Lesson 35, 36, 37

Cities and sightings

Grammar: Present Perfect Continuous, Future Perfect

Exercise 1. Make up the sentences using the given instructions:

1. The streets in a big city and the streets in the country using the word WIDE

2. The air in the country and the air in a big city using the word CLEAN

3.The nature in the country and the nature in a big city using the word BEAUTIFUL

4. The life in the country and the life in the city using the word INTRESTING

5. People in the country and people in a big city using the word QUIET

6. The houses in a big city and in the countryside using the word HIGH

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1. Do you like the place in which you live? Is it beautiful?

2. What interesting things can you find in the place in which you life?

3. Are there good museums, theatres, stadiums and parks in it?

4. What places in your town do you like to visit?

Exercise 3. Read and retell the text

Almaty

Almaty, formerly known as Alma-Ata and Verniy, is the largest city in Kazakhstan, and was the country's capital until 1997.^[3] Despite losing its status as the capital to Astana, Almaty remains the major commercial and cultural centre of Kazakhstan, as well as its largest population center. The city is located in the mountainous area of southern Kazakhstan.

From 1929 to 1936, Almaty was the capital of Kazakh ASSR. From 1936 to 1991, it was the capital of Kazakh SSR, and from 1991 to 1997, it was the capital of Kazakhstan. Almaty remains the largest, most developed, and most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Kazakhstan. The city is located in the foothills of Trans-Ili Alatau (or Zailiysky Alatau) in the extreme south-east and has a relatively mild climate with warm summers and quite cold winters. Since the city is located in a tectonically active area, there is a constant possibility of earthquakes. Although most of them do not represent any significant danger or cause damage, historically Almaty does have a record of some large destructive earthquakes.

In 1997, the capital was moved to Astana. Since then, Almaty has been referred to as the southern capital of Kazakhstan.

After 1941, due to the mass evacuation of factories and workers from the European part of the Soviet Union during World War II, Alma-Ata became an administrative and trading centre and although it had an underdeveloped industrial base it become one of the largest industrial centres of the Soviet Union. A special role in this process was played by the location of the city, which was in the rear in relation to the conflict.

During the years 1941–1945 the industrial potential of the city increased significantly. The economically active population of the city grew from 104, 000 in 1919 to 365, 000 in 1968. In 1967 the city had 145 enterprises, with the bulk of these being light industrial and food industries, which was slightly different from a typical Soviet city where the bias was usually towards heavy industry and capital goods production.

The main industries in Alma-Ata were: food processing (36% of gross industrial output), based largely on locally abundant fruit and vegetable raw materials, light industry (31%), and heavy industry (33%). The main products of the region were:

· Food: Meat, flour and cereals (pasta factory), milk, wines, canned fruit, tobacco, confectionery, alcoholic spirits, beer, yeast, and tea (packaging)

· Light industry: textiles, fur, knitting, carpets, footwear, apparel, printing, and the Almaty Cotton combine.

· Heavy industry: electrical engineering, foundry engineering, car repair, bearing repair, building materials, woodworking, concrete structures and structural elements, and house-building.

From 1966 to 1971, 1, 400, 000 square metres of public and cooperative housing were built. Annually, around 300, 000 square metres of dwellings were under construction, and most of the buildings made during this time were earthquake-proof multi-storey buildings. Furthermore, construction unification and type-design practice diversified architectural forms, leading to a more varied city-scape. During this period, many schools, hospitals, cultural, and entertainment facilities were constructed, including Lenin’s Palace, the Kazakhstan Hotel, and the " Medeo" sports complex.

· The Medeu Dam, designed to protect the city of Almaty and the Medeo skating rink from catastrophic mudflows, was built in 1966 and reinforced a number of times in the 1960s and 1970s.

The supersonic transport Tupolev Tu-144 went into service on 26 December 1975, carrying mail and freight between Moscow and Alma-Ata in preparation for passenger services, which began in November 1977. The Aeroflot flight on 1 June 1978 was the 55th and last scheduled passenger flight of the Tu-144.

Also of note in this time period, Alma-Ata was the host city for a 1978 international conference on Primary Health Care, during which theAlma Ata Declaration was adopted, marking a paradigm shift in global public health.

Since 1981, the subway Almaty Metro project has been under construction and the subway was opened on 1 December 2011 after 23 years.

On 16 December 1986 the Jeltoqsan riot took place in response to General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of Dinmukhamed Kunayev.

In 1993 the government made a decision to rename the city from Alma-Ata to Almaty.

In 1997 the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev approved the Decree to transfer the capital from Almaty to Astana.

On 1 July 1998 a law was passed concerning the special status of Almaty as a scientific, cultural, historical, financial, and industrial centre.

The new General Plan of Almaty for 2030 was developed in 1998 and aims at creating ecologically safe, secure, and socially comfortable living conditions in the city. The main objective is to promote Almaty’s image as a garden-city.

One of the components of the General Plan is to continue multi-storied and individual construction, reorganize industrial territories, improve transport infrastructure and expand Almaty Metro. The first line of Almaty metro was launched on 1 December 2011, two weeks ahead of schedule. The extension of the line to Kalkaman is currently under construction and is planned to open in 2015.

The area of the city has been expanded during recent years with the suburban settlements of Kalkaman, Kok Tube, Gorniy Gigant (Mountain Giant) being added to the city. Numerous apartment blocks, and office skyscrapers have transformed the face of the town, which climbs higher and higher up the mountains.

Exercise 4. Make the dialogue " At the city"

Exercise 5. Read the poem " Almaty" written by 10^th grade pupils and write your own poem " Shymkent"

Almaty

You know I live in paradise!
And I can give you one advice:
Go to Almaty and stay
You'll never want to go away!
Silver mountains, icy lakes,
Funny, fabulous snowflakes!
You always will remember it,
Almaty will make a hit.
Spring in Almaty - it's good!
Everything will raise your mood.
Flowers growing from the grass
Can happy everyone, I guess.
You can bathe in limpid streams,
Which you saw in your arms,
It's wonderful that summer comes!
You'll every day remember
Fallen golden leaves,
Autumn, bright September
Fresh and tender breeze
You'll nowhere find such beauty!
To spare Almaty - my duty
In Almaty you soar like dove
And you'll love it like I love.

Exercise 6. Read the text.