It was just a holiday, but it changed my life

SPEAKING

1. Speak on the given topic: Kazakh national sport

2. Speak on the given topic: Judging people according to their friends

3. Speak on the given topic: Wedding traditions of your country

4. Speak on the given topic: What will be happened after 50 years in the world?

5. Speak on the given topic: Healthy lifestyle

6. Speak on the given topic: Money

7. Speak on the given topic: How to choose a book?

8. Speak on the given topic: My dream house

9. Speak on the given topic: Culture shock

10. Speak on the given topic: Fast food or homemade food?

11.Speak on the given topic: Judging people by their appearance

12. Speak on the given topic: Connection between the person's style of life and his/her duration of life?

13. Speak on the given topic: Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies

14. Speak on the given topic: Heroes of Kazakhstan

15. Speak on the given topic: Why do women live longer than men?

16. Speak on the given topic: Fairy tales in children’s life

17.Speak on the given topic: My free time activity

18. Speak on the given topic: Eating habits: healthy and unhealthy food

19. Speak on the given topic: Travelling

20. Speak on the given topic: Great inventions

21. Speak on the given topic:The nature of Kazakhstan

22. Speak on the given topic: What is inspiration?

READING

Read and translate the text.

Kazakh cuisine

Traditional Kazakh cuisine revolves around mutton and horse meat as well as various milk products. For hundreds of years, Kazakhs were herders who raised fat-tailed sheep, Bactrian camels, and horses, relying on these animals for transportation, clothing, and food. The cooking techniques and major ingredients have been strongly influenced by the nation’s nomadic way of life. For example, most cooking techniques are aimed at long-term preservation of food. There is large practice of salting and drying meat so that it will last, and there is a preference for sour milk, as it is easier to save in a nomadic lifestyle.

Meat in various forms has always been the primary ingredient of Kazakh cuisine, and traditional Kazakh cooking is based on boiling. Horse and mutton are the most popular forms of meat and are most often served in large uncut pieces, which have been boiled. Kazakhs cared especially for horses which they intended to slaughter-keeping them separate from other animals and feeding them so much that they often became so fat they had difficulty moving.

READING

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Sport

The testing started by measuring body fat. Not surprisingly, the one with the most was the shot putter, and the one with the least was the tennis player. The athletes had to run at a speed which was controlled by an audio signal from a cassette. After each minute, the signal got faster, and they had to try to keep going for as long as possible. The first to get tired was the shot putter who lasted 10 minutes followed by the canoeist (“you don’t have to run in a canoe!”), and the runner, not surprisingly, lasted the longest.

When they had recovered, they had to do some stretching. This gave the shot putter the chance to win some points, and he was the most flexible, followed by the runner. The next test involved lifting weights to test the strength of their arms. Logically, the shot putter was the strongest. Then leg strength was measured using a jump test, and the runner jumped the highest, 1 cm more than the canoeist.

READING

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Mass Media

The main source of news for millions of people is television. With its help we can see everything with our own eyes. It is the window on the world which gives us an opportunity to “travel” all over the world. TV gives us food for thought, introduces us to new ideas and activities. It has the power to educate and broaden our minds. It helps us to relax after a hard day’s work and to escape from reality. There is always a great variety of programmes on TV: news and sport programmes, talk shows and TV games, documentaries and feature films, concerts and theatre performances.

Nowadays some children are so addicted to TV that they are not interested in anything else: they don’t read books, communicate with adults and other children, they move less, speak less and they even think less. Though there are a lot of excellent educational programmes for children and programmes designed for schools. They help children to extend their knowledge, expose them to different people and places and to develop their imagination.

READING

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“Being the eldest”

The way I am today is a complete reflection of my position in the family. When people ask me questions, I always feel I have to know the answer, because my brothers always assumed I knew everything. I was the one who did everything first, like learning to read. I didn’t always want to be the first, but I felt I had to.

I always helped with the housework. As I was the only girl, my mom often used to say “Jane, could you wash up? Jane, can you make the supper?” Of course, my brothers were never asked.

I was completely aware of the power I had being the eldest, and in retrospect I think I was probably very bossy, and in a way selfish, because I did everything myself and didn’t give the others the opportunity. When my brothers grew up, it took me ages to accept that they were independent adults – I still think of my brother Michael as twelve years old, and in fact he’s a father himself now!

