VI. A. Read the text chita

Chita is my native town. It stands on the Ingoda and Chita rivers. It is an old town which is famous for its interesting history and traditions. It was founded more than 300 hundred years ago. The population of the town is about 330 thousand people. In 1653 a Russian land-explorer P. Beketov founded the Chita ostrog which consisted of 6 houses.

Our town was a place of exile for some centuries. The history of our town is connected with the Decembrists who arrived in our town in January 1827. I. Annenkov, A. Muravyov, S. Trubetskoy, S. Volkonskiy and others served penal sentences in Chita ostrog. They made great contribution to cultural and economic development of the town. They constructed roads and erected two-storeyed houses in Chita. They planned the streets of our town, that’s why they are long, wide and straight. The Mikhailovo-Arkhangelskaya church was built of wood in 1771. It combines modern and ancient architectural details. The Decembrists’ Church - the monument of the 18^th century – is a museum now; there is also Decembrist square and Decembrist street in Chita.

There are some historical monuments in the town: the Monument to the Fighters for the Soviet Power and the Memorial of Battle and Labour Glory.

At present Chita is a cultural, scientific and educational centre. Lenin square is the place of holiday meetings, demonstrations and public merry-makings. There are some reseach Institutes, several Universities, some concert and exhibition halls, some libraries, a drama theatre, some cinemas, some palaces of culture in Chita.

VI. B. A) Insert articles where necessary

1. Chita stands on … Ingoda river. 2. It is … old town. 3. … population of the town is about 330 thousand people. 4. In 1653 … Russian land-explorer P. Beketov founded the Chita ostrog. 5. Our town was … place of exile. 6. They constructed … roads. 7. The church was built of … wood. 8. The Decembrists’ Church is the monument of … 18^th century. 9. It is … museum now. 10. Chita is … cultural and educational centre. 11. … Lenin square is the place of holiday meetings. 12. There are … some historical monuments in the town.

b) Insert prepositions where necessary

1. Chita stands … the Ingoda and Chita rivers. 2. Chita is famous … its interesting history and traditions. 3. The population … the town is about 330 thousand people. 4. The Chita ostrog consisted … 6 houses. 5. Our town was a place of exile … some centuries. 6. The history of our town is connected … the Decembrists. 7. They arrived … our town in January 1827. 8. They made great contribution … cultural and economic development of the town. 9. The church was built … wood in 1771. 10. The church is the monument … the 18^th century. 11. There are some historical monuments … the town. 12. There are some some palaces … culture in Chita.

c) Choose the right variant

1. Chita (stand / stands) on the Ingoda river. 2. Chita (was / were) founded more than 300 hundred years ago. 3. In 1653 a Russian land-explorer P. Beketov (find / found / founded) the Chita ostrog. 4. The history of our town (connects / is connected / connected) with the Decembrists. 5. They (make / were made /made) great contribution to economic development of the town. 6. The church (was / were) built of wood in 1771. 7. It (combine / combines) modern and ancient architectural details. 8. There (is / are) also Decembrist square and Decembrist street in Chita. 9. There (is / are) some reseach Institutes in Chita.