Natural World, страница 165 - гдз по английскому языку 8 класс (spotlight) учебник Ваулина, Дули

Cultural Exchange

There are a number of historical monuments in Russia but the most important ones are those that show us how people lived in the past.

Spotlight on Russia visits the World Heritage Site of Kizhi

Kizhi is a historic place, containing the remains of an ancient Russian settlement from the 15th century. It is on an island in the northern part of Onezhskoye Lake in Karelia. Kizhi is a famous tourist attraction because of the beautiful wooden churches and buildings that you can still see there. The buildings are impressive in size, design and for the fact that they were built without the use of a single nail or metal pin. Each piece of wood fits perfectly into the next, forming beautiful architectural masterpieces. The most impressive building is the Transfiguration Church which has 22 domes. It dates from 1714. Next to it is the Intercession Church which has nine domes and was built in 1764. Finally, there is the beautiful wooden bell tower that dates from 1874. The Soviet government made the site into a museum of wooden architecture in 1960. They moved other beautiful ancient wooden buildings here from elsewhere in Karelia so they could all be in one place together. One of these was the 14th century church of Saint Lazarus from Muromsky Monastery. It is the oldest wooden church in Russia. Thanks to the government and to the World Heritage Organisation, these beautiful wooden buildings will be preserved for future generations. At Kizhi, there is also a collection of peasants wooden houses, mills, forges and stables. Each one has a display of the tools and household objects that people would have used in the past. The exhibits allow visitors to get a real taste of life in the past. They offer a glimpse into earlier centuries and show that craftsmanship has always been a big part of Russian culture.

DISCUSS

• Have you ever visited Kizhi?

• Do you think sites like this are important? Why (not)?

• What do you think Kizhi can teach people today about life in the past?

ACTIVITY

Find out about another World Heritage Site in Russia and tell the class about it.

It’s pretty and has a beautiful fragrance. It’s also dangerously poisonous – but sometimes a useful medicine!

Spotlight on Russia goes in search

of the Lily-of-the-Valley

Natural

World

Russia has many beautiful plants and flowers, and one of the prettiest is the lily-of-the-valley. It is not just found in valleys, but in shaded areas in gardens and woods. Many plants often grow close together to make large, dense patches.

Lily-of-the-valley has two broad glossy leaves at the base of the plant. Its flowers are small, white, fragrant and bell-shaped. The petals on each flower curl backwards and upwards at the tips. The flowers hang downwards from a single leafless stalk. In the autumn, it produces shiny red berries.

Pretty as it is, lily-of-the-valley is highly-poisonous in every part. So it might surprise you to know that Russian peasants have long been using it as a traditional medicine! When collected, dried and prepared in the right way, the plant can be a remedy for a number of health conditions, mostly relating to the heart.

Mostly, people use lily-of-the-valley for decorating their homes or giving as a gift. It is also a popular flower in bridal bouquets. Today, people also like to see it growing in its natural surroundings, as a charming symbol of the Russian woodlands.

DISCUSS

• Do you know any other traditional herbal medicines?

ACTIVITY

Go on a nature walk in your local park or woodland and make a note of the plants you see. Can you see a lily-of-the-valley?

Знаете ли вы какие-нибудь другие традиционные лекарственные травы?

Ответ:

Yes, I do! My grandmother always makes me chamomile tea when I have a cold or a tummy ache. She says it helps me relax and feel better.

Да, знаю! Моя бабушка всегда заваривает мне ромашковый чай, когда я простужен или у меня болит живот. Она говорит, что он помогает мне расслабиться и почувствовать себя лучше.