29 2011 1.

1.People say that everything begins in the family and every person dreams of having good family relations. But each family is not free from problems. What are the most actual problems any family can face today? 1. What does an ideal family mean to you? 2. What do you look for in your future husband/wife? 3. Which is better: being an only child in the family or having a lot of brothers and sisters? 4. What do you think of early marriages? 2. Choosing a profession for a school leaver is always the main topic for discussions in the family. Do your parents support you in your choice? What factors in your opinion should be taken into consideration while choosing a job? 1. People say that it is important to do extremely well at school to enter a university. Do you agree with the statement? 2. Say whether you know all the advantages and disadvantages of your profession. 3. You can often hear that this or that man is a very good specialist. What qualities should one possess to be successful in a job? 4. Say if there are any differences in career aspirations of boys and girls. 3. He who knows how to work, knows how to rest. There are many things in the world that help us to enjoy our life. What are the most interesting ways to spend leisure time? 1. What is the most popular pastime with the people of Belarus? 2. Do you think that TV has more appeal for most people than cinema or theatre? 3. Young people of your age complain that they are short of free time. Can you think of ways to economize some time for rest? 4. Is it necessary for every person to have a hobby? 4. They say Life is short, art is long. Different kinds of art have always fascinated people. What is your attitude to painting? 1. What painting do you prefer: old or modern? 2. What great Belarusian painters do you know? 3. What genres are your favourite? What great painters of these genres do you know? 4. Have you ever been to any picture galleries? What were your impressions? 5. Do you think mass media play an important part in the life of the society? 1. What newspapers or magazines have the largest circulation in our country? Why? Does your family subscribe to them? 2. Can we say that browsing the Internet for news has replaced reading newspapers? 3. What is your favourite mass medium? 4. Are your tastes concerning television viewing the same or different from those of other family members? 6. They say that cities and towns are like people. They live their own lives, have their own biographies and even celebrate their birthdays. Speak about your native town.

1. .Are there many places in your town/village for young people to spend their free time ? What is your favourite corner in your town/village? 2. What, in your opinion, lacks in your town/village? What would you do or build if you were an architect? 3. What, do you think , can be called the heart of your town/village? Why? 4. Whats your idea of the saying Its not the walls that make the city, but the people who live within these walls. 7. When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford. Do you agree with Samuel Johnsons words? 1. What attractions does London offer to lovers of art? 2. What is the name Fleet Street associated with? 3. What three places will you see in London if you have a chance to visit the capital of the UK? 4. What are the symbols of London? 8.The attitude of people to reading nowadays is different and sometimes even opposite. Some consider books the greatest wonder in the world, others are sure that books will soon die out. Whats your attitude to reading? 1. Do you remember how you learnt to read? What was your first book? 2. What do you think about literature lessons at school? Are they important for pupils? 3. Richard Steele, the famous English writer, once said: Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Do you agree? 4. What famous writers or poets of your native place can you name? 9. Any nation is unique in its way of life, traditions, culture. Every nation has its own peculiarities that make it different from others. What is typical of the Belarusians? 1. What holidays have become traditional in your family? 2. What is your favourite Belarusian national dish? 3. What do you like most of all and least of all about the Belarusian nation? 4. What books will you advise foreigners to read if they want to learn more about Belarus and its people? 10. The most popular place for life and study with all young people in our country is the capital. What is there in Minsk that attracts so many young people? 1. Why do the majority of school-leavers prefer to get higher education in Minsk to any other cities of Belarus? 2. How do small sculptures of Minsk add to the peculiar atmosphere of the city? 3. What do you feel when you speak about Minsk? 4. What places of interest will you include into a guided tour for a foreigner visiting Minsk for the first time? 11.Each country takes pride in its own achievements and success. What makes you feel proud of your country? What can you say about its places of interest and people? 1. Why do young people nowadays leave Belarus for foreign countries? 2. Can you name any tragic pages of Belarusian history? 3. What kind of future do you see for your native land?

4. What places of interest have you visited in Belarus? Which of them do you find really fascinating? 12. So many people, so many opinions on sport. What do you think about the role of sport in peoples life? Why is it losing its popularity now? 1. Are the Belarusians a sportive nation? 2. Why do people take up risky sports? 3. What is your keep-fit program? 4. There is a saying that goes: If you want to live you must walk. If you want to live long you must run how do you understand it? Do you live according to it? 13. Its a dream of any person to be fit, active and healthy. What does healthy life-style include? 1. What products will you include into the list of most harmful ones? 2. What will you advise to people who have such a serious problem as insomnia? 3. Do you agree with the Englishmen who say that a person should eat not for pleasure, but because of necessity? 4. Where would you choose to eat: at a fast-food restaurant or at an expensive one? 14. Great Britain is a country of a long and rich history, of wonderful sightseeing, customs and traditions that wont leave anybody indifferent. Can you prove it? 1. How do the British react when they are called English? 2. Would you like to taste British food? 3. What outstanding people of Great Britain do you know? 4. Is the UK a pleasant country for traveling? Can anything spoil your trip? 15. Learning foreign languages has become a vital necessity nowadays as it opens big prospects to people. Do you feel that the knowledge of English will be useful in your life? 1. What do you think about the extinction of languages? Is it an ordinary thing or a serious problem? 2. Nowadays the Russian ( Belarusian) language is full of English words so that sometimes it is difficult to understand newspaper articles or TV discussions if you dont know English. Do you approve of the situation? 3. How do you understand the words of Ralph Emerson The English language is the sea which receives tributaries from every region under heaven. 4. Which aspect of the English language grammar, reading, listening, vocabulary, speaking, pronunciation is the easiest or the most difficult for you? 16. Can you make a list of the most important inventions mankind has made? In what way have they changed the life on the planet? 1. How will science and technology change our life in a 100 years time? 2. Think of any problem you face today. How can it be solved with the help of science? 3. If you were a scientist, what field of research would you find interesting? 4. What branches of science are fast developing nowadays? 17. The world knows the names of many outstanding scientists. What made them famous? What are they remembered for? 1. Do you know the names of any Nobel prize winners? In what spheres were these awards given?

2. What qualities of character should a true scientist possess? 3. Do you know any Belarusian scientists who contributed a lot to the development of science? 4. What do you think are the problems that modern contemporary scientists should be concerned about in the coming years? 18. It is practically impossible to find a person who hates music. Different people prefer different styles and what about you? Are you a great lover of music? Do you have any particular preferences? 1. Can music substitute friends? If yes, then what and when? 2. Are there any music festivals in our country? What are they? Have you ever been to any? 3. Whats your favourite musical instrument? 4. Do you get used to listening music while doing your homework? 19. Youth is the best time of life, its full of hopes, expectations, love and dreams. But why do many people say that its difficult to be young? 1. Whats your attitude to smoking? 2. Is it popular in our country to belong to any organization? 3. What is in fashion with the youth of today? 4. Do you know any destructive or extreme groups of young people? Why do they appear? What unites its members? 20. What associations come to you when you hear the word school? What is school for you? 1.What is modern school in your opinion? 2. How active have you been during your school years? What activities did you like best? 3. Is it important to get along well with your classmates while you are at school or is it only lessons that really matter? 4. What kind of teacher would you like to have for your children in future?

1 Three young men were playing with a gun in a street in a quiet area of the town after dark when one of them fired it by mistake without aiming it at anything. The bullet broke a window in an old ladys house. The young men made off at once when they saw the damage they had done, but the old lady looked out of a window when she heard the explosion, and she recognized one of them as the son of a man and a woman who lived not far from her. The old lady complained to the police, and a detective came to her house. The old lady gave him a detailed account of everything that had happened, and then the detective asked her if she knew where the young man lived. The old lady told him that too, so the detective went to the young mans house. He and his companions tried to hide, but the detective found them and the gun and took them to the police station. There his chief officer questioned the young men to find out which of them owned the gun, but none of them was willing to say. The young man who owned the gun did not dare to admit that he did, because he did not have a licence for it.

