The Russian museum is located in the Mikhailovsky Palace, designed by Rossi. Marvelous paintings of the famous Russian artists: Tropinin, Repin, Bryulov, Fedotov, Surikov, Serov, the works of sculptors: Rastrelli, Shubin, Antokolsky are exhibited there.
The streets and squares in the city are very beautiful. Nevsky Prospect is the main street, where there are amazing buildings, shops, hotels and the remarkable Kazan Cathedral (by Voronikhin) with a colonnade and monuments to M. Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly. The overall length of the Prospect is 4.5 kilometers; its width varies from 25 to 60 meters. In 1738 it was named Nevskaya Perspective and in 1783 renamed Nevsky Prospect. Here in the prospect one can see the magnificent building of Admiralty (by Zakharov) and an ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Famous Russain writers, painters, composers and actors were buried in the Lavra.
The majestic palaces, cathedrals, churches and other buildings decorate St. Petersburg: palaces of Stroganov, Vorontsov, Menshikov, Anichkov, the Triumphal Arch and St. Isaacs Cathedral, erected by Montferrand.
One cannot forget to mention the Smolny Institute and Smolny nunnery, masterpieces of Rastrelli. Girls from aristocratic families studied and lived in the institute.
A lot of bridges cross the Neva, the Fontanka, the Moika and the canals, but the Anichkov Bridge is the most beautiful one. It is 54.6 meters long and 38 meters wide. The bridge owes its name to a certain officer, Anichkov, who built it in wood during the reign of Peter the Great. The present-day structure was designed in 1841 by the engineer f. Gotman.
St. Petersburg inspired many of our great poets, writers, painters, sculptors, composers and actors. Much of the life and work of Lermontov, Griboyedov, Pushkin, Belinsky, Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Raping was connected with the city.
Citizens, tourists and guests enjoy visiting the suburbs of St. Petersburg: Petergof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk, Lomonosov with wonderful palaces, parks and fountains
Welcome to St. Petersburg and its suburb to get acquainted with their amazing sights.
4 Comprehension check. Answer the following questions:
1) Where is St. Petersburg situated?
2) Why does the name of the city have international character?
3) What kind of city is St. Petersburg?
4) What is its architecture like?
5) Why has St. Petersburg always been “the cultural capital” of Russia?
6) What streets are popular with the citizens and guests of the city?
7) What outstanding people did St. Petersburg inspire in their work?
8) Are there many bridges in the city? Which is the most popular?
9) What places in St. Petersburg do usually tourists admire?
5 Give the words from the text to the definitions:
a) a district lying outside a city or town;
b) a splendid residence;
c) a creator of artworks from stone and clay;
d) a principal church;
e) to prepare the preliminary sketch or plan;
f) to feel pleasure in excellence or beauty;
g) a person telling fables;
h) famous, important.
6 Match the following parts:
| 1 St. Petersburg is one of | a) the Peter and Paul Cathedral. |
| 2 It was built by | b) the prominent Russian fabulist Ivan Krylov. |
| 3 The Peter and Paul Fortress | c) admiring the ensemble in Palace Square. |
| 4 D. Trezzini erected | d) the most beautiful cities in the world. |
| 5 The Summer Garden is | e) the oldest and the most fascinating park. |
| 6 There is a bronze monument to | f) the prominent European and Russian architects. |
| 7 The city is famous for | g) in the Mikhailovsky Palace, designed by Rossi. |
| 8 One cannot help | h) was built to protect the Neva banks from Swedish invasion. |
| 9 The Russian museum is located | i) its magnificent architecture of the 18-19 centuries. |
7 Fill in the gaps, using the words from the text:
to decorate, remarkable, masterpieces, to familiarize, majestic, to mention, fascinating, famous ,to inspire, amazing, prominent.
1 The Summer Garden is the oldest and… park.
2 One cannot forget … Smolny Institute and the Smolny nunnery, …of Rastrelli.
3 The … palaces, cathedrals, churches and other buildings, built by … architects … St. Petersburg.
4 St. Petersburg … many of our great poets, writers and painters.
5 Nevsky prospect is the main street of the city, where there are… shops, hotels and the… Kazan Cathedral.
6 St. Petersburg was built by… European and Russian architects.
7 Visiting St. Petersburg you can … yourselves with cultures of various peoples.
8 Discussion
Split into groups of 3-4 and expand on the following statements:
1) St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
2) St. Petersburg is the city of great history.
3) St. Petersburg is the second capital of Russia.
