Tatarstan

Tatarstan is my homeland. The Republic of Tatarstan is situated in the Middle Volga region. The territory of Tatarstan is 68.000 square kilometers. Its population is about 4 million.

There are many rivers, lakes and forests in our republic. The most important rivers are the Volga and the Kama. Through rivers and canals Tatarstan is linked with 5 seas: the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Azov, the Black, the Baltic and the White Seas.

There are many cities and towns in Tatarstan: Kazan, Naberezhniye Chelny, Nizhnekamsk, Yelabuga, Mendeleyevsk, Bugulma, Chistopol and others. The most important city is Kazan. It is the capital of our republic.

Tatarstan is a multinational republic. 48% of its population are Tatars, 43% – Russians, and the remainig 9% are representatives of 70 different nationalities.

Tatarstan has a long history. On the territory of present Tatarstan one of the first feudal states was formed in the 10th century – Volga Bulgaria. It was an important commercial and cultural centre of the time. But in 1236 Mongols invaded Volga Bulgaria and destroyed it. In the 15th century a new state was founded on the Volga river – the Kazan Khanate, with Kazan as a centre. After joining up with Russia in 1552 it became a part of the Russian empire. After the revolution of 1917 the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed. During the 70 years of its existence the TASSR became one the most highly developed autonomies of the former Soviet Union. On August 30, 1990 Tatarstan declared its sovereignty. In June, 1991 the first Tatarstan’s President was elected – Mintimer Shaimiyev.

Tatarstan is a republic of prodigious potentials. It is rich in natural resources. Our republic is one of the main oil and natural gas producers of the former Soviet Union.

Tatarstan has a powerful industry. The world famous petrochemical plants in Kazan, Mendeleyevsk and Nizhnekamsk produce polyethylene, rubber, cinematographic and photographic film. The republic’s enterprises manufacture modern planes and helicopters, KAMAZ automobiles, medical and optical equipment, furs and high quality leather.

Tatarstan has a developed agriculture. We grow wheat, rye, oats, potatoes, sugar beet and other crops in our republic. Meat and dairy products are also an important part of our farm produce.

Our republic is a centre of science and culture. We have the Academy of Sciences with its numerous laboratories and research institutes, about 20 higher educational institutions, many libraries, 9 theatres, the Conservatoire and the Symphony Orchestra.

And still there are many problem of transforming our centralized economy into the market economy. But in the long run Tatarstan is sure to implement the economic reform and to become a dynamic component of the world economy. This will enable Tatarstan to use the republic’s prodigious potentials for the benefit of its people.

E x e r c i s e s

I. Translate into Russian:

1. Tatarstan is the homeland of such famous Russian and Tatar people as Shishkin,

Kamal, Saidashev and others.

2. The rivers of Great Britain are not long.

3. The Baikal is one of the largest lakes in the world.

4. Moscow is an important centre of science and culture.

5. Kazan is a port of five seas.

6. The USA is a multinational country.

7. In the 13th century Volga Bulgaria was invaded and destroyed.

8. Great Britain is a highly developed state.

9. The Kazan Khanate was formed in the 15th century.

10. Tatarstan is one of the main oil and gas producers of the former Soviet Union.

11. In June, 1990 Russia declared its sovereignty.

12. In June, 1991 Boris Yeltsin was elected Russia’s President.

13. The USA is a state of prodigious potentials. It is very rich in mineral resources and has a powerful industry and highly developed agriculture.

14. Kazan is a big industrial centre. Modern planes and helicopters, medical and optical equipment, synthetic rubber and other petro-chemical products, furs and leather are

manufactured at the city’s enterprises. A good deal of produce is of high quality.

15. The farmers of Great Britain grow wheat, oats, potatoes and other crops.

16. Meat and dairy products are an important part of Britain’s farm produce.

17. There are many problems to be solved in Russia. The most difficult is the problem of implementing the economic reform. The main task is to transform its centralized economy into the market economy.

18. He is sure to come.

19. There are many research institutes in Kazan.

20. In the long run Russia is sure to become a dynamic component of the world economy. This will enable Russia to use the republic’s prodigious potentials for the benefit of the its people.

II. Find the Russian equivalents:

1. state 1. море

2. century 2. рынок

3. sea 3. высокоразвитый

4. lake 4. провозглашать

5. river 5. озеро

6. to invade 6. государство

7. powerful 7. с/х культура

8. highly developed 8. век, столетие

9. enterprise 9. преобразовать

10. to elect 10. река

11. to declare 11. предприятие

12. quality 12. мир

13. to manufacture 13. решать

14. crop 14. избирать

15. to transform 15. захватывать

16. difficult 16. представитель

17. to solve 17. производить

18. world 18. трудный

19. representative 19. качество

20. market 20. мощный

Ш. Translate into Russian:

Rivers and lakes, an important centre of science and culture, a commercial centre, a multinational state, representatives of different nationalities, to be formed in the 10th century, to invade and destroy, a powerful country, a highly developed state, to declare one’s sovereignty, to elect a president, prodigious potentials, to be rich in natural resources, to manufacture high quality produce, modern equipment, to grow different crops, meat and dairy products, research institutes, to solve a difficult problem, to transform one’s economy, market economy, world economy, world market, former Soviet market, to implement reforms in agriculture, in the long run, to use effectively, for the benefit of its people, the former Soviet Union’s republics, to be elected President.

