The Far East: people and culture

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The curriculum offers a broad range of major fields. At some departments new programs have been introduced not only to give students fundamental knowledge but also to teach them to appreciate the achievements of civilization.

The research at the University is in line with the work of the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, Moscow Universities, and the research centers of the Far East. Researchers give much attention to the problems of education. They organize international symposia, research conferences, workshops and seminars.

The international contacts of the University are expanding. Currently it has student and teacher exchange programs with colleges and universities in the USA, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Switzerland and France. Every year about 50 university students and teachers participate in exchange programs.

Assignment from the text “Khabarovsk State Pedagogical University”

VOCABULARY ON THE TOPIC “EDUCATION”

VOCABULARY IN PRACTICE

I. Give the English equivalents:

1.факультет иностранных языков

2.гибкая система продолжения образования

3.довузовская подготовка

4.аспирантура

5.теория и практика преподавания иностранных языков

6.перевод и переводоведение

7.теория и практика межкультурного общения

8.выпускник

9.особенности многонациональной среды

10.профилирующая дисциплина

11.гуманитарные науки

12.поли-этническая среда

13.сотрудничество с к-л

14.языковое влияние

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15.амбулаторное отделение (клиника)

16.центр международного сотрудничества

17.практические исследования

18.заочное обучение

19.иметь все необходимые условия для учебы

II. Match the following word to their definitions:

f.a powerful effect that something (new) has on a situation or a person

g.the buildings, equipment and services provided for a particular purpose

III.Find the opposites for the following:

1.full-time

2.pre-university

3.fundamental

4.science education

5.minority

6.misunderstand

7.decrease

8.get a booby prize

9.extra-curricular activities

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IV. Find the synonyms:

1.collaborate

2.understand

3.a student hostel

4.start

5.goal

6.participate

7.schedule

8.equipment

GRAMMAR STRUCTURE

I. Note all the sentences with the Passive Voice and translate them into Russian (define the tense-aspect form of the verbs).

II. Translate the following grammatical patterns:

1.A new computer has been recently bought for the lab.

2.It was found that the papers for the conference were printed double space instead of 1.5.

3.It is assumed that the participants will take care of their accommodation themselves.

4.The construction of new houses in another place is being negotiated with the district authorities.

5.Nobody has been refused a chance to put forward their ideas for discussion.

III. Translate the following sentences:

1.Это исследование проводилось несколько лет назад.

2.На эту статью часто ссылаются.

3.На их выводы можно положиться.

4.Ему всегда задают много вопросов.

5.Первокурсников разместили в университетском общежитии.

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COMPREHENSION TASK

I.Comment on the proverb: “The more you study, the more you know; the more you know, the more you forget”.

Find as many proverbs concerning education as possible. Then speak on your opinion of the quotation before the text.

II. Supply full word-combinations for the following initial abbreviations;

III. Ennumerate the institutions, departments and all necessary facilities of the University.

IV. Give detailed information on ILIC.

V. Speak on the international contacts of the University.

VI. Retell the text.

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MUSEUMS

TEXT 10.

THE HISTORY OF THE REGIONAL MUSEUM

The Khabarovsk Regional Museum was opened on the initiative of the Priamursky Branch of the Imperial Russian Geographic Society (PBIRGS) on April 19, 1894. Its formation is closely connected with the name of Nikolay Ivanovich Grodekov - governor-general of the Priamursky Territory, a wellknown explorer, the first head of the PBIRGS, and the active creator of the museum reserves. From 1902 to 1922 the museum had the name of Grodekov – " a true leader and inspirer" of museum study in the Russian Far East. In 1994 on the museum‟s centenary day the original name of Grodekov was restored.

By the beginning of the XX-th century the Regional museum became the leading museum in the Priamursky Territory. Its collections were displayed in different cities, at home (Novgorod, Kazan) and abroad (Chicago, Paris). An important role in the history of the museum was played by Vladimir Klavdievich Arsenyev - a famous traveler, scientist and writer, who headed the museum for more than 10 years (1910-1919 and 1924-1925). During that period the museum became the centre of folk-lore studies in the territory. In 2000 the Khabarovsk Regional Museum was given the status of a scientific institution and the title of "the best museum of the year 2000".

The building of the museum is a three-storied detached house. It is situated off the main road, near the "Intourist" Hotel in 11, Shevchenko Str.

