Moscow (1)

The capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow. It is one of the largest cities in the world. More than 8.75 million people live in Moscow. Moscow is the cultural, communications, government, industrial, scientific, and transportation centre of Russia. It lies in western Russia, in the European part of the country. The Moscow River, for which the city was named, flows through the city.

Moscow was founded during 12th century. Moscow emerged as the most powerful Russian city in the late 1400 s. The princes of Moscow played a leading role in uniting various Russian lands and in conquering non-Russian peoples and territories. Moscow became the capital of the Russian Empire and was the home of Russia's czars until 1712, when the capital was moved to St. Petersburg.

Moscow again became the Russian capital in 1918, after the Bolsheviks (later called Communists) took control of the country. In 1922, Russia and three other republics united to form the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Moscow was chosen as the Soviet capital.

The Communists lost power in the Soviet Union in August 1991. In December, the Soviet Union was dissolved. Russia and other former Soviet republics became independent countries. Most of the republics, including Russia, formed the Commonwealth of Independent States. Moscow remained the capital of Russia. The city of Minsk, in Belarus, was named headquarters of the Commonwealth.

Moscow is built in the shape of a wheel. This shape can be traced to the city's early history, when rings of fortifications were built to protect it from attack. Today, wide boulevards extend from the city's centre, forming the spokes of the wheel. They cross circular ^boulevards, which make up the inner and outer rims of the wheel.

A major highway circles Moscow. Past the highway lies the Green Belt, a ring of forests and parks covering about 1,800 square kilometres.

The oldest and busiest sections of Moscow lie near the Kremlin, a huge walled fortress at the city's historic centre. Just north and east of the Kremlin is the main business, commercial, and administrative district. Encircling this area and the Kremlin are Moscow's main shopping streets and many cultural buildings. Most of the city's new residential and industrial districts lie in the outermost rings.

At the city's heart on the banks of the River Moscow lies the Kremlin, a walled fortress housing all the government buildings. Nearby St. Basil's Cathedral was built in the 16th century to celebrate a military victory; it is now a museum.
 

Москва (1)

Столица Российской Федерации — Москва. Это один из самых больших городов в мире. Больше чем 8,75 миллиона людей живут в Москве. Москва — культурный, правительственный, научный и транспортный центр России. Она находится в западной части России, в европейской части страны. Москва-река, по имени которой назван город, протекает через него.

Москва была основана в течение 12-го столетия. Москва возникла как самый могущественный русский город в конце 1400-х. Князья Москвы играли ведущую роль в объединении русских земель и в завоевании нерусских народов и территорий. Москва стала столицей Российской империи и была домом царей России до 1712 г., когда столица был перемещена в Санкт-Петербург.

Москва снова стала российской столицей в 1918 г., после того, как большевики (позже названные коммунистами) взяли под своей контроль страну. В 1922 г., Россия и три других республики, объединились, чтобы сформировать Союз Советских Социалистических Республик. Москва была выбрана советской столицей.

Коммунисты потеряли власть в Советском Союзе в августе 1991 г. В декабре, Советской Союз прекратил существование. Россия и другие бывшие советские республики стали независимыми странами. Большинство республик, включая Россию, сформировало Содружество Независимых государств. Москва оставалась столицей России. Город Минск, в Белоруссии назвали штаб-квартирой Содружества.

Москва построена в форме колеса. Эта форма восходит к ранней истории города, когда кольца укреплений были построены, чтобы защитить его от нападения. Сегодня, широкие бульвары простираются от центра города, формируя спицы колеса. Они пересекают круглые бульвары, которые составляют внутренние и внешние оправы колеса.

Главная скоростная дорога окружает Москву. За шоссе находится Зеленый пояс, кольцо лесов и парков, покрывающих приблизительно 1800 квадратных километров.

Самые старые участки Москвы расположены возле огромной окруженной стеной крепости в историческом центре города. Непосредственно к северу и к востоку от Кремля расположен главный деловой, коммерческий и административный район. Эту часть и Кремль окружают главные улицы с магазинами и культурными зданиями Москвы. Большинство новых жилых и индустриальных районов города лежит в наиболее удаленных кольцах.

