Text 5. A letter from Alex

I. Read the letter and do the tasks following it.

Hi, Steve,

Thanks for your letter. I love hearing your news and I was really impressed by the views of the countryside with its green fields, groves, streams, gardens and hills covered with bright flowers. It was a pleasure looking at the photos! I can imagine how enjoyable it is to cycle or have a walk there on a nice summer day.

Well, I am going to send you a text of my own making about the place in Russia which is dearest to my heart, and that is Nizhny Novgorod, the city I live in. I hope it won’t be less interesting for you than any information about Nizhny Novgorod that can be found in the Net.

And Steve, could you look through the 2 texts I have enclosed in the letter about the state organisation of the UK and the USA and see if I’ve made any mistakes? If possible, make some additions, but the texts shouldn’t be long and they should not take up too much of your time.

All the best,

Alex.

II. Say if it is true or false.

1. Alex wants Steve to make up 2 texts for him.

2. Alex is going to send Steve some postcard views of his city.

3. Steve is asked to greatly enlarge the texts.

4. Alex was impressed by the sights of London.

5. Alex asks Steve not to hurry and check his texts thoroughly.

III. Find proofs in the text that the following statements are correct.

Найдите в тексте письма подтверждение правильности следующих высказываний.

1. Alex was pleased with the contents of Steve's letter.

2. He wants to write his own text about the city he lives in.

3. Alex is going to include in his text some information about Nizhny Novgorod that can hardly be found in the Internet.

4. Alex is not quite sure of his grammar.

5. He doesn’t want Steve to spend too much time on his request.

Text 6 Nizhny Novgorod

I. Read the letter and do the tasks following it.

Hi, Steve,

Here is the text about Nizhny Novgorod, my native place.

Nizhny Novgorod was founded in 1221. It is beautifully located on a number of hills, called the Dyatlov Hills in the name of the brigand, nicknamed Dyatel, who dominated the place in those days. The location offers a marvelous view from the river, which was noted in the past by high-ranking Russian and foreign guests, tsars, emperors, and also writers, historians and travellers. Actually, it is situated on 2 rivers – the Volga and the Oka. Its location is unique in that you can’t find anywhere else in Europe or in the world another city so highly placed at the confluence of two large rivers. It’s a pleasure to walk along the ancient Kremlin walls or along the embankments. In fact, these are my favourite walking routes. People with extrasensory abilities say that a walk along the Upper Volga embankment has a healing effect on the mind as well as on the body.

In the past, Nizhny Novgorod was famous for its world-known Fair which attracted Russians from all over the country, as well as foreigners from many parts of the world. It is Russia’s third largest city, formerly called “the pocket” and “the arsenal” of Russia. It played a crucial role in the salvation of the country from Polish invaders in the distant past and contributed greatly to the rout of the fascist Germany in World War II. A lot of tanks, airplanes, submarines and other armaments were manufactured at Gorky’s plants (after the October revolution Nizhny Novgorod was renamed in honour of the great proletarian writer Aleksey Peshkov, whose pen name was Maxim Gorky). It is known that Gorky was among the first Russian cities to be ruined completely by Hitler’s order in case Germany won a victory over Russia.

Nizhny Novgorod is a place of pilgrimage for lots of believers. It is known as the land of the great Russian saint, Serafim of Sarov, who is believed to be protecting the city and the whole of the country from disaster and ruin.

For me, Nizhny Novgorod is not just a great industrial, scientific and cultural centre neighbouring with the capital of the country. By modern standards, it is probably not the best place to live. Yet, I wouldn’t like to change it for any other place in the world.

I would be glad if you read my letter with interest.

I am looking forward to your answer.

With best wishes,

Alex.

II. Say if it is true or false.

1. Alex’s favourite walking route is the central street of the city.

2. At the time it was founded, Nizhny Novgorod was called Gorky.

3. Nizhny Novgorod is one of the largest cities of Russia.

4. Alex likes his city because it is a great scientific centre.

5. Nizhny Novgorod contributed greatly to the victory over fascism.

6. It played a decisive role in the rout of Polish and German invaders.

7. The city was earlier called “the pocket” and “the arsenal” of Russia.

III. Change the sentences using the words from the text.

Измените предложения, используя слова и выражения из текста.

1. After the revolution, Nizhny Novgorod was given the name of a famous Soviet writer.

2. Nizhny Novgorod is located on 2 large rivers.

3. A lot of armaments were produced at Gorky’s plants.

4. The monastery of Serafim of Sarov in Diveevo is often visited by believers.

5. In the past, Nizhny Novgorod was well-known for its popular Fair.

6. Nizhny Novgorod is not far from the capital of the country.

7. Alex wouldn’t like to live in any other city.