Built at the turn of the century and beautifully restored to its former elegance, the building is home to a unique collection of flora and fauna of the

Russian Far East. Existing since the first days of the museum‟s formation, the natural history department gives information on the geography of the Khabarovsk Territory, the variety of its mineral resources and diversity of its unique flora and fauna. The mineral resources section, which is situated on the

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ground floor, displays mineral resources, such as copper and ore deposits, soft and hard coals and precious and semi-precious stones. The only meteorite found within the Khabarovsk Territory (Khabarovsk meteorite) and some fragments of the famous Sikhote-Alyn meteorite, which crashed in 1947, are also displayed here.

The museum also houses a picturesque ethnographic exposition. The archaeological collection of the museum includes more than 35,000 items. 1,200 of them are of great scientific value and they are available to visitors in the Archaeological Department. The chief peculiarity of the department is that there are five thematic sections in the exhibition, which cover the period from the origin of human beings to the Mongolian invasion.

Culture of the Stone Age period (Paleolit 30000-13000 years B.C.) is displayed in the first section. The remains of ancient pottery made on the banks of the Low Amur 13,000 years ago are of great interest to many visitors. Among the unique exhibits of Neolithic art are statuettes - figures of women well known as "Amur Venus".

Illustrations, pictures and exhibits in the third section give an overview of the ancient art of Priamurye, the most interesting of which are petroglyphs. The first petroglyph appeared here 8,000-10,000 years ago. Copies of the basaltic blocks made in the Sikhachi-Alyan settlement attract visitors’ attention. There are depictions of human faces on the stones carved out by the hands of ancient people.

The first states in the Far East (The state of Bokhai, the Golden Empire of Chzhurchzhens) appeared in the Iron Age. Their history was closely connected with conflicts and wars. The museum‟s artifacts of that time are abundant in medieval armament. Among them there are arrows and spears, and the harnesses of war horses. Visitors' attention is usually drawn to men‟s belts composed of bronze. The remains of temples – bricks and tiles with relief ornament found by archaeologists – are a valuable part of the medieval section.

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The museum traces local history from the late 19th to the early 20th century through exhibits dealing with the culture and life of the indigenous population, and the Russians who first appeared on the banks of the Amur River at the end of the 16th century.

Moving from one section to another, visitors can have a look upon many millenniums and penetrate into the atmosphere of ancient epochs. Among the museum's 144 thousand exhibits there is a skeleton of a sea cow, a mammal from the past – now fully extinct, mammoth tusks, a bison skull and many other unique things.

Guided tours are offered daily, so you needn‟t book tickets in advance.

Nowadays the museum collection includes more than 328,438 thousand items. Many of them are exhibited in 12 sections of the museum. The museum is visited annually by 180,000 people. More than 2,500 excursions, lectures and lessons are given here. Nine moving exhibitions are displayed in the museum and in other cultural-educational institutions of the city.

Assignments from the text “The History of The Regional Museum”

I.Translate the following phrases.

-on the initiative of

-to be connected with

-on the centenary day

-at home

-abroad

-three-storied detached house

-off the main road

-at the turn of the century

-to be restored to former elegance

-to give information

-variety

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-diversity

-deposit

-to house

-to be available

-to be the chief peculiarity of smth

-to be of great interest

-to attract visitors‟ attention

-to draw visitors‟ attention to

-to trace smth through smth

-to deal with

-to penetrate into the atmosphere of smth

-fully extinct

-in advance

-museum collection

-item

-to be exhibited

II.Find English equivalents for the following words and wordcombinations.

-туземцы, местное население

-выставка

-неповторимая коллекция

-осень (Am. E.)

-восстанавливать

-вмещать

-годовщина

-столетие

-по инициативе

-на основе

-владелец Краеведческого Музея

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-живописная выставка

-широкие знания

-прослеживать историю через

-иметь дело с чем-л./ кем-л.

-быть в изобилии

III. Explain in English the meaning of the following words and wordcombinations:

history, to display, to restore, to trace, exhibition, picturesque, to establish, combination, unique, to be situated, façade, to be connected with.

IV. Without looking at the text use the following phrases with the preposions and translate them into Russian.

to deal …

to trace smth …. smth to be connected … thanks …

… the beginning … to be visited …

to be displayed … to be available …

to be restored … smth to be abundant … smth

V. Make up your own sentences using the phrases listed above. VI. Match the synonyms.