4) The architecture of the city is a masterpiece of different architects.
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod (“Novgorod the Great”) stands out among the oldest towns of Russia commanding special attention. It is noteworthy not only for its own remarkable history, but for its contribution to the development of medieval Russia as a whole. The territory of Novgorod was the cradle of the early Rus nation. It was here in the 9th century that Rurik dynasty was granted sovereignty, and the members of this house ruled all Russian principalities for the next seven centuries. And it was from here at the beginning of the 10th century that Novgorodian warriors mounted their campaign against Constantinople. For 1000, years, right up until the beginning of the 18th century, Novgorod was a major international trading post between East and west. At the same time it was the oldest religious center in northern Rus, and made significant contributions to the expansion of Christianity and towards preserving the unity of Orthodox Faith.
Novgorod was first mentioned in the chronicles as a settlement founded in 859 AD by the East Slavs. The name “Novgorod” means “New Town” and implies the existence of an earlier town, but historians have not been able to clarify it. The most likely theory is that there was a pre-existing township about 2 kilometers south of the current town on the right bank of the river Volkhov, where after two decades of investigation, archeologists have unearthed settlement layers and storage vessels from the 9th century.
The left bank of the river is known as ‘St Sophia’s side’. This is the heart of Novgorod, where the Kremlin stands: the town’s political, cultural and religious hub throughout the centuries. In the 10th century the kremlin was a small wooden fortress; in 11th century it grew with the addition of Saint Sophia’s Cathedral, the first stone church in the north of Russia; in the 12th century it acquired the form we still see today. Its perimeter walls are between two and four meters thick and stretch for 1,385 meters to cover an area of twenty hectares. Only nine of the thirteen original towers have survived.
A 15-century building on the Bishop’s Court is the Church of St Sergius of Radonezh, built in 1463 by Archbishop Jonah. Novgorod reached its peak in the 15th century, as is reflected in many buildings and artworks dating from that period: the Bishop’s Palace, magnificent icons, and the belfry of St Sophia’s.
In the centre of the Kremlin square is an imposing bronze monument crowned with orb and cross. This sight of Novgorod is called ‘The Millennium of Russia’. It was unveiled in 1862, a year after the abolition of serfdom and one thousand years after the event that marks the birth of Russia: the invitation of Rurik, the leader of the Varangians to Novgorod in 862. It stands 15.7 meters high, 96 thousand tones and has 129 bronze figures, 109 of them crafted in high relief on a rotunda base. There were always a large number of churches, both stone and wooden, on the trading side of the river, their architecture reflecting the tastes of various boyars, ambassadors and merchants who commissioned them from the 12th until the end of the 15th century. The main market church was St Nicholas’s Cathedral, founded in 1113. Church of Transfiguration was constructed in 1374 and Church of the Nativity on the Red Field- in 1380, the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul was built in 1406. There are a lot of monasteries in the city: Yuryev (1031), Derevyanitsky (1335), Zverinets Monastery of Intercession and others.
Novgorod is famous for its remarkable historical interest; people refer to it as a “museum town”. No other old Russian town has managed to hold on to such a wealth of architecture and so many works of both fine and applied arts. Its incomparable past has secured a special place for Novgorod in the history of Russia. The town is known as an important European art center. Its architectural treasures, the legacy of many centuries are included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
SECTION II
Text 3 CANADA
1 Answer the following questions:
1) Have you ever been to Canada?
2) Where is Canada situated?
3) What is the capital of Canada?
4) What do you know of Canada?
5) What places of interest are there in Canada?
2 Say what these geographical names mean:
Asia Montreal
Quebec Ottawa
Toronto
Eskimos
3 Read the text “Canada” to learn more about this country
Canada is the second largest country in the world. Only Russia has a greater land area. Canada is situated in North America. Canada is slightly larger than the United States, but has only about a tenth as many people; About 28 million people live in Canada. About 80 percent of the population lives within 320 km of the southern border. Much of the rest of Canada is uninhabited or thinly populated because of severe natural conditions.
Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and 2 territories.
Canada is an independent nation. But according to the Constitution Act of 19S2 British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is recognized as Queen of Canada. This symbolizes the country's strong ties to Britain. Canada was ruled by Britain completely until 1867, when Canada gained control of its domestic affairs. Britain governed Canada's foreign affairs until 1931, when Canada gained full independence.
