I. Listen and read the text and answer the questions after it:
ALTAI REGION
Altai Region is
located in the South of Western Siberia. Its territory covers 16.9 thousand
square kilometers with the population of 2.7 million people representing a
great ethnic diversity of 110 nationalities. The capital of Altai Region is the
city of Barnaul.
The word "Altai”
means "golden mountains” in the local language. Altai is deservedly called the
pride and the pearl of Siberia. There is probably no other place that combines
the beauty of Tibet and the Alps like this marvelous corner of the world.
Two types of
landscape prevail in the region: mountainous in the East and steppen in the
West. Unique band type pine forests stretching for hundreds of kilometers can
be seen here.
About 17085
rivers flow on the territory of the region. The major rivers are the Ob, the
Biya, the Katun, the Aley and the Charysh. There are 11000 lakes on the
region’s territory, more than half of them are freshwater. The largest is
Kulundinskoe Lake with an area of 728 km2.
Such lakes as
Aya, Manzherok, Kureevo, Borovoe, Kolyvan attract a lot of holiday-makers in a
summer time. Altai has a severe continental climate with long cold winters of
little snow and hot often dry summers.
Mineral resourses
of Altai Region include nonferrous metals, lead and iron ores, coal, rare earth
elements and precious metals.
The main industrial
sectors are engineering, metal-working, chemical, petrochemical, food, light
and wood-working industries. Tractors, railway cars, boilers, machine-tools,
fabrics are produced here.
Agriculture is
widespread. Altai Region holds the leading place in Russia for production of
grain, meat, butter, honey, berries and fruit. Today, Altai Region not only
meets the agricultural product requirements of its own population, but also
exports food products to many other Russian regions.
Altai Region
comprises 12 cities, 14 urban communities and 7 urban and 60 rural districts,
including the German Natonal District with Slavgorod as the capital.
Barnaul is the
capital of Altai Region. It is one of the oldest Siberian cities and it used to
be the second-largest mining town in tsarist Russia.
The
Administration of Altai Region is the regional executive authority. There are
30 committees, departments and offices under the Administration whose work
encompasses all of the regions economic spheres, social issues and internatonal
relations. The head of the Administration is Governor who is elected for a
four-year term.
The Altai
Regional Legislative Assembly was established in 1994. the Charter (Fundamental
Law) of Altai Region was adopted on April 20, 1995. Seven of the 50 deputies
work on a full-time basis, including the Chairman of the Assembly.
Altai gave birth
to many talented poets, writers, artists and actors such as: A. Koptelov, A.
Zalygin, I. Pyrev, V. Zolotukhin, E. Savinova, M. Evdokimov, V. Shukshin.
The year of 2007
is the 70th anniversary of Altai Region founding. We have all the
grounds to be proud of our region and should do anything to make life better in
our small Homeland.
1.
Where is Altai Region located?
2.
How big is its area?
3.
What is the population of Altai Region?
4.
What does the word "Altai” mean in the local
language?
5.
Altai is deservedly called the pride and the pearl
of Siberia, isn’t it?
6.
What types of landscape can be met in Altai Region?
7.
Is Altai covered with a dense network of rivers?
8.
What is the climate in Altai like?
9.
How are mineral resources represented in Altai
Region?
10.
Does Altai Region possess a good industrial
potential or a weak one? What is produced in Altai factories?
11.
What can you say about agriculture of Altai Region?
What is Altai’s position in production of vital food-stuff such as wheat, meat,
cheese, milk and so on in the Russian Federation?
12.
What is the administrative division of Altai Region?
13.
What is the administrative structure of Altai
Region?
14.
How is Governor elected in Altai Region?
15.
When was the Altai Regional Legislative Assembly
established?
16.
What is the Charter of Altai Region and when was it
adopted?
17.
What celebraties were born in Altai?
18.
What anniversary does Altai mark in the year of
2007?
19.
What do you think of Altai Region? Are you proud of
being born and raised up in Altai Region?
