Administrative division

The Republic of Kazakhstan consists of 14 regions and 2 cities of republican submission. Nowadays it has 85 cities, 169 regions 195 settlements and 2150 districts.

The capital of Kazakhstan - Astana – is located in Northern Kazakhstan, with the population of more than 400 thousand people and the city has the status of republican submission.

Northen Kazakhstan covers 440 square km. About 2,6 million people live here. It includes Northern- Kazakh, Akmolinsk and Kostanai regions.

The powerful stimulus in the growth of its economy and culture was the development of virgin lands in 1954. The region has vast arable lands, favourable to grow various agricultural crops. Tselinograd became the center of this area, quickly growing town former known as Akmolinsk. These days the northern part of Kazakhstan is the main country’s supplier of grain, meat and milk.

Kokshetau is the centre of Akmola region. It got its name as the mountains were always surrounded by blue mist. In Kazakh Kokshetau means a blue mountain. This place is one of the most picturesque places in Kazakhstan. The area is full of rivers, lakes with salt water. This allows building health resorts here. Borovoe is one of the most famous resorts. An outstanding Birzhan-sal – folk singer and poet Birzhan Kozhamkulov lived and worked here. Shokan Valikhanov, the first Kazakh scientist, geographer, writer worked there too.

Vocabulary:

Stretch простираться

low низкий

Border граница

hill холм, гора

Total целый, полный

chain цепь

Length длина

cover покрывать

Highlands плоскогорье

lake озеро

Plain равнина

flood наводнение. половодье

Lowland низменность

sharply резко

Peninsular полуостров

vast огромный

Desert пустыня

due to обусловленный

Exercises:

I. Answer the questions.

1. What countries does Kazakhstan border?

2. Are there any deserts in Kazakhstan?

3. Are there any mountains in the country?

4. What are the main rivers and lakes in Kazakhstan?

5. Is the country situated far from the oceans?

6. Who is the Head of State?

7. What does the Parliament consist of?

8. What part of Kazakhstan do you live in?

II. Open the brackets using the necessary form of the verb.

If you (to look) at Kazakhstan from the space you (to see) high ice-covered mountains. If you (read) much on history you (to become) a good historian. When you (come) to Borovoe you (to see) picturesque places.

IV. Write down the following numbers.

3000, 15000, 228, 100, 21, 169, 2150.

1954, 1998, 1930, 1991.

V. Copy out from the text the sentence about the countries bordering on Kazakhstan.

VI. Translate in written form the 1 st and the 2 nd passages of the text.

VII. Memorize the following pairs of derivatives.

N_____V V______N

Inhabitant --- to inhabit To arrive ---arrival

Departure --- to depart to invade ____invasion

Domination ----to dominate to resist _____resistance

Development ----to develop to conquer _____conquest

Text 23 Almaty

Some Chinese and Arabic sources tell that on the territory of modern Almaty there were ancient Sacks settlements of the III – VI centuries B.C. Over here the archaeologists found the ruins of usuni settlements – early people lived in the first century A.D. In the VIII – X centuries A.D. the town of Almaty served as a stanitsa on the trading way from Europe to China. Then Chingis khan came and everything was over… In 1854 Russia spreading its economic and political interest to the south found a military fortification Zailiyskoe there. Soon after it got the name of Vernoe and in 1867 it became a city. In 1921 Verny was renamed into Alma-Ata. And in 1929 Alma-Ata became the capital of Kazakhstan. When Kazakhstan gained its independence the city got its historical name Almaty.

The city is situated at 700-900 metres above the sea level and occupies the territory of about 300 square km. 1200 thousand people live here. As it is located in the seismic zone it felt Vernensk (1887) and Keminsk (1910) earthquakes and powerful mudflows by the Bolshaya (1977) and Malaya (1921, 1973) Almatinka rivers. Because of the urbanization the city is often covered with smog.

Many unique buildings and constructions were erected in Almaty. Mountain ice sport centre “Medeu”, mountain- skiing centre “Chimbulak”, museums and theatres are here, too. There is National Academy of Sciences, a number of universities and institutes in Almaty. As the capital was transferred to Astana, Almaty got a special status – a political, financial, scientific and social-cultural centre of the state.

Today Almaty is the main transport centre with two railway lines, five motorways; there is an international airport. The chief industry is machinery engineering and food one. Thanks to its unique location - among emerald- blue snow-covered tops of Zailiysky Alatau Mountains – Almaty is really a pearl of Kazakhstan.

