IV. Fill in the spaces with the suitable words and word combinations
1. Syktyvkar is a small place … larger administrative and industrial cities of central and southern Russia. 2. There are … for people from other places … to settle here. 3. Our city … on the high banks of the Sysola and Vytchegda rivers. 4. It is surrounded by forests … mushrooms and berries. 5. The streets are … and new trees are planted every year in … . 6. Only in the older part of the city can you find a … which are considered to be architectural monuments. 7. … of our city is now changing for the better. 8. In Stephanovskaya square most … like meetings, demonstrations and festivals … . 9. In winter it … thousands of children. 10. The streets of our city … a few decades ago. 11. Wood has been … building material in the north for many centuries and it was … in our parts too. 12. You can find wooden constructions … . 13. It is believed that there has been a settlement at … since at least the 16th century. 14. It was granted city status by Catherine the Great in 1780. 14. In the 18th and 19th centuries the town was an important … in the north. 15. Valuable furs, products of farming and fish … at the fairs in Ust-Sysolsk. 16. At the same time it was … for many progressive people. 17. Syktyvkar … its new name in 1930. 18. Today Syktyvkar produces … having great demand on … markets. 19. The Woodworking plant … sawn timber of the best quality for construction and … . 20. There are many different … businesses. 21. Performances of the Komi folk singing and dancing group … with Syktyvkarers. 22. Syktyvkar is the seat of the Komi Scientific centre of … . 23. The … institutes of our city make … into science and economy. 24. Higher learning schools … our Republic with young professionals in most spheres of … .
V. Translate the sentences into English
1. Сыктывкар мал по сравнению с административными центрами средней и южной России. 2. Улицы в Сыктывкаре широкие и ухоженные. 3. Леса вокруг города дают прекрасные возможности для отдыха. 4. Архитектура города проста, а здания скромны по дизайну. 5. Архитектурный облик города постепенно меняется к лучшему. 6. Стефановская площадь обрамлена несколькими высокими зданиями. 7. Большинство общественных мероприятий проводится на Стефановской площади. 8. Сооружения для зимнего спорта привлекают детей на площадь. 9. Несколько десятилетий назад в центре города было много деревянных построек. 10. Первое упоминание о поселении в устье реки Сысолы относится к 1586 году. 11. Усть-Сысольск получил свое новое название в 1930 году. 12. Целлюлозно-бумажная промышленность производит продукцию, которая пользуется большим спросом. 13. Высококачественные пиломатериалы используются в строительстве и производстве мебели. 14. Сыктывкар — это промышленный центр, где много крупных и малых предприятий. 15. Постановки ансамбля «Асъя кыа» пользуются популярностью у жителей республики. 16. Научно-исследовательские институты вносят большой вклад в развитие города и республики. 17. Благодаря деятельности жителей Сыктывкара наш город имеет блестящее будущее.
VI. Answer the questions:
1. What is the capital of the Komi Republic?
2. Is Syktyvkar a large city? Is it a growing city?
3. Are there any forests around Syktyvkar? What are the forests around Syktyvkar good for?
4. What are the streets in Syktyvkar like?
5. What is the architecture of Syktyvkar like?
6. Where is Stephanovskaya square? What makes it special?
7. Why does Syktyvkar attract people during the New Year celebrations?
8. Was the architectural image of Syktyvkar the same a few decades ago?
9. Are there many wooden houses in the suburbs of Syktyvkar?
10. What makes Syktyvkar look young?
11. When was Syktyvkar first mentioned in written documents?
12. What was Syktyvkar famous for in the 18th and 19th centuries?
13. Are there any major industrial companies in the city?
14. Which is the oldest industrial enterprise?
15. What does the Syktyvkar Forest Enterprise produce?
16. How many theatres are there in Syktyvkar? What are they?
17. What performances and concerts can you see and hear in the concert hall?
18. Are there many museums in Syktyvkar? Which of them do you know?
19. What helps young people to feel fit?
20. What makes Syktyvkar an important scientific centre?
21. Is Syktyvkar an educational center too?
22. Does Syktyvkar have a promising future, do you think?
Text 2. Washington, D. C.
The Unites States is a federal union which is made up of fifty states and one independent district — the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia is the territory of the national capital of the USA, Washington, with its own law and regulations. Washington, D. C. is situated on both banks of the Potomac river, between the two states, Maryland and Virginia. This place was chosen by the first American President George Washington. The plot of land of a hundred square miles was bought from private owners by the state. So the area is not a municipality, it is a federal land.
The place was called the District of Columbia in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America, and the capital got the name of Washington after the name of its founder. In 1790 George Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol where the Congress sits. Washington has been the federal capital since 1800. In fact t is the first carefully planned capital in the world.
Washington is sometimes called the heart of America. It is the place where the federal government works and where each President of the United States lives. Washington is smaller in size than the largest cities of the USA, such as New York, Chicago, Detroit or Los Angeles. The population of Washington is 581,530 people (2006). The buildings in Washington are not very tall because no building can be taller than the Capitol. But in political sense Washington is the center of the country and the most important city of the United States.
So the highest building in the city that doesn't have any sky-scrapers is the Capitol Building, home of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It contains about 430 rooms. Topping the domeis the 19-foot bronze statueof Freedom. The 36 columns of this impressive structure surround thelower part of the dome, and they represent the states in the Union at the time it was designed (the construction began in 1793, and was finished in 1867).
The White House has been the official residence of every American President, except G. Washington. The original design of the «President's House» was drawn by James Hoban, an Irish-born architect.Burnt by the British in 1814 it was restored and painted white and thus got its current name. It has a lot of beautiful rooms, each one has its own distinctive style. The largest is the East Room, which is used for State balls, receptions, press conferences and other events. The finest room is the Blue Room used by the President to receive guests. The Red Room is used for small receptions. It is the favourite room of First Ladies. The Capitol and the White House are open to visitors.
The Washington Monument, 180 meters tall, is situated in Potomac Park. The top may be reached in 70 seconds by elevator or by an iron stairway, consisting of 50 landings. From the observation platform the visitors can see the entire District of Columbia and parts of Virginia and Maryland.
The Lincoln Memorial was designed like a Greek Templewith columns, representing the states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. The main feature of the building is the magnificent, realistic figure of Lincoln seated in the center of the open temple.
The Jefferson Memorial with wonderful cherry trees around (a gift from the city of Tokyo), is a circular stone structure. In the central chamber there is a full-length figure of the third president of the U. S., the author of the Declaration of Independence. On the interior walls are four panels with inscriptions from Jefferson’s writings.
John Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts is the official memorial to President Kennedy in the nation’s capital. Arlington National Cemetery is another national memorial with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. John Kennedy was buried there in 1963.
Answer the questions:
1. How many parts is the USA made up of?
2. What is the District of Columbia?
3. How was Washington, D. C., founded?
4. What is Washington famous for?
5. Which building is the highest in Washington?
6. What other sights in Washington are worth seeing? Why?
7. In what sense is Washington the most important city in the USA?
UNIT 4