At last the chief officer decided to put an end to the conversation, so he turned to the detective and demanded to know whether he had got an officers permission to take the gun away from the young man who owned it. The detective felt anxious when he heard this question. No, sir, he answered nervously, I didnt get it. In that case, the officer declared angrily, you were quite wrong to take it away from him. Youd better return it immediately or therell be trouble! This made the young men smile happily at each other, and as soon as the detective held the gun out and said, Here you are. One of them put his hand out in order to get it back. That is how the officer finally discovered whom the gun belonged to. 1) What were three men doing in the street? 2) What did they do with the gun? 3) Did the detective know whose the gun was? 4) Did the detective discover whom the gun belonged to? 2 When Polly left school, she had no idea what she wanted to do. A friend of hers, who was a year older, and whose name was Josephine, was at art college, and she persuaded Polly to join her there. Pollys father worked in a factory, and her mother worked in a shop. They were saving their money to buy their own house, and they had hoped that Polly would start earning too as soon as she left school, so when she told them that she wanted to go to art college, she expected to have an objection. But in fact they had none. Youll have to find some kind of a job to pay for your college, Pollys mother warned her. Your father and I will be very happy to keep you at home, but we have no money for your college course, and none for paints and all the other things youll need. Thank you very much, Polly answered. Im really very grateful to you both. And theres no problem about getting a job; the head of the art college has offered me one in their library. After a few months, Pollys parents really felt very proud that their daughter was going to college, especially when she brought home some of the things she had painted, for which she had received high praise from her teachers. Polly sometimes went to museums to see paintings by famous artists, and one day she said to her parents, Why dont you come to a museum with me one day? Then I can tell you all about the paintings, and you can see the kinds of things Im trying to do myself. Pollys mother was free on Thursday afternoons and on Saturdays, but her father sometimes had to work on those days. They waited until Saturday when he didnt have to work, and then they all went off to the museum that Polly had chosen. She showed her parents some famous paintings, and then they came to one that they recognized. This, Polly said, pointing to it, is Van Goghs Sunflowers. What a cheek, her father answered. Hes copied the picture weve had in our hall for the last ten years! 1) What did Polly decide to do after leaving school? 2) Why did Pollys parents feel proud of their daughter? 3) Where did Polly invite her parents to one day? 4) What picture did Polly show her parents in the museum? 3

Sam was an old farmer. He was born on his farm and had lived on it all his life. He had married his neighbours daughter, and they grew fruit and vegetables. Sam got up atfive oclockevery morning to gather them and take a load off to market in his old truck. There were very few vehicles on the country roads at that time of the morning, and Sam knew how to get to market very well, so as he was going along, he was always thinking about everything except his driving. One morning he was thinking about what crops to plant for the next years harvest, and whether to try something else. A lot of other farmers were planting the same things which he produced, so the prices in the market were coming down and he was getting less money. After a few kilometres, Sam came to a place where the small road which went in the direction of the market crossed a bigger one, and he continued over it without stopping. He always crossed the big road like that, because there was never any traffic on it at that time of the morning, so there was no fear of having an accident, and anyway he was always in a hurry, because he wanted to get to the market in time for its opening. But this morning a young policeman whom he had never seen before signalled to him to stop a hundred metres beyond the crossroads. Sam stopped beside the policeman, and the policeman said to him, Didnt you know that there was a sign telling you to stop at the crossroads before going over the main road? Oh, yes, answered Sam, I knew that there was a sign at that point, because I go to market along this road every morning. But what I unfortunately didnt know was that you were here. 1) Who was Sam? 2) Where had Sam lived all his life? 3) Why was Sam always in a hurry? 4) Did he notice the policeman? 4 When Sebastian was a boy at school, his favourite lesson was art, and he won several prizes for it. Once he left school, he got a position as a clerk in a bank, but three times a week he went to evening classes in art, and whenever he had time at the week-ends, he painted. He painted in a very modern mannermysterious objects and shapes, women with three pink eyes, large blank areas, and so on. After a few months he thought, Perhaps I can sell some of my pictures and get enough money to afford to leave the bank and become a real artist. Then I can travel around as much as I like, and go to foreign museums, and see other artists paintings, and study in other countries when I feel like it. Though I try to make the best of the job and I dont regard the work as difficult at least not at present - I dont like life in a bank. I only enjoy painting. In the bank, Sebastian sometimes had to deal with a man who owned a picture shop, and after he had had a few conversations with him, Sebastian invited him to his home one evening to see some of his work. Then perhaps you could tell me whether I can really be a good artist and get some money from my painting, Sebastian said hopefully. The man said he was prepared to come and see what he thought of Sebastians work, so he arrived one evening at Sebastians home. Sebastian took the man to his studio and started to show him some of his pictures, with some pride and hope. The man looked at them one after the other while Sebastian watched his face, but to Sebastians disappointment the man did not say anything, and his expression did not change at any of them.

Then, when he had finished, he looked around, and his glance fell on something else. A happy look came over his face for the first time, and he said, Now I like one very much! Its so full of deep feeling! Im sure I could sell this one for you! That, said Sebastian, is the place where I clean the paint off my brushes. 1) What was Sebastiasns favourite lesson at school? 2) What manner did Sebastian paint in? 3) What was Sebastians dream ? 4) Did the visitor like Sebastians paintings? 5 Sleep is a subject few people know much about. We do know, though, that sleep is important for our physical health and for our mental well being. But scientists tell us that sleep can only refresh us mentally and physically when given enough time to do so. And the correct amount of time varies from individual to individual. Seven hours may be too little for some, resulting in tiredness and restlessness. Or it may be too much. Only you can tell how much sleep you need to maintain your peak form. Surveys show that 60% of the population sleeps between seven and eight hours a night. The other 40% sleep less, or more. So if you are not getting your eight hours each night, and you feel fine, maybe you dont need as much sleep as you think you do. Other factors that determine your sleep needs are your health, your job, your emotional state, and the efficiency of your sleep. Sleep efficiency is very important because 6 hours of sound, restful sleep will do you more good than 10 hours of tossing and turning. What you sleep on is also very important. A surface that is too soft can cause lower back pain. A mattress that is too hard can cause painful pressure at the shoulders and hips. For sleep that is truly efficient, support and comfort must work hand in hand. That is why it makes sense to buy the highest quality bedding you can afford. If you suffer from insomnia, as some people do, mild exercise can often help you to sleep at night. Just dont exercise too strenuously before bedtime. Generally speaking, exercise is important. In fact, there is some evidence that the better your physical condition, the better you will be able to sleep. In todays competitive fast moving world its more important than ever to be the best you can be. And when you sleep your best, you can look and feel your best. And that means you can do your best at anything you pursue. You have the energy and the feeling of well-being that makes each day easier and more enjoyable. Sleep is too important to be taken lightly. 1) Is sleep important ? 2) Why must people take care of the surface they sleep on? 3) Why do you need to sleep your best? 7) How many hours do people need for sleeping? 6 I dont live inTokyo. I dont even know whether I would like to live there. I love it and hate it it is one of those places that you can love and hate at the same time. The first fact aboutTokyo, for me, is that there are too many people. I dont mean the fact that twelve million people live there. That is four million more thanLondonorNew York, but it is not an important fact for me.

InTokyothere are always too many people in the places where I want to be. That is the important fact for me. Of course there are too many cars. The Japanese drive very fast when they can but inTokyothey often spend a long time in traffic jams.Tokyois not different fromLondon,ParisandNew York. It is different when one wants to walk. At certain times of the day there are a lot of people on foot inLondonsOxford Streetor near the big shops and stores in other great cities. But the streets inTokyoalways have a lot of people on foot, and sometimes it is really difficult to walk. People are very polite; there are just too many of them. The worst time to be in the street is at 11.30 at night. That is when the night-clubs are closing and everybody wants to go home. Between 11 and 12 everybody is looking for a taxi. Usually the taxis are shared by four or five people who live in the same part of the city. During the day, people use the trains. Perhaps the first thing you notice inTokyois the number of trains. Most people travel to and from work by train, and there is a station at almost every street corner. At most stations, trains arrive every two or three minutes, but at certain hours there do not seem to be enough trains. At8 oclockin the morning you can see students pushing passengers into the trains. Usually the trains are nearly full when they arrive at the station, so the students have to push very hard. Sometimes the pushers are also pushed in by mistake, and they have to get out at the next station. Although they are usually crowded, Japanese trains are very good. They always leave and arrive on time. On aLondontrain you would see everybody reading a newspaper. InTokyotrains everybody in a seat seems to be asleep. Some Japanese make a train journey of two hours to go to work, so they do their sleeping on the train. But if a train journey lasts only five minutes, and if they have a seat, they will also go to sleep. They always wake when they arrive at their station. 1) What is the population ofTokyo? 2) How do the Japanese drive? 3) What is the worst time to be in the street inTokyo? 4) Do the Japanese use cars or trains during the day? 7 John Cleef s father played for a Dutch football club when he was a young man. When the Cleefs leftHollandand moved toLondon, John began school as a six-year-old. No one in the family was surprised when he started to take a great interest in football. The school he went to played football four afternoons a week (except in the summer, when they all played cricket). Johns abilities were obvious and when he was 12, a talent scout from one of the big football clubs spoke to his parents about him. Mr. Cleef said he was too young to think about football as a career. But two years later, John took part in a special schoolboys football match arranged by the club. John scored three goals, and he was certain that his future lay in football. Two years later he signed a contract with the club. John has been lucky, because it is a good club. It makes sure that all the new young players apprentice players, as they are called keep up their schooling. Everyone knows that out often apprentices, perhaps only one will have a career in football. It is a hard day for John and the other apprentices. The day starts at the football ground atten oclockwith a meeting, followed by an hour and a halfs training. After lunch the apprentices clean football boots, sweep out the stadium, and wash out the changing-rooms. The young footballers are expected to be in peak physical condition which means, says John, no late nights, no drinking, and a rather limited social life. Not all the girls understand this, but I know I have two years to try and make my mark. That means that the girls will have to wait. I watch football every evening I can and dream of becoming a star!

