СОДЕРЖАНИЕ

І. Пояснителная записка…………………………………………………….2-3

II. Основные факты:

1. Донбасс – моя родная земля………………………………………………4-6

2. Символ Донецка……………………………………………………………6-7

3. Мой Донбасс………………………………………………………………..8

ІІI. Донбасс промышленный:

1. Промышленность………………………………………………………….9-10

2. Экономика и бизнес………………………………………………………11-12

ІV. Природа:

1. Климат и география……………………………………………………….13-14

2. Флора и фауна……………………………………………………………..14-16

V. История и культура:

1. Из истории Донбасса………………………………………………………17-19

2. Знаменитые люди Донбасса……………………………………………….20-23

3. Экскурсия по Донецку……………………………………………………..23-28

4. Праздники и традиции……………………………………………………..29-34

CONTESTS

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………2-3

2. Basic facts:

1. Donbass is my Native Land…………………………………………..4-6

2. A Symbol of Donetsk…………………………...................................6-7

3. My Donbass …………………………………………………………..8

3. Industrial Donbass:

1. Industry………………………………………………………………9-10

2. Economy and Business………………………………………………11-12

4. Nature:

1. Climate and Geography……………………………………………..13-14

2. Flora and Fauna……………………………………………………..14-16

5. History and Culture:

1. From the History of Donbass…………………..................................17-19

2. Famous Personalities of Donbass……………………………………20-23

3. Donetsk Tour …………...…………………………………………..23-28

4. Holidays and Traditions……………………………………………..29–34

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ПОЯСНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ЗАПИСКА

Наши тексты для чтения по теме: "Наш родной Донбасс" — это хорошая возможность обогатить и расширить знания по данной теме, стимулировать процесс самостоятельного совершенствования и овладения английским языком.
Сегодня, как никогда раньше, иностранный язык открывает двери в мир культуры, спорта, бизнеса, информационных технологий и будущего процветания. Главная задача системы образования — удовлетворение потребности в подготовке жизнеспособной и конкурентоспособной молодежи, которая бы достойно представляла Донбасс в мировом сообществе, способствовала развитию социально-экономической, политической и культурной сфер жизни нашего края.
Мы считаем, что это методическое пособие прольёт свет на малоизвестные и интересные факты о нашей Родине — Донбассе, покажет наиболее важные моменты истории Донбасса, знаменитых людей, становление промышленности и бизнеса нашего родного края, его географического положения, климата, мира флоры и фауны.
С нашей точки зрения эти тексты для чтения дают шанс поверить и убедиться ещё раз, что мы живём на прекрасной земле — Донбассе, с её уникальной историей, традициями, отважными и добрыми людьми.
В настоящее время особую актуальность приобретают развитие традиций в системе патриотического воспитания, реализация которых ориентирована на формирование гражданской позиции обучаемых средствами иностранного языка, изучаемого в школе.

Читая эти тексты на английском языке, вы проявляете любовь и уважение к нашей родной земле. Это ступенька к вашим будущим победам и достижениям.

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Donbass Is My Native Land

Do you know what Englishmen say about their native land? “East or West, home is best.” “There is no place like home.” “Every bird likes its own nest.”

So for every person his Motherland is the dearest one. We were born in Donbass – the land of wide steppes, rich fields, green forests, and high slagheaps. Donbass is washed by the Azov Sea in the south. It borders on Russia in the north and north-west and Ukraine in the east.

Donetsk is the capital city of our Motherland. It stands on the banks of the river Kalmius. It is the city of million roses. It is an important industrial, scientific, cultural center of our native land.

Donbass is rich in mineral resources, soils, nature, but the main treasure is its people.

Our land is famous for many names. The whole world knows such names as Arhip Kuindzhy, Iosif Kobzon, Alexander Hanzhonkov, Sergey Bubka, Liliya Podkopayeva etc. The Donbass people are hardworking, generous and real patriots who will overcome any difficulties and never betray their Motherland.

We are proud of our Donbass and want to become its worthy residents.

