Английский язык. Лопатина Т.Я

to gear – приводить в движение, запустить, направить по определенному плану

to supply – снабжать, обеспечивать from overseas – из-за рубежа

to dilapidate – разрушаться, приходить в упадок to restore – восстанавливать

anew – заново, по новому

Ekaterinburg Today

Ekaterinburg is a large, lively city as well as a historic one. It is not only the administrative centre of the Urals, but also a great cultural centre with a population of about 1.5 million. Its banks, companies, and enterprises do business with many countries of the world. Few other cities in the Urals have so many theatres, museums and art galleries or offer such a wide variety of places of public entertainment.

Ekaterinburg has higher schools, a branch of the Academy of Sciences, many research institutions and educational establishments.

Central Ekaterinburg has office and government buildings, stores and sidewalks crowded with shoppers. But it also has beautiful parks and gardens where people can escape the crowds and traffic.

The streets of the city are straight and broad. Lenin Avenue is the main street of the city. It runs east to west. Lenin Avenue is one of the busiest streets: trams, buses, and trolleybuses run in every direction and connect the centre with the suburbs of the city. The traffic is very heavy during the rush hours.

Let’s have a walk down Lenin Avenue, from one end to the other. One can see a good number of big shops on both sides of the Avenue. The Hotel Isset is a multi-storey grey building. The Bolshoi Ural Hotel is right in the centre of the city just behind the beautiful building of the Opera House. The Musical Comedy Theatre, which is undoubtedly one of the finest of the kind, and the cinemas Salute and Sovkino are within a few minutes’ walk from here.

Go still farther and you’ll see the majestic building of the famous Polytechnical University in the distance. In the square in front of the main building of the University you’ll see the monument to those of the teachers and students of the Institute who were killed in the Great Patriotic War. The Urals Branch of the Academy of Sciences and some scientific research institutions are also in this district.

Now let’s walk up Lenin Avenue as far as the Historical Centre. On your left you can see the monument to the founders of the city William Genin and Vasily Tatishchev. The monument was solemnly unveiled in 1998 when we marked the 275th anniversary of the foundation of the city.

There are a lot of historic places in our town as well as places of contemporary interest.

Ekaterinburg

Facts from the History

Ekaterinburg is an old industrial city. It is a railroad centre and the largest city in the Urals. It was founded in 1723 by the order of Peter the First. The place of the would-be city was found by Vasily Tatishchev, a man of great will and many talents.

The town owns its origin to a metallurgical plant which rose on the banks of the Iset river, and by the standards of those days was one of the best not only in Russia but also in Europe. The construction of the plant was finished under supervision of William Genin who substituted Tatishchev.

The position of the city was further strengthened by its new glory: it was in the Urals that the first Russian gold, platinum and diamonds were discovered. Ekaterinburg became a capital of gold, gems and jewels, a kind of Russian Eldorado where gold was right underfoot while precious and semiprecious stones could be picked up like mushrooms. The Urals metal was highly esteemed in Europe. Iron, pig iron and copper were in permanent demand.

The 20th century brought about radical changes. The city, which witnessed the Golden age of Russian Empire, suffered its tragic end. In the years of the Civil War the city’s economy was seriously damaged. July 1918 saw the murder of the family of the last Russian Emperor. In 1924 Ekaterinburg was renamed Sverdlovsk, the historical constructions were ruined and new quarters erected. Entire blocks of old houses, town estates and mansions were pulled down. Out of 40 Orthodox Churches there survived only 3.

After the outbreak of the war the whole of the city’s industry and economy was geared to serve the needs of the front. It was at that time that the Urals took the main and most difficult task of supplying the front with whatever was necessary. As a result the industrial potential of the city kept steadily growing.

In 1991 the city was returned its original name. Ekaterinburg today is a “third capital” of Russia in arts and culture. Theatres, opera, ballet, expositions and concert halls welcome writers, artists, musicians not only from Russia but from overseas. The city’s face has changed: many of the old and dilapidated houses and mansions were restored or just built anew.