John is supported 100% by his parents. His father is proud of him, and perhaps sees John fulfilling his own dream of becoming a football star. For me it would be marvellous to have a Cleef playing forEngland, he says with a smile, even if it should mean that they beatHollandten-nil! 1) How old was John when he signed a contract with the club? 2) What are the duties of an apprentice ? 3) What does being in peak physical condition mean for the young players? 4) Is Johns father proud of him? 8 There are about 22,000 police officers inEngland. Out of these, 1,500 are women. Twenty years ago, a woman police-officer was an unusual sight. Then there were only 500 of them. Their job was mostly in the police stations doing the routine office work, or going out and doing what you could call social work. But today the picture is quite different. You meet female officers on the beat, controlling crowds, and directing traffic. Thats the way it should be, says one policewoman. We get the same pay as the men and we share the same conditions as they have. Of course, there are still some policemen who havent quite accepted us yet. I must admit, too, that there are certain situations where we are not in the front line. For example if there is a very violent demonstration, then it is the male officers who keep the crowd back. We are given other jobs. We simply dont have the strength to do the job. On the other hand, there are also many situations where the men are very glad to let us take over. Often we are better than the men when there are problems with women and specially children. If there is any resistance to women police-officers, it comes from the older policemen. They remember the good old days when a policeman was a man! The younger officers are very glad to work with us. What is even more important, I think, is the reaction of the public. They are always very positive. Women are good at defusing dangerous situations. I mean, we are good at calming people down. There is still a lot of respect for women in generalfor example, some people think it is all right to hit a policeman, but they wouldnt dream of hitting a woman. In violent situations we do not seem so aggressive as men, and this really helps. Mind you, if it comes to a fight, women police-officers are highly trained! 1) Do police-women take part in dealing with very violent demonstrations? 2) How do women police-officers behave in dangerous situations? 3) Was it a usual thing to meet a policewoman 20 years ago? 4) Are there situations when police-women are better than men? 9 As the train approached the seaside town where I was going to spend my holidays, I went into the corridor to stretch my legs. I stayed there a short time, breathing in the fresh sea air and talking to one of the passengers, whom I had met earlier on the station platform. When I turned to go back to my seat, I happened to glance into the compartment next to mine. Sitting there was a man who many years before had been my neighbour. He was a great talker, I remembered; it used to take hours to get away from him once he began a conversation. I was not at all sorry when he went to live in another part ofLondon. We had not met since then, nor did I wish to meet him now, when my holiday was about to begin. Luckily at that moment he was much too busy talking to the man opposite him to catch sight of me. I slipped back into my compartment, took down my two suitcases and carried them to the far end of the corridor so as to be ready to get off the train as soon as it stopped. The moment the train stopped, I called a porter, who in no time at all had carried my luggage out of the station and found me a taxi. As I drove towards my small hotel on the edge of the town, I breathed a

deep sigh of relief at my narrow escape. There was little chance that I should run into my boring ex-neighbour again. When I reached the hotel, I went straight to my room and rested there until it was time for dinner. Then I went down to the lounge and ordered a drink. I hadnt even begun to drink when an all too familiar voice greeted me. I had not escaped from my tiresome neighbour after all! He grasped me warmly by the hand and insisted that we should share a table in the dining-room. This is a pleasant surprise, he said. I never expected to see you again after all these years. 1) Where was the narrator going to spend his holidays? 2) Was the narrator glad to see his neighbour? 3) What did the narrator do to escape from the man? 4) Where did the narrator meet his neighbour again? 10 The party began just after nine. Mr. Wood, who lived in the flat below, sighed to himself as he heard the first signs: people running up the stairs; the sound of excited voices as the guests greeted one another; and the noise of loud music. Luckily Mr. Wood had brought some work home from the office, which he did for a couple of hours, and managed to ignore the party which was going on over his head. But byeleven oclockhe felt tired and was ready to go to bed, though from his experience of previous parties he knew that it was useless trying to get to sleep. He undressed and lay for a while on the bed, trying to read, but the noise from the room directly above his head did not allow him to concentrate on what he was reading. He found himself reading the same page over and over again. He then switched off the light and buried his head in the pillow, in a desperate effort to go to sleep. But there was no way he could shut the noise. Finally, after what seemed hours, he switched on the light and looked at his watch: it was just aftermidnight. By now his patience was quite exhausted. He leapt out of bed and, putting a dressing-gown over his pyjamas, marched up the stairs to his neighbours flat. He rang the bell several times but the door remained closed. This made him more angry. Just then one of the guests came out and went off down the stairs, leaving the door open. Mr. Wood went in. In spite of his odd clothing, no one took any notice of him. Then he saw the owner of the flat and managed to attract his attention. The man, whose name was Black, came across the room, smiling cheerfully, and before Mr. Wood could open his mouth to complain, said: My dear fellow, come in and join us. I know our parties must bother you. I meant to send you an invitation. Mr. Woods anger vanished at once. Id better go and get properly dressed, he said. As Mr. Wood left the room, Black turned to one of the guests and said: As soon as I set eyes on him, I knew hed come to make trouble. Thats why I asked him to join us. Did you see how pleased he was? He went off at once to get changed. What a pity the partys nearly over! 1) What was Mr. Wood doing during that evening? 2) Did Mr. Wood try to ignore the party? 3) How did Mr. Wood try to go to sleep? 4) What did Mr. Wood decide to do? 11 Tom was looking forward to his first journey by Tube, as the underground railway inLondonis called. He had heard a great deal about it from his friends who had already been toEngland. They all advised him not to travel alone the first time. But Tom is the kind of person who never listens to anyones advice. It is not surprising, therefore, that his first journey by Tube was not a great success.

Tom entered the station just after five oclockin the afternoon. This is a bad time to travel in London, both by bus and train, because crowds of people go home from work at this hour. He had to join a long queue of people who were waiting for tickets. When at last his turn came, he had some difficulty in making the man understand the name of the station he wanted to go to. The people in the queue behind him began to grumble impatiently at the delay. However, he got the right ticket in the end and found the right platform. This was packed with people. He did not manage to get on the first train, but he was able to move nearer the edge of the platform and was in a better position to get on the next one. When this came in, Tom was pushed forward on to the train by the people behind him. The doors closed and the train moved off before he was able to get his breath back. He was unable to see the names of the stations where the train stopped, but he had counted the number of stops so that he knew exactly where to get off. His station was the sixth along the line. When the train reached the sixth station, Tom got off, happy that his journey had been so easy. But he was alarmed to see that he had got off at a station that he had never heard of! He did not know what to do. He explained his difficulty to a man who was standing on the platform. With a look of amusement on his face the man told Tom that he had travelled on a train going in the wrong direction. 1) Has Tom ever travelled by a Tube? 2) Did Tom travel alone or with his friends? 3)Did Tom have any difficulties in getting the ticket? 4) What did Tom realize when he got off the train? 12 Michael didnt feel able to talk about the bullying to anyone. His mother would worry, he knew that. His sister had her own life and he couldnt talk to her. And he was afraid of what the bullies might do to him if he told any of the teachers. He should be able to deal with the situation on his own, he thought and if he couldnt, well, that was his problem. He didnt even enjoy his lessons any more, because it was too hard to concentrate. As he sat in class each day, he thought about what might happen after school and his mind went completely blank. And sure enough, two or three times a week, the bullies were out there waiting for him. Well, now, Jenkins, whatve you got for us today? they shouted. He took the money from his pockets and gave it to them-without a word. Sometimes they still hit him, for the fun of it, but usually they ran off laughing. The day everything changed was the day before half-term. Michael had stayed late at school because he needed some advice about an English project. The school grounds were empty by the time he left, but he stayed tense and watchful on the short walk to the bus-stop. There was only one other boy from the school at the bus-stop, and Michael stared at him in disbelief. He was in the lowest class, so he was probably eleven years old, but he looked younger. His clothes were dirty and torn, and he was crying quietly. Hey, what happened to you? Are you OK? Michael asked, but he had a sick feeling in his stomach. These boys they said theyd hurt me if if I didnt give them money, the younger boy said. And I havent got any money only my bus pass Were there three of them? Michael asked quickly. Theyre from school, arent they? The child looked at him with surprise and nodded. Tears dripped from his cheeks to the ground. Michael took a deep breath. It happens to me too, he said, and theres only one way to stop it. Weve got to tell someone. Come with me.

