3.2. Fill in the gaps with the right variations.

1. Our city is located at the … of the Chita and Ingoda Rivers.

a) influence b) confluence c) place

2. Numerous places of interest invite … to explore this historic city.

a) citizens b) scientists c) travellers

3. The … of our region is acutely continental.

a) climate b) winter c) summer

4. There are several mineral … in our region.

a) water b) springs c) resources

5. The region was inhabited by local Mongolic and Chinese … .

a) troops b) people c) tribes

6. Several of the … were exiled to Chita

a) Decembrists b) poets c) gangsters

7. The well-educated … made an effort to educate the citizens.

a) people b) specialists c) exiles

8. The efforts of Decembrists helped the city to become a major … centre in Siberia.

a) scientific b) trading c) educational

9. Chita became a centre for … demonstrations.

a) worker b) student c) Decembrist

3.3. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. Due to the influence of the late revolutionary exiles, Chita became a center for worker unrest in the early years of the 20th century. 2. Chita was occupied by the Chinese. 3. From 1920 to 1922, Chita was the capital of the Far Eastern Republic. 4. From the 1930s to the dissolution of the Soviet Union foreigners were forbidden to travel to Chita. 5. Chita has numerous examples of Japanese-inspired architecture. 6. Architecturally, Chita is built in a single style. 7. There are many beautiful old and modern buildings in Chita. 8. The principal industries in the Chita region are mining, timber and wood-processing, machine building, engineering, food and heavy industries. 9. There are many deposits of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, gold, molybdenum, beryllium in our region. 10. There are no radon springs in Zabaikalye.

3.4. This is telegram without spaces and punctuation marks. Your task is to decode it.

TEREARESEVERALINSTITUTIONSOFHIGHEREDUCATIONINCHITATHEOLDESTONEISZABAIKALSTATEHUMANITARIANPEDAGOGICALUNIVERSITYTHEREAREMANYCINEMAHALLSCLUBSTWOTHEATRESDANCINGHALLSFORYOUNGPEOPLEANDMUSEUMSINTHECITYCONCERTSAREHELDINTHEPALACEOFYOUTHMANYSPORTFACILITIESAREATOURDISPOSALBEAUTYOFRHODODENDRONSCREATESFASCINATINGATMOSPHEREAROUNDTHECITY.

3.5. Answer the following questions.

1. Where is Chita located? 2. What climate is for Zabaikalsky Krai typical? 3. What mineral springs of the region do you know? 4. When was Chita founded? 5. Do you know the names of Decembrists who were exiled to Chita? 6. Who made an effort to educate the Chita citizens? 7. Which events led to declaring the "Chita Republic"? 8. What is Titovskaya Hill famous for? 9. Why was Chita a closed city? 10. What is the characteristic feature of modern Chita? 11. What are the principal industries in the Chita region? 12. What creates fascinating atmosphere around the city?

Oral practice

4.1. Many students of your group came from other towns and settlements. They don’t know your city very well. You decided to show them the city. Each of you should propose only one place of interest. Give your reasons and present information on:

1. what the name of the place of interest is;

2. where the place of interest is situated;

3. what important historic events are connected with this place;

4. when it was founded;

5. what means of transport are you going to take to get there;

All members of the group are supposed to vote for five places only. The results of voting will help you to make the route of your tour.