Unit 4. Moscow is a cultural centre of Russia

5.4.1 Text

In March of 1918 Moscow became the capital. The supreme organs of state power and many central institutions moved to Moscow from Petrograd. It was extremely difficult in the years of the Civil war to see the image of a new city in deserted and unheated Moscow.

The rapid growth of Moscow's population occurred during the twenties and thirties, in 1931 work began to develop the Master Reconstruction Plan of Moscow, a plan which many people abroad considered to be vain dream.

The city grew and changed, the streets and squares became wider, the wooden houses at the former outskirts disappeared. But the buildings of cultural and historical value were carefully preserved.

Today, as ever, the Kremlin with Red Square is the centre of Moscow. Here Moscow began more than eight hundred years ago. The city has grown so vast since, the present and the past are so closely interwoven that one can not embrace it all at once.

Certain villages, distant country estates have become the new residential areas of Moscow. New dwellings rose not only within the established parts of Moscow but new neighborhoods took shape in Tyoply Stan, Orekhovo-Borisovo, Yasenevo.

In the past century Moscow went through the invasion of Napoleon's army that forced all Muscovites to leave their city. Moscow was burned down but was never conquered. Once the enemy was driven away, its inhabitants set about building Moscow anew.

Nowadays in erecting new buildings, the Muscovites take care to preserve its unique monuments. Its architectural ensembles have been formed over the centuries and each generation added features of its Lime to the appearance of the city.

The city has thousands of libraries, schools, kindergartens and nurseries, hundreds of clubs and cinemas, dozens of higher educational establishments, theatres, museums and stadiums.

Neither words nor convincing figures, however, can give a complete idea of what had been done in Moscow. One has to visit Moscow plants and factories, to stroll about its streets and squares, to see its new residential areas.

The Kremlin is now both a piece of living history and an ensemble of masterpieces of Russian architecture.

The first thing that meets the eye is the redbrick walls of the Kremlin, reinforced by 20 towers, five of which are also gates. The Kremlin's towers are unique in appearance. Built in 1485, the Tainitsky Tower is the oldest. The highest of them is the Trinity Tower which is 80 meters tall.

The Bolshoi Theatre was opened in 1825. The theatre seats 2,150. The company has more than 900 members.

The State Tretyakov Gallery. The gallery's works of Russian fine arts range from unique mosaics and icons of the 11th century to works of contemporary artists. The gallery is named after great Russian Connoisseur Pavel Tretyakov who left his collection as a gift to the nation. It has become one of the most popular places of interest in Moscow since then.

5.4.2 Vocabulary. Pronounce the following words

deserted – пустынный

unheated – неотапливаемый

rapid – быстрый, скорый

to occur – иметь место, случаться

to be vain dream – быть напрасной мечтой

outskirts – окраина, предместье

to disappear – исчезать, скрываться

to preserve – сохранять

to interweave – переплетать, переплетаться

to embrace – принимать, охватывать

estate – поместье

dwelling – дом, жилище

to take shape – оформляться

invasion – вторжение

inhabitant – житель

to stroll –прогуливаться, бродить

to reinforce – усиливать, подкреплять

Connoisseur - знаток

5.4.3 Questions. Answer the questions upon the text

1 When did Moscow become the capital?

2 What was the former capital of Russia?

3 When did the rapid growth of Moscow's population occur?

4 What is the centre of Moscow?

5 When did Napoleon's invasion take place?

6 What did all Muscovites do then?

7 Do Muscovites love their city? What do they do for Moscow?

8 What new residential areas in Moscow do you know?

9 Have you ever been to Moscow?

10 What impression did Moscow produce on you?

11 What places of interest do you know?

12 What would you like to see in Moscow?

13 Have you ever been to the Bolshoi Theatre?

14 What do you know about the Tretyakov Gallery?

5.4.4 Put questions to the following sentences

1 In March of 1918 Moscow became the capital.

2 The Kremlin with Red Square is the centre of Moscow.

3 In the past century Moscow went through the invasion of Napoleon’s army.

4 The Kremlin’s towers are unique in appearance.

5 The Bolshoi Theatre was opened in 1825.

6 The gallery is named after great Russian Connoisseur Pavel Tretyakov.

5.4.5 Find in the text the English equivalents for

1) переехать в Москву из Петрограда;

2) гражданская война;

3) быть напрасной мечтой;

4) историческая ценность;

5) предместье;

6) воздвигать новые здания;

7) коллекция шедевров;

8) оформляться;

9) знаток;

10) попадаться на глаза.

5.4.6 Fill in the blanks with the prepositions

1 The supreme organs … state power moved to Moscow from Petrograd.

2 The Kremlin … Red Square is the centre … Moscow.

3 … the past century Moscow went … the invasion … Napoleon’s army.

4 The Tainitsky Tower was built … 1485.

5 The gallery is named … great Russian Connoisseur Pavel Tretyakov.

6 The gallery’s works … Russian fine arts range … unique mosaics and icons … the 11^th century to the works of contemporary artists.

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