1. Translate the underlined words into Russian.

2. Answer the questions.

1. What is Donbass rich in?

2. What countries does it border on?

3. What is the capital city of Donbass?

4. It stands on the river Kalmius, doesn`t it?

5. What famous people of Donbass do you know?

6. Can you explain Kennedy`s words? Are you a worthy resident of your Motherland? Why do you think so?

3. Match the English word combinations with their equivalents.

the dearest

be born

slagheap

bank

be famous for

are proud of

worthy residents

Motherland

be rich in

1. родиться

2. быть богатым

3. террикон

4. самый дорогой

5. достойные жители

6. Родина

7. быть знаменитым

8. гордиться

9. берег

4. Complete the sentences with the word-combinations from the previous exercise, translate into Russian.

1. Donbass is the _______________ Motherland for me.

2. I ______________ in the city of Donetsk.

3. Donetsk is the city which stands on the __________ of the Kalmius.

4. Donbass ___________in its mineral and natural resources.

5. We are _________________ of our famous people.

6. The young people of Donbass want to become its __________________ .

7. You can see ____________________ almost everywhere in Donbass.

A Symbol of Donetsk [pic]

There are many symbols in the world. The most wonderful and perfect one is a rose. This flower is a piece of beauty in our life. A rose is a symbol of Donetsk. There are many kinds of roses in the city: red, pink, white, orange, black purple, scarlet, yellow, of different selections from many countries of the world. More than one million bushes of roses ‘live’ in Donetsk.

A rose is an old plant. The Donetsk people started planting roses in the 60s of the 20th century. Donetsk was a grey, industrial city but roses made it bright and colourful. [pic]

A rose is a destiny for Donetsk. By the way, Uzovka has appeared due to the Britishman – John Hughes. A rose is a symbol of England (a white rose with red stripes). You know a rose is a symbol of peace in the world, beauty, and love. We need peace and tolerance more than ever.

Donetsk has a status of ‘a city with million roses’. We can count about 1.012.000 bushes of roses nowadays. Nature gives us a chance, a helping hand to make peace in our native land. We agree that “beauty will save the world”.

I) Answer the questions:

1) What is a symbol of Donetsk?

2) How many bushes of roses are there in Donetsk today?

3) What status has our capital city?

4) What is the name of a famous Russian writer who wrote the words: “Beauty will save the world”?

II) Find out an odd world:

* A rose, a plant, a bush, a bird;

* Peace, tolerance, news, kindness;

* White, colorful, red, pink;

* Beautiful, to appear, wonderful, perfect;

* A city, a town, a village, to live.

1. the world

2. roses

3. a chance

4. peace

1. Make up word-combinations:

1. to make

2. to give

3. to save

4. to plant

2. You are a guide in the Donetsk Botanical Garden. You must tell about rose as a plant using the following words and word-combinations: (different selections, an old flower, a symbol of England; peace; a city with more than million roses, our native land, etc.

3. Write some sentences which show us your agreement or disagreement with the famous words: “Beauty will save the world”. [pic] [pic] [pic]

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1. Read the poem and translate it into English.

2. Learn the poem by heart.

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Industry

Donbass has a favorable position. Our region borders on Rostov region of Russia. In the south it is washed by the Azov Sea. Our land is rich in deposits of various mineral resources. Our region has the largest deposits of iron, large deposits of coal, its proven reserves are about 10 billion tons including 5.7 billion tons of coke coal. Our land is a large industrial territory with a highly developed heavy industry: coal, metallurgy and machine building. There are hundreds of large industrial enterprises, building organizations, agricultural complexes. We have scientific-research institutes, higher educational establishments, theatres. The availability of own fuel and energy resources, a network of motor and railroads, an outlet to the sea and high level of urbanization create unique conditions for the development of economy and business.

1. Building

2. create

3. big

4. various

5. rare

1. unique

2. large

3. construction

4. make up

5. diverse

1. Find the synonyms:

1. Make up a chain with the first word, e. g.:

enterprise:

• industrial enterprises;

• big industrial enterprises;

• many big industrial enterprises;

• There are many big industrial enterprises

• deposits;

• developed;

• agricultural;

• industry.

