The American bald eagle (1) ... off the endangered register in the next two years. More than 1,130 animals and plants (2) ... by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered or threatened, making it illegal to kill or harm them. Until now, few species had been removed from the register and when they were it was usually because they (3) ... extinct. As America's national bird, the bald eagle has been protected in various ways since 1940. The eagle, that is not really bald but looks it because of the white feathers on its head, (4) ... only in North America. It (5) ... the centre of attention in the argument about the best way to protect endangered species. Most environmentalists agree that if the use of pesticides isn't reduced, it (6) ... the reproductive system of rare species. But fortunately, there are now more than 5,000 nesting pairs of the bald eagle in the continental US and the numbers (7) ... at 10 per cent a year.

A few weeks ago I was at a friend's front door when her father walked across the lawn carrying some fruit in a bag. While I (1) ... for my friend to answer the door, I decided to make polite conversation with her father and said that soon he (2) ... the fruit of his labours. Instead of smiling, as he usually did, he looked at me rather angrily and explained that it was his fruit and not his neighbour's. He obviously thought I (3) ... him for running off with his neighbour's fruit. He had heard the word neighbour's, not labours and had been offended. Fortunately, the misunderstanding (4) ... up and he began Smiling. When I told my friend what (5) ..., she laughed. No harm had been done but I nearly regretted speaking to her father. From now on, I (6) ... it safe (не рис­ко­вать) and talk only about the weather in case there (7) ... a misunderstanding.

Most people know something about dolphins. For example, almost all of us can say that dolphins (1) ... for being intelligent and friendly. But if we are asked what colour dolphins are, how many people (2) ... ‘pink’? Hardly anybody! It might sound like a joke, but a pink dolphin has recently been spotted in Lake Calcasieu in Louisiana, USA. The animal, whose eyes are red, is a bottlenose dolphin. His body is pink all over and this is how he must have looked from birth: he is an albino, which (3) ... he has a med cal condition that causes pale skin. The dolphin (4) ... several years ago, although it is only very recently that he (5) ... to appear almost every day. Walt Furneaux, a local sailor, says he (6) ... the animal on numerous occasions. ‘I remember the first time I spotted him. Before that day I (7) ... anything so extraordinary in my life. He looked unreal,’ explains Walt.

The American bald eagle (1) ... off the endangered register in the next two years. More than 1,130 animals and plants (2) ... by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered or threatened, making it illegal to kill or harm them. Until now, few species had been removed from the register and when they were it was usually because they (3) ... extinct. As America's national bird, the bald eagle has been protected in various ways since 1940. The eagle, that is not really bald but looks it because of the white feathers on its head, (4) ... only in North America. It (5) ... the centre of attention in the argument about the best way to protect endangered species. Most environmentalists agree that if the use of pesticides isn't reduced, it (6) ... the reproductive system of rare species. But fortunately, there are now more than 5,000 nesting pairs of the bald eagle in the continental US and the numbers (7) ... at 10 per cent a year.

Alex Morton is a talented writer who (1) ... a very interesting life. He was born in 1945 in Manchester, and he was the youngest of six children. From the moment he could read, he was never without a book in his hands. He was a very keen reader throughout his schooldays, and he soon showed his talent for writing, too. After he left school he went to Manchester University. By the time he got his BA, he (2) ... a number of short stories, and his first novel (3) ... . Over the next few years he (4) ... non-stop and each of his books was more successful than the last. Despite being so busy with his work, Alex still found time for romance. He met Fiona Jones while he was at university and they (5) ... in 1971. They have two children. He has always been a devoted husband and father. Alex Morton (6) ... over twenty books so far and his name has been on the best seller list more times than he can remember. However, the peak of his career was when he (7) ... the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1995. Since then, Alex has continued to write and many of his books have been made into films.

No one knows who invented maps, or when or even where. The oldest known examples date back over 4,000 years, but the idea may be far older. It is not surprising that maps (1) ... many travellers to great achievements. It is almost impossible to look at a map without wondering what (2) ... in the place on it. Countless explorers have been inspired by maps to test the truth of what the maps describe and explore their frontiers. However, the lack of accurate maps almost (3) ... to a mutiny (мятеж) aboard Columbus‟s ship in 1492. More recently there was a near disaster during the Apollo space mission. The astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin came frightfully close to crashing into a huge crater that lunar cartographers (4) ... to mark. Even now, cartographers (5) ... the world. Some jungle-covered areas of South and Central America haven‟t yet been mapped in full detail. We (6) ... better maps of other planets than we do of our own. Many years (7) ... before we have an atlas of the Earth as good as the one we have for the Moon.

