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.
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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.
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