IV. Read and translate the text “I want to be an architect”

I was always fond of painting and sculpture. When I was little I used to draw plans of my dream houses. That’s why it wasn’t hard for me to decide what profession to choose.

An architect is a licensed professional who organizes space. Architects design houses, office buildings, banks, kindergartens, hospitals, trade centers, skyscrapers, landscapes, and even entire cities.

Architects are trained in many areas, from historic preservation to structural engineering.

Architects design buildings, but a "Building Designer" is not usually a licensed architect. I think it’s great to design a building and give it any shape I want, add windows and doors make a roof, and choose building materials I want.

I think I will be a professional building designer, or home designer, so I will specialize in designing single family homes. I can’t wait until I finish my education and get a job.

V. Read and translate the text “I want to be a builder”

I study in the Astrakhan College of Building and Economics and I will become a builder. I think that the profession of a builder is very important in nowadays.

This profession will always be available. Many houses are building in my city every day. I am sure that some day everyone will live in good conditions with all modern conveniences – such as central heating and ventilation, air-conditioning, hot and cold water system, gas, and electricity.

And this will be possible with the help of the builders. First of all the cadastres make a cadastral map, then land managers do their job. After the architect’s design of a future construction is done, the builders begin its work.

To be a builder means to know many things such as building materials, its properties and usage, methods of building, equipment and materials, many rules and so one. But I am sure I will learn about everything and be a very good builder.

Unit 3 lexical material: My City

I. Read and translate the text “My city”

Hello! I am Vova, I am a native resident of Astrakhan. I like my city very much and the reason I was born here is not the main. I like Astrakhan because I feel it to be my city.

Astrakhan is situated on the Volga River near the Caspian Sea. It emerged hundreds of years ago on twelve islands at the place where the Great Russian River joins the Caspian Sea.

At present Astrakhan region covers 44.1 thousand square kilometers. 1 million people live in Astrakhan. The city has common borders with Kazakhstan, Kalmyk Republic and Volgograd region. The astrakhan region is situated near the Caucasus and there is a sea border with Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Iran and Turkmenia. That is why people of different nationalities live here.

Astrakhan is an important sea port and it is the center of ship-building. The city is famous for its fisheries.

There are many educational establishments in Astrakhan so a school leaver has many options where to study.

The climate is called continental so we have cold winters with really annoying winds and extremely hot summers. There is Astrakhan State Reserve located in the delta of the Volga where wide scientific-research work is being carried out, concerning many birds and rare plants, lotus included. Lotus is a very rare flower which can be found in a very few place and that is why the emblem of the city is Lotus.

I think my city is very unique and special and I love it very much.

II. Answer the questions

1. Why does Vova like Astrakhan?

2. Where did Astrakhan emerge hundreds of years ago?

3. How many kilometers does Astrakhan region cover?

4. What common borders does Astrakhan have?

5. Why do people of many nationalities live in Astrakhan?

6. How is the climate called and what’s the weather like in winter and summer?

7. What rare flower grows in Astrakhan region?

III. Find the equivalents in English in the text

Житель, чувствовать, располагаться, основываться, остров, соединяться, регион, общий, граница, национальность, выпускник, выбор, континентальный, заповедник, дельта, научно-исследовательская работа, редкий, эмблема, уникальный.

IV. Find in the text the lines that show the uniqueness of Astrakhan region.

For example: Astrakhan is famous for its fisheries.

V. Read the text “Astrakhan’s history” and answer the questions