Moscow (Russia)

Please refresh the page to get the latest updates.

Materials Daily News

Moscow (Russia)

Advanced

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

megacity

Noun

ˈmeɡ.ə.sɪt̬.i

a very big city that has a population of more than 10 million people

New York City is the only megacity that I have visited.

sarcastic

Adjective

sɑːrˈkæstɪk

using irony or insincerity to mock people or things

He tends to make a lot of hurtful sarcastic remarks.

predominant

Adjective

prɪˈdɑː.mə.nənt

more important, dominant or noticeable

Pop is the predominant genre of music played on the radio.

remarkable

Adjective

riːˈmərkəbəl

striking; extraordinary

The Alps are remarkable for their high peaks.

Peacocks have remarkable tail feathers.

I found it remarkable that she could make such a beautiful speech on such short notice.

Despite its remarkable population growth, the school district has managed to keep class sizes down.

picture

Verb

ˈpɪktʃər

to imagine; to think creatively about a situation

Picture yourself rich.

I find it almost impossible to picture what life must have been like without electricity.

The reality of the situation was a little different from what I had originally pictured.

I find it hard to picture such a subway station.

at the expense of

Phrase

ʌt ðiː ɪkˈspens əv

in a way that causes harm to something else

He devoted his entire life to the company at the expense of his family life.

demolish

Verb

dɪˈmɑːlɪʃ

to destroy something completely

And all those events aside, it was also on the brink of being demolished by us a few times.

Exercise 2

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor.

Jessica is planning to go to Moscow. Hannah is curious about her choice.
	Hannah So, Jessica, why do you want to go to Moscow so badly? I mean, I know they have unique architecture, but is that the only reason?
	Jessica Yes, pretty much. By the way, did you know that Moscow is the coldest megacity on Earth?
	Hannah Oh, now I want to go there even more!
	Jessica Come on! No need to be sarcastic. Some people actually prefer cold places. Anyway, there are so many things to see. Cathedrals, museums, palaces...
	Hannah Christianity is the predominant religion in Moscow, right? I know they have a lot of churches and religious buildings there. That's why I always imagine Moscow as an old, fairy tale city.
	Jessica Well, it used to be that way a long time ago, but then they started to modernize the city. A lot of churches have been demolished, and many roads have been built at the expense of old, historical buildings. So, now, there are a lot of modern buildings as well, such as the seven skyscrapers, called the Seven Sisters.
	Hannah That's a real shame. By the way, I have also heard that Moscow has the 5th longest subway network in the world.
	Jessica It does. They started building the metro in the 1930s. What’s absolutely remarkable about it is the fact that it reflects the architecture from above the ground! It has columns, high and painted ceilings, sculptures, decorated walls, chandeliers...some stations literally look like palace chambers!
	Hannah That sounds incredible! I can't picture such a subway station!

Exercise 3

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks to complete the sentences.

Tokyo is the largest in the world.

She always makes comments and loves making fun of things.

He was rewarded for the results of his research.

She described the place so well. I could it clearly.

Green is the color in this design.

Many houses in this area were so that the avenue could be built.

Many companies are only focused on profits, the environment.

Answer Pool (Questions 1-7)

picture
sarcastic
demolished
predominant
remarkable
megacity
at the expense of

Exercise 4

Discussion

Are there any megacities in your country?

Have you ever been to Moscow? Would you like to go there?

What do you think about the Moscow subway? Would you like to have a similar subway system in your country?

Can you describe the buildings in your city? Are there more old or modern buildings?

What do you know about Russia?