2. Answer the following questions.

1. When and where did the history of Tyumen start?

2. How did Tyumen develop in the 17^th century?

3. In what houses did the townsfolk used to live?

4. Which historic places of the city are connected with the names of famous citizens?

2. Read the text “Tyumen” and be ready to do the exercises after it.

TYUMEN

1) Tyumen, the first Russian town in Siberia, was founded on July 29, in 1586. It is situated on both banks of the Tura River at its crossing by the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Since 1944, the city has been the administrative centre of the largest region in Russia. It is located in a picturesque area. Large tracts of pine forest surround Tyumen. The countryside, with its large lakes and hot springs, provide tourist sites for people to relax.

2) Nowadays Tyumen is a cultural, industrial and educational centre of Western Siberia with highly developed industry. Its plants are well known in Russia and abroad. There are also numerous Research Institutes, Oil and Gas Pipelines and Refineries. The introduction of new technologies and know-how in such branches of economy as wood-processing industry, chemical industry, food industry, textile industry allows Tyumen to be among the leaders on the domestic and foreign markets. A river port, it functions as a transshipment point. Its main industries are metalworking, engineering, shipbuilding, timber products, and chemicals. The city grew rapidly after the discovery of oil and gas farther to the north in Western Siberia. Tyumen accounts for nearly 5% of the Region's total output, and most of the freight and passenger traffic passes through it. The industrial development of Tyumen began with the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway that connected the town with European Russia.

3) The four-century history of Tyumen is extremely interesting and instructive; it reflects the fate of Russia. Siberian architecture was strict and simple. About 70 buildings are registered as historical monuments; many of them are decorated with unique wood engraving. The first stone building in Tyumen was Troitsky (Trinity) Monastery erected by the decree of Peter the Great. Znamensky Cathedral is embodiment of Siberian Baroque style. It is still one of the most beautiful and famous churches in Russia. At the end of the 19^th century the axis of the town was built up with two-storied brick houses. Many of them still exist in central streets and give us the idea of a typical merchants’ town.

4) A great number of higher educational establishments in Tyumen makes it possible to supply all branches of Regional economy with qualified and educated specialists. The town has three universities, different colleges, Agricultural, Medical, Military Academies, the Institute of Law, the International Institute of Economies and Law, the Institute of Culture and Art. Tyumen State University is the largest in the Region. Its graduates work in diverse branches of economy in our country and abroad.

5) The citizens of Tyumen are proud of their town and its history. The best way to see the town is to start with Historic Square. It’s a historic place because the Regional Museum of Local Studies is situated here. This museum has a rich collection of minerals, flora and fauna of the Tyumen Region. There is a war memorial with the Eternal Flame nearby. The Masharov Mansion Museum is located not far from the Square. There are many libraries, theatres, five magnificent Houses of Culture. Tyumen has the splendid House of National Cultures, situated on the picturesque banks of the Tura River. Our Puppet Theatre is popular all over Russia. The Drama Theatre and the reconstructed Concert Hall, named after Yuri Gulyaev, are in the centre of the city. Tyumen Concert Hall holds annual musical festivals in honour of our citizen, Alexander Alyabyev. Many famous singers and musicians have their concert-tours in Tyumen making cultural entertainment a real holiday for the people. Tyumen has a unique collection of masterpieces in its Picture Gallery. Many permanent exhibitions of Siberian national arts and skills attract tourists’ attention nowadays. There are numerous modern and reconstructed buildings and squares in Tyumen. They are: the International Trade Centre, large department stores and pedestrian boulevard in the very centre of the city. The names of many places in Tyumen eternize the memory of merchant Andrey Tekutyev who built a hospital, a theatre, a library, a church and many other things for the town.

6) The permanent multinational population of Tyumen is over 500 thousand. They work and live hand-in-hand with respect to their mutual historical and national traditions. Most of the Tyumen streets in the historical centre are narrow. Tyumen is a city of banks and supermarkets, a city of crowded streets with traffic jams, a city of students, a city of beautiful flowers in summer and enchanting illumination in winter. The whole city is under construction: old buildings are being restored and many new ones are being built. The citizens like the Sweethearts’ footbridge, new boulevard with fountains and small charming sculptures. Tyumen is both ancient and young, it confidently faces the future.