Moscow (2)

Moscow is the capital of Russian Federation, the biggest state in the World, It is a political, economic, commercial and cultural centre of the country.

It is one of the youngest capitals of Europe. It is believed that Yuriy Dolgoruky founded Moscow in 1147.

Gradually, the city became increasingly powerful. At the beginning of the 13th century, Moscow, like the rest of Russian territory, was kept under the yoke of Mongols for more than two centuries.

As the 13th century drew to an end, Moscow became the capital of the principality of Moscovia. That time the ruler of this principality became Ivan Kalita, named the first Grand Prince of Moscow by Khan and forced to move to Moscow from Vladimir.

That time, the head of the Russian Church moved to Moscow from Vladimir too. This way Moscow was becoming the political and religious centre of Russia.

In the 15th century, after almost 250 years of Mongol domination Moscow became the most powerful of the Russian city-states. In 1453, after Constantinople, the centre of the Orthodox Church, was taken by the Turks, Moscow was declared the Third Rome and true heir of Christianity.

In 1546, Ivan the Terrible was crowned in Moscow as the first Tsar of All Russia and Moscow became the capital of the new state.

In 1712, Peter the Great moved the capital to St Petersburg, but Moscow remained for some time the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon's attack. The great fire destroyed the most territory of the city, but by the mid-19th century, Moscow had been completely restored.

After the Socialist Revolution of 1917, Moscow became the capital of the USSR.

Now, Moscow is one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is more than 9 hundred square kilometres and still is growing up. The population of the city is about 9 million people.

Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The heart of Moscow is the Kremlin and Red Square. They have more historical association than any other place in Moscow.

There are a lot of beautiful places, old cathedrals, churches and monuments in Moscow. Now Moscow is being reconstructed, becoming more and more beautiful.

There are more than 80 museums in Moscow. The largest museums are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Other unique museums are the Andrey Rublev Museum of early Russian Art and many others.

Moscow is famous for its theatres. The best known of them is the Great Opera Theatre. Drama theatres are very popular too.

Moscow is a city of students. There are over 80 higher educational institutions, including several universities; the most famous of them is MGU, Moscow State University.

Moscow is the seat of the Russian Parliament and the President of the country.

Москва (2)

Москва — это столица Российской Федерации, самого большого государства в мире. Это — политический, экономический, коммерческий и культурный центр страны.

Она одна из самых молодых столиц Европы. Считается, что основал Москву Юрий Долгорукий в 1147 году.

Постепенно город становился все более и более мощным. В начале 13-го столетия Москва, подобно всей остальной части российской территории, более двух столетий находилась под игом монголов.

Уже в конце 13-го столетия Москва стала столицей княжества Московия. В то время правителем этого княжества стал Иван Калита, которого хан назначил первым Великим принцем Москвы и заставил переехать в Москву из Владимира.

В те времена, глава русской церкви, также переехал в Москву из Владимира. Таким образом, Москва стала политическим и религиозным центром России.

В 15-м столетии, почти после 250 лет правления монголов, Москва стала самым мощным из русских городов-государств. В1453 году, после того как Константинополь, который был центром православия, был взят турками, Москва была объявлена Третьим Римом и истинной наследницей христианства.

В 1546 году Иван Грозный был коронован в Москве как первый царь всея Руси и Москва стала столицей нового государства.

В1712 году Петр Великий переместил столицу в Санкт-Петербург, но Москва оставалась в течение некоторого времени сердцем России. Именно поэтому она стала главной целью нападения Наполеона. Большой пожар разрушил большую часть города, но к середине 19-го столетия Москва была полностью восстановлена.

После социалистической революции 1917 года Москва стала столицей СССР.

Сейчас Москва — это один из самых больших городов Европы. Его общая площадь — более чем 900 квадратных километров и все еще увеличивается. Население города составляет приблизительно 9 миллионов человек.

Москва является одним из самых красивых городов мира. Кремль и Красная площадь — это сердце Москвы. Они являются самыми известными историческими местами Москвы.

В Москве много красивых мест, старых соборов, церквей и памятников. Сейчас Москва перестраивается, становится все более красивой.