He led the way back to the school, and found his English teacher. As Michael told his story, the boys could see sympathy and anger in her face. When he finished, there was a short silence. Is this right, Ben? she said to the younger boy. Are you sure the bullies who hurt you are the same ones? Yes, he whispered. The same ones. She looked at each of them in turn. You can leave it to me now, she said quietly. Ill see the head first thing in the morning. And dont worry, either of you. This wont happen again, I promise you. 1) What problem did Michael have? 2) Why couldnt Michael talk to members of his family about his problem? 3) What happened one day? 4) What was the teachers reaction to Michaels words? 13 More and more people these days get caught shop-lifting; that is, taking things from shops and not paying for them. It is a big problem these days. What actually happens if the shop-keeper thinks you have stolen something? The true story of Mrs. C. is a good example. Mrs. went shopping twice a week. She shopped for her own family and for some old people who could not get to the shops. She always went to the same supermarket. One day she met a friend in there. She had just chosen a piece of cheese from the shelf. The two of them talked and walked round the shop together. Then when her friend went out, Mrs. C. went with her. At once the shop-keeper caught her, and told her she had taken a piece of cheese without paying. Mrs. C. was shocked and while she was trying to explain what had happened outside the shop, people stopped to see what was happening. Mrs. C. knew many of them and felt very ashamed. It looked as though she was a criminal! She said she would pay for it at once. But the shop-keeper called the police. A police-car came to the shop and she was taken away. When they got her to the police-station, she was questioned for three hours. After this she was charged and was told she would have to go to court. During the next week, Mrs. C. stayed inside her house in a state of shock. She drank black coffee and took pills all the time. After only seven days, she had lost fourteen pounds in weight. The doctor saw her, and told her not to fight in court. Say you did it, and get it over, he said. He was afraid that she would have a heart-attack. In a way the story had a happy ending, because the judge listened to the story, and just told her to go home and forget about it. She was free. But Mrs. C. is not the same woman. A whole year after this, she is still afraid to go out. She will not go into shops. She is afraid of what people think about her. 1) How often did Mrs. C. go shopping? 2) Whom did she meet at the supermarket? 3) What happened when Mrs. C. went out of the shop? 4) What did Mrs. C. try to explain to the shop-keeper? 14 Mr. Gray travelled a lot on business. He sold machines of various kinds to farmers. It was not really a very exciting job, but Mr. Gray had always been interested in farming, and he was quite satisfied with his life.

He had a big car, and usually enjoyed driving it long distances, but he was quite satisfied to go by train sometimes too, especially when the weather was bad. He was a little frightened of driving in rain or snow, and it was less tiring to sit comfortably in a train and look out of the window without being worried about how one was going to get to the next place. One of Mr. Grays problems was often where to stay when he reached some small place in the country. He did not expect great comfort and wonderful food, but he found it annoying when he was given a cold room, and there was no water or good food after a long and tiring day. Late one winter evening, Mr. Gray arrived at a small railway station. The journey by train that day had not been at all interesting, and Mr. Gray was cold and tired and hungry. He was looking forward to a simple but satisfying meal by a brightly burning fire, and then a hot bath and comfortable bed. While he was walking to the taxi rank, he said to a local man who was also walking there, As this is my first visit to this part of the country and I was in too much of a hurry to find out about hotels before I left home, I would very much like to know how many you have here. The local man answered, We have two. And which of the two would you advise me to go to? Mr. Gray asked then. The local man scratched his head for a few moments and then answered, Well, its like this: whichever one you go to, youll be sorry you didnt go to the other. 1) What was Mr. Gray s business? 2) What did Mr. Gray need most of all after a long and tiring journey? 3) How many hotels were there in the town? 4) Why couldnt the local man give Mr. Gray a definite answer? 15 Jim lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, and then he got a job in the office of a big factory in another town, so he left home. He found a comfortable little flat which had two rooms, a small kitchen and a bathroom, and he lived there on his own. At first he cleaned it himself, but he did not want to have to go on doing this, so he determined to find someone else to do it instead of him. He asked a lot of his fellow workers at the factory what they did about this, and at last one of the men said, Oh, Mrs. Roper comes and cleans my flat regularly. She washes the dishes, irons my shirts and keeps the place neat and tidy and so on. Ill introduce you to her, if you like. Shes a charming old lady. She does her best, but she hasnt got much energy. Well, youd better ask her to come and see me, please, Jim answered. So the next evening Mrs. Roper came to see him, and she agreed with pleasure to come to his flat every morning for an hour. After she had been working for Jim for two weeks, he looked at the mirror in his bedroom and thought, That mirror looks very dusty. Mrs. Ropers forgotten to clean it. I can write on it with my finger. He wrote a message in the dust: Im coughing whenever I breathe because everything in this room is very dusty. He came home at 7 oclock that evening, and when he had eaten his supper, he went into his bedroom and looked at the mirror. That silly old woman still hasnt cleaned it! he said to himself. All it needs is a cloth! But then he bent down and saw a bottle in front of the mirror. I didnt put that bottle there. He thought. Mrs. Roper must have left it. He picked the bottle up and looked at it carefully. Shes written some words on it, he said to himself. He read the words. They were: Cough medicine.

1) Where did Jim find a job? 2) What kind of flat did Jim have? 3) How did Jim get to know Mrs. Roper? 4) How did Jim let Mrs. Roper know what he thought about her work?

Text 1 Woodmanshythe is a small town. About 3,000 people live here. It is unusual for a town of this size to have a good cinema. It is even more unusual, however, to have a cinema that is run by a group of 12 people. The group is a real mixture: there is a businessman, two teenage schoolchildren, three housewives, four old-age pensioners, a school-teacher, and the local vicar. Major Richard Danby is the oldest of the group. He is 73 and he lives in the small flat above the cinema. He is the caretaker and is always ready and proudto show visitors the cinema, and to talk about it. It all started ten years ago. There was a large store here which was for sale. A couple of us old people thought that it would be the ideal place for an activity centre. Not just for pensioners, but for the young ones too. There wasnt anywhere where people could get together. Then by chance we heard that the cinema in Workshop thats our nearest big town was closing down. So we thought Bingo! All its equipment was for sale. I contacted Jim Breasley, who is our financial brain, and before we knew where we were, we had plans drawn up for a cinema here. He did all the calculations, and we were promised a lot of help by the town council. A couple of companies has given us money as well. We made a broad group of twelve people representing all ages and interests as far as possible, anyway and this very nice cinema is the result of it! The cinema shows films five nights a week (not on Sundays and Mondays). There are also two afternoon programmes a week for children. Old age pensioners have the cinema two mornings a month, and there is a film club that uses the cinema once a fortnight. We try to show a mixture of films: we try to get the very newest ones, we show some of the old classics, and we have had one or two of the violent films as well. That always gives a good bit of discussion afterwards! The discussions take place in the cafeteria, which is a large room at the side of the foyer. It is open in the mornings and afternoons as well, and many people enjoy just dropping in here for a chat and something to drink. Its all part of the centre-idea, you see, says Major Danby proudly. 1. Who is the cinema in Woodmanshythe run by? 2. Who is the cinema for? 3. What kinds of films are shown at the cinema? 4. What do people usually do after watching films? Text 2 If you leave the main street and turn right, you are in Aminas world. The people in the street are foreign-looking they look like Indians or Pakistanis, and they or their parents certainly originated fromAsia. The shops in this area sell foreign goods. The windows are filled with saris and turbans, exotic shawls, unusual perfumes, incense, and books written in letters that an ordinary European cannot read. The grocers sell spices and vegetables not normally to be found

