Use the correct Passive Voice form

1) Nursultan Nazarbaev … (to be) the President of the Republic since 1991.

2) The Parliament … (to comprise) of two chambers: the Senate and the Majilis.

3) The judicial system of the republic … (to execute) by the Supreme Court and the local courts of the state.

4) The president of the state … (to elect) for a seven – year term by universal, equal and direct voting.

5) The Constitution of Kazakhstan … (to adopt) in 1995.

6) The Constitution … (to discuss) at the moment by the deputies.

7) Before the Constitution was adopted, it … (to discuss) several times.

Read and translate the text

Astana

Astana is the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Akmola steppes have always been the territory of interethnic communication of various nations and cultures. In the middle of the first millennium BC the Grand Silk Road, mentioned by the great ancient Greek historian Herodotus ran through these steppes. Numerous caravan routes gave birth to cities with prosperous trade and handicrafts. In the XIXth century Akmola was a substantial commercial centre in the steppe. The history of Akmola starts from the year of 1830, when the Russian Empire established the fortress with this name in the area of Karaotkel. By the end of the XIXth century it had become a district with the population of 6, 428, which could boast of three churches, 5 schools and colleges and three factories. Such was the first stage in the development of the city.

The second stage with the paramount impact for the density of the city was the development of the virgin land. In December 1960 the city numbering 100, 000 people turned into the center of the Tseliny territory, which embraced all northern regions of Kazakhstan. Shortly after 1961 Akmolinsk changed its name for Tselinograd and grew into a modern and beautiful city with the population of 250000 citizens. Thousands of volunteers from the former USSR came to build the city and live here. Within ten years 4 institutes, 10 schools, 2 museums, 4 cinemas, 2 wonderful palaces, 4 fashionable hotels, many shops and different institutions were built in the city. Tseliny region became great agricultural machine – building, meat – and – milk cattle breeding and poultry farming area.

In 1992 the city was returned its former name Akmola. But in 1998 with the transfer of the capital from Almaty to Akmola, the city got a new name – Astana. This decision was prompted by economic, ecological and geographical expediency. Overall conditions of the city, its territory, its being in fact the geographic centre of Kazakhstan, well – developed transport system, balanced natural environment and other factors came to be decisive in making the choice. Shifting the capital to Astana we will kick start the economic uplift to the northern, central and eastern regions of the country. Inother words, the more balanced economic development of the country will be achieved. Today's reality is stunning. Astana is all in scaffolds. Construction goes on all round the city. Magnificent buildings of the Parliament and the Government building, a great number of new institutions and restored buildings attract the attention of the city's citizens and guests. Astana is becoming the international, business and cultural center of not only Kazakhstan, but of the Eurasian continent as the whole.

5.3.2 Answer the following questions:

1) When did the Grand Silk Road run through Akmola steppes?

2) When does the history of Akmola start?

3) What was the status of the city by the end of the XIXth century?

4) What was the second stage in the development of the city?

5) Who came to build the city and stayed to live here?

6) When was the city returned its former name?

7) When was the city renamed to Astana?

8) How was the decision of transferring the capital from Almaty to Astana prompted?

9) Does the construction go on all round the city?

10) What is so attractive in new Astana?