Task 1. Read the text. The main street of Kyiv

THE MAIN STREET OF KYIV

In Kyiv there are more than 2000 streets with a total length of 2000 kilometres. Khreshchatyk is the city’s main thoroughfare. It has tall, light-colored buildings. Although it is only 1,5 kilometres long, it is extremely wide – 54 metres.

This beautiful street is the people’s favourite place for public holidays. The architectural effect is intensified by the leafy chestnut trees lining the street.

Ages ago Khreshchatyk was a site of a deep valley criss-crossed by numerous ravines. Actually it was these ravines that gave the valley its name – Khreshchata /Crossed/, which later became Khreshchatyk.

The valley first began to resemble a street in the 1800’s when wooden houses were built. In 1892 it gave way to the first tram line. The Volhyn-Kama Bank /N8/ and the Arcade /15/ were built in 1914 by architect P. Andreyev. In 1935 trolley buses replaced the trams, the Central Department Store was built by architects A. Metsayan and D. Fridman.

During the war Khreshchatyk was completely destroyed. The city was liberated on November 6, 1943 and the restoration of the main street was begun. The latest lay-out methods were employed in the reconstruction. The houses were spaced with decorative facades and a lot of trees and sunlight.

In Khreshchatyk there is the Ukrainian House – the cultural center with concert halls and art exhibits. Not far from the hotel Dnipro is the Museum of Ukrainian Fine Arts. The museum contains valuable collections of Ukrainian icons, pictures and sculptures from the 14^th century until nowadays. Among the exhibits of the museum there are the works of the outstanding Ukrainian master of drawing and illustration G. L Narbut /1886-1920/, the canvases of the known Ukrainian painter and Academician K. K. Kostandi /1852-1921/.

Opposite the museum there is a beautiful pink building of the National Parliamentary Library of Ukraine. The library comprises more than a million volumes of scientific literature, manuscripts, and millions of copies of newspapers.

In Khreshchatyk Street there is the Tchaikovsky State Conservatoire. It was founded in 1913. The Conservatoire has an opera studio and a concert hall with 750 seats. The history of the Kyiv Conservatoire is closely linked with the development of Ukrainian music.

The Dnipro hotel is a beautiful light-coloured building in Khreshchatyk with a modern interior. Its residents have a beautiful view of the Dnieper.

Not far from the hotel there is a white stone palace. It was built by architect V. Beretti as the Institute for Daughters of the Nobility. It was restored after the war and is now occupied by the Palace of Culture, whose large theater hall accommodates an audience of 2300 people.

Ivan Franko Drama theatre was built in the 19^th century by architect T. Shleifer with donations from the people of Kyiv. In 1926 the Ivan Franko Ukrainian Drama Theatre, founded in 1920 in Vinnytsya by the outstanding masters of the Ukrainian stage, G. Yura /1887-1966/ and A. Buchma /1891-1957/, gave its first performance in this building.

In front of the theatre a monument to Ivan Franko /1857-1916/, the great son of the Ukrainian people had been erected in 1956 to commemorate his centenary.

Near the Central Post Office in Shevchenko alley is the site of the literary museum on the life and work of Taras Shevchenko, the outstanding Ukrainian bard and painter. In 1846 Taras Shevchenko rented a small attic here being one of the boarders. The museum was opened in 1928, It contains vast collections of items on “Shevchenko and Kyiv”.

The poet wrote many of his works during his stay in Kyiv, including his ballads Rusalka /The Mermaid/ and Lileya. He painted here his beautiful landscapes. Many of these works are now displayed in the Museum.

Shevchenko’s paintings attract crowds of people. His landscapes of Kyiv show exceptional mastery and depth of feeling. The Museum’s vast collection provides a realistic picture of the poet, the philosopher.

Task 2. Odd one out:

The Ukrainian House, the Conservatoire, the Dnipro Hotel, the Golden Gate, and the Central post office.

Task 3. Discussion. Answer the questions.

How did Khreshchatyk get its name?

How long is the main thoroughfare of Kyiv?

What are the famous Khreshchatyk trees?

Who founded Ivan Franko Drama theatre?

What ballads of Taras Shevchenko were written in Kyiv?

Task 4. Comrehension: Fill in the missing words.

Near the Central Post Office in Shevchenko.......is the site of the literary.......on the life and work of Taras Shevchenko, the outstanding Ukrainian.........and painter. In 1846 Taras Shevchenko rented a small............here being one of the boarders. The museum was opened in.............. It contains vast............of items on “Shevchenko and Kyiv”. The poet wrote many of his works during his stay in Kyiv, including his...............Rusalka /The Mermaid/ and Lileya. He painted here his beautiful............. Many of these.................are now displayed in the Museum. Shevchenko’s........................attract crowds of people. His landscapes of Kyiv show exceptional...............and depth of feeling. The Museum’s vast collection provides a realistic...................of the poet, the philosopher.

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