2. You are a journalist who makes an interview with a manager of a big industrial enterprise Donetsk. Write down a list of questions which you can ask him (from 3 to 5).

3. Put the words into the right order:

1. has, the, deposits, Our, largest, coal, of, region.

2. a, position, Donbass, favourable, has, geographical.

3. mineral, create, conditions, resources, unique, for, economy, the, development, of, bur.

4. it, washed, the, is, by, sea, Azov, the, south, in.

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Economy and Business

Today Donbass is becoming a center of business. Our region has good perspectives. There are enterprises which use new technologies aimed at manufacturing the goods for export and home market. There are the objects of industrial and non-industrial infrastructure including offices, hotels, sports centers, etc. Here is a special preferential mode of taxation. All this attracts a lot of investors and business persons. [pic]

A characteristic feature of Donbass is a combination of powerful industry and diversified agriculture with the developed transport system. We have enterprises of metallurgical complex which produce a full range of metal products to export to many countries (Donetsk, Makeyevka, Enakievo); chemical enterprises (Gorlovka “Stirol”, Donetsk); machinery equipment enterprises (Donetsk, Yasinovataya, Gorlovka). Machinery specializes in manufacturing equipment for mining and metallurgical industry, heavy machinery, power equipment, agricultural machinery and chemical industries. All these companies provide most of the needs of our region.

Coal mining industry is highly developed in our region. There are many mines (in Donetsk, Makeyevka, Snezhnoe, Shakhtersk, etc.) which are the basis for the development of fuel, coke coal mining, power industries.

Agricultural complex with grains sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables, sunflowers; cattle and poultry farming has perspective potential in the future.

We have unique opportunities to build our region with powerful industry and diversified agriculture with the developed transport system.

1. Answer the questions:

1. Where are there important enterprises of Donbass?

2. Is Donbass becoming a center of business?

3. What industry is the main in Donbass?

4. What potential has our region in the future?

5. What will help us to build a powerful industry in Donbass?

2. Match the antonyms:

1) past a)unique

2) high b)fruit

3)usual c)low

4)center d)future

5)vegetables e)suburb

3. Write down the associations with the word “industry” using “Mind map”

4. Insert the right preposition into the sentences (in, of, at, for, with):

1. Coal industry is the most developed … our region.

2. Coal mines are the basis … the development of industry.

3. Agricultural complex … grains, sugar beets, vegetables, sunflowers has perspectives … the future.

4. Donbass is becoming a center … business.

5. There are enterprises which we new technologies, aimed … manufacturing the goods for export and home market.

Climate and Geography [pic]

Donbass lies in the steppe landscape, surrounded by scattered woodlands, hills (spoil tips), rivers, lakes. The Kalmius River links with the Sea of Azov. Donbass borders on Russia, Ukraine. It is washed by the Azov Sea in the south. Donbass has a moderate continental climate. The average temperatures are -4°C in Junuary and +22°C in July. The average number of rainfall per year totals 162 days and up to 556 millimeters per year.

I) Answer the questions.

-Where does Donbass lie?

- What climate has Donbass?

-What are the average temperatures in winter and in summer?

-What is the average number of rainfall per year?

II) Describe "a moderate continental climate" using the words and word-combinations (the average temperatures, not frosty winter, rather not summer, steppe zone, spoil tips, woodlands, etc.).

III) Match the word-combinations:

1.average a)year

2.continental b)landscape

3.per c) climate

4.steppe d) temperatures

IV) Show Donbass on the map as if you were a teacher of Geography using the words and word-combinations in the text to tell about geography and climate of our native land.