Vocabulary

Ruins руины

Settlement поселение

Fortification крепость

Occupy занимать

Earthquake землетрясение

Mudflows сель

Unique уникальный

Erect воздвигать

Exercises:

I. Answer the question:

1. What settlements were there on the territory of modern Almaty?

2. What country founded a military fortification there?

3. When did Almaty become the capital of Kazakhstan?

4. Are there any unique buildings and constructions?

5. Why did Almaty get a special status?

II. Open the brackets using the necessary form of the verb

Over here the archaeologists (to find) the ruins of usuni settlements – early people (to live) in the first century A.D. The town of Almaty (to serve) as a stanitsa. In 1929 Almaty (to become) the capital. When Kazakhstan (to gain) its independence the city (to get) its historical name Almaty. The city (to be situated) at 700 – 900 metres above the sea and (to occupy) the territory of about 300 square km. Many unique buildings (to erect) in Almaty.

III. Make a short summary of the text. Do it according to the following plan.

1. The title of the text is …

2. The text is devoted to …

3. It consists of...

4. The first passage deals with …

5. The second (third) passage deals with…

III. Insert prepositions or adverbs where necessary.

__ the day ___ their departure __ Almaty quite a few __ their friends came to say goodbuy __ them. The stewardess announced that the temperature __ the plane was ___ 45 C.The teacher told Asem to make a list ___ students who wanted to go __ the sport center “Medeu”. The chief industry __ Almaty is machinery engineering and food one. Almaty is the first city __ Kazakhstan __ size, an important political, financial, scientific centre and one __ the most beautiful cities __ Kazakhstan.

V. What would you say if you took part in the following dialogues? Act them out.

1. A: Excuse me. Is this the way to Republic Square?

B: …

A: Thank you very much.

2. A: Excuse me, can you tell me the best way to Almaty University?

B: …

A: Can I get there by bus?

B: …

A: Thank you.

3. A: Is there a bus from here to the Almaty Library?

B: …

A: All right. I take bus 19 to Peace Avenue and then change for the tram.

B: …

A: So I shall have to change again at the next stop. What did you call it?

B: …

A: Thank you.

VI. Roleplaying

a) American students are staying in Almaty. They ask your advice what to see first (next) and how to get there.

b) You are in a strange city. Ask a passer-by, a policeman how to get to …

Text 24 Astana

Akmolinsk steppes were always the territory of interethnic ties. even Herodotus mentioned Great Silk way, which lay through these steppes in the middle of the first millennium B.C. Many caravan ways gave life to the cities with flourishing trade.

In the 19-th century Akmola was a popular trading and economic center. Its history started in 1830 when the Russian Empire founded a fortress by the Karaotkel River. From 1832 the fortress began to be called Akmolinsk and by the end of the 19-th century it became a town with the population of about 6428 people. It had three churches, 5 schools and colleges and 3 factories.

The next step in the development of this city was cultivating virgin lands. By 1960 the city having the population 100 thousand people became the centre of the north region of Kazakhstan.It was renamed into Tselinograd and became a modern city with the population 250 thousand people. Many volunteers from the whole USSR came here to build the city and to live there. Many institutes, hospitals, museums, theatres were built here. The virgin area became an agricultural centre with the developed machinery engineering, cattle-breeding and poultry-keeping. After Kazakhstan gained its independence the city got its former name- Akmola. But in 1998 when the capital was transferred from Almaty, the city got a symbolic name-Astana. The decision to transfer the capital depended on some economic, ecological and geographical factors. The main arguments in choosing the place for the capital were in general condition of the city, territory and well-developed transport system. Besides it stimulates the flourishing of the northern, central and eastern regions even development of the state economy will be reached. For the last few years Astana has changed. It became a beautiful city of Kazakhstan. The city centre impresses especially. Grand building of the Government and Parliament Houses, other administrative establishments meet all modern requirements. Music College, Opera House, the central square are marked by magnificent architectural items.The Republic Avenue is wonderful at night.

After a working day citizens and guests love walking alonh the embankment of the Ishim river with attractions, parks and cafes working half the night.

Exercises:

I. Answer the questions.

What way lay through Akmolinsk steppes in the middle of the first millennium B.C.?

When did the history of Astana start?

What was the next step in the development of Akmola?

When was the capital transferred from Almaty to Astana?

What were the main arguments in choosing Astana for the capital?

What are the sights of Astana?

II. Read and learn the following dialogues by heart.

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