READING

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READING

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Travelling

People on our planet can't live without travelling now. Tourism has become a highly developed business.

Travelling gives us a good opportunity to see wonderful monuments, cultural and historical places, to learn a lot about the history of the country you visit, to meet people of different nationalities, to learn a lot about their traditions, customs, culture. In other words, you will broaden your mind.

There are a lot of means of travelling: by sea, by plane, by car, on foot. Tastes differ.

When the plane is landing or taking off you have an opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery and landscapes. While travelling by plane you fly past various villages and cities at the sight of which realize how majestic and tremendous our planet is. No doubt, travelling by air is the most convenient and comfortable means of travelling.

READING

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Judging by appearances

Our passport photo is the photo we show to the largest number of different people during our lives. But how happy are we with our photo? Do we make an effort to get a good one? According to research done by the US printer company Lexmark, the answer varies according to nationalities.

Let’s talk about Ruth England, a TV holiday show presenter. Ruth England spends her life travelling and showing her passport officials around the world. She confessed. “Once I had a passport photo where I looked really hideous and so I deliberately “lost” my passport and got a new one. For my latest passport, I took several photos and chose the best one.”

What about people’s character? In my opinion character does not depend on appearance. It's very easy to form a negative opinion about a person just because you don't like the way he looks, though in fact he can be an interesting, well-educated and talented person. I think we can’t make any conclusions about a person when we meet him or her for the first time.

READING

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Books in our life

Through out the centuries books had an enormous influence on the minds and hearts of people. Books bind together ages, personalities. The book is the surest way to bring nations together. It helps people achieve understanding, trust, cooperation and friendship.

Thanks to books we able to express our thoughts and feelings more exactly. We can talk to people who lived in different countries and ages. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feelings. Some people developed much time to reading books and reading becomes their free time occupation, their passion. They teach the readers to be truthful, friendly, honest, decisive, conscientious, frank, firm, fair and serious. The book is faithful and understanding friend. It can be put aside and taken up again at any moment.

READING

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Fact or myth?

It’s difficult to ignore your mother when she tells you to “wrap up warm” or “dry your hair or you’ll get a cold”- but colds are not caused by the cold: they are caused by viruses! Walking around with wet hair or a T-shirt in winter may look silly, and will make you feel cold, but you will only get a cold or the flu, if you come into contact with an infected person. The best way to avoid viruses like these is to wash your hands regularly when there’s a bug going around.

Despite the huge medical advances that have been made over the last century, the common cold is still incurable and medicine does little for the symptoms either. Antibiotics won’t help as your cold is caused by one of over 200 viruses. The only time you may need them is if you develop a throat or ear infection. Otherwise, go to bed and drink lots of fluids and wait till you get better.

READING

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Education

Education plays a very important role in our life. Human progress mostly depended upon well-educated people. Education develops different sides of human personality, reveals his abilities. We know that science and art belong to the whole world. Before them, the barriers of nationality disappear. So education brings people closer to each other, helps them to understand each other better.

The educational system of Great Britain is extremely complex and bewildering. Schooling for children is compulsory from 5 to 16. The state school system is divided into 2 stages (secondary and primary). They are subdivided into infant schools (ages 5 to 7), and junior schools (ages seven to eleven). There are several types of schools in Great Britain. Grammar schools provide an academic cause for selected pupils from the age of 11 to 18.

READING

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The world around us

In many countries, the number 13 is considered to be very unlucky. In France, there is never a house with the number 13. In the United States, modern high-rise buildings label the floor that follows 12 as 14. Where did this fear of a number come from? The idea goes back at least to Norse mythology in ancient times. There was a banquet with 12 gods. Loki, the spirit of evil, decided to join without being invited. In the fight that followed, Balder, the favorite of the gods, was killed. In Christianity, this theme was repeated at the Last Supper. Jesus Christ and his apostles numbered 13 people at the table.

When humans first flew in space, they were amazed to discover that the only man-made object visible from orbit was the Great Wall of China'. Although this is a nice idea, it's not true. The Great Wall is mostly grey stone in a grey landscape and, in fact, is very difficult to see even from a plane flying at mere 15 kilometers above.

