Reading about Tatarstan

3. Scan the text to find out what the following numbers refer to:

In May 1920 On August 30, 1990 1971

50 19 30

3,000 500,000 3.5 m

4.5 m 67.8 sq. km 15 %

67 % 36 %

1 Tatarstan is one of the most industrialized republics in terms of population and its economic potential. As the Tatar Soviet Socialist Republic, it was established in May, 1920 on the territory of the former Kazan Province. Seventy years later on August 30, 1990 it became the sovereign Republic of Tatarstan.

2 Tatarstan has an overall area of 67.8 sq. km, the total population of the Republic exceeds 3.5 m. It is situated in the Middle Volga region between Central Russia and the Urals. Its size is about equal to Switzerland and Belgium combined. There are 19 cities and towns and 3,000 settlements in the Republic. Its territory is divided into several economic regions.

3 Old industrial Northwest region with Kazan and Zelenodolsk as it centres. Major branches of industry of the region are machine-building, instrument-making, chemical and light industries.

4 New industrial Northeast region with Naberezhniye Chelny and Nizhnekamsk as its centres. Major industries of the region are automobile and chemical industries and power engineering. Famous heavy-duty trucks/large capacity lorries are manufactured here.

5 The construction of Kama Automobile Works that started in 1971 gave birth to motor car construction as one of the main industries in Tatarstan. The city of Naberezhniye Chelny where Kamaz is located is the Republic’s second biggest city with population of over 500,000 people.

6 Nizhnekamsk is the main chemical center of Tatarstan. Situated on the Kama, this city does not exist at all some 50 years ago. The local petrochemical plant, which developed into a production association, is among the largest of such enterprises both in our Republic and abroad.

7 The Southeast oil-extracting region. Our Republic is very rich in oil, which made it well-known in the world as a major oil-producing republic. It is oil that made Tatarstan an important center of chemical and petrochemical industries. The main oil-producing towns are Leninogorsk, Almetyevsk and Bugulma.

8 The North, Central, South and Southwest parts of the Republic are rural agricultural regions. More that 15 % of economically active population are engaged in the agricultural sector. 4.5 m hectares of land are cultivated, which is equal to 67 % of the Republic’s territory. Main grain crops are spring wheat, barley, rye and oats. Fodder crops cover 36 % of the sowing area. The Republic is also known for its cattle breeding.

9 The main part of foreign trade turnover of Tatarstan belongs to European countries, although business contacts with Asian countries have been expanding recently. Tatarstan exports oil and some 30 types of petrochemical products, compressors, optical devices, Kamaz trucks including spare parts.

Vocabulary exercises

4. Make a list of all –ed verbs in the text. Then divide them into three sound groups.

[ d] combined, …

- ed [t] developed, …

[id] situated, …