Kazakhstan.

The Republic of Kazakhstan is situated in the central part of the Eurasian continent. Its territory is 2717300 sq. km. In the west, northwest and north the RK borders on the Russian Federation. In the south and southwest there are the republics of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan borders on China in the east. More than 15 mln people of 114 nationalities live in our country.

The relief of the country is various. There are highlands, lowlands, plains and hills. The northern and central parts of Kazakhstan are mostly plain. There are mountains in the south and southeast. The highest is the Khan-Tengry peak which is 6 995 meters high. The nature of our republic is beautiful. Every person can find places to his taste: wide steppes which are especially beautiful in spring, high mountains and thick forests.

A large part of the Republic borders on the Caspian and the Aral seas. There are more than 1000 rivers and lakes in the region. The largest rivers are the Irtysh, the Ishim, the Syr-Dariya, the Ural. The lakes are the Balhash, the Borovoie, the Tengiz.

The climate of the country is various. In the north the climate is sharp continental with cold and long winters and hot summers. In the south the climate is milder though summers are also hot but winters are not so severe.

The climate of the republic is favourable for agriculture. The land of Kazakhstan is rich not only in golden wheat; it gives people cotton and rice, apples and potatoes. Each region of the country grows grain, vegetables and fruit.

The republic is rich in natural resources such as oil, copper, zinc, coal, iron ore, gas and many others. Such industries as textile, oil and coal mining, machine-building are the most important in our state.

Kazakhstan is a sovereign democratic state. The head of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

The capital of our country is Astana.

a) Find in the text the English for:

Республика Казахстан, центральная часть, Российская Федерация, Китай, северная часть, самый высокий пик, широкие степи, высокие горы, пик, густые леса, благоприятный для сельского хозяйства, богата природными ресурсами, самые важные.

Қазақстан Республикасы, орталық бөлігі, Ресей Федерациясы, Қытай, солтүстік бөлігі, ең биік шыңы, кең далалар, биік таулар, шың, қалың ормандар, ауыл шаруашылығына қолайлы, табиғи ресурстарға бай, ең маңызды.

b) Agree or disagree with the statements.

1. Kazakhstan is situated in Europe.

2. The Republic borders on Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and China.

3. Kazakhstan is larger than Russia.

4. 20 mln people live in Kazakhstan.

5. There are high mountains in the west of our country.

6. The climate of the country differs from one part to another.

7. In the south the climate is milder.

8. The climate is favourable for agriculture.

9. The head of Kazakhstan is the King.

10. The capital of the country is Almaty.

c) Reconstruct the cut off sentences.

1. in, severe, is, the north, the climate.

2. plains, of, in, the country, the west, are, there.

3. the, Almaty, capital, former, is Kazakhstan, of.

4. the east, China, in, borders, Kazakhstan, on.

5. is, the climate, in, mild, the south.

6. live, our republic, people, 15 mln, in.

7. Russia, borders, Kazakhstan, on, the north, in.

8. favourable, agriculture, is, the climate, for.

9. the Caspian, of, in, the west, Kazakhstan, lowland, is, there.

Exercise 5. Answer the questions.

1. Where do you live?

2. Where is Kazakhstan situated?

3. What countries does it border on?

4. What is the population of the state?

5. How can you describe the relief of the country?

6. What is the climate of the RK like?

7. What do farmers grow?

8. What natural resources is Kazakhstan rich in?

9. What branches of industry are developed in the country?

10. What town is the capital of the RK?

11. Is Kazakhstan a sovereign state?

12. Who is the head of the state?

Exercise 6. Speak about Kazakhstan by the plan.

1. Geographical position.

2. Area.

3. Borders.

4. Population.

5. Relief and nature.

6. Climate.

7. Agriculture

8. Natural recourses and industry.

9. Capital

Exercise 15. Read and translate the text about Almaty. “Almaty”

Almaty is the former capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan and one of the most beautiful and largest cities of the state. Almaty was founded in 1854 as a fortress and was called Verny until 1921. Today Almaty is a large city with a population of more than 2 mln people.

It is situated in the south of Kazakhstan and surrounded by mountains. You can see the peaks of the mountains from any place of the city. This gives Almaty its own beauty.

Almaty is the industrial centre of Kazakhstan. There are many industrial enterprises of light, food, and printing industries.

Almaty today is a city of higher schools and research institutes. Many people prefer to get higher education in Almaty because many educational institutions like the Kazakh State University, Police Academy and many others are widely known for their good traditions and high quality of education.

