area-a nice way to get an introduction to a place. Then you can stay and do some browsing on your own afterwards.

a) confined, looked up

b) looking around without a specific purpose, for enjoyment

c) haphazard, careless

d) to go across of land instead of going around the edge of it