Canada's people are varied. About 57 percent of all Canadians have some English ancestry and about 32 percent have some French ancestry. Both English and French are official languages of the country. French Canadians, most of who live in the provinces of Quebec, have kept the language and customs of their ancestors. Other large ethnic groups are German, Irish and Scottish people. Native people - American Indians and
Eskimos - make up about 2 percent of the country's population. 77 percent of Canada's people live in cities or towns. Toronto and Montreal are the largest urban areas. Ottawa is the capital of the country.
Today, maintaining a sense of community is one of the major problems in Canada because of differences among the provinces and territories. Many Canadians in western and eastern parts of the country feel that the federal government does not pay enough attention to their problems. 80 percent of Quebec's population is French Canadians. Many of them believe that their province should receive a special recognition in the Canadian constitution.
Canada's history is an exciting story of development of a vast wilderness into a great nation. Most experts believe that the first people who lived on this land came from Asia about 15000 years ago. They came over a land bridge that once connected Asia and North America. Their descendants are known today as Indians. The ancestors of the Eskimos came to Alaska after them probably about 6000 years ago.
In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian navigator in the service of England, found rich fishing grounds off Canada's south- east coast. His discovery led to the European exploration of-Canada. France set up a colony in eastern Canada in the early 1600’s. Great Britain gained control of the country in 1763, and thousands of British emigrants came to Canada. In 1867, the French and English-speaking-Canadians helped to create a united colony called the Dominion of Canada. Two groups worked together to settle the country and to develop its great mineral deposits and other natural resources.
Canada gained its independence from Britain in 1931. During the middle of 20th century, hard-working Canadians turned their country into an economic giant. Today Canada is a leading producer of wheat, oats, and barley. Canada also ranks among the world's top manufacturing countries, and it is a major producer of electric power.
Throughout its history, Canada has often been lack of unity among its people. French Canadians, most of them live in the province of Quebec, have struggled to preserve their own culture. They have long been angered by Canadian policies based on British traditions. Many of them support a movement to make Quebec a separate nation. People in Canada are nine other provinces also frequently favor local needs over national interests.
4 Comprehension check. Answer the following questions:
1) Is Canada a large country?
2) What is the population of the country?
3) What is the political set up of the country?
4) What people live in Canada?
5) What do you know of Canada’s history?
6) Who was the discoverer of Canada?
7) When did it happen?
8) When did Canada become a colony?
9) When did Canada get its independence from Britain?
10) What is Canada like nowadays?
5 Give correct word to the definition:
a) to be known - …
b) to get - …
c) business of any kind - …
d) a forefather - …
e) included in a city - …
f) a wild region - …
g) a traveler on water in a ship - …
h) seed used in making beer or ale - …
6 Say whether these statements are true or false:
a) Canada is the second largest country in the world.
b) China has a greater land area than Canada.
c) About 50 million people live in Canada.
d) Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and 2 territories.
e) Canada was ruled by the USA completely until 1867.
f) In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian navigator found rich fishing grounds off Canada's
south-east coast.
g) Canada gained its independence from Britain in 1945.
h) Today Canada is a leading producer of wheat, oats, and barley.
i) Canada has often been lack of unity among its people.
7 Discussion. Expand on the statements:
1) Canada is a large country both in territory and population.
2) Canada is an independent nation.
3) Canada's history is an exciting story of development of a vast wilderness into a great
nation.
4) Canada's people are varied.
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
Read the text about Toronto and render it due to the plan:
- I’ve read the text under the title …
- This text is about …
- It reads that …
- It should be said, that …
- In conclusion I would like to mention …
- I think that the text ...
Toronto
The City of Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario, located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The city has a population of 2.48 million people. Toronto is at the heart of the Golden Horseshoe, a region in south-central Ontario with roughly 8 million people. Residents of Toronto are called Torontonians.
As Canada's economic hub and a major global city, Toronto has highly developed finance, telecommunications, transportation, media, software production and medical research industries. The city is home to the CN Tower and a majority of the country’s corporate head offices and transnational corporate offices. Toronto's population is cosmopolitan, which reflects its role as a major destination for immigrants to Canada. Because of its low crime rates, clean environment and generally high standard of living, Toronto is consistently rated one of the world's most livable cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.
When Europeans first arrived at the site of present-day Toronto, the vicinity was inhabited by the Huron tribes, who by then had displaced the Iroquois tribes. The name Toronto is likely derived from the Iroquois word tkaronto, meaning "place where trees stand in the water". It refers to the northern end of what is now Lake Simcoe, where the Huron had planted tree saplings to corral fish. A portage route from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron running through this point led to widespread use of the name.