READING

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READING

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Love stories

In 1837 the 18-year-old Princess Victoria became the Queen of England. Three years later she married Albert, her first cousin from Germany, who was also twenty one. She was a cheerful girl and he was an honest, intelligent man, and throughout their marriage they were deeply in love. As Victoria was the Queen, Albert was not officially a king, but they were both highly respected and Victoria relied on Albert’s advice, especially regarding diplomatic matters.

There are many versions of this myth but all agree on the essential details of this story of star crossed lovers. Tristan was a knight sent to bring Isolde to his king, who she was supposed to marry. But before they reached the king’s court, Tristan and Isolde fell in love. The lovers had an affair but in the end separated.

READING

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Private Eyes Italian Style

There’s whiff of Chanel perfume in the air as well-dressed young women move from room to room along wide, cream-carpeted corridors. This could be mistaken for an executive job agency. In fact these are the offices of Holmes Investigazioni, Italy’s first and only detective agency staffed by women. A loud laugh announces the arrival of Carmelia Costa. Ms Costa is a director of the company.

Fifteen women, aged between eighteen and thirty-five are employed by the agency. ‘I get them either before they’re married or after they’re divorced!’ Husbands and children are distractions and boyfriends have to be understanding because of the long and unpredictable hours. Sooner or later a man will say: “You’ll have to choose. It’s either me or the job”, says Ms Costa. ‘That is what happened to me, and I chose my work’.

READING

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World of Jobs

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 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.

Find out where your interests and talents lie. Postponing a decision is an error people make. 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.

READING

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My ideal house

People often wonder how to make their house more cosy and comfortable. One of the best ideas is a fireplace. People like sitting at rainy days before the fireplace and drink coffee. Appropriate furniture also gives the effect of a real home. Modern sofas and armchairs with plenty of cushions create a feeling of comfort and relaxation. It is important to put your family or friend’s photo on the wall, and place souvenirs from trips abroad either on the windowsill or bookshelves.

My dream is to live in a big detached house surrounded by a big garden. My dream house should be located outside the city, in a very picturesque place on the outskirts of town where I can find true peace and happiness.

I've always been fascinated by rivers and the sound of the birds in the mornings. I'd feel positive and lively if I was woken up by the sound of doves perched on the branches of the trees. I imagine my dream house near a flowing river, built in the countryside.

READING

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Talgat Amangeldyuly Musabaev

TalgatAmangeldyulyMusabayev was born on January 7, 1951, inKargaly city, Kazakhstan. He is a Kazakh test pilot and an astronaut who flew on three spaceflights. Musabayev graduated from Engineering Institute of Civil Aviation in Riga in 1974. Then in 1983 he graduated from Higher Military Aviation School in Akhtubinsk, with an engineering diploma. Musabayev received several awards as an aerobatic flyer and was selected as a cosmonaut on May 11, 1990. In 1991, he was appointed to Major and transferred to the astronaut group of Air Force (TsPK-11). On 11 May, 1990 Musabayev was selected to be an astronaut.

His first spaceflight was as a crew member of the long-duration mission Mir EO-16, which was launched and landed by the spacecraft Soyuz TM-19. Musabayev was designated Flight Engineer; the mission lasted from July 1, 1994 to November 4, 1994, for a total duration of 125 days 22 hours 53 minutes.

READING

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Couch potatoes

Centuries ago, people did not have much free time, because everybody was working too hard. In Britain in the nineteenth century, people had more spare time, but because the Victorians hated relaxing and doing nothing, they invented football, rugby and cricket. People took up more gentle activities too, like gardening, bird-watching and train spotting, and it was even possible simply to watch a sport and give the impression that you were actually doing something. Gradually, leisure activities have become less and less energetic interests and hobbies.

But now there is a new type of person who thinks that lying on the sofa watching television on Sunday afternoon or reading the newspaper from cover to cover is the most exciting activity they can manage. This twentieth century couch potato who has a sedentary lifestyle with no or irregular physical activity. They are commonly found in both the developed and developing world. So how do you spend your free time? Are you a couch potato?

