Reading Text

I. Read and translate the text into Ukrainian. The national emblems of ukraine

The national emblems include the coat of arms, the flag, and the seal.

The Coat of Arms. The contemporary national coat of arms of Ukraine is azure, a trident is or. It is the most ancient and dignified of all the Ukrainian insignia. The classic form of the Ukrainian trident is found on the coins of Volodymyr the Great /979-1015/. The archeological finds of trident in Ukraine go back to the first century A.D. The number of specimens of the trident stands now at 200. It was a mark of authority and a symbol of the ethnic groups, which composed the Ukrainian nation.

In the XI1 century, the image of Saint Michael the Archangel superseded the trident as the highest national device.

On March 22, 1918 the trident was adopted as the national device of the Ukrainian National Republic. It was adopted in the form of a Great and a Small Coat of Arms.

The National Flag. Ancient Ukrainian rulers had different banners and standards. Red was the most frequent colour. Blue and white were also used but yellow was rare. The most frequent bearings were stars, crosses and dynastic devices. In the 19^th century, the necessity arose for a visible symbol of the self-determination of the Ukrainian nation. In 1848 the Supreme Ruthenian Rada in Lviv revived the coat of arms of the former kingdom - Azure, the Lion Rampant - Or. Two flags were used at that time. One represented the golden crowned lion on the light blue flag. The horizontally stripped flag, yellow above blue, became the national flag in Halytsia and all over Ukraine.

On March 22, 1918 the composition of national colours was decreed by a law of the Independent Ukrainian National Republic. On November 13, 1918, the light blue over yellow flag was established for the Western Ukrainian National Republic. On March 15, 1939, the light blue over yellow flag was established for the Carpatho-Ukrainian Republic. The flag became a symbol of the all-Ukrainian unity. Both the yellow above light blue flag and the light blue above yellow were hoisted until 1949.

The Ukrainian Anthem. The Ukrainian Anthem, "Ukraine Has No Yet Perished", is of quite recent origin. In Western Ukraine after 1848 there were two songs which enjoyed popularity at national celebrations and patriotic demonstrations. The song "Grant, О Lord, in Good Time" was composed by Julian Dobrylovsky /1760-1825/. The verse "We Bring You Peace, Brothers" was written by Ivan Hushalevych /1825-1903/. In 1848 the verse was recognized by die Supreme Ruthenian Council in Lviv as the national anthem of the Halycian Ukrainians. The Carpatho-Ukrainians, on occasion of popular celebrations, sang the song by Oleksandr Dukhovych /1803-65/ "I Was, Am and Will Be a Rusyn" /Ruthenian/. In the central and eastern Ukrainian lands the "Testament" of Taras Shevchenko was used for many years as a national anthem at manifestations and demonstrations.

In 1863 the Lviv journal Meta /Goal/ published the poem of Pavlo Chubynskyi /1839-84 "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished". In the same year it was set to music by the Halycian composer Mykhailo Verbytskyi /1815-70/. This song with its catchy melody and patriotic text became popular among the Ukrainians. In 1917 it was officially adopted as the anthem of the Ukrainian State.

The Constitution of Ukraine adopted by the Supreme Rada on June 28, 1996 defines the State symbols of Ukraine and the State Hymn of Ukraine in Article 20.

Notes

the coat of arms - герб

a seal - печатка

azure - голубий колір

a trident - тризубець

or - жовтий або золотий колір

insignia - знак, емблема

specimens - зразок, екземпляр

national device - національна емблема, символ

banner - прапор, стяг, символ

standard - прапор

self-determination - самовизначення

revive - поновлювати, воскресати

rampant - що стоїть на задніх ногах

hoist - піднімати

perish - вмирати

grant - дарувати

"Testament" - „Заповіт"

II. Answer the questions:

1. What are the National emblems of Ukraine?

2. What was the trident?

3. What was me most frequent colour of Ukrainian banners?

4. When was the light blue above yellow flag adopted?

5. When was the anthem of the Ukrainian State officially adopted?

III. Use the words from the box to complete the sentences.

flag

or

anthem

trident

national

1. _________ is gold or yellow tincture.

2. _______ was the symbol of authority.

3. The song with the patriotic text was officially adopted as the _________ of the Ukrainian State.

4. The __________ became a symbol of all-Ukrainian unity.

5. The composition of the ___________ colours was decreed by law.

IV. Are the sentences true or false?

1. Yellow was the most frequent colour of the Ukrainian banners

2. Ancient Ukrainian rulers had different banners.

3. The Ukrainian Cossacks had crimson banners.

4. The trident was superseded in the eleventh century.

5. Pavlo Chubynskyi wrote "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished in 1863.

Unit Ten

Kyiv — the Capital of Ukraine

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Its history goes back to the 5-th century. There is a legend about foundation of Kyiv. Once there were three, brothers: Kyi, Shchek and Khoriv, and they had a young sister Lybed. They founded a city on the hills and called it Kyiv after the eldest brother.

The city was founded by Slavic people, possibly as early as the A.D. 400's. Ancient Kyiv was a large commercial centre of the East Slavs. Its position on the important waterway helped its trade. The East Slav tribes united in a single powerful state, Ancient Rus. A great role in the history of Kyiv was played by Prince Volodymyr, who united Slav peoples. So Kyiv was made the capital of Ancient Rus and it lasted for nearly three centuries. Under the rule of Yaroslav the Wise Kyivan Rus with Kyiv as its capital reached the height of its power.

Kyiv is the largest ancient centre of national. Ukrainian culture. It numbers more than 20 museums, 1300 libraries, 41 theatres, 121 parks. Kyiv is growing, and it is being built, it also becomes younger and more beautiful

But it is not only its old age and long history that make Kyiv stand out among other cities. It is a unique and extremely harmonious combination of historic values and ways of life that attracts crowds of people from all over the world to Kyiv.

Among the places of historic interest is St. Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv-Pechersky Monastery, St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Church of St. Andrew, Golden Gates, Vydubetsky Monastery, Askold's Grave and many other ancient monuments which attract attention of visitors.

The cultural life of our capital is rich and varied. There are a lot of fine museums in it: the Historical Museum, the Museum of Ukrainian Art, the Museum of Russian Art, the Taras Shevchenko Museum, the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, the Lesya Ukrainka Memorial Museum and others. Many research institutes and higher educational establishments are there. Kyiv is also famous for its theatres such as the Ivan Franko Ukrainian Drama Theatre, the Opera House, the Lesya Ukrainka Russian Drama Theatre, the Puppet Theatre and others. The famous Kyiv Shevchenko Opera and Ballet Theatre has one of the best opera and ballet companies in the country.

Nowadays Kyiv is large political, industrial and scientific centre. Its population equals 3 million people. It is situated on the banks of the Dnieper river, the longest river of Ukraine. The picturesque banks and hills, plentiful flower-beds with different flowers, wonderful beaches of the Dnieper river, Kreshchatic, one of the widest and most beautiful streets in our country — all this adds up to the beauty of the Ukrainian capital. One half of Kyiv's territory is occupied by gardens and parks, and in spring and summer time the trees and bushes are full of greenery, and the city looks like one huge park.

If only once you have been to Kyiv, you are sure to feel like coming back there again and again. .