Flora and Fauna 
Donbass is situated in the steppe and forest zones. We can find broadleaf forests and pine forests. There are many species of wild plants: willow, oak, maple, birch, alder, wild apple-tree and pear-tree. Along the river banks, there are cane, swamp horsetail, carex, kizlyak, swamp sabelnik, feather grass and other types of grass. There are many flowers we can find in the steppe: saffron, hyacinth, tulip, coltsfoot, iris, violet, etc. 
Donbass hosts many species of fish: European perch, rutilus, common rudd, bream, catfish, pike, carp, crucian. In the Sea of Azov we can find gobius, sprat, flat-fish, khamsa, herring etc. 
On the banks of the rivers, in the floodplain wetlands there are water frogs, toads, smooth, great crested newts, grass snakes, dice snakes and European pond terrapins. 
Human activities, mainly cultivation of the steppes, resulted in the disappearance of animals formerly common in flu's zone, such as tarpan, steppe antelope, saiga antelope and others. Today we can meet European beaver, gopher, mice, European otter, European mink, weasel, bat, fox, squirrel, hare, wild boar, hedgehog, etc. 
The world of birds is rather various. More than 250 species of birds can be found there: European magpie, shrikes, ducks, crows, herons, storks, larks, nightingales, owls, woodpeckers, etc. 
The unique world of animals and plants, large deposits of mineral resources, a moderate continental climate and favorable geographical position give our land an opportunity to become a prosperous region.  [pic]

I) Answer the questions: 
1. Where is Donbass situated? 
2. What trees are there in Donbass? 
3. What does Donbass host? 
4. Why did many animals disappear? 
5. How many species of birds can be found in Donbass? 

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II) Put the verbs in the Past Simple Tense: 
1. We... (can) find broadleaf forests and pine forests. 
2. There... (to be) many wild flowers. 
3. Human activities... (to result) in the disappearance of many animals. 
4. The world of birds... (to be) rather various. 
5. The unique conditions... (to give) our region to become a prosperous one. 

III) Make a chain! (Name of animals, birds and plants) 
Let's play!

u

i

r

r

e

l

IV) Write down all words into four groups: 

(nightingale, maple, weasel, stork, willow, birch, shrike, saffron, pike, frog, bream, carex, sprat, iris, mice, hare) [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]

From the History of Donbass [pic]

The earliest evidence of human habitation on the territory of modern Donbass dates back to the late New Stone Age.
According to the first written historical documents (by Herodotus and other ancient historians) all the territories situated to the north of the Black Sea (ancient authors called it the Pontic Sea) were inhabited by the Scythians. In the valley of the Kalmius river, where Donetsk is located there lived Cimmerians, Sarmatians, Goths, Slavs. However, Donbass steppes were weakly populated and the lack of protected borders allowed nomadic peoples (e.g. Pechenegs, Cumans, Khazars, and Tatars) to carry out their attacks on that territory. From the XIII to the XVI century the land near the Kalmius river was not populated.

A small village located on the bank of the steppe river Kalmius was fated to become a great industrial city, the center of the largest industrial region. A generous gift of nature — coal marked the beginning of its development.
In 1866, the Russian engineer A. Mevius proved the necessity of ironworks building on the right bank of the Kalmius river near the settlement Aleksandrovka. There was everything for that purpose: coal— in the lands near the Kalmius, iron ore — not far from Karakuba (now the city of Komsomolsk in Starobeshevskiy district), limestone —near the village of Elenovka, and river water – close at hand. [pic]

In 1866, Prince Kochubey was allowed to construct an iron rail plant from the local materials. In 1869, for a large reward — 24 thousand pounds, the Prince let have his rights to the 55-year-old metallurgist John Hughes — a manager of a small factory near London. The construction of a metallurgical plant began in the summer of 1869. That`s why this date is considered to be one of Donetsk foundation. By that time there were already existed the settlement of Alexandrovka, Alekseevka, Avdotyino, Grigorievka, Semenovka, and the village Ovechiy.

Hughes signed the Treaty to found ‘Novorossiysk Coal, Iron and Rail Production Company’ and ‘Railroad Line Kharkiv-Azov Company’ with the Committee of Ministers of Russia. In April 1869 the Russian government approved the agreement on starting coal mining and the metallurgical plant construction. John Hughes was appointed a manager by the founders of ‘Novorossiysk Company’. In the summer of 1869 he settled on the bank of the Kalmius river and constructed a smithy, which was the first auxiliary shopwork of the future metallurgical plant. Next to the building there was a settlement, which has merged with the mining settlement of the Alexandrovsky mine and was named Yuzovka, after its founder - the English business manager - Hughes.

