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.