ЭЭлективный курс по краеведению "Оренбургский край" на английском языке (информационный материал)

Элективный курс «Orenburg Region» Цели и задачи спецкурса: • Развитие и образование учащихся средствами иностранного языка через осознание ими роли родного языка и родной культуры в сравнении с культурой других народов и привитие уважения и любви к родной культуре. • Формирование понимания важности изучения иностранного языка как средства достижения взаимопонимания между людьми. • Формирование социокультурной компетенции учащихся. Курс строится в русле задач развития и воспитания коммуникативной культуры школьников, расширения и обогащения их коммуникативного и жизненного опыта в новом контексте общения, расширение кругозора учащихся по знакомой теме „Родной край“. Курс имеет современное звучание, ориентированное на развитие у учащихся взаимопонимания, толерантности к различиям между людьми, стремления решать проблемы через сотрудничество, путем взаимодействия. Обучение на основе данного курса носит проблемный характер, сочетая различные формы работы (групповую, индивидуальную, парную), создавая коммуникативную атмосферу в классе, стимулируя общение на предложенную учащимся тему. Курс обеспечивает возможность формирования умений самостоятельной работы и самоконтроля учащихся. Структура курса Элективный курс “Orenburg Region” состоит из 12 разделов, имеющих идентичную структуру: 1. Начало освоения региона. 2.Географическое положение региона. 3. Природные и климатические условия региона. 4. Экологическая обстановка. 5. Экономическое положение. 6. Природа Урала. 7. Областной центр и основные города (история возникновения и интересные исторические события). 8. Достопримечательности (музеи, памятники, храмы). 9. Новотроицк и его достопримечательности. 10. Люди, прославившие регион: ученые, писатели, поэты, музыканты, художники, актёры и др. 11. Особенности местных праздников: спортивных, культурно- развлекательных. 12. Народный промысел – пуховый платок. Каждый раздел включает: • активную лексику; • текст для чтения; • послетекстовые задания: а) на проверку понимания основного содержания прочитанного, выделение основных фактов, определение темы и идеи текста; б) на проверку понимания деталей, усвоение новой лексики; в) творческие задания, побуждающие учащихся к устному и письменному высказыванию. Заканчивается элективный курс ролевой игрой под условным названием „Пресс-конференция“ в разделе „Мой родной край“. Учащимся предлагается ответить на вопросы зарубежных гостей, посетивших их регион. Класс предварительно делится на „гостей“ и „хозяев“. Роли для гостей и хозяев самые разнообразные: мэр города, губернатор, депутат думы, политический обозреватель местной газеты, журналист местного телевидения, ученые, преподаватели школ, бизнесмены, руководители государственных предприятий, заводов, фермеры и т. д. Принципы построения элективного курса 1. сознательность в изучении языковых и речевых особенностей иностранного языка с опорой на родной язык; 2. посильность учебного материала, что проявляется в строгом дозировании и поэтапности формирования навыков и умений; 3. активность учащихся в процессе выполнения учебных (проблемных и проектных) заданий, инициатива учащихся в поиске правильного решения; 4. достоверность содержания обучения, а также его наглядность за счет использования местной прессы, региональных и личных фотоматериалов, архивов и библиотечных фондов; 5. образовательная и воспитательная ценность содержания предлагаемых упражнений и заданий; 6. междисциплинарность (интегрированность) в отборе учебного материала. СОДЕРЖАНИЕ : 1. Unit 1. Orenburg region. How does it measure up? 2. Unit 2. The climate 3. Unit 3. Geographical position 4. Unit 4. Ecology 5. Unit 5. The pearl of the Orenburg region 6. Unit 6. The beauty of the nature 7. Unit 7. Around Orenburg 8. Unit 8. Cities and sights 9. Unit 9. Novotroitsk. The town and the people 10. Unit 10. Gallery of names 11. Unit 11. Traditions and celebrations 12. Unit 12. Orenburg shawl UNIT I ORENBURG REGION. HOW DOES IT MEASURE UP? WARM UP 1. Nowadays Orenburg oblast attracts lots of foreigners though the distance from Orenburg to Moscow is about 1,500 kilometers. .Do you want to know why? .Do you want to know anything about this part of Russia? Why? Why not? 2. Read Aksakov’s words and say if he is right: A wonderful and blessing land, Чудесный край, благословенный, A depository of earthly wealth. Хранилище земных богатств. S. T. Aksakov Vocabulary boundary- граница endless – бесконечный to stretch – протянуться tribe-племя to preserve – сохранить grave –могила, захоронение jewelers – ювелиры trade links – торговые связи merchants – торговцы, купцы pipe-line -газопровод non-ferrous –цветной (метал) deposit – залежи 3. Geographical and proper names The Great Steppe – великая степь Middle Asia – средняя Азия Volga Federal District – приволжский федеральный округ The Ilek – Илек Sharlyk – Шарлык 4. You are going to read a text about Orenburg oblast. Tick (v) the things you think this text will tell you about. List the topics in order of importance from the point of view of a foreigner: o Local nature o Mineral resources o Mineral springs and health resorts o Tourism and eco-tourism 5. Read the text and find the key sentences. About 4,000 years ago, the endless Great Steppe stretched in this area. Nomad tribes of the Sarmats and Scythes lived there. They grew wheat and raised cattle. Numerous hills - huge grave mounds - are the monuments of their many hundred years history. Some hills are preserved till nowadays. Archeologists found hundreds of hills near the cities Orsk, in Ilek and Sharlyk districts. A lot of golden decorations are hidden in Scythian graves. Nomads were skillful jewelers. In 