1. Read text “Ekaterinburg today “ and number the main ideas in the order they appear in the text:

a.The monument to the founders of the city.

b.Two hotels on Lenin Avenue.

c.General information about Ekaterinburg.

d.The monument to the teachers and students of the Polytechnical University.

e.Ekaterinburg – a scientific and educational centre.

f.One of the city’s busiest streets.

2. Find equivalents in this text for the following:

вузы, образовательные заведения, оживленная улица, связывать центр города с окраинами, движение очень напряженное в часы пик, сбежать от толчеи и транспортного потока, по обеим сторонам проспекта, прямо в центре города, Театр Музыкальной Комедии, как раз позади прекрасного здания Оперного театра, идите еще дальше, перед главным корпусом университета, великая отечественная война, научно-исследовательские институты, идите ... до Исторического центра, был торжественно открыт, годовщина основания города.

3. Now read text “Ekaterinburg. Facts from the History”:

a) Answer the following questions:

1.Who found the place of the would-be city?

2.What role did the metallurgical plant play in foundation of Ekaterinburg?

3.In this text Ekaterinburg of the past is compared with Eldorado. Can you explain why?

4.What happened to the city in the years of the Civil War?

5.In what connection is the year of 1924 mentioned in the text?

6.What role did Sverdlovsk play during the Great Patriotic War?

7.Why can we call Ekaterinburg today “a third capital “ of Russia in arts and culture?

b) Agree or disagree with the following:

1.It was Peter the First who found the place of the would-be city.

2.The construction of the metallurgical plant on Iset river was completed by Vasily Tatishchev..

3.The position of Ekaterinburg was strengthened by discovery of gold, platinum and diamonds.

4.The city was renamed Sverdlovsk after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War.

5.During the Patriotic War the city’s industry served the needs of the front.

6.Today many of Ekaterinburg’s dilapidated houses and mansions are pulled down.

c) Find in the text words and expressions with the same meaning as the following:

Now work in pairs. Taking Dialogue 2 as a model, invent your own dialogues, asking the way and giving directions about : the Dam, 1905 Square, Monument to the founders of the city, the building of the City Administration, the Central Post Office, etc.

Time for Fun

The traffic was very heavy in the street. Suddenly a man ran to the policeman who was standing in the middle of the street.

Man: What is the nearest way to the hospital?

Policeman: If you just stand where you are standing now, you’ll get there immediately.

* * *

When a beautiful girl got on the crowded bus, a young man started to get up. But she pushed him back to his seat and said that she preferred to stand. Again he tried to get up and again she pushed him back. At last he shouted: “Now listen, lady! I passed my stop two blocks back – let me out!”

* * *

The bus was unusually crowded one morning. A passenger sitting next to the window suddenly covered his eyes with his hands. The man next to him asked, “Are you ill? Can I do anything for you?”

“I’m not ill,’ the other answered. “I just do not like to see old women standing”.

TOPIC: THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

FOCUS ON GRAMMAR

1.Use of the Definite Article with Geographical Names

1.Look at the following and put them into logical groups.

2. Look at the examples and write rules for the use of the in each case.

Rule 1: the Nile, the Thames, the Atlantic, the English Channel, the Suez Canal Rule 2: the Seychelles, the West Indies, the Philippines

Rule 3: the Sahara, the Alps, the Rockies

Rule 4: the Czech Republic, the USA, the UK

Rule 5: Innsbruck, Switzerland, Europe

Rule 6: Napoleon, Count Dracula

Rule 7: Lake Ontario, Everest, Lake Baikal

Rule 8: the north of England, the south of Spain, the Middle East, the Far East Rule 9: northern England, southern Spain, western Canada

3. Read these sentences carefully. Some are correct, but some need the (perhaps more than once). Correct the sentences where necessary.

1.Last year we visited Canada and United States.