The construction of the plant and mines began in 1869. In the summer of 1870, John Hughes brought machinery and tools on 8 ships from Britain (mainly from the South Wales) to Donbass. Also, about one hundred experts — metallurgists and miners came from the South Wales to Donbass. As a result John Hughes and his small group of workers managed to build the first blast furnace in less than 8 months. It started working on the 24^th of April, 1871. On the 24^th of January, 1872 it produced its first cast iron. In September 1873 the Yuzovsky Factory began to work on the finished cycle and soon got the first place in the country for the production of metal. Hughes ' plant (today the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant) marked the beginning of a large metallurgy of Donbass. [pic]

1. Complete the sentences with the word-combinations from the text.

1. _____________________ were inhabited by the Scythians.

2. From the XIII to the XVI century the land near the Kalmius river ________.

3. ____________________ marked the beginning of Donbass development.

4. In 1866, Prince Kochubey _________________ an iron rail plant.

5. _________________John Hughes brought machinery and tools on 8 ships.

6. John Hughes and his small group of workers ___________ in less than 8 months.

2. Read the text again, ask and answer the questions in pairs:

1. How did ancient people call the Black Sea?

2. What tribes lived on the territory of modern Donbass in the past?

3. Why were the Donbass steppes weakly populated?

4. Who proved the necessity of ironworks building on the bank of the Kalmius river in 1866?

5. What is the date of Donetsk foundation?

6. When did John Hughes settle on the bank of the Kalmius river?

7. What did he build first?

8. How did people begin to call the settlement near the Hughes` plant?

9. Where did metallurgists and miners come from ?

10. When did the plant start working?

3. Discuss in class: why was Donbass fated to become a great industrial city?

4. Tell your partner in the class what you have learned about the history of Donbass.

Famous Personalities of Donbass

John James Hughes [hju:z] or Uz [ju:z] is the most famous person of Donetsk-city and its founder. He came into the steppes of Donbass with his sons from Great Britain to build a metallurgical plant on one of the banks of the river Kalmius. Hughes founded a worker`s settlement which was named Uzovka. Later on the settlement turned into a great industrial center of the Russian Empire. [pic]

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Georgiy Yakovlevich Sedov a salor, Polar researcher and discoverer. In 1912 he organized an expedition to the North Pole on the ship Saint Foka. Many geographical spots were named after Georgiy Sedov. In 1940 his native settlement – Krivaya Kosa was renamed Sedovo to honour this brave and courageous man.

Arhip Kuindzhy a genius painter-landscaper. His paintings “The Birchwood”, “A Moon Night on The Dniper”, “The Dniper in the Morning” played a very important role in the history of landscape painting. Kuindzhy showed people the colours of the forgotten ancient Rus. [pic]

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 Our countryman Alexander Hanzhonkov was not only a lucky film manufacturer, but a founder of Russian cinematography. He was the first one who produced scientific-popular films, documentaries and cartoons. The monument to Alexander Hanzhonkov was opened in the city of Makeevka on the 8^th of August, 2008. It is also a tradition to held Alexander Hanzhonkov`s Days in his native city. [pic]

Sergey Prokofyev is a famous musician and composer. He wrote his first opera at the age of 9, at the age of 17 he performed with his first concert. He gave concerts in the USA, Europe, and Japan. People enjoy his well-known “War and Peace”, “Cinderella”, “Romeo and Juliet” all over the world.

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Vadim Pisarev is a famous dancer, choreographer, and a director of the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. He is an organizer of the international festival “World Ballet Stars” which is held every year in Donetsk.

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The name of Sergey Bubka – ‘a bird man’ - is written down into the history of light athletics because he set 35 world records in pole vault. He was the first sportsman who jumped over 6 meters high.

1. Answer the questions:

Who is a founder of Donetsk-city?

Do you know any famous painters of Donbass?

When did Prokofyev write his first opera?

Why did Bubka get a nickname ‘a bird man’?

Where was a monument to Hanzhonkov erected?

Can we be proud of our people? Why?

Who is a person you admire? Why? What do you know about him/her?

2. Look at the fact file below and present Iosif Davydovich Kobzon to the class.

Name: Iosif Davydovich

Surname: Kobzon

Occupation: singer, performer, showman

Born: 11^th September, 1937

Personal details: a champion of pop stage

Family: son, daughter, five grand-daughters, two grand-son

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3. Fill in the gaps with the verbs in the Past Simple Tense.

VITALIY STARUHIN (1949-2000)

V.Staruhin is a legend of Donbass football. This is a person with the unusual biography. He …(to begin) his career as a footballer late, but when he …(to get) on the football field, he …(to reach) a goal and …(to become) a successful forward. His legendary achievements …(to be) 26 goals during the USSR Championship. Later he …(to become) a footballer of the year. Staruhin …(to finish) his career of a footballer at the age of 35, but he …(to continue) his work as a coach. [pic]

In 2010 one of the slagheaps near the Donetsk Stadium ‘Shahter’ ….(to be) named after Vitaliy Staruhin. The Star of V.Staruhin ….(to be) erected on the Glory Alley at the Donbass-Arena.

4. Write a short article about a famous person of your native land. Use the articles above as a model or collect information from the Internet. (50-60 words)

Donetsk Tour [pic]

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Donbass is the centre of coal-mining industry. It is also the main fuel base. The capital city – Donetsk was founded in 1869 by a businessman, John Hughes, who constructed a steel plant and several coal mines in the region; thus the town was named Yuzovka. From 1924 to 1961 it was called Stalino, and only in 1961 it became Donetsk.

Donetsk currently has a population of over 982,000 inhabitants. It is the largest city in Donbass.

The city is situated on the river Kalmius. It is very famous for its waste banks. Now the city produces metallurgic and mining equipment, refrigerators, bicycles. Food and light industries are also well-developed in Donetsk.

Donetsk is a well-known educational location of the surrounding area. The most important and prominent educational institutions include the National Technical University ("Donetsk Polytechnical Institute" in 1960-1993), as well as the Donetsk National University which was founded in 1965. There are also several scientific research institutes in the city.

There are 3 theatres and some museums in the city: Donetsk Opera and Ballet House, Donetsk Museum of Fine Arts are among them.

Donetsk is also well-known due to its sport achievements. It has the best stadium, called Donbass Arena. It is a new stadium with a natural grass pitch, that opened on the 29^th of August, 2009. The stadium is located in the center of the city, in the Lenin Comsomol park. Intended for 50,000 spectators, the Stadium hosted Shakhtar Donetsk matches and some matches in Euro 2012.

Donetsk has been home to many famous people, including sportsmen, musicians, writers, businessmen, dissidents, and many others.

1. Read the text and say if the sentences below are true or false. Correct the false sentences.

Donetsk was founded in 1896.

The Donetsk National University which was founded in 1956.

You can visit two museums in the city.

Donbass Arena was opened in 2009.

This stadium is situated not far from the city center.

2. Look at the pictures of some famous landmarks in Donetsk. Would you like to visit them? Discuss with your partner where you will go and what you can see there.

E.g.: A: - As for me, I will go to Donetsk Railway Museum to learn about the history of trains in our land. And you?

B: - To my mind, the best place to learn about Donetsk more is the Regional Folk Museum where you can meet with all the steps of its development.

[pic] Donetsk Opera [pic] Donetsk Regional Folk Museum

and Ballet House

[pic] Donetsk Museum of Fine Arts [pic] Donetsk Railway Museum

[pic] The Museum of Football Club Shakhtar [pic] The Great Patriotic War Museum

[pic] The Museum of Photography [pic] The Communication Museum

and Photojournalism

[pic] The Museum of History [pic] Donetsk State Academic Music and Drama Theatre

of Donetsk National Technical University

3. Look at these pictures of Donbass` famous landmarks; tell your partner where they are situated. What cities can you visit to see them?

E.g.: I can visit Gorlovka to see Rozumov`s Mini-book Museum.

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4. What do you know about landmarks of your village/town/city? Find information from the Internet and write down an article (50-60 words) about one of them.

