Lesson 1 About Uzbekistan

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Lesson 1     About Uzbekistan 

 

Ex.1. Answer the following questions: 

 

1. What do you know about geographical position of Uzbekistan? 

2. What do you know about industry and agriculture of Uzbekistan? 

3. What do you know about neighboring countries of Uzbekistan? 

 

Ex.2. Read and translate the text 

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country stretching 1500 km west-to-east and 1000 km north-to-south, sharing 

borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The climate is 

continental and relatively dry, with low rainfall, long hot summers and mild winters. The country has 

significant reserves of natural resources including large deposits of gold, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, 

natural gas and oil. It has the largest population of the five Central Asian Republics, recorded more  than 

30 million, of which 77.2% are Uzbek, with the remainder being Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Karakalpaks 

and Tatars. Of the total population, 15.3 million live in rural areas, and 9.2 million - in urban areas. The 

economy of Uzbekistan is influenced by its geography. The country is situated in the basin of two main 

rivers: the Amudarya, which runs from Tajikistan and provides the Uzbek borders with Afghanistan and 

Turkmenistan, and the Syrdarya, which flows through Kazakhstan. The agricultural sector is extremely 

important to the Uzbek economy. The country is one of the world’s largest cotton producers, with cotton 

being one of its primary export earners. Other significant agricultural products include raw silk, fruits, 

vegetables, grapes, melons, significant quantities of which are exported to neighboring countries. The 

East of the country contains the fertile region of the Ferghana Valley, which is densely populated. The 

Ferghana Valley Region contains much of the country’s industrial base, both developed during the central 

planning era and independence. The Ferghana Valley, having a long history of irrigated agriculture, 

produces a significant proportion of agricultural output. To the South, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya are 

strongly agricultural regions, though the latter is getting known with its gas production. The regions in the 

West are mainly industrial (mining, chemicals and oil refinery and etc.) with tourist centres of world-wide 

importance, such as Bukhara and Samarkand. Large and sparsely populated Karakalpakstan to the North 

West of the country is arid with little industrial activity. Both industry and agriculture in Karakalpakstan 

are negatively affected by the Aral Sea disaster. 

 

Ex.3. Identify the following statements as true, false: 

 

1. Uzbekistan is a landlocked country stretching 1500 km west-to-east and 1000 km north-to-south, 

sharing borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. T/F 

2. The climate is continental and relatively dry, with high rainfall, short hot summers and  

cold mild winters. T/F 

3. The country has significant reserves of natural resources including large deposits of gold, copper, lead, 

zinc, uranium, natural gas and oil. T/F 

4. The country is situated in the basin of two main rivers: the Amudarya, which runs from Tajikistan and 

provides the Uzbek borders with Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, and the Syrdarya, which flows through 

Kazakhstan. T/F 

5. The country is one of the world’s largest cotton producers, with cotton being one of its primary export 

earners. T/F 

6. Other significant agricultural products include raw silk, fruits, vegetables, grapes, melons, significant 

quantities of which are exported to neighboring countries. T/F 

7. The regions in the East are mainly industrial (mining, chemicals and oil refinery and etc.) with tourist 

centres of world-wide importance, such as Navoi and Samarkand. T/F 

8. Large and sparsely populated Karakalpakstan to the South of the country is arid with high industrial 

activity. T/F 

 

Ex.4. Gap fill: put the words into the gaps in the text: 

Uzbekistan is a ________________country stretching 1500 km west-to-east and 1000 km north-to-south, 

sharing borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The climate is 

______________and relatively dry, with low ________________, long hot summers and mild winters. 

The country has significant reserves of natural resources including large _______________ of gold, 

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________________________________, natural gas and oil. It has the largest population of the five 

Central Asian Republics, recorded at 25.5 million in 2003, of which 77.2% are Uzbek, with the remainder 

being Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Karakalpaks and Tatars. Of the total population, 15.3 million live in 

____________ areas, and 9.2 million - in _____________areas. The economy of Uzbekistan is influenced 

by its geography. The country is situated in the _______________of two main rivers: the Amudarya, 

which runs from Tajikistan and provides the Uzbek borders with Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, and the 

Syrdarya, which flows through Kazakhstan. The agricultural sector is _________________important to 

the Uzbek economy. The country is one of the world’s largest cotton producers, with cotton being one of 

its _______________export ______________. Other significant agricultural products include 

_________________, fruits, vegetables, grapes, melons, significant quantities of which are exported to 

neighboring countries. The East of the country contains the _______________region of the Ferghana 

Valley, which is ________________populated. The Ferghana Valley Region contains much of the 

country’s industrial base, both developed during the central planning era and independence. The Ferghana 

Valley, having a long history of irrigated agriculture, produces a significant __________________of 

agricultural output. To the South, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya are strongly agricultural regions, 

though the latter is getting known with its gas production. The regions in the West are mainly industrial 

(mining, chemicals and oil refinery and etc.) with tourist centres of world-wide importance, such as 

Bukhara and Samarkand. Large and __________________populated Karakalpakstan to the North West of 

the country is _______________with little industrial activity. Both industry and agriculture in 

Karakalpakstan are negatively ________________by the Aral Sea disaster.