Pre-reading
Find out, if you don’t know, what the Siberian Rerikh Center is?
Altai culture has rich and old traditions. The ore industry gave a push to the development of Altai stone cutting art. The works of Altai stone cutters which were used as diplomatic gifts are spread all over the world. Many of them are kept in the national museums of the country. The unique “Queen of Vases “, an oval cup made of the whole monolith of green jasper by Kolyvan masters is kept in the State Hermitage. Its diameter is about 5 meters.
Altai has drawn attention of people from all over the world because of the works of the artist, traveller, archaeologist, writer, philosopher, prominent politician Nicolai Rerikh and his wife Yelena. The Rerikhs put forward the ideas of cosmic philosophy, viewing Altai as the most important geocosmic place of the Earth. The first international conference “Altai – Space – Microcosm” was held in Altai in 1993 by the Siberian Perikh Center. The Center collaborates with different non – governmental organizations of the world.
The founder of the fine arts in Altai is Gregory Gurkin. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts under direction of the famous artist I. Shishkin. He created more than five thousand works. The most famous of them are “Lake at Ghost Mountain ”, “Khan – Altai”, “Katun Crown”.
The name of the writer, cinema director and actor Vassily Shukshin takes an important part in the cultural life of Altai. Annual Shukshin Readings are held in his native Srostki.
In recent years the creative societies of high professional level have appeared in the region. The Little Musical Theatre has won the hearts of the public with its performances. The young actors of the show group “Kapriz” have won the first prizes in the TV programme “Morning Star”. The children chamber violin ensemble “Debute” has won the Grand Prix in Belgium.
There are 7 theatres, 27 museums, 120 art schools, 5 music schools in the region.
Comprehension
1. Match the beginning of a sentence in column A with an ending in column B to produce a statement which is true according to the text.
| A | B |
| Its diameter is The first conference was held in The founder of the fine arts Altai culture | has the rich old traditions in Altai is G. Gurkin Altai in 1993 by Rerikh Center about 5 meters. |
2. Are the following sentences true or false according to the text? Correct the ones which are false.
· There are 7 theatres, 27 museums, 120 art schools, 5 music schools in Barnaul.
· Annual Shukshin Readings are held in Moscow.
· The Little Comedy Theatre has won the hearts of the public.
· The name of the composer Vassily Shukshin takes an important part in the cultural life of Altai.
· The chemical industry gave a push to the development of Altai stone cutting art.
· Its diameter is about 7 meters.
· The founder of fine arts in Russia is Gregory Gurkin.
3. How many times is the word “culture” used in the text?
4. “Altai is the most important geocosmic place of the Earth”. What does this sentence mean?
Vocabulary
5. “recently” means:
a) at the present time
b) lately
c) proudly
d) hopefully
“while” means:
a) during
b) however
c) if
d) although
“artistic” means:
a) actor
b) painter
c) player
d) artisan
6. What is jasper? Characterize it.
Text organization
7. What do the following word combinations refer to in the text?
a) “Queen of Vases”,
b) “ Siberian Rerikh Center”,
c) “Shukshin Readings”,
d) Show group “Kapriz”.
Viewpoint
Think of the ways in which culture might change in the future because of progress in technology.