Komsomolsk-on-Amur is the second largest city in the Khabarovsk Territory and one of the most important industrial centres in the Russian Far East. Its population is about 300,000 people.
Komsomolsk was founded in 1932, on the left bank of the Amur river, on the site of the old Russian village of Permskoye. It started as an industrial centre. Nowadays its industry is an important regional factor. The city produces 40 per cent of all the industrial output for the Khabarovsk Territory. There are many manufacturing enterprises including a shipbuilding plant, an aircraft-building plant, a machine-building plant, a metallurgical plant, an oil refinery, saw mills, a furnitury factory and a construction materials plant. They initiate programs for new production targeted at both domestic and foreign markets.
Komsomolsk is also a great transport centre in the Russian Far East. There are a lot of bus routes and tram lines, a river port, an airport, a bus station and a railway station.
Being a significant cultural city Komsomolsk attracts people from different parts of the country. It has many educational establishments, such as Komsomolsk-on-Amur State Technical University and Amur State University of Humanities and Pedagogics, some technical schools and colleges, many vocational and secondary schools. Different clubs, cinemas, libraries, palaces of culture are very popular with the citizens. One can enjoy the performances at professionals and amateur theatres, such as the Drama Theatre, the Theatre “KNAM”, the Theatre for Children. The city has 2 museums: the Museum of Local Studies, where you can get acquainted with the history of our region, and the Museum of Arts, which is famous not only for its exhibitions, but also for the School of Arts for children.
Komsomolsk is an order-bearing city. It was awarded with 2 orders: the Order of the Great October Socialist Revolution for heroism and courage of the first-builders and the Order of Lenin for great achievements in industry.
Many places of interest in Komsomolsk symbolize courage of its first-builders: the Monument to the first-builders on the bank of the Amur, the Memorial Stone on the place of their landing, the sculptural group “To the Komsomol members of the 30-s”. One can also see a great war memorial on the river embankment – the Memorial Complex to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Some monuments are devoted to the famous people of our country. These are monuments to Lenin, to Kirov, to Gagarin, to Kalinin, to Ostrovsky and a bronze bust of Ryumin.
The picturesque nature of the Far East with the magnifecent view of the Amur river adds beauty to our city.
Comprehension Check
Task 1.
Answer the questions to the text.
1. When was Komsomolsk founded?
2. What enterprises are there from Komsomolsk?
3. Can you prove that Komsomolsk is a great transport centre?
4. What is the population of the city?
5. What orders was our city awarded with?
6. Are there any educational establishments in the city?
7. Can you prove that Komsomolsk is a cultural centre?
8. How many museums are there in Komsomolsk?
9. What memorials and monuments do you know in the city?
Task 2.
Say whether the statements are true or false.
1. Komsomolsk-on-Amur was founded in 1939.
2. It started as an industrial centre.
3. There is a shipbuilding plant, an aircraft-building plant, a machine-building plant, a metallurgical plant, an oil refinery, saw mills, a furnitury factory and a construction materials plant in Komsomolsk.
4. The city was awarded with 3 orders.
5. The programs of the enterprises are targeted only at domestic market.
6. The city produces 40 per cent of all the industrial output of the Khabarovsk Territory.
7. There are no tram lines in the city.
8. We can’t name our city a cultural centre as there are no theatres and museums.
9. Many places of interest in Komsomolsk symbolize courage and heroism of its first-builders.
Focus on Grammar
Translate the sentences using the modal verbs must, can, could, should, shall, цщгдвl, may. Explain your choice of the modal verb.
1. В краеведческом музее вы можете познакомиться с историей нашего региона.
2. Обязательно посетите театр «КНАМ». Он известен своими оригинальными постановками.
3. Я могла бы часами гулять по берегу Амура, наслаждаясь красивейшей природой Дальнего Востока.
4. Если хотите хорошо провести вечер, вам следует посетить Драматический театр нашего города.
5. Вы можете говорить в аэропорту по-английски. Вас поймут.
6. Вам показать дорогу к набережной?
7. Мы, бывало, часто посещали концерты во дворцах культуры.
Focus on Writing
Task 1.