5.11 Combine the words in A and B to form phrases:

A B

1 rush a) building

2 traffic b) life

3 night c) rate

4 cost d) hour

5 crime e) park

6 shopping f) of living

7 high-rise g) jam

8 car h) centre

9 polluted i) street

10 noisy j) air

5.12 Fill in the correct adjectives (a, b or c):

1 The most…..parts of Tyumen are in the centre of the city.

a) hectic b) busting c) picturesque

2 Tyumen is very…..at night because so many young people live there.

a) crowded b) elegant c) lively

3 Tyumen is one of the Region’s most…..towns.

a) historic b) magnificent c) deserted

4 The city centre is quite…..at weekends.

a) clean b) shabby c) hectic

5 The streets of the town are….., particularly in the rush-hour.

a) spacious b) animated c) deserted

5.13 Say what are the best and the worst things about living in the city. Use the following word-combinations:

plenty of things to do dirty and polluted air

many different shops smoke and petrol fumes

lots of cinemas and theatres to be crowded (full of people)

variety of sport centres to be noisy

bus service and taxi rank to be dangerous

health centres and chemists to be stressful

traffic jam in the rush-hour

Model 1: The best thing about living Model 2: The worst thing

in a city is that there is lots of nightlife. about living in a city is that

there are too many people everywhere.

5.14 Make a list of advantages and disadvantages of living in Tyumen. Give two columns. Use the following adjectives:

historic, noisy, crowded, fashionable, pleasant, enormous, elegant, picturesque, modern, crooked, expensive, cheap, striking, shabby, dangerous, attractive, smart, memorable, broad, clean, narrow, ugly, terrible, terrific, busy, colourful, colourless, unforgettable, spectacular, old, famous, successful, industrial, dirty, bad, beautiful, small, excellent.

Model: Advantages: Disadvantages:

full of history busy streets

5.15 Say what features and facilities Tyumen has and hasn’t got.

Model: It has got a cathedral, but it has not got the Opera House.

5.16 Complete the dialogues in a suitable way. Fill in the gaps with the following words and word-combinations:

nightlife / wide range / commuters / cultural activities / cope / whatever (or anything) / opportunities / cosmopolitan

1 A: The town is full of people from different countries and cultures.

B: Yes, it’s very…...

2 A: There are cinemas, theatres, museums, art galleries and everything.

B: Yes, I know, there are lots of…...

3 A: There is a …... of shops.

B: Oh yes, you can buy ..…. you want.

4 A: There is plenty to do in the evening.

B: Yes, the …... is great.

5 A: There is a better chance of finding work.

B: Yes, there are more job …..

6 A: The transport system has to ..… with the people who live in the country but work in town.

B: Yes, I know, there are too many ….

5.17 Read the statements about the text. Are they true (T) or false (F)?

1 Due to its advantageous geographical location Tyumen developed rather quickly.

2 Modern Tyumen is a place of exile.

3 Tyumen is a gate to Siberia.

4 Tyumen is located on the right bank of the Tura River.

5 Nowadays Tyumen is a modern city, the centre of a large oil and gas-producing province.

6 There are three theatres in Tyumen: the Puppet Theatre, the Drama Theatre, the Comedy Theatre.

7 The best way to see the historic sights of Tyumen is to start with the monument to V. Lenin.

8 Many industrial enterprises are located in the suburbs of Tyumen.

9 Tyumen is an ancient town, more than five hundred years old.

10 The permanent population of Tyumen is 600 thousand.

11 The street traffic in Tyumen is not heavy.

5.18 Complete the following sentences:

1 Tyumen, the first Russian town in Siberia, was founded…..

2 It was a good idea to locate a fortified town…..

3 In 1944 the city became the…..

4 Nowadays Tyumen is…..

5 The industrial development of Tyumen began…..

6 The town has…..

7 Tyumen is a city of…..

8 The best way to see the town is…..

9 Tyumen is famous for…..

10 The citizens are proud of…..

5.19 Translate the following sentences into English:

1 Тюмень – это первый сибирский город.

2 Тюмень расположена на живописном берегу реки Туры.

3 Сейчас Тюмень – современный город, столица нефтегазодобывающего (oil-and-gas-bearing) региона.

4 В настоящие дни Тюмень – это город с высокоразвитой промышленностью.

5 В Тюмени находится большое количество высших учебных заведений.

6 Выпускники вузов работают в различных отраслях экономики нашей страны и за рубежом.

7 Жители Тюмени гордятся историей своего города.

8 Тюмень – культурный центр региона.

9 В Тюмени много библиотек, театров, музеев и новых красивых зданий.