The cultural life of Almaty is rich. There are many theatres, cinemas, museums, libraries, concert halls and exhibition halls. Besides the Abai Kazakh Opera and Ballet Theatre which is the pride of national musical culture, it has the Drama Theatre named after Auezov and Russian Drama Theatre named after Lermontov. Visitors are always attracted by displays in the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan, the State Arts Museum and the National Picture Gallery.

Almaty is famous for its beautiful buildings such as the many-storied hotels “Almaty”, “Kazakhstan” and “Ankara”, the Palace of Sport, the Wedding Palace and the Circus. A mountain skating rink “Medeo” is known to all sportsmen.

Though Almaty isn’t a capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan any more it remains for many people the most attractive and beautiful city.

a) Find in the text the English for:

Бұрынғы астана / бывшая столица, крепость, таулармен қоршалған / окружен горами, баспа өнеркәсібі / печатная промышленность, зерттеу институттары / исследовательские институты, ұлттық музыка мәдениетінің мақтанышы / гордость национальной музыкальной культуры, көрме / выставка, сурет галереясы / картинная галерея, көп қабатты / многоэтажный, мұз айдыны / каток, Дворец Бракосочетания, цирк.

b) Agree or disagree with the following:

1. Almaty is the capital of Kazakhstan.

2. Almaty is a very old city.

3. The city is surrounded by mountains.

4. Almaty is the smallest city in the Republic.

5. Almaty is the industrial centre of Kazakhstan.

6. “Medeo” is a famous cinema in Almaty.

7. There are no many-storied hotels in Almaty.

c) Retell the text using the following words as a plan:

• the former capital

• was founded

• is surrounded

• industrial enterprises

• prefer to get their education

• the pride of national musical culture

• named after

• many-storied hotels

• mountain skating-rink

• remains for many people

Exercise 16. Read and translate the text. “Astana”

Astana was founded as a fortress Akmola in 1830. Due to its geographical position in the centre of Kazakhstan it always played a great role in the political, economic and social life of the country. In 1961 Akmola was renamed Tselinograd but in 1998 it got the name of Astana and became the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Today Astana is quickly growing. New buildings, industrial enterprises appeared in the city. As it is a centre of education and science, there is a number of Institutes of higher education, colleges, vocational and secondary schools.

You can learn about the history of our motherland and Astana in the History Museum, besides you can find a good collection of paintings in the Museum of Arts.

Astana is a beautiful city with long and wide streets and broad avenues. One can’t help admiring its wonderful fountains in the centre of the city. The wide river Ishim divides the city into two parts. There are some bridges over the river. If you want to have a rest you can go to the central park and have a good time in the shade of big trees. There are some Palaces of culture, concert halls, theatres and cinemas in Astana.

Today Astana is an important political centre. It is a place where our Government seats and where different political meetings and conferences take place.

a) Make up your own sentences with the underlined words.

b) Answer the questions about the text:

1. When was Astana founded?

2. Where is it situated?

3. What were the names of our capital?

4. Is Astana a centre of education and science?

5. What museums in Astana do you know?

6. What makes Astana very beautiful?

7. Where can people have a rest?

Exercise 17. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Менің туған қалам елдің солтүстігінде орналасқан. / Мой родной город находится на севере страны.

2. Ол көптеген биік ғимараттары, кең көшелері мен жасыл парктері бар әсем қала. / Это красивый город, в котором много высоких зданий, широких улиц, зеленых парков.

3. Менің туған қаламда тарихи мұражай, драма театры және көрме залы бар. / В моем родном городе есть исторический музей, кинотеатр, драматический театр, выставочный зал.

4. Қаланың орталығында үлкен алаң бар. / В центре города большая площадь.

5. Алматыда үлкен кондитер фабрикасы бар. / В Алматы есть большая кондитерская фабрика.

6. Астананың халық саны шамамен 500 мың адам. / Население Астаны более 500 тыс. человек.

7. Алматы Қазақстанның ең үлкен қалаларының бірі. / Алматы самый большой город в Казахстане.

8. Сіз орталық паркте жақсы демала аласыз. /Вы можете хорошо отдохнуть в центральном парке.

9. Жастар әртүрлі жоғары оқу орындарында жоғары білім ала алады. / Молодые люди могут получить высшее образование в различных высших учебных заведениях.

10. Үкімет басшылығы Астанада орналасқан. / Правительство страны находится в Астане.

Exercise 18. Make dialogues on the following situations.

1. You moved to a new flat. Explain your friend how to get to your house from the Institute.

2. You are in an unknown city. Ask a passerby how to get to a hotel (hospital, station).

Exercise 19. Speak on the situations:

1. Imagine that you are going by bus in the centre of your native town. Describe what you see.

2. Say what you like in your native town best of all, what it is famous for, what sights are shown to the visitors.

Exercise 7.

a) Read and translate the text.