Current railways in Kazakhstan

The current rail network is based on the inheritance from the former Soviet Union and as such has abroad gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ⁵⁄₆ in). This breadth of gauge provides a smooth transit at borders to countries of the former Soviet Union. As the railway in China has the standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in), there is a break-of-gauge at the eastern border at Dostyk.

Kazakhstani Railways manage more than 18, 800 kilometers of rail network including some of the main international lines connecting Central Asian countries with China and Turkmenistan. More than 68 percent of freight and 57 percent of passenger traffic in Kazakhstan relies on the country's railroads. The Kazakhstan sections of the old Trans-Aral Railway, the Trans-Caspian Railway, and the Turkestan-Siberian Railway have incorporated into the KTZ.

The KTZ is the largest employer in Kazakhstan with about 143,000 employees. It manages over 80,000 wagons. 50,000 of them are state-owned, and the remainder in private hands. While trains with diesel engines do most of the hauling, electrification of track is an ongoing project. The company’s profits grow every year.

3. Answer the questions to the text:

1. Why has the current domestic rail network a broad gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ⁵⁄₆ in)?

2. Why is there a break-of-gauge at the eastern border at Dostyk?

3. How many kilometers of rail network do Kazakh Railways manage?

4. Do Kazakh Railways include any international lines?

5. What can you say about freight and passenger traffic in Kazakhstan?

6. How many kilometers are electrified?

7. Is KTZ the largest employer in Kazakhstan with about 143,000 employees?

GRAMMAR

PRESENT PERFECT, PAST INDEFINITE,

PAST PERFECT TENSE

4. Use Present Perfect or Past Indefinite in the following sentences:

A) Past Indefinite b) Present Perfect

1. George _______ (to go) to the cinema yesterday.

3. I _______ (to come) to the Academy without glasses. I can’t read the text.

4. Who ________ (to do) this work?

5. So far we ______ (to have) no troubles.

6. You ________ (to past) your exam.

7. I ________ (to break, already) two plates. Shall I go on washing up?

8. I’m not sure we ________ (to meet) before.

9. When _______ you ______ (to go) to Europe?

10. I _________ (to go) to school two years ago.

Choose Present Perfect or Past Indefinite.

Read about Monica Cox and choose the correct verb forms: