One thing I have never understood is the desire to live in the country. People (1) ... life in the city with crime and noise and they have the impression that life in the country must be safer and quieter. On the (2) ..., country life has just as many hazards (опас­но­сти) as the big city. I have a friend who lives next to a farm and he (3) ... that it's noisier living there than it ever was in London. The birds and animals start (4) ... a noise first thing in the morning, quickly followed by the farm machinery. And as for crime, my friend's car has been (5) ... four times in four years. People who think the country is the safest place to be can't be right!

The other myth is that the countryside is a friendly place. Whenever I (6) ... time in the country, I'm surprised by how busy people are. They never seem to speak to each other for more than a minute or two. On my (7) ... back from work, I often (8) ... across three or four neighbours and we have a long chat. It's that connection with other people that I would (9) ... most if I lived in the country.