O’zbekiston respublikasi ichki ishlar vazirligi akademiya

Additional texts for reading
 
 
TEXT 1 
 
Tashkent 
 
Tashkent is the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The city is 
located 455 m. above sea level in the valley of the Chirchik River. Its 
territory is 250 square kilometres and its population is more than two 
and a half million people. More than 100 nations and nationalities live 
in Tashkent. 
Tashkent is one of the ancient cities in the world. It is more than 
2000 years old. The city was given its name, Tashkent, more than 
eight hundred years ago. In the middle ages the city was seized and 
destroyed by numerous invaders.  
By the middle of the 19th century Tashkent had become a major 
centre of trade with Russia. In 1865 it was captured by the Russian 
Empire, and two years later became the administrative centre of the 
Turkestan Governor. 
Over the years Tashkent has turned into the most important 
industrial, scientific and cultural centre in the Middle East.  Tashkent 
is known as a ‘City of Plenty’, ‘Garden City’, ‘City of Peace’ and 
‘City of Friendship’. 
During the years of independence Tashkent rapidly changed its 
appearance. In a few years after independence hundreds of dwelling 
houses, administrative buildings, cultural, communal and memorial 
centres of modern style were built. The current architecture is very 
different from what it used to be. 
The Tashkent underground railway is the pride of the Tashkenters. 
Each station of the Tashkent Metro is worth seeing. Tashkent is a city 
of international festivals, conferences and symposiums, and is an 
important tourist centre. Guests from all over the world come to 
Tashkent to enjoy its beauty and achievements. They note the great 
hospitality of Uzbek people.