1911 in the hill near the village Prokhorovka of Sharlyk district archeologists found a silver plate dated to early 3,000 B.C. and some other items telling about trade links development. The ornaments of animals and birds are found on Scythian weapons. The ancient items found by archeologists in the hills are kept in regional museums of local study. From the 30s of 18th century when the Khazakh tribes of neighboring Younger Zhooz voluntarily joined the Russian state, the territory of modern Orenburg oblast was rapidly assimilated by migrants from central regions of Russia. In 1743 the frontier fortress Orenburg was founded, it became the administrative center of Orenburg gubernia. The gubernia united a part of modern Kazakhstan, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Chelyabinsk and Samara regions. Favorable location of the gubernia, its “privileges” and business activity of merchants influenced development of trade, economic and cultural links with Middle Asia and eastern countries. The historical role of Orenburg region was defined as a link between East and West. On December 7th, 1934, Orenburg oblast was formed. After it the industrial development rapidly grew. Kaspiysk-Orsk oil pipeline was constructed; large plants of non-ferrous metallurgy, heavy machine building and chemical industry were built. The 1960s and 1970s were a special period in developing of industrial Orenburg region, especially of heavy industry, light and food industries. In 1967 a unique Orenburg gas condensate deposit was found. The territory of Orenburg oblast is rich in mineral resources: over 2,500 deposits of 75 different raw materials have been discovered and developed. Oil, charcoal, ferrous and non-ferrous metals are the key deposits. Orenburg oblast (other spelling Orenburgskaya) is situated in the boundary of Europe and Asia in the basin of the middle current of the Urals (Volga Federal District). It has boundaries with Kazakhstan state. Administrative center of the region is Orenburg city. 6. Tick the statements as true or false: № 1 TRUE FALSE The first tribes lived in the endless Great Steppe about 2,000 years ago. Orenburg was founded in the 18th century. Favourable location influenced development of trade with Europe and western countries. Orenburg oblast is famous for its metallurgy and chemical industry. Our region is situated on the frontier of China. 2 3 4 5 UNIT 2 THE CLIMATE Vocabulary moderate – умеренный ranges – цепь to elongate – растягивать, удлинять to absorb – поглощать to increase – увеличить slopes – косогоры, откосы rainfall – осадки precipitation – выпадение осадков arable lands – пашни forage lands – кормовые угодья forest steppe zone – лесостепная зона Geographical and proper names The Caspian Steppe – степи Каспия The Kazakh Steppe - степи Казахстана The Ural Mountains – уральские горы Western Siberia – западная Сибирь The Trans-Volga Steppe – степи Заволжья The Turgay Steppe – степи Тургая The Southern Ural – Южный Урал 1. Look through the following text and find the words and expressions describing the climate of the region. The Orenburg region is situated far from seas and oceans on the one hand, and it is not far from the Caspian and Kazakh steppes on the other hand. The climate of the region is of extreme continental type, which is seen in high amplitude of temperatures in winter and summer. The warmest month in Orenburg oblast is July, the coldest is January. In summer the air can be hot up to 40-43 degrees C, in winter 43-45 degrees C below zero. The ranges of the Ural Mountains are elongated from north to south; they effectively absorb sunlight thereby increasing the temperature. The areas west to the Ural Mountains are 1–2 °C warmer in winter than the eastern regions because the former are warmed by the Atlantic winds whereas the eastern slopes are chilled by the Siberian air masses. The western areas also received more rainfall than the eastern ones by 150–300 mm per year. The highest precipitation (1000 mm) is in the Northern Ural that causes the average height of snow up to 90 cm. The climate of the Orenburg region is favorable for the development of many branches of plant growing, gardening. The period favorable for tourism in the Orenburg region, lasts more than 120 days, the swimming season makes about 70 days. The relief is very diverse. Remarkable are its plains and mountains, rivers and lakes, green valleys and pine forests. The landscape is also presented by the forest-steppe zone of Russia, the Trans-Volga and Turgay steppes, forested lowlands of the Southern Urals, pine and birch forest steppe of Western Siberia. Our steppe lands are famous all over the country for their natural wealth. Half of the region is occupied by arable lands, 38% - forage lands, 5% - forests, 7% - other lands. The Orenburg region is one of the main granaries of Russia. 2. Answer the questions given below: 1. Where is Orenburg oblast located? 2. What is the coldest month in the year? 3. What influences the increasing of temperature in the region? 4. What is special about the landscape of the region? 3. Follow –up  Find some information from magazines and newspapers about the climate in your town.  Write down what you know about the landscape of your region. UNIT 3 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION Vocabulary frontier – граница length – длина approximately – почти, около to inhabit – населять cooperation – содружество mutual – взаимный respect – уважение Geographical names The East European Plain – восточно-европейская равнина The River Ick – река Ик The Ural River – река Урал 1. Read the text and ask questions about it. Use: 1) What…? 2Are…? 3)…or…? 4) …, isn’t it? 5) How many…? The area of Orenburg oblast is 123 700 sq.km, and it occupies the 32nd place in Russia. Its territory is spread to the south-eastern frontier of the East European plain and the southern edge of the Urals. The region stretches 755 km east-west and 425 km north-south. Total border length is 3,700 km. Orenburg oblast borders the Samara region to the west, the Tatarstan Republic to the north-west, the Bashkortostan Republic to the north from the river Ick to the Ural river, the Chelyabinsk region to the north - east. The rest of the region, in the west and south, borders on Kazakhstan. Our region is the link between Europe and Asia. The Orenburg region is divided into 35 districts, 12 towns, and 1768 settlements. The population of our oblast totals approximately 2,112,000 million people. It is inhabited by various ethnic groups: the Russians - about 72%, the Tatars - about 7%, the Kazakhs - about 5%, the Ukrainians, the Jews, and the Germans. Experience of co-operation and mutual assistance created a special situation based on friendship and mutual respect. 2. Read the text and find the Russian equivalents to the following expressions: The surface water of the river systems form a basin of the Ural (63% of the territory), the Volga (31%), the Tobol (2%) and an area of Svetlinski lakes in the eastern part of the region. The most important rivers are the Ural, stretching 2,428 km), the Sakmara (798 km), the Ilek (623 km), the Samara (594 km). Lake Shalkar-Ega- Kara is the largest natural reservoir with an area of 9,600 ha. Zhetykol Lake has an area of more than 5000 ha. An integral part of the water resources of Orenburg oblast are artificial reservoirs. According to their water supplies the largest artificial reservoirs are: the Iriklinskaya (3257 million m ³), the Krasnochabanskoe (54.6 million m ³), the Chernovskoye (52.7 million m ³), the Kumakskoe (48.0 million m ³), the Elshanskoe (23.6 million m ³) and the Ushkottinskoe (10, 0 mln. m ³) Sol’-Iletsk is a small town 75 kilometers from Orenburg, in the very center of the Orenburg region. The vast deposits of excellent rock salt gave the name to the place as the word “sol” (соль) in the town's name means salt in Russian. One of the most popular attractions is the salt lake Razval with salt concentration equal to that in the Dead Sea. The place is also known as a balneological resort for its mineral waters, salt, mud, and brine baths, and its koumiss (mare’s milk) cures. WORD WORK Find the Russian equivalents to the following expressions: 1. natural reservoir A. курорт 2. artificial reservoir B. естественный водоём 3. deposit C. грязь 4. salt lake D. искусственный водоём 5. resort E. хранилище 6. mud F. соленое озеро How much do you know? 1. Make a word web to summarize the information about the Orenburg Region rivers borders on Orenburg region lakes landscap e 2. Compose a page-long leaflet presenting your native place. Illustrate it with maps and pictures. UNIT 4 ECOLOGY Warm-up 1. Read the poem below Hug the Earth The Earth is a garden. Helping Mother Earth It’s a beautiful place We can peacefully roam, For all living creatures, We all deserve a place, For all the human race. We can call our home. Lorraine Bayes • What does this poem speak about? 2. Can you call your region a beautiful garden? Explain your opinion. 3. Read the texts about the ecology of Orenburg Oblast and describe the photos. Find the main idea in each text. Vocabulary to affect – воздействовать environment – окружающая среда to cause – быть причиной cancer – рак smokestacks – большие трубы clay – глина enterprise – предприятие chimney – труба admissible – допустимый A. The people of our region as well as the whole population of the country are worried about the local environmental problems. Our towns and villages suffer from air pollution which affects human health and the environment. Polluted air causes cancer, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia and other serious health problems. The sources of air pollution are industrial smokestacks, trucks, cars and buses, burning forests. The exploitation of the deposits of coal, clay and construction materials made it possible to create first enterprises. A great number of plants and factories appeared. Everybody can see smoke coming out of the chimneys. Everybody has to breathe in tons of harmful substances emitted by these chimneys. Besides enterprises, which pollute the air with by-products of their activity, thousands of automobiles add tons of poison to the atmosphere every day. In fact, transport is one of the main offenders in poisoning the environment. The local newspapers write that the concentration of harmful substances in the air in our towns is over ten times the admissible level. Vocabulary waste – отходы purification – очистка sewage – сточные воды shortage – нехватка, недостаток B. But the problem doesn’t stop there. The pollution of water is a very acute problem, too. We have two big rivers in Orenburg — the Ural River and the Sakmara, and the unique lake of Zhetykol. They are filled with industrial and communal waste. Many years ago people could catch lots of fish in these waters. They could swim in fresh and clean water. But everything is different now. The purification of sewage is difficult because of the shortage of money. Besides, people throw tins and paper into it. Nothing can live or grow in the polluted water now. The water is not blue but brown with rubbish floating in it. The soil is polluted as far as 70 m deep with sewage; the drinking water in such places contains zinc, copper, manganese, iron. Vocabulary rubbish – мусор litter – мелкий мусор dump – свалка pavement – тротуар natural reserve – заповедник C. And one more problem of our towns in recent years has been rubbish and litter. For many years we have been throwing things away. Now people have to face facts. 