WeВ must protect our environment
Our country. Our environment. There are many big and small rivers, green forests, high mountains, lakes and seas in Russia.
Our Earth is our home. I think people must take care of our Motherland.
There are some laws and decisions on this important subject. We have state organizations which pay attention to this problem.
ВВВВВВВВ The international conventions pay much attention to the control of pollution too.
There are a lot of industrial enterprises in our country, that’s why we can’t ignore the problem of the protection of our environment. Our main aim is protection. Our environment must be clean. What must we do for it? We have to control atmospheric and water pollution, to study man’s influence on the climate. The pollution of the environment influences the life of animals, plants and human life. IfВ we don’t use chemicals in a proper way we’ll pollute our environment.ВВВВВВВВВВ
There are many kinds of transport in our big cities, that is why we must pay attention to the protection of our nature and the health of people.
Radiation. Now it has become one of the main problems. It is not good for health of people. Many people died from radiation some years ago in Chernobyl. It was a tragedy. Another problem is earthquakes. Our scientists try to forecast earthquakes, then we can protect ourselves from them.
People all over the world do everything to protect their nature, to make their country richer, to make their life happier.ВВВВВВВВ
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UNIT II. SELF-STUDY UNITS
ASTRAKHAN
Words
ВВВ 1. defence –ВВВ РѕР±РѕСЂРѕРЅР°, защита
ВВВ 2. influence – влияние
ВВВ 3. earthquake – землятресение
ВВВ 4. to forecast –В предсказывать, прогнозировать
ВВВ 5. wasteВВВВВВВ -ВВВ отбросы
The Astrakhan region
1. Read and translate the text.
2. Make 10-20 questions to the text.
3. Make a summary of the given text.
Astrakhan Region was established on December 27, 1943 with a total territory of 44 100 km that places it 6th by size among eight regions of Povolzhye (the Volga region). Population of the Region is 1 005 200 citizens. The capital city is Astrakhan inhabited by 503 100 men. Astrakhan is 1434 km far from Moscow. The whole Astrakhan Region is in the Moscow time zone. Astrakhan Region is a part of the Southern Federal District and borders with Volgograd Region in the north, Kazakhstan in the east and the Republic of Kalmykia in the west and south-west.
The climate of the Region is extremely continental and arid; the weather is variable and unstable. Summers are hot but they are compensated by rather warm and mild springs and autumns, especially in the periods from April through May and from August through October. Average January temperature is —10C (northern areas) and —6C (southern areas); average July temperature +25C. Astrakhan is the land of contrasts — where hot steppe neighbors with coolness of the great Volga River and wormwort and saltwort semi-deserts turn into green meadows of Akhtubinskaya flood-land and the Volga Delta.
Historically Astrakhan Region is the home of the Tatars, the Nogais and the Turkmen, but now the majority of the Region population is Russian. At the same time Astakhan Region is home for the largest Kazakh community on the Russian Federation territory (about 14% of the total population). Nevertheless original inhabitants of the Region carefully preserve their cultural heritage. Hence, in Astrakhan you would find the Tatar National Culture Society «Duslyk» (Friend) with its youth club «Umid». With their support Astrakhan hosts the annual all-region Tatar Song Contest «Tatar Monnary» and the Folk and Ethnographic Contest «Tradicii Zhivaya Nit’» (Live Tradition) with its subject being a traditional household of Astrakhan Region people.
Astrakhan is famous for its Kremlin that is a unique architecture ensemble of the XVI century with its walls and towers built of the Golden Horde stones. Another point of interest is the Astrakhan State United History and Architecture Museum (former province museum) founded in 1837 with its excursions В«Old AstrakhanВ» and В«Great Silk RoadВ», Astrakhan State Art Gallery named after P.M. Dogadin, the unique Museum of Medicine Development and the Memorial House Museum of the Ulyanovs.
Special attention should be devoted to the House Museum of B.M. Kustodiev. The painter spent his childhood in Astrakhan, hence many images embodied in his paintings were «born» here. There is also the House Museum of V. Khlebnikov that besides the Khlebnikov’s family library and documents keeps the poets household and personal belongings. The Museum library possesses genuinely valuable books and magazines related to Khlebnikov.
As believed by some historians Atil — the capital of the Khazar Khaganate of the VIII — X centuries — used to stand in the vicinity of today’s Astrakhan. However, scientists failed to identify the exact city location, thus Astrakhan’s official history goes back to a Tatar settlement of the XIII century mentioned in chronicles. Nevertheless excavations on the Region territory have been on-going for many years and lead to a discovery and excavations of an ancient town of the IX century in Kamyzyaksky District of the Region (Sevosdelka village). Archaeologists discovered there a lot of intact household items. Since then most of tourist routes are mapped to include this site.
Apart from traditions and cultural heritage the Region is also proud of its natural reserves, game reserves and hunting infrastructure. Here you could find a long list of the Red Book bird species, including Dalmatian pelican, great white heron, mute swan and erne and many others. Among 30 state natural attractions specific interest could be paid to the Tinaki ilmen-lake rich with therapeutic muds. It is the basis for the Russia-famous balneal resort.