   Dan: How do you like your staying in Donetsk? [pic]

   Ann: Oh, it`s great! We are visiting Scherbakov Public Park at the moment. It`s a magic spot in the center of the city! There are _______1.________. The river Kalmius washes ________2.________.

   Dan: Really? __________3.____________

   Ann: First of all, the Water Park ‘Sphere’ with its ______4.__________. Then, the dolphinarium ‘Nemo’ where I enjoyed _________5.________with dolphins and seals.

   Dan: Well, I hope you did a lot of photos which you`ll show me when we meet.

   Ann: Of cause, I will. They will remain me those fantastic days which I spent in Donetsk.

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5. Read the first two exchanges of the dialogue. What is it about? Read the dialogue filling in the gaps.

1. What impressed you most of all?

2. many green plants, bushes and trees there

3. a splendid performance

4. one side of the park

5. numerous slides and rides

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Holidays and Traditions of Donbass

There are many national holidays in Donbass, when people do not work and have special celebrations.
The major holidays are: New Year's Day, Day of Fatherland Defender, Women's Day, May Day, Victory Day, Miner`s Day, etc. These holidays emphasize the spirit of Donbass people and support folk traditions.
The first holiday of the year is New Year's Day. People see the new year in at midnight on the 31st of December. They greet the new year with champagne and listen to the clock chimes beating 12.
There are lots of New Year traditions in Donbass. In every home there is a New Year tree glittering with coloured lights and decorations. Children always wait for Father Frost to come and give them a present. Many people consider New Year's Day to be a family holiday. But the young prefer to have New Year parties of their own.
Christmas is also very popular in Donbass. It is celebrated on the 7th of January. It's a religious holiday and a lot of people go to church services on that day. People visit their relatives on this day carrying wheat pudding with raisins, poppy seeds, nuts and honey which is called “kutya”. Many young and single girls try to read their fortune at the night of 6th and 7th of January. [pic] [pic]

One of the most interesting holidays takes place at the end of February to celebrate the end of winter. The holiday lasts for a week which is known as a Shrovetide. We call this holiday “Maslennitsa”. People traditionally eat lots of pancakes on this holiday and burn the scarecrow saying farewell to winter snow.

We also celebrate the Day of Homeland Defender on the 23d of February. On this day all the women give presents to their husbands, fathers, and sons.
On the 8th of March we celebrate Women's Day when men are supposed to do everything about the house, cook all the meals and give women presents and flowers.
The greatest national holiday in our country is Victory Day. On the 9th of May, 1945, Soviet Army completely defeated the German fascists and the Great Patriotic War ended. We'll never forget our great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers who died to defend our Motherland. We honour their memory with a minute of silence and put flowers on the tombs of the soldiers.
Lots of professional holidays are not public ones (banks, offices and schools are not closed), but they are also very popular among Donbass people. [pic]

E.g.: Metallurgist`s Day which is traditionally celebrated on the third Sunday of July and Miner`s Day – on the last Sunday of August. On these days people like to organize picnics and have fun outdoors with their families and friends. [pic]

No doubt that we love to celebrate holidays, are proud of our traditions and carefully keep them up.

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3. Fill in the gaps with prepositions: at, on, in, for.

1. There are lots of New Year traditions _____ Donbass.

2. We wait for the New Year clock chimes beating _____ midnight.

3. Children always wait ____ Father Frost to come.

4. Metallurgist`s Day is traditionally celebrated ___ the third Sunday of July.

5. The Shrovetide holiday lasts ____ a week.

6. We celebrate Victory Day _____ the 9^th of May.

7. Easter is celebrated _____ spring.

4. Write passive sentences as in the example:

• People of Donbass celebrate many holidays. – Many holidays are celebrated by people of Donbass.

1. People decorate the New Year tree in every home.

2. Father Frost traditionally gives presents to Children.

3. We celebrate the Day of Homeland Defender on the 23d of February.

4. Every community organizes a parade on the City Day.

5. My mom makes tasty kutya for Christmas Eve.

6. People burn the scarecrow to say farewell to winter snow.

5. Write a letter to your pen-friend (50-60 words) about your favourite holiday. When do you celebrate it? How do you celebrate it? Why do you like it?

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