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CHINA

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China; History and Geography

China is the third largest country in the world with the biggest population than any other nation. About a fifth of all people in the world live in China. This vast country covers about a fifth of Asia. China's official name is "Chung-hua Jen-min-Kung-hokuo" (People's Republic of China). The Chinese call their country Chung Kuo (the middle country). The early Chinese thought their civilization was in the center of the world. The name "China" was given to the country by foreigners. It may have come from Chin, the name of an early Chinese dynasty.

China's history goes back 3,500 years and ranks as the world's oldest living civilization. At first the people of China lived in different small communities which were formed into a single nation about 2,000 years ago.

From then until the 1900's Chinese society was stable; despite the fact that many wars and rebellions occurred and different dynasties ruled the country, the Chinese way of life changed little.

The government was always a monarchy with agriculture being the chief economic activity. China became a republic in 1912 after the last of the nation's dynasties was overthrown. Disputes and bitter quarrels among the government's leaders kept the republic too weak to handle its problems. Hunger and disease, which had been common in China for centuries, became widespread that ever before. Many wars – including a long civil war between the Chinese Nationalists and the Chinese Communists – shattered the nation.

In 1949 the Communists drove the Nationalists from the country, who set up a rival government on the island of Taiwan, about 90 miles (140 kilometers) off the eastern coast. On October 1, Chinese Communists announced the formation of a Communist dictatorship with Mao Tse-tung as the chairman of the government.

China has a huge domain. Geographers divide China into three major areas: Northern China; Southern China and Western or Outer China. Northern China includes the Manchurian Plain of north-eastern China and the wide flat north China Plain in the valley of the Hwang Ho (Yellow River). These two regions have the best farm land in China and many of the country's largest cities.

Southern China is separated from Northern China by the Tsinling mountains. The fertile Yangtse Plain Cies south of them. Rugged uplands and hills cat by small valleys make up the rest of this territory.

Western (Outer) China is covered mostly by great mountain ranges and vast deserts. The Himalaya mountains tower in the southwest. The Tibetan Plateau, a vast region of cold desert uplands extends northward from the Himalaya. The

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Kunlun mountains surround the platean in the north. The Takla Makan Desert and Dzungarian basin extend as far as the Altai mountains, Russia, which form part of China's borderline with the Russian Federation.

Most of China is situated in the temperate zone. Some parts of Southern China are located in tropical and subtropical zones while the northern part is near the frigid zone. In Northern China summers are warm and short, winters are long and cold.

In tropical and subtropical south trees and other vegetation remain green all year round. The eastern coastal regions of China are warm and humid and have four distinct seasons. But the temperature in interior areas of northwest China changes greatly during the day time. There is a saying: "People wear fur coats in the morning and silk at noon".

Beijing a capital of China, is a world famous city with enchanting scenes: the most magnificent imperial palaces, the most spacious square, the longest and straightest boulvard, the matchless fantastic Great Wall.

Beijing is situated on the North China Plain between the Yanshan Mountains and the surging Bohai Sea. It was the capital city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. For thousand years, emperors of past dynasties had ordered the constructions of towering palaces, delicate gardens, stately temples and solemn mausoleums. These are the artistic architecture, painting, engraving calligraphy and poetry together. They occupy important positions in the histories of Chinese culture and architecture.

In Beijing there are the magnificent Tian’anmen Gate, the resplendent

Imperial Palace, the ingenious and mysterious Temple of Heaven, the enchanting North Lake, the Summer Palace with a Rippling Lake, the Tanzhe Temple with towering old trees, the beautifully wrought Faya Pagoda and the grand Badaling Hill. They all are the pick of oriental culture.

Beijing is the political and cultural center of China. New gardens and architectural groups mushroomed (cropped up) in the past years. Especially noteworthy are such artistic means as architectural creations, sculptures with fountains and verandas composed of trees and flowers, by which horticulturist links the city’s scenes up into unique scenic belts and these are woven into an elegant picture stroll.