in English kitchen, and the cinemas advertise Indian films. The travel agents offer cut-price flights toNew DelhiandKarachi. If you come here in the evening or on Sunday, the streets are almost as busy as they are during an ordinary weekday. The grocers are open and life goes on as usual. Amina stands behind the counter in her little grocers shop on the comer. Her two children play in the back. Most of her customers are Asians, two or three are Europeans. We are open every day, she says. I open at 9.30 every day, except for Sundays, when I open at10 oclock. The shop closes at 10.30 in the evening again Sunday is different, we close at5 oclock. Of course I close in the middle of the day for a good long break. I would like to close the shop altogether on Sundays, but it is not possible. There is too much competition here. We are saving up to buy a bigger shop with a back garden for the children to play in while I am working. We dont want to move far away, because the people are friendly here. There is no real prejudice against us. We try to fit into the English way of life as much as possible. I draw the line at wearing English clothes, though I am too fond of my sari. The children are a little divided. They have been on one trip toIndia, where my parents still live. They liked it very much there, but when we came back toLondon, they settled down very quickly. My husband has got a good job here with a computer firm, so I am sure we will stay here. I dont know how the children will grow up. I hope they will fit into the English society without too much trouble. It isnt always so easy. At the same time I hope they will remain good Indiansgood Hindus. The most important thing for them is to be happy to have a good education, and for us to find good marriage partners for them. Then I will be happy too. What do people in Aminas world look like? What does Aminas shop look like? Why dont Amina and her husband want to move far away from where they live? Does Aminas shop work on Sundays? Text 3 Thirty years ago my family were one of the lucky ones and went on holiday, once a year for a week. They went every year to the nearest seaside resort where there were a few traditionally run hotels, a beach, a little town and that was it. Today tourism is big business throughout the world and our expectations and life styles have greatly altered. There are those people, especially environmentalists, who see the growth of tourism as a disaster for the environment as well as local cultures. Tourism has often meant huge hotel complexes, swimming pools, pollution and overcrowding that have destroyed many local communities. This has been the case on the Costa del Sol inSpain, which has been literally invaded by tourists for the past few decades. As the tourists start to look for more exotic places to go on holiday, the problem with protecting yet unspoiled areas in, for example, South East Asia, Central America andAfricagrows. Many of us have laughed at the commercial that shows an American tourist group on a sightseeing coach inNorway. Whenever the guide points out a local sight of interest, someone on the coach spots a McDonalds or another American Company on the other side of the coach, and everyones attention is drawn to that. This is a good example of how many people, who go abroad on holiday, are actually more interested in experiencing familiar surroundings than discovering the local culture. As a result, travel companies try to make the resorts look as much as possible like the environment the tourists are used to. Yet the growth of tourism has opened up parts of the world and enabled travellers to go to places they could only have dreamed of thirty years ago. The meeting of different cultures in this way has led to a greater mingling of peoples and cultures and habits. Take food for example: Italian

dishes such as spaghetti and Spanish rice dishes such as paella, are nowadays eaten all over the world. On a more serious level, tourism is often the developing countries most important source of income. Foreign tourists bring in much needed foreign currency and this can help that country buy equipment and goods from abroad. In this way tourism is good for an area of the country. Where do tourists today try to find more exotic places for a holiday? What is a good example of how many people, who do abroad, are actually more interested in experiencing familiar surroundings than discovering the local culture? What does tourism bring to the economy of different countries? What dishes are nowadays eaten all over the world? Text 4 Albert Foreman had been a verger atSt.Peters church inNeville Squarefor sixteen years. Albert Edward was very proud of his job and his church. But there was one special feature about Albert: he couldnt read or write. When one day a new vicar discovered this, he told him that unless he learnt to read and write within three months, he would lose his job. Albert refused and that evening he sadly locked the church and began to walk home. As he walked along the street he looked for a shop to buy a packet of Gold Flake2. It was a long street but there was not a single shop where he could buy cigarettes. Thats strange, Albert said to himself. Thats an idea! Next day he went along the street and by good luck found a little shop to let. Twenty-four hours later he had taken it, and a month after that set up in business as a tobacconist and newsagent. He did so well that in ten years he had acquired no less than ten shops and he was making money hand over fist. One morning when he was at the bank the cashier told him that the manager would like to see him. Mr. Foreman, said the manager, I wanted to have a talk with you about the money you ve got with us. Its a very large sum and I think you would do better to invest it. A troubled look appeared on Mr. Foremans face. Ive never had anything to do with investments, he said. Well do everything. All youll have to do is just sign some forms. But how should I know what I was signing? I suppose you can read, said the manager a little sharply. Well, sir, thats just it. I cant. I cant read or write, only my name, and I only learnt to do that when I went into business. The manager was so surprised that he jumped up from his chair. Thats the most extraordinary thing Ive ever heard. And do you mean to say that you made a fortune of thirty thousand pounds without being able to read or write? Good God, man, what would you now be if you had been able to? Id be a verger of St. Peters,Neville Square. 1 a verger someone who looks after a church 2 Gold Flake a once-popular brand of cigarette How many years did Albert Edward work as a verger? What kind of business did Albert Foreman start? Why did Albert have a troubled look when he had heard the managers offer? What was the managers reaction when he had learned the truth about Mr. Foreman?

Text 5 James Mitford: My wife and I only had the one child. It might have been nice to have a son, but we didnt plan a family, we just had Amy. I see her as my best friend. I think shed always come to me first if she had a problem. We have the same sense of humour, and share interests. I dont mind animals, but shes completely obsessed with them, and she has always had dogs, cats, horses, and goldfish in her life. We were closest when she was about four, which I think is a lovely age for a child. They know the parents best, and dont have the outside contacts. She must have grown up suddenly when she went to school, because I remember her growing away from her family slightly. Any father who has a teenager daughter comes across an extraordinary collection of people, and there seemed to be an endless stream of strange young men coming through our house. By the time Id learned their names theyd gone away and I had to start learning a new lot. I remember I told her offence in front of her friends and she didnt talk to me for days afterwards. I wanted more than anything else for her to be happy in what she was doing, and I was prepared to pull strings to help her on her way. She went to a good school, but that didnt work out. She must have upset somebody. When she left she decided she wanted to become an actress so I got her into drama school. It wasnt to her liking so she joined a theatre group and began doing bits and pieces of films. She was doing well, but then gave it up. She probably found it boring. Then she took up social work, and finally went to work for a designer and he became her husband. And thats really the story of her life. She must be happy with himtheyre always together. We have the same tastes in books and music, but it takes me a while to get used to new pop songs. I used to take her to the opera, which is my big passion, but I dont think she likes it very much, she doesnt come with me any more. I dont think shes a big television watcher. She knows when Im on, and she might watch, but I dont know. Its not the kind of thing she tells me. Were very grateful for Amy. Shes a good daughter as daughters go. Were looking forward to being grandparents. Im sure shell have a son. What did James and Amy have in common? Why didnt Amy talk to her father for days once? What was Amys first profession? Why does James think that his daughter is happy with her husband? Text 6 Amy Mitford: I dont really know my father. He isnt easy .to get on with. Hes quite selfcentred, and a little bit vain, I think, and in some ways quite unapproachable. The public must think hes very easy-going, but at home he keeps himself to himself. He cant have been at home much when I was a child, because I dont remember much about him. Hes always been slightly out of touch with family life. His work always came first, and he was always off somewhere acting or rehearsing. He loves being asked for his autograph, he loves to be recognized. He has won several awards, and hes very proud of that. He was given the Member of the British Empire, and we had to go toBuckinghamPalaceto get the medal. It was incredibly boring there were hundreds of other people getting the same thing, and you had to sit there for hours. He shows off his awards to whoever comes to the house. I went to public school, and because of my total lack of interest and non-attendance I was asked to leave. I didnt want to go there in the first place. I was taken away from all my friends. He must have been very pleased to get me into the school, but in the end it was a complete waste of

