Text 9 Asian part

Exercise 1. Read the next text and get ready to answer the questions which are given after the text.

There are a lot of famous and interesting cities in Asian part of Russia. Among them we can mention such cities as Vladivostok, a great port, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-on-the-Amur, which was built by young people in 1930s, Chita and a lot of others.

Irkutsk region is famous for Lake Baikal. Irkutsk is situated on the bank of the Angara. In 1652 there appeared the Cossack settlement but already in 1686 it became the trading and administrative one. This region was the place of the exile of the Decembrists. Here also Yaroslav Gashek worked.

The next city of this region is Khaita. It is the place of famous porcelain workers.

Angarsk is a young industrial city. It was built only in 1946 in the valley of the young pine wood.

Usolye Sibirskoye was first a settlement, appeared in the XVII century. The inhabitants of it were occupied in the salt mining.

Ust-Kuda is famous as the example of natural landscape called Kamchatnik.

In Urik there is the tomb of the Decembrist Muravyov.

In Olonky the Decembrist Rayevsky is buried.

Listvyanka is one of the most picturesque places on the shores of the Baikal. Chekhov compared this landscape with the scenery of Yalta.

Bratsk is a very interesting city. It consists of several municipal districts which are situated in distance of tens of kilometers from each other.

In one word Irkutsk region is a good place for tourism.

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1) What famous cities and towns do you know in Asian part of Russia? Can you remember some others which are not mentioned in the text and what they are famous for?

2) What places in Irkutsk region: a) are famous for their special occupations?

b) are connected with the names of the Decembrists?

c) have unique landscape?

Text 10

Exercise 1. Read the dialogue and say what new information about Valaam you have got to know.

Sally: Sasha, can you tell us what is worth visiting in Russia?

Sasha: There are a lot of places of interest worth visiting. In Moscow, I suggest visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the Tretyakov Picture Gallery and the Bolshoi Theatre.

John: We also plan to go to St. Petersburg.

Sasha: If I were you I would go to the Russian museum. It has a wonderful collection of Russian paintings by famous Russian artists, such as Brullov, Vasilyev, Repin. Through their painting you’ll see and better understand the history of Russia.

Kevin: Is there anything else you could recommend?

Sasha: Yes, I also recommend you to visit the island of Valaam while you are in St. Petersburg. It is situated in the northern part of Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe. You can get there by ship or helicopter from St. Petersburg. People have been living there for over 1 000 years.

Sally: What is there on the island?

Sasha: There is a monastery there. It was destroyed many times, but it was always rebuilt. The monks were very peaceful people, who loved God, nature and mankind. Whenever the island was invaded, the monks refused to fight and kill. The primary purpose of the monastery was to be a spiritual centre of Russian Orthodoxy, but it has also inspired Russian tsars, painters, poets and architects. Until the 20^th century the island was free of crime and alcohol.

John: Are there many trees on the island?

Sasha: Yes. The nature on the island is unique. Although the soil on the island, which was brought from the mainland, is only 20-30 centimeters deep, the monks that lived there were able to grow watermelons, pumpkins, and more than 60 types of apples. They even grew melons! There are over 450 different kinds of plants on the island.

John: Does the island get a lot of visitors?

Sasha: Yes, visitors come from Russia, Germany, Great Britain, the USA and other countries.

Megan: Thanks for your advice, Sasha!

Sasha: Have a great time while you are here!

Exercise 2. Make up your own similar dialogue about any city or town in Russia.