READING

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Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 2.0 miles (3.2 km) west of Amesbury and 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.

Archaeologists believe the iconic stone monument was constructed anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC, as described in the chronology below. Radiocarbon dating in 2008 suggested that the first stones were erected in 2400–2200 BC, whilst another theory suggests that bluestones may have been erected at the site as early as 3000 BC.

The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury Henge monument.

READING

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Computer addict

When Ermek was eight, he seemed to be very interested in computers. His parents knew that he would love to have one, but they couldn’t afford to buy one. He learned how to use his friend’s computer, but he couldn’t wait to get one of his own. His father decided to work extra hours to buy him computer. At first his father let him use it for an hour a day. By the time Ermek was fourteen he had become very good at using his computer, but it was his only hobby. His parents wanted him to go out, but he had very few friends and he didn’t want to.

His parents didn’t know what to do. Their son had become a computer addict. Even the family doctor didn’t know how to help. One morning Ermek’s mother found him lying on the floor. He had collapsed exhaustion. A fortnight in hospital finally made Ermek realize that his computer had become a dangerous obsession.

READING

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Good manners

Travelling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We live in global village, but this doesn’t mean that we all behave in the same way. Every nationality has its own features.

In Japan people usually invite guests home at the weekend for dinner, at about 7 o’clock in the evening. Before they come, they must tidy the front garden and clean the entrance hall. Then they must spray it all with water to show that we welcome their guests with cleanliness.

In Italy, Spain, and Latin America, lunch is often the biggest meal of the day, and can last two or three hours. For this reason many people eat light breakfast and a late dinner. In Britain, you might have a business as you eat. In Mexico and Japan many people prefer not to discuss business while you eating. In Britain and the United States, it is not unusual to have a business meeting over breakfast and in China it’s common to have business banquets, but you shouldn’t discuss business during the meal

READING

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Wedding ceremonies

In this article, you will learn about traditions observed in different wedding ceremonies.

A common practice among Jewish couples is the tradition of the bride circling her groom seven times under the wedding canopy. Another tradition Jewish couples observe during wedding ceremonies is the breaking of a glass underfoot by the groom. When he does this, the wedding party shouts Mazel Tov! a dozen times. This is done because of the loss of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is recorded in a sacred Jewish book that during the joyous wedding of an important man, he took a glass of great value and shattered it, startling his guests. When asked why he did this, he told them that even in the midst of the most joyous occasion, one should never forget the destruction and loss of our Temple.

In many American weddings, it is tradition for the bride to throw her bouquet out to her guests. The person who catches it is said to be the one who will be the next to marry.

WRITING

Write an essay - 60 words.

1. Live not to eat, but eat to live.

2. Knowledge itself is power.

3. Sport is a direct way for being healthy.

4. Home is where the heart is

5. Money. How to save them?

6. Modern technology nowadays

7. Better late than never

8. Different nationalities- different manners

9. Appearances are really deceptive

10. The person who inspires me more

11. A friend in need is a friend indeed

12. Customs and traditions in my country

13. Natural world of Kazakhstan

14. The most exciting book I have ever read

15. Great poets and writers of my country

16. Influence of Mass Media on our life

17.Practice makes perfect

18. Natural disasters

19. Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today

20. Fairy tale from my childhood

21. Habit is a second nature

22. Good health is above wealth

SPEAKING

1. Speak on the given topic: Kazakh national sport

2. Speak on the given topic: Judging people according to their friends

3. Speak on the given topic: Wedding traditions of your country

4. Speak on the given topic: What will be happened after 50 years in the world?

5. Speak on the given topic: Healthy lifestyle

6. Speak on the given topic: Money

7. Speak on the given topic: How to choose a book?

8. Speak on the given topic: My dream house

9. Speak on the given topic: Culture shock

10. Speak on the given topic: Fast food or homemade food?

11.Speak on the given topic: Judging people by their appearance

12. Speak on the given topic: Connection between the person's style of life and his/her duration of life?

13. Speak on the given topic: Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies

14. Speak on the given topic: Heroes of Kazakhstan

15. Speak on the given topic: Why do women live longer than men?

16. Speak on the given topic: Fairy tales in children’s life

17.Speak on the given topic: My free time activity

18. Speak on the given topic: Eating habits: healthy and unhealthy food

19. Speak on the given topic: Travelling

20. Speak on the given topic: Great inventions

21. Speak on the given topic:The nature of Kazakhstan

22. Speak on the given topic: What is inspiration?

READING

Read and translate the text.

