Siberian oil giant

Until Surgut’s vast oil reserves began to be exploited in the late 70s, the territory bordering the river Ob saw only Khanti tribes, that camped on patches of dry land and survived on fish and berries. Now Surgut is a town of 260,000 people, most of whom work for one of the Russia’s biggest oil companies.

At the time when production is collapsing at other oil companies, during the financial crisis, they manage to have stable, low-cost production and look much better positioned than most competitors in the field of oil production. Today Surgut is the Russian oil industry’s lowest-cost profitable producer.

Most investments go toward improving existing oil fields, rather than making new ones. The company has invested much in horizontal drilling which can increase fivefold the flow of an old well. Half of the horizontal wells worked out in Russia at the end of the 20^th century are drilled in Surgut. Millions have already been invested in roads, power lines and pipelines in the area. Analysts recognize Surgut’s power and say it is the best oil company in Russia today.

But the labour conditions are rather hard in Surgut. In Canada, drilling platforms are enclosed in concrete walls, which enable the workers to be protected from cold. In Surgut, which is situated near the Arctic Circle, the platforms are open, and at temperatures of minus 50 degrees, the eyes of the workers are sometimes shut with freeze.

But most people in Surgut are true Siberians who don’t want to live and work anywhere else.

II. Выберите правильный вариант ответа на вопросы по тексту.

1. What is Surgut famous for?

a) coal

b) its oil company

c) mining

2. When did they start exploiting Surgut’s oil reserves?

a) a century ago

b) recently

c) in the late 70s

3. What place does Surgut oil company take among other Russia’s oil companies?

a) the first place

b) the second place

c) the last place

III. Закончите предложения по содержанию прочитанного текста.

4. Many inhabitants of Surgut work ….

a) at the plant

b) in the fields

c) for the best oil company

5. Most investments go toward ….

a) improving existing oil fields

b) expanding oil fields

c) making new oil fields

6. The company has invested much in ….

a) improving living conditions

b) horizontal drilling

c) creating better conditions for workers

7. The labour conditions are rather ….

a) good

b) hard

c) satisfactory

8. In Surgut drilling platforms ….

a) are enclosed in concrete walls

b) are protected from cold

c) are open

IV. Подберите эквиваленты к данному русскому слову.

9. производитель

a) production

b) producer

c) produce

10. улучшение

a) improve

b) improvement

c) improving

11. защита

a) protection

b) protect

c) protected

12. существовать

a) existence

b) exit

c) exist

13. удаваться

a) manager

b) manage

c) management

14. инвестировать

a) invest

b) investor

c) investment

15. бурить

a) drill

b) drilling

c) drilled

V. Выберите русское предложение, наиболее точно передающее содержание предъявленного предложения.

16. Until Surgut’s vast oil reserves began to be exploited, the territory was inhabited only by Khanti tribes.

a) До тех пор пока не начались разработки нефтяных месторождений в Сургуте, территорию населяли только племена хантов.

b) Ханты населяли территорию, где сейчас идет добыча нефти.

c) В конце 70-х годов в Сургуте начали бурить нефтяные скважины.

17. At the time when oil production is collapsing at other oil companies during the financial crisis Surgut remains the best oil company in Russia.

a) Во время кризиса добыча нефти сокращается во многих компаниях.

b) В то время как во время кризиса производство нефти падает в других нефтяных компаниях, Сургут остается лучшей нефтяной компанией России.

c) Многие нефтяные компании сокращают добычу нефти, но Сургут остается лучшей нефтяной компанией России.

18. Most investments go toward improving existing oil fields.

a) Большая часть инвестиций направлена на улучшение существующих нефтяных месторождений.

b) Инвестиции улучшают нефтяные месторождения.

c) Нужно вкладывать много денег, чтобы улучшить нефтяные месторождения.

VI. Выберите английское предложение, наиболее точно передающее содержание предъявленного предложения.

19. Khanti tribes camped on the territory bordering the river Ob and survived on fish and berries.

a) Khanti tribes lived on patches of dry land.

b) Only Khanti tribes could begin exploiting vast oil reserves.

c) Until the late 70s only Khanti tribes lived on the territory bordering the river Ob. Their main food was fish and berries.

20. At present Surgut’s oil company has stable low-cost production.

a) Today Surgut’s oil company looks much better positioned than most competitors in the field of oil production.

b) The oil company in Surgut can’t have stable low-cost production.

c) The oil company can improve its position.

21. In Canada drilling platforms are enclosed in concrete walls which enable the workers to be protected from cold.

a) In Canada drilling platforms are open.

b) In Canada drilling platforms are not open.

c) In Canada the oil workers are protected from cold because of concrete walls which enclose drilling platforms.

VII. Выберите правильную неличную форму глагола.

22. Most investments go toward … existing oil fields.

a) to improve

b) having improved

c) improving

23. … at the best oil company you should go to Surgut.

a) working

b) to work

c) worked

24. All the people … for the oil company live in Surgut.

a) to have worked

b) having worked

c) working

25. The company … much in horisontal drilling is the best in Russia.

a) investing

b) being invested

c) to invest

26. Their aim is … better conditions for workers.

a) to create

b) creating

c) having created

VIII. Определите функции неличных форм глагола.

27. They began exploiting Surgut’s oil reserves at the end of the 70s.

a) дополнение

b) часть сказуемого

c) обстоятельство

28. Until the late 70s only Khanti Tribes lived on the territory bordering the river Ob.

a) обстоятельство

b) дополнение

c) определение

29. You should think of improving working conditions.

a) дополнение

b) обстоятельство

c) определение

30. To translate the text “Siberian oil giant” I had to use a dictionary.

a) дополнение

b) подлежащие

c) обстоятельство

IX. Выберите правильную форму условного предложения.

31. If you … the Grammar material, you … so many mistakes in the test yesterday.

a) knew, would not make

b) know, will not make

c) had known, would not have made

32. If there... no oil reserves in Surgut, there… no oil company.

a) was, would

b) are, would have been

c) were, would be

33. If he… to Surgut in 1990, we ….

a) had not come, would not have met

b) will not come, would not meet

c) did not come, would met

34. If I … an oil worker I … for the oil company in Surgut.

a) was, worked

b) had been, would worked

c) were, would work

35. If I … you, I … at English regularly.

a) will be, will work

b) was, work

c) were, would work

X. Переведите текст (письменно).

Mikhail Lomonosov, the famous Russian scientist, once said that the increase of Russia’s power would come from Siberia. That these words said more than 200 years ago were true is quite evident today. Siberia is extremely rich in natural resources, and the potential of Siberian power generation is truly unique: cheap coal and powerful rivers are in abundance there. One of the main objectives of the programme of Siberia development is to transform the region into the major national fuel and energy base.

Among the strategic ways for accelerating economic growth of Siberia was the Baikal-Amur Railway, known as BAM, and the development of the lands around it. The construction of the BAM main line was completed in 1984. Great difficulties had to be overcome during the construction of the railway. It runs through the taiga, huge marshes and rivers. Though the BAM main line lies in approximately the same latitude as Moscow, Copenhagen and Glasgow, winter here lasts for eight months with temperatures down to -60ºC and snow up to one metre deep.

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