a crocodile. A car is much more comfortable than a bike. GS p. 147 0. a leopard / a tiger 1. Star Wars* / Back to the Future* 2. Ben Nevis* (1343 m) / Elbrus (5642 m) 3. the Ob (5410 km) / the Thames* (338 km) 4. England (130,000 sq km) / Wales (21,000 sq km) 5. a giraffe / an elephant 6. Saturn (125,000 km) / Mars (6800 km) large a bit much dangerous (not) as ... as. tall • big long high interesting

Peter the Great or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov (Russian: Пётр I Алексеевич Pyotr I Пётр I фото/ Peter I photo image picAlekse`yevich, Пётр Великий Pyotr Veli`kiy) (9 June 1672 – 8 February 1725 [30 May 1672–28 January 1725 O.S.]) ruled Russia from 7 May (27 April O.S.) 1682 until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his weak and sickly half-brother, Ivan V. Peter carried out a policy of "Westernization" and expansion that transformed the Tsardom of Russia into the Russian Empire, a major European power. 

Peter, the son of Alexei Mikhailovich of Russia and his second wife, Nataliya Kyrillovna Naryshkina, was born in Moscow. Alexei had previously married Maria Miloslavskaya, having five sons and eight daughters by her, although only two of the sons—Feodor and Ivan V—were alive when Peter was born. Alexei I died in 1676, to be succeeded by his oldest surviving son, who became Fyodor III. 

Fyodor III's uneventful reign ended within six years; as Fyodor did not leave any children, a dispute over the succession between the Naryshkin and Miloslavskyi families broke out. Ivan was the next for the throne, but he was chronically ill and of infirm mind. Consequently, the Boyar Duma (a council of Russian nobles) chose the ten-year old Peter to become Tsar, his mother becoming regent. But one of Alexei's daughters by his first marriage, Sophia Alekseyevna, led a rebellion of the Streltsy (Russia's elite military corps). In the subsequent conflict, many of Peter's relatives and friends were murdered—Peter even witnessed the butchery of one of his uncles by a mob. The memory of this violence may have caused trauma during Peter's earlier years.

Dear Vlad,In your last letter you asked me to tell you about my pets. OK, I can talk for hours on this topic. I have a dog; his name is La boule. That’s a French word which means a ball. He is a pug and he is very funny. I also have a hamster. His name is Albert. Not a usual name for a hamster, you say, but he is very curious and smart enough. I would also like to have a cat, but perhaps not now.I’m fine, no changes since the last time. I’m passing my exams next week. After that, I’m looking forward to going abroad. I like traveling a lot. I’ve visited just a few European countries but I fell in love with the Old world. My dream is to go to Paris. This is the city of love, croissants and haut-couture. I think every person should see it and not necessarily die after it!You told me that you had been to many countries. Tell me about your greatest trip! Have you been to Paris, did you like it? What are you going to do this summer? Where would you like to go?I’m so happy that your sister married! Wish her and her husband a very good luck! Hope the wedding was as gorgeous as the bride was!Could you send me some photos?Sorry, I have to go, my parents are leaving on holidays, I need to see them off.Waiting for your letter,Yours truly,Alex.
Дорогой Влад,В своем письме ты просил меня рассказать о своих домашних животных. Что ж, на эту тему я могу говорить часами. У меня есть собака, его зовут Ля Буль. Это французское слово, которое переводится как шар. Это мопс, и он очень забавный. У меня также есть хомяк. Его зовут Альберт. Необычное имя для хомяка, ты скажешь, но он очень любознательный и достаточно умный. Мне бы также хотелось кошку, но, возможно, не сейчас.Я в порядке, с раза никаких изменений. На следующей неделе я сдаю экзамены. После этого я очень жду поездку заграницу. Я очень люблю путешествовать. Я был всего в нескольких европейских странах, но я влюбился в Старый свет. Моя мечта – поехать в Париж. Это город любви, круасанов и высокой моды. Я думаю, каждый должен увидеть его, и совершенно необязательно умирать после этого!Ты говорил, что был во многих странах. Расскажи мне о самой классной поездке! Ты был в Париже, тебе там понравилось? Что ты будешь делать этим летом? Куда хотел бы поехать?Я так рад, что твоя сестра вышла замуж! Удачи ей и ее мужу! Надеюсь, свадьба была такой же великолепной, как и сама невеста! Пришли мне пару фото?Извини, мне надо идти. Родители уезжают в отпуск, надо их проводить.Жду твое письмо,Искренне твой, Алекс.