In the 18th century the russian government (1 — send) vitus bering to explore the lands behind russia. one day bering (2 — discover) the strait which (3 — separate) north america from asia. it (4 — name) after the discoverer. on a later voyage bering (5 — see) the mainland of north america. this discovery (6 — give) russia its right to alaska. bering (7 — die) before he (8 — can) take the good news back to russia. but chirikov and some other men of bering's expedition (9 — come) back. the russians (10 — explore) the north american continent as far north as the arctic ocean. others (11 — make) settlements or (12 — build) trading posts as far south as northern california. not long before g. washington (13 — become) president of the us, the russians (14— make) a settlement in alaska. for more than a hundred years trade (15 — carry) on between russia and alaska. during this time people from the us (16 — become) interested in this far northern territory. some american ships (17 — sail) to the arctic ocean to fish. others (18 — trade) with russian settlements. in 1867 the usa (19 — buy) alaska. it (20 — sell) for a little more than seven million dollars. alaska (21 — be) the largest of all the states of the usa. it (22 — be) rich in minerals. there (23 — be) large forests, many animals and much fish there.

In the 18th century the russian government (1 — sent) vitus bering to explore the lands behind russia. one day bering (2 — discovered) the strait which (3 — separates) north america from asia. it (4 — was named) after the discoverer. on a later voyage bering (5 — saw) the mainland of north america. this discovery (6 — gave) russia its right to alaska. bering (7 — had died) before he (8 — could) take the good news back to russia. but chirikov and some other men of bering's expedition (9 — had come) back. the russians (10 — explored) the north american continent as far north as the arctic ocean. others (11 — made) settlements or (12 — built) trading posts as far south as northern california. not long before g. washington (13 — became) president of the us, the russians (14— had made) a settlement in alaska. for more than a hundred years trade (15 — was being carried) on between russia and alaska. during this time people from the us (16 — became) interested in this far northern territory. some american ships (17 — sailed) to the arctic ocean to fish. others (18 — were trading) with russian settlements. in 1867 the usa (19 — bought) alaska. it (20 — was sold) for a little more than seven million dollars. alaska (21 — is) the largest of all the states of the usa. it (22 — is) rich in minerals. there (23 — are) large forests, many animals and much fish there.