98 % of the rubbish goes into the ground. There are about 500 dumps on the territory of the region now. The reason is the shortage of petrol or money. Very often people leave cans and tins on the pavements. The Earth’s forests are often called “the lungs of the planet”. We are proud of our forests but they are in danger. They are becoming smaller and smaller and the situation is growing worse every day. Many companies are cutting down trees in the region to make profits; big areas of forests are burnt. Everybody knows about the necessity to protect nature. Two state national parks — Buzuluk and Dauria (1987) and 18 natural reserves (Ivano-Arakhley is international) have been founded in the region. 4. Complete the sentences. Circle the letter of your answer: 1. Text 1 doesn’t explain: a) what measures should be taken to reduce air pollution b) what serious health problems are caused by air pollution c) why forests are often called “ the lungs of the planet”? 2. Text 2 proves that: a) water in Orenburg is fresh and clean b) the problem of water pollution is acute c) there is a lot of fish in our waters 3. Text 3 is about: a) forests b) animals c) garbage 5. Which of the statements according to Text 3 is true? a) our forests are in danger b) companies take care of our forests c) there are no national parks or reserves in Orenburg PRACTICE YOUR GRAMMAR: Present Simple Passive (страдательный залог настоящего времени) be + V3 чтобы сказать о предмете (явлении), над которым совершается действие. При переводе используются безличные и неопределенно-личные предложения: e.g. Air is polluted.— Воздух загрязнен. Forests are cut down. — Деревья вырубаются. Towns Villages Health People Rivers Rubbish Bins Trees Waste is (not) are (not) (not) polluted destroyed killed spoiled burnt cut down hurt put into water / air / land poisoned with … 6. Speak about the results of people’s influence on the environment using the model. Model: People pollute the air. → The air is polluted. 1. Polluted air causes health problems. 2. We see smoke coming out of chimneys. 3. People breathe in tons of harmful substances. 4. Plants and automobiles add tons of poison to the atmosphere. 5. The Russian government disclosed ghastly facts about Busuluk pine wood. 6. People throw tins and cans into rivers. 7. Many companies cut down trees. 7. Children of our region learn a lot about three R’s — reuse, reduce, recycle: To reuse — to use again To reduce — to make smaller or less To recycle — to use after the second remake What do we usually reuse, reduce, and recycle in our region? Make the phrases with the words given below. reuse reduce recycle cardboard boxes aluminum glass plastics cans tins paper bottles energy water newspapers 8. Organize your own campaign to save the environment. Use newspapers and posters to draw attention to the ecological problem. Write your own essay. 9. Look through the text and complete the crossword. R S E N V I D L P R O N M E N T W P D UNIT 5 THE PEARL OF THE URALS Warm-up 1. Can you say that our region has a highly developed economy? Give your reasons. Vocabulary pearl – жемчужина to extract – добывать mining branch – добывающая отрасль coal – уголь iron ore – железная руда pearl – жемчужина deposit – залежи oil field – месторождение нефти stock – запас bowel – недра limestone – известняк clay – глина raw materials – сырьё supply – запас 2. Read the text and find the most important mineral resources in the Orenburg region. Why are they important? The Ural Mountains are a magnificent museum of geology created by nature: almost all the elements from Mendeleev’s classification table can be found there. Coal, iron, copper and even gold have been found and extracted on the territory of the Orenburg gubernia since the XVIII-th century, but the mining branch has been concentrated in the Northern Ural. In 1930 not far from the present Orsk-Halilov district minerals in such variety and scales have been opened that the known geologist academician Alexander Fersman named the Orenburg edge” the pearl of the Urals”. In 1932 the Bljavinsk deposit of copper was opened. Later Buguruslan oil and gas fields were added to the stocks of bowels ores of the eastern Orenburzhye. In the north of the central zone of the Orenburg region some deposits of brown coal were opened in Tjulgan pool. All in all stocks of eight deposits of Orenburg make about 740 million tons, and 67 % from them are concentrated in Tjulgan. In the autumn of 1929 geologist I.L.Rudnitsky opens the Halilov deposit of hematite. Halilov ore has appeared rare on the structure: it contained chrome, nickel, the titan, manganese. Industrial tests have confirmed its quality. For the Eastern part of area leading minerals are iron ores and non-ferrous metals; gold; asbestos; facing and building stones; high-quality limestone, dolomite, quartzite for iron and steel industry; mineral paints; ceramic and brick clay; cement raw materials. The unique, created by the nature, the Iletsk deposit of excellent salt is the main supplier of salt in the country. According to the researches of 1851 the deposit of Iletsk comprises salts more than 1 billion tons. Iletsk could supply all Russia with the salt within several millennia. A known German scientist Alexander Humboldt calculated that Iletsk salt can supply all Europe during 10 thousand years. All these resources are on the territory with the developed power network, the transport communications, and the provided labor. Western part Eastern part Northern part Centre 3. Match the columns: Iron ores and non-ferrous metals Deposits of copper Oil and gas fields Supplies of excellent salt Brown coal 4. Prove that: 1. Orenburg is the pearl of the Urals. 