A constellation of beautiful ancient towns in the North East part of Russia has got its place in the history of world art.
Its architectural heritage dates back to the XII - XVII centuries, being represented by churches, cathedrals, palaces, monasteries, fortresses, secular buildings and imposing architectural ensembles. Most of them are famous both for their harmony of proportion and gorgeous decorations, though the most ancient buildings look more austere and plain at first sight.
Most of the famous architectural ensembles of the Gold Ring house museums of History and Art, containing priceless collections of ancient manuscripts, rare books and different works of fine and applied art.
To the North-East of the capital of Russia three important centers of ancient Russian architecture and culture are situated. They are: PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY, ROSTOV THE GREAT, YAROSLAVL.
These towns are among the oldest and most famous Russian cities of the Gold Ring.
From the 
to the 
centuries they were major seats of old
Russian culture, with countless treasures of architecture and art, many of
which have been preserved to this day. Precious ancient manuscripts,
illuminated with rare miniatures, icons, gold and silver vessels, ancient
tools and different objects created by ancient Russian craftsmen are
deposited in these museums.
Task I:
Read the texts above and answer the following questions:
1. What is the Gold Ring of Russia?
2. Where are these towns situated?
3. To what epoch does the architectural heritage date back to?
4. What kind of buildings can one see in these ancient towns?
5. What kind of ensembles are situated there?
6. What are these architectural monuments famous for?
7. What do the most ancient buildings look like?
8. What kind of museums can bee seen in the towns of the Gold Ring?
9. What kind of collections do they contain?
10. What kind of exhibits are the most precious?
11. Which of the towns of the Gold Ring are big modern cities?
12. Which of them are more famous as ``town-museums''?
13. Which of the towns were the major seats of old Russian culture?
14. What kind of treasures have been preserved in their museums?
Task II
Fill in the suitable words:
1. The ......of Russia is the name lately given to a ...of beautiful ...Russian towns.
2. The ...ensembles are famous for their ...of proportion and ... decorations.
3. The museums contain works of ...and ...art.
4. The collections of ancient ...and books are ....
5. The most ...buildings look more solemn and ...in comparison with
those ...back to the 16
- 17 centuries.
6. Many of the ...and books are ...with rare ....
7. The towns of the ``......'' contain countless ...of art and ....
8. Ancient Russian ...created gold and silver ...and other objects of ...art.
9. These towns were once ...seats of ...Russian culture.
Task III
Retell the texts using the guide-words:
a constellation of
North-East
belong ...world art
date back to
cathedrals, fortresses
monasteries
secular buildings
architectural ensembles
harmony of proportion
more austere
museums of art and history
priceless collections
rare books
illuminated with miniatures
fine and applied arts
the biggest towns of ...
major seats of
countless treasures of
have been preserved
are deposited in