В Москве более 80 музеев Самые большие музеи — Музей Пушкина и Государственная Третьяковская галерея. Другие уникальные музеи — Музей Андрея Рублева, Музей раннего русского искусства и т. д.

Москва известна своими театрами. Самый известный из них — Большой театр. Театры драмы также очень популярны.

Москва — город студентов. Здесь более 80 институтов, включая несколько университетов, наиболее известный из них — МГУ, Московский государственный университет.

Москва — место, где заседает российский парламент и президент страны.

Questions:

1. Who founded Moscow?
2. When did Moscow become the capital of the principality of Moscovia?
3. How was Moscow becoming the political and religious centre of Russia?
4. When did Moscow become the most powerful of the Russian city-states?
5. Why was Moscow declared the Third Rome and true heir of Christianity in 1453?
6. Who was the first Tsar of All Russia?
7. Why did Moscow become the main target of Napoleon's attack?
8. When had the city been completely restored after the great fire?
9. What is the population of the city now?
10. How many museums are there in Moscow?

Vocabulary:

to found — основывать, учреждать
yoke — иго
principality — княжество
Grand Prince — Великий князь
to force — заставлять, принуждать
to declare — объявлять
the Third Rome — Третий Рим
heir — наследник
to crown — короновать
target — цель, мишень
to destroy — разрушать
to restore — восстанавливать
unique — уникальный
to include — включать

Moscow (3)

Moscow is the capital of Russia. It is one of the big­gest and most beautiful cities in the world. Moscow is a modern city now. The population of the city is about 9.8 million people. Moscow is a political centre, where the government of our country works. Moscow was founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruky. The total area of Moscow is about nine hundred square kilometres.

We say that Moscow is a port of five seas, as the Moscow—Volga Canal links Moscow with the Baltic, White, Caspian and Black seas and the Sea of Azov.

Moscow is an industrial centre too. There are many factories and plants in it. One of the best-known plants produces lorries, and the other one pro­duces cars.

The Bolshoi Theatre is one of the most famous the­atres in the world. If you are fond of painting, you can go to the Tretyakov Art Gallery or to the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum and see a lot of interesting portraits and landscapes there. We say that the Tretyakov Art Gal­lery is a treasure-house of Russian art. Young people like to visit the Central Military Museum. There are many tanks, guns and war documents there.

One can see the Kremlin and Red Square in the city. There are many fine buildings, wide streets, green parks, large squares, churches and monuments in Moscow.

It is necessary to mention such famous monu­ments as monuments to the great Russian writer Al­exander Pushkin and to the first Russian printer Ivan Fedorov.

A lot of foreigners from all over the world come to see these monuments.

One of the highest buildings in Moscow is the State Moscow University. It was founded in 1755 by the great scientist Mikhail Lomonosov.

Moscow is a very big city, and its transport must be comfortable and fast.

One can see a lot of cars, buses, trolley-buses, trams in the streets of our city. The Moscow metro began its work on the 15th of May, 1935. There were 13 stations at that time. Now it has 190 stations. Our metro is a beautiful and convenient one.

There are nine railway stations in Moscow and five airports around the city.

There are many stadiums in Moscow. The Central Stadium is in Luzhniki. Many competitions and foot­ball matches are held there.

The Olympic village was built for the 22nd Olym­pic Games in Moscow in 1980. It is a big complex for sport games.

I live in Moscow and I am proud of this city.

WORDS

1. government — правительство

2. link — соединять

3. landscape — пейзаж

4. mention — упоминать

5. foreigner — иностранец

6. convenient — удобный

7. complex — комплекс

8. be proud of — гордиться

9. printer — печатник

QUESTIONS

1. What is the capital of Russia?

2. Moscow is a port of five seas, isn't it?

3. Is Moscow a modern city?

4. Do you like Lo visit the Tretyakov Gallery?

5. How often do you go to museums?

6. What do you know about the State Moscow Uni­versity?

7. There are many kinds of transport in Moscow, aren't there?

8. How many metro stations are there in Moscow?

9. Do you like to go by metro?

10. When was the Olympic village built?

11. Do you like Moscow?