2. Russian geologists were interested in the minerals of Orenburg and made a lot of investigations. 5. Work in small groups and: a) prove to a Russian or a foreign company that it is possible to invest in Orenburzhye. b) give suggestions to local authorities about the development of your region. UNIT 6 THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURE 1. Read the text and find out information about our unique Buzuluk pine wood Vocabulary pine- сосна elk - лось roe- косуля boar - кабан badger - барсук marten - куница beaver – бобр The nature of the Orenburg region is various enough. In the region the grassy vegetation dominates. Woods occupy only about 4 % of the total area. The Orenburg region is rich in resources of fodder plants: these are cereals, beans and a considerable quantity of different grass plants. The vegetation has been exposing for a long time to the influence of the people who negatively used the riches of the earth, cut down vast territories of forests, worked out minerals. Intensive farming uses a lot of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers that damage ecosystems and destroy wildlife. Some kinds of plants have disappeared. In the Red book of the Orenburg region we can find about 145 kinds of the plants. The Buzuluk pine wood is located north-east from Buzuluk town at the boundary of the Orenburg and Samara regions. It started to grow on sand dunes and ridges in the basin of the river Borovka about 6—7 thousand years ago. At that time pine and birch forests emerged in the area of the current pine wood. Nowadays some of the trees are more than 300 years old. The wood is a national park with 39 species of mammals, 144 species of birds, 8 species of creepers and 800 kinds of insects. One can meet here elks, roes, wild boars, badgers, martens, beavers. 2. Give the English equivalents to: травянистые растения кормовые растения разработка полезных ископаемых ядохимикаты удобрения 3. Give 2 reasons why we need to protect Buzuluk pine wood. 4. The Orenburg region is an agricultural region. Read the following text and say what made people cultivate the unique down goats. Vocabulary down goat –пуховая коза sheep breeding – овцеводство breed – порода to deduce – выводить ancestors – предки blizzards – буран, метель thinness –тонкость to rear – выращивать The Orenburg region occupies one of the leading places in the Ural economic region on agricultural production. Therefore this region has become a zone of intensive agricultural development - 88 % of all its area is occupied by agricultural grounds, while in Russia - only 13 %. The traditional, historically developed branch of animal industries of Orenburzhye is sheep breeding. Its production is, first of all, wool, and also meat and sheepskin. Orenburzhye is one of the main areas of Russia where one of the best breeds of the down goat was deduced. Kashmir goats from the north of India were its ancestors. The down hair of Orenburg goats is the thinnest in the world – 16-18 micro millimeter, and that of Angora goats (mohair) is 22-24 micro millimeter. That’s why products made of Orenburg down hair, shawls and kerchiefs - pautinkas, are especially soft and tender. Severe winters with a lot of snow and snow storms and blizzards along with particular qualities of feed, natural growth of the Urals mountain steppes, - these are the basic reasons of the thinness of the down hair of the Orenburg goats breed. The goats are brushed each spring to collect the fiber. Each goat gives off about a pound of fiber. At the same time this down hair is very durable, more durable than wool. Most surprising is the fact that Orenburg goat breed can be reared only in the Orenburg Region. The efforts of the French in the 19th century to import Orenburg goat were not successful: goats need their thin down hair to keep warm and the warm climate of France was not favourable for it. Orenburg goats in France degenerated and turned into ordinary goats with rough thick down hair. In the 18th – 19th centuries France imported tens of thousands of pounds of Orenburg goats down hair which was valued more than the Kashmirian one. 5. Find the answers in the information you have just read. 1. How large is the area for agriculture? 2. What made people deduce the best breed of the down goats? 3. Who showed interest in rearing Orenburg goats? 4 Why did the French failed? 5. What trade is developed in many districts of Orenburzhye? 6. Write an article to a local newspaper about the development of the regional economy. UNIT 7 AROUND ORENBURG Warm-up Answer the questions: 1. Have you ever been to Orenburg? 2. Is it interesting to know when Orenburg turned to be the centrel of the Orenburg region. The coat of arms of Orenburg was confirmed on June 8th, 1782. According to the decree of Peter the Great, every town must have its own coat of arms. "A gold field cut by a blue wavy belt, showing the Ural river. Above the stripe there is a two- headed eagle, on the bottom- a blue cross, as a sign of fidelity of this city". It was designed by prince Schherbatov in 1776. 1. Read the text and learn the history of Orenburg. Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast in the Volga Federal District of Russia. It lies 1,478 km southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 542,700. Highest point: 154.4 m. The Russian Empire began plans for the construction of an eastern frontier fortress town in the southern Ural region to be named Orenburg in 1734. The colonists originally founded a settlement in 1735 at the confluence of the Ural River with the Or River. The town's name meant "fortress near the Or," as Burg is German for fortress. This settlement changed its name in 1739 to Orsk. An attempt was made to found another Orenburg about 175 km west at a location called Krasnogor, or "Red Hill," in 1741, but this settlement failed. A third Orenburg was successfully established by Ivan Neplyuyev at its present location approximately 250 km west down the Ural from Orsk in 1743. This third Orenburg functioned as an important military outpost on the frontier with the nomadic Kazakhs. It became the center for the Orenburg Cossacks. Orenburg played a major role in the rebellion of Pugachev (1773–1774). At the time, it was the capital of a vast district and the seat of the governor. Pugachev besieged the city and its fortress from nearby Berda from October 1773 - March 26, 1774. General Golytsin defeated Pugachev at Berda, and later again at Kargala (north of Orenburg). Most of the city was left in ruins, and thousands of inhabitants had died in the siege. The city and the Orenburg region were the places which constantly attracted lots of scientists and travelers, art and culture workers. Leo Tolstoy, Dahl, Mayakovsky, Humboldt, Vasnetsov visited these places. And in their many works of art there are Orenburg pages.The famous Russian writer Alexander Pushkin visited Orenburg in 1833 during a research trip for his books "The History of Pugachev" and his famous novel "The Captain's Daughter". He met his friend Vladimir Dahl here, who would later write the first serious dictionary of the Russian language. Orenburg became a trading station and, since the completion of the Trans-Aral Railway, a prominent railway junction on route to the new Central Asian possessions and to Siberia. Orenburg functioned as the capital of the Kyrgyz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within Russia from 1920–1925. When that republic was renamed Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1925, Orenburg joined Russia .From 1938 to 1957, the city bore the name Chkalov. During the Great Patriotic War Orenburg was one of the main centers where a lot of enterprises and industrial equipment has been evacuated from the western areas of the USSR .It has formed a basis for the development of new factories in the city. 2. Tick off the right sentences. a) Orenburg is situated not far from Moscow. b) Orenburg was founded on the river Or. c) E.Pugachev was one of the governors of the city. d) A. Pushkin visited Orenburg to research some facts about Pugachev’s rebellion. e) Orenburg was renamed several times. 3. Say what events in the history of Orenburg the following dates are connected with: 1734 1773 1833 1925 1941-1942 UNIT 8 CITIES AND SIGHTS 1. Find the coat of arms of the place you live in. Speak about one of the regional towns. You can make a leaflet or a poster devoted to the towns of the Orenburg region. Prove that people should know as much as possible about small towns and villages of Russia because it is the history of the whole country. Novotroitsk Kuvandik Kurmanaevsk 2. Read the articles describing places that can be found in newspapers, magazines or on websites. Say what makes these places special to the author. Vocabulary Holy Trinity- святая троица mercy-милосердие nun – монахиня revolt – бунт tutor – инструктор Saraktash The town is situated in a very beautiful place and attracts its visitors by some special sights. The Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral of Mercy was founded in 1989 after long years of a godless power. Then the school of catechism, the House of Mercy for lonely sick aged people was opened at the church. Children from children's homes were accepted in the family of the Priest Nikolai Stremsky who adopted more than 70 children. There are the House of Mercy, the Orthodox Gymnasium, the School of Theology, the Sisters’ community, the Community of nuns now. There is also a sewing workshop, a bakery, a small farm there. In 1999 Saraktash was chosen for shooting a feature film about the Pugachev’s revolt because historically the location of the town is the place where the events of 17th century took place. The film “Russian revolt” was shot after Alexander Pushkin’s novel “The Captain’s Daughter”. A natural wooden fortress was built to reconstruct the epoch. Another thing to be proud of is the local tradition to knit downy shawl. The knitters are one of the best in the whole region. Kuvandik This city has a mountain ski resort center which is situated in the valley of the Sakmara river, the main tributary of the Ural river. It is 200—210 km. above the sea level. From both sides the resort is surrounded by the mountain chains the highest of which are 475 meters above the sea level. This place is popular for family holidays as well as for mountain skiing competitions. The town is 190 km. from Orenburg. There are several alpine skiing tracks that you can choose – for beginners, advanced, professional skiers. The track’s length varies from 250 to 2500 m., the width is 1000 km. There is also a zone for snowboarding. Experienced tutors are at your disposal (one hour of training with a tutor costs 5$). AKSAKOVO The village of Aksakovo (in the past - Znamensky) Buguruslan district is one of the oldest in Orenburzhye. It was so named in honor of the founders and the former owners of the village - Aksakov. The village was founded in the second half of the XVIIIth century by the grandfather of the writer Sergey Timofeevich Aksakov, Stepan Mihajlovich.The decision on creation of a memorial complex which would include the patrimonial house, a water-mill, a chapel and a park, was accepted in 1989. ORSK In 1990 Orsk has received the status of a historical city — 62 monuments of architecture, 28 monuments of history. In their number are included: historical city center (construction of 1870-1917); a town-planning complex "Sotsgorod" («the New city»). This part of the city has been conceived as a system of industrially- housing estates on the basis of innovative town-planning ideas, as the future garden city, by a group of German architects under the direction of Hans Schmidt. The planning structure of Orsk has no analogs in the Ural region. One of the features of the industrial Orsk is the presence on its territory of more than 40 archeological monuments: settlements, burial grounds, single barrows. They are already investigated and widely known in the scientific world. Vocabulary owner – владелец chapel – часовня water mill – водяная мельница to conceive – задумать barrow – курган estate – поместье One of sights of a city is the well-known Orsk multicolored jasper. The deposit (mountain the Colonel) is in the city boundaries. The Orsk jasper is allocated with the greatest variety of drawing and coloring. All colors, except for is pure-dark blue, are presented in it. Especially interesting among multicolored jaspers are the landscape pictures. The big man-made sea — the Iriklinsky water basin — is in immediate proximity from Orsk, in the West the spurs of the Ural mountains are ideally suited for ski tourism rise. It is possible to observe wild-growing tulips in the spring. Here there are more cloudless days in a year than at the Black Sea coast. Vocabulary jasper – яшма spurs – отроги 3. Write your article in a travel magazine with the following title: “My Favourite Place”. Remember to describe your chosen place, telling what you can see and do there and saying why you like it so much. UNIT 9 NOVOTROITSK: THE TOWN AND THE PEOPLE Warm – up 1. You are welcome to explore Novotroitsk. Have you ever visited it or do you live in it? What sights would you like to see? 2. Read the text and decide what place of interest you would like to go and why. Describe it. Vocabulary to tower – возвышаться torch – факел crossroad – пересечение unveiled – открыть countrymen – соотечественники Novotroitsk is located on the right bank of the Ural River, in 315 km from Orenburg, on border with Kazakhstan. It is surrounded by the Ural Mountains. Novotroitsk is the second city after Mednogorsk in the Orenburg region, born on the basis of the discoveries of the Soviet geologists. The building of the town began in the years when geologist Joseph Leontevich Rudnitsky has found out to the north from station Halilovo a deposit of hematite. On April, 13th, 1945 the working settlement Novotroitsk became a town. Sovetskaya Street is the main city street. The main transport of the town- tram has been driving every day since 1956. This street begins with the railway station which has been opened on December 8th, 1955. Before its building you can see the monument to V.Lenin – a tribute to the history of the Soviet period. 1957 was full of events. In spring the strong high water flooded Sovetskaya Street and the inhabitants reached their place of work by boats. The building of technical school towered above the waters like a palace from Venice. Tram railways were under the water too. In 1957 the Metallurg stadium was opened. And in 1963 the doors of the Palace of Culture “Metallurg” were opened too. In 60s the main street continued to grow, new houses were built, new squares were put. In the evening on November 7th, 1967 in the central square the monument "Eternally live" was solemnly opened by many veterans and young people. A torch procession has taken place. The fire was lit by the honorable citizens of Novotroitsk: the founder of the town - J.Rudnitsky, the Hero of the USSR - A.Zinin, the Hero of Labour – F. Tolkachyov. At the crossroads of Sovietskaya and Komarov Streets a new building of metallurgical technical school appeared. Now in front of it there is a monument to the geologist J.Rudnitsky. Opposite the square are the Town Administration Building and our local museum. The next building on the left houses the swimming pool "Wave" and further is the town market. Along the street wonderful nine-storied houses were built. Among them the monument to the soldiers- internationalists was unveiled. At last the street finishes on an open hill with the temple of Peter and Paul erected in the 90s. More than 100 streets are there in our city. Some of them were given the names of our remarkable countrymen. But Sovietskaya Street was and remains the main street of our native town. It looks very beautiful, especially in spring and summer when the flowers and trees are in blossom. 3. Underline the right variant: a) The town is situated on the right/left bank of the Ural river. b) Before/opposite the building of the railway station there is a monument to V.Lenin. c) Opposite / next to the square you can seethe Town Administrative Building. d) Further to the right/left is the town market. 