Kazakh cuisine

Traditional Kazakh cuisine revolves around mutton and horse meat as well as various milk products. For hundreds of years, Kazakhs were herders who raised fat-tailed sheep, Bactrian camels, and horses, relying on these animals for transportation, clothing, and food. The cooking techniques and major ingredients have been strongly influenced by the nation’s nomadic way of life. For example, most cooking techniques are aimed at long-term preservation of food. There is large practice of salting and drying meat so that it will last, and there is a preference for sour milk, as it is easier to save in a nomadic lifestyle.

Meat in various forms has always been the primary ingredient of Kazakh cuisine, and traditional Kazakh cooking is based on boiling. Horse and mutton are the most popular forms of meat and are most often served in large uncut pieces, which have been boiled. Kazakhs cared especially for horses which they intended to slaughter-keeping them separate from other animals and feeding them so much that they often became so fat they had difficulty moving.

READING

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Sport

The testing started by measuring body fat. Not surprisingly, the one with the most was the shot putter, and the one with the least was the tennis player. The athletes had to run at a speed which was controlled by an audio signal from a cassette. After each minute, the signal got faster, and they had to try to keep going for as long as possible. The first to get tired was the shot putter who lasted 10 minutes followed by the canoeist (“you don’t have to run in a canoe!”), and the runner, not surprisingly, lasted the longest.

When they had recovered, they had to do some stretching. This gave the shot putter the chance to win some points, and he was the most flexible, followed by the runner. The next test involved lifting weights to test the strength of their arms. Logically, the shot putter was the strongest. Then leg strength was measured using a jump test, and the runner jumped the highest, 1 cm more than the canoeist.

READING

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Mass Media

The main source of news for millions of people is television. With its help we can see everything with our own eyes. It is the window on the world which gives us an opportunity to “travel” all over the world. TV gives us food for thought, introduces us to new ideas and activities. It has the power to educate and broaden our minds. It helps us to relax after a hard day’s work and to escape from reality. There is always a great variety of programmes on TV: news and sport programmes, talk shows and TV games, documentaries and feature films, concerts and theatre performances.

Nowadays some children are so addicted to TV that they are not interested in anything else: they don’t read books, communicate with adults and other children, they move less, speak less and they even think less. Though there are a lot of excellent educational programmes for children and programmes designed for schools. They help children to extend their knowledge, expose them to different people and places and to develop their imagination.

READING

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“Being the eldest”

The way I am today is a complete reflection of my position in the family. When people ask me questions, I always feel I have to know the answer, because my brothers always assumed I knew everything. I was the one who did everything first, like learning to read. I didn’t always want to be the first, but I felt I had to.

I always helped with the housework. As I was the only girl, my mom often used to say “Jane, could you wash up? Jane, can you make the supper?” Of course, my brothers were never asked.

I was completely aware of the power I had being the eldest, and in retrospect I think I was probably very bossy, and in a way selfish, because I did everything myself and didn’t give the others the opportunity. When my brothers grew up, it took me ages to accept that they were independent adults – I still think of my brother Michael as twelve years old, and in fact he’s a father himself now!

READING

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It was just a holiday, but it changed my life

Holidays can be good for your health. You lie on a beach and relax, and tensions disappear. But sometimes a holiday can change your life completely, which was what happened two years ago to Victoria Smith.

Victoria Smith, six years ago, was working as a manager at Next, a British chain store. Then she went on holiday to Borneo…“It was a working holiday”, said Victoria, ‘where you could study orangutans in the wild – I have always been interested in apes, so I thought it would be fun. The holiday was wonderful, and when Victoria came home she found it very difficult to return to her old life. ‘Suddenly the problems in the store just seemed so trivial.’ Although everybody told her she was mad, she decided to go back to university and study biology. For years later she became a chimpanzee keeper.

READING

Read and translate the text.

Travelling

People on our planet can't live without travelling now. Tourism has become a highly developed business.

