E. A. Abdalina, R. J. Hoshimova

XV. Answer the following questions after reading the text given below

1. 
   What kind of discoveries were made by P. P. Semyenov?
   
2. 
   What famous Russian geographers do you know?
   
3. 
   P. P. Semyenov rejected the theory about volcanic origin of Tian-Shan, didn't he?
   

SEMYENOV OF THE TIAN-SHAN

P. P. Semyenov was the first of the explorers penetrating into the interior of a mysterious country of the Tian-Shan ranges, to explore the Issyk-Kul lake, to discover the upper reaches of the Syr-Darya. He is known to have reached the glaciers originating in the Tengry-Tagh group. It was he who established that the Chu river did not rise from the Issyk-Kul lake, as it was supposed then. He proved that the perenneal snows could be found at a great altitude. He established vertical natural belts of the Tian-Shan and discovered a number of new species of plants unknown to the science.

Besides his having made a number of discoveries of great importance Semyenov used quite new methods of geographical explorations.
P. P. Semyenov was born in 1827 in Ryazan province. At the age of 15 to 18 Semyenov studied in a military school where he continued to take interest in sciences. After finishing the military school Semyenov entered the University from which he graduated in 1851. By the way it was at that time (1845) that the Russian Geographical Society was established. Such famous geographers as Arsenyev K. I., Litke F. P., Kruzernstern I. F., and others took part in its foundation (establishment).
The whole activity of Semyenov was closely connected with this society. In 1873 he was elected president of the Society and remained its head guider for 40 years.
From 1853 to 1855 he attended the lectures delivered by Ritter and Dove at the Berlin University. At the same time he made a lot of excursions and tours in Swetzerland, along the Alps and mountains lakes.
In 1856-57 Semyenov made famous journey which laid the foundations for expeditions of outstanding geographers such as Pre?-hvalsky, of the second half of the XIX century, Kozlov, Potanin and others.
The Tian -Shan was so-called terra incognita at that time. Semyenov's explorations in the Tian-Shan show that he could choose the most valuable marches (roads) from the geographical point of view.
He paid much attention 10 the investigation of mountainous passes, the study of general features of geographical and geographical structure of the country and the distribution of vegetation.
He rejected the theory of the volcanic origin of the Tian-Shan put forward by Humboldt. These are but a few achivements (results) of his expedition.
More than 100 years have passed since the Semyenov's expedition to the unknown at that time Tian-Shan. But in spite of the fact that* great changes have taken place in that country his book about his expedition to the Tian-Shan is still of great interest for us. It calls for new explorations and gives an excellent example of a complex geographical method of the study of the country.