1. G roup talk.

1. Where do you live?

2. What is your city’s name?

3. What do you know about your city?

2. Tell about your native city. Use the Vocabulary from the text.

Volgograd is the city which is associated with major events in the history of the people. It is an ancient city on the right bank of the river Volga. The city extends along the right bank of the river, it stretches for 70 km.

Tsaritsyn was founded in 1589 as an outpost (fortress) to protect Russian territory from aggressive nomads. Up to 1925 it was known as Tsaritsyn. Tsaritsyn played a heroic part in our country's history in 1918. During the Civil War the Red Army delivered a crushing blow to the White Guards.

Stalingrad. The name of this city has been forever etched in the history of World War II and the history of the struggle against fascism. During the Second World War the Soviet Army stopped the advance of the fascism and dealt them a death blow.

For 200 days and nights life and death struggle continued. The city laid in ruins. The whole country helped to build it up again.

The battle decided the fate of the Soviet land, the fate of the humanity.

The war is the history now, but the memory of those who fought on the banks of the Volga still lives in the hearts of the sons and daughters. A majestic war memorial stands on the Mamayev Hill now. In the honour of the 30^th anniversary there was built a Memorial Complex on the Soldiers Field. An eternal flame burns in memory of all defenders of our city. No one and nothing have been forgotten.

Peace Street was the first street of the rebuilt city. Today this street is blocked off by the city Planetarium. There is a majestic bronze figure of a young woman, holding a globe and a dove in her up-raised hand.                                                     

You can see broad streets and avenues, squares and shady parks.

The city’s institutes of higher learning graduate doctors and teachers, engineers and agronomists, lawyers and economists.

Volgograd is a big cultural centre. There are many theatres, museums, musical schools. In the museums of Volgograd you will find relics of its history and military glory, as well as masterpieces of Russian and world art.

Volgograd is a great industrial centre. There are a lot of big plants and small factories.

My city is justly famed for its hospitability. Every year hundreds of visitors come to our city from all over the world.

I love my city. I am proud of my city - hero, city - soldier.

3. Match the words with their Russian equivalents.

1. defender

2. ancient fortress

3. bank

4. major events

5. to stretch along

6. has been founded

7. to protect

8. struggle

9. advance

10. majestic figure

11. hospitability

12. up raised

13. fate of the humanity

14. military glory

15. masterpieces of Russian Art

1. берег

2. наступление

3. судьба человечества

4. был основан

5. основные события

6. древняя крепость

7. защитник

8. военная слава

9. поднятый

10. защищать

11. борьба

12. простираться вдоль

13. шедевры русского искусства

14. величественная фигура

15. гостеприимство