ТОПИКИ
English Topics (топики по английскому языку) для школьников и
абитуриентов
English Topics (топики по английскому языку) - это законченные сообщения, которые можно взять за
основу и дорабатывать по желанию учащихся и в соответствии с требованиями учителей в течении
всего учебного года.
Представленные на этом сайте топики по английскому языку (English Topics) изучаются в 5-11 классах
общеобразовательной школы, и выносятся на устные школьные экзамены и вступительные экзамены в
вуз. Все топики соответствуют требованиям нового государственного образовательного стандарта по
английскому языку. Благодаря тематическому каталогу, вы сможете быстро найти интересущий вас
текст.
Английские сочинения для школьников и абитуриентов
Английские сочинения - это законченные сообщения, которые можно взять за основу и дорабатывать
по желанию учащихся и в соответствии с требованиями учителей в течении всего учебного года.
Представленные на этом сайте английские сочинения изучаются в 5-11 классах общеобразовательной
школы, и выносятся на устные школьные экзамены и вступительные экзамены в вуз. Все сочинения
соответствуют требованиям нового государственного образовательного стандарта по английскому
языку. Благодаря тематическому каталогу, вы сможете быстро найти интересующий вас текст.
СОДЕРЖАНИЕ
1. Моя биография
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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10.
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About Myself / Обо мне (1, 2)
My Family / Моя семья (1, 2)
My Flat / Моя квартира (1, 2)
My Friends / Мои друзья
My School / Моя школа (1, 2, 3)
My Day / Мой обычный день
My Hobbies and Pastime / Мое хобби и времяпровождение
My Favourite Holidays and Celebrations / Мои любимые праздники
My Favourite Writer / Мой любимый писатель (1, 2)
My Biography / Моя биография
My Working Day at School / Учебный день
My Day Off / Выходной день
Hobbies / Увлечения
My Household Chores / Помощь по дому
My Room / Моя комната
My Best Friend / Мой лучший друг
My Girlfriend / Моя подруга
My Future Career / Моя будущая профессия
Introducing Yourself / Моя визитная карточка
Curriculum Vitae / Резюме
1
2. Россия - мой дом
My Country / Моя страна
Moscow / Москва (1, 2)
Yaroslavl / Ярославль
Russian Holidays and Traditions / Праздники и традиции России
Education in Russia / Образование в России (1, 2)
Russian Sports / Спорт в России
Russia / Россия
Russia - a Market-oriented Economy / Россия - страна с рыночной экономикой
Russia's Foreign Policy / Внешняя политика России
Saint Petersburg / Санкт-Петербург
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
3. Выдающиеся люди России
Mikhail Lomonosov / Михаил Ломоносов (1, 2)
Alexander Pushkin / Алесандр Пушкин
Yuri Gagarin / Юрий Гагарин
Evgenij Pluschenko / Евгений Плющенко
1.
2.
3.
4.
4. Англоговорящие страны
Great Britain / Великобритания (1, 2, 3)
Oxford / Оксфорд
Stratford-upon-Avon / Стратфорд на Эйвон
British Holidays and Traditions / Праздники и традиции Великобритании
Education in Britain / Образование в Великобритании
British Sports / Спорт в Великобритании
American Holidays and Traditions / Праздники и традиции Америки
Education in the USA / Образование в США
American Sports / Спорт в США
Canada / Канада
Australia / Австралия
New Zealand / Новая Зеландия
London / Лондон (1, 2, 3)
The Weather in UK / Погода в Великобритании
Some Outstanding Places of Great Britain / Достопримечательности Великобритании
English Schools / Школы Великобритании
American Schools / Школы в Америке
The United States of America / Соедененные Штаты Америки (1, 2)
Washington. D. С. / Вашингтон
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2.
3.
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5. Выдающиеся люди Великобритании
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
William Shakespeare / Уильям Шекспир
Alexander Bell / Александр Бэлл
Robert Burns / Роберт Бернс
Charles Dickens / Чарльз Диккенс
Princess Diana / Принцесса Диана
2
6. Выдающиеся люди Америки
1.
2.
3.
4.
Albert Einstein / Альберт Эйнштейн
Ernest Hemingway / Эрнест Хемингуэй
Martin Luther King / Мартин Лютер Кинг
Madonna / Мадонна
7. Мир вокруг меня
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2.
3.
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25.
Choosing a Career / Выбор профессии
Doing Sport and Keeping Fit / Занятия спортом и здоровый образ жизни
Learning Foreign Languages / Изучение иностранных языков (1, 2)
Travelling / Путешествие (1, 2)
Environmental Problems / Проюлемы окружающей среды
Mass Media / Средства массовой информации
Arts / Искусство
Music / Музыка
Museums and Art Galleries / Музеи и художественные галереи
Books / Книги
Youth Problems / Проблемы молодежи
Shopping / Поход по магазинам (1, 2)
Wars and Peace / Войны и мир
Sport in Our Life / Спорт в нашей жизни
Learning Languages / Почему мы учим иностранные языки
Books in Our Life / Книги в нашей жизни
Newspapers and Magazines / Газеты и журналы
Television / Телевидение
The Theatre / Театр
Cinema / Кино
Seasons / Поры года
Environmental Protection / Защита окружающей среды
Meals and Cooking / Еда и ее приготовление
Our Health / Наше здоровье
Education / Образование
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1. Моя биография
About Myself (1) (обо мне)
My name is Pavel, my surname is Sokolov. I am fourteen years old. I was born on the 26-th of August, 1994.
I am Russian. I was born in Vladimir. I like my native town very much. When I was a child, I went to a
kindergarten. It was a time full of joy and games. Moreover I learnt how to draw, to cut out different animals of
paper, to sing and to dance there. I got the first experience of friendship in the kindergarten.
At the age of 6 I went to school. Most of all I liked Math at my primary school. When I was eleven my
parents moved to Moscow. We have lived in this city for 3 years already. My family is not very big: I have got
a mother, a father and an elder sister.
I am a pupil. I study in the 9th form. I like studying. My favourite school subjects are Math, English and
Physics. I haven’t decided yet whom I want to be. My future profession will be probably connected with
Science. I enjoy reading scientific magazines.
My teachers and parents say that I am hard-working and clever. I don’t really think so. I try to be more
organized and disciplined, but quite often I prefer to play football with my friends than to study. I adore
football.
Also my hobby is music. My favourite music genre is rock music. I have a guitar and I learn to play the guitar
with my daddy. I can say that I succeeded a bit and can play about 10 melodies. Sometimes I go to rock
concerts with my daddy and I really enjoy it.
==========================================
About Myself (2)
My name is ... I am seventeen (sixteen, eighteen). I live in Moscow (Samara, Novgorod, Sochi...). My address
is ... My telephone number is... I am tall (not very tall, short, middle-sized). I am thin (not very thin, rather fat).
My face is round (square, oval). I have a fair (dark) complexion. My forehead is narrow (broad) and low (high).
I have a straight (turned up, crooked, aquiline) nose and a protruding (round) chin. My eyebrows are bushy
(penciled), my eyelashes are thick (thin) and long (short). I have large (small) blue (hazel, black, gray) eyes.
My hair is black (fair, dark, blond, chestnut), straight (curly) and long (short, not very long). I have just left
school and now I am going to enter the University (Institute). I am going to be a teacher (a lawyer). I like my
future profession and I am going to do my best to become a good specialist. I live with my family. It is large
(small, not very large) and very good. We love each other very much and always try to help each other and to
spend as much time together as we can. I have a lot of friends too. I am fond of reading and playing computer
games. My favorite sport is football (swimming, tennis, hockey). My friends and I often get together to play
different games, to go for a walk or to the disco or simply to talk.
My Family (1)
I want to tell you about my family. It is not very big. It consists of four members. I have got mother, a father
and a brother.
My mother's name is Maria. She is 40. She is a financial worker. She works at Baltiyskij Bank. My mother is
very clever and she is a very good worker. Her colleagues appreciate her very much. My mother likes reading
books and magazines and she knows a lot of interesting things. My mother is my friend who is always ready to
help me in difficult situations.
4
My father's name is Dmitrij and he is 41 years old. He is an architect. He works for a construction company.
He is very good at Maths and Physics. He draws schemes and plans of buildings. My father’s hobby is sport.
He plays tennis at the week-ends and goes to gym. I want to be as strong as my father.
My elder brother Alexei is 21. He is a student already and he studies in Saint-Petersburg State University. He
is in his fourth year. He is going to be a programmist. Most of his time he spends at his computer. I like my
brother but I don’t want to look like him. I prefer to spend my free time outdoors. And he very seldom goes out
with me and daddy.
My grandparents live in the country. Every summer we go there for a couple of weeks. I like my
grandparents, their village and their animals. My grandmother Olga is 63. She bakes wonderful cakes. My
grandfather is 66. In the country I usually swim and sunbathe with my friends. I have lots of friends there who
came to their grandparents like me. We spend all the days together. My parents usually go to the forest and pick
up berries and mushrooms. We also help our grandmother and grandfather to feed their animals.
I love my family. We are very friendly and happy to live together.
=============================================
My Family (2)
Our family is large (small, not very large). We are the family of seven (two, three, four, five, six): my mother,
my father, my grandmother, my grandfather, my sister, my brother and I. My mother's name is ... She is ... years
old. She is a teacher (a doctor, a worker, an engineer). She is a very nice, kind and clever woman. My father's
name is ... He is ... years old. He is a worker (a teacher, an engineer, a doctor, a businessman). He is rather tall
and strong. He is a man of strong character — and all of us love him very much. My grandmother's name is ...
She is ... years old. She does not work now, she is a pensioner, but she has a lot of work to do about the house.
All of us try to help her. My grandfather's name is... He is... years old. He is a pensioner too. My brother and
sister are students (pupils). Their names are ... They are older (younger) than me. We are a very good family.
We love each other very much. In the evenings, when all the members of our family get together after work and
study, we like to watch TV, to read books and newspapers, to talk about different things and to discuss all our
problems together. When the weather is good we sometimes go for a walk. We have a small house in the
country with a garden and a kitchen garden. There is much work there and on weekends we go there and work
and have rest all together.
My Flat [flxt](1) (моя квартира)
My family and I live in Saint-Petersurg, in Moscow Аvenue. We live on the fourth floor of a brick block of
flats. Our house is old. It was built in the 19th century. Our flat is quite big. There are two bedrooms, a livingroom, a kitchen, a bathroom and a toilet.
Our living-room is not very big, but cozy. It is light, because there is a big window in it and the ceiling is very
high. This room is the one where we gather together in the evening. We also invite our guests to this room and
celebrate our family holidays there. There is a big bookcase on the right of the door, a flat TV-set on the right
and two nice chairs in front of it. There is also a sofa by the window. In the middle of the room there is a round
coffee-table.
I have a sister, so we have one room. It is bigger than the others, but I sometimes think that it is too small for
the two of us. We have very different characters and habits and quite often argue because of the posters on the
walls and other things. There is a wall unit, two tables, a big window and two beds in our room. We have a TVset with a DVD-player in our room too.
My parents' bedroom is very cozy. The colour of the walls and curtains are tender and match to each other.
There is a big bed in the middle, a large wardrobe for clothes, a bedside table, a chest of drawers and a stereo.
5
Our kitchen is very nice. The furniture is light brown and the table is big and round. There is a microwave
oven, a fridge and an oven there. We usually have breakfast and supper in the kitchen.
Our bathroom is quite small but very bright and cozy. We have a bath, a washing machine and some
bathroom shelves there.
There is a big hall in our flat. When guests come we dance in the hall.
I like my apartment very much.
============================================
My Flat (2)
We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the fifth floor of a nine-storied building. It has all
modern conveniences: central heating, running hot and cold water, electricity, gas, a lift and a chute to carry
rubbish down. We have a three-room flat, which consists of a living room, a bedroom, a study (which is also
my room), a kitchen, a bathroom and a toilet. There are also two closets in our flat. Our flat has two balconies.
The living room is the largest and most comfortable one in the flat. In the middle of the room we have a square
dinner table with six chairs round it. To the left of the dinner table there is a wall-unit, which has several
sections: a sideboard, a wardrobe and some shelves. At the opposite wall there is a piano and a piano stool
before it. To the right there is a little table with color TV set on it. Opposite the TV set there are two cozy
armchairs. A divan-bed and a standard lamp are in the left-hand corner. In front of the armchairs there is a small
round table for newspapers and magazines. There is a thick carpet on the floor. Two watercolors hang on the
wall above the divan-bed. In the evening we usually draw the curtains across the windows, and a red lampshade
gives a warm color to the room. The bedroom is smaller than the living room and not so light as there is only
one window in it. In this room there are two beds, two dressing tables and a wardrobe. In the corner of the
bedroom there is a small color TV set. On the dressing table there is an alarm clock and small lamp with green
lampshade. Our study is the smallest room in the flat, but in spite of it, it is very cozy. There isn't much
furniture in it, but there are a lot of shelves full of books. It has a writing table, an armchair and a bookcase too.
A small round table with cassette-recorder is standing in the right-hand corner of the study. Besides, there is a
small sofa near the wall opposite the bookcase. This room was my father's study, but as I grew older, it has
become my room. And in my opinion it is the best room in our flat. My friends used to come to my place to
have a chat or to play chess in the evening, and they consider my room to be very comfortable. I share their
opinion.
My Friends
I think that friendship is one of the most precious things in our life. Friends help us to enjoy our life and to
overcome hardships. I don’t have lots of friends, but my friends are people whom do I trust and whom I really
love. My best friend is my classmate Nikita. He is fourteen. He is a tall boy with an oval face and green eyes.
His hair is short and dark brown. Nikita lives not far from my house. We usually go to school, play computer
games and go for a walk together. I like spending my time with Nikita because we understand each other very
well. We have lots of similar interests.
Nikita is fond of sports like me. His favourite winter sport is skiing. At weekends we go to a nearby park and
ski together. In summer we cycle and play football in the yard.
We both like the same music and that really unites us. We discuss our favourite music bands and their works
every day on the way home.
I have other friends, too. Dima is not my classmate, he is older. He studies in the 10-th form. He plays the
guitar very well and writes songs himself. He also has a huge collection of CD-s. I and Nikita like to visit him
and to listen to his songs. Moreover sometimes he helps us with our homework.
I think that my friends are very cool and I am happy to have them.
6
My School (1)
I want to tell you about my school. It’s a school № 146 in Saint-Petersburg. My school is big: it has four
floors. On the ground floor there is a gym, a canteen, a medical room, a school museum and a library. We
usually have lunch in the canteen.
Our gym is very up-to-date. It’s huge and bright. School sports classes and competitions take place there.
The school library is rather big. It has a lot of modern books. Pupils get textbooks for free in the library.
The first floor is for primary school pupils. There are several big classrooms and one with games and toys.
After school pupils can stay at school, play games and do their homework there until their parents come to take
them home.
On the second floor of my school you can find the classrooms of Russian, Literature, Art, English and French.
There are three classrooms of English. They are decorated with pictures and maps.
On the third floor there are the classrooms of Chemistry, Biology, Maths and others. We have a big computer
lab there, too. There are a lot of modern computers in the lab. Pupils can make reports and prepare their
homework there. The Internet access is also available for all pupils for free. Our chemistry lab is very big.
During Chemistry lessons we make experiments with teacher's help. I am quite good at Chemistry and I like
working in our lab a lot.
Some of our classrooms have tape-recorders, TV-sets, video- and DVD-players, so teachers show us
educational films and documentaries. All classrooms are very cozy. There are a lot of flowers and posters on
the walls.
There are also a lot of interesting clubs at school. I like the erudite club. We learn lots of interesting things
there and develop our thinking skills. We often have competitions with other schools. We also have a handicraft
club, a dancing studio and an art studio. Any pupil can be a member of this or that club. They are all free of
charge.
There is a large and beautiful assembly hall on the third floor. School meetings and concerts take place there.
There is a large stage and modern equipment necessary for school plays and concerts.
I really like my school and I am happy to study in it.
===========================================
My School (2)
At the age of 6 or 7 ail boys and girls go to school. I am a schoolboy as well. My school number is 121. Our
school is large, airy and light. It is neither old nor new. There is a large schoolyard and a stadium. We
sometimes have physical train¬ing lessons here. There are 3 floors in the school. There is a workshop on the
ground floor. It is big and there are all kinds of iron-processing tools and machines here. There is also a
woodwork room where we learn to make different things of wood. Another room is for girls to learn
housekeeping and craft-work. It is also on the ground floor. There is a dining room you can enter from the
foyer. It is next to the woodwork room. Here pupils and teachers have their breakfast and dinner. The dining
room is very clean and has beautifully designed interior. There are many nice pictures on the walls and some of
them are drawn by the most gifted schoolchildren. There is also a gymnasium near the dining room and the
woodwork room. All pupils like to attend it because at our physical training lessons we usually play exciting
sport games and have a lot of fun. There is a library on the first floor of the school building. There are a lot of
old and new books there. But unfortunately there is no reading room there. The library regulations are quite
7
strict and one cannot take more than two books at a time and keep them for more than two weeks period. There
are many classrooms in the school. The English classrooms are supplied with an audio systems controlled from
the teacher's desk and there are headphones provided connecting the cassette decks with the pupils' desks. There
is a lot of research laboratory equipment both in the Physics and Chemistry classrooms. The Geography and
History classrooms have a lot of maps and books. Every classroom has a flower-stand or some pots with
beautiful home plants or flowers. The teacher's desk is usually between the pupils' ones and the blackboard.
There are around twenty desks in each classroom. Some classrooms have TV sets that are used sometimes at
the lessons. There is a school conference hall on the third floor where meetings, conferences and school
dancing parties take place. There are also holidays celebrated and concerts and competitions of various kinds
are held except the sports events, which take place in gymnasium or in the open. School theatre once in two or
three months performs its plays here. The most remarkable event of the school life — the Last Bell is also
celebrated here. The pupils of the first and eleventh forms prepare themselves for this day with great
enthusiasm. The teacher's room is on the second floor. There are tables and armchairs for teachers to take a
short rest or to do some preparations. There is a TV set with video player here and there are two computers
connected with the director's and head teacher's ones. There Is also a telephone and a fax machine. The
teachers' room is quite comfortable and cozy and some teachers like to spend their time there. I like my school
and sometimes I think that I would like to be a teacher.
==============================================
My School (3)
I've just left school and I would like to tell you a few words about it. My school is not very big. It is quite a
modern three-storeyed building. More than four nundred pupils study there. It is a specialised school famous for
its high-quality education and strict discipline.
When the pupils come to school they leave their coats in the cloakroom on the ground floor. The gym, the
canteen, the library and workshops are also on the ground floor. We have two workshops: one for girls, where
they learn to cook, to sew and to knit, and another for boys. Our gym is large and well equipped. On the first
floor there is a large assembly hall. We have our meetings there, and on some holidays parties are held there.
The principal's office, the computer class and the lan¬guage laboratory are also on the first floor. Physics,
chemistry and biology laboratories are on the second floor.
The classrooms for junior pupils are on the first floor, and for the seniors, on the second floor. In every
classroom there are two or three rows of desks with the teacher's table in front. There is a blackboard and a
bookcase. There are some pictures and maps on the walls. The language laboratory is equipped with taperecorders for listening to English texts on tapes, a TV set and a video-player to watch teaching programmes.
I went to school six days a week. Classes began at half past eight in the morning, but I usually came to school
ten minutes earlier. Each lesson lasted forty minutes. After three or four lessons we had a thirty-minute break.
During this break we went to the canteen to have lunch. Every day we had six lessons, and they were over at
three o'clock in the afternoon. We usually had a lot of homework and it took me several hours to do it.
Sometimes I had to stay up to write a compo¬sition, to prepare a report, to translate a newspaper article from
English to Russian or to learn a poem by heart.
After classes I usually didn't go home right away. We had some out-of-class activities. Our social and cultural
life was well organised. For example, we had an orchestra, a choir, an arts club and an International Friendship
Club. I was a member of the drama club.
At school we had classes in Russian, literature, mathematics, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, English,
history, computer programming. We also had music, physical education, arts and crafts.
My favourite subject was English. I liked to learn new words, to dramatise texts and dialogues. I liked it when
we discussed something interesting to us, when we were taught to debate, when we had small-group discussions
or set up a role-play. But I wasn't very good at chemistry. I always failed to learn formulas and terms properly.
8
Maybe our chemistry teacher was too serious, too academic. She was not imaginative enough and her lessons
were a little bit dull. There was not enough excitement for us to get interested in the subject.
I liked my class. I always felt at home there. Everybody was so friendly and easy to get along with. I was on
good terms with my classmates and we often spent our free time together.
I've just left school and I would like to tell you a few words about it. My school is not very big. It is quite a
modern three-storeyed building. More than four nundred pupils study there. It is a specialised school famous for
its high-quality education and strict discipline.
My Day (мой обычный день)
I want to tell you about my daily routine. On working days I usually get up at half past 7 in the morning and
go to the bathroom. I wash myself, brush my teeth and comb my hair. While I am in the bathroom my mother
makes breakfast for me and my brother. I usually have porridge, omelet or pancakes and a sandwich with cacao
for breakfast. At half past 8 I leave home and go to school. It is not far from my house, but I don't like to be late
for my classes, that’s why I leave home earlier. On my way to school I often meet my classmates and friends.
We talk and discuss things.
I usually have six lessons at school, sometimes seven, but never eight or nine. The first lesson starts at 9
o’clock in the morning. At school we have a lot of subjects: Math, Russian, Literature, Biology, Geography,
English, Computing, Physical Education and others. We learn a lot of interesting and useful things at school. At
12 o’clock we usually have lunch at school.
After school I go back home. I have my dinner at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. After dinner I go for a walk with
my friends. In winter we play hockey or snowballs, in spring and autumn we usually play football in our yard.
We have a football field nearby and spend lots of time there.
After walking I come back home and start doing my homework. When I have problems with it, I ask my
mother or my brother for help. My father comes back from work very late, so I ask him for help just at the
week-ends. At 7 o’clock in the evening my family has supper. After supper I like to play computer games or to
watch some film.
I also have a habit of reading a bit before going to bed. So I lie down in the bed at half past 9 in the evening
and read up to 10 o’clock. Then I fall asleep.
That’s my usual day.
My Hobbies and Pastime (Мое хобби и времяпровождение)
Hobby is what people really like to do and do in their free time. People have very different hobbies that
correspond to their interests.
One of the most popular hobbies is collecting different things. Some people collect badges and stamps, some
people collect bottles or flowers. There are people who collect paintings or cars.
I collected pocket flashlights when I was at primary school. I have a collection of about fifteen flashlights. I
remember I used to hang them on the walls and to put on the bookshelves in the evening. I switched on all of
them at the same time and was very excited because of this unusual light.
9
Making things with hands is another type of hobbies. This includes drawing, knitting, painting, handicraft and
others. For example, my granny is fond of knitting. All over the year she knits socks and scarves for everybody
in our family. Playing computer games has become a very popular hobby nowadays. Lots of my friends are
addicted to their computers. My parents don’t allow me to play a lot, so I can’t say that this is my hobby.
My major hobby is volleyball. I attend sport school 3 times a week. We have 2 and half hours of training. I
usually get very tired after it but this sport game gives a great pleasure to me.
I also like listening to music. I have a big collection of CDs with different kinds of music. My favourite
genres of music are rock and reggae. I also have some favourite singers and I collect information about them.
Now I want to talk about ways of spending free time. I think that hobbies and pastime are connected with
each other because you do whatever you like in your free time. As for me I go to sport school during the week
so at the week-ends I mostly go out with my friends. We like to go to park. Sometimes we roller-skate there,
sometimes just walk and eat some ice-cream. I think that it’s very good just to walk and listen to birds singing. I
like to be close to nature.
In the evenings I like to read. I like to spend a couple of hours with a new interesting book.
My Favourite Holidays and Celebrations
(Мои любимые праздники)
I want to tell you about my favourite holidays. I have quite a lot of them. I usually celebrate holidays with my
relatives and friends. We gather together, lay up the table full of food, dance and play different games.
New Year is my favourite holiday since early childhood. My brother and I usually decorate a New Year tree
with colourful glass balls and toys. I also like cooking New Year supper. I always help my mother to decorate
New Year dishes. At night we have a real feast. We eat what we have cooked and watch TV. After clock strikes
midnight, New Year comes. We drink champagne and give each other presents.
My other favourite celebration is my birthday which is in May. On this day I am in the centre of attention. My
parents and friends give me presents. If the weather is nasty I have a birthday party at home. If the weather is
fine I invite my friends to have picnic in the forest. I invite close friends and we have fun together.
I also like St.Valentirie's Day, which is a new holiday in Russia. It is celebrated on the 14-th of February. I
like this holiday because it gives a lot of fun. We have Love mail at school. A box is placed on the ground floor
of the building and anybody can put into it a card with the name of the person it is addressed to and the number
of the form. In the middle of the day the mail is delivered and it is nice to get a card from a person you don't
know.
I really enjoy holidays and celebrations!
10
My Favourite Writer
(Мой любимый писатель)
I believe that books are one of the greatest wonders in the world. Books are the way to live hundreds of lives
and to have thousands of adventures being at home. The work of my fantasy and imagination while reading is
what makes me happy. I started reading myself at 5 years old. But first books that impressed me deeply were
read to me by my mother. These are fairy tales of Christian Andersen and forest short stories of Vitalij Bianki.
If somebody asks me about my favourite writer I won’t probably find the answer. Every book that I read
becomes the best one for me for the time of reading. Usually I try to read the books of one author one by one. In
such a way I can understand his thoughts, images, ideas and the writing manner better.
At the moment I become acquainted with the works of John Fowles. John Fowles is an English novelist and
essayist, master of layered story-telling, illusionism, and purposefully ambiguous endings. His first novel, and
the first that I read, “The Collector” , is a study of a clerk who is psychologically impelled to kidnap and
murder. “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” is a “Victorian” novel that has three endings. It reflects
contemporary self-consciousness about nineteenth-century England and the form of the novel itself. I really
enjoyed the works of John Fowles and for the time being I am going to start his book “The Magus”.
My Biography (Моя биография)
The topic that is given to me is «My biography». It sounds too meaningful. It means something very
important. I am sorry to say that there is little to speak about my short past life. I am too young to have my own
family, I am not married yet. My name is Sergey. My last name is Petrov. The patronymic is Vadimovich. So
my full name is Sergey Vadimovich Petrov. I am seventeen years old. I was born on the twelfth of June. I am a
former pupil. I left school a month ago. I did not attend any nursery or kindergarten. I began to go to school at
the age of six. It was eleven years ago. I had been studying at the same school for eleven years running without
changing it. We had many subjects: history, English, biology and many others. I liked to study at school and my
impressions of it are rather pleasant. My favorite subjects are English and informatics. On the English lessons
we read and translate the text and learn new words. On the informatics lessons we write the pro¬grams. That is
why I choose English examination.
My School (Учебный день)
At the age of 6 or 7 ail boys and girls go to school. I am a schoolboy as well. My school number is 121. Our
school is large, airy and light. It is neither old nor new. There is a large schoolyard and a stadium. We
sometimes have physical train¬ing lessons here. There are 3 floors in the school. There is a workshop on the
ground floor. It is big and there are all kinds of iron-processing tools and machines here. There is also a
woodwork room where we learn to make different things of wood. Another room is for girls to learn
housekeeping and craft-work. It is also on the ground floor. There is a dining room you can enter from the
foyer. It is next to the woodwork room. Here pupils and teachers have their breakfast and dinner. The dining
room is very clean and has beautifully designed interior. There are many nice pictures on the walls and some of
them are drawn by the most gifted schoolchildren. There is also a gymnasium near the dining room and the
woodwork room. All pupils like to attend it because at our physical training lessons we usually play exciting
sport games and have a lot of fun. There is a library on the first floor of the school building. There are a lot of
old and new books there. But unfortunately there is no reading room there. The library regulations are quite
strict and one cannot take more than two books at a time and keep them for more than two weeks period. There
are many classrooms in the school. The English classrooms are supplied with an audio systems controlled from
the teacher's desk and there are headphones provided connecting the cassette decks with the pupils' desks. There
11
is a lot of research laboratory equipment both in the Physics and Chemistry classrooms. The Geography and
History classrooms have a lot of maps and books. Every classroom has a flower-stand or some pots with
beautiful home plants or flowers. The teacher's desk is usually between the pupils' ones and the blackboard.
There are around twenty desks in each classroom. Some classrooms have TV sets that are used sometimes at
the lessons. There is a school conference hall on the third floor where meetings, conferences and school
dancing parties take place. There are also holidays celebrated and concerts and competitions of various kinds
are held except the sports events, which take place in gymnasium or in the open. School theatre once in two or
three months performs its plays here. The most remarkable event of the school life — the Last Bell is also
celebrated here. The pupils of the first and eleventh forms prepare themselves for this day with great
enthusiasm. The teacher's room is on the second floor. There are tables and armchairs for teachers to take a
short rest or to do some preparations. There is a TV set with video player here and there are two computers
connected with the director's and head teacher's ones. There Is also a telephone and a fax machine. The
teachers' room is quite comfortable and cozy and some teachers like to spend their time there. I like my school
and sometimes I think that I would like to be a teacher.
My Day Off (Выходной день)
On weekdays I usually go to school, but on my days off I rest. I hate getting up early in the morning, and on
my week¬ends I can afford to get up a bit later than usual, because I don't have to hurry anywhere. As a rule at
our leisure time we go in for sports, read the books, go to the cinema, theatre, park, museum or exhibition.
Sometimes we go to the zoo or circus and enjoy ourselves watching animals. We try to spend most of the time
out-of-doors. Some people prefer to go to the country to see their relatives and friends. In winter we like to go
to the forest to ski or to the skating-rink to skate. After having such a pleasant rest in the open air, you are
happy to come home and have a rest sitting near the TV set and watching an interesting TV programs. In
summer and spring picnics are popular with schoolchildren and students. Children are fond of picnics chiefly
because they have an excellent opportunity to admire the beauty of nature, to run and play games, to have a bite
without observing table manners. But the most exciting event is making a fire. They are fond of collecting
wood and sitting round the fire. And again, children like to return home after having a picnic. Now they think
that «There is no place like home», as the saying goes. As for me, my days off are normally like this. I get-up at
9 o'clock, do my morning exercises, wash my face and hands and brush my teeth. After having breakfast I relax
a little: listen to a lovely stereo music and try to forget about all my problems. Then I can visit my friends and
have a chat with them about our school life. Sometimes my friends and I go to the museum or art exhibition. As
a rule, my activities on weekends depend on my plans, but in any case I manage to do a lot of things and have a
real rest. I always try to do my best to have a good time. But unfortunately time flies very quickly on weekends,
and the next Monday morning comes, and I am looking forward to my next days off.
Hobbies (Увлечения)
Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste — you are lucky
because your life becomes more interesting. Hobbies are divided into four large classes: doing things, making
things, collecting things, and learning things. The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a
wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to traveling and from chess to volleyball. Gardening is one
of the oldest man's hobbies. It is well-known fact that the English are very found of gardening and growing
flowers, especially roses. Both grown-ups and children are found of playing different computer games. This is a
relatively new hobby but it is becoming more and more popular. Making things includes drawing, making
sculptures, designing costumes, handicrafts and others. Two of the most famous hobby painters were President
Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill. Some hobbyists write music or play musical instruments. Ex-president
Bill Clinton, for example, plays on the saxophone. Almost everyone collects something at some period in his
life: stamps, coins, matchboxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches and other things. Some collection have
not real value. Others become so large and so valuable that they are housed in museums and art galleries. Many
12
world famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often
collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums,
libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them. No matter what kind of hobby a
person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he
is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby. So I think that
everyone should have a hobby, it is like the target of your life.
My Household Chores (Помошь по дому)
Doing household chores is a necessary part of our life. People all over the world try to work hard. They
usually have a lot of duties. I have a lot of duties, too. My parents are often tired and I must take care of them.
Everybody is happy when the home is always bright and clean. Day after day I can have fun when I do my
household chores. I sweep the floor, tidy my room, clean the shoes, dust the furniture, make food myself and do
every kind of work. It's not easy to do every kind of work at home, but I can learn to do everything myself.
When I do my household chores well, everybody in the family is happy. If I have a holiday party at home, I can
help my mother and grandmother a lot. How happy mother is to see everything bright! It's a nice present for my
parents to tidy the house! It's wonderful to make people happy! If I have time, my mother asks me to go to the
shop. I go there and buy bread, eggs and sugar. Very often I go to the market with my mother. We buy some
vegetables and fruits. Then I help my mother to carry them. My mother cooks well; sometimes I help her when
she makes cakes. She usually makes them before holidays and on my birthday. We have got a country house.
There is a big garden with many trees, bushes and flowers in it. There is a lot of work in our garden and I help
my parents to do it. We must do our household chores, because if we hadn't done it our flat would look like a
trash can. I usually clean my flat on Friday. First of all I clean with duster table, piano, some boxes, TV, lamp
and many other things. At second I clean with vacuum cleaner carpet in my room, then I clean carpet in
mother's and father's room. I usually wash the floor in all rooms. Then I wash bath-shell with «Pemolux». Later
I wash stove with «Fairy». Every day I must feed my cat. It is very big and fat. I cook a fish soup I to it. After
supper I always wash plates and dishes. Sometimes I cook myself, but my cookies up aren't so nice as mother's.
I think I make an impact in tiding our place. It is necessary to help the parents. Try to make people happy and
you will be happy yourself!
My Room
We live in a new flat in one of the residential areas of our city. It is a three-room flat of a typical block of flats
with a lift and rubbish chute. Our flat is on the fifth floor. As you enter our flat, you find yourself in a small
entrancehall, and from there you can go to the rooms: the living room, my parent's bedroom and my room. I use
my room as a study and a bedroom. My room is a very comfortable one. It has its advantages, though it is the
smallest room in our flat. The only window in my room faces the green park, which is situated near our house.
It is so nice to look out of the window in a bright sunny day! The view is really wonderful. The walls of my
room are papered in a design of gray and silver strips and the curtains on the window match the wallpaper
perfectly. The built-in furniture doesn't take much space in it. There is a writing table with a reading-lamp on it.
I always keep there my notes, textbooks, pens and pencils, booklets, posters, pads, newspapers, magazines and
other necessary for me things. There is a built-in wardrobe in the right-hand corner of the room with coat
hangers to hang clothes on. Opposite the wardrobe there is a bookcase full of books, journals and newspapers.
Near the writing-table there is a standard lamp with a pink silk shade. On the little table there is a stereo cassette
recorder. You see, I am fond of music and often enjoy listening to the lovely melody. My divan-bed stands near
the standard lamp. There are two water-colors and my portrait on the wall above the divan-bed. The floor in my
room is covered with a thick carpet. Besides, I grow a lot of flowers in my room. You can see them
everywhere: on the windowsill, on the bookcase, on the little table, on the walls. I take care of the flowers and
water them regularly. To cut the long story short, I should admit that my room is very attractive and I like it
very much.
13
My Best Friend
Speaking about my best friend I'd like to mention a famous proverb said by Robert Stevenson that «No man is
useless while he has a friend». And I entirely agree with it. To be a real friend means to be able to share all
happiness and hardships, be able to help and understand. But sometimes it is hard to find the one who is
modest, faithful, reliable, and sincere at the same time. As for me I have a few true friends and I'd like to tell
about one of them. His name is Vasya, he is fifteen years old and he is my classmate. I like the way he looks.
The first thing you notice when you see him is his blue clever eyes. He has curly hair combed back. I think he is
rather attractive both in his appearance and his character. In my opinion Vasya is a determined kind of person,
who possesses an ability for quick-decision making. Judging by his deeds I'm sure that he is resolute and firm,
but sometimes too pedantic. He isn't an easygoing kind of person: it seems that he is in the habit of thinking of
every word he says. His friends think that because of his ambitions it seems that Vasya is too conceited.
Nevertheless he is always in the mood of joking. Joking he never tries to insult people: his jokes are always
pertinent. Vasya is just that kind of person to spend good time with: he is well-read, good educated, his interests
are wide and various. In my opinion we have much in common, so it's easy for us to find what to talk about. We
both listen to the same music, read adventure books and are fond of football. We got acquainted nine years ago
and knowing features and drawbacks of all each other we still remain close friends.
My Girlfriend (Моя подруга)
I’m not a very sociable person. To my mind, it's not obliged for people to have a lot of friends in order to be
happy. It's enough, as I think, to have one or two friends who are able to understand you and to support you in
hard situations. So, there are few people whom I can call friends. We have much in common and we enjoy
communicating with each other. One of my friends is Natalie. She is eighteen. I can say that she is beautiful and
smart girl. She left school 2 years ago and now she is a second year student of the University. Natalie wants to
be a journalist. She studies well because she is greatly interested in her future profession. Natalie is a
hardworking girl too. I admire this feature of her character because I don't have it. Natalie does not have much
free time but if she has, she likes to spend it in a good company, consisting of her school friends. When we
gather together we like to listen to music, both classical and modem one, to watch new films and discuss them.
I enjoy talking to her a lot because she knows many interesting facts about famous people, history. Her favorite
subjects at school were history and literature. She is fond of reading. Books have become part of her life. We
have been being friends for a long time. We trust each other so much that we have some personal secrets, which
are not revealed to the others. I can tell her about my troubles and I am sure that Natalie would help me and
give me a piece of good advice. Natalie is an intelligent person. She has a deep and genuine interest in people,
open-mindedness and inquiring mind. It is necessary for her as a journalist. I'm happy to have such a good
friend as Natalie.
My Future Career (Моя будущая профессия)
I'm sure that choosing a career isn't an easy matter. Nowadays there is a great variety of profes¬sions such as
a doctor, an economist, a lawyer and it is hard to choose a one which suits your interests and abilities. As for
me I have made up my mind to become a lawyer. I think that justice is the most important in the modern world,
and besides I'm fond of arguing and discussing different topics. But I'm still hesitating whether it is good to
choose a ca¬reer while Pm at school. On one hand it gives me an opportunity to find the necessary course of
study and pay more attention to the subjects which will be of great value for me in future. More than that I can
attend optional courses in order to get profound knowledge in sciences and humanities. At school I have
wonderful possibilities to develop the personal qualities such as understanding, the ability to listen to, to help
people and persistence in achieving the aim. Pm sure such qualities will help me to succeed as a lawyer. On the
other hand choosing a career at school may force me to a career path before I realize my real interests and
abilities. As for my interests they change every year but I hope my desire to become a lawyer will not change in
14
future. As for me choosing a career isn't only a matter of future prestige and wealth. In my opinion job must be
inte-resting and socially important. The profession of lawyer gives me plenty of opportunities to help people in
trouble. When I have been choosing a career I consulted nobody, but as for my parents they appreciate my wish
to become a lawyer. I hope their support and encouragement will help me to make the final decision. I
understand, my wish isn't enough to become a good lawyer. I must be well-educated and broad-minded. And
English language will be of great importance for me in it. With the help of English language I can get
acquainted with the works of other foreign writers and their works on philosophy and logic. Besides it gives me
a unique chance to communicate with my future foreign colleagues and probably exchange experience. So I
think that it is very important for me to think about the future I even now because according to a famous saying
«If you don't think about your future you can't have one».
Introducing Yourself (Моя визитная карточка)
Let me introduce myself. My name is Anne. My surname is Petrova. I am seventeen years old. My birthday is
September 11. I 1ive in Saint Petersburg with my family. Our family is quite big: there are five of us — father,
mother, brother, sister and me. We are a very united family.
I am a pupil in the eleventh form of a secondary school. I finish school this year. I want to enter the
university. That is why I have to study twice as hard as an ordinary pupil does. I do not only do my best at
school; I also attend a preparatory course at the university.
As you can understand, I'm rather a busy person. But when I have some free time in the evening, I like to read
a good book. My favourite Russian writer is Anton Chekhov. As I'm studying English, I read a lot of books by
English authors. I try to read them in English, but this is not always easy. When there is a good film on TV, I
watch it with all my family. I also like music, classical as well as modern. I have a tape-recorder and I like to
listen to some tapes when I am doing my homework, but my parents think it is bad for my work.
I have more free time during weekends. I like to spend this time with my family. Sometimes we all go to the
cinema, or to some concert. In winter we go skiing or just walk in the country.
As I've said before, I plan to enter the university next year. I am quite good at English, and I am interested in
the culture of Great Britain, USA and other English-speaking countries, so I want to go on with English at the
University. I do not know exactly what I will do after graduating from the university, but I'm sure I'll find a
good Job as an interpreter or a teacher or something like that, because the English language is very popular now
and everybody needs it.
Curriculum Vitae (Резюме)
NAME: Anna Petrova.
DATE OF BIRTH: 11 September 1979.
ADDRESS: Pushkinskaya street, 40/12. TELEPHONE NUMBER: 321-18-44.
MARITAL STATUS: single.
HEALTH: excellent.
EDUCATION: 1986-1996 — secondary school № 38 (specialization in ...); 1996 — secretarial courses (typing,
computer literl асу, business correspondence). Now I am a student at the Foreign Languages Department at the
University.
WORKING EXPERIENCE: 1995-1996 — private teacher (English); 1996-1997 — ABC company, secretary.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS: communicative English; Word, Excel for Windows-95.
HOBBIES: knitting, skiing.
REFERENCES: the following people have offered to write references for me:
Natalia B. Ivanova, teacher of English, school № 38, tel. no. 333-12-14;
Sergey T. Govorov, principal, secretarial-courses, tel. no. 211-18-23;
Nikolai V. Mishin, manager, ABC company, tel. no. 143-84-06. .
15
2. Россия - мой дом
My Country (Моя страна)
I want to tell you about my country. Russia is the largest country in the world. It covers eastern part of Europe
and northern part of Asia. Total area of Russia is about seventeen million square kilometres with the population
of about 145 million people.
The official name of Russia is the Russian Federation. The colours of the national flag are white, blue and
red. Russia's state emblem is a double headed eagle. The country is a parliamentary republic, which means that
the President is the Head of the state. The main law of the country is the Constitution. It guarantees the rights of
the citizens.
The country is washed by twelve seas and three oceans: the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Arctic Ocean in the
north and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. Russia borders on many countries: China, Georgia, Finland, Norway,
Byelorussia, Ukraine and others. The landscape of Russia is varied. There are highlands in the east, steppes in
the south, plains and forests in the midland, the tundra and the taiga in the north.
There are several mountain chains in my country, too: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The
largest chain is the Urals which separates Russia's European part from its Asian part.
Russia is rich in rivers and lakes. The Volga which flows into the Caspian Sea is the longest river in Russia.
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.
There are different types of climate on the territory of Russia it is very cold in the north, even in summer. In
the central part of the country winters are usually cold, summers are very warm. The climate of Siberia is
continental: summers are hot and dry, winters are very cold and snowy. In the south of Russia the temperature
is usually above zero all year round, even in winter.
Russia is an industrial country. It has a lot of mineral resources: coal, natural gas and iron. There are a lot of
large factories and plants all over the country. Russia is also an agricultural country. Russians plant corn, fruit
and vegetables.
Russia has a very rich history. It is an ancient country with a lot of historic places of interest, big cultural
centres and small towns. There are a lot of museums, theatres, cinemas, libraries, restaurants and clubs in big
Russian cities. Such cities are usually noisy with heavy traffic in the streets and are full of smoke.
The capital of Russia is Moscow. Moscow is one of the biggest cities in Europe with the population more
than ten million people. The second largest city in Russia is St. Petersburg. This is a city of numerous
monuments, museums and art galleries. The city is on the Neva River.
Russia is a great country with a great culture, I love my country.
Moscow(1) Москва
I would like to tell you about Moscow.
Moscow is the capital of Russia. The city was founded in 1147 on the Moskva River by Prince Yuri
Dolgoruki. In the 16-th century Tsar Ivan the Terrible made Moscow the capital of the country.
Today Moscow is one of the largest cities in the world. It is a big political, economic and cultural centre of
Russia. The total area of Moscow is about nine hundred square kilometres and the population is about eleven
million people.
16
The centre of Moscow is Red Square, which is the most popular sight for tourists. It is a place for parades,
demonstrations and meetings. In Red Square there is St. Basil's Cathedral, a masterpiece of Russian
architecture, erected in memory of Russia's victory over the Kazan Kingdom in the 16-th century. Tourists can
see the monument to Minin and Pozharsky in front of the Cathedral. It is the oldest monument in Moscow built
in memory of the victory over the Polish invaders. The State History Museum is situated opposite St. Basil's
Cathedral. It is one of the biggest museums in Moscow.
On the territory of the Kremlin, which is the heart of Moscow, there are old cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan
the Great, the Palace of Congress, the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world.
The tallest tower, the Spasskaya lower, is the symbol of the Kremlin. Alexandrovsky Garden with the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier is a memorial to the soldiers died in World War II.
Moscow is a big cultural centre of Russia. There are a lot of cinemas, clubs, concert halls, numerous drama
and musical theatres, including world famous ones like the Bolshoi Theatre and the Maly Theatre.
The city is proud of its museums and art galleries, too. The biggest museum is the Pushkin Museum of Fine
Arts, which has one of the world's largest collections of ancient, oriental and classical art. The Tretyakov
Gallery is famous all over the world. It has a great collection of works by Russian artists. The Gallery is 150
years old.
Moscow is a large educational centre with a lot of schools, institutes, colleges and universities. The biggest
university is Moscow State University named after Lomonosov which is on the Vorobyovy Hills. Students from
all over the world come to Moscow to study at this University.
Muscovites are fond of going in for sport, that is why there are a lot of stadiums, swimming pools and sport
grounds in the city.
Moscow has large green parks where people walk and spend weekends. The biggest among them are: Gorky
Park, Izmailovski Park and Sokolniki Park.
Moscow changes every day. This is a city of contrasts and one should definitely come and visit Moscow.
=====================================
Moscow(2)
Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. It was founded 8
centuries ago by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Historians have accepted the year of 1147 as the start of Moscow's
history. Gradually the city became more and more powerful. In the 13th century Moscow was the centre of the
struggle by Russian lands for the liberation from the Tartar Yoke. In the 16th century under Ivan the Terrible
Moscow became the capital of the new united state. Though Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg
in 1712, Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon's attack.
Three quarters of the city was destroyed by fire during Napoleon's occupation, but by the mid 19th century
Moscow had been completely restored. After the October revolution Moscow became the Capital again.
Now Moscow is one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is about nine hundred square kilometres
(ancient Moscow occupied the territory of the present-day Kremlin). The population of the city is about 9
million.
The heart of Moscow is Red Square, the central and the most beautiful square in Moscow. Here one can see
the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, or St. Basil's cathedral, erected by architects Postnik and Barma to
commemorate Russia's conquest of the Kingdom of Kazan in 1552. It is a masterpiece of Russian architecture.
Tourists can see the monument to Minin and Pozharsky. In was designed by Ivan Martos in 1818 in memory of
the Russian victory over the Polish invaders in 1612. The History Museum in Red Square is a magnificent
17
building. Besides, it is one of the major scientific and educational institutions where we can follow the life of
the Russian people since ancient times.
But first of all everybody knows Red Square because the Kremlin is situated there. The Kremlin is the oldest
historical and architectural centre of Moscow. Its three magnificent cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan the
Great, the palaces and Spassky Tower with the clock attract the tourists' attention The Czar-cannon and the
Czar-bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world, are also in the Kremlin.
There are other beautiful palaces, old mansions, cathedrals, churches and monuments in Moscow.
Moscow is also famous for its museums. At the Tretyakov Gallery paintings by Great Russian artists are
collected, and at the Museum of Fine Arts there are masterpieces by European painters.
There are a lot of theatres in Moscow. The best-known of them is the Bolshoi Opera House, but drama
theatres and studios are popular too.
Moscow was the host to the XXII Summer Olympic Games in 1980. It has a number of sportsgrounds and
stadiums built or reconstructed for that event.
Moscow has the oldest Russian university, founded in 1755 by Lomonosov. Its new building was opened in
1953. It is 32 storeys high.
The Metro, opened in 1935, is being constantly extended. Now it has 200 stations and is almost 340
kilometres long. It is one of the tourist attractions of the Russian capital.
The number of new streets increases every month. The longest of them is Leningradsky Prospect. It runs for
15 kilometres.
Moscow is the seat of the Russian Parliament (the Duma) and the centre of the political life of the country.
Yaroslavl (Ярославль)
Yaroslavl is an ancient city to the north of Moscow. It was founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise.
There is an old beautiful legend about the foundation of Yaroslavl. Once Prince Yaroslav with his warriors
came to the place where the Kotorosl River flowed into the Volga. The Prince liked the place, but the pagans
who lived there didn't like this invasion and let their sacred bear kill the Prince, but Yaroslav fought against the
sacred animal and killed it with his pole axe. Then he founded the fortress and it was called Yaroslavl and the
coat of arms of the town was a bear with a pole axe on its shoulder.
Yaroslavl has the rich historic past. It saw the Tatar invasion, the Polish intervention, was damaged during the
Revolution and suffered a lot. But in spite of all these difficult periods of history it has remained magnificently
beautiful and it is one of the greatest attractions for tourists. Yaroslavl is one of the cities of the Golden Ring of
Russia. Every day a lot of tourists come to visit this ancient Russian city and admire its wonderful cathedrals,
monasteries, churches and the famous embankment.
The first Russian theatre was built in Yaroslavl by Feodor Volkov. Yaroslavl is a big industrial city. Big
plants and factories produce engines, paints, oil, tires, and other important things. The first in the world plant
producing synthetic rubber was built in Yaroslavl, too.
When we speak about this city we can't help mentioning Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman cosmonaut,
who was born there.
In 2005 Yaroslavl became a member of UNESCO because of its wonderful architecture and rich history.
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Russian Holidays and Traditions (Праздники и традиции России)
Every country has customs and traditions. I want to tell you about some holidays and traditions of my
country.
Russians really love holidays. We usually celebrate them with a lot of food, presents and in big companies of
relatives and friends.
There are three types of holidays in Russia. They are family holidays, state holidays and religious holidays.
Let me tell you about family holidays first. They include birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and others. Each
family has its own traditions of celebrating this or that holiday. For example, my family celebrates my birthday
for two days. On the first day I celebrate it with my parents, grandparents, my uncle and aunt. The second day
of celebration is only for my close friends. They usually come in a big group with a lot of presents. I like my
birthday very much.
State or public holidays in Russia include Constitution Day, New Year's Day, the International Women's Day,
May Day, Victory Day and Russia Day. During these holidays, people do not work. They spend time with their
families and friends or go to the centre of big cities to celebrate there. Banks, companies and some shops do not
work on these days either.
New Year's Day is the major holiday in Russia. We put up a New Year tree and decorate it with colourful
toys and glass balls. The main fir-tree of the country is put up in the State Kremlin Palace. Small fir trees are
put up in shop windows, in streets and squares, even on roofs of buildings. A lot of people like buying natural
fir trees, others prefer plastic ones. Children like the holiday a lot. They can stay up late and then get their
presents. At ten minutes to midnight on the 31-st of December families gather in front of the TV-set and watch
the president making his traditional speech. After the clock on the main tower of the Kremlin strikes midnight,
everybody says Happy New Year and drinks champagne. After that the time for presents comes. Russian
children believe that Father Frost brings presents. After all the presents are given out, Russians have fun, drink,
eat, and play games all night long.
Victory Day is a very important holiday for Russian history. On this day we remember those who protected
our country from the German invaders during World War II. A great parade is held on this day in Red Square.
Numerous war and patriotic films are shown on television. On this day people congratulate veterans and give
them flowers.
The so-called religious holidays include Christmas, Easter and others. There is also a pagan holiday —
Shrovetide or Pancake Day. These holidays are not state, so people usually work and study on these days. At
Shrovetide, people see spring in, eat pancakes and burn a scarecrow, which symbolizes winter.
Russian Christmas is celebrated on the 7-th of January, but there is no exact date for Easter, it is different
every year.
Nowadays foreign celebrations are becoming more and more popular in Russia. They are Halloween and St.
Valentine's Day. On Halloween Day some clubs organize parties and masquerades. St. "Valentine's Day is
mostly popular with young people. They usually buy presents for their girlfriends and boyfriends such as
chocolate and sweets and make greeting cards in the shape of a heart.
I like Russian holidays and look forward to celebrating each of them!
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Education in Russia (1) (Образование в России)
Every Russian citizen has the right to free education. Before going to school children may go to nursery
schools or kindergartens. At the age of six children start going to school. First they go to primary school where
they learn to read, write and count. Primary school finishes in the 3-rd form. Then pupils go to secondary
school. After the 9-th form pupils take school exams and get a school certificate. After it they can choose either
to stay at school or go to a college to get a profession. Most pupils stay at school and finish it with a school
diploma which allows them to enter an institution of higher education.
After finishing school pupils can go on to higher education. There are a lot of institutes and universities in
Russia. They offer various departments which an entrant can choose according to his or her abilities. It is
difficult to enter an institute. Entrants should attend university courses and then pass entrance exams.
Nowadays a new examination system is being introduced. The so-called General State Exam allows pupils to
enter any Russian university if they get good and excellent marks for it. This system hasn't been settled yet, but
in some regions of Russia it works already. Pupils take this examination after the 11-th form.
Students in Russian universities usually have five years of studies. At the end of every semester students have
an examination session and take exams. If students pass the exams well they get a scholarship paid by the
government. In most universities and institutes graduates have to pass State exams and defend their final
project. After graduating from an institution of higher education they can continue studies and enter a postgraduate school. After defending a dissertation they get a Master's Degree. In medical universities students
usually study for 6 years.
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Education in Russian Federation(2)
In Russian Federation children begin going to school at the age of seven. First they study at the elementary
school. It lasts three or four years. At the elementary school children get the elementary education, they learn to
read, write and count. From the fifth form the secondary education begins. Children begin to learn different
subjects, such as literature, chemistry, physics, biology, computing, foreign languages and so on. The nine-year
secondary education is compulsory in our country, but after completing the nine-year schooling pupils face the
first serious decision in their lives. They have to decide either to continue their studies in the tenth and eleventh
forms at a general secondary school, or to transfer to specialized colleges, that is to say, choose a particular
career. Colleges give young people a secondary education plus trade training. This means that after finishing a
college they are educated and financially independent, able to go straight to a job. Except general secondary
schools there are a lot of specialized schools, where more attention is paid to a particular subject, mostly to a
foreign language. Besides, there are many private schools now, where the education is not free of charge» After
finishing school or college young people may enter institute or university to get the higher education. After
finishing the fourth course they get the bachelor's degree and after graduating from the postgraduate course —
the master's degree. To study is not an easy thing, of course, but nowadays it is quite necessary to be highly
skilled and educated specialist.
Russian Sports
There are many popular kinds of sport in Russia. They are: hockey, skating, figure skating, skiing, football,
swimming, running, judo and others. There are many stadiums, sport clubs, gyms and swimming-pools now.
Many national and international matches and championships take place in Russia. The most important sports
events are broadcast live from the stadiums. Numerous people come to watch the games, others prefer to do this
at home watching special sports channels.
Water kinds of sport are popular in our country. These include swimming, diving, water skiing and boating.
Fishing is very popular in all parts of Russia, too.
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Football is one of the most popular sports in the country. There are several football clubs and football fans not
only come to watch matches, but play football themselves. Hockey is very popular, too.
Russia is famous for its chess players, tennis players and figure-skaters. At the 2006 Turin Olympic Games
our country won several gold medals in figure skating.
Physical education is one of the main subjects in Russian schools now. During the lessons pupils play
different sports games, take part in school, district and city sports competitions.
Such sports activities as bowling and billiards have become very popular with the Russians, especially young
ones. Such indoor games are played in sports centres and clubs.
Even though many Russian people do not have time for going in for sport, they still find some hours to do
sports activities.
Russia
The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one seventh of the earth's
surface. Russia covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. Its total area is about 17 million
square kilometers. The country is washed by 12 seas of 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. In the
south Russia borders on China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders
on Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Belorussia, and the Ukraine. It also has a sea border with the USA.
The population of Russia is 145.5 million people. 83 per cent are Russians. There are 1030 towns and cities in
Russia. Moscow is the capital and the biggest city with a population of about 9 million people.
There is hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can be found. We have
steppes in the south, plains and forests in the central region, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts
in the east.
Russia is located on two plains. They are the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. There are
several moun¬tain chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The
largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia.
Russia is a land of long rivers and deep lakes. There are over two million rivers in our country. The broad
Volga River system is of great historic, economic and cultural importance to the country. It became the cradle
of such ancient towns as Vladimir, Tver, Yaroslavl, Kazan, and Nizhny Novgorod. Volga is Europe's biggest
river. It runs into the Caspian Sea which is in fact the largest lake in the world. The main Siberian rivers — the
Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena — flow from south to north. The Amur in the Par East flows into the Pacific
Ocean.
Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. The world's deepest lake (1600 metres) is Lake Baikal. It is much smaller
than the Baltic I Sea, but there is much more water in it than in the Baltic Sea. The water in the lake is so clear
that if you look down you can count the stones on the bottom.
Russia has one sixth of the world's forests. They are concen¬trated in the European north of the country, in
Siberia and m the Far East.
Over the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical
in the south. But the temperate zone with four seasons prevails. Winters are cold and windy with a lot of snow.
Summers are rather hot and dry. In Siberia the temperature in winter falls to 50 degrees below zero. The coldest
registered temperature was 70 degrees.
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The animal world in the north includes the walrus, the seal, the polar bear and the polar fox. In the central
zone there are a lot of wolves and foxes, hares and squirrels. The famous Russian furs come from the sable,
mink and ermine. The brown bear of the Russian forests is a kind of symbol of Russia.
Russia is very rich in oil, coal, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel and other mineral resources. Three
quarters of the country's minerals, oil and natural gas, coal, gold and diamonds come from Siberia.
The Russian Federation is a Presidential Republic. The federal government consists of three branches:
legislative, executive and judicial. The legislative powers are exercised by the Federal Assembly. It consists of
two chambers: the Council of Federation and the State Duma. The executive power belongs to the government
which is headed by the Prime Minister. The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the
Supreme Court and regional courts. All three branches are controlled by the President.
Today the flag of Russia is a three-coloured banner. The hymn of Russia is written by A. Alexandrov and S.
Mikhalkov. A new national emblem is the two-headed eagle, the most ancient symbol of Russia.
Russia is very rich in oil, coal, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel and other mineral resources. Three
quarters of the country's minerals, oil and natural gas, coal, gold and diamonds come from Siberia.
There are a lot of opportunities for our country to become one of the leading countries in the world. I’m sure
that we, the younger generation, can do a lot to make Russia as strong and powerful as she used to be.
Russia — a Market-oriented Economy (Россия - страна с рыночной экономикой)
The assertion that Russia is a market-oriented economy has evoked doubt in the minds of many. The
European Commission, Economics Ministers in various countries, and indeed numerous Russian economists
themselves, have resisted Russia being accorded that status. They have taken the view that Russia is possibly on
the way to being a market-oriented economy — but that it is too early to talk of our country joining a system
with that kind of immunity-based" relationships. The fact is, however, that as of 1st April 2002 Russia has been
formally accorded the status of "market-oriented economy".
The trend towards a market-oriented economy commenced with the disintegration of the Soviet Union. For 70
years the country had been run according to the dictates of totalitarian economics. The Soviet Union's economy
was directed primarily towards strengthening the country's military might. The whole of industry was
controlled and financed by the State: privately-run concerns were out of the question. Private initiative was
either eradicated or allowed to exist only in the tight grip of the State's ideology. Any other form of economic
activity, apart from that of a "state enterprise" or (to a certain extent) "cooperatives'', was prosecuted. For the
most part industrial products did not meet the demands of the consumer either in quality or in quantity. The
isolation of the Soviet economy from that of the rest of the world also harmed it greatly.
This all resulted in the need to reform the economy by introducing the principles of "market economics" —
on the basis of "khozraschot" (plant-based financing) and "samookupayemosf" (product-based financing)
within industry itself. During the 1980s a number of political changes were carried out, but these proved
ineffective because of opposition from conservative elements. However, the 1991 "putsch" forced Russia to
break with its past. With the collapse of the USSR a great number of problems emerged in the economy of
Russia. The fact was that the economies of Russia and the constituent republics of the former USSR, together
with those of the "socialist" countries of Eastern Europe, represented a unified system, fim» its disintegration
greatly multiplied those economic problems.
Major changes have taken place over the past; 10-16 years. Various economic projects have been put forward,
and numer¬ous economic reforms carried out. Some of these proved successful, others less so. The first
symptoms of a market-oriented economy developing in Russia were the emergence of privately, run enterprises
and the gradual spread of individual businesses. People with initiative and energy now had the chance not just
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to work, but to make money. Whereas the large industrial plants that had been wholly State-maintained went
into decline, small enterprises began to develop. Limited-liability companies and stock companies came into
existence. "Shares” and "securities” were instituted — which in itself was a further step in the direction of "a
market economy”.
A securities market was created in Russia. Issuing of these securities was jointly facilitated by both State- and
privately-owned industrial enterprises. "Securities” included bonds, bills of exchange, cheques, stocks and
shares, "futures", and a whole range of similar items. Organisations and concerns issuing securities are referred
to as "emitters”. A person owning a "security” is entitled to receive part of the stock company's profits in the
form of dividends, and to have a say in the running of the company, as well as having a right to part of any
assets remaining after the company goes into liquidation. Trading in securities is conducted in stock-exchanges
and by broking organisations.
One further principle forms the basis of "a market-oriented economy” — namely, competition. The market
mechanisms of supply and demand communicate the wishes of the consumer to the industrial producer, and
through him to the supplier of production resources materials. Competition obliges companies to go over to the
most efficient production methods available. In a competitive market any companies unable to apply the most
economical production methods are ousted by their competitors, using production methods of maximum
efficiency.
Competition promotes efficient distribution of resources. The competitive element in the market-oriented
system channels resources into producing the commodities and services which society most needs. It dictates
the use of the most effective methods of combining resources for production purposes; it also facilitates the
development and implementation of novel, more efficient production methods.
In the meantime, inadequate attention to the development of the market-oriented aspects of the economy and
to the principle of free enterprise, as well as excessive preoccupation with financial “pyramids", brought the
country to an overwhelming financial crisis in August 1998. That crisis has set our country back five years.
Only now is Russia's economy regaining the level it reached previously.
Russia's Foreign Policy (Внешняя политика России)
As is well known, in recent years substantial changes have taken place in Russia's Foreign policy. Compared
to Soviet times, its recent policy reflects a very positive evolution. It is now characterised by a more balanced
perception of "West" and "East” indeed, the tenor of Russia's Foreign policy now corresponds better to what is
in national interests.
In the wake of the collapse of the USSR, Russia's government prioritised democratic reforms and the creating
of a market-oriented economy. The shaping of its foreign policy followed thereafter. Most significant among
changes in its foreign policy, both then and now, has been the development of cooperation within the
framework of "the CIS".
When the Soviet Union disintegrated, Russia attempted to re-establish links between the former "Republics".
An Agreement was signed on 8 December 1991 in the Belovezhsky Forest, Viskuli (seat of the Belorussian
Government) — by the leaders of Belarus, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation — instituting a
"Commonwealth of Independent States". That Commonwealth now includes — all on an equal footing —
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Moldova, Russia, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan and Ukraine. The CIS Interparliamentary Assembly is based in St. Petersburg. The States jointly
resolve economic issues, as well as questions relating to security, counter-terrorism and measures against
extremists.
Equally important Is Russia's foreign policy in regard to Western Europe. The Soviet Union remained in a
state of "cold war" with Western Europe and the United States for a considerable time. Over the past ten years
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our country has endeavoured to reciprocate the respect accorded us by Western countries and to conduct a
dialogue with them. For example, the Russia-European Union "Paris Summit" adopted a Joint Declaration for
increasing dialogue and cooperation in Europe on political issues and questions of security in Europe, The
European Union is undoubtedly a promising partner for Russia — partnership is indeed now the characteristic
of our relations with principal European countries. An Agreement on partnership and cooperation between
Russia and the European Union has been set in motion. Preparation of major projects for economic cooperation
is under way, including the field of safety in the power-generating industry.
Relations with the United States are attuned to long-term interests in particular. Russo-American "summit"
meetings aim to promote constructive and mutually-beneficial bilateral relations and the strengthening of
Russo-American coopera-tion on international questions. These include disarmament, non-proliferation, joint
action to combat terrorism, as well as the extension of bilateral cooperation in various sectors — for example
Russia joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The "Shanghai Forum" was set up in 1996 — otherwise known as the "Shanghai Five". The leaders of Russia,
China, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia and Tadjikistan signed a joint declaration, identifying spheres of cooperation under
the aegis of this organisation. Not many years later Uzbekistan joined this grouping.
Leaders of the "Shanghai forum" hold meetings at regular intervals to settle topical matters relating to mutual
trust in the military field in frontier regions, mutual arms and force reductions in frontier regions also, and the
extention of cooperation in regional security and also of commercial and economic interaction.
The guiding principle of Russia's foreign policy at the present time has been enunciated by President Vladimir
Putin as follows: "Clear delineation of our national priorities, pragmatism, and economic efficiency."
Saint Petersburg
St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was
founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as the "Window on Europe St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia from
1712 till 1918.
The city was built on the swampy land at the mouth of the River Neva. Prominent European and Russian
architects worked here. The new capital grew rapidly in wealth and beauty.
When World War I began in 1914, the German-sounding name St. Petersburg was changed to Petrograd.
After the October Revolution the city was renamed in honour of Lenin. In 1991 the old name of St. Petersburg
was returned to the city.
During the Great Patriotic War the city suffered a great deal. The German armies laid siege to it in 1941, and
for the next two years and a half the city was cut off from the rest of the country. No food could be brought in,
and people died of starvation. Daily shelling and air raids destroyed parts of the city. Thousands of people were
killed. Rebuilding took years.
Now St. Petersburg is an industrial, cultural and scientific centre. There are over 80 museums, more than 20
theatres, a lot of exhibitions, clubs, universities, colleges, schools and parks. The Alexandrinski Drama Theatre,
the Bolshoi Drama Theatre, the Mariinsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet are pearls of the Russian art.
In St. Petersburg there are a lot of parks and gardens where citizens spend their free time. The Summer
Garden is the oldest and most fascinating park. Rare trees, bushes and flowers grow there. Beautiful marble
statues made by Italian sculptors and a famous cast iron grille decorate the Summer Garden. There is a bronze
monument to the prominent Russian writer of fables Ivan Krylov (by sculptor Klodt) in the Summer Garden.
St. Petersburg is famous for its magnificent architectural ensembles of the 18th and 19th centuries. The city
began with the Peter and Paul Portress built to protect the Neva banks from Swedish invasion. Later Domeniko
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Trezzini, the famous Swiss architect, reconstructed the fortress. It became a prison. Now it is a museum.
Trezzini erected the Peter and Paul Cathedral here, and Russian tsars were buried in it.
The most famous square in the city is the Palace Square with its magnificent ensemble. Here one can see the
Winter Palace built by Rastrelli. Till the revolution it was the residence of the Russian csars. Now the Winter
Palace and four other buildings are occupied by the Hermitage, one of the oldest art museums in Russia. There
one can see masterpieces of outstanding artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Velazquez and other
unique works of art.
The Russian Museum is located in the Mikhailovsky Palace, designed by Rossi. Marvellous paintings by the
famous Russian artists: Tropinin, Repin, Bryullov, Fedotov, Surikov, Serov; the works of sculptors: Rastrelli,
Shubin, Antokolsky are exhibited here.
The streets and squares in St. Petersburg are very beautiful. Nevsky Prospect is the main street of the city,
where there are amazing buildings, shops, hotels and the remarkable Kazan Cathedral (by Voronikhin) with a
colonnade and monuments to M. Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly. Here in the prospect one can see the
magnificent building of the Admiralty (by Zakharov) and the ensemble of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Famous Russian writers, painters, composers and actors were buried in the Lavra.
Majestic palaces, cathedrals, churches and other buildings, built by famous architects, such as: palaces of
Stroganov, Menshikov, Anichkov, and St. Isaac's Cathedral, erected by Montferrand, decorate St. Petersburg.
The city is often called the Venice of the North because there are 65 rivers and canals with artistically
decorated cast iron bridges. One of the most beautiful is the Anichkov Bridge.
Citizens and tourists enjoy visiting the suburbs of St Petersburg: Petergof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk with their
wonderful palaces, parks and fountains.
St. Petersburg inspired many of our great poets, writers, painters, sculptors, composers and actors. Much of
the life and work of Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky, Repin and Kramskoi was connected with the city.
3. Выдающиеся люди России
Mikhail Lomonosov (1711-1765) (1) Михаил Ломоносов
Mikhail Lomonosov is the father of the Russian science and one of the most famous universities in the world.
Lomonosov was born in 1711 in Arkhangelsk province. He began to read when he was a little boy. He always
wanted to study and when he was nineteen he went to Moscow. He entered the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy
and six years later, in 1736, he was sent abroad to complete his studies in Chemistry and mining. Lomonosov
worked hard and became a great scientist. He was the first Russian academician; Lomonosov opened the first
Russian chemistry lab. He was a physicist, a painter, an astronomer, a geographer, a historian and a statesman.
In 1755 Mikhail Lomonosov founded Moscow University which is now Moscow State University named after
him. Mikhail made research in electricity, gravity and the character of colour. Lomonosov was also the author
of many odes and poems. He also published a lot of scientific works, including the first book on Russian
grammar. Lomonosov died in 1765 but people still remember him.
================================
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Mikhail Lomonosov (2)
Mikhail Lomonosov was born in 1711 in the family of a fisherman in the northern coastal village of
Denisovka not far from Archangelsk. When he was ten years of age his father began to take him sea fishing.
The dangerous life of a fisherman forced him to observe the natural phenomena more closely. During the long
winter nights young Lomonosov studied his letters, grammar and arithmetic diligently. Being the son of a
peasant, he was refused admission to the local school. After some years, through concealing his peasant origin,
he gained admission to the Slavonic-Greek-Latin Academy and for five years lived a hand-to-mouth existence
on three kopecks a day. The noblemen's sons studying with him made fun of the twenty-year-old giant who, in
spite of the jeers and his own poverty, made rapid progress. After five years came the chance of entering the
Academy of Sciences, as there were not enough noble-born students to fill the quota. His ability and diligence
attracted the attention of the professors and as one of three best students he was sent abroad. He spent all the
time there studying the works of leading European scientists in chemistry, metallurgy, mining and mathematics.
On his return to Russia in 1745 he was made a professor and was the first Russian scientist to become a
member of the Academy of Sciences. For versatility Lomonosov has no equal in Russian science. Many of his
ideas and discoveries only won recognition in the nineteenth century. He was the first to discover the vegetable
origin of coal, for instance, and as a poet and scientist he played a great role in the formation of Russian literary
language, eliminating distortions and unnecessary foreign words. He died in 1765. His living memorial is the
Moscow University, which he founded in 1755.
Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) Александр Пушкин
Alexander Pushkin is one of the most outstanding Russians. He was the greatest Russian poet and writer.
Pushkin devoted his life to writing poems. The young Alexander's first poems appeared when he was fifteen,
and by the time he left school he was regarded as a rival by the literary leaders of that time. Pushkin was the
first poet who touched problems that were important for Russia and its people. Because of that he was sent to
exile a few times. Pushkin wrote a lot of poems and novels. Among his famous ones are: Eugenij Onegin,
Ruslan and Lyudmila and others. Children like to read his fairy tales and watch wonderful cartoons based on
them. When I was a child I read all the fairy tales by this talented poet. First my grandmother read them for me,
but then when 1 learnt to read, I read his tales myself. Most of Pushkin's best works are studied at school. There
is a statue to Pushkin in Moscow at Pushkin Square Young and old people gather by the statue, read poems and
just meet friends.
Pushkin is respected not only in Russia, but all over the world. His novels and poems have been translated
into many languages and arc enjoyed by foreigners.
Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968) Юрий Гагарин
Yuri Gagarin was the first spaceman in the world. Born in 1934, young Gagarin was a very curious and
clever boy. Since childhood Yuri was interested in planes and made toy planes himself.
After the War the Gagarins moved to another city and Yuri entered a vocational school in a small town near
Moscow. He attended an aero club and started flying. After finishing a school for pilots Gagarin joined the first
group of spacemen. On the 12-th of April, 1961, Yuri Gagarin flew into space and spend more than one hour
there. He was the first man in the world who flew into space on board a spaceship. After the successful landing
Yuri Gagarin became a national hero. He died in 1968, but people all over the world still remember the first
Russian spaceman.
Evgenij Pluschenko Евгений Плющенко
Pluschenko was sent to the ice-rink by his mother at the age of four. His mother liked figure skating and had
some friends at the rink. When Evgenij was 11, his ice-rink in Volgograd closed, and the boy left his home and
moved alone to St. Petersburg to train. His mother came to Petersburg later, while his father and elder sister
stayed in Volgograd.
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Pluschenko is one of the few male skaters to perform great spins and jumps. At the age of 16, Evgenij was the
youngest male skater to receive the perfect score of 6.0. Pluschenko's parents never watch him compete live,
even when competitions took place at home. Pluschenko withdrew from the 2005 World Championship after
the short program because of injury. He underwent surgery in Munich, Germany in spring 2005.
On June 18, 2005, Pluschenko married Maria Yermak. His wife studies sociology at the University of St.
Petersburg. They met in 2004 when Pluschenko, driving in St. Petersburg, noticed her in a convertible and
decided to follow her.
At the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, Pluschenko skated two brilliant programs, and became
the Olympic champion. Looking to the future Pluschenko will be doing some skating tours, including
Champions on Ice.
4. Англоговорящие страны
Great Britain (1)
I would like to tell you about Great Britain.
The official name of the country is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The country
H situated in the north-west of Europe and consists of two large islands, Great Britain and the Isle of Ireland,
and about five thousand small islands. There are four regions in the UК: England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland. The country is washed by the North Sea in the north, the Irish Sea in the west and the English
Channel in the south. The English Channel separates Great Britain from France.
The climate of the country is humid and oceanic because of the small size, of the country and the surrounding
water. The English weather changes very often. It is not very cold in winters and not very hot in summers.
Great Britain has a lot of rivers and lakes. The most important river is the Thames which flows into the North
Sea. The longest river is the Severn. The Lake District in the west is the most beautiful region on the British
Isles. Famous British poets wrote their poems about the Lake District because of its beauty. The most famous
lake is the Loch Ness. There is a legend that Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, lives in it.
The United Kingdom has a lot of industrial cities like Manchester and Birmingham and educational cities like
Cambridge and Oxford. The two world famous universities, Cambridge University and Oxford University, are
situated there.
Every region of Great Britain has its own administrative centre and the symbol.
England is the biggest region in the country. The symbol of England is the Red Rose. London is the capital of
England and Great Britain. London is one of the biggest and most expensive cities in the world situated on the
river Thames.
The symbol of Scotland is the thistle. Edinburgh is the administrative centre of the region. Scotland is a
mountainous area. Ben Nevis, the highest peak of Great Britain, is situated there. The administrative centre of
Wales is Cardiff and the symbol of the region is the daffodil. Belfast it the capital of Northern Ireland and the
shamrock is its symbol.
The flag of Great Britain is called the Union Jack, ft has three crosses on the dark blue background. The
currency of the country is the pound which consists of a hundred pence.
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen as the Head of the state.
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The legislative body of the country is British Parliament consisting of two houses: The House of Lords and
the House of Commons. The head of the government is Prime Minister. The two main political parties of
English Parliament are: the Labour Party (which is the leading democratic party) and the Tory (the conservative
party).
Great Britain is famous for its great poets and writes such as William Shakespeare, Walter Scott, Arthur
Conan Doyle and others. The Beatles rock group was born in England.
English people are famous for their love for gardening. Many of them live in small houses surrounded by
beautiful green gardens.
English food does not vary much. The only dish that can be called traditional is fish and chips (fried fish with
French fries). English people like going to pubs where they can have a snack and drink a pint of beer.
Great Britain is wonderful country. I would love to go there one day.
===================================
Great Britain (2)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with an area of some 244,000 square miles is
situated on the British Isles, which are separated from the European continent by the North Sea, the Strait of
Dover and the English Channel. Britain's population is over 57 million. Four out of every five people live in
towns. The UK is a constitutional monarchy: the head of the state is a king or a queen. In practice, the
Sovereign reins, but doesn't rule: the UK is governed by the Government — a board of Ministers who are the
leading members of the political party in power and who are responsible to Parliament. The territory of Great
Britain is small. At the same time the coun-try has a wide variety of scenery. England is the heart of Britain. It
is the richest, the most fertile and most populated in the country. The north and the west of the England are
mountainous, but all the rest territory is a vast plain. In Northwest England there are many beautiful lakes with
wooded or grassy shores and grey mountains all around. It is called Lake District. The national symbol of
England is the red rose. Wales is the smallest land of the UK, but has a considerable variety, from the
picturesque mountains of the north to the mining and industrial areas of the south. The capital of Wales is
Cardiff, an important industrial centre and port. Most people in Wales live in the coastal plains. The national
symbol of Wales is a leek. Scotland is a land of mountains, narrow valleys and plains, famous lakes and no end
of large and small islands off the coast. The Highlands of Scotland are among oldest mountains in the world.
The highest of them is Ben Nevis. The lakes in Scotland are called «lochs». The beautiful Loch Lomond with
its thirty islands is the largest. One-third of the people in Scotland live in or near its capital, Edinburgh, and its
great industrial centre, Glasgow. The national symbol of Scotland is a thistle. Northern Ireland was a part of
Ireland as a whole before the early 20-th century and developed in the middle ages as the Kingdom of Ulster,
later the Province of Ulster. The territory is small. It is a land of lakes, rivers and a varied seacoast. Some places
are known for their wild beauty, the Glen of Antrim among of them. The capital city is Belfast. The capital of
Great Britain, London, stands on the Thames, which flows into the North Sea. The Thames is the busiest and
the most important river in Great Britain, but it is not very long. The Severn, which flows into the Irish Sea, is
the longest British river. The climate of Great Britain is mild. The Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of the
Gulf Stream affect the weather of the British Isles. The summer is usually cool and rainy. There is much rain
and fog in autumn and in winter. Great Britain is a very damp country.
===================================
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Great Britain (3)
The official name of the country the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is situated on
British Isles off the northwest coast of Europe. The British Isles consist of two large islands: Great Britain and
Ireland and about five thousand small islands. Their total area over 244.000 square kilometres. They are
separated from continent by the English Channel and the Straits of Dover. The west coast of the country is
washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea; the east coast is washed by the North Sea.
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their
capitals are Lon¬don, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. The population of the country is over 57
million people; about 80 per cent of them live in cities and towns.
Many centuries ago the islands were inhabited by Celts. Their tribes were developing into kingdoms when
Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 B.C. The Roman invasion began in AD 43. The Romans withdrew in 407.
The tribes of Angles and Saxons crossed the Channel and overran all England except Cornwall and Wales.
Christianity was introduced in the 6th century by missiona¬ries from Rome.
The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called the
Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The north and the
west of England are mountainous, but all the rest — east, centre and south-east — is a vast plain. The
mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343 m).
There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the
Thames is the deepest and the most important one.
The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British
Isles. It is mild the whole year round.
But the climate is not the same in all parts of England. The western part of England is warmer than the east
and it also has more rain. There is much humidity in the air of England. It is well known as a foggy country.
The United Kingdom is a monarchy. The Queen is the official head of state. In practice the country is ruled by
an elected parliament. The British Parliament has two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of
Commons. There are three main political parties: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal. In 2001 a
general election was held. The Labour party achieved a majority in the House of Commons, and the leader of
the party Tony Blair was appointed Prime Minister by the Queen.
The United Kingdom is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world's largest
producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment.
Oxford
No one knows Oxford's age. The city was first mentioned in 912. The city is famous for the university.
Oxford University is over 800 years old. Today it consists of 35 independent colleges and 5 halls. It also has
central libraries and laboratories.
There are some museums and art galleries in Oxford, too. For example, the Ashmolean Museum which is the
oldest museum in Britain. It has a good collection of antiques, European paintings, sculptures and silver. In the
Christ Picture Gallery you can see works of Italian painters from the 14-th to the 18-th century.
The Museum of the History of Science is the home to many scientific instruments of the 16-th century,
collections of ancient chemical machines, watches and clocks and medical instruments.
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Oxford is a very beautiful town with narrow streets, small shops and markets. Every year it attracts tourists
from all over the world. They visit the famous university and get to know about students’ life in Oxford. I
would love to go there one day to feel the atmosphere of this old educational centre of England.
Stratford-upon-Avon (Стратфорд на Эйвон)
The town is called Stratford-upon-Avon because it stands on the river Avon. This town is very much popular
with tourists. This is because William Shakespeare, the greatest English dramatist and writer, was born and
brought up there. Stratford is small, but it has a lot of places of interest. Among them is the house where
Shakespeare was born. Nowadays this is a museum which has a big exhibition illustrating Shakespeare's life
and work.
New Place is the house where William Shakespeare spent his last years and died. Ann Hathaway's Cottage
attracts tourists too, because this is the house of Shakespeare's wife. The Holy Trinity Church is the place where
the Shakespeares are buried.
The Butterfly Farm is a wonderful place with ponds, streams and waterfalls. Different exotic flowers grow up
there. The Insect City has a large collection of spiders and other insects that are kept in glass cages.
The Teddy Bear Museum houses a great collection of bears from all over the world.
British Holidays and Traditions
(Праздники и традиции Великобритании)
Great Britain is an old country and it has a lot of holidays and interesting traditions. Holidays in the country
are historic and public. Most public holidays are called bank holidays because banks, companies and most
shops do not work on these days. Such holidays include New Year's Day, Easter Monday and others.
At Easter, the British give each other chocolate eggs, which they eat on Easter Sunday.
Christmas is on the 25-th of December. Families spend this day together. For many people this is the most
important holiday of the year. Family members wrap up their presents and put them under the Christmas tree.
Children hang colourful socks at the end of their beds for presents. They believe that Father Frost puts presents
inside the socks.
New Year's Day is not as important in Britain as it is in Russia. People usually make promises to themselves
such as to give up smoking, to change their lifestyle and others.
St. Valentine's Day is celebrated on the 14-th of February. This is the traditional day for those who are in
love. Young people give flowers and greeting cards to their Valentines and celebrate this day together.
Halloween is a holiday loved by all children. It takes place on the 31-th of October. There are a lot of parties
and people dress up in costumes of witches and ghosts and make lanterns of pumpkins with a candle inside.
People also play different games and have fun. Children usually go from one house to another with empty
baskets or bags, knock on doors and say: Trick or treat. People should give them something, or they will play a
trick on them.
Among historic holidays, Guy Fawkes Night can be mentioned. In the 15-th century, a group of people with
Guy Fawkes as their leader decided to blow up the Houses of Parliament. They did not manage to do this and
Guy Fawkes was caught and hanged. Since then the British celebrate this day burning a doll made of straw and
dressed in old clothes on a bonfire. Children dress in old clothes and beg in the street saying: A penny for the
Guy.
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There are a lot of customs in Great Britain. One of the most famous is gardening. Most of the English keep
small gardens full of flowers behind their houses or around them. In spring, there are a lot of flower-shows and
vegetable-shows with prizes for the best exhibitions.
In Northern Ireland there is a holiday called St. Patrick's Day. It is celebrated on the 17-th of March. On this
day people wear green clothes and drink Irish beer. There are carnivals and barbeques all over the country.
Education in Britain (Образование в Великобритании)
Schools in Britain are of two types: free state schools and public schools, which are for money. There are four
kinds of state schools: county schools, voluntary schools, special schools and self-governing schools.
About 93 per cent of pupils in Great Britain get free education while the others go to public schools.
Compulsory education begins at the age of five in Britain and at the age of four in Northern Ireland, when
children go to infant schools. At the age of seven many children go to junior schools. Some pupils attend
comprehensive schools or grammar schools, to which they are sent after exams at the age of eleven.
About 7 per cent of schoolchildren attend independent schools. Independent schools range from small
kindergartens to large day and hoarding schools. I Preparatory schools prepare children for going to senior
school. Some independent schools are religious.
The National Curriculum consists of major subject, which are compulsory for 5 to 16-year-olds. In England
the major subjects of the Curriculum are English, mathematics and science, and the basic subjects are
technology (design, technology and information technology), history, geography, music, art, physical education
and, for secondary school pupils, a foreign language.
About 67 per cent of pupils continue to study after the age of 16. Education after 16 is divided into further
and higher education. After the state exams pupils can slay at school or study in a further education college.
Most post-school education is provided at universities, polytechnics, colleges of further or higher education,
adult education centres or specialized colleges.
There are about 90 universities in Britain, of which one, Buckingham, is private, and one, the Open
University (OU) is open to students of any age. Most of them are employed people who study in their free time.
They get education through radio and television, in classes at local centres and at summer schools.
The biggest universities are Cambridge, Oxford and London University. British universities are rather small;
the approximate number of students is about 7-8 thousand people, London and Oxford universities are
international: people front all over the world come to study there. A number of well known scientists and
writers, such as Newton, Darvin, Byron studied in Cambridge.
British Sports (Спорт в Великобритании)
Sport plays a very important role for the British. Many of them spend their leisure time playing outdoor and
indoor games, cycling, mountain climbing, boxing, etc. The national sports of Great Britain are: football, golf,
lawn tennis, table tennis, racing and darts.
There are two kinds of football in Britain. They are soccer and rugby. Soccer is the traditional football, which
is played in many other countries in the world. Rugby appeared in 1895 at Rugby School. It differs from soccer.
For example, rugby players may carry the oval ball during the match. It is played in teams of 15 men.
Golf, which is one of the most popular kinds of sport in Britain, originated in Scotland. Golf is mostly played
by well-off people, which is different from cricket. This game is played in schools, universities and colleges.
Nobody knows exactly how old this game is, but some form of cricket was played in England in the 13 century.
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Wimbledon Championship in lawn tennis is world famous. It takes place in the town of Wimbledon in
summer. People come to the stadium to watch the game and many of them watch it on television.
The British are fond of racing and its different kinds. Horse racing, dog racing, boat racing and motor racing
are among the most popular kinds of sport in Britain. The most famous boat race takes place in England and it
is between Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
There are also very exotic kinds of sport for the rich, such as fox-hunting or just hunting. But many people are
against them now because these kinds of sport mean killing animals. This sport was very popular with English
Kings.
All people in Great Britain are fond of sports and go in for sport regularly.
American Holidays and Traditions
(Праздники и традиции Америки)
I would like to tell you about holidays and traditions in the United States of America. The so-called legal
holidays include Christmas, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Thanksgiving and others.
Christmas is a religious holiday celebrated on the 25-th of December. On this day Americans celebrate the
birth of Jesus Christ and sing Christmas carols. Another important tradition is sending Christmas cards. People
start sending cards to their relatives and friends early in December, Going home for Christmas, is another good
tradition. Christmas is considered to be a family celebration and every person must come back home on this
day. This means that at Christmas, American houses are full of aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives who
might not see each other for a year. Americans put up a Christmas tree and decorate it with toys and sweets.
There are religious ceremonies at churches on Christmas Day and families usually attend them. The Christmas
table is very big. You can see turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, pies and other food. In the morning children hurry to
the Christmas tree to look for presents. They hang big colourful socks for Santa Claus to put presents inside.
Everybody starts unwrapping presents and thanking each other.
New Year's Day is celebrated on the 1-st of January but Americans begin celebrating it on the 31-st of
December, There is a big celebration in Times Square in New York City on this day. New Year's Day is not as
widely celebrated as Christmas. On January 1 Americans visit friends, relatives and neighbours. There are
parties and а lot of food. People watch television together and write New Year’s resolutions.
Martin Luther King Day it celebrated on the third Monday in January. Martin Luther King was a black man
who won full civil rights for black Americans. On this day schools, offices and federal agencies are closed.
Memorial Day is on the last Monday of May. On this day Americans honour the memories of their dead
relatives. This day is also the beginning of summer. Americans go to relax at the beach or go to the mountains.
Independence Day is one of the most important holidays in America. It is celebrated on the 4-th of July. On
this day in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. There arc picnics, parades and
fireworks all over the country on Independence Day. Americans do not work: they have day-long picnics with
their favourite food like hot-dogs, hamburgers, potato salad and others.
Halloween is a holiday celebrated mostly by children and the young. On the 31-st of October they dress as
vampires, witches and ghosts and go from house to house saying trick or treat. People should give them a treat
otherwise, the children will play a trick, on them.
Thanksgiving is one of the popular American holidays, too. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in
November. This holiday dates back to the time when the first settlers, the Pilgrims, came to America. Their first
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winter was very hard, they had little food. In spring, the Indians taught them to plant and grow new crops, hunt
and fish. The following autumn the colonists made a great feast for the Indians. At Thanksgiving American
families gather and spend this day together. The traditional Thanksgiving food is roast turkey, pumpkin pies,
cranberry jelly, ham, sweet potatoes, and other delicious food.
The United States is a young country, but it has a lot of great old and new holidays that are fun to celebrate.
Education in the USA (Образование в США )
Education in the USA begins at the age of six. This is when a child goes to school for the first time and stays
at school till the 12-th grade. But before that children can go to kindergartens and nursery schools to get some
good preparation for elementary school. The main purpose of the elementary school is the general development
of children's abilities in reading, writing, spelling, maths, history, geography, art, etc.
The school year usually begins in early September or even at the end of August and lasts till June. American
students usually have three holidays during the year of studies: winter break, spring break and summer break.
After the 6-th form students enter junior high school and stay there till the 9-th form. After that they go to high
school. Pupils usually choose subjects in the fields of science, foreign languages, art and vocational training.
But courses may be different in different schools. Most young people finish schools with a high school
diploma. The grading system is usually from A (excellent) to F (failed). Students also have final exams, or
finals, at the end of a year and they can also have mid-term exams on different subjects.
There are some kinds of schools in the USA. There are state-supported schools, or public schools, that are
free of charge and private schools which are often religious. Such schools are often expensive.
After students finish high school, they can choose what to do next. They can apply for a university, a fouryear college, technical training institutions or a community college. Students go to college for four years and
after graduating they get a bachelor's degree. A first-year student is called a freshman, a second-year student is
called a sophomore, a third-year student is a junior and a fourth-year student is a senior. After they are accepted
to a college, students can think of choosing their majors, or the subjects which will be connected with their
future profession. Some colleges allow students to take several majors.
Students' life in college is very interesting. There are f usually a lot of different clubs and societies, theatres,
museums, a swimming-pool, a gym, a large library and everything that can make students feel at home far from
their families. 93% of students usually live on campus, in dorms. Freshmen and sophomores usually live in
double rooms, but they can also choose between a single or a double room while juniors and seniors mostly get
single rooms. There are also several dining-halls on campus and they offer big variety of food.
Besides colleges American young people can enter universities. They usually don't have any entrance exams,
but students must take state exams. Such exams are taken during the school year in the middle of the 12-th year.
All colleges and universities are for fees, but those students who can't afford paying for their education, can
apply for Financial Aid. These are sums of money for students who need money to pay for studies.
After graduating from colleges or universities students can enter a graduate school to get a master's degree.
American Sports (Спорт в США)
Sport plays a very important role in American life. Most of them do sport in childhood, in colleges and even
older people go in for sport regularly.
The most popular kinds of sport in the USA are swimming, tennis, squash, bowling and others. The four
major kinds are hockey, football, baseball and basketball. The choice and the variety of sport can be explained
by the size of the country and the variety of its climate. For example in southern states such sports as
33
windsurfing, swimming, racing and baseball are popular, while in northern states skiing and skating are widely
spread.
American schools, colleges and universities have sports teams and hold different competitions. They have all
conditions and equipment for doing sport professionally. So sportsmen and those students who are fond of sport
can get an education in this or that college and combine studies with doing sport. There are no special
universities or colleges devoted to sport only. Every year schools and colleges take part in the national kinds of
sports competitions. The students, who want to be in good shape, go jogging in the morning and cycle.
Americans win many gold medals in the Olympic Games and are famous for their success in various
international competitions.
Canada (Канада)
Canada is the second largest country in the world. It occupies northern part of North American continent and
borders on the United Stated in the south and in the north-west. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in
the east and by the Pacific Ocean in the west.
The climate of Canada is rather cold: winters are usually long and snowy and summers in Northern Canada
are short and cool. Summers in Southern Canada are longer and warmer. Canada is mostly covered by forests
which are one of the most important resources оf the country.
Canada is divided into ten provinces. The biggest provinces are Quebec (which is the largest province of
Canada), British Columbia and Ontario.
The capital of Canada, Ottawa, is situated in Ontario. It is mainly a government city but it also has a lot of
places of interest such as The Chateau Laurier, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Parliament Buildings which are
the symbol of Ottawa.
English and French are the two official languages of the country. English is the first language for most
Canadians, but in Quebec province French is the main language.
The flag of Canada has two red vertical stripes and a big middle white vertical stripe with a red maple leaf in
the centre. Canada is a member of the Commonwealth. It is a confederation with parliamentary democracy.
Queen Elizabeth II is not only the Queen of Great Britain, but of Canada as well. Every Canadian province has
its own government.
Canada has numerous cities and towns. Montreal which is situated in the province of Quebec is the largest
city in Canada. It is divided into two parts: the English part and the French part. The heart of Montreal offers
some excellent restaurants, shops and a lot of leisure activities.
Toronto, which is the capital of the province of Ontario, is the second largest city in Canada, ft is an
international commercial and business centre and it has always been an artistic and cultural centre as well. The
CN Tower, the world's tallest free-standing building, is the symbol of Toronto.
Niagara Falls is the most beautiful city in Canada. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy the
view of the Canadian Falls or the Horseshoe. The city is a big entertaining centre with a lot of bars, restaurants,
small shops, hotels and a big casino.
Canada is a very interesting country to visit!
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Australia (Австралия)
Australia is an island continent in the southern hemisphere. It is washed by the Indian Ocean in the west and
the Pacific Ocean in the east. The territory is not very big with the population more than eighteen million
people.
The climate of the country is very hot. The biggest part of Australia lies in the tropical belt. It rains heavily in
summer, but it's very hot, too.
Northeast coast of the country is protected by the Great Barrier Reef, and in the east there is the Great
Dividing Range with Mount Kosciusko, the highest mountain of Australia.
The deepest river in Australia is the Murray River and the Darling is the longest one. In desert regions there
are salt lakes like Lake Eyre. The inner part of Australia is occupied by deserts. The most famous ones are
Desert Victoria and Gibson's Desert. In the west semi-deserts turn into savannahs.
The plant life of Australia varies. There are desert grasses, scrub, eucalyptus, acacias and others. Australia
animals are unique, they can not be found in any other place of the Earth. For example, kangaroos, koalas,
Tasmanian devils, echidnas, platypuses, dingos and others.
Australia is a member of the Commonwealth. It is a federation of 6 states and 2 territories. A governor heads
each state. Australia is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of Great Britain (Elizabeth II) as the head of
the state. The head of government is Prime Minister. The national currency is the Australian dollar.
English is the official language of Australia. There are also a lot of aboriginal languages and dialects in
Australia.
The capital of Australia is Canberra which is often called the Garden City because of its streets lined with
trees. Other world famous cities are Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is the largest city-port called the Queen
City of the South. It is Australian main commercial and industrial centre. Sydney Opera House in Sydney is
considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Australia is an industrial country rich in coal,
gas, oil, ores, gold, opals. It is an agricultural country, too. Most food products are produced for exporting.
Australia is number one in producing lamb meat and sheep wool. Bee-keeping is developed as well.
Australia is a very interesting country with rich culture and strange animals. I would love to go there one day.
New Zealand (Новая Зеландия)
New Zealand is situated in southwest Pacific. The country consists of two large islands, North and South and
several smaller islands. The two main islands are separated from each other by the Cook Strait. New Zealand is
washed by the Pacific Ocean in the east and the Tasman Sea in the west. The territory is small with the
population more than three million people.
The relief of each of the islands is mostly hilly and mountainous. There are active volcanoes, geysers and hot
springs in New Zealand. The highest peak is Mountain Cook in the Southern Alps on South Island. The climate
of the country is mostly temperate with moderate rainfall.
The country has unusual animals and birds. The most interesting one, the kiwi, the non-flying bird, can be
found only in New Zealand. It has become the national emblem of the country.
The national currency of New Zealand is dollar. The official language is English, but there is also the Maori
language spoken by the natives. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of Great Britain as
the head of the country. Queen Elizabeth II is represented by Governor-General and the head of government is
Prime Minister.
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The capital of New Zealand is Wellington which is situated on North Island. It is the political centre of New
Zealand because the House of Representatives and the residence of the Governor-General are situated there.
There are several museums in Wellington. The Dominion Museum and the National Art Gallery are the most
famous ones. Horse racing is very popular among the citizens of Wellington.
Auckland is the largest city-port in New Zealand. It is a big commercial and business centre of New Zealand.
The city is full of parks and gardens. Most of them are situated on hills and give a beautiful view on the city.
New Zealand is an agricultural country. It specializes in sheep-breeding and exports lamb meat, sheep wool
and butter.
This country is sometimes called Green Paradise because of its nature: green hills, clean water and air. I
would love to visit this country.
London(1)
I want to tell you about London. London is the capital of Britain. It was founded in 55 BC by Romans. This
city is Britain's political, economic and cultural centre. London has three big parts: the City, the West End and
the East End. The City of London is a big business centre. After the Great Fire of 1666 the City was rebuilt, and
since then the City has become a centre of commerce, finance, and trade.
The West End of London has many historic places and places of interest. The East End is the poorest district
in London with piers, warehouses and slums.
Piccadilly Circus is the heart of London. On special occasions many people come to the statue of Eros in the
centre of the Circus. St. Paul's Cathedral is Sir Christopher Wren's creation. It contains a lot of paintings,
sculptures and other works of art.
The Houses of Parliament are the building in which Parliament sits. Big Ben, the famous clock, is situated
there. Westminster Abbey is one of the most popular cathedrals. A lot of famous people are buried inside
Queen Elizabeth I, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and many others.
London has a number of royal palaces. Buckingham Palace is one of them. It has been the residence of British
kings and queens for ages. When Queen Elizabeth is at home the flag is above the palace.
Trafalgar Square is famous for the tall monument in the centre of it. The monument, which is called Nelson’s
Column, was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar and to honour Admiral Nelson. The National
Gallery, which is situated near the square, contains the national collection of Western European painting.
The British Museum is one of the biggest museums in the world. It was founded in 1753 by an act of
Parliament. In 1857 the famous Reading Room was bum in the museum. There are a lot of artifacts and pieces
of art on display at the museum. There is a big сlock exhibition, the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery.
But still one of the most famous museums in London is Madam Tussaud's Museum, which has a great
collection of wax figures. The museum consists of several galleries where visitors can see wax figures of
presidents, pop-stars, football players, film stars, musicians and other outstanding people.
The Tower of London is the oldest building in the city built in the 11-th century. It used to be a prison, a
fortress, a palace, a treasury and even a zoo. The oldest part of the Tower is the White tower. Most of the public
displays are in the White Tower nowadays. They include a big collection of armour, jewels and clothes. Twelve
black ravens live in the Tower of London. There is a legend that England will be prosperous till the ravens live
behind the Tower walls. If one of the ravens dies, it is replaced by another.
One of the London sites is Tower Bridge. This is a bridge across the Thames built because of the need for an
open waterway for large ships.
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London is an educational centre, too. From all over the world students come to the University of London, the
largest university in England. London is also a cultural centre. There are more than forty theatres in the West
End of London.
London is also a big shopping centre. It has many cheap and expensive shops of different kinds, so visitors
can find anything in them. Harrods is one of the most famous and most expensive shops in the world. Famous
people including the Royal Family buy things there.
London is really a great city. I would love to visit it one day.
London (2)
London is the capital of Great Britain. It is considered to be one of the most attractive cities; it is an old city
with rich cultural achievements. The Romans, Saxons and Danes settled here in turn. Then the Normans came.
London survived the Plague and the great fire, which followed. Little damage occurred during the World War I,
but World War II brought tremendous destruction. Many buildings of great historic value were destroyed.
Though some of them were spared. Among them there are: the Tower, the Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's
Cathedral. But Pd like to start with the Houses of Parliament, which spread magnificently on the northern bank
of the river Themes. They are famous for its Clock Tower and dock bell Big Ben. It was named so after sir
Benjamin Hall, the first Commissioner of works when the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt. In medieval days
it was the residence of king. But since 16-th century it became the permanent home of the Parliament. If you
were in London you can't but visit the Westminster Abbey, the national shrine of England where famous people
were buried. One of the biggest attractions of it is the oaken Coronation Chair on which the kings were
crowned. W.A. is also noted for its Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Poet's Comer. The first thing you
notice in London is the St. Paul's Cathedral. Its dome has always dominated the center of the city. A prominent
architect Sir Christopher Wren built it and it is considered to be the architectural masterpiece. Londoners
always have a special affection for the St. Paul's Cathedral, which is the largest Protestant Church in England.
One of the most famous sights of London is Trafalgar Square, which was named so to commemorate the
Nelson's victory in the battle of Trafalgar. In the center of the Square there is a Column, which is surmounted
with the statue of Nelson. The four lines in the foot of it guard the Column. On the north side of the Square
there are the National and the National Portrait Galleries, where the richest collections of genuine works of art
are exhibited. I think to visit London without visiting its Tower is unimaginable. It was built by William the
Conqueror to protect the city. Then the Tower was used for different purposes: as a royal palace, an
observatory, an arsenal and a prison. Now there is a museum there, where the Crown Jewels are exhibited. A
military garrison of «Beefeaters», who are still wearing their picturesque uniform, guards the Tower.
London (3)
London is the capital of Great Britain its political and commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the
world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million. London is one of the oldest and most
interesting cities in the world.
London was founded in the first century A.D. by the Romans. They left London in the 5th century and the
city was largely abandoned. By the 8th century London was again a busy trading centre, and in the 11th century
it became the capital of England. Edward the Confessor built a palace and an abbey at Westminster. The
Norman period saw the construction of the Tower, old St. Paul's Cathedral and many churches and monasteries.
Medieval London grew in importance as a trading centre and in 1215 its citizens won the right to elect their
own leader, or Lord Mayor. London began to spread beyond the city walls during the Tudor and Stuart periods.
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The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed three-quarters of the city. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt St. Paul's Cathedral
and designed 51 churches. The rebuilding of London followed the medieval street plan, but the old wooden
houses were replaced by buildings of brick to reduce the future fire risk.
During the 19th century London spread rapidly into the suburbs. As a result of it, new forms of transport were
developed, including the underground railway system. Britain was then at the height of her imperial power and
this is expressed in such buildings as the Houses of Parliament and St. Pancras Station.
Large areas of London were destroyed by bombs during World War II, and the rebuilding that followed was
of mixed quality.
Today in its full extent Greater London covers 625 square miles and consists of 33 separate boroughs.
Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They
are rather different from one another.
The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are
situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. The City extends over
an area of about 2.6 square kilometres. About half a million people work there, but less then 6000 live there.
There are some famous ancient buildings within the City. Perhaps the most striking of them is St. Paul's
Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It is Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece. It stands at the top of
Ludgate Hill on a site where a Christian church has stood since the 7th century. The construction of the
Cathedral started in 1675 and was not finished until 1709. The magnificent classical structure is crowned by the
dome. Inside the dome are scenes from the life of St. Paul. Here too is the famous Whispering Gallery. There
are many memorials in the Cathedral including those to heroes such as Wellington and Nelson. The Tower of
London is also situated in the City. It has been closely associated with many important events in English
history. It has served as citadel, palace, prison, mint and menagerie. The White Tower was built in 1078 by
William the Conqueror to protect the city. The Tower is famous for its il¬lustrious prisoners, such as Sir
Thomas More and Guy Fawkes. Many notable people lost their heads on the executioner's block. The Tower is
guarded by the Yeoman Warders popularly known as Beefeaters.
Westminster is the historic center of government. Until the 11th century it was a sacred place. King Edward
the Confessor decided to build a great abbey church here. It was consecrated in 1065, but a week later the King
died and was buried in the abbey. His tomb became a popular place of pilgrimage. It can still be found at the
heart of the present Westminster Abbey. William the Conqueror was crowned in the Abbey and since then all
the Coronations have taken place here. The Abbey contains many royal tombs, memorials to eminent men and
women. But the most popular ones are those to writers, actors and musicians in Poet's corner.
Alongside the Abbey Edward the Confessor had a palace built The Palace of Westminster was the royal
residence and also the country's main court of law. Parliament met here from the 16th century until the 19th
century. The present Houses of Parliament were built after the old palace was burnt down in 1834. The building
contains the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two chambers where parliamentary business is
debated. On the corner next to Westminster Bridge stands Clock Tower, which houses the famous bell Big Ben.
Buckingham Place is the Queen’s official London residence. Built in 1702-1705 for the Duke of Buckingham,
it was sold in 1761 to George III. The Palace was little used by royalty until Victoria's accession to the throne in
1837. Lon¬don's most popular spectacle is Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. It takes place in the
forecourt and lasts about 30 minutes.
The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best
hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs and theatres are situated there. There are splendid houses and lovely gardens
belonging to wealthy people. Oxford Street is an endless shopping area which attracts visitors from all over in
the world.
38
Going down Oxford Street you come to Trafalgar Square which is yet another symbol of London. This square
received its name from Trafalgar, the cape off which Lord Nelson defeated a Franco-Spanish fleet in 1805.
Admiral Nelson, cast in bronze, stands on top of a tall column in the middle of the square.
On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away
is the British Museum — the biggest museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of ancient
manuscripts, coins, sculptures etc., and is famous for its library.
The East End is the poorest district of London. There are a lot of factories, workshops and docks here. The
streets are narrow, the buildings are unimpressive. The East End is densely populated by working class
families.
The Weather in UK (Погода в Великобритании)
It is never too hot or too cold in Great Britain. This is because of the sea, which keeps the island warm in
winter and makes the air cool in summer. The winds are also very often in Great Britain. They blow from the
southwest two days out of every three. But the warm winds from the Atlantic are very wet. They also bring a lot
of rain to the island. The east or northeast winds are cold and dry. The weather very often changes in Great
Britain. You can never have the same kind of weather for a long time. In spring, for example, sunshine and
showers follow each other so often during the day that an umbrella or a rain-coat is really necessary in Great
Britain. The weather in spring is generally mild, but sometimes the days are really cold. The summer is not so
hot as on the continent, and warm days in autumn are beautiful. In winter they have all sorts of weather.
Sometimes it rains and sometimes it snows. Still, in Great Britain it is never so cold in winter as in our country
and they do not get so much snow there as we get here in Russia. The rivers and lakes are seldom covered with
ice. As the ice, if there is any, is not thick enough, they seldom go skating on the rivers in Great Britain. But the
worst thing about the climate in Great Britain is the thick fog they so often have in autumn and in winter. In
London it often mixes with the smoke of plants and factories and they call it the «smog». It is sometimes so
thick that cars may run into one another.
Some Outstanding Places of Great Britain
(Достопримечательности Великобритании)
It has become a tradition to start sightseeing of some country from its capital. London is an ancient city with
rich cultural achievements. Such sights as the Tower, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, Trafalgar Square
and Piccadilly circus are well known in the world. Besides these you are sure to have heard about the British
Museum and the National Gallery in which the collections of genuine works of art are exhibited. Besides the
capital of the country there are many other places and regions which are worth speaking about and seeing. One
of them is the most beautiful part of G.B. — Wales, which is famous for its mountains and valleys. It's an ideal
place for spending your vacations. Some people choose Snowdonia, a national park around Snowdon, the
highest peak of the Welsh Mountains. Wales has often been called the Land of Songs. One of the Welsh
traditions is festivals. The Welsh sing their songs, wear their traditional clothes in their capital Cardiff as well
as in the other parts of the country. They say if you visit Great Britain you must visit the City of Bath, the
splendid monument to the elegance and good taste of the 18-th century. The city took its name from the Roman
bath, which can be seen in the heart of the city. I don't think there is a person in the world who hasn't heard
about Oxford and Cambridge, known as the most ambitious university cites They consist of a number of
colleges which are autonomous parts of the University. They have their own press centers, which impress
everyone who has a chance of seeing them. To visit the country without visiting Stratford-on-Avon is
unimaginable. The things that attract people's attention are the places connected with the name of William
Shakespeare: the house where he was born, the Grammar School where he studied, the little cottage near
Stratford where his wife, Anne Hathaway lived as girl. But to my mind the biggest attraction is the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre. One of the most beautiful and interesting part of Great Britain is Scotland; especially the
region usually called Highlands. The tourists go to Scotland to see its beautiful lakes (called «lochs»). Loch
Lomond one of the largest, the most beautiful Scottish lakes is situated near the West Coast. Edinburgh, the
39
capital of Scotland, is the beautiful and the old city. The first thing you see in it is the Rock, a very large hill in
the middle of the city. The Edinburgh Castle stands on it. The Castle looks like a castle from a fairy-tale and
parts of it are more than a thousand years old. Scottish national and musical festivals are held there.
English Schools (Школы Великобритании)
English children must go to school when they are five. First they go to infant schools, where they learn the
first steps in reading, writing and using numbers. When children leave the infant school, at the age of seven,
they go to junior schools until they are about eleven years of age. Their school subjects are English, arithmetic,
history, geography, nature study, swimming, music, art, religious instruction and organized games. Towards the
end of their fourth year in the junior school English schoolchildren have to write their Eleven-plus
Examinations, on the result of which they will go the following September to a secondary school of a certain
type. About 40% of elementary school leavers in Britain go to secondary modern schools. Modern schools are
the most popular secondary schools, but they do not provide complete secondary education, because study
programs are rather limited in comparison with other secondary schools. The secondary technical school, in
spite of its name, is not a specialized school. It teaches many general subjects. The grammar school is a
secondary school, which offers a full theoretical se¬condary education, including foreign languages, and
students can choose which subjects and languages they wish to study. They leave the school after taking a fiveyear course. Then they may take the General Certificate of Education at the ordinary level. The others continue
their studies for another two or three years to obtain the General Certificate of Education at the advanced level,
which allows them to enter university. The comprehensive school combines in one school the courses of all
types of secondary schools. There are many schools in Britain, which are not controlled financially by the state.
They are private schools, separate for boys and girls, and the biggest and the most important of them are public
schools. They charge high fees and train young people for political, diplomatic, military and religious service.
Other non-tate schools, which chargelfees, are independent and preparatory schools. Many of the independent
schools belong to the churches. Schools of this type prepare their pupils for public schools.
American School (Школы в Америке)
The American system of school education differs from the system in some countries. There are statesupported public schools, private elementary schools, and private secondary schools. Public schools are free
and private schools are feepaying. Each individual state has its own system of public schools. Elementary
education begins at the age of six with the first grade and continues up to the eighth grade. The elementary
school is followed by four years of the secondary school or high as it is called. In some states the last two years
of the elementary and the first years of the secondary school are combined into a junior high school. Besides
giving general education, some high schools teach subjects useful to those who hope to find jobs in industry
and agriculture. Some give preparatory education to those planning to enter colleges and universities.
The United States of America (1)
(Соедененные Штаты Америки )
The United States of America is situated in the southern half of North America. The area of the U.S.A. is
7,839,000 square km without Alaska. The area of the United States is much larger than that of 11 West Europe.
The population of the USA is over 260 million people. The U.S.A. consists, of 50 states. The capital of ! the
U.S.A. is the city of Washington in the District of Columbia. Stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
Ocean, the U.S.A. borders with Canada in the north and with Mexico in the south. The territory of the United
States may be divided into three main parts: the Appalachian Mountain system — in the east; the Cordilleras
system — in the west; and the Central Plain — between them. The Great Lakes, situated on the U.S. - Canada
border, are the world's largest fresh water basin; these lakes constitute a whole inland sea occupying an area of
245,000 square km. They are five in number, namely: Lake Superior, Lake Michi-gan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie,
and Lake Ontario. The biggest river of the United States is the Mississippi with its tributaries — the Ohio, the
Missouri, and S the Arkansas Rivers. The territory of the United States is rich in natural resources. The reserves
of coal are estimated at 3,200 billion tons. The reserves of oil and of metals in the U.S.A. are also very large.
40
The main iron ore deposits are concentrated near Lake Superior. The main cities of the United States are: New
York, which together with its suburbs has a population of 12 million people, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los
Angeles and Detroit. The supreme state power in the U.S.A is represented by the president, a two-chamber
congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate) and the Supreme Court.
The United States of America (2)
The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China. It
occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Atlantic seaboard, across the central plains,
over the Rocky Mountains to the densely populated West Coast and then to the island state of Hawaii. The USA
also includes Alaska in the north of the continent. The total area of the country I about nine and a half million
square kilometres. The USAborders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south; It also has a sea-border
with Russia.
The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the
country, Washington, is situated. The population of the COUNTry is about 239 million. The USA is called the
"nation of immigrants". The country was settled, built and developed by generations of immigrants and their
children. Many different cultural traditions, ethnic sympathies, racial groups and reli¬gious affiliations make up
the people of the USA.
If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains. The highest mountains are the Rocky
Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska. It is 6193
metres high.
The United States is a land of rivers and lakes. The northern state of Minnesota is known as the land of 10
000 lakes. The largest and deepest lakes in USA are the five Great Lakes on the border with Canada. America's
largest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Mississippi is the world's
third longest river after the Nile and the Amazon. The climate of the country varies greatly. The coldest regions
are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part is continental. The south has a
subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the
Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.
The history of this land is long. In prehistoric times hunters crossed from Siberia to Alaska by land.
Gradually they moved southwards and settled all over North and South America. Each tribe developed its
own language and customs.
In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain across the Atlantic Ocean. Instead of reaching India as he
had expected he landed on an island off a continent unknown to Europeans. Thinking that he was in India,
Columbus called the people he met there Indians.
Other explorers arrived from Europe. Spanish troops con¬quered vast parts of Central and South America
which are now called Latin America. The French founded settlements in the north. In 1620 the first English
party left England for America. They were Puritans, religious people, driven out of the official Church. The
newcomers settled at Plymouth Bay. Some of them died of cold and hunger during the first winter in America.
The Indians showed the white settlers how to fish and plant crops. Some settlers traded with the local
population and some regarded them as enemies.
In 1783 independence from Britain was gained by 13 North American colonies. They formed the United
States of America. In 1789 George Washington was elected the first president of the USA. New states joined
the Union and the country grew westwards. Gold and silver were discovered on the Pacific coast and thousands
of people rushed there across the continent. New towns sprang up and quickly grew.
41
In the southern states white farmers used black slaves to work on their huge plantations. When slavery was
abolished in the North the southern states left the Union and formed the Confederacy. Civil war between the
North and South broke out. In 1865 the Union won and slavery was abolished all over the USA.
Nowadays, the USA is a highly developed industrial coun¬try. It is the world's leading producer of copper
and oil and the world's second producer of iron ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing
industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, armaments, furniture and paper.
American farmers plant spring wheat in the western plains. They raise corn, wheat and beef cattle in the
Midwest. Florida and California are famous for their vegetables and fruit production, and the northwestern
states are known for apples, pears, berries and vegetables.
There are many important cities in the USA, for example New York, one of the largest cities in the world, a
great seaport and financial centre, Chicago near the Great Lakes, one of the biggest industrial cities in the USA,
and the second largest after New York. Boston is one of the first cities which were built on the Atlantic coast of
America. Now it is a big cultural centre with three universities. Los Angeles in Califor¬nia is a centre of
modern industries and show business. Other big cities in the USA are Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco,
Washington, Detroit etc.
The USA as an independent state was set up by the Constitution in 1787. Under the Constitution the federal
govern¬ment is divided into three branches. The legislative branch is exercised by the Congress. The Congress
consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 senators and 435 members
in the House of Representatives. The executive branch is headed by the President chosen in nation-wide
elections every four years together with the Vice-President. The judicial branch is made up of Federal District
Courts, 11 Federal Courts and the Supreme Court. Federal judges are appointed by the President for life. There
are two main political parties in the USA: the Republicans and the Democratics.
From the beginning of the twentieth century the USA became the world's leading country.
Washington. D. С. (Вашингтон)
Washington is the capital of the United States of America. It is situated in the District of Columbia and is like
no other city of the USA. It's the world's largest one-industry city. And that industry is government. The White
House, where the US President lives and works, the Capital, the home of the US Congress, and the Supreme
Court, are all in Washington. The population of the city is over 3.4 million. Most of the permanent population
consist of government employees.
The city was so named in memory of George Washington, the first president of the USA. George Washington
was born in 1732. He distinguished himself as a soldier in campaigns against the French and the Indians. He
strongly opposed the policy of the British government and when the war with Britain began he was chosen
Commander-in-Chief of the American army. After the war he entered politics and was elected President in
1789.
There are 50 states in the United States, but the city of Washington is not in any of them. A special district
was created for the American capital — the District of Columbia (D. C). The city was laid out according to a
uniform plan made by a French officer in the Engineer Pierre L'Enfant. Founded in 1790, it became the federal
capital in 1800. In 1814 it was burnt by the British.
Washington is one of the most beautiful and unusual cities in the United States. In the very centre of it rises
the huge dome of the Capitol — a big white dome standing in a circle of pillars. The 535 members of the
Congress meet here to discuss the nation's affairs. It's easy to get lost in this huge building, full of paintings and
statues.
Not far from the Capitol is the Library of Congress, the largest library in the States. It contains more than 13
million books, more than 19 million manuscripts, including the personal papers of the US presidents.
42
The official residence of the president of the USA is the White House. It was constructed between 1792 and
1829. The White House has 132 rooms, among them the Oval Office where the President works. White House
is open for tours.
One can hardly find a park a square or an open area in Washington without a monument or a memorial. The
Jefferson Memorial was built in honour of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence
and the third president of the USA. Inside his statue and his writings are inscribed on the walls.
The Lincoln Memorial reminds everybody of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the USA, who
wrote the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the blacks in the South from slavery. There is a huge statue
of Abraham Lincoln inside the Memorial.
At the National Air and Space Museum visitors can see the history of flight from the first airplane flown by
the Wright brothers to the Apollo spaceship.
The National Gallery of Art, a large museum of painting, sculpture and other arts is also situated in the
capital. It is supported by the US government.
There are 5 universities in Washington. There are no skyscrapers in Washington, because they would hide the
city's many monuments from view. No building in the city may be more than 40 metres tall.
In Washington buses and trams run along numbered streets — First Street, Second Street, Third Street… The
streets running east and west from the centre are lettered — A Street, В Street and so on.
Thousands of tourists visit Washington every day. People from all parts of the United States come to see their
capital.
5. Выдающиеся люди Великобритании
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Уильям Шекспир
William Shakespeare, the greatest dramatist and writer, was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. His father
was a glover and his mother was the daughter of a famous farmer. Shakespeare went to grammar school, but he
never entered any university. He is famous for his great tragedies including Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and the
best known love story in the world Romeo and Juliet.
Many well-known sayings come from his works, and Shakespeare also had a great influence on English
literature and the language. His plays are studied by British schoolchildren as part of their school programme.
Shakespeare's works are known for their beautiful language and for the understanding of how people think
and feel. William Shakespeare also wrote poetry, including the sonnets. He worked as an actor and a playwright
at the Globe Theatre in London, which has recently been rebuilt as a copy of the original theatre.
Shakespeare married once and had three children. After his death in 1616 his house in Stratford became a
museum and now it is a popular place with tourists. Shakespeare's plays were staged in many theatres and
translated into numerous languages. They are still read and loved by many people.
43
Alexander Bell (1847-1922) Александр Бэлл
Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone. He was born in Scotland in 1874. Bell entered the
University of Edinburgh and became a teacher. Later he decided to become a doctor and he entered the medical
department at the University of London.
Then Bell left for the USA and studied sounds there. An idea of inventing a special machine for deaf people
occurred to him. Working on this machine he invented the telephone in 1876. At first the telephone was not
popular with the public, but after a big campaign it became famous in America. Bell started the Bell Telephone
Company to produce telephones.
Alexander Bell also improved the telegraph which could send more than one message at a time. Later he gave
up his business and spent his money on other scientific research. He also founded the National Geographic
Society in 1888.
Bell died in 1922 in Canada respected both in Britain and the USA.
Robert Burns (1759-1796) Роберт Бернс
Robert Burns, a well-known Scottish poet, was born in 1759 into a poor family of a farmer. He was the eldest
child of the seven in the family. Robert's mother knew a lot of folk tales and she used to tell them to the
children. At the age of six Burns went to school because his father wanted him to be an educated person. The
boy liked reading and read a lot. William Shakespeare was his favourite writer. When Robert was fifteen he
started writing poems about common people and things around him.
Later he organized a society for young people where they could discuss different problems. After his father's
death, Robert had to work a small farm, but then he sold it and became an officer. At the age of twenty-seven
Burns published his book of poems called Poems.
He also wrote the words of the song Auld Lang Syne, the song which the Scots sing on New Year's Day.
Robert Bums died in 1796 in poverty, but people all over the world know and love his poetry. Scottish people
all over the world celebrate his birthday on January 25, called Burns Night.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) Чарльз Диккенс
Charles Dickens, a famous English writer, was born in 1812 into a poor family in London. When Charles was
ten his father was taken to prison and the boy stopped going to school. Dickens had to work hard to earn money
for his family. Later he described this period of life in his book David Copperfield. This novel is a biographical
one. At the age of 12 he started going to school again.
In 1829 Dickens became a reporter, and in 1830 he met and fell in love with Maria Beadnell, the daughter of a
banker. In 1833 their relationship ended because Maria's parents did not think Dickens a suitable man for their
daughter.
When Dickens was twenty-five he became one of the best newspaper reporters in London. He liked the ob a
lot. In 1838 he published his novel Oliver Twist which had a great success. His books show how hard life was
in Victorian England, especially for poor people and children. Dickens's father was taken to prison again and
Charles had to pay to help him. Later the family asked Dickens to give them money again and again. In 1835
Charles met and became engaged to Catherine Hogarth.
44
Charles Dickens spent much of his adult life abroad traveling with his family in France, Spain, Switzerland,
but died suddenly at Gadshill near Rochester in 1870. His novels are still popular and people read them with
Pleasure. Some of his works are: Little Dorrit, A Tale of Two Expectations and other wonderful novels.
Princess Diana (1961-1997) Принцесса Диана
Diana Frances Spencer was born in Sandringham, Norfolk on the 1-th of July in 1961. She was the youngest
daughter of Viscount Althorp. Diana had two elder sisters, Jane and Sarah, and a younger brother, Charles.
Diana was only six years old when her parents separated: her mother, Frances, left to join a wealthy
businessman. Diana and her brother, Charles, spent much of their childhood moving from one parent to the
other.
When Diana was twelve she attended West Heath School in Kent. She left at the age of sixteen and spent a
few years In Switzerland.
In 1979 Diana worked as a nanny and as an assistant at the Young England kindergarten. At that time she got
acquainted with Prince Charles and they started seeing each other.
On the 29-th of July, 1981, about 600,000 people filled the streets of London on Prince Charles and Lady
Diana Spencer's wedding day. They married at St Paul's Cathedral. In less than a year Charles and Diana had
their first child, William, on the 21-th of June, 1982. A second son, Prince Harry, was born on the 15-th of
September, 1984.
Princess Diana appeared a glamorous Princess who won the hearts of the nation, as well as international
acclaim. She did a lot of charitable work and in 1989 she opened the Landmark AIDS Centre.
However things were not well with her relationship with her husband and his family, partly because of Prince
Charles’ long-running relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Because of this the couple separated in 1992
and divorced in August, 1996.
Princess Diana continued her charitable work and became a campaigner against landmines making trips to
Angola and Bosnia.
Diana died in a car crash on the 31-th of August, 1997. Her lover, Dodi Al Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul,
were also killed in the accident in a tunnel under the Place de l’Alma in Paris after the group were being chased
by paparazzi.
Still Princess Diana remains the Princess of the hearts and millions of people remember her.
6. Выдающиеся люди Америки
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Альберт Эйнштейн
Albert Einstein, one of the most famous scientists in the world, was born in Germany. When he was fifteen
his family moved to Switzerland because of money difficulties. There Albert graduated from the Polytechnic
Academy of Zurich where he had got scientific education. After that he worked at a patent office. Albert spent
his free time studying philosophy, mathematics and science. In 1914 he returned to Germany and worked as a
professor of Berlin University.
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Einstein's discoveries began in 1905 when he formulated the Theory of Relativity which was published in
1915. Einstein also proved that every planet has a gravitational field similar to the magnetic field around a
magnet. This work made him famous.
His other work was called Photoelectric Law. He explained the photoelectric effect in it. In 1922 Einstein got
the Nobel Prize for this discovery. In his later years Einstein worked on the Unified Field Theory.
In 1933 Albert moved to the United States as the protest against fascism. He found his new home there. In
1934 the fascist government confiscated his property.
Einstein died in 1955. His discoveries were a great contribution to science. Einstein is considered to be one of
the most intelligent people ever born, and people sometimes use the name Einstein to talk about someone who
is very intelligent.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) Эрнест Хемингуэй
Ernest Hemingway is another outstanding person. He is one of the greatest American writers. Ernest was born
in Illinois in 1899 into the family of a doctor. In childhood Ernest went in for sport and was a great sportsman.
He was also a very bright student at school. He wrote poetry and prose for the school magazine.
In 1914 World War I began, and Hemingway joined the Army. He was sent to Italy and was badly wounded
there. Later he was awarded a silver medal by the Italian government. The war made a great influence on his
future work.
In 1920 Ernest returned to the United States and started working as a foreign journalist in a newspaper. But
his dream was to write novels. He travelled a lot to get material for his work. In 1929 his first novel, A Farewell
to Arms, was published. It made Hemingway famous. In this novel he protests against war. In 1936 Hemingway
went to Spain and took part in the Civil War. Later he wrote another novel called For Whom the Bell Tolls. It
was devoted to the Americans who died in the war for Spain.
During World War II Hemingway was a war journalist. In 1954 he was given the Nobel Prize for literature for
his last novel The Old Man and the Sea which was called the best of his works. Ernest Hemingway died in 1961
by shooting himself in Cuba.
Martin Luther King (1929-1968)
Мартин Лютер Кинг
Martin Luther King was another outstanding person of the United States. He was the first black American
who won the full civil rights for black people.
Martin Luther King was born in 1929 in Atlanta, to the family of a black pastor. He graduated from the
University of Boston where he got a doctor's degree in theology in 1955. Later he was a pastor of a Baptist
church in Montgomery where black people lived in strong limitation of their civil rights. The blacks of the city
followed King who believed in peaceful protests against the government. Black people of the city went to
restaurants and demanded the same rights as white customers. They sat there for hours until they were served.
A lot of them were arrested.
In 1963 a big march took place in Washington, D.C. It was organized by Martin Luther King. About 250,000
Americans took part in it.
In 1968 King was lolled by a white man and the nation was shocked. Martin Luther King still remains a great
Person in American history and there is Martin Luther King Day in the USA when people remember what he
did for the black people of the country.
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Madonna (1958 -)
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born on 16 August, 1958, in Michigan.
She won a dance scholarship to Michigan University but dropped out and went to New York. Madonna
performed in various dance troupes and bands, and was briefly a backing vocalist dancer to a French disco star.
Madonna's debut album, titled Madonna, was released in 1983, and although it sold three million copies it
was her next album, Like a Virgin that made her famous.
Her music continued to be a critical and commercial success and in the past twenty years, Madonna has sold
more than 250 million records.
Madonna has been a very successful singer, but she is a woman of many talents. Her photo-book had a great
commercial success. Madonna has also appeared in a variety of films including Desperately Seeking Susan
(1985), In Bed with Madonna (1991) and Evita (1996). She has also written several children's stories.
Up until recently Madonna ran the record company Maverick, which (after a dispute) she sold to Warner
Music.
Madonna has two children: Lourdes and Rocco. Madonna came 8-th in the list of the most powerful
celebrities 2005 in the Forbes magazine.
7. Мир вокруг меня
Choosing a Career (Выбор профессии)
Choosing a career is not an easy matter. I am leaving school in two years and I haven't yet decided which
profession to choose.
There are a lot of interesting things in the world, so it is difficult to make the right choice.
In childhood I wanted to be a pilot, then I wanted to become a fireman. But now I have to think about my
future career seriously. Some people are good at Maths, Physics and Biology, others enjoy History, Literature
and Geography.
In my opinion I am good at foreign languages. My favourite language is English. I like it very much and I
want to be either a teacher of English or an interpreter. I like watching films in English, reading books in the
original and listening to music in English.
I think that young people should ask themselves: What am I interested in? What do I want to become? When
they find the answer, they will have the goal to achieve. And then they should do everything to achieve this
goal. If you are good at Maths and you want your profession to be connected with this subject, you should start
studying it very seriously. The same is with other subjects.
My father wants me to follow in his footsteps and become a businessman. But I am not interested in business
or economics. I have always been bad at these subjects and I want my profession to be connected with English.
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My mother says that I should choose my future occupation myself. But I am still not sure what to choose. Of
course there are a lot of special books about different professions. In addition, a lot of universities and institutes
have open house days, so I can go there and choose a good place for my future studies.
However, it is very difficult to enter a university. If you do not have money and if you are not a genius, you
will never enter a good university or an institute. I have some friends who were in this situation and they had to
choose a career not to their interests and liking.
But some young people still do not know which career to choose even after they finish school, so they have to
waste time deciding, or go to find a job. For men it is harder because they may be taken to the Army, that's why
a lot of them enter any institute or university just not to become soldiers.
Sometimes young people choose a career they are interested in, they enter a university and after some time
they understand that this occupation is not for them, they get poor marks and have to leave the university.
The problem of choosing a career is very widespread among young people and they should think about it
seriously before making any decisions.
Doing Sport and Keeping Fit
(Занятия спортом и здоровый образ жизни)
We live in a polluted world, that is why more and more people are concerned about their health and that is
why more and more of them start going in for sport.
Sport plays an important role in people's life. It is popular among the young and the old. Many people do
morning exercises, go jogging and go to the gym. Others prefer watching sports games on TV and listening to
sports news rather than going in for sport.
Physical Education is an important subject in Russian schools now. Pupils have physical training twice a
week. Boys and girls play volleyball and basketball during the lessons. School teachers turn pupils' training into
enjoyment, not obligation. A lot of different competitions are held at school and many pupils take part in t hem.
All participants try to get good results and win.
There are many kinds of sport in Russia. They are: football, hockey, skating and skiing. Russia is also known
for its gymnasts, figure skaters and tennis players.
As for me, I do sport regularly. I am not a professional, I am an amateur. I play football with my friends and I
jog in the morning. But my favourite sport is swimming and I go to the swimming-pool twice a week. This
helps me feel fit and healthy. My father used to play football and hockey when he was a teenager but now he
prefers watching these sports games on television. My mom likes watching figure skating.
But keeping fit doesn't mean only doing sport. It also includes the right way of eating. Nowadays it is very
popular to go on a diet. On the one hand, it makes you feel better because you avoid eating fatty and unhealthy
food, but on the other hand, some people start eating very little and they lose weight and do not look healthy at
all.
You need to get all types of vitamins to keep your body healthy. You should eat fruit and vegetable because
they contain a lot of important vitamins and one of them is vitamin C. Fruit and vegetables also have fiber,
which is very important for our health.
A lot of people like spending most of their spare time watching TV or working at computers. Such people
ruin their eyes and their muscles do not work well. This way of life is not healthy. There are also bad habits that
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can damage your health. They include smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs. A lot of young people prefer
smoking to going in for sport and this is not good.
I try to lead a healthy life, because I like feeling and happy.
Learning Foreign Languages (1)
(Изучение иностранных языков)
There are many languages in the world. Some of them are spoken in small tribes, others are spread all over
the world like English or French.
There are languages that are extremely difficult to learn, others are very easy. But anyway learning a foreign
language is not an easy task and it takes a lot of time and effort.
People still learn foreign languages and there are some reasons for that. The most important is
communication. More and more people travel abroad and the knowledge of a foreign language helps them
understand each other. There are also a lot of interesting books and magazines in foreign languages and people
read them to get various information.
If you want to get a good job, you will have to know one or several foreign languages. This is another reason
for learning foreign languages. There are languages of international communication and they are English and
French.
The English language is the official language of many international organizations such as the Olympic
Committee, the United Nations and others. This is the language of computing, too. Most Internet sites and
software are in English. It is the native language of many countries such as Great Britain, the USA, Canada
Australia, New Zealand and others.
A lot of scientific books and articles are published in English. This language is becoming more and more
popular and now it is hard to live without knowing it. Moreover, many languages borrow English words and
expressions and people use them in their everyday speech. Sometimes people think that English is the most
spoken language in the world. However, Chinese is considered to be the most spoken language. The Chinese
language together with Japanese and Arabic are believed to be the most difficult foreign languages!
I learn English at school. I am very glad that I have such an opportunity. Every week we have tests, do
exercises and write compositions. We also talk at our lessons a lot. This helps me to improve my English. Now
I can read books in English, watch films in English and speak English with foreigners. I am thinking about
choosing English as my future career because I am very good at this language.
I would also like to learn German if I had a chance.
Learning Foreign Languages (2)
The question of learning foreign languages is very important today. Foreign languages are requered especially
at the present time when progress in science and technology has led to an explosion of knowledge and has
contributed to an overflow of information. The total knowledge of mankind is known double every seven years.
Foreign languages are needed as the main and the most efficient means of information exchange between the
people of our planet.
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Today English is the language of the world. It is the language of progressive science and technology, trade
and cultural relations, commerce and business. It is the universal language of international aviation, shipping
and sports. It is also the major language of diplomacy.
Hundreds and hundreds of books, magazines and newspapers are printed in English and read all over the
world. Seventy five per cent of the world's mail and sixty per cent of the world telephone calls are in English.
Half of the world's scientific literature is written in English. English is spoken by more than 350 million people.
Geographically, it is the most widespread language on earth, second only to Chinese in the number of people
who speak it.
It is the official language of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the United States
of America, of Australia and New Zealand. English is used as one of the official languages in Canada, the
Republic of South Africa and the Irish Republic. It is also spoken as a second language in many parts of India
and Africa. The number of second-Ian-guage speakers may soon exceed the number of native speakers.
Besides, millions of people study English as a foreign language. In our country English is very popular. It is
studied at schools (sometimes even at nursery schools), colleges and universities.
What does it mean to know a foreign language? It is not easy to answer this question. Americans think that
you know a foreign language if native speakers understand you. And nobody cares about your mistakes. But of
course nobody can call “good English" and you can use it only if your contacts with native speakers are rare
and not very important. If you are connected with foreign countries very closely, especially through your work,
you should have a good command of the language. It means that your pronunciation should be standard, you
should speak fluently and without mistakes. And of course you should understand your partner correctly. The
latter sometimes is the most difficult part of all. As to spelling, it depends whether you have to write or not. If
you do then you should do it correctly too.
So far, there is no universal or ideal method of learning languages. Everybody has his own way. Sometimes it
is boring to study grammar or to learn new words. But it is well known that reading books in the original,
listening to the BBC news, communicating with English-speaking people will help a lot. When learning a
foreign language you learn the culture and history of the native speakers. One must work hard to learn any
foreign language.
Russia is being integrated into the world community and the problem of learning English for the purpose of
communication is especially urgent today.
Travelling (1) (Путешествие)
There are many ways of spending holidays. Some people like going to the country, others prefer sitting at
home and watching TV all day long. But more and more people travel. There are many reasons for traveling.
Some people travel on business, others travel to visit their families, but most people travel to see the world and
different countries.
There are also a lot of ways of traveling. People can travel by car, by plane, by ship, by train, by coach or on
foot. Traveling by plane is the fastest way of traveling. This is the best way to get to a foreign country fast.
Modern planes are comfortable and it is very nice to fly to the destination point.
The most comfortable way of traveling is by ship. Modern liners have everything to make people feel nice
and comfortable. There are swimming-pools, bars, restaurants and even shops on board a modern liner. People
enjoy spending time on the deck looking at the ocean and talking. Sunsets and sunrises are beautiful in the open
sea. There are some disadvantages of travelling by ship. The main disadvantage is that traveling by shin is the
most expensive way of traveling. Tickets cost a lot and some people cannot afford them. Some people can be
sea-sick and this is another disadvantage.
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Traveling by train is rather popular now, too. People go from one city to another by train if the distance
between them is too big, or if they do not have a car. Modern trains are also rather comfortable and traveling by
train is convenient and cheap.
Traveling by coach to Europe is rather cheap. There are special international tours by coach when you travel
through several countries. Instead of one foreign country, you can see a few of them. However, it also has
disadvantages. Some people feel sick in coaches and their trip can be spoilt. It is also not very comfortable to
sleep on a seat. Sometimes tourists do not have enough time to see the sights of this or that city.
My favourite way of traveling is travelling by car. I think this is one of the most comfortable means of
travelling. You can enjoy the view looking through the window and this way of traveling is rather fast. You can
travel to different cities and towns of your native country and even abroad. In summer I like traveling on foot.
This way of traveling is called hiking. I take a tent, backpacks, food and start walking. This kind of traveling is
slow, but you spend a lot of time outside and you do not have to think about tickets. During such hikes, one can
see a lot of interesting places and meet new people. It is so nice to sleep in a tent in the open air, too.
If you decide to travel by any means of transport you’ll have to prepare for the trip. If you travel by plane,
train or ship, you have to book tickets beforehand. You can do this over the phone or in a travel agency. If you
travel by plane, you have to be at the airport two hours before an international flight and one hour before a
domestic flight. The officers will check your luggage and you will have to get though the passport control.
When you go by train, it is easier, because you have to go through ticket control only.
Traveling is always nice. It gives you an opportunity to see foreigners and interesting places. I love traveling!
Travelling (2)
I think it is hard to imagine the modern life without traveling. To understand how true it is you may go to a
railway station, an airport or a seaport. There you will see thousands of people who are hurrying to board the
train, airplane or an ocean liner. Some people prefer traveling by sea. They say everyone feel save on board of a
big ocean liner. Besides such liners have all the modern conveniences and all sorts of entertainment facilities.
The others prefer traveling by air. There is no doubt this type of traveling is more comfortable and surely much
quicker. But there is one great disadvantage: the price is too high, but it makes no difference to you if you are
traveling on business. As for me I prefer traveling by train. I think it combines both: comfort and speed.
Be¬sides it doesn't depends upon weather so much as for example plane does. So if you have made up your
mind to travel by train the first thing you should do is to buy a ticket. You may book it in advance or to buy it
just at the railway station. So In the proper time you ought to be at the station with a suitcase where all your
necessary things are packed. If you need porter will take care of your luggage and help you to load into the
carriage. There are always bustle and confusion at the station. Different trains are standing there: an express,
fast train and mail ones. And so no wonder that it is hard to find the train you need. But you may ask the
number of your train in the Information Bureau. At last you show your ticket to the guide and go into the
carriage. Then the shrill whistle is heard and the train with a jerk pulls out of station. You are on your way. If
you got tired you may take your bedding and turn in. During your journey you needn't worry about your meals.
In the train there is a dining car where you can get your dinner. There is nothing like watching fields and
meadows passing by your window. Though there aren't any entertainment facilities on the train I'm sure that a
good conversation with your fellow-passengers can substitute it. That is why I consider traveling by train to be
the most pleasant one.
Environmental Problems
(Проблемы окружающей среды)
The problem of ecology is very important today, because we live in a polluted world. People all over the
world discuss environmental protection, but they still continue to pollute air, water and soil.
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Plants and factories are being built near rivers and lakes. The water is full of industrial waste and this kills
animals, insects and plants.
There are some organizations that were created to protect our nature from pollution. The most famous
organization is Greenpeace. It protects animals from dying out. There are special farms and organizations that
help wild animals to survive. People who work in such places feed animals and cure them.
There are several types of pollution: air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution.
Air pollution is caused by different means of transport in big cities. Our cities are full of smog because of
heavy traffic and people notice that it is hard to breathe there. Cars, buses and planes are among the worst air
polluters. Factories and plants also pollute air pouring harmful gases and smoke into the air and that causes lung
diseases among people and does harm to our health. Acid rains that appear because of air pollution damage
forests and soil.
Water pollution is another dangerous kind of pollution. Factories and plants throw wastes into rivers and lakes
making them dirty. Animals die when they drink this water, people get sick when they swim in it and eat fish
that live there.
Soil pollution stops plants from growing and makes people sick when they eat fruit and vegetables grown on
polluted soil. People also pollute soil by leaving litter on it. Forests are full of used bottles, wrappers and cans.
Such litter can be found in rivers and lakes, too. Wild animals get sick and die because of this.
Every day we throw away a lot of litter. However, we can use it again, for example paper, cloth, glass, plastic,
etc. Everybody must know the three R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We can reduce the usage of water and
electricity. We should reuse whatever we can, for example, plastic bags, paper, cans, glass and bottles.
It is not possible to stop technological process, close factories and plants. People need to invent new waste
free technologies that will not do harm to nature. There are new inventions such as filters that make water and
air clean. Some factories and plants have started using these machines already and this helps to prevent
pollution. Special kinds of gasoline for cars can help to reduce air pollution.
We must not ignore the problems of environmental pollution and try to make everything possible to reduce if
not stop it.
Mass Media (Средства массовой информации)
We live in the world of information. It is everywhere and sometimes it is even more valuable than money.
Mass media, that is the press, radio, television and the Internet, play an important role in our society. They
inform, educate, entertain and give us any kinds of information. The press is one of the most powerful kinds of
mass media. Nowadays there are daily, weekly and monthly newspapers and magazines. My family is
subscribed to Komsomolskaya Pravda which is one of the most famous Russian daily newspapers. I read it
every day to know what is happening in the world. My mother buys women's magazines and my father reads
sports magazines. There are also a lot of children's magazines. They are colourful and full of pictures.
Television plays a big role in our society, too. Most People have several TV-sets at home. Television gives a
great opportunity for people to learn latest news. The are also a lot of educational programmes, children’s
programmes, films and soap operas on TV, Talk shows are also very popular with people nowadays. I usually
watch news and films on television. My mother likes soap operas, my father prefers sports programmes and
political talk shows. My brother watches cartoons and educational programmes. I think that it is impossible to
live without television now.
Radio is less popular than newspapers and television. People listen to the radio in cars and at work. I usually
listen to the radio when I do my homework because it helps me think. There is a lot of music on modern radio
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and very few conversations. Every hour radio stations tell us news in brief. There are different types of radio
stations. They are divided according to the style of music they play. There are radio stations where you can hear
only classical music, rock or pop music. There arc radio stations only with Russian music, for example, Russian
Radio. Some of the stations only have news and talk shows. Older people like listening to them.
The Internet is the newest kind of mass media. More and more people use it in Russia regularly, but it is very
expensive and not every place has the Internet connection. The Internet is the greatest source of information.
Almost everything can be found there. If you have the Internet, you may not read newspapers or listen to the
radio. You may not watch television either. АЦ main newspapers and television companies have websites, so
you can read news and watch television without turning on a TV-set.
I use the Internet very often. I chat with people all over the world online and read news. I use the Internet to
find important information for my studies, too. E-mail has become a good way of communication. You can
send a letter to your friends from other countries without buying an envelope and it will be delivered within a
few seconds.
There are advantages and disadvantages of mass media. The advantages are the following: mass media
educate and entertain people. But you need to have a TV-set to watch television, a radio set to listen to the
radio. To look for information in the Internet you will need a computer and the Internet connection and they
both cost a lot. Another disadvantage is that sometimes this or that information is not reliable. The Internet is
full of sites with wrong information.
But in spite of all disadvantages, people still watch TV, listen to the radio and browse the Internet.
Arts (Искусство)
There many arts in the world, but the most popular are: literature, music, theatre, cinema and others. Every
person has his or her own favourite art.
Music has always fascinated people. It touches their hearts and makes them laugh or cry. Music can be heard
everywhere. Nowadays there are a lot of musical genres: classical music, rock music, pop music, club music
and others. I can listen to any genre of music. It depends on my mood. When I am sad I listen to classical
music. When I am happy I like listening to energetic, fast music and hard beat. However, some people listen to
one kind of music only and they listen to it no matter what mood they are in.
There are a lot of wonderful works of literature-Famous writers and poets created a big variety of poems,
stories and novels that are read over the world. Russian poets and writers like Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
are famous all over the world. Their works are translated into many languages.
Theatre is a popular kind of arts, too. There are a lot of theatres in Russia, but most of them are situated in
Moscow. The Bolshoi Theatre and the Maly Theatre are world famous. If you like opera you should go to the
Bolshoi Theatre. The tickets are rather expensive though. The Maly Theatre stages dramas and plays based on
classical novels.
I am a theatre-goer. I prefer going to drama theatres. I do not like opera and ballet. Not long ago I saw Uncle's
Dream by Dostoevsky in the Vakhtangov Theatre I liked the play a lot. The decorations were rich and the
famous actors played very well. There was a storm of applause after the performance.
Nowadays theatres are becoming less and less popular, and cinema has got big popularity instead. There are a
lot of cinemas in Moscow: modern and old-fashioned, cheap and expensive. Modern films are full of audio and
computer special effects and people go to the cinema to enjoy them. The so-called home cinemas have appeared
lately. More and more people buy modern TV-sets with large flat screens and special sound equipment and
watch films at home.
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My favourite art is painting. I enjoy going to art galleries to look at paintings. I think that this type of art will
exist forever. Artists express their feelings and emotions in their paintings. There are a lot of art galleries in
Moscow, but the most famous one is me Tretyakov Gallery. It has large collections of paintings by Russian and
foreign painters. My favourite painting is landscape. I think that Russian landscapists are the best in the world. I
love going to this gallery when I have free time. One of my friends draws very well She is going to enter the
University of Arts to become a professional artist. But I think that amateurs are the best artists.
Unfortunately I do not have any talent for this or that art. I used to sing in childhood, but then I gave it up. I
think that arts are not for me.
Music (Музыка)
Music plays a big role in our life. Can you think of a day without it? We hear music everywhere: in the street
in shops, in parks and at home. Music follows us from childhood and we can't live without it. We listen to
music when we are happy or sad, we dance to it and we learn to play music, too. Music is not a combination of
sounds, it is art. There are a lot of kinds of music: classical music, jazz, popular music or pop-music, rock and
club music. They are all different, but still people listen to them and enjoy. Music reflects our life, our feelings
and emotions.
I prefer Russian pop-music. I have no favourite pop group. I just listen to the songs and melodies I like. My
brother loves rock music. His favourite rock groups are Aria and Rammstein. Sometimes he turns the music up
and enjoys it.
My father likes classical music. His favourite composer is Mozart. Sometimes he listens to Vivaldi or
Tchaikovsky. When I am in a bad mood I can listen to classical music, too. It calms me and I start feeling
better.
As for my mother, she is fond of Elvis Presley. She can listen to his songs all day. She says that be is great
and his voice makes her forget about everyday problems. I like to go to clubs and discos. Most of them play
club music: trance or techno.
I like to dance to sue music, but I can't listen to it alone. The beats and sounds are too aggressive sometimes
and I usually have a headache later.
My friend studies in a musical college. She likes folk music. Students of this college usually sing and dance to
it. I have been to the concerts where they performed and I enjoyed it a lot.
Nobody knows when music appeared, but I think that if there were no music, our life would be very boring
and sad.
Museums and Art Galleries
(Музеи и художественные галереи)
Every country has museums and art galleries. Some of them are world famous. A museum is a place where
various collections of works of art are displayed. There are different kinds of museums: history museums,
museums of art, archaeological museums, science museums and others. I would like to tell you about some of
the most famous museums in the world.
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I live in Moscow, the capital of Russia and there are a lot of large museums in the city. One of the biggest
museums is the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts which houses one of the world's largest collections of the
ancient, oriental and classical art. You can see sculptures, paintings and other works of art by world-famous
artists. The museum holds one of the biggest collections of Ancient Egyptian Art.
The Tretyakov Gallery is one of the biggest art galleries in the world. It was founded by a Russian merchant,
Tretyakov, who gave his private collection of paintings to Moscow. The Gallery has a great collection of works
by Russian famous painters. It consists of seven departments. You can see portraits, seascapes, landscapes and
other genres of painting there.
St. Petersburg, which once was the capital of Russia, is famous for its museums, too. The Hermitage is one of
the biggest museums in the world. A lot of permanent and temporary exhibitions are displayed there. The
museum consists of six buildings. The most famous are: Winter Palace and the Hermitage. You can see
portraits of Russian tsars, Roman statues, works of Western European Art, Egyptian Art and Oriental Art there.
If you go to Great Britain you should definitely visit the British Museum in London. The museum is very big
and you can see works of art in glass, stone, gold and also a few collections on natural history there.
The Tower of London is another big museum in London. It used to be a treasury, a prison, an observatory and
even a zoo. The Tower of London hosts a big collection of arms and jewels.
The United States of America is famous for its museums and galleries, too. There is the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, D.C. It consists of several museums and art galleries that are free and open to the
public. The National Portrait Gallery has a big collection of those who played an important role in the history
and culture of the USA. The National Museum of Natural History is popular with children. The museum
contains one of the world's largest scientific collection: exhibits on human culture, evolution, dinosaurs, birds,
animals, sea life, meteorites, plants, rocks and minerals.
Another famous museum is the National Air and Space Museum. It houses the world's most expensive
collection of aircrafts and spacecrafts. Visitors can see exhibits on the history of air crafting and watch
documentaries in the IMAX movie theatre that is situated inside the building. The National Museum of
American History explores America's scientific, cultural and political history. It also houses the first American
flag.
All museums are very interesting to visit. Museums and art galleries give us an opportunity to learn facts
about art, history and culture of different peoples and countries.
Books (Книги )
I think it is impossible to live without reading. Books I appeared long time ago in ancient times. It became
easier to publish books when the printing was invented. Books can be divided into two large groups: fiction and
non-fiction books. Fiction books are most popular with readers. Such books include stories, novels and poetry.
As for non-fiction books, they are dictionaries, biographies, historical books, encyclopedias and others.
When I was a child, my parents read different books 1 to me. I learned a lot from them. When I learnt to read,
1 I liked reading fairy tales and adventure stories. I loved novels about pirates and brave knights. I like reading
books a lot. I read non-fiction books when I prepare for my studies. But in general I like fiction books. My
favourite genres of books are fantasy and horror; I think it is very popular with young people nowadays. My
favourite author of fantasy books is J. Rowling. I like her books about Harry Potter. I reread them and watched j
films, too. My favourite author of horror stories is Stephen King. Actually I do not like books about monsters
and ghosts a lot. I prefer King's psychological novels. My favourite novel is Dolores Claiborne. This is a story
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about a woman who had a hard life. My family likes to read, too. We have a big library full of books of
different genres.
My brother is interested in science-fiction. He likes reading novels about aliens and future. As for my father,
he reads detective stories. I think that this genre of books is really very popular with older people. His favourite
authors are Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Boris Akunin.
My mother likes historical novels and love stories. Her favourite author is Sidney Sheldon. She also reads
classical novels by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov.
I can say that reading is my hobby. When I have time I prefer reading to watching TV Sometimes a book is so
interesting that I cannot stop reading it.
I think that books help us solve some problems, too. Every person can find a book which will accompany him
or her for the whole life. I have such a book, too. It is The Catcher in the Rye by J. Salinger. It reminds me of
my own life somehow and it really helped me with some problems.
Nowadays we have television and the Internet; so many people prefer getting information from these sources.
Some people think that in the world of information we do not need books at all. But I think that we should not
forget about them. Books contain a lot of useful information and give pleasure.
Youth Problems (Проблемы молодежи)
There are a lot of problems in our world that people have to face and try to cope with. But I would like to talk
about youth problems.
Adults think that it is very easy to be a teenager but this is not true. Nowadays there are a lot of different
things that young people want to try. They are alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and it is not easy to manage them
especially for teenagers. Most teenagers try such things because their friends do and if they do not, they are not
considered to be cool. Some young people take drugs or drink alcohol because they are bored and they have
nothing to do. Some of them do such things because their life is hard.
One of the biggest problems among teenagers is the poor relationship with parents. My parents always tell me
which clothes to wear, which music to listen and who I should spend my free time with. Parents call me a
naughty child and do not give me pocket money if I do not listen to their advice. They always ask me to pay
more attention to my studies and they do not allow me to go to night clubs and discos. But at the same time we
should understand that all they want is to have their child safe and sound. And I appreciate that. However, the
only thing that I do not like about them is that they still consider me their child, but I am a young adult already
and they should try to understand that.
Another problem is friendship. It is really hard to find a true friend now. Most of young people have friends
because they are rich or clever. Some teenagers like showing off and children from poor families uncomfortable
in their presence.
One of the problems is school. Teachers usually think that all we have to do is study hard. But sometimes it is
so dull! We have a lot of homework and we do not have enough time to go for a walk or to spend time with our
friends. But I know that education is very important for young people and this is another problem that I want to
discuss.
Every teenager wants to have a good future, to get a good education and a good job afterwards. Everybody
wants to lead a good life and have a lot of money. But you are not bright or you do not have enough money to
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pay for your entrance exams you won't enter a good university. That is why some of my friends had to give up
trying to pass entrance exams and they got a profession which they were not interested in.
Nowadays a lot of teenagers are looking for a job to get some money. They sell newspapers, wash cars and
work as mail couriers. These people think about their future already and do not just sit at home or spend a Jot of
time outside with hooligans.
We are all teenagers and we should start thinking about our future. There are a lot of youth problems
nowadays, but we need to do everything possible all impossible to solve them.
Shopping (1) (Поход по магазинам)
Shopping means going to some place to buy things. For some people this is a hobby. They go shopping in
their free time. Some people go shopping on weekdays to buy food.
My family and I do the shopping at weekends. My family is not very big, but my parents work hard and they
have no time to go to buy things during a week. On Sunday we usually go to a large supermarket and buy food
for the whole week. I don't like going there, because there are usually many people. This supermarket has a lot
of departments: a food department, a grocer's, a butcher's, a fishmonger's and even a chemist's department.
Sometimes my mother goes to the cosmetics department while my father and my brother go to the pet shop,
which is situated there.
There are a lot of shops in Moscow, Some of them are expensive, others are cheap and you have a choice. I
don't understand those people who go to some specialized shops to buy things of a certain brand. Such things
are rather expensive. I prefer going to a market and buy clothes there.
I prefer doing the shopping alone when I need clothes or books. My favourite bookshop is in the centre of
Moscow. I can spend hours there looking at different books and choosing the most interesting ones to read. My
brother hates shopping. Our parents buy clothes for him and he is not against it. I also like to go shopping when
I need to buy presents for my family or friends. Sometimes my friend helps me choose presents. She is a very
nice girl with a good taste and she knows what things are good. Sometimes I have to go to the baker's to buy
bread and to a dairy shop to buy milk or sour cream.
In my childhood I liked to do the shopping because I felt grown-up, but now I see that this process is quite
boring. And I don't like shopping without any need.
Shops and Shopping (2)
Shopping is a part of everyday life and is a chore that needs to be done. So it's not very inter¬esting or a
pleasure. As my par¬ents are very busy I do my best to help them about the house. One of my duties is to do
shopping. When our family runs out of food products, I'm asked to buy what is necessary. Most shops
specialize in certain goods. It should be noted that most of them in our city are pretty well stocked, often with
imported and domestic food. Bread (brown and white) is sold at the bakery where we can also buy rusks and
roll. Usually I can't miss the confectionary where I buy candies or chocolate bar, biscuits or cakes etc. I'm a
regular customer of the greengrocery, which offer a wide choice of vegetables and fruits: potatoes, carrots,
cabbage, cucumbers, radish and onions, green pea, etc. But it is much cheaper to buy all these things at a
market where people from nearby villages or those who have dachas sell potatoes and carrots, apples and pears
and other things. You'll often and dried fruit, cheese, nuts, honey, meat and other food in markets too. It's better
to go to the market in the morning for me liveliness scene and best selection. You can usual bargain a bit over
prices. My mother usually goes there on Sundays. At the fruit counter I buy apples and pears, oranges and
grapes, dried, bottled and tined fruits, bananas and so on. I'm also a great lover of fruit juices. At the butcher's
(meat shop) they sell meat such as beef, pork, mutton, veal, mixed meat and poultry. Supermarkets are brightly
57
lit and well laid out. The goods are tidy arranged on trays and long shelves on which the prices are clear
marked. There's plenty of room for the customers to walk. In the supermarket most of the goods are sold ready,
ready packed and wrapped. You can find wide selection of everything there from shoe polish to eggs.
Customers go round the supermarket with baskets or trolleys. They get the food from the shelves. Having filled
your basket you go to the cash desk, pay money to the cashier and she gives you back the change. There are
departments, known as «bargain sales», where they sell goods at the reduced prices. It is important for
housewife because the prices are going up constantly.
Wars and Peace (Войны и мир)
Our planet Earth is our home. People have lived on it for centuries. A lot of things have changed and a lot of
generations have replaced each other, but there has always been a big global problem - wars. People have been
fighting since the beginning of the world. It is very difficult to explain why.
When we watch TV shows, films and documentaries, we often see blood and people being killed. We also
hear such words as: I will kill you, You're dead!, Die! and so on. Children watch television and they think that
killing is quite a normal thing. A lot of computer games are based on killing monsters and people. I think this is
all wrong.
In the 20-th century a lot of wars broke out: World War I, World War II, Cold War, Iraqi War and others.
Millions of people died in those wars, but this didn't stop anybody. Our country suffered from the war in
Chechnya. Nowadays a lot of countries are very powerful. Maybe because of this there are so many wars?
I think it is silly to have wars today. Many states have nuclear weapons, so it is enough to push the button to
make the world disappear. The Americans dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the
Japanese cities. Many citizens were killed because of this terrible act.
Another problem is terrorism. More and more countries are suffering from this problem. It is difficult to catch
terrorists and prevent their acts to kill people. The most terrible terrorist act was committed in the USA on the
11-th of September, 2001. World Trade Centre, the pride of all Americans and one of the symbols of New York
City was destroyed and thousands of people died. This act shocked everybody and most countries decided to
fight against terrorists. However, new acts have been committed. Russia has suffered from them, too. Many
innocent people were killed and nobody can stop terrorists now. They promise more blood and murders.
I wonder why people can't live in peace. I can't understand why we should kill each other, fight with each
other when life is so beautiful. I think that the peoples of the world must try to stop wars and save our children.
Sport in Our Life (Спорт в нашей жизни )
Modern life becomes more and more technological. People walk little. They prefer to drive cars. They don’t
climb up the stairs. It’s much more convenient to use an elevator. Moreover our life is full of stresses that make
us weak and nervous. It’s evident that sport is a necessity for the entire society nowadays.
First of all, it gives us health. Jogging in the morning helps significantly to avoid the risk of heart attack.
For the second, it makes us slim and beautiful. For the most of young people it is even more important to
correspond to the fashion trends of beauty than to be healthy.
For the third, it gives us pleasure. I believe that every man in the world can find for himself the kind of sport
which gives to him an incredible pleasure. For somebody it will be wind-surfing, for the other football, and it
can also be chess for the other one.
Sport is an important part of just about every society, every country, and every part of our planet
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Learning Languages
(Почему мы учим иностранные языки)
The problem of learning languages is very important today. Foreign languages are socially demanded
especially at the present time when the progress in science and technology has led to an explosion of knowledge
and has contributed to an overflow of information. The total knowledge of mankind is known to double every
seven years. Foreign languages are needed as the main and most efficient means of information exchange of the
people of our planet. Today English is the language of the world. Over 350 million people speak it as a mother
tongue. The native speakers of English live in Great Britain, the United States of America, Australia and New
Zealand. English is one of the official languages in the Irish Republic, Canada, and the South African Republic.
As a second language it is used in the former British and US colonies. It is the major international language for
communication in such areas as science, technology, business and mass entertainment. English is one of the
official languages of the United Nations Organization and other political organizations. It is the language of the
literature, education, modern music, and international tourism. Russia is integrating into the world community
and the problem of learning English for the purpose of communication is especially urgent today. Learning a
foreign language is not an easy thing. It is a long and slow process that takes a lot of time and patience. But to
know English is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. It is well known that
reading books in the original, listening to the BBC news, communicating with the English-speaking people will
help a lot. When learning a foreign language you learn the culture and history of the native speakers. One must
work hard to learn any foreign language.
Books in Our Life (Книги в нашей жизни)
It's no doubt that books are an essential and necessary part of mankind's civilization. It gives us an
opportunity to link up with authors who lived hundreds and thousands years ago. Through reading books we
can understand their thoughts, feelings and emotions better. A book is the surest way to bring people together. I
think it is faithful and undemanding friend: it can be put away and taken up at any moment. We must admit that
we can't do without books. As for me I became keen on literature early in life. Probably it happened so because
we had a very good and many-sided library at home. Since my childhood Pushkin's tales and Krilov's fables
enchanted me. Gogol was one of the greatest authorities to me. Later Fet and Blok won my heart. Pasternak's
and Vysotsky's poetry filled my heart with expectation of joy and happiness. Luckily, our country is rich in
such remarkable authors. And as for the classical authors I study rather than read their books. For example after
reading William Shakespeare's tragedy «Hamlet» I came to a conclusion that this rich work demands great
erudition on the part of a reader. One must know the Middle English History and the peculiarities of
relationships between people then. I'm sure that Shakespeare was a highly educated person and it is hard for me
to keep up with him. To tell the truth I give my preference to the science fiction. It is hard to choose a favorite
book. Lately I have read a wonderful book entitled «The Martian Chronicles». It was written by Ray Bradbury
— famous American science fiction writer. His stories have a special charm that lies in its interesting plot,
exciting situations and at the same time 5 conveys deep thoughts, keen observations and sharpness of
characterization. This book tells us 3 about the fantastic events, which took place on Mars. I think this book has
got everything: actions, many interesting ideas to think over, witty j characters and, surely, a great deal of
dialogs, Ray Bradbury is a master of, With the help of vivid descriptions the author carries the reader j into the
wonderful world of his imagination. The story is so beautifully told that it is hard not to believe it. This book
stirs my imagination j and expends the boundaries of the familiar world. Normally I read a book once but this
book I read again and j again, discovering something new for me. No matter how many times you read it, as it
again and again gives you the same feeling of freshness and exciting that you experienced on the first reading.
Though Ray Bradbury has written many science fiction books this one is definitely the best.
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Newspapers and Magazines (Газеты и журналы )
I think we can't do without means of mass media today. Newspapers and magazines, radio and television are
the most effective way of keeping people well informed. They give the full coverage of the latest events, draw
our attention to different aspects of life and help us to understand the events correctly. Nowadays there is a
great amount of newspapers and magazines, radio stations and TV channels that we have to be selective and to
give our preference to some of them. This year our family subscribed to the newspaper «Poslednie novosti».
Our family likes the way the newspaper presents the information. The editorial board pays much attention to
different spheres of life. The newspaper offers its readers a wide range of topics. It gives full attention to
international and home affairs and raises vital problems of political, social and cultural life. It also informs the
readers about the latest achievements and researches in many branches of science. As a rule on the front page of
the newspaper there is a photograph with a short article on the most important occasion of the day. Among the
traditional sections of the newspaper there are: serious editorials, news reports, interview with famous people,
features and surveys. Catchy headlines attract people's attention at once. The newspaper has a weekly
supplement for women and for businessmen, which makes the readership of the newspaper wider. «Poslednie
novosti» is issued both: in Russian and English. It comes outfthree times a week. This weekly newspaper is for
those whose reading preferences are wide and varied. No wonder its circulation is high. I think the newspaper is
worth read¬ing and subscribing to. I’d like to recommend it to everyone who tries to get in touch with the
world.
Television (Телевидение)
It is my firm belief that television is a great achievement of the present day's life. It provides us a great
amount of information on the latest news, research in different branches of science. Television enriches our
intellect, gives us opportunities to see the best actors, performances, famous people and events, which will
become history. Besides television is a powerful medium. Some TV programs gather big audiences. Apart from
their educational and entertainment value they give us many useful topics to discuss. But on the other hand
television has many disadvantages. The first and, probably, the main one is that television affects our health
through rushed meals and lack of sleep. More than that it prevents us from reading books, going to different
sport clubs and other active kinds of spending our leisure time. Nowadays there is a great variety of TV
programs such as news reports, sports, variety shows, and so you have to be selective and to give preference to
some of them. My favorite programs are documentary ones. They deal with different materials about the wild
life, the history of the country and its present day's life. Some of them are concerned with different art events
such as exhibitions, festivals, variety shows and so on. I think interviews with famous people make these
programs more interesting. But I'm sure that there is no good TV pro-gram without good talk show host. The
success of the program much depends upon the host's personality. My favorite TV host is V. Posner. He is
distinguished by his ability to understand people though we can easily recognize his own attitude to the
problem. I think Posner is rather intelligent. Posner is speaking in a friendly, likable manner without any hint of
insincerity. To my mind Vladimir Posner has all the qualities the real talk show host ought to have. He
announces a great number of programs but I like his program «We» best of all. it deals with the social,
economic and cultural problems of the modern society and offers the ways to solve them. I think this program
has got everything: intelligent host, interviews with people-in-power, detailed reports etc. It is a weekly
program, which is on Wednesday. So I try my best to do all the things beforehand to free my time for my
favorite program. I’m sure it is for you to decide whether television is a great worth or not and what programs
to watch, but still it remains one of the greatest achievements of the human civilization.
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The Theatre (Театр)
We go to the theatre to see a play, a performance given by actors and actresses. A play of a serious character,
dealing with important human problems is called a tragedy. A play of a humorous, tighter character is a comedy
(or a farce). Dramatists are called playwrights nowadays and there are no longer such great dramatists as
Shakespeare or B. Show. If we want to go to the theatre we buy tickets at the box-office and show them to the
attendant at the entrance. In the building there is a hall, a large foyer and a cloakroom where we leave our
overcoats, hats, etc. The audience can walk in the foyer in the intervals. Many doors lead to the auditorium
consisting of stalls, boxes and balconies. In front of the auditorium there is a curtain separating it from the
stage. The curtain rises when the play begins and falls at the end of each act Many people must work together to
produce a play. The author writes it; the producer conducts the acting; carpenters, mechanics, designers prepare
the scenery; electricians and light operators see to the light effects and operate the floodlights. We, the
playgoers (or fans) demand an interesting plot, good acting and impressive scenery — that is two hours of good
entertainment.
Cinema (Кино )
In England the cinema is usually called «the pictures». In America the word «the movie» Is often used.
Cinema-going is a favorite pastime in Britain. People go to the cinema once or twice a week. Cinema-going is
more popular in industrial towns in the North of England and Scotland than In the South. However, especially
If it is cold and wet outside, many people like to stay at home to watch TV. Cinemas in England are usually
large and more comfortable than the theatres. Often there is a restaurant, so that it is possible to spend an
afternoon and evening there (if you have enough money, of course). Behind the cinema screen there is a stage,
so that the building can be used for concerts and other performances. British cinemagoers see mainly English
and American films, though many of the foreign films are often shown in London and in the South of the
country. In our country cinema going is not so popular now as it was earlier. People prefer to stay at home and
to watch TV or video. I like to watch films very much. I prefer thrillers, comedies and horror movies, but I do
not like tragedies and melodra¬mas very much, and I hate soap operas, although they are becoming very
popu¬lar in our country. My favorite film is … with ... starring. It is really wonderful from the beginning to the
end. There are a lot of films, which are worth see¬ing, but this one is the best one to my mind.
Seasons (Сезоны года)
There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. March, April and May are spring
months. Spring is the most pleasant of all the seasons of the year. The weather is getting warmer and warmer;
everything changes and seems to revive. The trees begin to bud. Sometimes it rains, but there are no rough
winds; the sun shines brightly. The grass is green and one can see a lot of flowers peeping out from it. In spring
all the migratory birds return. They sing sweetly on the branches of the trees. The summer months are June,
July and August. Summer is the hottest season of the year. The days are longest in summer. The longest day of
the year is the 22-nd of June. Some people like summer best of all. All of us enjoy summer with its cloudless
sunshine, with its gardens and meadows full of flowers. There is a lot of fruit and vegetables at that time. In
summer many people leave town and spend the hottest time in the country or at the seaside. After summer
autumn comes. The autumn months are September, October and November. The warm days of early autumn
are called the «Golden Autumn». The «Golden Autumn» is really beautiful with its yellow, red and brown trees
and golden leaves falling down. Autumn is the season of fruit and vegetables. But the days become shorter and
the nights longer and darker. The weather is not so good as in spring and in summer. It often rains and the air
gets colder and colder. Winter is the coldest season of the year. The winter months are December, January and
February. The winter days are short and gloomy. It often snows and it freezes. Winter is a very beautiful season
too. Some people like it very much. It is pleasant to walk when it is not very cold and it snows. The ground is
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covered with snow. The trees and the roofs are white with snow too. Winter also gives great opportunities for
those who go in for winter sports. I think every season has a charm of its own.
Environmental Protection
(Защита окружающей среды)
I think that nature is the most wonderful thing in the world. It gives us its loveliness to enjoy and to admire.
Nature provides us with its riches: water and air, soil, mineral resources, flora and fauna, forests and fields. But
gone are the days when people thought that natural resources couldn't be exhausted. Unfortunately man's
activity has damaged greatly the state of the environment. It's a common knowledge that many species of flora
and fauna have already disappeared or are disappearing because of harmful actions of people. Dolphins and
whales are often found dead. Chemicals are accumulated in their bodies which caused problems with their liver,
immune and reproductive systems. Intensive way of farming and wide use of pesticides are the main reason
why the soil of our country is exhausted. Besides pesticides reduce birds’ food supplying. They kill worms and
snakes. This food shortage leads to death of many rare birds and animals. More than that great damage is also
caused by acid rains. Industrial plants send harmful substances and gases into the air. There they mix and are
carried for hundreds of miles by the wind. Finally they fall back on the earth when it rains. Acid rains kill fish,
trees and destroy the environment. There is no doubt, that there is a serious threat to our environment. More and
more people realize it. I think it's the moral duty of every citizen of our country as well as of the government to
take care about nature. As for our government its main aim is to preserve and to enhance the natural inheritance
of our country. Many people are involved in Greenpeace organization. Its main aim is to gather valuable
information about the state of the environment and to draw people's attention to this vital problem. I think we
have to look after our planet and to hand it in good order for the future generations.
Meals and Cooking (Еда и ее приготовление )
When we cook, we boil, roast, fry or stew our food. We boil eggs, meat, chicken, fish, milk, water and
vegetables. We roast meat or chicken. We fry eggs, fish and vegetables. We stew fish, meat, vegetables or
fruits... We put salt, sugar, pepper, vinegar and mustard into our food to make it salted, sweet, sour or simply
tasty. Our food may taste good or bad or it may be tasteless. The usual meals in England are breakfast, lunch,
tea and dinner or, in simpler houses, breakfast, dinner, tea and supper. For breakfast English people mostly have
porridge or corn flakes with milk or cream and sugar, bacon and eggs, marmalade with buttered toast and tea or
coffee. For a change they can have a boiled egg, cold ham or fish. English people generally have lunch about
one o'clock. At lunchtime in London restaurant one usually finds a mutton chop, or steak and chips, or cold
meat, or fish with potatoes and salad, then a pudding or fruits to follow. Afternoon tea can hardly be called a
meal. It is a substantial meal only in well-to-do families. It is between five and six o'clock. It is rather a sociable
sort of thing, as friends often come in then for a chat while they have their cup of tea, cake or biscuit. In some
houses dinner is the biggest meal of the day. But in majority of English homes the midday meal is the chief one
of the day, and in the evening there is usually a much simpler supper — an omelets, or sausages, sometimes
bacon and eggs and sometimes just bread and cheese, a cup of coffee or cocoa and fruits.
Our Health (Наше здоровье)
When we are ill, we call a doctor, and he examines us and diagnoses the illness. When we have a headache, a
sto¬machache, a sore throat, a cold or a pain in some parts of the body, we call a doctor. He takes our
temperature and our pulse. He examines our heart, our lungs, our stomach or the part where we have pain, and
tells us what the matter is with us. The doctor prescribes medicine, and gives us a prescription, which we take
62
to the chemist's, who makes up the medicine. If you follow the doctor's orders, you get better; if you disobey
the doctor, you may get worse, and even die. We must obey the doctor, if we want to get better. If we have a
temperature, we must stay in bed and take the medicine he prescribes. If we cannot get better at home we must
go to hospital. If we are too ill to walk, we go to hospital in the ambu-lance. After our illness we can go to a
sanatorium until we are strong again. When we have toothache, we go to the dentist's. He examines our teeth,
finds the tooth, which hurts us, stops or extracts it. Now here in Russia health system incorporates a variety of
medical institutions. The medical service in Russia is of two kinds. Some state establishments give their
employees medical insurance cards. They guarantee the people free of charge medical assistance. Some medical
establishments charge fees for treatment. They may be rather high, but our medical service now uses all modern
equipment and medicines and provides qualified medical help to all people.
Education [,edju’keIS(q)n] (Образование)
It is widely known that education helps to form the personality and prepares one for life. That is why all
countries consider the system of education a very important part of national politics.
It Russia, everyone has the right to receive education guaranteed by the Constitution. This right is realized by
the broad development of compulsory secondary education, vocational, specialised secondary and higher
education and also by the development of a system of scholarships, grants, evening and correspondence
courses. In Russia there is nine-year compulsory education, but to enter a university one has to study two years
more. School starts at the age of six for Russian children. But most of them have learned letters in kindergarden
which is now part of primary school. Primary and secondary schools together comprise eleven years of study.
Every school has a "core curriculum" of Russian, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education. A variety of
elective subjects are taught at lyceums and gymnasiums.
After finishing secondary school, lyceum or gymnasium one can go on to higher education. All applicants
must take competitive examinations. Higher education institutions train undergraduate and graduate students in
one or several specializations. The system of higher education in Russia, is going through a transitional period.
The main objectives of the reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of
autonomy in higher education institutions, expansion of academic freedoms for faculties and students,
development of new financial mechanisms. All Russian schools until recently have been state-subsidized.
Americans also place a high value on education. Universal access to high quality education has been one of
the nation’s historic goals.
America's first college, Harward, was founded in 1636. In 1865 education became available to all. The
peculiar feature of American education is the absence of central administration. Each of the 50 states controls
and directs its own schools. Most states require that children attend schools from the time they reach six or
seven years old until they are sixteen or seventeen.
There is no uniform school organization or curriculum throughout the nation. But certain common features
exist. Preschool education is part of the elementary school. Elementary I and secondary schools consist of
twelve years of classes which meet for about ten months a year, five days a week and five hours a day. Almost
every elementary school curriculum includes English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Music, Art I and
Physical Education. Many schools include classes teaching basic computer skills.
After graduating from secondary schools a growing number of Americans go on to higher education.
American institutions of higher education include: technical training schools, community colleges, colleges
offering four-year bachelor degree programmes and universities which contain one or more colleges, and
graduate schools offering master's or doctoral degree programmes. The factors determining an institution's
prestige are the quality of the teaching faculty, quality of research facilities, the number and competence of
applicants for admission.
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The British system of education has a very long history, but in the past few years there have been many
changes in it British education was traditionally decentralized, but now the Education Reform Act has led to a
compulsory National Curriculum for pupils aged five to sixteen in state schools. The Act also aims to give
parents a wider choice of schools for their children. Thus they have the right to express a preference for a
school.
Boys and girls are taught together in most schools. Nonselective comprehensive education caters for children
of all abilities. Most children receive free education financed from public funds. 7% of children attend private
fee-paying schools.
Around half of 3- and 4-years-olds in Britain receive nursery education and many children attend preschool
play groups, mostly organised by parents. Compulsory primary education begins at the age of 5. Children
usually в tart their school career in an infant school and move to a junior school or department at seven. In
some schools they move to middle school at the age of eight, nine or ten. These three stages form the primary
school, covering the following subjects: English, Maths and Science, History, Geography, Music, Art and
Physical Education.
At seven and eleven years old (and at secondary school at fourteen and sixteen) teachers measure children's
progress in each subject against attainment targets. For each target there are ten levels of attainment.
The secondary level includes the children from eleven to eighteen. Here they build on the knowledge they
have aquired at primary school. And according to the National Curriculum they start to learn a modern foreign
language. At the age of sixteen they can get General Certificate of Secondary Education qualifications on the
basis of examinations and course work.
If pupils are successful they can continue to more advanced education and training. After a further two years
of study the General Certificate of Education Advanced level exam is taken at the age of eighteen and can be
combined with the Advanced Supplementary level exam to provide a wider range of subjects. These exams are
the main standard for entry to university education and to many forms of professional training. There is also a
Certificate of Pre-Vocational Education for those who stay at school till seventeen. This provides a preparation
for work on vocational courses.
For those leaving school at sexteen there are Further Education colleges. Most of them are work-related and
vocational.
The next stage is higher education. All British universities enjoy complete academic freedom. There are
seventy-nine universities, Oxford and Cambridge being the oldest of them. Over 90% of students receive
awards covering tuition fees and maintenance.
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British and American families
- Британские и американские семьи
British and American families are small. In fact the populations of both Britain and the USA have stopped
growing. The typical family has a father, mother and two children. Grandparents come to visit, but do not
usually live with their children. Most people get married between the ages of 20 and 23 but many marriages end
in divorce. This means that both countries have a large number of "single parent families", one father or mother
looking after their children alone. The typical British family has a car, a colour TV set, a washing machine, and
a cat or dog as well. They start the day at about 7 o'clock, have breakfast at 8. and are off to work by 8.30 .
More and more women now go out to work as well as men. The children have lunch at school at about 12.30,
and come home at 4 in the afternoon. Their parents are usually home by 6 o'clock, and the family eats together
at 6.30 or 7. In the evenings, father may go to the pub for a drink, or stay at home and watch TV with the
others. Children go to bed early, at about 8 o'clock, two or three hours before their parents. The typical
American family has more money than a British family. Many have two or three cars, large modern kitchens
and more electrical goods. They eat more meat and spend more on clothes. But their daily programme is nearly
the same. Like British children, American children eat lunch at school, come home mid-afternoon, and go to
bed earlier than their parents.
My family
- Моя семья (1)
Our family is large (small, not very large). We are the family of seven (two, three, four, five, six): my mother,
my father, my grandmother, my grandfather, my sister, my brother and I. My mother's name is … She is …
years old. She is a teacher (a doctor, a worker, an engineer). She is a very nice, kind and clever woman. My
father's name is ... He is ... years old. He is a worker (a teacher, an engineer, a doctor, a businessman). He is
lather tall and strong. He is a man of strong character - and all of us love him very much. My grandmother's
name is ... She is ... years old. She does not work now, she is a pensioner, but she has a lot of work to do about
the house. All of us try to help her. My grandfather' s name is... He is... years old. He is a pensioner too. My
brother and sister are students (pupils). There names are ... They are older (younger) than me. We are a very
good family. We love each other very much. In the evenings, when all the members of our family get together
after work and study, we like to watch TV, to read books and newspapers, to talk about different things and to
discuss all our problems together. When the weather is good we sometimes go for a walk. We have a small
house in the country with a garden and a kitchen-garden. There is much work there and on week-ends we go
there and work and have rest all together.
My family - Моя семья (2)
We are 4 at our family: my mother, father, my elder brother and I. I think, our family is friendly, united. We
spend much time together, go for a walk in the woods, visit theaters, museums, go to the cinema. My mother's
name is Luidmila Mikhailovna. She is an engineer, she works in an office. She is a kind, nice woman. She can
cook very well. She is fond of reading. My father's name is Konstantin Alexeevich. He is a sailor. He is a
strong, clever man. He often tells me interesting stories about different countries. Father can do a lot of things.
He teaches me to repair furniture, to drive a car. My brother's name is Alexei. He is 22 years old. He have been
studied in Far- Eastern State Marine Academy for 5 years. Now it is a very difficult period for him: he is
passing through state exams. I have my duties about the house. I must go shopping, clean the rooms. It's not
difficult for me. I like our home to be clean and tidy. I think home is the nicest place. As proverb says, . There
is no place more delightful than home and there are no people more dear than your relatives.
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My family - Моя семья (3)
I haven't got a family of my own yet, so I shall speak about my parents' family. There are four of us: my father,
Sergey Viktorovich, my mother, Irina Pavlovna, my younger brother Anton, and myself Alexandr, Alex for
short. First of all some about my parents. My mother is a house-wife. She is a good-looking woman with brown
hair. She is thirty-four but she looks much younger. My father is employee of Bank. He is very experienced. He
is a broad-shouldered, tall man with fair hair and grey eyes. He is forty. My parents have been married for
eighteen years. They have much in common, but they have different views on music, books, films, sports. For
example, my father likes horror films and my mother likes "soap operas". My father is fond of tennis. My
mother doesn't go for sports. But my parents have the same opinion about my education and upbringing. My
parents are hard-working people. My mother keeps house and takes care of me, my brother and my father. She
is very good at cooking and she is clever with her hands. She is very practical. My brother and I try to help her
with the housework. I wash the dishes, go shopping and tidy our flat. My brother's name is Anton. He is
thirteen years old. He is a schoolboy. I want to become a student. I'd like to learn mathematics. We have got a
lot of relatives. We are deeply attached to each other and we get on very well.
My family - Моя семья (4)
In my opinion family is one of the most important things in one's life. Almost all our life we live within a
family. There are five of us in the family: My father - Iliy Nikolaevich, my mother Vera Pavlovna, my elder
brother Michael and the youngest child in our family my ten-year old sister Olga. I think it would be right if I
begin with my parents. They have been married for 20 years now. They met each other at the institute where
they studied together both of them were in their first year then. Howeevfr it was not until their last year at the
institute when they got married. My father is a chief sales-manager in a firm which sells various computer
equipment. Many years ago after he had graduated from the institute he became an electronic engineer in one of
the Moscow research institutes. His firm has several branches in some other big towns in Russia such as St
Petersburg, Voronez, Novosibirsk and others. So he has to travel a lot. My father is an only wager in our family
but as he is very good at his job his firm pays him a good salary. However his Saturdays and Sundays are
wholly devoted to his family. In youth he went in for sport so we often play either football or volleyball which
are his favourite games. My mother is a housewife. A year after she graduated from the institute my elder
brother was born and she had to stay at home. Later it was decided that she would run the house and look after
the family. My mother is a nice looking woman. She is of medium heigth. Her hair is dark and she usually
wears a bun. So most of her time is devoted to housework. Except for the time when soaps are shown on TV.
She adores them though my father thinks they are silly. He like most men prefers detective stories and action
films. My elder brother is now in his third year at the Moscow State University. He studies at the Geographical
faculty. He was keen on Geography when at school and wanted to travel to places yet unknown. I personally
think that it was the spirit of adventures that made him go to the Geographical faculty. The youngest member of
out family is ten-year old Olga. She goes to the colledge in the neighbouring town and spends there five days a
week. So we see her only on Saturday and Sunday and during her holidays. In spite of her age she enjoys living
in a colledge and always looks forward to going there after holidays. She has got lots of friends there. Our
family is very united and we like to spend our free time together.
My family - Моя семья (5)
I am Zhilin Andrey. Andrey is my name and Zhilin is my surname. I am seventeen years old. I want to tell you
a few words about my family. My family is not large. I have got mother, father and grandmother. There are four
of us in the family. First of all some words about my parents. My mother is a teacher of biology. She works in a
school. She likes her profession. She is a good-looking woman with brown hair. She is 44 but she looks much
younger. My father is computer-programmer. He is forty-six. My father often sings and when we are at home
and have some free time I play the guitar and we sing together. He is also handy with many things. When he
was small he liked to take everything to pieces. My grandmother told me a story that ones my father tried to
repair their kitchen clock but with out success. They had to give it to a repairman. But it happened a long time
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ago. Now he can fix almost everything. My parents have been married for 18 ears. They have much in
common, but they have different views on music, books, and films. For example my father likes horror films
and my mother likes soap operas. My father is fond of tennis. My mother doesn’t go in for sports. My parents
are hard working people. My mother keeps house and takes care of my father and me. She is very good at
cooking. My grandmother is a pensioner. She lives with us and helps to run the house. She is fond of knitting. I
want to become a student. I’d like to learn foreign languages. I always try to be in a good mood. We have got a
lot of relatives.
My family - Моя семья (6)
Family, in my opinion, is someone who loves you and whom you love either. It can be not only your parents
but also people who are dear to you, who take care of you. If you have someone who can do everything for you
and you can do the same – you are lucky you have a family. I think that the family in this point of view is one
of the most important things in our life, and people who have no family are always lonely and moreover nobody
takes care of them. It’s wrong to think that your family is only your father and mother your family consists of
all the dearest people. For example orphans have no parents but maybe on their lifeways they meet people who
become dear and important for them and they name it family. Or when you grow up and go away from your
parents you meet someone who is another half of you – this man is also your family. To some up your family is
your parents, your dearest friends and sweethearts. To say about family like a child and father and mother it’s
not always but often the worm of home and kindness of parents. The child without parents can’t enjoy the life
other children live. And we have to take care of people, who are dear to us, especially if you’re the only child in
a family because all love and care parents give only to you. And you shouldn’t break their heart. From one hand
it’s great to be the only child in a family but in some cases it’s not. On the plus side parents always ready to
help you but on the contrary when there is too much care it seems not to be good, because you cannot show
your independence, do something yourself. Also you can feel lonely and bored. But your parents often do
whatever their child want and if it’s necessary they help you and warn. They always spend their time doing
something together with child to make him happy or teach something. And you have to appreciate their care
and love. Because nobody except them love you so much and know a lot about you. As for me, I am the only
child in family. And sometimes I think about how will I live if I have a sister or brother. Sometimes it is so
boring to be at home along. I think about my parents, that all my childhood they helped me and did everything
for me. But it doesn’t mean that I’m the main person in my family. Family it’s also our grandmothers,
grandfathers, aunts, uncles. And the family tree has a long history of generations that sometimes are so ancient
that we cannot remember the member of it, the name and occupation. And of coarse we know about our
forefathers from our grandparents. As for me it’s really interesting to know who lived before me. And when I
begin to ask my parents about forefathers I find for myself a lot of interesting things. For example some
features of character which I have or part of appearance. But it’s a pity that I know not a lot of people in my
family branch.
The family relationships - Семейные отношения
The family is very important as a unit in our society. Nothing else but family can be an emotional center of
people's life, can be a transmitter of culture and raising children. Every mother feels great affection for her
children and tries to bring them up in a proper way. Understanding between the members of the family and
consideration for others are very important in family relationship. Tenderness, warm-heartedness and respect
must always be present in the family to make it friendly. A lot of activities help members of the family to be on
friendly terms: discussing all the family plans together, going on trips hikes together, visiting museums,
theaters, exhibitions and exchanging opinions about them, sharing the same joys and sorrows. If you think of
the others in the family you show your love and attention in everyday life, you can hurt them if you are selfish,
not sincere and rude. It is very important to visit relatives on holidays, on birthdays, on anniversaries and
develop close relationship. We feel more affection for our relatives when we are parted from them. The proverb
says, " /Absence makes the heart grow fonder". When the family is friendly, everybody has the warmed
feelings of returning home where dear relatives are waiting for them. There are different opinions on how
children should be treated if they disobey their parents, break the rules, do forbidden things, don't keep their
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words or promises. Some people think that parents should be patient, kind and understanding. The rules and
children's behaviors are discussed in such families. But others believe that children ought always to obey the
parents and if they won't they should be punished. From my point of view, such principles won't do a lot of
good. Fear and punishment will lead to selfishness, cruelty and lies. But "love and kindness will save the
world". We are the family of two. I live with my mother. We don't have such problems as misunderstanding
between the members of the family. I think that it is due to the age of my parents and their character. My
mother is 40 years old, she is layer. She is a kind, clever and responsible woman. My mother always ready to
give me necessary information, moral support and a good advice. It is common knowledge that there is no place
like a home. We are dedicated to our homes, we give them much love, care and enthusiasm. A man's house is
his castle. I like my home and I want to tell you more about it. I live in Kuprijanov st. in center of our city. We
moved into this flat several years ago. Now it is a place where I feel it ease and enjoy every minute of my stay
there. We have a washing-machine, a vacuum cleaner, a refrigerator, a freezer, hand-mixer, computer and other
things which I consider to be quite necessary as they make our life easier and help to solve a lot of problems in
the shortest possible time. We have 2 rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. When you drop into our flat you come
into a lobby, where you can take off your coat, shoes and hat. I'm very happy to have a room for myself, where
I feel quite and comfortable. It is a place where I can relax, read a book and listen to music. There are yellow
blinds and a writing table, a sofa, a bookcase where my favorite books are situated. There are a lot of things in
my room which can tell about myself, about my friends and relatives. You can find frames with photos of my
parents and best friends on the walls, little pictures. They remind me happy moments of my life and that is why
are very dear for me. You may be surprised, but the most popular and favorite place with all of us is the
kitchen. Every Sunday my mother makes a cake and we gather together, discuss our problems and make plans
for the next week. Our kitchen isn't large and looks the usual modern kitchen you can see in many other homes.
I can tell a lot about my home, but to make a long story short I can say, that speaking about my home, I don't
mean a flat as it is , I mean people, who are dear to me, who love me and are always waiting for me. That is
why, wherever I were I would always hurry home.
Choosing a career - Выбор карьеры (1)
Choosing a career it is not a simple matter, because you chose one of the most important things in your life. It is
important to suit your career. It is important when your career is your vocation in life. Skill, persistence and
many others qualities are requires in any job. There are 4 types of jobs. 1-st category is the man and machines
are for those who want to be an engineer and worker. They have to be patient, accurate, working-hatred man.
The 2-on category is a man and people. The professions of a doctor, teacher, especially if you love children.
You must be friendly, kind and attentive to others. The 3-rd category is a man and a nature. You must love
nature and must take care of it. They become agronomists, biologists and work in agriculture. The 4-th category
is man and arts. To this category there belong fashion designers, window-dressers, writers, poets, musicians,
painters and artists. These people are enthusiastic, imaginative and creative. We don't know if it would be a
right or wrong choice. My ideas may change as I grow up.
Choosing a career - Выбор карьеры (2)
Everyone needs at least one profession in his life. So when you begin spending sleepless nights thinking about a
job and money, when you think longingly of the plans for the future it's no doubt about it you're ready to choose
most suitable career for you. So in the world there are very and very many different professions: you can work
with people as a doctor, a lawyer, a receptionist, a teacher, etc.; on the enterprise, bank, school and state
institution. And what kind of a profession you choose is mainly depend on yourself. And I think it's very
difficult task for everybody. And now there is such situation in the life that it is very difficult to find some
worthy job especially suitable for you. So if you want some-how to get a gob, you can make plans for the future
when you study still at school. It's a good idea to take different factors into account: job satisfaction - your
future job must satisfy you; money - it's important that your future profession must be well-paid or you must
have a high salary to support the family, etc; good conditions; training; traveling and so on; the place of work in the office, from home, in the open area, abroad, etc. In the past, when I was at age of 10, I dream of
becoming a lawyer because I wanted to be like Mason from the Santa-Barbara. He was very energetic,
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talkative, inventive, enterprise, creative, adventurous and enthusiastic. I wanted to work with people and help
them. But now I can say that I made up my mind what to do in the future. I think I have an aptitude for working
with figures and solving financial problems and I am interested in knowing how money is made. So I think I
can work as an economist in the financial field. I think that it is more in demand now especially in banks where
a really good specialist can have a lot of money. The success of this profession depends on mainly my
education. So I want to enter to the Vyatka State Technical University on the social-economics faculty in spite
of the very high competition. I think I'll be able to enter there because I have a good knowledge of English and
mathematics to pass the exams. So when I'll finish the University I'm going to work in the father's office as a
financial consultant and specialist in this field. I think I will not disappoint my father about this job because I'm
energetic, communicative, enterprise and quick by nature.
Choosing a career - Выбор карьеры (3)
Many students when they finish high school do not have a clear idea of what they want to do in future. Part of
the problem is the size of the job market. With so many kinds of work (2000) how can you tell what will
interest you? Some of the occupations are already overcrowded. In old industries there may be a little need of
new workers, while new and growing industries will offer good jobs now and in the future. Finally how can you
make the best use of you personal talents? Those who know themselves often find the best jobs. Choosing a
career is not easy for most people, yet it is one of the most important decisions you make in your life. It is of
most importance to explore your choice of occupation from every angle, collect as much information as you
can. Above all - evaluate yourself. Be sure you know your own interests and talents. Unfortunately not
everyone takes this trouble. Those who don't can make costly mistakes. For example many young people
simply follow in the footsteps of their parents or relatives. But is not always an appropriate step. Postponing a
decision is another error people make. A lot of young men think that way: "I'll get started tomorrow or next
week or next year". These people refuse to face the problem, hoping it will go away. But if you don't make the
first step now, how can you plan for the future? Everyone has skills and talents but yours may not be so
obvious. Make a list of your interests, your talents and abilities. Most people have a lot of these but they are
undeveloped and may not seem outstanding. By concentrating on a few or on one you may surprise yourself
and everyone with how good you can get. When choosing a future career it is important to keep in the
consideration the following things: - do you like meeting and dealing with people; - do you like to work inside;
- do you enjoy thinking about problems; - do you enjoy working with your hands; - do you like working on you
own; - do you enjoy being creative. Analyzing all this will help not to make wrong choice. The majority of jobs
may be divided into several groups: clerical, scientific, practical, outdoor, creative and social. I can't say the
exact group, in which my future occupation will be. Anyway I don't think that my future occupation is
described in these groups. It can also be a mixture of different types of jobs. For example clerical and scientific.
I like meeting and dealing with people, and I'm quite sure, that it will help me in my future profession, whatever
it is. I don't mind working inside, besides the weather in our region is very often not suitable for outdoor works.
To tell the truth I do not enjoy working with my hands, I would prefer to think and solve different problems. I
can't say that I enjoy working on my own, but often it can be pleasant and productive to work alone. I enjoy
being creative, instead of feeling someone's authority on me. I am quite confident in pointing the character
features needed to my future occupation and to most of the occupations. These are: ability to learn quick,
politeness, creativeness, accurateness, adaptability, friendliness, capability and others. You must also be a good
team member. I think that in this or that degree I posses all these qualities, but some of them need to be
developed.
Choosing a career - Выбор карьеры (4)
I agree that choosing career is not a simple matter. And I'm still hesitating about my future profession. But I
want my profession to be connected with computers, because I have the computer at home and I am learning to
use it. And I think that computer professions would be popular in a few years and it won't be difficult to find a
good and well paid job, especially if you can work on the computer better then the others. That is one more
reason why I want to connect my future with computers. I am sure that human's future is impossible without
modern and progressive computer technologies and that is why some new professions, connected with
69
computes, will appear in future. Of course, our school computer lessons teach us how to use computer and give
a basic knowledge , but it is not enough for future and it is necessary to continue education in a higher
establishments. As I have a computer at home I have the facility for self-education. I believe that it is rather
effective because there are a lot of good books, which can help you, learn different things about computers. I
have a computer for a several years and I've already learnt a lot about this product of the 20th century. Now I
can easily make programs, print documents and referats and then print them on a special machine, called
printer, draw different pictures, which are close to professional pictures. I think that my parents, relatives and
other experienced people can give me a good advice about choosing future profession. There are not so many
establishments specialized on computer in Archangel, which I want to enter. But, first of all, I want to finish the
school. Because, to my mind, only after getting the highest education, we can succeed in life. I am sure that
knowledge of English could be of great help in my career, connected with computers, because the majority of
"soft" is in English. On computer slang "soft" means computer equipment. And that is why every computer men
should possess the good, or even brilliant knowledge of English.
I have a dream to be a doctor - Я мечтаю стать
доктором
There are many interesting and noble professions. I want to become a doctor. I like this profession and I am
eager to get a medical education and work at a hospital. It is a good tradition in our family. My mother is a
doctor, my grandfather is a doctor and I want to be a doctor, too. When I was a little boy my grandfather
worked at a hospital and I spent some time at the hospital with him. He is a surgeon and works in a surgical
department. Day by day he takes care of his hospital patients, he treats them well. He is very attentive. Every
day he comes into wards asking patients, "What do you complain of?" He wants all people to be able-bodied
and he tries to treat his in-patients in a proper way. To operate on persons is his main task. He is a kind and
skilled surgeon. Every day he comes into an operating-room and operates on his in-patients. After each
operation he takes care of his in-patients. Day by day he helps them to recover and he is glad when he can say,
"My in-patient is quite recovered." Sometimes he advises his in-patients to go to sanatoriums after leaving the
hospital. He instructs them in detail what they can do and eat after their operations. My grandfather tells me a
lot of true stories about doctors, their profession, their aid for people. I respect my grandfather. I like his
profession and I have a dream to be a doctor, too.
It is difficult to choose a profession - Сложно
выбрать свою профессию
Two occupations attract me a lot. I like to talk with small children and explain things to them and I like to write
computer programs. I often think which one is most favourable and can not decide which profession to choose.
I was born in a family of a teacher. When I was a little girl I went to school with my mother attending her
lessons. I watched her and I wanted my mother to be a favourite and most respected teacher and the older friend
for the pupils. Once our English teacher caught a cold. I was in the 9th form then and was fond of English. The
head teacher asked me to give an English lesson in the 5th form. I entered the classroom and was terrified at
first with all those pupils' eyes stared at me. But I tried to get concentrated and said "Good morning" in a quite
and friendly voice. Then it was all right. I wanted the pupils to like English just like I do. We read, wrote, sang
songs, asked and answered questions. Since then I gave English lessons for several times when the teacher was
absent and it was an exciting experience. So, I know the job well and I was quite certain which profession
should I choose until daddy bought a personal computer. Since then everything has changed much. First it was
impossible for me to understand how it works. Now I am an amateur programmer and my father says that I am
certainly have an ability for programming. I still have a year ahead to decide, but now I am not quite sure...
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My future career - Моя будущая карьера
When you leave school you understand that the time to choose your future profession, your future life has
become. It’s not an easy to make the right choice of a job. I have known for long time that leaving school is the
beginning of my independent life, the beginning of a far more serious examination of my abilities and
character. What do I want to be when I leave school? It’s very important question for me. A few years ago it
was difficult for me to give a definite answer. As the years passed I changed my mind a lot of times about what
science or field of industry to specialize in. It’s difficult to make up my mind and choose one of the hundreds
jobs to which I might be better suited. A coupe of years ago I wanted to become a doctor, you know I wanted to
help people who had problems with health. Then I wanted to become a policeman, then a spaceman, I even
wanted to become a professional football player. But all of them now are in the past; they were like children’s
dreams and nothing more. Now I have already decided what to do. I’d like to be an aviator. I know that it’s very
difficult. I should know perfectly everything about the planes, airports, weather and other things. You know that
the weather is very important thing for the flights too. I must be well educated and well informed. So that’s why
at first I am going to go to the Aviation University in Moscow, then when I finish studding I’ll go to my
country to try to get a job in the air companies. You know may be something will be not OK, because I don’t
know what will happen tomorrow, but I know that I’ll do everything to realize my plane and my dreams. I also
want to say that the profession should be chosen according to the character and hobbies of the person. That’s
why parents mustn’t make their children choose the thing they like (parents like). Children must do it
themselves. Because they must love the thing they do, believe that people need them and their job will bring
them more pleasure.
My future profession - Моя будущая профессия (1)
The end of school is the start of our independent life and the beginning of the most serious examination we
have passed. In order to do well at this examination it is necessary to choose the right road in life which will
help us best to live and work for own good and for the benefit of our country. Many broad ways will open
before the pupils when they leave a secondary school. Everybody will have a chance to develop and use
knowledge and education received during the school years. There are a lot of different trades and professions,
and each one must choose the occupation in which he or she can best develop one's own talent and abilities.
Our society needs well-educated people. Nowadays the profession of an economist has become one the most
useful, modern and interesting. That is because our country is moving towards market economy and different
forms of property are being established. There is a place for an economist at every plant and factory. An
economist exercises different functions. He or she can determine the structure of an enterprise and calculate
costs as well as probable profits. An economist analyses the condition of the market and prospects for its
development in the future. His or her practical use of electronic computers is a must. The activities of an
economist at an enterprise range from bookkeeper control the financial state of an enterprise and perform a lot
of useful calculations. A manager is an actual administrator. Having a good command of the economic situation
in the region and the demands of the market a person with an economist's diploma may establish his own
business, or he may become a partner of a joint venture. It is very important for an economist to know a foreign
language, especially English. That is because contracts between our country and many countries of the world
are becoming wider with every coming day. Every economist has a chance to go abroad or to deal with foreign
businessmen coming to our country. But to become a good economist one must work hard and get not only
theoretical knowledge but also great practical skills.
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My future profession - Моя будущая профессия (2)
There are a lot of interesting and useful professions. I am going to become a teacher. I suppose my future
profession to be one of the most important nowadays. My future speciality is English (Literature, Russian,
History, Geography). I love children very much and to become a teacher has been my dream since my early
childhood. To teach and to bring up children is the most important and noble thing, to my mind. I am eager to
get the proper education to be able to do my best to teach my future pupils my favourite subject. I'll try not only
to help them to master it. I'll try to help them to become good and clever people, to be honest, kind and noble.
Children are our future and I want them to be really good and educated people. Of course, the profession of a
teacher is not an easy one. It demands a lot of knowledge, a lot of tenderness of feeling and sometimes a lot of
patience. But I hope, that I'll be a good teacher and that my pupils will like me and my subject.
My plans for the future - Мои планы на будущее (1)
When you leave school you understand that the time to choose your future profession has come. It’s not an easy
task to make right choice of a job. You can start a working career go into business or continue schooling to
receive a higher education. There is one institute or a few institutes is nearly every Russian city. There are
dozens of them in Moscow and St. Petersburg. If you want to get a professional training you can enter a
technical college. There are over 2000 professions to choose and make a decision. It is a dilemma for all family.
Fathers usually wants their children to follow their footsteps. Mothers don’t want their sons and daughters to
leave the native town. So they persuade kids to enter local colleges and universities. Because of the wide
difference in jobs, you should find out all you can about any job which interests you. This can be done by going
to the library and by reading widely, and also by talking to adults who have different kinds of jobs. You also
need to think about how well you can do what you would like to do. Some follow their parents advice and some
follow their own choice. To make the right choice you should consider your traits and characters. To become a
good doctor you must be patient, easygoing and kind/ The teacher’s work requires love for children, profound
knowledge of subjects and the ability to explain. Detective’s job is very stressful. He must be brave, fair and
strong. A couple of years ago I wanted to become a doctor. I thought it was a very noble profession. I was good
at biology at the 8 and 9 forms. I wanted to help people who had problems with their health. I know that a
doctor should be noble in work and life, kind and attentive to people, honest and prudent. A doctor who is
selfish and dishonest can’t be good at his profession. I tried to do my best to develop good traits in myself. Now
I have already decided what to do. I’d like to be a teacher. I know that it is very difficult to be a good teacher.
You should know perfectly the subject you teach, you must be well-educated and well-informed. A good
teacher develops in his students a desire for knowledge and love for truth and beauty. Teaching must be the
greatest of all the arts. It is a great responsibility to educate the children. I think that’s the reason why teachers
are deeply respected. More and more people realize that every educated person should know a foreign
language. That is why I’m going to become an English teacher. I liked English when we first started learning it
is still my favourite subject. I will try to enter the department of foreign languages at the University. You study
5 years at Russian universities. After your final exams you are a qualified teacher of English. University
education is deep and many-sided. Some students like a post-graduate course to follow an academic career.
Most university graduates take up teaching and return to school. I know that a teacher’s job is quite difficult. A
teacher can’t say that he knows everything in his field. He goes on learning his subject during all his career to
be able to answer any question. He should be an example of competence. So choosing a career and getting a job
are two of the most important things, any person does in his lifetime. If we don’t think about the future, we
won’t have
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My plans for the future - Мои планы на будущее
(2)
When millions of young people leave school, they begin an independent life. Some of them start working, go
into business, some of them continue schooling to receive a higher education. Young people can learn about
professions in magazines and advertisements. Magazines for teenagers often offer questionnaires, quizzes or
surreys to help young people to find out what their interests and abilities are more clearly and to make a
decision concerning their future occupation. While choosing a career you should take into consideration main
demands that you want your future profession to meet: the profession must be interesting, you have to be sure
of your future (that means that you will be able to find a job after graduation from the university), a profession
must be well-paid, otherwise you won’t be able to support yourself and your future family. During our school
life we begin to think about our future life, our job. There over 2000 professions in the world, so it is quite
difficult to choose and to make a decision. Some follow their own choice and some follow their relation’s,
teacher’s, parent’s advice, because they can guide them and help to make a decision concerning future plans. I
have never had a question, what I am going to do when I graduate from my school. I have known from
childhood that I want to be a linguist. I have chosen this profession, because a knowledge of foreign languages
and foreign cultures is growing in importance nowadays. Foreign languages are needed as the main and the
most efficient mean of information exchange between the people of our planet. Although there are 3000
languages, English is the most universal. It is the language of progressive science and technology, trade and
cultural relations, and business. It is the universal language of international aviation, shipping, sports, medicine.
English is the official language in nearly forty countries. It is spoken by more than 350 millions people and also
spoken as a second language in many parts of India and Africa. Besides, millions of people study English as a
foreign language . In our country English is very popular. It is studied at schools, colleges and universities. It is
important for me to learn English because I want to know what is going on round me in the world. With recent
advances in technology, the world is changing rapidly in many fields, such as business, arts and medicine.
These changes will affect me soon and its important for me to read and keep up with these changes. In fact,
learning English is the answer to a lot of the things that I need and want. And I can’t help mentioning the
quotation: “Every man is the maker of his own fortune.” In conclusion I would like to say it is an advantage to
choose our future career while at school. It gives us a goal to work towards and enables us to choose a right,
suitable course of study. I’d like to mention also that if we don’t think about our future, nobody will think for
us, so we just can’t have one. We must work hard to archive out ambitions and to realize our wishes, because
future is purchased by the present.
Problems of unemployment of young people Проблемы безработицы молодых людей (1)
People of almost every age are susceptible to this pernitious disease but it hits the youth the hardest. It's name is
unemployment. The persent-age of unemployed youth in the total number of the jobless is high. In many
developing countries the situation is more serious. Many young people to commit suside. Unless the economic
situation in the world changes, youth unemployment will mount. This prodictions refer to all catigories of
workers-with high and low skills in town and country. For all there possible distinctious,these young people
over outside the production structure of society. The are deprived the possebility of creting there are "surplus"
from time to time some may get a hit of luck, but the lot of the majority is to feel their unlessles to lose their
ideals and become disillusioned. Unemployment greatly intemcilicselle tendency among the youth towards,
drug education , frastretion and crime. This is a time bomb and is a heavy acusation of any social economic
system.
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Problems of unemployment of young people Проблемы безработицы молодых людей (2)
I think that the problem of youth employment is very actual and must be solved as quick as possible. Most of
young people in Russia nowadays get higher education chiefly because it is in basion now. They all go to
institutes or universities and even academies. But the quality of education nowadays leaves much to be desired.
As a result the country will have a lot of specialists especially doctors, managers and lowers. But their quality
will be very low. It is one problem. The other problem is that of finding working places for such a great number
of specialists. The Federal Government should do something about this problem. Creating those places for
young people is the burning question now. There must be a lot of new plants, factories, hospitals and other
enterprises to give jobs to all the graduates. But there is one more problem when people who leave one or
institutions are not satisfied with the working conditions and work as other specialists. As a result they have
only their diplomas but they do not work according to their professions. And it is also very bad. The
government should provide good working conditions for some spheres, which are not popular (for example give
more money and so on). In Russia young people are still a little suppressed, they have complexes but abroad the
life is quite different. Young people begin to work very early from the point of view of age, get more and more
experience out of their work and have more possibilities to realize themselves.
Studies and my plans for the future –
Учеба и мои планы на будущее
Let me introduce myself. My name is Sergey. I am leaving school this year. My dream is to become a student
of the Foreign Languages Department in the Krasnodar State University. I want to study English, German and
may be French. Knowledge of a foreign language opens a new world for us. If you know a foreign language
you can speak with foreigners and it is a way for better understanding. If you know a foreign language you can
read books in the original and in way you can better understand other people’s nature and culture. But for
knowing English one should learn every day. So I read the texts, translate them, try to find key-words and retell
them later. It is a very difficult work but I try to do my best. I learn new words by heart, work at grammar doing
innumerable exercises and listen to foreign speech, trying to answer the questions. When I am a student I’ll do
my best to master the foreign language I’ve chosen. After leaving the University I hope to become an
interpreter and work at the foreign firm.
The working day of an engineer –
Рабочий день инженера
One of my friend, Dmity Shevelev, lives in Vladivostok now though he was born in Nakhodka. Some years ago
he graduated from the one of our institutions and became an engineer. Now he lives near his office. He usually
walks there. He works on weekdays. I can't say that he work hard, but all his mates like him because he is a
good mixer or, as you may say, he is very communicable person. He doesn't work on Saturday or Sunday. His
working day usually lasts for eight hours. His duties are to answer all incoming letters and calls, to meet with
different specialists, to help young engineers. He often tells me that he likes his job. I usually meet him after the
work and we speak about life. He is very glad that he found such work where he can show all his talents.
Though there is a difference between our ages, we have much in common. He is among my best friends. By the
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way, my friend knows English rather well (he finished school #13). It helps him a lot as every year various
foreign delegations come to their office. These delegations change different technologies with our specialists
and discuss many problems. All foreigners thought Shevelev to be the best translator in their institute.
World of jobs - Мир работы
We spend great part of our lives at our jobs, so choosing a right career is one of the most important decisions
you will make in your life. Many students finish high school and begin college without a clear idea of what they
want to do in future. Part of the problem is the size of the job market itself. With so many kinds of jobs (2000)
how can you tell which will interest you? Some of occupations are already overcrowded. In old industries there
may be little need for new workers, while new and growing industries will offer jobs now and in the future.
Therefor, it is extremely important to explore your choice of occupations from every angle, collect as much
information as you can. But above all you must evaluate yourself. Find out where your interests and talents lie.
Postponing a decision is an error people make. "I'll get started tomorrow or next week, or next year," - many
people think. These people refuse to face the problem, hoping it will go away. But if you don't take the first step
now, how can you plan for the future, how can you take the right way? Such people miss many opportunities.
First start with yourself, make a list of your interests, talents and abilities. Most people have a lot of these, but
at the beginning they are undeveloped and may not seem outstanding. By concentrating on a few, or on one you
may surprise yourself at how good you can get. The interest inventory that follows covers the major fields in
which most people find careers: science, art, social service, business, sales and so on. Sometimes we say that
someone we know is 'a square peg in a round hole'. This means that person we are talking about is not suited for
the job he is doing. Unfortunately, many people in the world are 'square pegs'. But to be a 'square peg' is not a
real problem, a real problem for millions of people is to be unemployed. Unemployment especially hits poor
and working class families the hardest, not because this people are more likely to be unemployed, but because
they don't have financial resource to fall back on. Unemployment exists primarily for two reasons: first - the
existence of millions of unemployed people tends to present most of those working from asking for higher
wages since they can be replaced easily, second - in their search for profits, corporations are interested in
finding the cheapest labor. As for our country more than 10% of our people are unemployed. There is no lack of
work force in Russia, but at the resent moment the need for professional workers is increasing. Old industries
are overcrowded and it is hard to get new education for people whose age is 35-40 years. The problem of
unemployment is also connected with the economic crisis in our country. And I think when this crisis comes to
an end the problem of unemployment will not be so urgent.
My favorite book.
My favorite book is "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway. This story is one of the well-known
works of the writer. The author depicts the characters of the old man and the boy and their relations very
vividly and skillfully. Santiago, the old man, was one of the writer's beloved characters. The old man was a
born fisherman, but he was not a butcher and fished only for a living.
He was very lonely. He had a devoted friend - the boy, Manolin. The boy loved the old man for his kind heart,
his devotion to the sea. Manolin was like a son to Santiago. He took care of the old man's food and his
belongings.
The old man was glad to pass his experience to the boy. He looked forward to going to the sea together with the
boy.
All Santiago's life had been in preparation for the battle with big fish. He knew that he had been born for this
and it was time to prove it. A strong man at last had met a strong fish. The battle was a difficult one and full of
danger.
Though the sharks had eaten the fish and nothing had left but the backbone, the old man had morally won the
battle. Santiago's words "man can be destroyed but not defeated" are the main idea of this story.
"The Old Man and the Sea" is a masterpiece for its imaginative language and the description of nature.
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My Favorite Newspapers.
Newspapers and magazines play a great and very important role in the life of a modern man.
The newspapers I read are the most readable and have a large readership or circulation. For example
"Arguments and Facts" has a circulation of more than 5 million. Reading the newspaper I can get information
about current events that have taken or are going to take place in this country and abroad. I can also read
articles about historical events and public figures of the past. The pages of the newspaper carry articles on our
economy, industry, agriculture and social life.
The newspaper contains and gives coverage of local, home and foreign affairs.
I like the way it presents different points of view, approaches to the problems, topical issues of the day.
My parents and I subscribe to some periodicals. There is no need to read all the articles. I can look through the
newspapers and read the items I am interested in.
My Favorite Writer.
My favorite foreign writer is O.Henry. He was born in 1862. O.Henry is one of the most widely published
American authors. His works have been translated into many languages. The best of his stories were published
in books: ''Cabbages and Kings'', "The 4 million", "Heart of West" and others. His credo was-art should be true,
democratic, it should address contemporary life and embrace all aspects of life. O.Henry was an outstanding
humorist. He worked out and enriched all the types of the short story: the anecdote, the adventure story, tales
and sketches. He was most famous for his stories of city life. O.Henry wrote about 150 stories with a New York
background. He was a born writer of great talent. In childhood I was deeply impressed by his story "The Last
Leaf". Since then I bear in my heart the image of a young girl suffering from serious illness and her friends
doing everything they can do to give her hope and bring her back to life. The author penetrates deeply into a
person's soul and reveals its best qualities. His love for humanity, for common people, for critical attitude
towards injustice attracts readers to this day.
My Friend.
I'd like to tell you about my friend. She is my classmate. She is very diligent and kind-hearted. She is willing to
help old people and animals. She is good at mathematics. She is interested in history. She is bright girl and does
her lessons quickly and easily. She listens very attentively to all the explanations in class. She is extremely fond
of reading. I have much in common with her and we never quarrel, because there is no reason for it. We have
common ideas, opinions and we discuss different problems together. I think she is rather beautiful. She has a
snub nose, curly hair. She is a pretty girl.
My school
I study at school №159. It is situated in the center of our district close to my house. It takes me only 10 minutes
to get there. I go to school 5 times a week. We study different subjects: Russian, English, literature, history,
geography, biology, physics, chemistry, math and computer science.
Languages and history are my favorite subjects. I make much progress in these subjects.
Our school is a 3-storeyed modern building. It has many classrooms, specialized rooms, laboratories and
workshops.
Specialized rooms are used to study math, chemistry and other subjects. These rooms are equipped with
corresponding teaching materials, facilities and devices.
On the ground floor there is a library, a cloakroom, a dining room, workshops, a gymnasium and a head
master's office.
Our school is located in a picturesque place. The park where different trees, bushes and flowers grow surrounds
it. There is a play ground and a stadium near the building of the school.
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The English Language.
Knowledge of the foreign language is becoming more important nowadays. There are many reasons why we
study English. Now, in a period when we are reconstructing our economy, when there are many joint ventures
with foreign companies operating in our country, we need a number of specialists who know foreign languages.
If you know English, you can communicate (personally or in writing) with others who use this language.
If you wish to make a career in science, you must read scientific books and magazines in English. Knowing
English you can read the works of foreign writers in original.
A more general aim is to broaden our intellectual and cultural horizons through contacts with people of other
countries.
Knowledge of foreign languages helps people of different countries to develop mutual friendship and
understanding.
At the Theatre.
There are many theatres in my town, but they are all very popular with the public. Theatre lovers don't miss any
new performance at the Drama Theatre.
Children like to go to the Puppet Theatre and the circus.
Those who are fond of music go to the Opera House. I'll never forget my first visit to the Opera and Ballet
Theatre. My friend and I dreamt to see the famous ballet "Swan Lake" by Chaikovsky. The theatre was packed.
The audience was well dressed, talking and laughing. From the first minute I was deeply impressed by
everything I saw on the stage. The dancing was exciting, the music was thrilling. When the curtains fell at the
end of the performance there came a storm of applause. The performance was a great success.
Environmental Protection.
Since ancient times Nature has served Man, being the source of his life. For thousands of years people lived in
harmony with environment. But with the development of civilization man's interference with nature began to
increase.
Large cities with thousands of smoky industrial enterprises appear all over the world today. They pollute the air
we breathe, the water we drink, the land we live in. Many cities suffer from smog. Vast forests are cut and burnt
in fire.
As a result some rare species of animals, birds, fish and plants disappear forever.
Environmental protection is a universal concern. That is why serious measures to create a sistem of ecological
security should be taken.
Some progress has been already made in this direction. As many as 159 countries-members of UNO- have set
up environmental protection agencies. The accident at Chernobyl nuclear power station in April 1986 caused
radioactive pollution of a vast area.
The international organization Greenpease is also doing much to preserve the environment.
The Earth is our home. We must take care of it for next generations and ourselves.
My Favorite Video Film.
My favorite video film is "Titanic". It tells the story of the famous ship, "Titanic", which sank in 1912. The
"Titanic" was a colossal ship even by modern standards. Its tragic sinking will always be remembered, for the
ship went down on the first voyage with heavy loss of life.
The director of the film is Jeremy Cameron. The main parts in the film are played by young actors Leonardo De
Caprio and Kate Winslet. To my mind their acting is superb. The camerawork is fantastic, too. I've heard that
for this film they made a full-size model of the "Titanic". It's a very spectacular film. It is also a moving lovestory.
I advise all my friends to see this film. It was awarded 11 Oscars and I'm sure the film deserves every one of
them. "
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My Future Profession.
Finishing school is the beginning of the independent life for school leavers. Many roads are open before them:
technical schools, institutes and universities. But it is not easy thing to choose a profession out of more than
2.000 existing in the world. Some pupils follow the advice of their parents, others can't decide even after
leaving school. As for me I have made my choice long ago. I want to become a teacher of the Russian language
and literature. My choice of this occupation didn't come as a sudden flash. During all school years literature
was my favorite subject. I understand that reading books helps people in self-education and in solving different
life problems. Teachers do not only teach their subjects. They develop their pupils' intellect, form their views
and characters, their attitudes to life and to other people. It's a great responsibility.
I'm applying to the Philological Department and I am sure my dream will come true sooner or later.
Sport in my life.
Watching sport events and going in for sports are 2 different things. When you listen to the radio you can
always hear sport news. When you open a newspaper you will always find information about sport events.
TV programs about sports are always very popular, and you can watch something very interesting every day.
Personally I prefer to watch figure-skating competitions.
Sports help people to keep fit. At the same time those who go in for sports try to achieve good results and win
victories in sports competitions. Practically speaking all kinds of sports and games are popular in our country.
People go in for athletics, gymnastics boxing, fencing, and tennis - sports and games for any season, for any
person, for any taste.
It goes without saying that football and tennis enjoy the greatest popularity in our country.
As for me I go jogging every day and I attend fitness center 3 times a week. But I am not crazy about sports. I
am much happier sitting on the sofa with a book or in front of the computer.
Travelling.
Modern life is impossible without travelling. People can travel by rail, by sea, by road, by air.
As for me I prefer travelling by car. Every year my parents and I go somewhere to the South for holidays.
The Black Sea is one of the most wonderful places, which attracts holidaymakers all over the world. We often
go on excursions. It's interesting for me to go sightseeing and to see ancient monuments and many places of
historical interest. As a rule I make new friends there. I never feel bored when I travel, because I always have
good companions. Time passes quickly and soon we have to make our way back. We return home sunburnt and
full of impressions. I think travelling and sightseeing help me get to know the world around us.
Books and libraries.
I usually take books from school library. The library is helpful when I have to make a report, when I need
information on some subjects. The choice of books in our school library is very good. There are many short
stories and novels, textbooks and reference books, dictionaries and encyclopedias there. All books are arranged
in alphabetical order. I pay attention to the cover of the book, its illustrations, the name of the author, the title of
the book and the contents.
When we take a book, we mustn't do dog's ears, we mustn't write anything on the pages, and we must return
books to the library in time.
I think it is necessary to follow these rules. I'm extremely fond of reading. I often read for pleasure and
sometimes for information.
So I'm interested in different kinds of books. I like to read stories about heroes, great travelers, explorers, and
courageous men. These books excite my imagination. I think I devote much time to reading.
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Famous people.
Andrei Sakharov, an outstanding scientist and public figure, was born on the 21st of May 1921. He graduated
from Moscow University in 1942. In 1947 he defended his thesis for the degree of Candidate of Science. In
1953 he defended his Doctorate thesis and was elected member of the Academy of Sciences.
Sakharov played a decisive role in developing the Soviet hydrogen bomb. While working on the bomb he came
to the conclusion that any atomic and nuclear weapons should be banned.
He fought courageously for human rights in the former USSR and in 1975 he was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize. His international repute as a scientist kept him out official, but in 1980 he was deprived of all his titles
and orders and exiled to the city of Gorky. There he continued to work for peace, justice and human rights.
Only in 1985 Sakharov was allowed to come back to Moscow. He was given back all his titles and 3 years later
he was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet. But soon he died in 1989.
A.D. Sakharov is remembered by everybody as an outstanding humanist and philosopher.
Leisure time of British teenagers.
The majority of teenagers in Great Britain spend their free time as everywhere in the world. The average young
person spends about 19 hours in front of the television. According to the government report nearly three-quarter
of young people have TV sets in their rooms. Besides watching TV, other activities like cinema going and sport
remain popular. In Wales, the report says that some 50 percent of boys play football throughout the winter
while a great number of girls also play football, although they are in general prefer swimming and tennis.
Listening to music is also a part of time spending. Tape-recorders, CD-players and the concerts of pop music
are the subject of every day talk of teenagers.
As children grow older they turn from playgardens or homes to streets where they meet and talk and start
develop their confidence. Street life includes groups of friends who meet together in the streets, squares and
parks, or visit town centers to do window-shopping and "see what's going on".
My hobby.
I have many hobbies because there are many interesting things to do. Unfortunately I don't have much spare
time as I'm going to be a student. That's why I have to study a lot. I like doing different things: Such as reading
detective stories, listening to the music, playing tennis with my classmates.
But my favorite hobby is solving crossword puzzles. It's not only interesting, but also very useful. When you try
to solve the puzzle you find out and learn a lot of different facts. Because in puzzles there are questions about
famous people, geographical places, countries, scientific achievements and so on. You also train your brain.
The crosswords are published in newspapers and magazines and there are special newspapers that contain only
crosswords. I sometimes try to make up my own puzzle and I can say that it is not less interesting. All the
members of our family like to take part in solving the puzzles and this unites us very much.
Space Exploration.
For thousands of years man dreamed of flying to the stars. At the beginning of the century the great Russian
scientist Tsiolkovsky predicted that "mankind will not remain on Earth forever". Half a century later his words
came true, the dream became a reality.
It happened on October 4, 1957, when the 1st artificial satellite, the sputnik, was launched. The Russians were
the 1st in the world to fly into outer space.
Then the most remarkable event in the history of cosmonautics took place.
On April 12, 1961 the spaceship "Vostok", piloted by Yuri Gagarin went up. He orbited the Earth only once,
staying in space for 108 minutes. Mankind will always remember him.
A new era of man's exploration of outer space began. Many space rockets went up by our cosmonauts. Among
them were Titov, Nikolaev, Leonov, Tereshkova, Savitskaya and others.
Today Russia wants the exploration of space to be based on broad international cooperation. Many international
crews went up in space. This is the best example of the possibility of peaceful cooperation.
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Spare time.
Every day I go to school. I get up early, do homework, and have piano lessons twice a week. But on weekends I
like to do something different. I like to relax. I watch TV or videos. If it rains, I prefer indoor activities: to read
books and magazines, to play chess, to play records, to draw on a computer, to clean the house.
As for my sister she likes to knit and sew. She takes an aerobics class on Sundays. In spring and summer I
prefer outdoor activities: to do some gardening, to ride a bike, to go jogging.
Sometimes we come to see our grandparents or friends. I also like to go to the parties to discos with my friends.
Our family has a little summerhouse in the country. Beginning from early spring we spend a lot of time on the
weekends there. There is a river not far from our house and when the weather is fine we go there to bathe, to
swim, to get sunburnt.
Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln was one of the most famous presidents of the USA. He was born in the family of a poor farmer in 1809
in Kentucky, but soon his family left for the wild forestland of Indiana.
He was taught reading, writing and simple arithmetic, as his family could not afford better education.
When he was 18, he went to New Orleans and there he saw a slave market. It made a deep impression on him
and he began to hate slavery and he decided to fight against it.
In 1830 he went to Springfield and became a clerk in a store. He learned much and greatly improved his
knowledge. He entered politics and in 1832 became a candidate for the Parliament of the State. Soon he became
a force in political life and in 1860 was elected President of the USA.
He was an enemy of slavery. Some of the Southern States left the Union, and the war between the South and
the North began. At first the war went badly for the North but Lincoln never lost his courage and soon they
won.
When the war was over, Lincoln issued a proclamation to say that slavery was abolished.
Lincoln was well known all over America and everybody loved him.
In 1864 he was elected President of the USA for the second time. But his enemies could not let him continue
his work.
He was shot in a theatre in Washington on April 14, 1865 and he died the next day.
From the History of GB
The conquest of England by the Normans began in 1066 with the Battle of Hastings where the English fought
against the Normans. The conquest was completed in 1071.
Who were the Normans who conquered England?
Some 150 years before the conquest of England they came to a part of France, opposite England, a part that we
call Normandy. There they adopted the Christian faith, the French language and the Roman law. So they
became French. The Normans brought to England the French language. After the Norman Conquest there were
3 languages in England. There was Latin, the language of church and the language, in which all learned men
wrote and spoke. There was French, the language, which kings and nobles spoke. And finally, there was the
English language, which remained the language of the masses of the people.
The role of the Norman Conquest was great for the development of feudalism and monarchy in Britain.
Great Britain.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles.
It consists of 4 parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
England, Wales and Scotland occupy the territory of Great Britain. Northern Ireland is situated in the northern
part of Ireland.
The population is over 57 million people.
The northern and western part of the country is mountainous and is called the Highlands.
All the rest: south, east and center are a vast plain, which is called the Lowlands.
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The mountains are not very high. The rivers are not very long. The most important of them are the Severn and
the Thames. There are many beautiful lakes in Great Britain.
Great Britain is a country with old cultural traditions and customs. The most famous educational centers are
Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
The United Kingdom is a monarchy and the Queen is the head of the state. But in practice it is ruled by the
government with a Parliament at the head.
Isaac Newton.
The great English scientist Isaac Newton was born in a village not far from the university town of Cambridge in
1642.
In his early years young I.N made various things. He made a clock that worked by water. He also made a
sundial
When Isaac grew older, he took a considerable interest in mathematics. His ability as a mathematician and a
physicist was very important. His first physical experiment was carried on when he was 16 years old.
On June 5 1661 Newton entered the University of Cambridge where he studied mathematics. Soon he became
famous for his contribution to mathematics by the time he was 21.
In1665 while he was in his native village, he saw an apple fall from the tree and began wondering what force
made the apple fall.
Newton performed many experiments with light. He invented a reflecting telescope. Newton developed a
mathematical method, which is known as the Binomial Theorem.
In 1669 Newton was appointed a professor and began lectures on mathematics and optics at Cambridge
University and continued his work on the problem of gravitation. His great work "Elements of Natural
Philosophy" was published in the middle of 1687.
Newton's contribution to science is unique.
He died at the age of 85. He was buried with honors as a national hero.
My Favorite Film Actor.
Gerard Depardieu is one is the most popular actor. He was born in 1948 in a poor family of a shoemaker in a
little town.
When he was 16 he came to Paris without any education and without any money.
Together with his friend he began to attend the actor courses. He got acquainted with a girl of a wealthy family
and soon they got married. She had a great influence upon him. He finished the actor courses. When he was
only 20 he played big roles in the theatres. His great success in films is a consequence of his good theatrical
school.
But his success in the USA was not long. In 1991 during his interview to the magazine "Time" he told that he
was a hooligan when he was a teenager. The american audience doesn't excuse such fact in his biography.
The works of Depardieu in cinema are marked by many cinema rewards in France and in Italy. Everybody
notes that glory and money don't spoil him. They only made him independent.
He played in about 80 films.
The UN.
The United Nations is the organization of sovereign nations. The UN works out the development of friendly
relation among the nations. The UN struggles for peace, for international co-operation, for the solution of
problems of the economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature.
The United Nations has been playing the active role in reducing tension in the world, preventing conflicts and
putting an end to fighting.
There are 6 main organs in the UN - the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social
Council, the Secretariat and the International Court of Justice. The Court has its place in the Hague,
Netherlands. All other organs are based at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Members of the General Assembly talk to each other in many languages, but officially there are only 6 French, Arabic, Chinese, English, Russian and Spanish.
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Топики по английскому
"About myself (1)"
My name is Alexander. I am a student of Kostroma Technology University. I am 17 years old. I am rather tall,
thin. I am well- built, to my mind. I have an oval face with a straight nose. My eyes are rather big and brown. I
have long eyelashes. My lips are neither thin nor full. My hair is dark and I have a short cut. Nowadays it’s
expensive to be smart and fashionable but I try to be well- dressed and neat. I have no beard and moustache. I
usually wear a pullover and dark trousers. I was born in January. I am Capricorn. So I am serious but I couldn’t
say for sure, that I am quite. First of all I enjoy listening to loud music. I like merry company and parties. As for
my character I am cheerful, honest, sociable. I have a sense of humor. I like jokes. I am brought up and have
good manners. I don’t respect rude, selfish and foolish people. I hate it when people lie and can’t keep their
promise. I also hate it when people interrupt others because it’s impossible to have a talk with them. I try to
deal with people who are honest, polite, disciplined they never lie and help in difficult situation. I am a
sportsman. I go in for track and field. So I also go in for sport only sport makes people healthy, active, forms a
character.
"About myself (2)"
My name is Alexander. My full name is Alexander Sergeevich Slusarenko. I was born to a family of a sailor on
a submarine. My family is not small. There are four of us. When I was 7, I went to school. I did well at school. I
was especially good at math and geometry, but also coped with the rest of the subjects. Thus from the point of
view of my progress at school I didn't cause much trouble to my parents. But I did make them worry because I
used to come home rather late. The thing is I went in for swimming and our training finished at about 7 p.m. I
lived far from the swimming-pool, so it took me quite a lot of time to get home. When at school I fell into the
habit of reading a lot. At first I read everything I caught hold of but the order I grew the more definite my tastes
in books became. I took to reading historic books, books about adventures. I read very much technics books
about computers and all that connect to it such as mathematics, phisics, programming and others. Now I think
about this, I come to the conclusion I should be grateful to my parents for this habit: they themselves read much
and encourage my reading. I am sure books will be my friends all my life. In my last year of schooling I often
wondered what I would be in future, what sphere of life I should choose. After a number of heated discussions
with my parents and friends I decided to dwell my choice on applied mathematics. I think I shall make a good
mathematician.
"About myself (3)"
My name is Natalia. My surname is Govorova. I am 15. I was born in 1982 in Chelyabinsk. I live in a small
town of Usinsk in the Komi Republic. My address is Flat 116, 19, Pionerskaya Street. My phone number is 415-81. I am a pupil. I go to school Numbers 1. I am a good pupil. I do well in all subjects. They say, that I am a
hardworking person. To tell the truth, all school subjects come easy for me but sometimes. I have to sit much,
for example, to do lessons in Physics or Chemistry, to write a composition or to learn a poem by heart. But my
favourite subject is English. I spend much time on it reading books, doing tests etc. May be, English and
learning it will be a part of my future carreer. I like reading. I think comics and detective stories are much easier
to read but I prefer to read novels - historical or up-to-date. I like music. My musical tastes are different, but it
depends on my mood. But I think every apple is good in its season. I play the piano and the guitar, not
seriously, but for my soul. Sometimes I like to listen to the Russian classical music. My favourite composers
are Chaikovsky and Mozart. I don't like rock music, but I like and . Also I like Russian folk songs. I have not
much time to watch IV but sometimes I spend an hour or two watching an interesting film or a news
programme. In the evening I often read newspapers (our local ones) or magazines. I like fresh air and exercise.
I'm sorry I have not much time for doing sports. But some aerobics in the morning, a swimming-pool twice a
week, a ski-walk on a frosty day are of great help. Sports is fun. I have a wide circle of interests. I'm very
sociable, so I get a way with people. I have many friends, most of them are my class-mates. We spend much
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time together, going out to the cinema or to the disco party, speaking about lessons and music, discussing our
problems. But most of all I like my family. We all are great friends and deeply attached to each other. You see,
it's me - a person with his good and not good characteristics, liking this and hating that. But it's interesting for
me to live, to open new things.
"About myself (4)"
Let me introduce myself. My full name is Andrei Andreevich Ivanov. I have been named after my father and I
am very happy about it. I was born on April, 7, 1981 in Moscow. I descend from the family of the officeworkers. I am an only child in the family. I am a pupil of the eleventh form of a secondary school. I finish
school this year. I want to enter the University of Moscow. That is why I have to study twice as hard as an
ordinary pupil. I do not only do my best at school, I take a preparatory course at the University. The course lasts
for six months. We have lectures and seminars three times a week: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I come
to the University at 5 p.m. and leave it at 8 p.m. The lectures on literature, social sciences and history are given
in the lecture-rooms. The seminars are held in small groups in the class-rooms. We have classes of English too.
During our English classes we read and translate texts, discuss books, listen to the tape-recorder. At the
University we learn a lot of useful and interesting things. But most of all I like the subject of my future
speciality. I am always very busy, but when I am free I like to read books. My favourite writer is Ernest
Hemingway. I like to go to the museums and art galleries. My favourite painter is Rembrandt van Rijn. I have a
lot of friends. But my best friend is Nick. I like to travel. My parents and I have visited many ancient Russian
towns. I am on friendly terms with my parents. I am very happy...
"Introducing myself (1)"
Difficult as it is to speak about ourselves, still in certain situations we have to introduce ourselves, regarding
our biography, members of the family, friends and so on. So, I will try to introduce myself. First of all I would
like to speak about my family, my parents, who play a great role in moulding my character, but not my opinion
and thanks. My family isn’t large. My father is 52 years old, but he looks much younger, because he is fond of
going in for sports. He is a coach, but as he is a well-educated and well-read person he has experience in many
fields. That is why it is always interesting to communicate with him, he usually tells a lot of exciting stories.
And my mother is 42. She is good-looking women with fire hair and large green eyes. I admire her character.
She is an optimist, in almost every thing she sees its good side, she is full of energy and enthusiasm. I really
adore her sense of humor. She is a housewife. It takes her much time to and power to take care of the house and
of me and my farther. But can say she copes with her job well. Besides my farther and I try to help her with the
housework. For example, I wash dishes, go shopping and so on. I enjoy spending time with my family very
much. We often go for walks. I enjoy strolling along old Moscow streets because my parents usually tells me a
lot of interesting details of the history, some things I’ve never heard about. That is also the reason I’m fond of
travelling off with my parents. My mother spend a lot of time in the kitchen – she is fond of cooking. We
always find out new recipes, try them, invent new unusual names. When I was a child my father involved me in
photography. Since that time taking pictures and making videofilms has become my hobby. We have numerous
pictures. We also are keen on music and everyone who comes to our place praised our numerous collection. It
is quite impossible to name all the things that we can do together, so I think I can stop here. I am very sorry that
I haven’t seen father’s parents, ‘cos according to my parent’s words they were wonderful and outstanding
people. But to my mind my parents have inherited their best features. They are remarkable people: Kindhearted, honest, they have moral values and don’t break promises. Although they aren’t young they understand
me completely. They allow me almost everything, they always give me good advice and, frankly speaking, I
don’t know what I will do without them. I am very lucky that I have got such wonderful parents and of course I
love them very much. Now, I think, it is time to speak about myself. My name is Tatiana, but my friends call
me Tania. I am 15 years old. I am high and not bad built. I have an oval face and large green eyes. Speaking
about my character I can say that I’m friendly, kind, generous and honest. I have my own likes and dislikes. I
am modest and sometimes shy, but I can lose my temper and begin to scream somebody. But in spite of all this
I can keep secrets, I will never let my friends down. I usually say what I think, that is why people around me
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often take offence, so last time I began to hide my emotions. But it is very difficult to cope with feelings when I
understand that I deal with person who have such features of character as egoism and dishonesty.
"Introducing myself (2)"
My name is Kostya. My surname is Laznev. I was born in Moscow on the 23rd of June in 1981. I am a tall thin
boy. My hair is dark and short. My face is oval, my nose is straight. My eyes are large and brown. My friends
say that I am a good-looking boy. I like to dress well. I usually wear black trousers, light shirts, clean boots. I
have a dream to enter the Institute. I worked hard at school. We studied many subjects such as History, Russian,
Physics, Geography and others. I was fond of English and Physics. And I was good at them. I think that I am
honest, serious and polite. I want to get a good education and find an interesting and useful work. I have a
hobby. I like to sing songs. My father likes to sing songs too. He knows many good songs and we usually sing
songs together. Nowadays young people don't like classical music. They prefer pop music. My parents invite
me to some very good concerts of classical music. It is great. I am very grateful to my parents because now I
begin to understand how wrong I was going only to pop concerts. I am proud of my mother and father. They are
musicians. We like to spend our free time together. We often go to the museums, to the Concert Halls, to the
theatres. I want to say that I respect my parents.
"My biography"
The topic that is given to me is "My biography". It sounds too meaning full? It means something very
important. I am sorry to say that there is little to speak about my short past life. I am too young to have my own
family, I am not married yet. My name is Vitaly. My last name is Greezunov. The patronymic is Vadimovich.
So my full name is Vitaly Vadimovich Greezunov. I am seventeen years old. I was born on the tenth of May. I
am a former pupil. I left school a month ago. I did not attend any nursery or kindergarten. I began to go to
school at the age of seven. It was ten years ago. I had been studying at the same school for ten years run-ning
without changing it we had many subjects: history, English, biology and many others. I liked to study at school
and my impressions of it are rather pleasant and favorite subjects are English and informatics. On the English
lessons we read and translate the text and learn new words. On the informatics lessons we write the programs.
That is why I choose English examination.
"My birthday"
I was born on the 22nd of March. Birthday is a very remarkable day for me. It is spring and the weather is fine.
In the morning my parents come to my room to wake me singing "Happy Birthday, dear Andy". They give me
the presents. I like to get them very much. Most people hold their birthday party on their birthdays. Usually, we
hold my birthday party on Sunday next to the 22nd of March. Once or twice we went for a picnic on that day,
but usually we celebrate it at home. We invite my friends and relatives to the party. I get up early in the
morning on that day. My father and I go shopping to the district marketplace and supermarkets. We buy
everything we need for the party. My mother stays at home to clean the flat and bake a pie and cakes. Then we
lay the table together, put on evening suits and wait for the guests. At about four o'clock my relatives and
friends come to congratulate me and I am glad to see them. They bring a bunch of roses for my mother and
books, sweets and records for me. I thank my friends for coming and the presents. My aunts usually buy some
clothes for me as a birthday present. We have an abundant dinner on this day. Mother brings the birthday cake
and I blow the candles out. We dance and sing songs, make jokes and play games. When everybody is tired, we
just lie on the floor and tell stories or just listen to the music in my room. I enjoy my birthday party and my
friends like this day too.
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"My district and my flat"
As you know, Vladivostok, the capital of the Primorsky region, occupies the peninsula of Murav'ev-Amursky
which is washed by Amur and Ussuri gulfs. One part of this peninsula, called Egersheld (it was named after one
of the explores of Russian Far-East), is my native district. Egersheld is known from the foundation of
Vladivostok. More then one hundred years ago the first houses for the seamen appeared in it. Since that time
Egersheld is known as the working center of the city. Now, for example, the territory of the commercial port is
situated in this district. Egersheld is the most environmental friendly district in the city as it is open to strong
sea winds which blow out all harmful substances in the air and clouds of dust. Of course, this has a negative
side - the average temperature in the district in winter is lower than in the other parts of Vladivostok. As my
native district occupies very special geographical position (in fact, Egersheld - is a small peninsula of
Murav'ev-Amursky peninsula) so its citizens may admire beautiful sea scenes every evening when the sun is
hiding for the horizon. These seascapes are really breathtaking and very often you may see dozens of artists
trying to carry this wonderful sight to paper or canvas. Now about my flat. I live in Sipyagina, 31. Our flat is
not very large, its double-roomed. If you know the word , you may imagine what is our flat looks like. Besides
these two rooms we also have a kitchen and a bathroom. I think there is no any outstanding thing in our flat that
is worth describing. We have a TV set in one of the rooms, two wardrobes, two working tables, and small
bookcase where our home library is kept.
"My duties about the house"
My name is ...... I am 17 years old. I have already finished my school. There are four people in my family: my
mother, my father, my brother and myself. We have a two-room flat. There is alvays much work in the house.
There is alvays much work in the garden near the summer-cottage. My duties about the house are to clean the
rooms, to wash the dishes after meals, to do shopping. Sometimes I help my mother to bake cakes and pies, to
lay the table for meals. I usually help my sister to do lessons. In the spring and in the autumn I often help my
parents in the garden. I looke after the flowers and vegetables. I enjoy helping my parents.
"My flat (1)"
We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the fifth floor of a nine-storied building. It has all
modem conveniences: central heating, running hot and cold water, electricity, gas, a lift and a chute to carry
rubbish down. We have a three-room flat which consists of a living-room, a bedroom, a study (which is also my
room), a kitchen, a bath-room and a toilet. There are also two closets in our flat. Our flat has two balconies. The
living-room is the largest and most comfortable one in the flat. In the middle of the room we have a square
dinner-table with six chairs round it. To the left of the dinner-table there is a wall-unit which has several
sections: a sideboard, a wardrobe and some shelves. At the opposite wall there is a piano and a piano stool
before it. To the right there is a little table with colour TV set on it. Opposite the TV set there are two cozy
armchairs. A divan-bed and a standard lamp are in the left-hand corner. In front of the armchairs there is a small
round table for newspapers and magazines. There is a thick carpet on the floor. Two water-colours hung on the
wall above the divan-bed. In the evening we usually draw the curtains across the windows, and a red lampshade
gives a warm colour to the room. The bedroom is smaller than the living-room and not so light as there is only
one window in it. In this room there are two beds, two dressing-tables and a wardrobe. In the corner of the
bedroom there is a small colors TV set. On the dressing table there is an alarm-clock and small lamp with green
lamp-shade. Our study is the smallest room in the flat, but in spice of it, it is very cozy. There isn't much
furniture in it, but there are a lot of shelves full of books. It has a writing table, an armchair and a bookcase too.
A small round table with cassette-recorder is standing in the right-hand corner of the study. Besides there is a
small sofa near the wall opposite the bookcase. This room was my father's study, but as I grew older, it has
become my room. And in my opinion it is the best room in our flat. My friends used to come to my place to
have a chat or to play chess in the evening, and they say my room is very comfortable. I share their opinion.
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"My flat (2)"
I live in a 5-stored block of flats in Yushno – Sakhalinsk. It’s not a very picturesque plaice but we have a yard
and a Kodak Express under the window. My flat is on the third floor. It’s very comfortable and well planed. I
have all modern conveniences, such as central heating, electricity, cold and hot running water and a telephone.
There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a balcony in it. The largest room in my flat is the living room.
My family uses it as a siting room. There is a sofa, two armchairs, a coffee table, a TV set and a VCR in it. We
have two small rooms in our flat and one of them is my. It is not big but very cosy. There is a wardrobe near the
wall and a desk near the window. My bad is at the left corner. I like my room wary much because it is my
room. Our kitchen is not very large but light. It’s very well equipped. We have got a refrigerator, a microwave
oven, a coffee maker and a toaster. In evenings we like have tea and have rest in it.
"My grandmother country house"
You are lucky if you have grandmother in the country to go to. Visiting our old relatives gives us excellent
chance to become children again. Every time you are at your grannies they start to take care of you. That's why
everybody loves his grannies very much. Countryside is always the nicest place for everybody as its fresh air
cheers you up and the low level of noise helps you to have real rest. My grandmother lives at Oceanskaya
station. Every summer I got used to spent my summer vocations at her place. It is the nicest place for me. There
is sand beach and deep forest - it is all I need for the rest. Every day is full of adventures - you may investigate
woods, get sunburn or swim in the sea. And if you also find good friends to spend time with - you may call this
place real paradise. And all this pleasures one can get only in 25 kilometers of the city! My grandmother is kind
old woman. Her name is Lidia Federovna. All her life she worked hard and now she is still very industrious and
tender-hearted. I love her very much. All best moments in my life I spent at her place at Okeanskaya station. I
will never forgot my grandmother's house and I am sure the impressions I got there will be among the brightest
in my life.
"My home is my castle"
I think, every person always dreams about the place where he can speak about his problems, chat with close
friends, where he can feel happy and quiet. For me it is my family and my home. It is the best place in the
world and my dearest people live here. My family is not large we are 4. I have a father, a mother and a brother.
We all live together in a new flat. My father is 45. He is a tall and well-built man with short black hair and grey
eyes. He is quiet and hardworking . Really, he is a bread maker of the family. Dad is handy with many things.
His hobby is fixing everything at home. My mother is very lively. She is life and soul of the family. She is a
pleasant woman of forty with beautiful chestnut hair and dark brown eyes. She is a lofty ideal for me. My
parents have been married for 20 years they have much in common, in everyday life Dad is impractical and
needs mother to look after him. Parents have different views on music, books, films. For example, my father
likes horror films and my father likes . My father is a football fat and Mum doesn't like sports. But they try to
have the same opinion about the education and upbringing of their children. My brother is only 11. He goes to
school. He is funny and curious. He is constantly asking many questions often silly ones. But this only a
moment - I can't imagine my life without our little monster. We all feel happy when we are together. In the
evenings we often have little gatherings in the kitchen by the cup of tea, chatting, laughing and discussing the
events of the day. Those evening are the best of all. But sometimes I have problems with my parents. They
don't like the clothes I wear the music I listen to and the friends I bring home. It's not easy to be a teenager. In
summer I visit my Granny. I love her when I was a child she used to tell me fairytales and stories of her life.
My parents are hardworking. They combine work with housekeeping. Mum manages our household very well.
We all are in the habit of helping her to run the house. They say: "My home is a cosy place." Our relatives and
friends like to come to our place. My parents are very hospitable everybody feels at home in their flat. Really.
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"My little sister"
I've got a sister. Her name is Kate. She's three.She has got many toys: four balls - red, green, blue and yellow;
three puppies - black, white and grey; two brown monkeys, a yellow giraffe, a white bear and two nice dolls.
Do you think she likes to play with her toys? No, she doesn't. What she does like is – she likes to play hide-andseek with me. Do you know the way she does it. She hides under the table and says: "Helen, where am I?" I
say: "Are you on the chair?" "No, I'm not" "Are you under the chair?" "No, try again." "Oh, Kate, I try and try
again, but I can't see you!" Then she runs up to me and says: "Here I am!". This is the way my little sister Kate
plays hide-and-seek. Isn't she funny?
"My working day (1)"
I am Andrew Kiporuk. I am a puple of the 10th form. I get ut ap 7 o'clock. I wash myself and dress.I make a
bed. My friend come to me at half past 7 and we go to the school. At school I have 7 lessons. I come back home
at 3 o'clock. I have dinner. Then I walk with my dog. Then Help my mother at home. Sometime go for
shopping, pour the flowers. I begin to do my homework at 5 o'clock. I watch TV very seldom, because I have
many home task. Sometime I sit at my computer. Sometime Andrey Saynov comes to me. We talk about our
school business. He studied in colledge. I listen to the music very often. I have supper at 7 o'clock. After 8
o'clock my brothers come to me. And we play on the computer. At 10 o'clock I go to bed.
"My working day (2)"
I usually start my day with getting up and doing all things that everybody does in the morning: washing, having
breakfast, etc. Also, I got used to gather my learning tools: pencils, exercise-books, text-books in the morning.
Then I usually go to the university. Fortunately, father takes a car every morning and he often picks me up and
drives me to the doors of our university building. And soon the lectures and lessons begin... We have from 2 to
4 lectures every time, depending on day. I like studying in the university more than in the school because in
university it is mostly allowed to miss some lectures (of course, later you should take a summary from your
mate and copy it). So, a student is much more free, than pupil is. After the lessons I usually return home where I
have dinner and start thinking about my ways of spending the rest of the day. Very often I go to my friend's
places. During the early autumn and summer I often go to the sports ground or on the beach. I also like visiting
different sports events, for example, soccer matches of in Russian championship. So, the world is full of
enjoyable things to do. On returning home I usually start doing my homework (perhaps, it is the most dull part
of the day). Having finished it, I open a book and read it or watch TV. At last, I go to the bed. Of course, I
would like to tell you more about myself and my working day, but, unfortunately, my time is rather limited and
I have got a lot of homework to do. Generally, now you know about my working day enough.
"My working day (3)"
A typical day goes something like this. We get up around 6 a.m., wash, have some coffee and toast, let the dog
outside and feed him, bring the dog back in and leave for work. I drop Martha off at her job around 7:15 a.m.
and then I drive to the University (from our house to her work is about three miles, from her work to the
University is another three). I park the car and get to my office by 7:45 a.m. Then I check my schedule and start
to work. Around 11:30 a.m. we break for lunch. I usually eat at the student union with co-worker or other
students. Then back to work. I usually leave for the day at 4:30 p.m. I pick Martha up at her job and we are
back home by 5:30 p.m. After changing into more comfortable clothes, we turn on the television to watch the
news while we prepare dinner. After dinner, we may study. go shopping, or just relax and watch television or
listen to music. Saturdays are a bit different. We often sleep late, until 9:00 a.m. or even a bit later. Once or
twice a month we may go out for breakfast at a local restaurant. The rest of the day is spent working on the
house, studying, or running errands. Saturday evening is often spent with friends or family members, typically
over dinner, or we go to a concert.
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"My working day (4)"
The Smiths live at 87 King Street. In the morning Mr Smith goes to work and the children go to school. Their
father takes them to school every day. Mrs Smith stays at home every day. She does the housework. She always
eats her lunch at noon. In the afternoon she usually sees her friends. They often drink tea together. In the
evening the children come home from school. They arrive home early. Mr Smith comes home from work. He
arrives home late. At night the children always do their homework. Then they go to bed. Mr Smith usually
reads his newspaper, but sometimes he and his wife watch television.
"My working day (5)"
I get up at 7 o'clock in the morning. I do my morning exercises, wash myself and dress. Then I sit down to
breakfast. At 8 o'clock I leave home and go to the Institute. As a rule I come to the Institute at a quarter to 9.
The lessons begin at 9 sharp. Today we have two lectures, a seminar and an English lesson. At our English
lessons we read the texts, ask and answer questions and do all sorts of exercises. We do not write many
exercises. We usually write exercises at home. We speak English at the lessons. We speak English a little now,
but we want to speak English well. At about 1 o'clock I generally have dinner at the canteen. I come home at
about 6 o'clock. I have supper and do my homework. I always do my homework in the evening, but I never
work late in the evening. At 11 o'clock I go to bed.
"My working day (6)"
I usually get up at 7 o'clock in the morning. I do my morning exercises, but not always, make my bed, wash and
dress. Then I sit down to breakfast. At 8 o'clock I leave home and go to school. As a rule I come to school in
time as the lessons begin at 9 o'clock. I live not far from school and it usually takes me 15 minutes to get to
school on foot. Usually we have 6 or 7 classes every day and after classes I return home. At 3 o'clock I have
dinner and rest a little. After that I do my home work and help my mother about the house if she needs my help.
Then I have supper and if the weather is good I go for a walk with my friends and if the weather is not good I
stay at home something I watch TV; sometimes I listen to music or chat with my friends over the telephone. I
never work late in the evening. At 11 o'clock I usually go to bed but sometimes I watch television till late in the
evening and that's why I may go to bed very late. But I always remember the proverb: "Early to bed and early to
rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise."
"My working day (7)"
On week days I usually get up nearly seven o'clock. I do not like to get up early, but I have to, because I have a
lot of work to do during the day. I do my morning exercises, make my bed, wash my-self, dress and go to the
kitchen to have breakfast. My mother usually prepares breakfast for me, but sometimes I do it myself. I do not
like big breakfasts, I prefer a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Then I go to school (to work). It is rather far (not
far) from my house and I go there by bus (on foot). I have classes (I work) till ... o'clock. Then I come home
and have dinner. After it I do my homework and do some work about the house. I sweep the floor, dust the
furniture and clean the carpets with the vacuum-cleaner. Sometimes my mot-her asks me to go shopping or to
help her in the kitchen. After it I have free time. I go for a walk with my friend, or watch TV, or read books, or
play computer games. Then I have supper with my family. I like evenings very much because all of us get
together after work and study and have the opportunity to talk and to discuss our family affairs. I usually go to
bed at about eleven o'clock.
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ABOUT MYSELF
They say that if you want something to be done well, do it yourself. So I follow this wise saying and would like
to introduce myself. I believe that it isn't an easy thing to speak about yourself as it's hard to have a look at
yourself from aside but at the same time who knows you better than you yourself do?
My name is Elena Protasova. I live in Gomel. My family is an average sized Belarusian family: it consists of
my father, mother, elder brother and me. As for my appearance I am a slim girl, a bit shortish, but it does not
mind me. I have a blunt nose, blue expressive eyes and chestnut shoulder length hair. My friends think I am
rather attractive girl, but I have never thought I am a beauty. As far as preferences in clothes are concerned I
should say that I'm rather moody person that's why I cannot say I have one favourite style. Today I can wear a
skirt, formal blouse and high-heeled shoes, but tomorrow I can prefer tight-fitting jeans, casual T-shirt and lowheeled shoes. Everything depends on my mood.
To my mind our life goes so fast that sometimes we don't notice how fleeting it is. For instance I didn't notice
how eighteen years of my life have passed. I feel like it was yesterday when I went to school for the first time,
but this year is the last one at school. It's unbelievable but it is true. But I want to tell you everything in details.
My early years, which I remember only by parts, were interesting and careless. My childhood was happy
because my parents devoted me a lot of time, my brother played with me and read books for me in the
evenings. So I can say I was surrounded with love, care and attention. As most children I was sent to the
kindergarten at the age of three as both of my parents worked, but as far as I remember I didn't like to attend
kindergarten. I'm sure I can never forget my governor who made me eat semolina. In general the attendance of
kindergarten seemed boring to me, though mainly there I met my first loyal friend.
When I was seven I went to school. My first school years were spent at school number 32, but then I moved to
an English Specialized school number 71, where I got a proper education especially in such subjects as English,
History and Geography.
School meant very much to me and I'm sure that it gave me a lot; first of all of course in educational sphere.
Thanks to school and my teachers I became more intelligent and educated person. I consider that I became
more persistent, determined and ambitious. Diligence, attention and accuracy - all these qualities school
developed in me regularly. And owing to school I got acquainted with interesting people, devoted friends and
excellent teachers.
After the 9th form I entered Gomel stale regional lyceum. Of course it was hard for me to leave my school
friends and teachers, but I understood that it was my chance to improve my knowledge in particular fields. The
subjects I liked best at lyceum were English, Belarusian and History, that's why I decided to become an
interpreter. In my opinion choosing the kind of career to follow is probably one of the most important decisions
you will ever make. Before you make this decision you will have a lot of thinking about who you are, about the
things you like to do and the things you do well. Though I descent from the family of engineers I'd like to
become an interpreter. This profession has always attracted me because I can get acquainted with various
people and I can learn their customs, rituals and traditions. I'm sure that this creative profession can enrich my
mind and make me more educated and intelligent person. And I hope that my dream will come true.
I think that my star sign can tell you a lot about me, my inside world, soul and character. I believe that stars
influence our fate and character, though I don't trust daily horoscopes. I was born under the zodiac sign of
Gemini. Stars affirm that Gemini are active and artistic. These people admire adventures and changes, they
make friends with unusual lightness and they are excellent mates too. They are clever, dreamy, kind-hearted
and demanding at the same time. They aspire to do several things simultaneously, but they often leave them
half-done. Such people hate to listen to complaints and wait for long. I can agree with majority of these
statements, though I can't say that I am very demanding.
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Once I read in a magazine that some scientists are sure that they can say what kind of person you are if they
know what your favourite colour is. As for me I'm fond of purple and blue colours. According to the scientists'
words I'm temperamental, successful, thoughtful and quite. And I can say that I agree with all these traits of my
character, though some of them are more clearly expressed in me, but others are less.
In my opinion I'm a kind-hearted and jolly person. I think I'm responsive and reliable that's why my friends and
relatives can always rely on me. I never refuse if people whom I love need support or a piece of advice. I try to
be fair and just in attitude to the others. I'm rather calm person, but sometimesI1 can lose my temper and
become either angry or sad. I'm modest and sometimes shy, but do not advice someone tricking or kidding me.
I like staying alone and sometimes I retire into my shell, but at the same time I like a noisy company of my
friends. I like to laugh and joke with them and I never let my friends down.
My parents think that I'm an exemplary daughter, but a bit lazy, because I don't, like to help them about the
house. They are sure that I'm a creative and active person and as busy as a bee, because I always do anything
and I constantly have no free time.
My friends consider me to be rather earnest girl, because I always think about anything, but all of them know
me as a faithful and responsive friend, I'm always eager to help my friends and to calm them with the help of a
tender word.
But like other people I'm not an ideal. I can't wait for long that's why I can be called an impatient person.
Sometimes I can be lazy, but I always try to fight with this feature of my character. Also I can be very sensitive
I can't say that it's a negative trait of my character but I dislike it a bit.
Though I'm rather a busy girl and I don't have much free time I always try to find spare time for my hobbies
and interests because I have a lot of them. To my mind hobbies differ like tastes and if you have chosen a
hobby according to your character you are lucky, as your life becomes more interesting and enjoyable. In my
leisure time I like to listen to my favourite music, but what kind of music I listen always depends on my mood.
If I'm full of joy I like to listen to pop music, but if I'm sad I prefer hard music. I believe that music awakens the
best feelings in my soul and high emotions. Also I like to read various books. To my mind reading is very
useful because books enrich our experience with that of other people. Besides books help me to continue my
own education and I disagree with the people who think that a tempo of modern life is too fast to waste time on
reading. They are sure that books have begun to lose their prestige and value. I don't think so; I enjoy books of
various genres: detective stories, thrillers and historical novels, tales, works after classical and modern writers,
but my favourite genre is love stories. I adore "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. I have read this book a lot of
times and I consider that it is a masterpiece of love genre. But most of all I like traveling because in my opinion
it is always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet various people, to try diverse food,
to listen to different music, etc. If you are fond of traveling, you see and learn a lot of things that you can never
see or learn at home, though you may read about them in books and newspapers and see pictures of them on
TV.
As far as my dislikes are concerned I hate getting up early and overcrowded buses. I dislike envious and pushy
people and rainy weather. But I'm happy that I have more things I like than I dislike.
And of course like all people I have someone I admire very much. Such a person for me is my mother. To my
mind my mummy isn't an ordinary woman. I can't say that our characters are very alike but usually we
understand each other without a word, our views often coincide.
She is always ready to listen to my endless stories about my setbacks, problems and troubles. She encourages
me when I doubt my ability, helps to fulfill my aspirations and ambitions or to reach a secret goal.
And in conclusion I'd like to say that I like being me. And I hope that everybody who knows me likes me with
all my positive and negative features of character.
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MY WORKINNG DAY
When I studied at lyceum my usual working days looked practically the same. But in my opinion, everything
depends on person himself, so I did my best to make them more interesting and useful.
Life is impossible without work. Of course not all creatures as well as people like it, but it is very important for
progress. Our teachers and parents always say that hard work is the only way to achieve our aims and goals. To
my mind one can't appreciate the value of rest if he doesn't work. As for me I tried to organize my working day
in such a way that I would be able to do as much work as possible.
My working day usually started like this. At sharp 6.30 my radio alarm buzzed. As it was actual on my bed it
literary blasted me into awareness of the morning. This was due to the loudness I needed to wake me up.
Though I am not a lazy-bone, in winter it was always difficult for me to wake up early. I hate the cold that's
why I usually tried to stay in bed as long as possible. Sometimes I lay for a while deciding whether to pretend
to be fatally ill, but then I usually gave up this silly idea because only little children practiced it and besides this
trick usually didn't work. But when spring came and the air was fresh, when the sun shone brightly in the
morning and the birds were singing I forgot about my sleep and felt full of energy.
So I finally crawled out of bed. By this time it was usually about 6.50. a.m. I think it wouldn't be fair to say that
I did my morning exercises only from time to time. Though, of course. I know that good health is better than
wealth. Nevertheless I preferred taking a shower to merely washing my face and after having a shower I got
dressed and brushed my hair. It took me about 25-30 minutes to do my toilet. I want to say that while I was
doing all these things my mother was making breakfast. I was in a habit of having only a light breakfast. A cup
of tea. some ham or cheese sandwiches were enough for me to be full. As a rule while having my breakfast I
listened to a piece of good music on the radio. After breakfast I snatched my school bag. Frankly speaking I
found my habit of packing the bag in the morning quite irritating, because I always left something important at
home, but I couldn't make myself do it in the evening. And then I rushed for lyceum. Unfortunately I live far
from the lyceum. It took me about forty minutes to get there, that's why I was not lucky to sleep a bit longer
than pupils who lived near it.
Frankly speaking sometimes my mood depended on what classes I had. On some days lessons flashed by very
quickly, especially if they were the humanities, which I liked most, but they were dragging more slowly if I had
such sciences like Physics, Chemistry or Math and especially when we had to write tests in them. Wednesday
was the hardest day for me; I stayed in lyceum longer than usual because we had an additional lesson in
Belarusian language. I should say that I usually enjoyed hours at lyceum if I was up-to-date with my school
work, because I hated the feeling of being left behind with anything. In general I enjoyed lyceum hours because
they were instructive and interesting besides I liked lyceum because of the number of friends I had there, but I
didn't let my private life interfere with my school work. In common I found life at lyceum bright and absorbing.
Our classes started at 8.20 instead of 8.00 as they do in most schools. Usually we had 7 lessons a day. Every
lesson lasted 45 minutes, as in a common school, but our breaks were too short, that's why our freedom lasted
only 5 or 10 minutes. But we were lucky to have a large break in the middle of the day which lasted 45 minutes.
During this break we went to the canteen, and if there was nothing tasty and edible in it, we visited the nearest
shop to buy something, for example, sweets or rolls and then did almost everything we wanted. As life is given
us only once I try to live it in the best and useful way. So I usually spent the rest of time reading various
interesting books or magazines or doing special exercises useful for brain, for example. I could solve puzzles.
When I didn't manage to do all my homework at home the large break was mainly the time when I had an
opportunity to finish it.
At 3 o'clock when my classes were over I stayed at lyceum to play volleyball or to do some crafts. Our lyceum
administration arranged several kinds of extra-class activities like concerts, debate clubs and sports
competitions. Honestly I wasn't their active participant, but I took part in them from time to time. Frequently I
was back home later than 5 o'clock. On my way home I went to the baker's to buy some white and brown bread,
biscuits and cakes. In the evenings I was busy doing my homework. There were subjects which required a lot of
homework to be done and I usually spent most of my time on them. The English language, as it was my main
subject, took me no less than three hours to be done. Belarusian and Russian literatures took me a lot of time as
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well as I should read a lot, wrote different compositions and thought over various problems of our life. These
subjects had never seemed easy to me.
When late evening came and I had some free time left, which happened very seldom, I went for a walk with my
friends. But I rarely sat in front of the TV set, as I prefer meeting friends to merely watching TV. Besides I'm
keen on music. Listening to music makes me feel relaxed and calm. Sometimes it even helped me to do my
homework. I was in the habit of doing two things together, for instance, listening to music and at the same time
reading a book or writing a composition. I don't know why but music didn't prevent me from productive work
and didn't draw my attention away. On the contrary it helped me. Here I should say that there were not many
household chores that I did in my final year as my parents understood that I was preparing for entering the
university and they tried to set me free from spending my precious time on anything else but studying. But in
spite of it I had little time for rest; I think working hard is the right thing to do if you want to achieve something
in life.
At about eight o'clock we usually had supper and all our family gathered in the kitchen. I should mention that it
was the only time when we could see one another and talk about different things. We shared our joys and
sorrows; discussed our plans for the next day. As for my supper it was usually light as I had dinner very late (at
5 or 6 o'clock), that's why I was not hungry when time came to have supper.
At about 11 o'clock I usually had a bath and then I went to bed. When I went to bed I often thought about
possible careers and dreamt of becoming reach and famous due to an outstanding talent that no one had
discovered yet (just like they do in the movies). Then I allowed myself to worry a bit about lyceum, my future,
the next day, what I looked like, what people thought about me and what I could do to change the way people
thought about me. I usually fell asleep at midnight.
Generally I try to plan my working day. I think it helps not to waste time on trifles and to do all the things at a
time. I like punctuality, exactness, when everything has its own place. To my mind it is easier to live then.
When my working day is planned I don't waste time on thinking what to do, so I have more time to do various
useful things. When my working day is over I usually think about what things I have done and what this day
has brought to me. If I understand that I have enriched my knowledge, learnt useful things and practiced to do
something important I consider that this day turns out well. I try not to leave things till last time. But not long
ago it was my weak spot. It I had to learn something by heart I did it on the last evening, if I had a lot to read I
did it at night. Of course sometimes I didn't manage to do all the things I needed. I'd like to admit that my mum
always said that I shouldn't leave things for tomorrow if I could do them today. At present I agree with her
completely. So I have managed to get rid of this weak spot.
And in conclusion I'd like to say I'm happy to live a busy life. It is more interesting, exciting and instructive.
When you are busy life doesn't seem to be boring.
---------------------------------------------------------MY SCHOOL
Education is the main people's wealth and lots of them consider it the sense of living. They get education from
early childhood and learn until their hair is grey. To my mind, education plays an important role in people's
lives, that's why a great attention is paid to it.
School is one of our most significant institutions. School teaches reading, writing, the use of mathematics and
other basic skills needed in everyday life. It increases people's knowledge of the world and themselves and
helps them understand the rapid changes that take place in modern society. In schools pupils learn their
responsibilities and rights as citizens, improve their ability to think critically, and develop such basic values as
truth, justice and equality.
People throughout the world attend schools, but the quality of schools varies among countries. Today most of
countries have well-developed educational systems and I'd like to mention that Belarus is among these
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countries. It embraces 11,000 educational establishments. The republic guarantees its citizens the right to
universal secondary education and creates means for further professional education. It tries to preserve the
democratic character of education paying much attention to common human values, developing independent
critical thinking instead of simple perception of information. But in spite of it, education in our country faces
various problems nowadays.
It seems to me that the greatest problem for a school today is that all subjects are compulsory and pupils have
no opportunity to choose the subjects they want to learn deep. Thousands of pupils have to spend a lot of time
sitting and thinking over the subjects they don't like, don't need or don't understand. It usually drives them mad
(I know it for sure) and they start hating this or that subject or become indifferent to it. So if I were a Minister
of education I would organize education in another way. In my opinion, some subjects should be optional so
that children could choose their favourite ones out of the formal curriculum. I think that such education is better
and more effective.
Also in my personal view, schooling doesn't bring practical experience for young people. To my mind learning
only theory by textbooks isn't enough. In every school should be chemical and biological laboratories where
pupils who want to know more could work with their teachers after the classes. To my great regret not every
school has a good computer centre. I think that special excursions to the corners of our native country should be
organized for pupils who are interested in History. It isn't only useful but interesting as well. And of course, it
would be great if the children who want to connect their lives with foreign languages could go to the countries
where these languages are spoken and spend there some time, communicating with native speakers.
To my mind these problems of schooling should be solved as soon as possible.
Now when my school years have been over I can say with certainty that it is fairly difficult to learn and that
schooling brings hundreds of sleepless nights, impaired nerves and millions of hours learning and learning. But
on my first day at school many years ago I knew almost nothing about school.
As far as I remember, during the last two years at the kindergarten I was dreaming to go to school, because I
found attendance of the kindergarten boring and I disliked almost all its rules. For example, I couldn't sleep at a
daytime, but our governor always tried to make me sleep but in spite of it, while all children were sleeping I
was thinking about school.
And finally the first September of 1995 came. I'm sure I can never forget that day. It occurred on a sunny bright
day when birds sang and trees were still in leaves I got up early on that day because I felt excited and started
awakening my parents. Then we ate, got dressed and went to school. I was ready for going to school, as at the
age of seven I could read, write, count and paint, I had a good memory and learnt some Russian verses and
some English words.
On my way to school I was thinking about this establishment School was a magic word for me. While walking I
felt a bit nervous. It wasn't fear but the feeling of something new, unexpected that I would meet. I was
accompanied by both of my parents and elder brother who was going to the 6th form.
My teacher and classmates met me at a school yard and after a solemn part we went to our classroom. Then
there was a little excursion around the school. The teacher showed us a canteen, a gym, different classrooms,
etc. I spent the whole day at school. It was the happiest day in my school life because my dream had come true.
Both the teacher and new classmates became my friends. That day was unforgettable.
Years passed and my impressions about school changed. I began to learn different subjects, new teachers
appeared and school became a typical place where I spent the largest part of the day. Long grey days started but
the first day would be in my memory forever. My first teacher also will be in my soul and heart. Frankly
speaking she was my favourite teacher and I'm sure that she can be called an ideal teacher. She was an excellent
teacher, not just a person teaching us subjects but a helper, an adviser and a friend. And what is no less
important her attitude to the pupils was always friendly and tolerant. She was always interested in her pupils'
health and atmosphere in our families. When a pupil was in trouble she usually gave him or her a piece of
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advice, if a pupil was ill our teacher always phoned him. Her lessons were always interesting and unusual. She
arranged various discussions and we took active part in them. She really had a gift to teach!
But our life passes so fast that sometimes we don't even notice how fleeting it is; so my first four years at
school spent with my beloved teacher, flashed by very quickly.
I went to the secondary school. Though studying was not an easy thing to do I never felt homesick. I should say
that I was lucky to study at an English specialized school. There I got proper trainings in such subjects as
English, German, Literature and History. But school for me was not only lessons and learning: I had a lot of
friends there. It was an unforgettable time full of joys and trouble, of happiness and unimaginable adventures.
I'm sure that school taught me a lot, first of all in educational sphere. Thanks to school and my teachers I
became intelligent and educated person. But school gave me a lot not only in educational sphere. I became
more persistent and stubborn. Diligence, attention and accuracy - all these qualities school developed in me
every day. I had many friends at school and good relations with my teachers. School was like my second home.
But after the 9th form I entered Gomel State Regional Lyceum. It's one of the best educational establishments
in my native town that is famous for its high-quality teaching and good equipment. Frankly speaking it was
difficult for me to leave my school, as I'd spent a long span of life there. I came to school when I was a little
girl, but when I was leaving it I was a grown-up person who knew what she was going to be. But honestly I was
really happy to enter the lyceum because the atmosphere there was so warm and pleasant, both teachers and
students were one large and friendly family.
I want to say that lyceum is one modern schools in Belarus as it is a new type of educational establishments. It
provides two years of education which offers a general course of academic and non-academic subjects. Besides
it offers а number of courses giving a profound knowledge in a variety of fields: the humanities, natural
sciences, mathematics, etc.
What about me I specialized in the humanities. The course I took included: Belarusian, Russian, History of
Belarus and of certainly my chief interest was the English language. I got interested in this subject because to
my mind every modern and cultural person should know at least one foreign language. The foreign language I
have chosen is English, because it is the language of the planet, that's why knowing it is a life necessity.
Likewise I'm sure that knowledge of English can be applied in my prospective occupation.
The lyceum, I finished, is located in the city centre. The building itself is of typical design with the same layout
and the distribution of classrooms, administrative offices, canteens, gyms and libraries as you can see in most
other schools. But when you come in through the front door you find yourself in a spacious hall with
comfortable sofas and large windows. Cloak-room is also situated in the hall. On the ground floor there is a
large assembly hall, which is used for various performances, festivities and lyceum meetings, a library, a
canteen, the Doctor's office and some classrooms. On the first floor there is a large computer centre, where
basic computer skills are taught, an ecological centre with rear species of fish and the Head's office. On the
second floor there are a lot of classrooms and laboratories, and there is a hostel on the third floor for pupils who
come from small towns and villages of our region. In general, to my mind, the lyceum is very cosy inside: there
are a lot of sofas, Venetian blinds and mirrors in the corridors. All classrooms are well-equipped, but frankly
speaking, they look like classrooms in all schools of our country: there are three rows of desks, a teacher's table
with a chair and a blackboard on the wall.
Though I have spent at lyceum only two years, it has become an integral part of my life. Our social and cultural
life was well organized; both teachers and classmates were so friendly and easy to get along with. I was on
good terms with my classmates, as all of them were interesting and a bit enigmatic persons. We often spent our
free time together and I think I can never forget these two years and I will regret that everything has finished.
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To my mind it goes without saying that I was more pleased to study at lyceum than at school. I'd like to
compare, for instance, the quantity of English classes a week. At lyceum we had nine English lessons while at
school I used to have only four. It was a great problem for me as I didn't have enough practice in grammar,
vocabulary and listening at all. I attended courses in English, but they didn't give visible results. Thanks to
lyceum I have known a lot of information I would have never got at school.
Another thing that differed lyceum from school was books. At school we had only one textbook where we did
our exercises, learnt rules and read texts, but at lyceum everything was different. We needed to buy lots of
necessary books and our teacher also gave us additional literature. So at lyceum we were fully provided with
educational supplies.
Also we had a lot of concerts, sport competitions we took part in, excursions and visits to libraries and theatres
at lyceum. Social and cultural life at lyceum was diverse, but at school we had nothing but went to theatre twice
a year.
Sincerely speaking, lyceum was much better than my former school, but I can't say that my school wasn't good:
it gave me my first knowledge, learnt to appreciate education and friendship. Even though I liked my school
and my former classmates I didn't regret that I had changed my school for lyceum. I think it was a right choice.
I think you'll agree that education means much in every country, but in Japan education is the main thing in
people's lives.
In Japan children go to school at the age of four and finish the primary school at twelve. Then rather a difficult
life for them starts. They begin learning special courses and choose the subjects they like.
Talking about Japanese schools I should say that every class has forty pupils. The discipline there is rather
strict: when a teacher enters the class children stand up and bow to him. While a teacher delivers a lecture
pupils make notes, but they don't shout and don't ask questions that is considered to be impolite. Pupils try to do
they best at school and even if a pupil falls ill his parents attend lectures instead of him.
I should say that Japanese education is considered to be one of the best in the world. Really, in many aspects it
may seem that a Japanese school is ideal, but to my mind, this opinion is wrong. In Japanese school pupils are
as busy as bees, they spend most time at schools, they learn hard from morning till late evening.
For me an ideal school is situated eighteen thousand miles far from Japan to the west. This school is a little
school in Summerhill.
Recently I've read about Summerhill school in a magazine and was very interested in the method of education
in this school.
This school is a modern kind of school, the main idea of which is to make school fit the child instead of making
the child fit the school. Here teachers don't make children sit at desks studying mostly useless subjects. They
allow children freedom to be themselves. In order to do this the administration of this school had to renounce
all discipline, all direction, all suggestion and all moral trainings. They are sure, and I completely agree with
them, that each child is innately wise and realistic. If left to himself without adult suggestion of any kind, he
will develop as far as he is capable of developing. Summerhill is a place where people who have innate ability
to be scholars will be scholars.
To my mind Summerhill is possibly the happiest school in the world and an ideal school for children. For
instance lessons are optional there. Children can attend them or stay away from them. There is a timetable but
only for the teachers, so children can choose when they start their day at school. The children have classes
usually according to their age, but sometimes according to their interests.
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The teachers are friendly and understanding there. They are sympathized with the children and help them as
much as they can. They help the children to do as well as possible in their exams and help them to develop their
personalities and characters. So, Summerhill is a placе that gives the children not only some skills or
knowledge, but teaches some social things the pupils need to know when they leave school. And the main thing
- Summerhill is a pleasant place to be in as the children feel comfortable, equal among each other and happy.
Frankly speaking I regret that I didn't have an opportunity to be a pupil of this school, though I really enjoyed
years at school and lyceum. And now when I have finished them, my heart is full of gratitude to most teachers
for the knowledge they gave me and to many of my classmates who made my school life enjoyable. School has
opened me the world and the way to it, and I'm sure I will always look back at my school and lyceum years as
the happiest years in my life.
------------------------------------------------------MY ENGLISH STUDIES
According to a legend, originally the world only had one language. One day the people decided to build an
enormous tower so that they could reach up to heaven. The creator, convinced that he had to put an end to such
futile ventures, decided to confuse their languages so that they couldn't understand each other, and to scatter
them all over the earth.
Since that time people throughout the world have been struggling to understand each other.
Despite various attempts to create universal language- between 1880 and 1907 no less than 53 were inventedtoday, whether we like it or not, English is the only universal language.
I'm sure that it is very important and necessary to learn English now, because English is the language of the
whole world. 700 million people all over the world use it. Over 30 million people speak English as a mother
tongue. The native speakers of English live in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, etc. English is
one of the official languages in the Irish Republic, India, Canada and the South African Republic. As a second
language it is used in the former British and US colonies. Besides, millions of people study and use English as a
foreign language. But at first I'd like to say some words about the history of this language.
The rise of English is a story of wonderful success. When Julies Caesar landed in Britain in the 5th century,
English was already spoken by the people, who inhabited Great Britain, but they were not many and their
English was not the language we know today. Nearly a thousand years later, at the end of the 16th century,
when William Shakespeare created his works, English was the native language of about 6 million Englishmen.
At that time English wasn't used anywhere except Great Britain, but now English is the main language of
business, sports, science, trade, progressive technology, commerce and it's the world's computer language. 75%
of the world's mail and 60% of the world's telephone calls are in English. Also it is the universal language of
international aviation, shipping and the major language of diplomacy. It has replaced French in the world of
diplomacy and German in the field of science. English is the dominant language of medicine, electronics and
space technology, of international business and advertising, of radio, television and film. Besides, the English
language is the language of the great literature, hundreds of books, magazines and newspapers are printed in
English and read all over the world. A lot of new films in English come out every day. If you know English,
you can understand them without translation. Also I should mention that every year thousands of people from
Belarus go to different countries as tourists or to work and they can't go without knowing the language of the
country they are going to, but they can speak in English, because it is an international language.
I should say that in general interest to foreign languages is increasing nowadays, especially among young
people. Youth likes to rest in different youth camps and to communicate with coevals from other countries, but
it is problematical if you don't know any foreign language. Modern teenagers like to sit at the computers as well
and to spend a lot of time in charts, where they can make acquaintance with people from other countries, but
communication with them also requires knowing foreign language.
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I'm sure you will feel at home while doing business if you know foreign language, because you have an
opportunity to exchange visits and business letters. You can fluently speak to your foreign partners on business
on the phone, without help of an interpreter. I'm sure that a specialist knowing a foreign language can find a
well-paid job in any professional sphere. Learning foreign languages opens up new opportunities to expand
one's knowledge in particular fields. Some people are interested in the culture of other peoples and it is the
reason why they learn foreign languages. To my mind the best way to know the culture of different nations is to
travel, because when we travel we can see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home,
though we may read about them in books or newspapers and see pictures of them on TV, but to my mind the
best way to get to know and understand the people is to meet them in their own homes. Also I'm sure that
learning other languages can give you self-confidence when you go abroad, because you can freely express
your wishes and thoughts and you will never get in a silly situation.
I'd like to admit that all people have their own purposes for learning other languages, but all of them have the
same opinion that learning foreign languages opens up a lot of new prospects nowadays.
As for me I think that learning a foreign language is the best way to discover new things about world culture,
which you have never known before and it will open to you great prospects for business. I learn English
because it expands my knowledge. At every English lesson I get to know something new and interesting.
English enriches my knowledge in some particular fields, broadens my outlook and enriches my mind. If I want
to feel quite well in today's multilingual society I should learn English because it is an international language
and it is spoken everywhere. Another reason why I learn English is that I want to read English books. I like
Shakespeare, Byron and Mark Twain and I want to get pleasure reading books in the original. Also I learn this
language because I want to use it for professional purposes as I want to become an interpreter. In my opinion an
interpreter is a very useful profession because it helps people to communicate. I want to work in an
international environment; I want to travel and to communicate with people. It has always attracted me.
But my friend is sure that learning a foreign language is a waste of time. She says that learning of English is a
fashion of the day; she thinks that foreign languages would not be popular in some years. Also she finds her
English lessons dull and boring, she says that she always wants to sleep when her teacher begins to speak in
English. I'm sure that the reason is that she can't understand what the teacher and other pupils say, and that's
why foreign language sounds tiresome for her. She is always grumbling about the difficulties of this language.
On the one side she is right, because English is very idiomatic language, there are a large number of exceptions
to any rule and the prepositions are terrible, also there is a problem of spelling. I agree with her that English is
not an easy thing as it takes a lot of time and patience. Sometimes it is boring to study grammar or to learn new
words, but it is well known that reading books in the original, listening to the BBC news and communication
with the English speaking people will help a lot But my friend says she would be rather learning one of the
artificial languages, for example, Esperanto, because it is a neutral language that is very easy to learn: there are
no exceptions to any rule, the tense system is simple and the grammar is based only on 16 rules. Also to her
mind it sounds beautiful, because it is quite similar to Italian. She even thinks that in future English would be
replaced by Esperanto, but I disagree. I don't think that Esperanto can become an international language,
because it is artificial, people don't use it for communication and they don't write letters in Esperanto or read
books because only few books are translated in it. There is no country where the native speakers of this
language live and where you can go in case you want to improve your language. That's why I prefer learning
English to Esperanto, though I find English harder. Also I want to say that a hard thing always evokes larger
interest than an easy one.
As for my English studies I should say that I have been studying English for ten years. Here I must admit that I
was privileged to study at a school where the English language was taught since the first form, as it was a
specialized English school. Since the first days at school English became my favourite subject. At the age of
seven I was introduced into foreign speech and was taught to read, write and listen to short texts in English. My
first English teacher made each lesson an interesting game which I enjoyed very much. It was exciting and easy
to learn English at that time by playing games and singing songs. As I grew older our lessons became more
instructive and serious. After the 9th form I entered Gomel state region lyceum where we had five English
lessons a week and four additional lessons in English literature and practical grammar. Much attention was paid
to grammar, writing all kinds of tests, speaking and listening.
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Of course like all pupils I had tasks that I liked to do and that I disliked to do. I didn't like to write tests as I
found it boring. I'm a rather creative person that's why I preferred such kinds of work where I could express my
own thoughts, and opinions ,that's why I liked writing compositions and speaking. I can't but mention my
teacher of English who devoted all her energy and talent to making us speak good English. She did her best to
convince us that learning a foreign language was a strong requirement of modern life. I think I can never forget
her words that every educated person should be able to speak al least one foreign languages and in many
aspects of life English is the key and it has a great influence everywhere. She says that today one person in
seven of the world's population either knows English or learns it. I belong to the last group because I'm only
studying it now. I'm sure that language learning is something that everyone can do throughout their lifetime you're never too old or too young to learn a language. Learning a new language is always a challenge but if
approached in the right way it will be enjoyable and will provide an immerse feeling of satisfaction. It will give
you a practical skill which can add to appreciation of other cultures, improve employment prospects and make
travel more rewarding; to my mind you should never stop learning foreign languages. You never reach a point
where you can say "at the end of this course I will know this language and I can stop learning it". It's a process
that goes on and on. You can reach a certain level, you can pass an exam or even get a university degree but
you still remain a learner all your life.
If yon learn language you always learn it for some definite purposes and these purposes usually dictate the most
important things in learning this language. That's why the most important things in learning foreign language
can be different to different people, for instance to my mind learning vocabulary and listening are considerable)
more important than learning grammar if you want to use the language for tourist's purposes because I think
that gestures and facial expression can always help you in it. But if you want to enter the university and then to
use English for professional purposes you should pay a lot of attention to learning grammar and vocabulary
hard, also you should read a lot because it is a good way to learn new words and to improve your English. And
what about me particularly I can say that it is very important for me being corrected all the time I make a
mistake because if I'm not corrected I'll use the word wrongly again and again it can lead to misunderstandings
in conversation. That's why I always pay a lot of attention to vocabulary learning.
I should say that different people organize their vocabulary learning in various ways. Some of them put words
in groups and have some grammar pages in their notebooks, other remember word families. I find this ways of
learning vocabulary rather original and effective because you don't have problems with word formation. My
cousin has a little notebook where he writes new words with translation and short sentences as examples. But to
my mind it isn't a very good idea because he can't include thousands English words in one small notebook and
also I'm sure that it isn't comfortable to curry this notebook everywhere. What about me, not long ago I tried to
learn new words by little bits of paper which were hung all over my house. But frankly speaking it didn't work
up because I didn't pay attention to these shits of paper. And now I try to practice another ways of learning
English words: I write new words on little pieces of paper in English on the one side and in Russian on the
other. Then when I have spare time, for example, when I go anywhere on the bus I learn these words. If I
remember the words they go to my right pocket and if I don't they go to the left pocket again. Also sometimes I
can record on to the tape the sentences with new words and then listen to them on the walkman while going
somewhere. I find this way of vocabulary learning quite comfortable and rather successful.
I think that it can be interesting for you to know: nearly a month ago I had a dispute with my friend. We
couldn't decide on what is more important in learning: ability or hard work. I agree with her that skills and
abilities play a great role in learning, but to my mind hard work is more important than ability because patience
and hard work can change everything, thanks to hard work you can develop your abilities in sphere where you
even don't expect it. But ability without practice and work is nothing. I'm sure that if you want to achieve
something in this life you should work as hard as you can and try to improve your knowledge all the time.
As for foreign languages I'm sure that there are a lot of ways to improve your knowledge in them. Some people
try to read books in the original, they can learn poems by heart, others can learn definite amount of English
words at a time. I personally do English tests or exercises from additional textbooks and I listen to special
cassettes. When I listen to an English song I always try to translate it into Russian and I want to admit that it is
very interesting. Also I have such TV channel as BBC, that's why when I have spare time I like to watch it. But
I think that the best way to improve your foreign language is to go to the country where this language is spoken
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and spend there some time, communicating with the native speakers. I'm sure that it is not only the best way of
learning the language, but also the shortest way of learning it. That's why I have a dream to go to England for a
month or two.
I'm definitely sure that my future career should be connected with foreign languages, because I want to become
a translator or interpreter. But to achieve my dream I should work hard And I do everything possible to make
my dream come true!
---------------------------------------------------WHAT ARE BONDS AND THEIR TYPES
Well there is a way of earning money on the stock exchange by making loans to companies or to the
government in the form of bonds. A bond is a promise to repay a sum of money at a certain interest rate and
over a certain period of time.
Loans made to joint-stock companies are usually called debentures while loans made to the government are
called government stocks.
Unlike shareholders, debenture holders are not members of the company in question. They do not share the
members' risks; they receive a regular income from their investment and take precedence over the shareholders
if the company is liquidated - that means, debenture holders are paid before shareholders. This makes
debentures a relatively safe form of investment.
Loans can be made to the government as well in order to finance its spending. Government stocks are repaid at
a fixed future date (at maturity). In the meantime, their holders receive interests on their loans. The interests
received on government stocks are known as the coupon.
Why do companies issue bonds? Let's say a corporation needs to build a new office building or needs to
purchase manufacturing equipment. Or maybe a city government needs to construct a new school or repair
streets. Whatever the need, a large sum of money will be needed to get the job done.
One way is to borrow this money form a bank, but a generally less expensive way is to issue bonds. Bonds are
issued by companies of all sizes. Bond-issuing companies are rated by private ratings companies such as
Moody's or Standard & Poors, for example, and given an 'investment grade' according to their financial
situation and performance (AAA being the best, and С the worst, it's nearly bankrupt).
Most bonds are bearer certificates, so after being issued (on the primary market), they can be traded on the
secondary bond market until they mature.
For companies, the advantage of bonds issue over shares issue is that bond interest is tax deductible. In other
words, a company deducts its interest payments from its profits before paying tax, whereas dividends to
shareholders are paid out of already-taxed profits. On the other hand if debt increases financial risk also
increases. Bond interest has to be paid, even if the year was without any profits from which to deduct it and the
principal has to be repaid when a bond reaches maturity.
And why do governments issue bonds? Governments, of course, unlike companies, do not have the option of
issuing shares. Consequently they issue bonds to reduce the money supply, they sell bonds to commercial
banks, and withdraw the cash received from circulation; to increase the money supply they buy them back.
There are different types of companies' bonds.
" Secured (mortgage) and unsecured (naked) debentures.
If a company cannot repay the loans or pay the interest, the holders of secured debentures are automatically
entitled to payment from the company's assets. But holders of unsecured debentures are not automatically
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repaid from the company's assets if the company is unable to pay in the usual way. They can of course go to
court to recover their money, but are not treated differently from the shareholders. An unsecured debenture is
basically no more than a promise to repay a loan.
" Registered and bearer debentures
The holders of registered debentures are listed in a company register. These debentures can only be transferred
in accordance with certain terms and conditions, and every transfer must likewise be entered into the register. A
bearer debenture is an unregistered debenture which can be negotiated by just handing it over to the new holder.
" Redeemable and irredeemable debentures
Redeemable debentures are repaid on a fixed date or within a certain period, often at a higher price than the
issue price, which means some extra money for the holder. There is no fixed date for the repayment of
irredeemable debentures; the loan is only repaid when the company is liquidated. However, holders of
irredeemable debentures may ask the company to redeem them if it fails to keep up its interest payments.
" And there are also convertible debentures that can be exchanged for ordinary shares if a debenture holder
wants.
There are also different types of government stocks that fall into three categories depending on the date of
maturity:
" Shorts: bonds to be redeemed in 7 years or less;
" Mediums: bonds to be redeemed in a period of 7 to 15 years;
" Longs: bonds to be redeemed more than 15 years from the date of issue.
And in the end it's necessary to say that the choice of bonds depends on readiness of an investor to risk.
--------------------------------------------------MY FAVOURITE RUSSIAN WRITER
I consider that books are with us during all our life. When I was a child my parents read them to me and I was
pleased to listen to the stories and tales. I learned a lot of interesting and useful things from books. Later I could
read myself and books brought me a lot of pleasant moments.
In general I'm fond of reading and to my mind books are a source of emotional inspiration and romantic
feelings. Reading means much in our life. It is very useful because books enrich our experience with that of
other people, help to continue our self-education and to discover what we are. Reading is a rewarding pastime,
as the time spent on a good book is never wasted. But some people think that a tempo of modern life is too fast
to waste time on reading. They are sure that books have begun to lose their prestige and value. I agree that our
century is the century of computers and progressive technologies, but it doesn't mean that one day books will be
replaced by computers. We read love and detective stories, science fiction and historical novels for pleasure and
they create a special atmosphere. Books take us into the imaginary world of high human emotions and exciting
relations. Owing to books we have the invisible contact with the writer who speaks with us from the passed
centuries. I'm sure that computers are unable to replace these things. In my opinion books are not only things
which help us to wide our knowledge but they are as teachers help us in different situations and set examples.
Books teach us what is right and what is wrong, to understand the world we live in and people in it; they mould
our character and at the same time they tell us exciting stories.
Unlike most of young people, who read little, I have been doing regular reading since my childhood. Today
youth isn't used to reading. Reading tends to be something you enjoy more as you get older, but if you don't
develop a taste for it when you are young you may never discover the pleasure of getting involved in a good
book. In my opinion, the main advantage books have over all other entertainments like computer games, videos
or TV is that they are relatively inexpensive and portable. I mean you can take a book with you whenever you
go, it doesn't break down if you get sand inside it, you don't need batteries and you can put it down and pick it
up whenever you like - the only equipment you need to have is a bookmark.
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I should say that we have a large collection of books at home, but I never miss the opportunity to borrow some
new books from the library. I have been interested in Russian and Belarusian literature since my childhood. As
far as Russian literature is concerned it is hard to name one favourite writer or one favourite book especially if
we are talking about the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, known as the "golden" and "silver'
periods in the Russian culture. Such giants of Russian literature as A. Pushkin, I. Turgenev, I Tolstoy, A.
Chekhov and many others are known all over the world.
The writer who stands out of this list for me is Fyodor Michailovich Dostoyevsky. I think I can never forget my
first acquaintance with him. Nearly three years ago when I came to our local library the librarian, a pleasant
young lass, offered me to borrow "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoyevsky. The title of this book tells its own
tale and though I have never enjoyed books about murders and crimes I decided to take it, as I have heard about
Dostoyevsky as about one of the most seminal writers in European literature. But after reading his book,
"Crime and Punishment" became my favourite book and its author came into my life as my beloved Russian
writer.
I look upon him not only as a great writer but a great philosopher as well. His ideas had an immense influence
on the literature that followed and his deep penetration into the human soul and the motives of people's
behaviour impresses the modern reader as much as it did his contemporaries.
Dostoyevsky was born in Moscow on October 30, 1821. He was the second son of a former army doctor.
Though the Dostoyevskies were a middle-class family the father was able to provide the best education for his
sons. The boy was educated at a private Moscow boarding school and, shortly after the death of his mother in
February 1837, was sent to St. Petersburg, where he entered the Army Engineering College. He received a
commission in 1843 and was attached to the Army Engineering corps, but in 1844 Dostoyevsky resigned his
commission to devote himself to literature.
In the spring of 1846 he joined the group of Utopian socialists led by Michael Butashevich-Petrashevsky. And
in April 1849 Dostoyevsky and other members of the group were arrested and imprisoned for eight months in
the Petropavlovsk fortress. On November 16 Dostoyevsky was sentenced to death, but the death sentence was
commuted to four years of hard labor in a Siberian prison. After his release from prison in February 1854,
Dostoyevsky did his compulsory army service in Siberia.
In March 1857 Dostoyevsky resigned from the army and return to St. Petersburg. Two years after his return, at
the end of 1859, he founded the monthly periodical "The time" under the nominal editorship of his elder brother
Michael, who was his best friend throughout his life. But some years later "The Time" was suppressed because
of an article on the Polish uprising.
Dostoyevsky died in St. Petersburg on January 28, 1881, from a burst blood vessel in his lungs, aggravated by
an attack of epilepsy.
Fyodor Michailovich Dostoyevsky died but he left his descendants a large heritage. At present Dostoyevsky is
still among the most widely read authors, whose contribution to the world literature can hardly be
overestimated. I consider that he is so popular among the readers because of the problems raised by him; these
problems haven't lost their significance. Dostoyevsky wrote about Russian people and the problems of the
Russian society of his time, his genius made the problems raised international and vital for people of all
nationalities. Among his outstanding novels are "The Idiot", "The Devils", "The Adolescent", "The Brothers
Karamazov", "Humiliated and Abused", but as I have said before my favourite is "Crime and Punishment".
To my mind the novel "Crime and Punishment" is one of the best books I've ever read which leaves lasting
impression and unforgettable feelings. It holds your attention from the start and becomes more exciting as it
progresses.
The author worked upon this novel in 1865 and throughout the following year and the book was published in
1866. It is the psychological account of a crime. A young man Radion Raskolnikov, sent down from university,
of middle-class origins and living in extreme poverty has decided to break out of his appalling situation. He
decides to kill a certain old woman, the pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna. The old woman is stupid, deaf, ill and
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greedy; she is evil and torments the life of her younger sister. "She is of no use for anything", "why does she
live?"', "is she of any value to anybody at all?" - such questions thoroughly disconcert the young man. He
decides to kill and rob her in order to improve the fortunes of his mother and sister. He wants to save the
family, finish his course, go abroad and then for the whole of the remainder of his life to be honest. Despite the
fact that such crimes are terribly difficult to carry out, he carries out his plan quickly and successfully. He
passes almost a month after this before the final catastrophe. Nobody suspects him and here the whole
psychological process of the crime unfolds. Insoluble questions confront the murderer, unsuspected and
unanticipated feelings torment his heart. God's truth and the earthly law and justice take their toll, and he ends
by being compelled to give himself up.
I have a really high opinion of this book, as I got the whole pleasure from it. This is the book which, once you
have started, is impossible to put down. While reading the novel you share all Radion's feelings and fears
together with him, you try to understand his behaviour and thoughts, to cut the long story short, you live
together with the main hero. "Crime and Punishment" includes strong elements of realism; you can find a
certain theme to think over at every page of the novel. From my point of view all these make the book
unforgettable and peculiar. And I think if I met a person who hasn't read this book, I would recommend him or
her to read it, as "Crime and Punishment" is a real masterpiece of Russian literature.
--------------------------------------------------------MY FAVOURITE AMERICAN WRITER
I consider that books are with us during all the life. When I was a child my parents read them to me and I was
pleased to listen to the stories and tales. I learned a lot of interesting and useful things from books. Later I could
read books by myself and they brought me a lot of pleasant minutes.
In general, I'm fond of reading and to my mind books are a source of emotional inspiration and romantic
feelings.
I think you'll agree that reading means much in our life. It is very useful because books enrich our experience
with that of other people, help to continue our self-education and to discover what we are.
Reading is a rewarding pastime, as the time spent on a good book is never wasted. But some people think that a
tempo of modern life is too fast to waste time on reading. They are sure that books have begun to lose their
prestige and value. I agree that our century is the century of computers and progressive technologies, but it
doesn't mean that one day books will be replaced by computers. Love and detective stories, science fiction and
historical novels we read for pleasure and they create a special atmosphere. Books take us into the imaginary
world of high human emotions and exciting relations. Owing to books we have the invisible contact with the
writer who speaks with us from the passed centuries. I'm sure that computers are unable to replace all these
things. In my opinion books are not only things which help us to wide our knowledge but they are as teachers
help us in different situations and set examples. Books teach us what is right and what is wrong, to understand
the world and people in; they mould our character and at the same time they tell us exciting stories.
Unlike most of young people, who read little, I have been doing regular reading since my childhood. Today
youth isn't used to reading.
For me reading tends to be something you enjoy more and more as you get older, but if you don't develop a
taste for it when you are young you may never discover the pleasure of getting involved in a good book. In my
opinion, the main advantage books have over all other entertainments like computer games, videos or TV is that
they are relatively inexpensive and portable. I mean you can take a book with you whenever you go, it doesn't
break down if you get sand inside it, you don't need batteries and you can put it down and pick it up whenever
you like - the only equipment you need is a bookmark.
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I should say that we have a large collection of books at home, but I never miss the opportunity to borrow some
new books from the library. My attention has always been attracted by shelves with English and American
literature. Nearly three years ago when I came to out local library the librarian, a pleasant young lass, advised
mo to borrow "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. Frankly speaking, the title of the book didn't arose
my attention at first, though I decided to take this book. But when I finally read it, "Gone with the wind"
became my favourite book and its author came into my life as my beloved one. I have been fascinated by this
great American writer.
When I read her biography | was impressed by her personality. Margaret Mitchell was born on November 8,
1900 in Atlanta to a family with ancestry not unlike the O'Hara's in "Gone with the Wind". Her mother, Mary
Isabelle Stephens was of Irish-Catholic ancestry. Her father, Eugene Muse Mitchell, an Atlanta attorney,
descended from Scotch-Irish and French Huguenots. The family included many soldiers-members of the family
had fought in the American Revolution, Irish uprisings and rebellions and the Civil War.
The imaginative child was fascinated with stories of the Civil War that she heard first from her parents and
great aunts, who lived .it the family's Jonesboro rural home, and later from grizzled Confederate veterans who
regaled the girl with battlefield stories.
Young Margaret attended private school, but was not an exceptional student. When, on one memorablе day, she
announced to her mother that she could not understand mathematics and would not return to school, Mary
Isabelle dragged her daughter to a rural road where plantation houses had fallen into ruin.
"It's happened before and it will happen again," mother sternly lectured the girl. "And when it does happen,
everyone loses everything and everyone is equal. They all start again with nothing at all except the cunning of
their brain and the strength of their hands."
Chastened, Margaret Mitchell returned to school, eventually entering Smith College in the fall of 1918. In
January 1919, her mother died of a flu epidemic and Margaret left college to take charge of the Atlanta
household of her father and her elder brother.
In 1925 Margaret Mitchell began writing the book that would make her world famous. Once she said: "If the
novel has a theme it is that of survival. What makes some people able to come through catastrophes and others,
apparently just as able strong and brave, go under? It happens in every upheaval. Some people survive, others
don't. What qualities are in those who tight their way through triumphantly that are lacking in those who go
under…? I only know that the survivors used to call that quality 'gumption'. So I wrote about the people who
had gumption and the people who didn't."
"Gone with the Wind" was published in June 1936, and she was awarded the Pulitzer Price for her sweeping
novel in May 1937. The novel was made into an equally famous motion picture starring Vivien Leigh and Clark
Gable. The movie had its world premiere at the Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta on December 15, 1939 with
Margaret Mitchell and all of the stars in attendance.
On August 11, 1949 while crossing the crossroads, Margaret Mitchell was struck by a speeding taxi. She died
five days later and is buried in Atlanta Oakland Cemetery with other members of her family.
Margaret Mitchell died but her book is still alive and it is still popular among readers. To my mind the novel
"Gone with the Wind' is one of the best books I've ever read, which leaves lasting impression and unforgettable
feelings. It holds your attention from the start and becomes exciting as it progresses.
"Gone with the Wind" is a sort of historical novels where the Civil War (1861-1865) between two hostile
camps of South and North is depicted. The author of the novel blames the war and shows all its horrors and
burdens, hunger and collapses, nonsense and inhumanity. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the
portrayal of the main hero Scarlet O'Hara, who is a beautiful, proud and spirited girl with practical mind. In
youth she passionately falls in love with Ashley, but he prefers another girl and marries her. Scarlet's fanatical
devotion to her first love prevents her from an opportunity to estimate at Rhett Butler's love. Rhett is a strong103
willed, bold man who is quite similar to her in temperament and spirit. Finally Scarlet understands that all her
life she has loved not real Ashley, but her own child's dream only when Rhett leaves and she remains alone. But
Scarlet isn't defeated, she hopes for the next day. That's why not without reason the novel ends with the words:
"But tomorrow will be another day."
As for me I have a really high opinion of this book, as I got the whole pleasure from it. This is the book which,
once you have started, is impossible to put down. "Gone with the Wind' includes strong elements of realism, it
portrays life very truthfully and it can make people laugh and cry. The characters are depicted so vividly that
people immediately recognize themselves; it amuses the readers and arouses the feeling of admiration. From
my point of view all these facts make the book unforgettable and peculiar. And I think if I met a person who
hasn't read the novel, I would certainly recommend to read it; as "Gone with the Wind' is a real masterpiece of
American literature.
----------------------------------------------------MY DAY OFF
What is the life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare
Sometimes it is very hard to find some free time even on our days off, because we are often busy with our
work and we don't see all kinds of other activities. Besides we don't save our minutes, that's why we have no
time to relax. Until recently staying busy relieved me of the need to make decisions about how I was spending
my time. Business gave me a sense of control over my life. Frankly speaking my dilemma is deeper than
shortage of time; it is the problem of priorities I want to spend time at work, but not for the lack of good rest.
Physical rest is very important, but we also need spiritual relaxation - the peace and refreshment in our soul. It
has been wisely noted that after spiritual rest we feel strengthened, dashing and patient. So, at present I try to
maximize my time in such a way in order to have enough time for work but also have some spare time for
entertainments. This is usually connected with my weekends or in other words days off.
I should say that this year was not an easy one in my life. Apart from everyday preparation for the lessons at
lyceum, I had to do quite a number of additional studies in English, Belarusian and History because I started
getting ready for the entrance examinations. During the school week I got so tired and exhausted that I
anxiously looked forward to the weekend when I could relax and have a good rest. A day off for me was a nice
possibility to escape from the daily lyceum routine. Every day off came like a reward and like all nice things it
flashed by quickly.
To my mind every day off needs some special planning. Time passes quickly and if you have no plans you can
be sure to get no results, as you may spend your time on trifles.
In general I'm for an active rest I like to go somewhere with my friends and to spend my free time in a good
company. I hate staying at home at the weekend. While studying at lyceum, I tried to do all my homework right
after the classes on Saturday, because I didn't want to remember about it during my weekend. Also I did
something about the house like cleaning my room, placing books on the shelves which were piled up in
different places and then I was free and could do everything I wished. I enjoyed my Saturday evenings most of
all. I never knew about boredom even when I spent the evening on my own listening to music or reading an
exciting book. I'm fond of reading. Books help me to continue my self-education, besides I'm sure that a reader
lives much richer and interesting life than a non reader. I prefer reading psychological books. In my opinion,
the time spent on such a book is never wasted, as these books help me to understand the world and people in it,
teach me what is right and what is wrong and at the same time they mould my character.
But I should mention that usually I spent my Saturday evenings in another way. I met my friends and we went
for a walk or to the disco. I'd like to say that a lot of clubs have been opened recently in our town. The entrance
ticket isn't very expensive, wonderful music is played there and you can dance there and get acquainted with
interesting people. I can't explain all the feelings I experience while dancing, but it gives me so much energy
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that I even don't feel my tiredness. I always returned home brisk and in a good mood. I should say that on
Saturdays I tried to return home early, because I wanted to have a good sleep which was a well-deserved reward
for the six days of hard work and early rising.
I'm in the habit of getting up late on Sundays. Especially when the weather was nasty, I afforded myself to relax
and not to be in a hurry. I hate the cold that's why I usually tried to stay in bed as long as possible. So I could
stay in it and not get up till 11 or even 12 o'clock in the morning. Only then I dressed and had my breakfast.
I could do everything I wished till 5 o'clock. Usually I watched TV, visited my friends or chatted with them on
the phone. But sometimes if I had known that the next week was hard I could spend half of the day reading
numerous pages in literature, writing essays or compositions. I should say that it helped me a lot and I had more
free time during the workweek.
I tried to end all my duties till 4 o'clock, as at 5 o'clock my trainings on shaping began. To my mind not without
reason people say that sport is a world of its own and it can't mean the same to everybody. I'm absolutely sure
that doing sports is the best way to keep fit, healthy and strong. It is wide known that there is a sound mind in a
sound body. But for me sport is also a means of relaxation and entertainment, a way of acquainting with other
people. I should say that I have met a great amount of interesting people there, communication with whom
made my day off brighter and more enjoyable But to my great regret I had to give up my trainings some months
ago, because of lack of spare time.
After the trainings, tired but happy, I returned home. It was usually about 8 o'clock. The rest of the day I
preferred to spend with my family members, as my family has always meant very much for me I like most of all
when the whole family gather in the kitchen and we all sit chatting for hours It happens especially often on long
winter evenings. We usually drink tea or coffee and share our news, joys and sorrows and discuss our plans for
the next week. I have always enjoyed the honest and open relattons in our family and I think that my family is
the most valuable thing I have in my life.
I have described you my typical day off, but of course, my weekends vary depending on the season. Summer
weekends are more pleasant than long winter evenings, but I don't mean to say that I never enjoy weekends like
these. Honestly, an ideal weekend for me is going for a picnic somewhere in the country or in the forest with
my friends, sitting around the fire and singing songs to the guitar. That is the kind of weekend we sometimes
have in spring or early autumn. But frankly speaking, it happens quite rarely, as I and my friends are busy
people. Take me for example: studying at lyceum left little time for entertainment but the English say: He, who
knows how to work, knows how to rest, and I think I'm not the exception.
I believe that in future when I have more spare time and ,hopefully, more money, then I'll have other
preferences and choices in rest and relaxation, but now I'm an exceptionally lucky person, because I get a good
deal of what I want, and I can work actively for the rest. So my life is full of interesting and varied activities.
Frankly speaking, I feel pity for those people, whose lives are boring and who don't see anything except work
and TV. We have to learn to run providing some rest, comfort and entertainment, so that we could live full
lives.
------------------------------------------------------------MY FLOT
It goes without saying that all of us have our own ideas about home because it can't mean the same to all
people. As for me I'm sure that homes are not just places. Home is your little world where you live according to
yow own rules and interests. It's a place where you feel comfort, warmth and reliability. My own home should
be quite large and spacious, because I hate tiny rooms with small windows. Undoubtedly it should be handy for
bus stop, shops and all public places like clinics, schools, etc. Evidently all these things are significant, but
nevertheless warm and friendly relations between members of the family are considerably more important than
large rooms and modern furniture. I think that if you live under pressure in a flat of your dream it won't seem so
wonderful, modernized and comfortable for you. And I prefer to live in a common fiat without particular
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modem conveniences, but where there are harmony and friendly atmosphere. It is true that all of us encourage
warm relations between family members and all of us want to see the members of their family respecting,
helping each other and sharing the same joys and troubles. I believe you will agree that these simple things help
people to form the mood of friendly atmosphere in their homes.
We say "East or West, home is best ", the English say "My home is my castle". I personally agree with these
statements, because it is home that always awakens the most pleasant feelings and high emotions in my soul.
Always after a hard day I return home and think "At last I came home". For me there is no place like home.
Though my house is situated rather far from the centre of our town I think that myhouse is perfectly located. It
is a short way to the bus stop and I cannot say it is a great problem for me to get to any place in the town
because public transport works well. It takes meonly about five minutes to get to the post office, pharmacy and
hairdresser's. There are three schools, two kindergartens, about five shops, a church and a market not far from
my house. I should say that it has never been a problem for me to get to the hospital, as both nursery and adult
hospitals are separated from my house only by the road. And as far as the road is concerned it's not a busy one,
that's why I can't say that noise troubles me.
The only thing I don't like about my flat is the view from my windows because one of the windows in my flat
faces a nine-storied grey building and all the others look on a private neighborhood.
At first look my house is a common grey and boring building. It looks like hundreds of other buildings in our
town, but for me it is the best house in the world.
I live on the second floor in a three-room flat. Our flat is always filed with happiness and joy. Even after the
first few minutes in our flat you can understand all hospitality and friendliness of this place and the family
which lives there. Our flat is very warm and cosy, so it makes you feel at home.
I should say that as you come in through the front door, you find yourself in a long hall. It is a place where we
greet our guests and it's the place where you can get the first impressions about our flat, that's why we made our
entrance hall in such way that each thing there creates the feeling of comfort. There is a grey carpet on the
floor, but walls and ceiling are papered white. Such contrast between the dark floor and the light walls is very
spectacular. It is the darkest room in our flat, because we have only one small lamp there but the darkness
makes our hall rather mysterious. Near the door there is a little seat and a mirror. A wardrobe with a coat racks
stretches near the right wall but on the left wall there is only a long artificial flower and three pictures, made in
one style.
The first door on the right of the hall leads into my parents' bedroom. It is a very convenient room, though
there isn't much furniture there. There is a double-bed near the wall and two bed-side tables by its sides with
photos. In front of the bed stands a dressing table with a big mirror. It's the place where my mother makes up
every morning. There are always a lot of perfumes on this table and it isn't a surprise that the room is always
filled with their scents. There is also a door to the balcony. In summer it is usually open and I like to enjoy the
fresh air and cool swish of leaves that come from it.
The next room after the bedroom of my parents is my own bedroom. First of all I should say that it is my
favourite room in our flat. I have always tried to make my room cosy, because to my mind your room is your
face. My bedroom is the place where I wake up every morning to the refreshing smell of coffee from the
kitchen and where every day of my life starts.
Though my room isn't very large I can say that it is rather spacious for me because I live alone. My bedroom is
also my study, so you can see a table near the window and three bookshelves on the wall with various books.
Not far from the table there is my bed, near it stands a bed-side table with the telephone. You can also find a
wardrobe, a chest of drawers in my room and a fluffy carpet on the floor.
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In my opinion my room is very cool and light. It is always filled with the sounds of my favourite music.
Certainly my room is very lovely and comfortable. Here there are a lot of beautiful things that make it funny
and merry; I have a lot of toys which sit on my bed and on the shelves. I collect postcards and statues as well,
that's why a lot of them are situated on the chest of drawers and on the shelves. But my room isn't very green,
because I don't like flowers and frankly speaking I don't enjoy the view from my window.
But in general I adore my bedroom and I always feel myself comfortable in it. I like to receive guests in my
room and we like to listen to music together, to drink tea with sweets and candies and to talk about our
problems, interests and news.
As far as our living room is concerned I'd like to say that it is the largest and the busiest room in our flat. Every
evening we gather together there and discuss some problems and events, watch TV or read magazines. This
room is filled with cheerful and friendly humor; here you can always hear happy laughing and joyful voices.
The walls in this room are white but sofa and armchairs are red. There is a table for magazines between two
armchairs and near the front wall a wardrobe and a suite of furniture stand. There is also a TV set in the living
room. We usually like to have a cup of coffee there and to talk.
To the right of the hall or in front of the living room there is our kitchen with all its conveniences where we sit
chatting for hours in winter. Our kitchen is rather small, but cosy and warm. It faces east, that's why there is a
lot of sunshine there especially in the morning. The air of this room is usually filled with the delicious smells of
my mother's cooking, because mainly she is the hostess of the kitchen.
The walls are papered blue there. As scientists say blue is the colour that is the most universally preferred as
blue rooms instill peacefulness, blue can also help us feel calm and confident, that's why I like this room and
spend there quite a lot of time.
A table and four stools stand near the window with wonderful gaily-coloured curtains. In the corner to the left
of the door you can see a sink and a gas cooker. Next to the cooker stands a working top and over it there are
wall cupboards.
Between the kitchen and the living room there is a bathroom and a toilet. Our bathroom is rather large. Its
walls are covered with blue tiles, but the floor with grey ones. In the front of the door there is a bath. Near it
you can find a sink and a mirror over it with some shelves. There is also a back for clothes and a wash machine
in this room. I'm sure that our bathroom is very stylish and nice.
So it's my flat, my "home, sweet home". Sometimes after a long journey I return home with such pleasure and
happiness, that I feel myself like a baby that returns to its mother. I love every corner and every thing in my
flat. "My home is my fortress", it is my territory, my place where I feel good and comfortable. Nobody can
disturb me here.
-----------------------------------------------------------MY FRIEND
According to the dictionary friendship is a feeling and behaviour that exist between people, but what these
feelings are and what this behaviour is everyone should decide for himself. I consider that friendship is a gift
from the God. that's why I highly appreciate it. I think it is hard to find a close friend because people are unique
creatures of nature, all of them have their own habits, opinions and judgments which differ from others.
It makes sense to say that friendship can be compared to a tree. Its seed should find good soil and under
favourable conditions it will grow into a tree. As the years go by the tree stands firmer and firmer on the ground
and if it is strong enough it will survive all the storms and winds, but to help it we should take care of it and
love it.
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In my opinion lucky are the people who have real friends. As for me I'm happy to have lots of friends, some of
them are close, some are less, but all of them make my life interesting and enjoyable and I can't imagine my life
without them, because friendship means very much for me. Being friends means making allowances for the
other person's faults, being tolerant to each other moods. The most important thing about friends for me is being
able to share secrets, to tell each other your problems and share your worries, to help each other out.
As I've said before a real friend is the gift from the God. In my opinion an ideal friend should posses such
qualities as honesty, sincerity, faith, tolerance and respect in attitude to you. A friend is a person who can help
you in no time, lend you a hand, whom you can wake up in the middle of the night just to say you feel worried
or who is eager to do everything for you waiting nothing in return, who supports you in all your beginnings and
who will never betray you. To my mind really close and devoted friend can be not only the same sex as you. It
doesn't matter your best friend is a girl or a boy. I think that her or his soul, character and attitude to you are
considerably more important. I disagree with people who say that boys are better friends than girls. Such people
think that a boy-friend can never spread false stories about you or tell your secrets to the entire world, but to my
mind it depends on his moral qualities. I knew one boy who began to spread stories about me, saying I was
dishonest, unreliable and impudent, when we broke our relations, but I still actually believe in friendship
between fellows and girls, that's why I have equal amount of boys and girls among my close friends.
But in my opinion it isn't an easy thing to be a true friend and before somebody can name you his best friend
you should prove your friendship. To my mind everyone can have only one or two true friends, because a friend
to all is a friend to none. I believe that faithful friend can brighten your life and make it more interesting, vivid
and enjoyable. You are interested in your friend with all his positive and negative traits of personality and your
friend in his turn can understand and forgive you everything. You shouldn't tell a lie to your friend, there
mustn't be hypocrisy in your speech and even in thoughts. Before telling your friend something, before doing
anything you should think a lot and guess what kind influence it will render on him and on his life. So I think
that it is difficult to be a real friend, but to my mind all of us try to achieve the ideal of a true friend.
I'm sure you will agree that nowadays there are various ways of acquaintance. Some people make friends when
they are in guests or on weddings, others prefer to find friends with the help of newspapers or the Internet.
Somebody can get acquainted with his future friend when he even doesn't expect it, for example, when he
simply walks in a park or goes anywhere by public transport.
What about me I have known my best friend Natasha almost all my life, but 1 can never forget our first
meeting. It was in summer when our families decided to rest in the south together. When we drove up to their
house my attention was attracted by a little tidy girl in a rose dress, who was sitting to squat and playing with
her long blond curl, but I can't say that my first impressions were the same as my opinion about her now,
because meeting people for the first time we always make a judgment based on their appearance though the
proverb tells us not to make such a mistake. At first she seemed to me so correct, obedient and shy that I didn't
like her, but when we began to communicate closer I understood I was mistaken. I think it makes sense to say
that when we returned home we were loyal friends.
Today she has changed a lot but we are still best friends and now I think Natasha is a very charming and pretty
seventeen-year-old girl. She isn't tall and I can't even say that she is of average height but she is always smart
and elegant. Natasha has an attractive face which is broaden with open and frank features. She is the owner of a
blunt nose, large expressive green eyes and radiant smile that immediately makes people smile in return. Her
blond hair and sort voice make her similar to a little beautiful princess from a fairy-tale.
My friend likes casual clothes. Natasha hates skirts and formal blouses, but adores tight-fitting trousers and
casual T-shirts. She prefers low-heeled shoes to high-heeled, because they are more comfortable to her mind.
I believe that Natasha is a very amazing girl, because she differs from other people. When she was about twelve
she became a real tomboy, she communicated only with boys except me, she liked to play rough and boys'
games and she even decided to go to the army when she would come of age. All her friends and relatives tried
to dissuade her and at least she agreed, but frankly speaking. I can't understand her desire even now, though in
general we are very alike. It's true that Natasha is a very enthusiastic and active person, you can hardly find her
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sitting at one place without doing anything but in spite of it she constantly has no free time. My friend is a
gregarious person and an optimist; she is never bored but always smiles and laughs, that is why I like her
fascinating smile very much. I should say I can never be bored it my friend keeps company for me, because she
is so cheerful and joyous. She is responsible and original, I think. Such friends like she can be characterized as
devoted. frank and careful, because she can never refuse if I need support or a piece of advice, she is always
eager to help me and to calm me with the help of a tender word. To my mind Natasha is an intelligent, skillful
and diligent girl, that's why her success in study is brilliant. Now she studies at gymnasium number 56 in
physics-mathematics class. I'd like to add that she is a great daydreamer, because she has always got her head in
the clouds and she is always dreaming about something.
But like other people she isn't an ideal. Sometimes she is too lazy and stubborn and I dislike it a bit. She is
rather impatient, because she can't wait for long. But these features of her character don't matter much for me; I
try not to pay attention to them because in general she is a wonderful person, whom I worship a lot.
Though Natasha is a busy girl and she doesn't have much free time, she always tries to find spare time for her
hobbies and interests, because she has a lot of them. Most of all she likes to play computer games and solve
various problems on it. She says she can't imagine her life without this machine. When Natasha relaxes she
likes to look through different interesting magazines and newspapers but she doesn't like to read books,
especially large books like "War and Piece" by Tolstoy. Sometimes she can write poems about love. It happens
rarely but I'm always the first person who reads her poems and gives an objective mark. Natasha is fond of
sport but this year she has very little time for it, because she is very busy with her studying, because she enters
the university this year.
And unfortunately that is the main reason why we see each other quite rarely, but we phone each other almost
every day, we try to meet on our days off and that's why we don't feel separation from each other. Though I
can't see Natasha every day I think about her all the time.
At these rare times when we see each other we like to attend cinema or central park, but most of all we like to
speak. When we meet our mouths are never close because we can speak for hours, I can discuss with my best
friend such problems that I can't discuss with my parents. We speak about fellows and our relations with them,
we discuss our problems with parents and share our thoughts and dreams. It doesn't mean that I can't say about
all these things to my mother, but I know that nobody can understand me better than Natasha. I know that only
she can support me and help me in everything, because we are very alike, we think in the same way and our
points of view often coincide, but in spite of it I can't say that nothing worries me in our relationships, though
also I can't say there are some real problems or misunderstandings between us. We see each other rather rarely,
because we live in different districts and she is too busy even on days off and I dislike it a lot. I consider she is a
bit disorderly and she can't plan her day off in a right way, that's why she doesn't manage to do everything she
wants. Natasha often has troubles and problems with her parents and it is another thing that worries me. I know
her parents very well and to my mind they are wonderful people, but sometimes my friend can be rude to them
and as a result they quarrel, when she tells me about such quarrels I can't take her side because I don't approve
her behaviour, that's why I prefer to keep silence in such situations. Sometimes her flippant attitude to some
things worries me very much. In my opinion she is too flippant in her attitude to preventive words of others.
But I believe that all these things can't destroy our friendship, though they influence it a bit.
And of course in some cases our points of view can differ, for example, sometimes our opinions can be
different in clothes, music or films. In such situations we freely express our points of view, we can even argue
but we never suppress each other. To my mind thoughts, opinions and habits of your friend can influence you a
lot, but they should not destroy your own personality, they shouldn't influence you if you don't want it. I'm
happy that both of us understand it.
I believe that friendship should be sincere and. In my opinion your friend should be attentive to you, he or she
should be reliable, honest and he or she should trust you, because, I think, trust probably the most important
feeling that exists between friends, but it never appears by itself, it is the result of a long friendship.
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As for our friendship, I'm sure it is strong enough because we trust each other as ourselves, we always share the
same joys and troubles together and we support each other at difficult times. And it goes without saying that I
like Natasha with all her positive and negative features of character and admire her a lot.
------------------------------------------------MY HOUSEHOLD CHORES
There are certain things in life which you have to do whether you like it or not. One of such things is household
chores, doing which is a necessity. It is what someone in the family has to do every day in spite of his or her
wish and desire. You can hardly find a person who doesn't like comfort, delicious food, clean and tidy clothes.
But these things need somebody's attention and doing them is called housework.
To my mind housework is boring and besides it takes a lot of time with a hardly visible result. In my opinion it
is not a bad idea to have a kind of subdivision of labour at home when each person knows his own daily
household jobs. If every member of the family does his bit about the house then keeping it isn't difficult or
boring and proves the proverb: "Many hands make light work". For example, the children should keep their
own rooms tidy, make their beds, lay the table for meals, clear away the dishes and wash up. The mother could
then concentrate on the more specialized jobs of cooking, ironing and mending. Shopping at the supermarket
could be a kind of family outing. The father should do more difficult physical work. This is an ideal variant for
me how to keep house.
In many families the problem of clearing up the flat or house becomes a generation gap. Usually children don't
want to clean up their rooms and their parents make them do it. In most of the cases children consider that their
parents have these old-fashioned ideas about making beds in the morning, washing the dishes after every meal,
etc. They think that new generation shouldn't care about things like that. On this ground many conflicts
develop. Sometimes children promise to help and then fail to do their jobs so parents have to make them do
what they don't want to do or repeat in an angry voice to make the bed or to pick up toys from the floor. It
seems you strange but my parents have never made me do anything. They only ask me to do something. I've
always been a conscientious girl so if they asked me to do the house, to wash the dishes or other things I didn't
like doing I couldn't refuse to help them.
To avoid conflicts many families engage a domestic servant. She cooks meals, goes shopping, does the house in
one word she keeps house. But as for me, I wouldn't like anyone to command my own things. I think you are
always able to manage your housework even if you are busy because to hire a servant is not a way out of this
situation.
I'm happy that the problem of cleaning up our flat has never been a generation gap in our family. Of course
sometimes we quarreled with my brother when we had to clean our room, but then we decided to make a
schedule and cleaned the room in turn. Now as we all are busy people: our parents work, I and my brother
spend most of the time in our educational establishments, each of us clean up the house when he or she has
some spare time. On Saturday we usually have a big clean. We try to follow the rule of subdivision of the
housework. Everyone has his two or three rooms to clean I usually clean the bathroom, our room and parent's
room. I get out the vacuum cleaner and clean the carpet, then sweep the dust off the floors with a broom. After
that I take a wet cloth and wipe the dust off every surface in the room. In the bathroom I usually scrub the sink
and a bath with a washing powder Then I wash the floor. By the way I can not stand washing floor. I dislike it
because your hands are rude and disgusting after doing it.
My brother usually clean the kitchen as it is the most difficult work, I think. The floor and the cupboards cover
with dust and fat very quickly and sometimes you should even scrub the dust off. He also cleans the living
room and the entrance hall. While we are doing the house my mum and dad go shopping. After they return
home with large bags full of tasty food we begin cooking dinner. I should say I like cooking very much
especially if it is a holiday dinner. My grandfather has had birthday recently, and we decided to cook a
delicious dinner for him. So me and my mother garnered in me kitchen, switched on our tape recorder and
began to cook. You know, we had a lot of fun, we were chatting and laughing. It seemed to me that we
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remembered all the jokes we had known. Our excellent mood helped us to cook very tasty dinner. Everyone
was satisfied.
Household chores are the things which I can't avoid. Every day I make my bed, wash up the dishes, wipe the
dust of the furniture and take out me rubbish. But I share my household chore with my brother. It is a great
thing, to my mind. If I had no brother I have to clean up the flat on my own, but it is an awful thing. I don't like
to draw my mother in doing the house because she usually has to do a lot of other things like cooking, washing,
ironing and mending and it is enough for her I think. It is also my duty to buy bread and milk every day. I
usually go to the baker's after my classes. I buy some white and brown bread, biscuits and cakes there. The shop
is not far from our house and it doesn't take me a lot of time to do everyday shopping. But as I am busy with my
studies I have no time to do it constantly. My parents understand it and sometimes it's my mother who buys
bread.
When my mother is ill or away from home my father do the cooking, the buying of food and the planning of
meals, but I do the washing up and ironing. There is one thing which I like doing about the house. It is ironing.
May be it sounds fanny, but it is very interesting, I think. While ironing I'm having а rest. I turn on the music
and iron the clothes and linen. Then I fold them neatly and put away. Ironing makes me think housework is not
such an awful thing. Another thing I like a lot is looking after our indoor plants. My mother has a green thumb
so we have a great amount of indoor plants at home. I enjoy looking after the flowers as it makes me feel
relaxed and calm. More often I do it together with my mother. We water the flowers, then wipe them with a wet
cloth or sprinkle with a sprayer. My mum always teaches me how to plant and look after the flowers. I try to
take her advice as I want my own house to be full of such beautiful plants that we have now.
Now I'd like to mention the role of technical progress in making housework easier. In the XXI century it is
almost impossible to imagine our life without automatic or electronic appliances which make the housework
better and faster. As for me I can't imagine my life without a fridge and an electric iron. Fridge is necessary for
freezing and saving food. I think food freezing is the easiest, safest and most natural way of preserving food.
Practically all food can be successfully frozen and can be kept for long periods of time. Provided you use a
freezer wisely, it can help to make significant savings on your household budget, particularly if you have a
large enough garden to grow your own vegetables and fruit for freezing. We have a house in the countryside,
where we grow vegetables, fruit and berries. In summer we freeze berries and vegetables. Then it is very
pleasant to eat them in winter. In addition, food freezing saves you from frequent visits to shops. With a freezer
you wouldn't be short of food when unexpected visitors arrive. Electric iron is very important as well because I
can't go out when my trousers or shirt are crumpled. On TV they advertise a lot of things for making housework
easier from washing powders to washing machines and vacuum cleaners. That's all very well but not all
families can afford them as the majority of things of high quality are really expensive.
Generally I like the order, but there are people who keep all their things in a mess. They put empty soft drink
cans on their desks, leave the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink and only do the washing up when there isn't a
clean plate to be found in the house. In the 4th form I visited Italy. When I came into the room of my hostess's
child I was amazed by the mess. There were clothes on the floor, the bed wasn't made and the dust was on
every surface of the room. I was shocked as I have never had such a mess at home. To my mind it is not
comfortable to leave in such conditions. Besides it is not healthy. Many serious diseases can be caused by the
dust and dirt. I want to add that it is not very pleasant to receive guests in such a room. My mum has always
said to me that the way you keep the house shows what kind of person you are. I agree with her completely.
Untidy people usually associate with irresponsible, absent-minded, indifferent and careless people. But when
you come to somebody's house and see the order you will probably think that the host is punctual, responsible
and conscientious.
I must admit that when I was nearly 7 years old I used to leave all my books, toys and colour magazines in a
mess. But you won't believe, my parrot taught me to be orderly. That day my mother bought me new colourful
magazines. All the day I was reading them. They seemed to me very interesting and exciting. There were a lot
of crosswords, quizzes and games in them. When I had finished reading I put them on my desk and was ready
to go for a walk. My mum let me know before going out that they could be spoilt by my parrot if I left them on
the desk, but I didn't pay attention to her words. When I had returned I saw only scraps of paper on the table.
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My parrot tore one of my magazines into pieces with his strong beak. I was really disappointed. Since then I've
always kept my thing in order.
So you see keeping house in order is important to me. It brings me as minutes of boredom so moments of joy
and pleasure. I think I spend enough time on keeping the house and hope that such little but nevertheless
necessary things like household chores will never become the reason for quarrels and conflicts in our family.
-------------------------------------------------------------SEASONS OF THE YEAR
In my opinion a person's life depends to a certain degree on the climate conditions he or she lives in. Weather
influences our emotions and even the physical state.
According to the dictionary weather is the general condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place,
with regard to the temperature, moisture, cloudiness, etc. Air, fire, earth and water are the elements of the
weather according to the ancient Greek philosophers... Substitute the Sun for fire and we have the essential
components of the weather machine. Without air warmth and water the Earth couldn't support life, but without
any single one of those elements weather wouldn't exist. The air is the medium in which all weather happens,
heat from the Sun provides the energy that drives the weather machine, and water provides much of the variety
of our day-to-day weather.
Weather changes according to the seasons. Every season has its specific features of the weather, which are
different. In general a season is one of the four periods of the year. Each season lasts about three months and
brings changes in temperature, weather, and the length of daylight.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the climatic seasons differ by about six months. This hemisphere has summer
when the Northern Hemisphere has winter. Some regions don't have all four climatic seasons. In parts of the
tropics, for example, temperatures change little, but the amount of rainfall varies greatly, so that these regions
have a wet season and a dry season. The Polar Regions, on the other hand, have a light season and a dark
season. In these parts of the world the sun shines almost all the time in summer and almost never during winter.
The changing of the seasons is caused by the changing position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. Astronomers
can tell exactly from the Earth motion around the Sun when one season ends and the next one begins. The dates
used for the first day of each season mark the beginning of the astronomical seasons, but the beginning and the
end of the climatic seasons vary from these dates from place to place and from year to year.
Spring is the first season of the astronomical year. It is a transitional period between the extreme temperature
cycles of winter and summer. Spring profoundly influenced the ancients and played an important role in
mythology, folklore and art. Ancient painters and sculptures often depicted spring as a female figure carrying
flowers. The early Christians regarded the seasons as symbolic of the course of human life, seeing spring as
rebirth or resurrection after the death that winter seemed to symbolize. The season is marked by all kinds of
beginnings: seed planting, graduations and weddings. For many people spring starts when British Summer
Time begins and the clocks are put back by one hour. This normally takes place at the end of March and it adds
an extra hour of daylight to the day. But it is in nature, that the real spring changes take place. At the beginning
of spring it is cold, but at the end of March the snow melts. The weather gets warmer and the rooks, the first
spring birds, have come back from the warm countries and are making nests in the trees. The air is fresh. It
smells of the dump earth and the buds of trees. The first flowers like snowdrops appear. These flowers bring the
first bright colours to the landscape; the grass sprouts and shoots up visibly. The buds gradually burst into
young leaves, and light breeze stirs them. And here is the first butterfly. One can't help admiring this wonderful
sight.
Spring is the season when nature reawakens, and the world looks renewed, fresh and filled with joy. People's
behaviour changes with the season, and they come out of their houses to enjoy the weather, life returns to
streets and public places. Spring offers the best of everything: the weather is warm and pleasant; and the
countryside is at its best.
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Spring is followed by summer. This season is said to begin when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Cancer. Like
the other seasons it influenced the development of mythology and folklore. For instance, Midsummer was an
especially important festival in ancient and medieval times and continues to be celebrated with bonfires and
special traditions even today. Summer is a favourite season of holiday-makers. I also like to lie in the sun and
bathe in the river. As for the weather, it gets still warmer and sometimes it is very hot. The sky is blue and
cloudless. But the weather is not always fair and sunny in summer. Sometimes the wind blows up. Suddenly
black clouds cover the sky and it becomes stuffy. A thunderstorm begins. Gusts of wind stir the trees and it
lightens and thunders. On a day like this we usually say it's raining cats and dogs. There are a lot of puddles
everywhere and streams of water run down the road. After the storm the sun usually comes out. After the rain
everything looks fresh and lovely again. The sun shines brightly and sparkles on the water. In general summer
is the best and the happiest season for the majority of people.
Astronomically the start of the third season of the year, which comes after summer, can be pinpointed precisely.
The season of autumn has always played a vivid role in the life of farmers. As the period of harvest and fruit
gathering it has left an imprint not only on day-to-day living but also on the development of art and folklore.
The season was often personified as a female figure bearing grapes. As for the weather, autumn is a rainy
season, the sky is covered with grey clouds and the weather is mostly dull. Gradually the days become shorter
and shorter. The air becomes colder and the sun seldom shines. Thick mists rise from bodies of water when
autumn has set in. The streets are wet and people pick their ways between the puddles. It is terribly wet and
dirty. Many people think that autumn is gloomy season, but yet there are many who like it. They try to look at
the bright side of this season. They see autumn as the time of golden leaves, when the nature is quite and
attractive. Poets of all nations have sung autumn as the most beautiful time of the year. Golden autumn, they
call it, and it's really fantastic when the Indian summer sets in. I love that short spell of dry sunny weather when
the sky is blue and cloudless, the trees around are golden, the air is transparent and it is still warm. Lord Byron
unlike Pushkin, didn't like autumn. So once he said: "I like the weather when it isn't raining. That is, I like two
months of every year. They are certainly not autumn months". So on the one hand autumn is a season of rain
and drizzle, but on the other hand it is colourful and bracing, even in the rain.
Autumn is followed by winter. It begins at its respective solstice, which is situated between autumn and spring
equinoxes. Winter is the season of snowstorms and ice, of frozen rivers and ponds. .As a rule it begins in
December. In winter the sun shines rarely, its rays are pale, it sets early and rises late. The winter days are short
and the nights are long. It often snows and the snow lies deep. The rivers and lakes are frozen and covered with
ice, it is very cold, the air is frosty and trees are covered with frosts. In winter people have the most wonderful
holidays - New Year and Christmas. It is one of the best seasons for sports - skating, skiing, sledding and
playing hockey. And in general this season brings a lot of fun.
So I can't really say what season is my favourite, because every season has something special, and we are
usually looking forward to it. I can also prove it with the poem written by Russell:
O, DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN SPRING TIME WAS HERE,
THE SNOWDROPS AND CATKINS,
THE BIRDS SONGS SO CLEAR?
OH, DO YOU REMEMBER
THE LONG SUMMER HOURS,
THE HUM OF THE BEES
AND THE SCENT OF THE FLOWERS?
AND DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN AUTUMN CAME ROUND,
HOW LEAVES RED AND YELLOW
LAY THICK ON THE GROUND?
BUT NOW IT IS WINTER,
THE BRANCHES ARE BARE;
THERE'S ICE ON THE PUDDLES
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AND FROST IN THE AIR.
I PLAYED IN THE SUNSHINE,
I PLAY IN THE SNOW,
AND WHICH IS MY FAFOURITE?
I REALLY DON'T KNOW!
Here I'd like to say that the weather in Belarus depends greatly on the climatic conditions in the eastern part of
the European continent. Climate in our country is moderate continental and in comparison with British climate
it is more favourable for human settlements. As for the British climate and weather it is very changeable: a fine
morning may change into a wet afternoon and evening. Conversely, a miserable morning may give place to a
glorious afternoon. In Belarus we don't talk much of the weather; we just take it as it is. On the contrary no
conversation ever starts in England without a comment on the weather. It is almost a formality like shaking
hands. A popular greeting is "Lovely weather for the time of the year" or, if the weather is bad "Isn't this
weather awful!" You will often hear people add "weather permitting" when they say they plan to play golf,
garden or put out the washing.
So we can't say that weather is only the state of the atmosphere, it is something that affects our lives every day
in numerous ways.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SPORT IN MY LIFE
Sport is probably as old as the humanity itself. It has been developing with the developing and growth of the
mankind. To my mind we can hardly overestimate the meaning of sport in our life and day-to-day activities,
because its main purpose is to bring up the harmoniously developed generation - the generation of strong and
healthy people. Sport makes our bodies strong, quickens our reaction, and shapes the wits. It also prevents us
from getting too fat, gives us so valuable practice in making eyes, brain and muscles work together and makes
us more self-organized and better disciplined.
I'm absolutely sure that doing sports is the best way to keep fit. There is always a kind of sport which will suit
you and there are many different kinds to choose from. If you like team games, try hockey, football, volleyball
or basketball. Games for you to play with a friend include badminton, squash and tennis, and if you enjoy doing
things on your own, you may take up swimming, riding, golf or athletics.
I'm sure you know an axiom: "Sport makes people healthy". No doubt, that's true, but frankly speaking one
knows that there are some kinds of sport which you cannot go in for if you are not healthy enough. Say, bodybuilding. If you have a heart decease or other sickness, attending the body-building trainings will bring you
nothing but harm. And also, going in for sport is always connected with a great risk, because any athlete can get
an injury. And we know many examples, when an athlete got trauma at the beginning of his sports career and in
the prime of his life had to leave professional sport. But it doesn't mean at all that people shouldn't go in for
sports. I only want to say that they should be careful and remember that the health is given to a human being
only once, so, do your best not to lose it.
An important attraction of sport is also its competitive and challenging nature. Men have always wanted to
prove who is the strongest, the quickest, and the highest. The roots of men's desire to display their physical
health and beauty go back to ancient times when the idea of the Olympic Games first appeared.
The original games began in ancient Greece in 776 ВС. These games were the part of the festival held every
four years in honour of the god Zeus, at a place called Olympia. The festival included contests that tested the
skills of soldiers. It included such kinds of as: boxing, running, wrestling, etc. The winner was given a branch
of wild olive and that was the greatest honour. After nearly 300 Olympiads they were stopped by the Roman
emperor Theodosius. who felt that they had pagan meaning.
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The modern Olympics, revived in 1896, owe a lot to one man, Baron Pierre de Coubertain who was convinced
that sport is an essential part in an individual's development. I agree with him completely and I think that
international matches and tournaments unite nations; they play an important role in establishing good relations
between countries. As the President of the International Olympic Committee. Juan Antonio Samaranch says:
"The Olympic idea means friendship, fraternity and co-operation among the youth of the world. The Olympic
movement proves that real peace can be achieved through sport".
Belarusian athletes took part in the Olympics in 1952 for the first time and have become their active
participants since then. The greatest Olympic achievements have been gained by Belarusian sportsmen in
gymnastics and athletics. The greatest success was achieved by gymnast Olga Korbut more than twenty years
ago; she impressed the world with the complexity and novelty of her performance. Outstanding results were
shown by Alexander Medved. a heavy-weight wrestler, three-time Olympic champion. And of course we all are
proud of our runner Julia Nesterenko who won the gold medal at summer Olympic Games in 2004.
Recently I got to know about Paralympics - it is Olympic Games for disabled people. Many of athletes who
take part in these games have suffered accidents and illnesses which would be enough to make most of us want
to give up. But they are pushing back the barriers which until recently kept the disabled from taking part in
sports. These people compete in various kinds of sport like swimming, sailing, basketball. The disabled are the
ones who are catching the public eye and imagination, changing people's perceptions of what "disability" means
and what extraordinary abilities the so-called disabled actually possess. As we see sport can makes wonders.
That's why at present sport in our country is paid a lot of attention to by the government and much is being
done to set up all necessary facilities for its development. Physical education is an essential part of the school
and university curricula. Extra-class activities at our lyceum include a wide range of different sporting events
and competitions. Any pupil can join a sports section. In my opinion PT lessons are important, because at these
lessons pupil's mind has an opportunity to relax and at the same time pupil has some exercises, which are
necessary to keep the body in good shape. Attending of these lessons is usually a great fun, because our teacher
always invents something interesting, for example, unusual exercises or interesting games. And even if we play
ordinary games like football, volleyball of basketball it always brings us a lot of pleasure.
For pupils who want to attend sport besides PT lessons all necessary facilities are created. In our town there is a
great amount of swimming pools, gyms for aerobics and fitness, stadiums, there is even an Ice Palace. So
everybody has an opportunity to go in for some kind of sport if he or she wants it.
What about me, I like sport. I'm sure you don't need to be good at sports to enjoy them - according to the
Olympic motto it is the participation and not winning, that matters.
I personally can't imagine my life without sport. In summer I go jogging every morning, when I nave free time I
attend swimming pool and sometimes I play badminton with my best friend.
But when I was youngerI1 did sports professionally. My parents always dreamt of making an athlete out of me
and when I was five years old my father took me to the gymnasium for the first time. As far as I remember. I
had been going in for gymnastics for about five years and these five years were magic time for me. Since than
gymnastics has become my beloved sport. You don't need any special equipment for this kind of sport, but if
you want to take it seriously you should be enduring, adroit, strong and persistent. It goes without saying that
gymnastics is one of the most beautiful and fascinating sports, it teaches you to be brave, try to do everything to
achieve your goal and to overcome the difficulties in your way. That's why gymnastics even became a sense of
my life for some period of time, but later I had to leave it because of decease and at present I am a simple
amateur of sport.
As a fan I do have my favourite sport which is figure-skating. I have never done it myself, but I like watching
world and European championships. I am always fascinated by the grace, speed and skill of the skaters and how
well they can dance on the ice. I like figure-skating, but honestly I like gymnastics much stronger, because the
most pleasant moments of my childhood are connected with this kind of sport. And I'm sure it isn't a surprise
that my favourite sportsmen are gymnasts.
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My favourite gymnast is Olga Korbut who has been called many things including the "first of the pixies", "a
circus act" and "the queen of gymnastics". Despite a wide range of opinions about her the fact is that Olga
Korbut changed women's gymnastics forever. Olga was born on May 6th. 1955 in Grodno. She had not been a
strong pupil at school, but her teacher noticed her agility during physical exercises and recommended that she
enroll in one of the gymnastics schools run by the State Sport Committee. At the age of 11. Korbut began her
gymnastics training at such school in Grodno. Unlike her grim-faced teammates, she burst upon the 1972
Olympics with a dazzling smile, a youthful enthusiasm, and an exuberant presence that was unprecedented in
Soviet athletes. Her joy of life along with her astonishing gymnastics skills took the Olympics by storm. At that
time, the Soviet gymnastic team was the best in the world, but Olga was not considered one of the stars and was
unknown in the West. Her run in tears after she made two errors on the uneven parallel bars made for great TV
and endeared her to millions of viewers. Olga went on to win two individual gold medals in the '72 Olympics
аnd one silver. She was the sports newest star. Olga quickly became a household name and the world's most
popular female sports performer. She was named the top athlete of 1972, and "Sports Illustrated" featured her
on the cover of the magazine's March 1973 issue. Olga did more than any other single performer to popularize
sport and make gymnastics a top-draw event for the Olympics. She was 17 when her balance beam and floor
exercise routines in Munich captured the gold. She was the first gymnast ever to do a back flip on the balance
beam. Four years later, at the age of 21, when competing against the up-and-coming 14-year-old Nadia
Comaneci, she took the silver for her work on the balance beam at the '76 Olympics in Montreal. She retired
from competition after '76 and eventually became a gymnastics instructor. At present Korbut has a gymnastics
school of her own in Atlanta, where she now lives with her family. Olga Korbut certainly belongs to those
Belarusian sportsmen who are famous world wide.
I know it for sure that it's very difficult to become a good and successful sportsman. To be a sportsman means
constant hard work, lack of free time and almost absence of private life. Frankly speaking, if you want to
achieve something in the sphere of professional sport, it has to become a style of life and even a sense of it.
And in conclusion I'd like to say that either as a player or merely as a spectator almost every person likes sport,
because it is an essential part of our lives. It creates, so to speak, a healthy body for a healthy mind.
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