Travelling gives us a good opportunity to see wonderful monuments, cultural and historical places, to learn a lot about the history of the country you visit, to meet people of different nationalities, to learn a lot about their traditions, customs, culture. In other words, you will broaden your mind.

There are a lot of means of travelling: by sea, by plane, by car, on foot. Tastes differ.

When the plane is landing or taking off you have an opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery and landscapes. While travelling by plane you fly past various villages and cities at the sight of which realize how majestic and tremendous our planet is. No doubt, travelling by air is the most convenient and comfortable means of travelling.

READING

Read and translate the text.

Judging by appearances

Our passport photo is the photo we show to the largest number of different people during our lives. But how happy are we with our photo? Do we make an effort to get a good one? According to research done by the US printer company Lexmark, the answer varies according to nationalities.

Let’s talk about Ruth England, a TV holiday show presenter. Ruth England spends her life travelling and showing her passport officials around the world. She confessed. “Once I had a passport photo where I looked really hideous and so I deliberately “lost” my passport and got a new one. For my latest passport, I took several photos and chose the best one.”

What about people’s character? In my opinion character does not depend on appearance. It's very easy to form a negative opinion about a person just because you don't like the way he looks, though in fact he can be an interesting, well-educated and talented person. I think we can’t make any conclusions about a person when we meet him or her for the first time.

READING

Read and translate the text.

Books in our life

Through out the centuries books had an enormous influence on the minds and hearts of people. Books bind together ages, personalities. The book is the surest way to bring nations together. It helps people achieve understanding, trust, cooperation and friendship.

Thanks to books we able to express our thoughts and feelings more exactly. We can talk to people who lived in different countries and ages. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feelings. Some people developed much time to reading books and reading becomes their free time occupation, their passion. They teach the readers to be truthful, friendly, honest, decisive, conscientious, frank, firm, fair and serious. The book is faithful and understanding friend. It can be put aside and taken up again at any moment.

READING

Read and translate the text.

Fact or myth?

It’s difficult to ignore your mother when she tells you to “wrap up warm” or “dry your hair or you’ll get a cold”- but colds are not caused by the cold: they are caused by viruses! Walking around with wet hair or a T-shirt in winter may look silly, and will make you feel cold, but you will only get a cold or the flu, if you come into contact with an infected person. The best way to avoid viruses like these is to wash your hands regularly when there’s a bug going around.

Despite the huge medical advances that have been made over the last century, the common cold is still incurable and medicine does little for the symptoms either. Antibiotics won’t help as your cold is caused by one of over 200 viruses. The only time you may need them is if you develop a throat or ear infection. Otherwise, go to bed and drink lots of fluids and wait till you get better.

READING

Read and translate the text.

Education

Education plays a very important role in our life. Human progress mostly depended upon well-educated people. Education develops different sides of human personality, reveals his abilities. We know that science and art belong to the whole world. Before them, the barriers of nationality disappear. So education brings people closer to each other, helps them to understand each other better.

The educational system of Great Britain is extremely complex and bewildering. Schooling for children is compulsory from 5 to 16. The state school system is divided into 2 stages (secondary and primary). They are subdivided into infant schools (ages 5 to 7), and junior schools (ages seven to eleven). There are several types of schools in Great Britain. Grammar schools provide an academic cause for selected pupils from the age of 11 to 18.

READING

Read and translate the text.

The world around us

In many countries, the number 13 is considered to be very unlucky. In France, there is never a house with the number 13. In the United States, modern high-rise buildings label the floor that follows 12 as 14. Where did this fear of a number come from? The idea goes back at least to Norse mythology in ancient times. There was a banquet with 12 gods. Loki, the spirit of evil, decided to join without being invited. In the fight that followed, Balder, the favorite of the gods, was killed. In Christianity, this theme was repeated at the Last Supper. Jesus Christ and his apostles numbered 13 people at the table.

When humans first flew in space, they were amazed to discover that the only man-made object visible from orbit was the Great Wall of China'. Although this is a nice idea, it's not true. The Great Wall is mostly grey stone in a grey landscape and, in fact, is very difficult to see even from a plane flying at mere 15 kilometers above.

READING

Read and translate the text.