Moscow University - Its Past and Present

ТЕXТ I

In the centre of Moscow opposite the Alexandrovsky Garden, near the Kremlin Wall, you can see a group of buildings in the classical style. In 1793 Matvei Kazakov, the well-known Moscow architect, erected the building for the first Russian University founded by M.V.Lomonosov, the great Russian scientist. The University founded in 1755 was the first European university which didn't have a theolo­gical department. At first it had 3 departments - philosophy, medi­cine and law with 10 chairs. Later new chairs and faculties were organized including-the first chair of agronomic sciences in the world. The University together with its remarkable library was burned down in 1812 but architect Gilardi restored the old building to the,state in which we see it today. The University has given the world many men of letters and scientists. Among his graduates were Gribpedov, Lermontov, Belinsky, Pirogov, Sechenov, Timiryazev and many others. The University grew and the so-called new building was erected in the XIX century. It stands next to the old building. The new building was constructed by architect Tyurin in 1836 and a mo­nument to Lomonosov, the founder of the University, was placed in front of it. The main 36-storied high building and the complex of buildings for the natural sciences departments, students' hostels and teachers' apartments were built in the Vorobyov Hills in the early 1950s. The main University building is unique and of special interest. The departments, libraries, assembly halls and museums are located in the central high structure. The teachers' apartments and students' rooms are in the wings. The University campus is a large students' town in itself with its own shops, all kinds of services, several gyms, swimming pools and other sports lacilities. Today the 16 departments of the University have 30.000 undergraduate and post-graduate students. There are about 2 500 students from 105 foreign countries at the University. The University has a lot of labs» research centres, museums, botanical gardens and observatories.

(из книги"Manuel for English-Oriented School", авт. Meshavki-na T.I., Shadrina M.P.)

Active Vocabulary:

to erect - сооружать, воздвигать, создавать

to found - основывать

a department (faculty) – факультет

-3-

a chair - кафедра

a state - состояние; штат; государство

remarkable - замечательный, удивительный

to restore - восстанавливать, реставрировать

a man of letters - писатель

in front of - перед

in the early 1950s - в начале пятидесятых годов

in the late... - в конце...

a wing - флигель, крыло дома; крыло

a campus - университетский двор или городок

Answer the Questions:

1. When was the Moscow University founded?

2. Whose name does the University bear?

3. How many departments were there at the University at first?

4. What happened to the buildings of the University in 1812?

What architect restored the old building?

5. Where does the so-called new building stand and when was it erected?

6. What is the name of the architect who erected the new building?

7. What monument is placed in front of the new building?

8. When and where was the new complex of the University built?

9. How many departments are there at the University now?

10. What's the number of its students?