Vocabulary

to cover – покрывать, охватывать

community – зд. небольшая группа людей (сообщество) to occur – происходить, случаться

to overthrow – зд. сбрасывать

to handle – зд. справиться с чем-либо, решить что-либо common – общий, характерный

widespread – широко распространенный

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to shatter – зд. расшатать, расстроить domain – территория

fertile – плодородный

rugged – пересеченный, изрезанный vegetation – растительность

humid –влажный interior – внутренний

enchanting – захватывающий, очаровательный spacious – просторный, широкий

surge – n. – приток, прилив;

v. – вздыматься, нахлынуть stately – величественный

to merge – зд. сливаться, соединяться to engrave – гравировать

ingenious – гениальный horticulture – садоводство

I. Make the correct form of the verb in brackets; using Present or Past Simple (Active Voice)

1.About a fifth of all people in the world (to live) in China.

2.The early Chinese (to think) that their civilization (to be) in the center of the world.

3.China’s history (to go) back 3,500 years.

4.At first the people of China (to live) in small communities.

5.Different dynasties (to rule) the country.

6.The government (to be) always a monarchy.

7.China (to have) a huge domain.

8.Northern China (to include) the Manchurian Plain, and the wide flat North China Plain.

9.The Himalay Mountains (to tower) in the southwest.

10.In tropical south trees and other vegetation (to remain) green all year round.

II. Make the correct form of the verb in brackets, using Passive Voice

1.The name China (to give) to the country by foreigners.

2.Different small communities (to form) into a single Nation about 2,000 years ago.

3.In 1912 the last of the nation’s dynasties (to overthrow).

4.China (to cover) by great mountain ranges and vast deserts.

5.Some parts of China (to locate) in tropical zones.

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III. Use the correct form of the verb “to be”

1.These …the artistic means of expression.

2.In Beijing there … a lot of enchanting sights (scenes).

3.They all … the pick of oriental culture.

4.Until the 1900’s Chinese society … stable.

5.Hunger and disease…common in China for centuries.

IV. Use the appropriate (comparative or superlative) degree of an adjective

1.China has (big) population in the world.

2.Northern regions of China have (good) form land in this country and many of the country’s (large) cities.

3.In Southern China summers are (warm) and (long) than in the North.

4.Beijing has (long) and (straight) boulvard in the country.

5.Great Wall of China is (good) known attraction in the world.

V. Use the correct article (definite or indefinite) where necessary

1.…Chinese call their country Chung Kuo.

2.…name China was given to the country by foreigners.

3.… Beijing…capital of China is …world famous city.

4.…Beijing is situated on…North China Plain between…Yanshan mountains and…Bohai Sea.

5.In Beijing there are…Tian’anmen Gate,… Imperial Palace, …mysterious Temple of Heaven, … enchanting North Lake, … Summer Palace with …Rippling Lake.

VI. Choose the correct preposition in the following sentences

1.Southern China is separated …northern China by the Tsin ling mountains.

a)with

b)from

c)upon

2.China is covered mostly…great mountain ranges.

a)on

b)with

c)by

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3.Most of China is situated …the temperate zone.

a)in

b)at

c)on

4.Disputes…the government’s leaders kept the republic too weak.

a)between

b)among

c)with

5.…centuries hunger and disease had been common in China.

a)during

b)by

c)for

VII. Complete the Sentences

1.China’s official name is… .

2.China’s history goes back… .

3.The population of the country is… .

4.China became a republic in … .

5.Geographers divide China into … .

6.Most of China is situated in… .

7.Beijing…of China… .

8.The climate of China is… .

VIII. Answer the questions

1.What is the population of China?

2.Describe the China’s history.

3.What areas do geographers divide China into? Describe them.

4.What is the climate of China?

5.What is the capital of China?

6.Where is the capital-city of China situated?

7.What are the most famous sights of the capital-city?

8.What is the political system of China?

IX. Translate in to English

1. Сегодня экономисты знают, что Китай – это огромный потенциальный рынок. Население Китая составляет свыше 1,3 млрд человек; экономика быстро развивается; растет потребление. В последние годы в Китае бурно развивается внешняя торговля.