Special significance for the region has the Volgo-Akhtubinskaya flood-land that turns into a wide delta with its waters being a spawning area for a number of commercial fish species. The perfect time to fully enjoy spearfishing or hunting for water-fowl is the period of mid-summer through mid-autumn. You could also go on a cruise along Volga and Akhtuba and starting early July and all the way through mid-September you could take a tour to the unique lotus fields in the Volga river delta. In terms of fishing Volga is a true fisherman’s «paradise». Submarine world of the main Russian river strikes with diversity of species you could find, namely bream, perch-pike, bass, pike, cat-fish, redeye and, of course, the all-Russia favourite vobla. There is no such thing as off-season in the Volga Delta — fishing is good at any season. The Caspian Sea itself is rich with sturgeon species — starlet, beluga, starred sturgeon and Russian sturgeon.
Besides fish the Volga Delta is a true bird kingdom. This territory is not only the home for many birds, but also a temporary shelter for migrating species. Total number of upland and water fowl exceeds 230 species, which would sure satisfy even the most demanding hunter. And on the seashore you could spot Caspian seal (eared seal) rookery, stumble upon a wild boar in reeds and watch saiga — the relic antelope — graze on steppe and semi-desert plains.
The region would be glad to offer its guests a large number of recreation centres, resorts, excursion programs and special fishing and hunting tours. Almost all recreation centres are intended for family vacation. Guests are welcome to use comfortable beaches, terraces for picnics and numerous cafes. Wee campers would not feel left out — there are playgrounds where they could stay busy while grownups hunt for their trophy.
THE HISTORY OF CANADA
1. Read and translate the text.
2. Make 10-20 questions to the text.
3. Make a summary of the given text.
Canada has always been a place of safetyВВ for people who have had to leave difficult or dangerous situations in their home countries. The country is rich in natural resources and has been an attractive place for immigrants for a very long time. The very first people to arrive in the land that we now call Canada were the ancestors of Canadian Inuit and Indians. They came thousands of years ago. They were the first immigrants to arrive! Do you realize that all Canadians or their relatives have come from somewhere else Canada is a nation of immigrants or the descendants of immigrants.
ВВВВВВВВ The Discovery of North America
ВВВВВВВВ There was a time in the past when no people lived in North America. The first people to discover North America were Asians. They came to North America over the land bridge between Siberia and Alaska. This was more than 10 000 years ago. There is no land bridge now. At first, these people were hunters. They moved all over north and South America. A few thousands years ago civilization begin to develop. The other native people are the Indians.В Indians live in all parts of North and South America. They live in every province in Canada.
ВВВВВВВВ Canada at this time was even colder than it is now. The early ancestors of the Indians and Inuit learned how to survive the cold. They wore clothes made from animal fur and knew how to use fire. The early immigrants lived here 80 000 years ago!
ВВВВВВВВ The first people who came to Canada were probably following herds of animals as they were moving north. Much of North America was covered by a huge sheet of ice. As the weather was warming the ice began to melt. This huge sheet of ice is called a glacier. Plants could now grow and animals began to move farther north as food became available to them.
The first European Settlers to Canada
ВВВВВВВВ In the early 1600’s both France and England became interested in controlling the fur trade which had became very profitable. The king of France sent Samuel de Chamlain to New France to set up French settlements and fur trading centers. Camplain was both an explorer and pioneer. He was interested in exploring the lands and rivers of New France as well as organizing new settlements. He set up a fur trading post in 1608 on the site of Quebec City. There was already an Indian settlement called “Hochelaga” on the site of Montreal.
ВВВВВВВВ The English set up the Hudson’s Bay fur trading company in 1670. France and England fought with each other for control of the fur trade. The English had fewer settlers but had more ships and soldiers. They took control of New France in 1763. There were still not very many English settlers in Canada. The English wanted to end the fighting and promised the French settlers their language and religious rights. They set up a system of government that combined French customs and English law. Then in early 1800’s many immigrants came to Canada from Britain. They came for many reasons. Some were very poor and had no work or future in England, Scotland and Ireland. Others were just adventurous and wanted to see new places and begin new lives. Between 1812 and 1815, there was a war between Canada and the United States. The US wanted the Canadian colonies to become part of United States. The Canadians won this war.
ВВВВВВВВ The Domination of Canada 1867
The Domination of Canada was formed on July the first, 1867. It began as only four provinces: Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Hudson’s Bay lands became the province of Manitoba in 1870. Sir A. MacDonald was the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada. He promised to build the railway all the way to the Pacific coast if British Columbia joined Canada. Prince Edward Island became the seventh province in 1873. Sir Wilfred Laurier was Canada’s first French Prime Minister. He encouraged immigration to Canada. He developed a world marked for Canada’s wheat, forest and products and minerals. The population in the west grew Alberta and Saskatchewan became the eight and ninth provinces in 1905. The offer of welfare programs finally brought Newfoundland into Dominion in 1949. The Dominion of Canada, continued in this form until 1967. On the Dominion’s one hundredth birthday, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeak changed the constitution. The Dominion of Canada became Canada. Canada could make all its own decisions now, without permission from the British Parliament.
3. NEW ZEALAND GEOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY