At the doctor

Comprehension Questions
1. Where is Tashkent located geographically?
2. How old is Tashkent?
3. How do you know Tashkent is a modern city?
4. What events do foreigners bring to Tashkent?
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever visited Tashkent? What did you like? What did you dislike?
2. What are the differences between Tashkent and your town?
3. Does your community host guests from other countries? Why do these visitors come?
4. What higher education is available in Tashkent?
5. What embassies or international organisations do you know that are located in Tashkent?
6. What should a capital city be like? Why?

SAMARKAND
Samarkand is one of the most ancient cities of the world. Samarkand stood at the cross-roads of caravan routes and played an important role in the economic ties of the coun­tries of the East. Many centuries ago, it was a centre of an­cient civilisation and the seat of historical and cultural tra­ditions of the peoples of Central Asia.
Samarkand had a difficult and, at times, contradictory history. The city is associated with the names of Alexander the Great, the Arab general Kuteib ibn Muslim, the great Amir Temur, the astronomer Ulugbek and the terrible con­queror Genghis Khan. Visitors who come to this city admire the artistic talent and skill of the ancient architects who created such amazing structures as the Shakhi-Zinda ensem­ble, the Bibikhanim mosque, the Gur-Amir mausoleum, the Ishrat-khana mausoleum and the Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tillya-Kari madrasahs in Registan square. The creations of the people's genius and skills have deservedly become part of the treasury of world architecture.
Samarkand today is a regional administrative centre of Uzbekistan. The city also stands on the highway from Tashkent to Termez.
The population of Samarkand is more than 525,000. It is a multinational city and its populations is comprised of people of 90 nationalities. The city occupies an area of 15,000 hectares. It sprawls in the picturesque valley of the Zarafshari River.
The main waterways in the city are the Zarafshan River and the Darghom, Siab and Shaudor canals.
It is a major scientific and industrial centre of Uzbekistan. It has a university and seven other institutions of higher learning, eight research centres, many plants and factories, libraries, museums and theatres.
As elsewhere in the country housing construction in Samarkand is making tremendous progress.