IV. Fill in the blanks:

1. Tatarstan is a … republic.

2. Russia is my … .

3. The … in Russia is the Lena.

4. Our republic is … in … .

5. Volga Bulgaria … in the 10th … .

6. The Baikal is one of the largest … in the … .

7. Our republic has a … industry and a … agriculture.

8. In 1991 Nursultan Nazarbayev … President of Kazakhstan.

9. There is muсh … in Tyumen.

10. The USA farmers … different kinds of … .

11. Volga Bulgaria was an … commercial and cultural centre of the time.

(century, was elected, multinational, oil, important, longest river, grow, rich, lakes, crops, was formed, homeland, mineral resources, world, highly developed, powerful)

V. Translate into English:

реки и озера, Каспийское море, важный центр торговли и культуры своего времени, мировая экономика, рыночная экономика, мировой рынок, многонациональная государство, представители различных национальностей, выращивать различные сельскохозяйственные культуры, мощная индустрия, высокоразвитое сельское хозяйство, огромные потенциальные возможности, эффективно использовать, проводить экономическую реформу, преобразовать экономику республики, решать трудную задачу, промышленные предприятия, мясо-молочные продукты, производить высококачественную продукцию, научно-исследовательские институты, в конечном итоге, на благо своего народа, могучая держава, современное оборудование.

VI. Answer the questions:

1. Where is Tatarstan situated?

2. What is its territory and population?

3. What are the most important rivers in Tatarstan?

4. What cities and towns do you know in Tatarstan?

5. What is the capital of our republic?

6. Tatarstan is a multinational republic, isn’t it?

7. What do you know about Tatarstan’s history?

8. When did Tatarstan declare its sovereignty?

9. Who was elected the first Tatarstan’s President?

10. Tatarstan is a republic of prodigious potentials, isn’t it?

11. What about Tatarstan’s natural resources?

12. What can you say about Tatarstan’s industry and agriculture?

13. Our republic is an important centre of science and culture, isn’t it?

14. And still there are many problems to be solved in Tatarstan, aren’t there?

15. What will Tatarstan become after implementing the economic reform?

VII. Retell the text ‘Tatarstan’

L O N D O N

Words and word combinations:

1. to lie – лежать, располагаться

2. bank of a river – берег реки

3. commercial centre – торговый центр

4. a seat of the government – место заседания парламента

5. important – важный

6. busy – занятый, деловой

7. scientist – ученый

8. to be buried – быть похороненным

9. Poet’s Corner – Уголок Поэта

10. country – страна

LONDON

London is the capital of Great Britain. It is one of the biggest cities in the world with a population of about 7 million.

London lies on both banks of the river Thames. It is the largest city in Europe. London is not only the capital of the country, it is also a very big port, one of the greatest commercial centres in the world, a university city and the seat of the government of Great Britain.

London consists of many parts and they are all very different from each other. The most important parts of London are the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. The City is the busiest part of London. People do business here. The West End is the richest part of London. You can find best shops, theatres, cinemas, museums, fine parks and squares there. The rich people live in the West End. The East End is the part of London where the working people live. It is not so rich as other parts of London and there are few fine parks there.

London is famous for its historical places such as Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament with its famous Big Ben and others. Westminster Abbey is one of the most beautiful buildings in London. There are many monuments to great men there. Many great English scientists are buried there, among them Newton, Darwin. In Poet’s Corner you can see memorials to Shakespeare, Byron, Shelly.

The underground of London is the oldest in the world. It was built in 1870. London is famous for its beautiful parks such as Hyde Park.

London is a big cultural centre. There are many picture galleries, museums and concert halls there.

E x e r c i s e s

I. Translate into Russian:

1. Kazan is situated on the bank of the Volga river.

2. The underground of London is the oldest in the world.

3. Great Britain is not rich in mineral resources.

4. He is very busy with his graduation design.

5. London is the most important industrial centre.

6. Such great scientists as Darwin, Newton are buried in Westminster Abbey.

7. England lies to the south of the island ‘Great Britain’.

II. Find the Russian equivalents:

1. scientist 1. площадь

2. bank of a river 2. мир

3. important 3. правительство

4. to lie 4. страна

5. busy 5. ученый

6. square 6. богатый

7. commercial 7. занятый

8. country 8. важный

9. world 9. лежать, располагаться

10. government 10. берег реки

11. rich 11. торговый

III. Translate into Russian:

a great scientist, an industrial country, the biggest port in the world, a busy man, the British government, commercial centre, Poet’s Corner, the bank of a river, important documents, to lie, to be buried, on both banks, the best theatre, many monuments to great men, one of the most beautiful buildings.

IV. Fill in the blanks:

1. The Moscow University was named after the great … Lomonosov.

2. The most … parts of London are the West End, the East End and the City.

3. New York is the largest port in the … .

4. The USA is … in mineral resources.

5. Moscow … on the Moskva river.

6. The USA is a highly developed industrial … .

7. He is always … with his work.

(world, busy, scientist, country, important, rich, lies)

V. Translate the words in brackets into English:

1. Lord Nelson, England’s greatest hero of the 19th century, (похоронен) in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

2. (В Уголке Поэта) of Westminster Abbey you can see memorials to Shakespeare, Byron.

3. St. Petersburg (расположен) on the Neva river.

4. Newton is a great English (ученый).

5. Volga Bulgaria was (важным торговым центром).

VI. Translate into Russian:

1. In the central part of London nearly every building, every street, house and stone has its own history, its own past.

2. The City and the West End are the heart of London.

3. London has many bridges over the Thames, more than twenty, but the most interesting of them all is Tower Bridge.

4. The Tower of London was built 9 centuries ago.

5. The National Gallery of London contains one of the finest collections of Italian, Dutch and English paintings.

6. St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square with its Nelson’s Column are in the centre of London.

VII. Translate the text:

1. to contain – содержать

2. Middle Ages – средние века

3. coin – монета

4. stamp – марка

5. antiquity – древность

6. relic – след, остаток

7. Greece – Греция

8. Rome – Рим

9. Orient – восток

10. all over the world – во всем мире