Ulyanovsk

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Ulyanovsk

Ulyanovsk, former Simbirsk, is situated on the mid-Volga, the largest river in Europe. The other river, the Sviyaga, a tributary of the Volga, also runs through the city.

Simbirsk was founded in 1648 as a fortress which defended the eastern boundaries of the Moscow state. In 1924 Simbirsk was renamed Ulyanovsk after V.I. Lenin.

Science its foundation the city has played an important role in Russia as it occupied a favorable strategic position on the Volga. By the beginning of the 18^th century Simbirsk had become famous throughout Russia as one of the richest grain markets on the Volga and as a supplier of fish, caviar, wool and hides. By the end of the 18^th century the city had lost its defensive military importance, its population had become over ten thousand. Sixteen churches and monasteries had been built by that time. The greater part of its buildings was wooden.

Before the revolution there was no industry, no large factories and plants in Simbirsk. But today Ulyanovsk is a great industrial, cultural and educational centre of the Volga area. It has many plants and factories which produce automobiles, motors, machine-tools, footwear and other goods.

The city has many higher educational institutions, special secondary educational institutions and secondary schools. There are two theatres, a philharmonic society, several museums, palaces of culture, stadium in the city.

The best monuments of the past are carefully preserved. Among them are the house where Lenin was born, the houses where the Ulyanovs lived, the Goncharov Memorial house, the monuments to Karamzin and Goncharov and many others.

Vocabulary

A tributary -приток

To be founded - быть основанным

A fortress -крепость

To defend -защищать

Boundaries -границы

Favourable - благоприятный

Grain market - зерновой рынок

A supplier - поставщик

Caviar -икра

Wool - шерсть

Hides -шкуры

Wooden - деревянный

A church - церковь

Philharmonic society -филармония

To be preserved -сохраняться

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. Where is Ulyanovsk situated?

2. When was the city founded?

3. What was Simbirsk famous for?

4. What places of interest in Ulyanovsk do you know?

5. What rivers run through the city?

6. Were there any churches and monasteries before the revolution?

7. Simbirsk defended the western boundaries of the Moscow state, didn`t it?

8. What outstanding people lived and worked in Ulyanovsk?

Exercise 2. Are these statements true or false?

1. Simbirsk was founded in 1647

2. Since its foundation Simbirsk has played an important role in the world.

3. By the end of 18^th century the city had lost its defensive military importance.

4. The greater part of its buildings was wooden.

5. In 1924 Simbirsk was renamed Ulyanovsk after I.N.Ulyanov.

6. The best monuments of the past are carefully preserved.

7. There are four theatres in Ulyanovsk.

Exercise 3. Complete the sentences from the text.

1. The other river…

2. Its population had become…

3. But today Ulyanovsk is…

4. Since its foundation the city…

5. The city has many…

6. By the end of the…

7. Among them are…

Exercise 4. Make up your own questions.

1. Simbirsk was one of the richest grain markets on the Volga.

2. Sixteen churches and monasteries had been built by 18^th century.

3. The Sviyaga also runs through the city.

4. Today Ulyanovsk is a great industrial, cultural and educational centre of the Volga area.

5. There are two theatres in Ulyanovsk.

Exercise 5. Translate into Russian.

1. It is a big river port on the Volga.

2. Ulyanovsk is visited by tourists, both from Russia and foreign countries.

3. Ulyanovsk is a beautiful green city.

4. There are many parks where people like to walk.

5. Ulyanovsk is not only a historical and cultural centre, it`s one of the largest industrial cities of Russia too.

Exercise 6. Translate into English.,

1. Ульяновск гордится своим драматическим театром.

2. В Ульяновске много церквей и соборов.

3. Мы можем видеть памятники древней русской архитектуры в Ульяновске.

4. В Ульяновске есть несколько университетов.

5. Я люблю мой родной город.