My Native City

To begin with, I should underline that my friend and I live in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Speaking about this beautiful city, I can’t help telling you some words about its position and history. Then, it goes without any saying, I would like to describe you some sights of our city. Last, but not less important, I have a great desire to give you a little information about the people of our city, because it is people who make it modern and attractive.

As for the history of our city, I should remind you that it dates back to the beginning of the 18th century when Peter the Great sent the expedition to our future city in 1720. Thus, our city began with a fortress that was built on the right side of the Irtysh River. Two centuries later it became the centre of metallurgical industry in the East-Kazakhstan and the centre of educational, cultural and scientific life. There are many old plants and factories, such as Lead and Zink Plant (now it’s KazZink Company), the Accessories Plant, the Groups of Silks, the Altai Power Company, the Furniture Factory, and the Light Joint-Stock Company on one side, and there are numerous museums, palaces, parks and squares on the other side.

Keeping to the sightseeing in our city, it is interesting to note that in our city the Modern rubs shoulders with the Old, the Present is ever conscious of the Past, the Great and the Small live side by side in mutual tolerance and respect. Ust-Kamenogorsk has buildings and places that reflect different events of its history.

I am proud of those who gave their lives for a better life of the future generations; people of our city honour the memory of them. They commemorate them in the names of our streets, squares and parks. They try to follow their best features of character such as kindness, truthfulness, bravery and love to our Motherland. The names of Kirov, Auezov, Permitin are well-known to everybody. No wonder that the most beautiful and attractive places of interest are the Common Grave, the Monuments to the Soldiers who died during the White Guard reaction, the Monument to Soldiers-Internationalists where you can see the Eternal Fire.

The Central Square, Kirov, Dzhambul and many other places of attraction add to the city’s beauty. There are a lot of wonders in one of the parks. Swings, merry-go-rounds, American hills are for those who want to have fun at their free time. All big concerts of bands and meetings on different occasions are held in the Central Square. It is decorated with a beautiful fountain and the figures of zodiac around it. The Mosque has been recently built there too. It is an architectural masterpiece of contemporary architects. It is a tradition with young Kazakh couples to come there when they have a wedding day. The Central Square is the finest and the dearest place in our city.

If you are interested in history and art you have a chance to visit our museums or the Drama Theatre which is not far from the Central Square. Our museums are also not far from it. There is no doubt that their collections give us interesting facts about the history of our region from old times to our days. Dzhambul Theatre and Kirov Park are nearby, too. Classic and modern plays are performed there with great skill and success as the actors of our theatre try to penetrate into the inner world of their heroes and they do it well.

All sport competitions and big concerts are shown at the Palace of Sports on the bank of the Ulba River. It is one of the most modern buildings of our city, even though it was built more than 30 years ago. There is also the Palace of Youth or the Central Palace of Culture where different clubs and studious such as photography, drawing, knitting, folk and sport dancing, pop and rock bands are organized. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this Palace is busy with wedding days but in the evenings different discos are held for young people and teenagers.

If you are a great cinemagoer, the city cinemas are open for you. If a holiday or a birthday is coming you have the opportunity to visit different kinds of shops or you may drop in at the central market not far from the Central Square. Many restaurants, big and small cafes welcome you if you prefer eating out at your leisure time.

I have forgotten to tell you that two bridges, which connect two city districts, also attract visitor’s attention.

To sum it up, I would like to add that our city is located at a picturesque place and I wish it were better, cleaner, safer and we can do a lot to come our wish true. It is our must and it’s up to us to make our dream true.

Ø Answer the questions:

1. What are you going to tell us about your native city?

2. What have you known about the history of our city?

3. Is your city an industrial center of the East-Kazakhstan?

4. Is your city an educational center of the East-Kazakhstan?

5. Is your city a cultural center of the East-Kazakhstan?

6. What is the heart of your city? Why?

7. When was the Mosque built?

8. What do collections of the museums of your city tell us about?

9. Do you like to go to the Drama Theatre? Why?

10. What activities are there in the Central Palace of Culture?

11. Are you proud of people of your city? Why?

12. What places of rest can be advised to you for spending your leisure time?

13. Where is your city situated?

Ø Read the first part of the sentence in A and find the second part in B:

Ø Read the beginning of the sentence and find its end in the text.

1. Its history goes back to the beginning of the 18th century…

2. Two centuries later it became…

3. In our city the Modern rubs shoulders with…

4. Swings, merry-go-rounds, American hills are…

5. It is a tradition with young Kazakh couples…

6. The collections of our museums…

7. Classic and modern plays are…

8. There is also the Palace of Youth or…

Ø Put in the missing words according to the text.

1. I am proud of people of our city because they … the memory of those who gave their lives during different periods of our history.

2. They … their names in the names of streets, squares and parks.

3. They try to … their best features of character such as kindness, truthfulness, bravery and love to our Motherland.

4. Our city is situated in a … place and I wish it were cleaner and safer and we can do a lot to come our wish true.

5. The Palace of Sports is situated on the … of the Ulba River.

6. The Palace is busy with … but in the evening different discos are for the youth.

Ø Choose the correct verb for each blank using the list of words below:

are immortalized, has been built, are organized, was built, are held, are shown, is decorated

1. Thus our town began with a fortress which on the right side of the Irtysh River.

2. All big concerts of bands, meetings devoted to different great events … in the Central Square of our city which … with a beautiful fountain and the figures of zodiac around it.

3. The Kazakh Mosque … recently.

4. All sport competition and big concerts … in the Palace of Sports.

5. There is also the Palace of Youth where different circles and studious such as photography drawing, sewing, knitting, folk, and sport dancing, pop and rock bands …

6. Their names … in the names of streets, squares and parks.

Ø Choose the correct item.

1. I can’t help … some words about its position.

2. Classic and modern plays are … there with great skill and success.

3. It is tradition with young Kazakh couples … there when they have a wedding day

4. It … built more than 30 years ago.

Ø Express the same idea in another way:

1. Then, it goes without any saying, I would like to describe you some places of interest of our city.

2. If a holiday or a birthday a re coming you have the opportunity to visit various kinds of shops.

3. As for the history of our city I should remind you that it comes back to the beginning of the 18th century when Peter the Great sent the expedition to our future city.

4. You are welcome to any of them if you want to spend your spare (free) time in this way.

5. The Kazakh Mosque has been built lately.

6. If you are interested in history and art you have the opportunity to visit our museums or the only Drama Theatre.

7. It is a tradition with young Kazakh pairs to come there when they have a wedding day.

8. It is our duty.

9. It depends on us.

Ø Express your opinion on different statements:

1. All places of interest have been mentioned in the text.

2. There is no information about the heart of our city.

3. According to the text we are well-informed of our local government.

4. There is much information about educational life of people of our city.

5. It is clear from the text that the local government takes care of the health of people of our city.

6. Many sentences are given in the text to prove us the fact that people are very active to make our city cleaner, healthier and safer.

Ø Translate from Russian into English:

1. Я бы хотела описать несколько достопримечательностей нашего города.

2. Мне бы следовало напомнить вам, что она возвращается к началу 18 века, когда Петр Первый послал экспедицию в наш будущий город.

3. Мне бы следовало подчеркнуть, что мой друг и я живем в одном и том же городе.

4. Я бы хотела, чтобы наш город был чище и безопаснее.

5. Интересно отметить, что в нашем городе современное соприкасается плечом к плечу со старым, настоящее с прошлым, великое и малое живут рядом во взаимной терпимости и уважении.

Date: 2015-01-12; view: 1606