money. I let him down quite badly, I suppose. I tried several jobs but I couldnt settle down in them. They just werent challenging enough. Then I realized that what I really wanted to do was live in the country and look after animals, so thats what I now do. As a family, were not that close, either emotionally or geographically. We dont see much of each other these days. My father and I are totally different, like chalk and cheese. My interests have always been the country, but hes into books, music and above all, opera, which I hate. If they do come to see us, theyre in completely the wrong clothes for the country mink coats, nice little leather shoes, not exactly ideal for long walks across the fields. He was totally opposed to me getting married. He was hoping we would breakup. Geralds too humble, I suppose. He must have wanted me to marry someone famous, but I didnt, and thats all there is to it. We dont want children, but my father keeps on and on talking about wanting grandchildren. You cant make someone have children just because you want grandchildren. I never watch him on television. Im not that interested, and anyway he usually forgets to tell me when hes on. What does Amy think of her father as a person? Why doesnt Amy remember much about her father? Why does Amy feel guilty about her father sometimes? What is the difference between James and Amys interests? Text 7 Nowadays the number of crimes involving violence is growing in Swedenas well as many other countries. The main cause of this development is undoubtedly the use of drugs especially in larger cities. The higher rate of unemployment and growing racism are significant reasons too. Meaningless murders and assaults1 are the frightening results. One can, as a consequence, see how people not only in countries like theUnited States, but also in countries likeSweden, arm themselves with weapons for protection, but violence breeds violence. It is often claimed that an efficient way to lower the number of acts of violence is to have more severe sentences. However, people who commit these crimes often have serious social and psychological problems. Many of them may therefore be indifferent to how severe the sentences are. Besides, these criminals do not think that they will ever get caught. Because of these reasons, I doubt that acts of violence inSweden would decrease if our government was to make the sentences for this type of crime more severe. A common measure to reduce the acts of violence is to increase the number of policemen patrolling the streets. Although this is a good way of preventing acts of violence, it will not actually stop people from becoming criminals. I am convinced that it is impossible to erase the violence related criminality completely, but there is a way in which I think it can be reduced considerably. Children should be informed about crimes related to violence and drugs. This information should be given in kindergarten as well as in elementary school. Furthermore, it should especially reach those children who live in areas with high crime rates. The information should take the form of a discussion, not a lecture, led by some expert, preferably a local police officer. Hopefully, the children would then at an early age already have some understanding of these problems that would be valuable to them for the rest of their lives. Although the costs for such a project would be considerable, the benefits would be great. It would certainly prevent many from becoming violent criminals in the future. 1 assault 2 sentence ,

3 to erase , What do many people in different countries do to protect themselves? Why educating people is important? What is the main cause of growing violence? What measures can help to protect people from violence? Text 8 My Great Aunts name is Mary Grieve. She is my grandmothers aunt. I do not know her very well having always lived a long way away, but she has always been a woman I have respected for many different reasons. She is now over eighty years old and was born inScotlandin 1912. She had one brother called Tom. Her family was wealthy for those times and luckily for Mary, her father believed in educating both his children. He did not send her to one of the typical schools for daughters of the rich where they only learnt skills preparing them for marriage. She was obviously intelligent and when she left school she went toOxfordUniversity. In the 1930?s there were very few women at University. However Mary is not a quiet, submissive woman, in fact she has always been very determined and prepared to be different. At this time it was assumed that woman of her class would spend a few years enjoying her freedom and then settle down and get married. Mary did not do this. After graduating from the university, she got a job in journalism. Newspapers were increasingly popular and to sell them to a wider audience some papers realised that appealing to women was important. She not only worked for newspapers but also wrote articles and books later in her life. After the Second World War, she got a job with one of the new womens magazines that were to become more and more popular. After many years of hard work and struggling in a male dominated profession she eventually reached the top and became the editor of the magazine. Mary never married as her work was very important to her and a job and marriage did not mix inBritainin the 1950?s. She is now old in years and confined to a wheelchair. However she is still full of enthusiasm about life. Her personal courage, her enthusiasm and interest in life, as well as the example she has set for all women working in our still male dominated society, makes Mary a woman I feel privileged to have known. Why Does the narrator know her Great Aunt very well? What kind of job did Mary get after graduating from the university? What always impressed the narrator in her Great Aunt? What job did Mary get after the Second World War? Text 9 The setting is every childs dream. A huge, rambling, 300-year-old house, warmed by log fires, overrun by pets, and set in acres of natural playground. And no school. That is what makes the Kirkbride household so rare. James, 18, Tamara, 15, Tigger, 14, and Hoppy, 10, have spent the last four years doing what other children only enjoy at weekends and holidays. They get up when they feel like it, breakfast at leisure, and spend the rest of the day doing what they want. They walk, swim, fish, paint, read, play musical instruments, cook or sit around and chat. There has been no attempt at having any lessons since John and Melinda Kirkbride took their children out of the local school James five years ago and the others a year later. Hoppy had

been there only six days. We did start with a sort of curriculum when we took James out, says John, 46, a large forceful man. But we soon realised we were repeating the mistakes of the system. From the beginning, we both felt that packing our children off to school was wrong, says Melinda, a German-born former actress. Seeing their unhappiness made us re-examine our own school years, and remember how destructive they were. John, formerly a TV producer, began a teachers training course inNorwich, to see if I could reform from within. He soon found he couldnt and, after completing the course and teaching for four months, he removed himself and his children, from the system. If the personalities of the children were the only criteria, the experiment would be an undoubted success. They are intelligent, confident, capable and considerate. All, including the two boys, cook and sew. Chores are shared without arguments. Their friendliness to each other, and to the many guests who visit the house, is natural and unforced. Teach is a swear word in this house, says John. It destroys the childs own natural talent and creativity. Now learningthats a different matter. All our children learn when and if they want to learn something. They look it up in books or they go and ask someone who knows, they use their initiative which is more than any school could teach them. How many children do the Kirkbrides have? Why did John and Melinda Kirkbride take their children from school? What are the childrens personalities like? What is the main principe of teaching according to the Kirkbrides household? Text 10 The problems with my parents started when I was sixteen. I wanted to get a Saturday job but my parents ordered me to stay at home and study for my exams. Whenever I pointed out that all my friends had Saturday jobs, they always replied, We dont care what they do, its you we are worried about, and yet, whenever my school marks were bad, I was always compared to everyone else. Their double standards infuriated me so much that I did whatever I could to provoke them. I purposely dyed my hair white blond and plastered my face in make-up before I went to school. However, all I managed to achieve was mass arguments before I went anywhere. It was a rule in the house that I was only allowed out once during the week and on Saturday till 10 p.m. Every time I attempted to go out in the evening, my parents asked me who I was going out with and where we were going. They even insisted on my giving them my friends telephone number in case they needed to contact me. I always argued about the last bit; I felt that if I gave them the number theyd use it to check up on me. It never for one moment crossed my mind that they were just worried about me. Once I asked if I could go to a party on Saturday night. The party finished at 11.30 p.m. They agreed, but on the condition that my Dad came to pick me up at 10 p.m. I argued and argued about it but in the end I had to agree. I knew I was going to be really embarrassed when my father came to pick me up, so I spent the whole party worrying. I didnt speak to my parents for three days after that. My mother tried to explain how they both felt but I didnt want to listen. It was then that I decided to break all the rules they had set down. So instead of coming home at 10 p.m., I would arrive back at 11.30 p.m. and then refuse to tell them where I had been. I somehow felt that if I broke their rules, they would realise I was old enough to look after myself and leave me alone. However, the argument got worse and worse, and the more they tried to keep me in the house, the more I sneaked out. Finally, one Saturday night I didnt come home till 2 a.m. My father wanted to know why I was so late. I refused to tell him. We had a huge argument which ended with me getting a taxi to my sisters house. What went wrong? When did Anns problems with her parents start?

What rules were in the house? How often was she allowed to go out in the evening? Why didnt Ann speak to her parents after the party? Text 11 Anyone who has ever visited the centre ofLondoncannot help but notice the number of young people who beg in the streets and some who probably steal as well. Last summer I returned to attend a summer language course inLondonand stayed in the same area I had visited five years earlier. I was shocked by the increase in the number of young homeless people, living and sleeping in the streets. There are approximately 30,000 homeless people in and around London. This has worsened due to the long recession1 inBritain and the change in the social security system which doesnt allow any person under 18, or those without a permanent address to receive any social benefits from the governments. The numbers of homeless are growing as more young people come toLondon, believing that they will find work and a place to live. UnfortunatelyLondon does not live up to their dreams and a vicious circle is created: without a job they have no money to rent a place to live and without a place to live they cannot get any government social benefits or a job. My solution to this problem may be short term but at least it would be a start for many of these young people. Squatting2 should become legal again, as it once was inBritain. It is only recently that the law has been changed to make squatting illegal. Surely it would be more profitable for the local council to let people squat in these houses if they are going to be empty for more than six months. These young people would then have an address and if over 18 years old, could get some benefits. They could then buy some decent clothes, tidy themselves up and have a greater chance of getting a job and a proper place to live. The houses may be in a bad condition but for homeless people this must surely be better than sleeping in the streets in the rain and cold. Somehow the vicious circle has to be broken. 1 recession worsening of economic activity 2 squatting occupying a house or a flat without permission What did the author do inLondon? Why are the numbers of homeless people growing? Why is the situation with homeless people like a vicious circle? What does the author suggest to do for homeless people? Text 12 The first time we met, I was an innocent eight-year-old. My friends and I secretly took you down to our dark cellar, so that our parents would not find out. Later on, when I was about ten-yearold, we started to meet every weekend when my friends and I went to the noisy discotheque at our local youth club. We used to sneak out from the club up into the shady woods, where my friends and I sat with make-up on our faces and garish nail polish on our nails feeling very adult and mature. From thirteen onwards we met several times a day, and by then my mother allowed you to come into my room. She did not want to know you, having gone through so much to get rid of you. Naturally she was rather disappointed in me but what could she do? She kept hoping that I would get my act together but at this age I was unruly and rebellious and punishments and curfews did not work. There is no doubt that you have been everything to me. You have been there when I needed a friend or when I was sad. You calmed me down when I was upset. In .other words, you have been one of my best friends.

Unlike others in similar situations, I did not associate with you because it was fashionable or I thought it was tough. However, I had seen you and your equals, together with beautiful, sophisticated women; women who ate at expensive restaurants and drank red wine by candlelight. My friends and I tried to imitate those women; we wanted to live in that kind of world. The problem was I liked you too much. There was no going back. I was caught in your trap. My flat was almost ruined because of you. My skin became a washed out pale grey. Sometimes I felt like an old woman. How was I so blind, deaf and ignorant for all those years? Why couldnt I let you go? I know the answer myself, it was because I did not care then, but I do now. In spite of it being difficult, I am now trying to end our destructive relationship, as one must end all bad relationships. I hope I will succeed in my effort to stop smoking and that I will never buy another packet of Prince again. After more than eighteen years together I bid you farewell, my fair Prince. What role did smoking play in the narrators life? When did the girl take a cigarette first time? What did the girl think about cigarettes? How long does the girl smoke? Text 13 She was in the house of a married friend, sitting on the verandah, with a lighted room behind her. She was alone; and heard people talking in low voices, and caught her own name. She rose to go inside and declare herself: it was typical of her. Then she sank down again, and waited for a suitable moment to pretend she had just come in from the garden. This was the conversation she listened to, while her face burned and her hands went clammy.1 Shes not fifteen any longer: it is ridiculous! Someone should tell her about her clothes. How old is she? Must be well over thirty. She was working long before I began working, and that was a good twelve years ago. Why doesnt she marry? She must have had plenty of chances. There was a dry chuckle. I dont think so. My husband was keen on her himself once, but he thinks she will never marry. Something missing somewhere. Oh, I dont know. The other day I caught sight of her in the street and hardly recognized her. Its a fact! The way she plays all those games, her skin is like sandpaper, 2 and shes got so thin. But shes such a nice girl. Shed make someone a good wife. She should marry someone years older than herself. A man of fifty would suit her youll see, she will marry someone old enough to be her father one of those days. She was stunned and outraged; 3 but most of all deeply wounded that her friends could discuss her thus. And the things they had said! She tried to compose herself4 and went back into the room to join her treacherous friends, who greeted her as cordially as if they had not just that moment driven knives into her heart and thrown her quite off balance; she could not recognize herself in the picture they had made of her! 1 clammy 2 sand paper 3 outraged

4 to compose oneself Where was Mary that night? How old was Mary? What did her friends do when she came back into the room? What didnt Marys friends like in her appearance? What didnt Marys friends like in her appearance? Text 14 Annie Stewart has been a keeper at Woburn Animal Kingdom for the past twelve years, and for eight years before that she worked at another safari park. Its hard physical work, out in all weathers animals have to be fed and looked after every day of the year. My working day normally begins at 8 a.m., but if an animal is sick I may have to be up all night with it. Week-ends and bank holidays are our busiest times while were open to visitors between March and October. I begin by loading feeds onto my car, then I drive to the eland (a type of larger antelope). I feed and check them. Then I go through a similar process with the giraffe and the hippo. We always have to take special care in our dealings with the rhino remember that they are dangerous wild animals. They have to be watched all the time in case something upsets them. And the eland can be especially unpredictable1 when the strangers are around. They only trust two of us to go near them, so if there are any problems with them on my day off I might easily be called in. During the season when were open to the public, its part of the keepers job to patrol the park watching the public as much as the animals. People can be amazingly silly, ignoring signs and warnings. They seem to have no idea of the possible danger. Some get out of their cars to take photographs when they are frighteningly close to an animal that could kill them in an instant. We have to try and be diplomatic and maintain a sense of humour. I get to know all the animals in my care individually. I fill in a daily diary and a weekly report, making a note of any changes of behaviour. This is a job that requires dedication and hard work. I was first attracted to it when I saw a documentary about this place 20 years ago. I had experience of looking after dogs in boarding kennels2, and I was fascinated by the safari park concept. So I wrote to them and was lucky enough to get a job, learning as I went along. Its like a wild animal farm here -the animals have plenty of freedom and I enjoy the independence and responsibility which are central to my job. 1 unpredictable 2 kennels How many years does Annie Stewart work as a keeper at Woburn Animal What things about Annies job are the most important for her? What animals can be dangerous in a safari park? Why do people need watching as much as the animals? Text 15 Elaine and Roy Fullwood had no intention of educating their children themselves until things went badly wrong at school. When a new head teacher with whatRoydescribes as trendy educational methods took over at the local school, the work of their eldest child, Alex, suffered and she became bored and aimless. Kingdom?

Despite a meeting with the head teacher, the Deputy Director of Education and other concerned parents nothing changed. At this point Elaine and Roy decided to take Alex, aged 8, and Anna, aged 6, away from school. A year later Elaine was concerned about whether the girls were making enough progress. For advice, we took the girls work to the heads of the schools where they would have been pupils. In both cases they were well ahead for their age. This reassured us that we were on the right way. Alex and Anna have now been at home for two years and are joined in their morning studies by six-year-old sister Miriam, who has never been to school. Four-year-old John occasionally joins in and 14-month-old Luke is often crawling nearby. Having no teacher-training, it was necessary to plan work very carefully in the early days but now Elaine finds that its become second nature. Roytrained as a teacher but has never actually taught. Now he spends as much time with the family as his job allows. Roy and Elaine make it quite clear that being at home is not a soft option1. They put a lot of emphasis on responsibility and self-discipline. For example, Alex and Anna are in charge of the animals hens, a horse and a goat which they have to feed and clean out in all weathers. No one stands over them but they know that if they shirk their responsibilities2 then the animals will go. The children themselves will decide whether they want to do O and A levels. Roy and Elaine certainly wont try to influence them. The Fullwoods are clearly a close-knit family but they also have many friends. Although the children may never go to school again there is no anti-school feeling in the home. The doors open. If ever they want to go they can. 1 soft option to shirk responsibilities How many children are there in a family? At what moment did things go wrong at school? What do Royand Elaine put a lot of emphasis on in the upbringing of their children? What do Roy and Elaine teach their children first of all? Text 16 If you are thinking of buying a dog you must also be ready to devote a good deal of time to training the dog when it is young and giving it the exercise it needs throughout its life, unless you live in the country and can let it run freely. Dogs are demanding pets. Whereas cats identify with a house and are content if their place there is secure, a dog identifies with its master and consequently wants him to show proof of his affection. The best time to buy a puppy is when it is between six and eight weeks old so that it can transfer its affection for its mother to its master. If puppies have not established a relationship with a human being until they are over three months old, their strongest relationship will always be with dogs; if they are kept in kennels for this length of time, they are likely to be too shy when they are brought out into the world to become good pets. Different breeds2 require different training methods. German shepherd dogs, for example, respond favourably to mild punishment but terriers usually resent it and become more aggressive. The best way to train a dog is by reward, not punishment, but the reward must be immediate so that the dog connects it with what it has done. In general it is better to teach a dog by preventing it from doing things than by punishing it afterwards.

Pet food is a profitable business and there are firms concerned to make you believe that your dog will suffer if you do not buy it some special biscuit. In fact, dogs require a well-balanced diet, like human beings, except that they do not need fruit and vegetables because their bodies produce their own vitamin C. In the same way beauty parlours3 for dogs would like you to think that it will be unhappy if it does not have its nails cut or its hair combed. Some dogs may benefit, but the essential point to remember is that you should take it regularly to a vet to ensure that it is healthy. In that case you should have a faithful companion for ten years or more. 1kennels 2breed beauty parlour What is the most essential rule that you have to observe if you want to have a happy and healthy dog? Why do they recommend buying puppies when they are 6 or 8 weeks old? What is the best way to train a dog? What happens if puppies dont establish a relationship with a human being till they are three months old? Text 17 A visitor fromBarcelonaarrives atMadridgovernment office in mid-afternoon, and is surprised to find only the cleaning lady there. Dont they work in the afternoons? he asks. No, she replies, they dont work in the mornings. In the afternoons they dont come. LazyMadrid, busyBarcelona: it is just one of many stereotypes aboutSpains great rivals. Mostly, the stereotypes are born ofBarcelonas bitterness at its second-class status.Barcelonais the capital ofCatalonia, a proudly autonomous region, butMadridis the capital ofSpain. This causes resentment. It makesBarcelonathe largest city inWestern Europenot to be a national capital. Over the years governments inMadriddid their best to limitBarcelonas political power.Barcelonahas the liberalism that often characterizes port cities. An old-fashioned seriousness inMadrid, isolated high up onSpains central plateaus, contrasts with the lightheartedness ofBarcelona, open toEurope. These old caricatures still hold true. No visitor to government buildings in the two cities can fail to be struck by the contrast between them. InMadrid, there are ancient wooden floors, antique furniture and walls covered with paintings by Spanish old masters. InBarcelona, designer chairs and tables are evidence of the places obsession with modernism. And yet, these days, the similarities between the two cities are as striking as the contrasts. Madridis hardly lazy any more. Nor is it old-fashioned. Indeed, it has become almost outrageously modern. To judge by the local cuisine1, you would think the place was a port: although far from the sea, seafood is a miraculousMadrid speciality. As banks and businesses have been drawn toMadrid, it has become as much a commercial and industrial centre as an administrative one.Barcelona, meanwhile, has been experiencing a rise in bureaucracy. The rivalry betweenMadridandBarcelonais bound to remain fierce, not least on the soccer field, when Real Madrid andBarcelonacompete for Spanish supremacy. cuisine What was the policy ofMadridtowardsBarcelonafor many years? Which of the two rivals has traditionally been more oriented towardsEurope?

Why can one think, judging by the local cuisine, thatMadridis a port? The rivalry between MadridandBarcelonais fierce not only on the soccer field, isnt it? Text 18 What is a hero? This is not an easy question to answer. When we look closely at the life stories of many popular heroes, we find that they are not always very good or very likeable people. They have become heroes because of their actions, not because of their characters. People may be famous while they are alive, but after they are dead, stories are told and songs are written which make them into heroes. The British hero who still remains larger than life is, of course, Robin Hood. Historians tell us that little if any of his story is true, but people love the idea of an outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor and they continue to believe it. In 1991, the Robin Hood Festival attracted 100,000 tourists to Sherwood Forest. They wanted to see Robins favourite hidingplace, the Major Oak a tree which was planted a couple of hundred years after the heros death. They crowded into St. Marys Church, where Robin married Maid Marian a marriage between a fourteenth-century hero and a woman who was added to the story two hundred years later (in a church which was completely rebuilt four hundred years later). They queued to get into The Tales of Robin Hood, an exhibition about the life of the outlaw who, according to the Dictionary of National Biography, never existed. Villains, like heroes, are the subjects of stories and songs which often have little to do with historical facts. Just as heroes they are always stronger, braver and more heroic than they are in real life, villains are always more wicked, more cruel and more villainous. For example, there are stories about Blackbeard the Pirate which tell us that he acted with great cruelty to his own men when he was drunk and could cut a man in two with one blow of his sword. In fact, Blackbeard probably encouraged these stories to make himself more frightening to the captains and crews of the ships he attacked. There are just as many stories which say that he avoided battles and showed some kindness to his enemies, but we like our villains to be black-hearted and that is the way we remember him. 1 outlaw, 2 villain What do we find out when we look closely at the life stories of many popular heroes? Why is Robin Hood peoples favourite hero? When was Major Oak, Robins favourite hiding place, planted? Why did Blackbeard encourage stories about his cruelty and wickedness? Text 19 Nine months ago Victor and Sally Wilkings withdrew1 their two elder children from a small country school which, Sally says, had nice teachers and a friendly atmosphere. It was not this particular school but a belief that all schools have a damaging effect that prompted the withdrawal of Seth, aged nine, and Esther, aged six and a half. Sally feels that schools rob children of the personal responsibility for use of their own time. She also thinks that children are exposed2 to conflicting opinions and examples which confuse3 them. The influence of television also worries her. A typical education-at-home day begins with a few domestic chores. These done, Seth and Esther settle down at the table in their cosy kitchen. The children usually choose what they do, select three or four subjects from a list which includes story-writing, reading, maths games and puzzles, science, history and music. The children keep a daily diary of their work and Sally corrects the balance if on occasions she feels something is being neglected. She also encourages them to finish whatever they begin. After a couple of hours its time for refreshments and a story.

The afternoons when Victor is sometimes free to join them, are usually spent out of doors gardening, or enjoying an outing or nature walk. During the evenings and at week-ends the children often attend local clubs. Victor admits that he was a bit uneasy about home education when Sally first talked about it. I suppose I thought that other people might think we were being irresponsible. In fact its quite the opposite. I was also worried that it would be too much for Sally to take on. What made the decision easier for me was going to a conference organised by Education Otherwise and finding that even academics were disillusioned with the school system. After that we decided to give it a years trial. Now that I see how happy the children are I wouldnt dream of sending them back to school. 1 withdraw 2 to be exposed to 3 to confuse What does a typical education-at-home day begin with? Who recommends the children which subjects from the list they should select? Why was Victor uneasy about home education at first? How do the children spend afternoons? Text 20 Bert Rogers has two sons. His younger son, Howard, is an artist; he is married and has two small daughters. BERT: I missed out on quite a big part of Howards childhood. When he was little I was working very long hours. I had to be content with seeing my children at week-ends. From an early age he was always working with paints and pencils. He had a natural talent for itall I needed to do was guide and encourage him. We used to draw together because I, too, had always enjoyed painting and drawing. By the time he was 13, Howard had made up his mind that he wanted to be an artist. I would have preferred him to have followed a more academic career, but he left school at 16 and went to art college; I was disappointed, but I had no choice but to support him and try to take pride in his achievements. Even now, we still argue. Howard is impulsive and volatile1; temperamentally, hes far more like his mother than he is like me. He has quite strong left-wing views and we often clash. When were arguing he gets quite emotional, but I respect him for his views, even though I think hes often wrong. As an artist and a man whos expressing himself, hes on top of things. In a way, I envy him because he was able to do what he wanted to do. Id hoped to train as an engraver2, but my father wouldnt support my apprenticeship3.1 suppose because my own talent was wasted I made a point of encouraging Howards, and I think it has been well worthwhile. HOWARD: My childhood memories of my father are pretty vague. He wasnt a powerful presence because he wasnt at home much. Its only now that Im a father myself that I can understand what sort of person he is. Hes kind and very understanding. I can talk to him more openly than Ive ever done. Since my children were born, Ive seen much more of Dad than I used to. I love to see the pleasure he gets from them. The children have bridged some of the gap between us. Despite all the difficulties weve had in the past, I do love my father very much, and I think its only quite recently that Ive realised this.

1 volatile 2 engraver 3 apprenticeship Why was Bert disappointed when Howard went to art college? Why does Bert envy his son in a way? At what time in his life did Howard understand what sort of person his father is? What features of character does Howard value in his father?