4. Read the text and do the task below: Vocabulary gravestone – надгробная плита seagull –чайка regiment – полк armored car - броневик The monument “Eternally Live” consists of three parts: the fire, the Unknown Soldier with a column on the pedestal and some memorial gravestones, where one can read the names of the citizens of our town who died defending our Motherland during Great Patriotic War. It reminds us of those who didn’t come back from the battle fields. The Monument to F.Podsorov is on the way a hill. It is an obelisk with a seagull on the top and a cap at its foot. In 1918 the young commander of the Ural was burnt in his armored car by the white Cossacks. to Orsk on sailor’s Regiment Another erected in monument to F.Podsorov and his comrades is the square near the cement factory. The Monument to Maria Koretskaya. On the way to Khabarnoye there is a ten-meter monument with a torch on its top. It reminds about the hero of the Civil War M.Koretskaya. She informed the defenders of the city about the approach of the Dutov’s regiment. But later she was caught and killed. Now people honor her name and her dead. The Monument to the First Builders It is located in the western district of the city in Cheremnyh Street. It was opened on June 20th 1970. K.Ponomarev was the author of the monument. It honors the first builders who have built the metallurgical industrial complex Orsk-Halilov and the town of Novotroitsk. The monument was erected on the means earned during communist subbotnics. On a beautifully issued pedestal in a vertically-inclined plane you can see a metal model of a brick of the silver-white color. And ahead the names of the first builders of the town are cut in marble. The composition is 6, 5 meters high. The Monument to V.Lenin In Novotroitsk a new monument to Lenin was opened. Eventually it has drawn attention of all communists of Russia. The decision of replacing the old plaster monument on a bronze five-meter statue of the leader has, of course, demanded courage from the city authorities, but the statue of Lenin organically entered the area near the railway station. The Monument to the Soldiers of Local Wars Vocabulary withdrawal – вывод tetrahedral – четырехгранный bullet - пуля outlines - очертания marble tile – мраморная плитка On February 14th, 1989, on the sixth anniversary of the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan, in Novotroitsk the monument to the Soldiers- internationalists was opened. It is located in the square of Soldiers-internationalists. The author of the project is the Orenburg architect V.I.Romanov. This youngest city monument was built on the means of the labor collectives and city administration. The monument is executed in the form of a snow-white tetrahedral prism with the arches symbolizing a bullet and simultaneously reminding outlines of the east buildings. The top crowns a metal model of globe in diameter of 2 meters. It has been established in 2004 as a symbol of the world which is preserved by soldiers-defenders. In 2007 before the monument on a pedestal it was established an infantry fighting vehicle (БМП). The pedestal is framed by a black marble tile with the names of the victims of the local wars. Guess the monument: a) It was opened in 1970. b) I t replaced the old monument. c) It represents an unknown soldier. d) It is situated on a hill. e) It reminds about a hero of the Civil War. Describe one of the monuments. Find the specific features of the others. NAME The monument “Eternally Live” The monument to F.Podsorov The monument to M.Koretskaya The monument to the First Builders The monument to V.Lenin The monument to the Soldiers of the Local Wars SPECIAL FEATURES 4. Work in pairs or small groups. Imagine that a group of young people are coming on a 3-4 day visit to your native town. a) Make a plan of their tour in Novotroitsk. b) Display the plans and vote for the best one. WE SING THE PRAISES TO THE PEOPLE OF NOVOTROITSK Song about Novotroitsk Music V. Afanaseva Lyrics A. Teplyashin Cities are born, as people, And they change their shape every day. How to know, what it will be tomorrow, The city where we live today? Here once the steppe was in blossom, And the winds walked here and there. Won't forget our heart the day of yesterday, That presented to people this garden city. Города рождаются, как люди, И меняют облик с каждым днем. Как узнать, каким он завтра будет, Город, где сегодня мы живем? Здесь когда-то степь цвела ромашкой, И ветра гуляли без преград. Не забудет сердце день вчерашний, Подаривший людям город- сад. Ludmila Bolotskaya My city is buildings and metal. My city is schools and students. Yesterday it was a desert, today some blocks up. Yesterday it was weeds, today is tapes of roads. So every day brings something new. A.Tsirlinson Мой город — это стройки и металл. Мой город — это школы и студенты. Вчера — пустырь, сегодня ввысь квартал. Вчера — бурьян, дорог сегодня ленты. Так каждый день приносит что-то новое 5. Read the text and tell how much you know about your town МУ NATIVE TOWN Novotroitsk is a typical, middle-sized Russian town. It is located on the right bank of the Ural River in 300 km from Orenburg, on border with Kazakhstan. It’s surrounded by the picturesque Ural Mountains. On April 13th, 1945 the working settlement became a town. Novotroitsk has become one of the most important towns in the south- eastern part of the Orenburg region. It is close to Orsk, Gay and Mednogorsk and other minor towns and villages. For many years it has become the centre of steel and building materials industry. Our steel is used to produce high- technological equipment and even the spaceships that are sent to the Moon. Novotroitsk used to be famous for its beer. There was a great brewery in the town “PIT” that provided many regions with its products. But after the crisis the production of beer has decreased. Our town also has a wonderful House of Culture and a great Museum Complex full of changing exhibitions, two very large stadiums and a well-known football team “NOSTA”, some original monuments and a range of hotels and other accommodation for tourists. The surrounding countryside is very attractive and unique. A lot of tourists both in summer and winter can relax and spend their time walking in the mountains, swimming in the clear waters of the rivers and sunbathing, or skiing on a wonderful winter day. Moreover, they can spend a day on horseback enjoying the landscape of the steppes.