2.Africa is much larger than Europe.

3.South of England is warmer than north.

4.We went to Spain for our holidays and swam in Mediterranean.

5.Tom has visited most countries in western Europe.

6.A friend of mine used to work as a reporter in Middle East.

7.Next year we are going skiing in Swiss Alps.

8.Malta has been a republic since 1974.

9.Nile is the longest river in Africa.

10.United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

4. Here are some geography questions. You have to choose the right answer. Sometimes you need the, sometimes not. Try and find out the answers if you don’t know them.

Example: What is the longest river in the world? ( Amazon/ Rhine/ Nile)

The Amazon

1.Where is Bolivia? ( Africa/ South America/ North America)

2.Where is Ethiopia? ( Asia/ South America/ Africa)

3.Of which country is Manila the capital? ( Indonesia/ Philippines/ Japan)

4.Of which country is Stockholm the capital? ( Norway/ Denmark/ Sweden)

5.Which country lies between Mexico and Canada? ( Venezuela/ El Salvador/ United States)

6.Which is the largest country in the world? ( United States/ China/ Russian Federation)

7.Which is the largest continent? ( Africa/ South America/ Asia)

8.What is the name of the mountain range in the west of North America?

( Rocky Mountains/ Andes/ Alps)

9.What is the name of the ocean between America and Asia? ( Atlantic/ Pacific/ Indian Ocean)

10.What is the name of the ocean between Africa and Australia? ( Atlantic/ Pacific/ Indian Ocean)

11.What is the name of the sea between England and France? ( Mediterranean/ English Channel/ French Sea)

12.What is the name of the sea between Africa and Europe? ( Black Sea/ Red Sea/ Mediterranean Sea)

13.What is the name of the sea between Britain and Norway? ( Norwegian Sea/ English Channel/ North Sea)

14.Which river flows through Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade? ( Rhine/ Danube/ Volga)

15.What joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans? ( Suez Canal/ Panama Canal)

GRAMMAR 2: PASSIVE VOICE

1. Complete these sentences using the passive and suitable verbs below:

eat grow make up manufacture speak teach wear

1.Both cars and computers …. in Korea.

2.English … in many schools in Russia.

3.A great deal of cotton … in Egypt.

4.Frogs and snails ( улитки) … in France.

5.Canada … of ten provinces and two territories.

6.Kimonos … sometimes … in Japan.

7.French … not widely … in Great Britain.

2. Use the present passive of the verbs in brackets.

1.70 billion cups of tea ( drink) in Britain every year.

2.A billion liters of fruit juice ( buy) by the British every year.

3.20 million litres of milk ( drink) every day.

4.9 million chickens and turkeys ( kill) every week.

5.Not everybody eats meat. Meat ( not eat) by three per cent of British people.

6.3,500 litres of water ( use) by the average British family every week.

7.In Britain over 15 million newspapers ( read) every day.

8.Over 30 million television sets ( own) by British families.

9.Every day enough rubbish ( produce) to fill Trafalgar Square up to the top of Nelson’s Column.

3. Read the following conversation.

Now correct the statements that are wrong. Say “ That’s right” or “ That’s wrong”.

1.Americans often buy foreign cameras, TVs, stereos and cars.

2.Koreans sometimes buy American running shoes.

3.American clothes sometimes come from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

4.Americans never import watches from Europe.

5.Americans import onions and potatoes from Mexico.

6.Other countries often make cheaper cars, stereos, and clothes than the United States.

7.Roberto thinks he should go so he’ll have enough time to take pictures before class.

8.Victor thinks he should go so he can take a shower before class.

4. Complete the phrases in column A with suitable information in column B:

5. Now change these active sentences into passive sentences with by:

a)Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.

b)Marie Curie discovered radium.

c)Milfred and Patty Hill wrote the song “Happy Birthday to You”.

d)Mark Twain wrote the American novel Huckleberry Finn.

e)Thomas Edison invented the photograph and the light bulb.