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войовничий; withstand oneself (resist) – протистояти самому; exert pressure on –
натискати; thirsty for foreign lands – жадібні до чужих земель; bloody fight – кривава
боротьба; majestic – величавий; state – держава; truth-worthy – достовірний;
merchant – купець; cut down – вирубати; moat – рів; – pale – обгородити
гостроколом; settlement – оселя; built site – забудоване місце.
2. Translate the following text into Ukrainian. Build up a glossary to the underlined
words.
KYIV
Kyiv, a city with a history that spans more than a millennium, is one of the most
picturesque cities in the world. The luxuriant greenery of Kyiv’s parks and tree-lined streets
fully harmonizes with its impressive architecture. During its long history, Kyiv has been
subjected to frequent attacks and destruction, but has been rebuilt each time and has always
managed to retain its unique appeal.
Nobody knows when and how Kyiv arose. The time of its foundation is lost in the
remote past, when written language did not exist yet on our lands, and no chronicler could
witness to the rise of the ancient city. However, Kyiv was probably founded by the
Ukrainian tribe of the Polianians on the site of one or even several ancient Trypillian towns
at a time when, under the pressure of new eastern barbarians, the warlike Royal Scythians
had retreated from Ukraine. Now they had to withstand themselves the Asiastic tribes of the
Germans, the Goths and the Huns. They had also to resist the Romans and the Byzantines
who, thirsty for foreign lands, exerted pressure on our country in the south and the west. It is
in this bloody fight that on our lands a state formed which was first called Kyivan Rus’ and
then Ukraine. And this state was arising around the majestic city of Kyiv.
Although there is no truth-worthy information about the foundation of Kyiv, the
chronicle tells us an interesting legend about these very ancient events:
Once, when there were still forests and fields where Kyiv is now, three brothers, Kyi,
Shchek and Khoryv, came there. There sister, Lebid, was also with them. They stood on the
bank of the Dnipro, and the eldest brother, Kyi, said, “We’ll lay here the foundation of a
settlement for us and the merchants who will come here!”
They cut down the forest and built the first houses. They dug a moat around that built
site and paled it. Then they gave a name to this settlement “horod Kyiv”, which means
“Kyi’s town”.
The cradle of the ancient Kyivan Rus civilization, Kyiv now is one of the great cities
of Europe, with a population of nearly 3 million inhabitants. Today, Kyiv, the capital of
Ukraine, spreads over 42 km from north to south along the banks of the Dnipro River and
43 km from east to west. With wide boulevards lined by majestic trees and monumental
buildings reflecting different architectural styles and periods, Kyiv’s graceful elegance
cannot escape unnoticed.
Yet Kyiv is also a major industrial centre with companies engaged in electronics,
instrument construction, engineering, metal working, food processing, chemical and
petrochemical production and others. The economic development of Kyiv is fostered by its
advantageous location on the banks of the Dnipro River, with its direct route to the Black
Sea, at the crossroads of major regional as well as international railways, highways and air
routes.
Kyiv is an educational, cultural and governmental centre of Ukraine. There are lots of
museums, churches, magnificent Cathedrals, cinemas and theatres which are visited by the
guests from all over the world.

UNIT 7

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