Words to remember

Native родной

Explorer [ıks´plᴐ:rə] исследователь

To consist (of) состоять из

A place of exile [´eksaıl] место ссылки

Landmark веха

Well-known известный. знаменитый

All in all всего

To make great contribution to вносить большой вклад

To bear the name носить имя

Church [tʃə:tʃ] церковь

To remain оставаться

Backward отсталый

To appear [ə´pıə] появляться

To arrive [ə´raıv] прибывать, приезжать

Rapidly быстро

Several несколько

Recently недавно

Joint-stock company акционерное общество

Besides [bısaıdz] кроме того, помимо, также

To provide обеспечивать

In commemoration [kəˏmemə´reıʃ (ə) n] в ознаменование

To erect [ı´rekt] строить, сооружать, воздвигать

Resident постоянный житель

To combine объединять, сочетать

Construction строительство, сооружение

Facilities сооружения

Opportunity [ˏɒpə´tju: nətı] благоприятная возможность

Attractive [ə´træktıv] привлекательный

Environs [´envır(ə )nz] окрестности

To surround [sə´raund] окружать

Exercises

1. Translate into Russian.

an interesting tradition, a land explorer, a place of exile, a bright landmark, thanks to, all in all, to make great contribution to, the Decembrists´ Church, a backward town, to develop more rapidly, an exhibition hall, to provide the industrial power, much more attractive, absolutely picturesque, not far from the town.

2. Use proper prepositions (within, of, in, for, by, to, with).

1. Chita was a place … exile … some centuries. 2. The Decembrists made great contribution … cultural and economic development … our town and our region. 3. Beginning … 1858 the first plants began to appear … Chita. 4. It was a great event … industry began to develop more rapidly. 5. A number …construction materials enterprises, food processing enterprises and many others are situated here. 6. The history and present day are well combined … its architectural design. 7. Many modern buildings and new districts appeared … the town. 8. The town is crossed … two rivers.

3. Answer the questions.

1. What is your native town?

2. When was Chita founded?

3. What people is the history of Chita connected with?

4. What gave an impulse to develop the industry?

5. Are there any industrial enterprises in our town?

6. What can you say about cultural life of Chita?

7. Is Chita an educational centre?

8. Are there any squares in Chita?

9. What monument was erected in our town to commemorate the Victory of the Soviet people in World War II?

10. Do any sports facilities function in our town?

11. What can you say about the environs of Chita?

12. What is the population of Chita?

4. Develop the idea of a Russian scientist and revolutionary P. A. Kropotkin´s words: “The history of a small town of Chita was the history of the whole country”.

5. Translate and complete the following dialogues and try to reproduce them in pair.

1.

- Где ты живешь?

- I live in Chita. It´s a Siberian town.

- Это далеко от озера Байкал?

- Yes, it is about 1000 km away from Baikal.

- Ваш город старый?

- Not too old. It was founded more than 300 years ago.

- Ты родился в Чите?

- Yes, I was born in this town and invite you to visit it.

- Спасибо, надеюсь побывать в вашем городе.

2. –Ты знаешь историю своего города?

-I think I do, but not too much.

-Ты можешь сказать кто и когда основал ваш город?

- Peter Beketov, a Russian land explorer in 1653.

- А сейчас это большой город?

- Not very large, about 400 thousand people leave in it.

- Расскажи мне, пожалуйста, о современной Чите.

- Now Chita is a modern beautiful town with…

- Где ты любишь отдыхать летом?

- I like to go …

6. Imagine that a foreign student came to Chita. Tell him about your native town. Tell him about places where young people like to spend their free time.

7. Summarize the following text.

Chita is the centre of one of the richest in natural resources areas in Russia.

Gold, lead, tin and silver have been sent from Zabaikalye to central region since the first half of the 18^th century. But yet at the beginning of the 20^th century Chita was a small wooden town with sandy dirty streets because industry began to develop largely with the functioning of the Great Siberian railway.

As for industry, Chita has been developing in accordance with the possibilities of the region. Several different enterprises are operating in the town, including woodworking and food industry enterprises, some construction materials plants, leather processing plant etc. A complex of scientific and design organizations assist the mining industry of the region. There is also a profound scientific potential for processing technologies in the agricultural production of our region which is characterized by the severe climatic conditions. During the Second World War Chita was given an impetus for developing machine-building industry. And nowadays the machine-building plant produces compressors and refrigerating units.

Now Chita has well developed economic ties with foreign countries and especially with China due to its proximity to the Chinese border.

8. Speak about Chita.