Задание 9. Понимание основного содержания прочитанного текста: все задания

A. The idea of an efficient transportation system in Moscow dates back to the time of Russian Empire. However, it was not developed into a construction plan due to World War I and the Civil War. The government of the Soviet Union got back to the idea in the 1920s, and in 1935 the Moscow Metro accepted its first passengers. The opening ceremony took place on May 15th, at 7am. The city celebrated the event with parades, concerts and performances.

B. The population of Moscow is around 12 million people. There are also a lot of people who come to the capital on business, excursions or to change plane or train, as Moscow is the main transportation centre. If there was no underground transport, it would be impossible to avoid a traffic standstill in the city. In fact, the Metro is very punctual. There are no traffic jams underground and, when taking the Metro, the passengers save time and nerves.

C. Lots of the city passengers prefer the Metro to cars and buses in spite of some discomfort caused by too many people. The problem is that the stations, the passages between them, and the railway cars get really overcrowded in rush hours. Sometimes there are lines to enter the Metro, though, fortunately, the waiting time is quite short.

D. When you travel on the Moscow Metro, long magnificent staircases get you downstairs and upstairs. They run fast and you need to be really careful to step on and off them in time. To avoid accidents, never cross the waiting line at the station until the coming train stops completely. Remember that you should never lean on the doors of the railway cars when the car is in motion – it can be really dangerous.

E. Apart from being an efficient means of transport, the Moscow Metro is a very ambitious architectural and art project. The stations look radiant and brilliant due to marble, bronze, steel, milk glass and other luxurious interior materials. The best architects, such as L. Polyakov, K. Ruzhkov, A. Medvedev and others, worked on it. The chief lighting engineer was Abram Damsky, who cleverly used the light to highlight the beauty of the stations.

F. The first line of the Moscow Metro was 11 km long and included 13 stations. Now there more than 230 stations, most of which are underground, but there are also surface-level and elevated stations. The project that is currently in progress suggests that about 150 km of new lines are to be opened within ten years, between 2012 and 2022.

A. Gorky Park, officially named Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, is a very popular place with the residents and guests of Moscow. It covers about 250 hectares and stretches along the bank of the Moskva River. The huge park is actually very close to the centre of the busy city – it is between Garden Ring and Third Ring Road and you can easily get there by bus or by Metro. The nearest Metro metro station is Park Kultury, and there are a few more stations within walking distance.

B. Gorky Park was the first amusement park created in the Soviet Union. It was opened in 1928 and became a model for lots of other parks set up across the country. In 2011, Gorky Park had major reconstruction and the amusement rides were removed. The place turned into an eco-friendly zone which works non-stop and is accessible round-the-clock, day and night, seven days a week. There is no entrance fee.

C. Gorky Park is a large recreational zone in a megapolis which gives its people an opportunity to relax and entertain in the open air. However, not all the seasons in Russia are warm enough for outdoor activities. Does this mean that in winter Gorky Park turns into a deserted place? Of course not! Gorky Park turns into a huge skating rink where people skate along the alleys, beautifully decorated with colourful lights.

D. You may be surprised to find a club for young naturalists in Gorky Park but it is really there and it is called Green School. Parents think it is a very good idea as city children do not have lots of opportunities to watch animals. On the territory of Green School they can see rabbits, parrots, turtles and other animals. Apart from that mini-zoo, children are welcomed to the garden, greenhouse, woodwork shop and library.

E. A quarter of a million people visit Gorky Park at weekends, which is a convincing indication of its popularity. There you can see students getting ready for their tests on the green grass, people practicing yoga and those taking dancing or drawing lessons in the open air. The spacious park provides lanes for jogging, table tennis equipment and football and volleyball pitches. You can also hire a bike or take part in the numerous workshops.

F. Probably, there’s no person in Russia who has never heard of Gorky Park. Due to its popularity, it has been the setting for a number of films. The park was described in the novel Gorky Park by Martin Smith, which was later made into a film with the same name. The famous single Wind of Change by the rock band Scorpions refers to Gorky Park in the early 1990s. And, of course, Gorky Park, the Russian hard rock band that named itself after the park, contributed to the atmosphere of the place.