Text II: lviv

Lviv is a political, economic, industrial and cultural center in Ukraine. It is the largest and most important city in Western Ukraine and shows the influence of the Poles and Austrians who, at different times, controlled the city and the surrounding area. The city was founded in the twelfth century, but people had lived in this place for eight thousand years before. The famous Prince Danilo of Galicia (a kingdom within Poland) founded the town and named it after his son, Leo (Lev in Polish). Everywhere you go in Lviv you will see statues and ornaments of lions, because the lion, “Lev”, is the symbol of Lviv and reminds visitors of the king’s son, the city’s namesake.

In 1356, the town was recognized under the Magdeburg Law, which gave it the status of a small country. This meant the citizens of Lviv were now free people.

By the beginning of the fifteenth century there was a system of running water in Lviv and the first printing house in Ukraine was in Lviv. The first book in Ukraine was printed in this printing house in 1574. It was a Ukrainian Primer for young learners of Ukrainian. There is a museum in the building now with a monument to the first Ukrainian printer, Ivan Fedorov. In Lviv, there is one other very interesting museum — an old pharmacy. You can see old bottles of medicine, many old pictures and many other interesting things.

The center of Lviv is very beautiful with old houses, monuments, churches and narrow, cobblestone streets. The large central square has many trees, flowers and benches, as well as statues of famous Poles and Ukrainians. The Plaza stretches for many blocks along Freedom Street. Many people come to the squares to walk and rest, talk with friends and enjoy singers, dancers and the balloons, food and ice cream for sale in the plaza. At the end of the Plaza is the beautiful Opera Theater and there are several museums and a large craft market nearby. The center of Lviv is so famous that it is on the United Nations list of historical sites that cannot be changed or modernized.

Lviv is rich in musical and artistic traditions. There are theatres, museums, art galleries, a music conservatory and art schools. Performances are held year round at the Lviv Opera Theater. The first school for actors in Ukraine was organized in Lviv in the 17th century. The Lviv University is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1661.

Favorite activities in Lviv include drinking coffee. The person who introduced coffee to Vienna was a Lviv resident, and Lviv citizens continue to enjoy gathering at coffee houses for coffee and pastry at any time of day or night. Citizens of Lviv, especially university students, love to sit and talk about art, music, drama and books while sipping espresso or cappuccino coffee.

Lviv is one of the most beautiful cities in our country. Go there and you can see how beautiful it is for yourself.

Task 2. Choose the correct variant.

15. Which of these statements about Lviv is correct?

A Lviv previously belonged to Poland.

B Lviv was named after the daughter of a king.

C Austrians brought coffee to Lviv.

D The symbol of Lviv is a king’s crown.

16. According to this passage, you could do all these things in Lviv except

A see an opera or ballet;

B visit a coffee café;

C take music lessons

D purchase and remodel a downtown building.

17. If you visit Lviv you will not see

A a large and modern zoo;

B a United Nations historical site;

C many statues and ornaments of King Danylo and his wife;

D many candy stores and pastry shops.

18. The Magdeburg Law allowed Lviv citizens to

A become citizens of an independent country;

B become part of Austro-Hungary;

C publish and print books;

D study in their native languages.

19. Lviv boasts

A the first school for actors in Europe;

B the largest opera and ballet theatre in Ukraine;

C the largest central square in Ukraine;

D the oldest printing house in Ukraine.

20. The first book printed in Ukraine was for

A Polish citizens;

B Austrian adults;

C Lviv pharmacists;

D Ukrainian children.