Check your comprehension

Exercise 10. Answer the questions:

1) How tall is the Washington Monument?

2) Who is the Jefferson monument dedicated to?

3) Who designed it?

4) Who designed the Statue of Lincoln?

5) What does the National Gallery of Art contain?

6) What is the East building made of?

Exercise 11. Speak about the most interesting sights in Washington. Use the information you received before.

Moscow, the Capital of Russia READING FOR COMPREHENSION Read the text about Moscow and say what facts from the history of the capital of Russia were new or surprising for you.

Moscow with a population of nearly nine million is spread over a vast area of a thousand square kilometers. Originally, however, it was nothing but a small fortress lost amid woods and marshes.

Founded in 1147 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, Moscow was named after Moskva River on the bank of which it was built. In the course of time Moscow grew into a real city which became the centre of a principality.

In the 13^th century ancient Rus, which included the Moscow Principality, fell under the yoke of the Tatar-Mongol invaders for two hundred years. They plundered and sacked Moscow in 1238.

It was only in 1480 – a hundred years later after the historic battle of Kulikovo field – in the reign of Grand Duke Ivan III, that the foreign yoke was finally thrown off. By that time, Rus had grown into a big powerful state capable of repulsing any enemy. By the end of Ivan’s reign, the Prince of Moscow was, in fact, the ruler of Russia.

In the 15^th century, Moscow became the capital of the Russian state and the largest economic and cultural centre in the country. Crafts, trade, foundry work and construction began to develop rapidly in the city. It attracted master builders and artists from all over Rus. Many famous architects from Italy were invited.

Everybody can see the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, a unique example of the 16^th century Russian architecture.

In the early 17^th century the capital was occupied by Polish and Lithuanian invaders, who sacked and devastated the city. It was only in 1612 that a people’s voluntary army, headed by merchant Kuzma Minin and the Voevoda Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, drove the invaders out of the city.

There then followed two centuries of peace in the life of Moscow. In the late 18^th century, a number of outstanding architects such as Vassili Bazhenov, Matvei Kazakov and Giacomo Quarenghi created their masterpieces in Moscow.

Then came the year of 1812. The invasion of the French Army began. After the famous Battle of Borodino Moscow surrendered to the enemy. Once again the city was plundered and destroyed by fires and once again it rose from ashes.

Now it became more beautiful. The city centre was replanned. The city was enriched by a number of remarkable structures such as the Bolshoi and Maly Theatre, the Manege, etc.

Moscow also continued its development as a major cultural centre. It was the home city of the oldest Russian university, which was founded in 1755, and numeous museums, theatres, and publishing houses.

In the early 20^th century, the Moscow proletariat played a major part in the First Russian Revolution of 1905-1907 years. The general political strike started by Moscow workers in October 1905 developed into a nation-wide one. Numerous names in the city reflect the events of those days. Among them are Krasnaya Presnya, the district of Moscow, where there was a bitter fighting in December 1905, Barricadnaya Street.

In March 1918, the Soviet government headed by Lenin, moved from Petrograd to Moscow, and the city once again became the capital.

The rapid growth of the city and the expansion of its boundaries have been accompanied by the reconstruction of the central part of Moscow.

The development of the city was sporadic at times, particularly in the early days. That is why we can often see buildings of different periods and styles which sometimes even seem incomparable – from Baroque to Constructivism standing side by side. And this is exactly what creates the unique character of the city and gives it a particular fascination.

Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. It was founded 8 centuries ago by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Historians have accepted the year of 1147 as the start of Moscow’s history. Gradually the city became more and more powerful. In the 13^th century Moscow was the centre of the struggle of Russian lands for the liberation from the tartar yoke. In the 16^th century under Ivan the Terrible Moscow became the capital of the new united state. Though Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1712, Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon’s attack. Three-quarters of the city was destroyed by fire during Napoleon’s occupation, but by the mid-19^th century Moscow had been completely restored. After the October Revolution Moscow became the capital again.

Now Moscow is one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is about nine hundred sq km. the population of the city is over 8 million.

Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The heart of Moscow is Red Square. It has more historic associations than any other place in Moscow. The Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral are masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture. The main Kremlin Tower, the Spasskaya Tower, has become the symbol of the country. On the territory of the Kremlin you can see old cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Palace of Congresses, the Tzar-Cannon and the Tzar-Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world. St. Basil’s Cathedral was built in the mid-16^th century in memory of the victory over Kazan. There is a legend that Ivan the Terrible blinded the architects Barma and Postnik, because he didn’t want them to create another masterpiece.

There are a lot of beautiful palaces, old mansions, cathedrals, churches and monuments in Moscow. There are more than 80 museums here. The largest museums are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Other unique museums in Moscow include the All-Russia Museum of Folk Arts, the Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Art, Alexei Bakhrushin Theatre Museum and many others.

Moscow is famous for its theatres. The best-known of them is the Bolshoi Opera House. Drama theatres and studios are also very popular.

Moscow is a city of students, There are over 80 higher educational institutions in it, including several universities.

Moscow is the seat of the Russian Parliament (the Duma) and the centre of political life of the country.

CHECK YOUR COMPREHENSION

Exercise 12. Answer the questions to the text.

1) When was Moscow founded?

2) Is there a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky there? Where is it?

3) When did Moscow become the capital?

4) In 1712 the capital was moved to St. Petersburg, wasn’t it? When did Moscow become the capital again?

5) What’s the total area/population of modern Moscow?

6) What places of interest in the centre of Moscow do you know?

7) What can yousay about St. Basil’s Cathedral?

8) What can you see on the territory of the Kremlin?

9) What are the famous Moscow museums?

10) What theatres in Moscow do you know?

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