7
Our ancient cities
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 22–24
GoalGive information about Samarkand; divide a text into parts and give it a title.
New words
century (100 years) · asrsquare · maydonmadrasa, old school · madrasatourist · sayyoh
Explanation
Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world; it is more than twenty-seven centuries old. Its heart is the Registan square. On the square stand the Ulugh Beg, Sherdor and Tillakori madrasas. When we read a text, we divide it into parts and find a title for each part.
Worked examples
“Registan”. Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is more than twenty-seven centuries old. In the middle of the city there is the Registan square. Three madrasas stand there: Ulugh Beg, Sherdor and Tillakori. Their walls are decorated with blue patterns. Tourists come from many countries to admire them.
Titles for the parts: 1) The age of the city; 2) Registan square; 3) Tourists.
Class activity
“Word chain”: the last letter starts the next word: Samarqand – dars – sayyoh – hovli ...
Practice
1
How old is Samarkand?
More than twenty-seven centuries
2
How many madrasas are on Registan?
3
3
What are the madrasa walls decorated with?
Blue patterns
4
Why do tourists come?
To admire the madrasas.
5
Find another title for the text.
For example: “The beauty of Samarkand”.