IX. Answer about the article

1. What territories did Russian possessions comprise by the beginning of the 19 century?

2. In what way were the provisions sent to the Russian America?

3. Why was the ruling of the distant territories troublesome?

4. Why did the Naval Ministry accept the offer to organize the round-the- world expedition?

1. Who was at the head of the expedition?

2. What ships were bought?

3. On what ship was the Russian envoy?

4. What was he going to do?

5. What were the tasks of the expedition?

6. When did the ships leave Kronstadt?

7. When did they enter the Atlantic Ocean?

8. In what way was the crossing of the equator marked?

9. What did the seamen do at the coast of Brazil?

10. What did the seamen do at the island of St. Katherine?

11. Why did the ships stay there for six weeks?

12. What was the weather like when the ships entered the Pacific Ocean?

13. What did the seamen of the Neva do on Easter Island?

14. What research work did the ships do on the Island of Nuku-Hiva?

15. Who helped the Russian seamen there?

X. Insert prepositions

1. … the begining of the 19th century Russian possessions in the north-west of America comprised the extensive territories of Alaska.

2. Long and difficult was the route … the centre of Russia to her Far Eastern borders.

3. Provisions were sent there … river and then … horses … the boundless expanses of Siberia.

4. Rye flour, when brought … Alaska would cost … … 8 roubles.

5. There were cases when government instructions … reaching Kamchatka or Alaska would have already gone … … date.

6. There was an urgent need … regular sea routes … our ports in the Baltic Sea and those in the Pacific Ocean.

7. The Naval Ministry accepted the offer to organize the first Russian sea ex­pedition … the world.

8. Krusenstern appointed his close friend LIsyanski, a learned and experienced seaman, second … command.

9. … board the Nadezhda was the Russian envoy N. P. Rezanov, who was going to Japan to establish diplomatic relations … that country.

10. The crossing of the Equator was marked … the hoisting of the flag.

11. All the members of the crew, … full dress, watched the sailors staging the appearance of “Neptune”.

12. “Neptune” ordered those who were crossing the Equator … the first time to be “christened”.

13. … then celebration of the crossing of the Equator has become a tradition … all Rus­sian ships.

14. The Nadezhda and the Neva entered the harbour of the Island of St. Catherine, which is separated … the continent of South America … a narrow strait.

15. The ships stayed in the harbour … six weeks.

16. The ocean was wrapped … dense fog.

17. The Neva as previously arranged, sailed … Easter Island.

18. The island of Nuku-Hiva is a magnificent spot, all covered … forests of coconut palms and tall bread trees.

19. The expedition stayed on the Island of Nuku-Hiva … ten days.

20. In the rich collections of plants made … the naturalists there were many specimens hitherto unknown … European scientists.