Before I went for my interview for the job with Cramer and Blake Services, I (1) ... to a few people and found out some information about the company. This strategy worked very effectively as it gave the impression that I was keen and responsible and I (2) ... the job on the spot. I was absolutely delighted at first, but soon I discovered that my new boss, Tom, worked very hard, spending all his time in the office. He expected the same level of commitment from his employees. He said each time, "If you (3) ... overtime, you will let the team down." I (4) ... up with the situation for a couple of months without complaining, before finally I had to confront Tom. I wasn't prepared to work so hard for such a low salary. Tom said that I had great potential and (5) ... to the top if I made an effort. However, he totally refused to reduce my workload and so in the end I decided to hand in my resignation. Just a week later I got another job. Now I (6) ... twice as much as my old boss, and my job is twice as interesting. I (7) ... to the top yet, but I am well on the way!

These days the media is full (1) ... stories of celebrities’ private lives: their relationships, problems with weight and so on. In fact, (2) ... public seems to have (3) ... never-ending appetite for this type of gossip. It could be argued that celebrities invite publicity, for instance (4) ... giving interviews or welcoming the media into their homes. However, there are several reasons why celebrities deserve a certain level of privacy. Firstly, while some people actively seek (5) ... fame, others do not. Secondly, reporters are more interested in selling a sensational story than in investigating something (6) ... genuine importance. Lastly, the unwelcome attentions of reporters and photographers can put celebrities under great stress. Just think of Michael Jackson or Princess Diana. (7) ... balance, I believe that celebrities have the right (8) ... the same kind of privacy as anyone else.

(1) ... Globe Theatre is situated on the banks of the River Thames, about 200 metres from the original site of Shakespeare’s 1599 building. It’s a faithful (точ­ный) reconstruction of the open-air playhouse where Shakespeare worked, and for which he wrote many of his greatest plays. Due (2) ... the fact that the theatre is open to the sky, the season is limited (3) ... only six months of the year, running from April to October. The theatre itself is circular in shape and the seated areas are in the lower, middle, and upper galleries. (4) ... addition to the seated galleries, there is an area in front of the stage called the Yard, where visitors can stand and watch the play. Before attending (5) ... a performance, visitors need to bear a certain thing in (6) ... mind. As it is a 16th-century replica, the theatre doesn’t boast any (7) ... the comforts of modern-day life and performances continue whatever (8) ... weather.

I think the computer is such (1) ... useful invention. Take e-mail, for example. It is a very easy way to write letters. When I was younger, I rarely ever put pen to (2) ... paper, not even to say 'thank you' for presents sent by my relatives. Now, though, you can't keep me away (3) ... the keyboard. I can spend hours typing away (4) ... my computer, all types of messages to all types of people. One of (5) ... worst disadvantages for me of writing (6) ... hand was always the embarrassment of knowing that people would criticise my untidy handwriting and careless spelling. Now thanks (7) ... the spell-check, I can easily edit my letters. Teenagers nowadays take all this (8) ... granted, they don't realise how fortunate they are.

I had always been lucky with (1) ... holiday flights until I went on (2) ... package holiday to Hawaii. The journey (3) ... there was fine, but coming back was a different story. To start with, the return flight was delayed (4) ... two days which was not really a problem as I was having a good time. Unfortunately, when I finally left (5) ... Honolulu, the capital, (6) ... the first part of the journey, I landed in Los Angeles instead of Chicago. I was taken off the plane and had to stay overnight in a hotel. (7) ... Next/next day I got on a direct flight to London, only to end (8) ... Minneapolis.

While travelling (1) ... a train, I've often been drawn into conversation by strangers who sat next (2) ... me. And I have found that an exchange of ideas may sometimes turn (3) ... to be educational as well as stimulating. You may begin with a casual mention of today's sunshine or yesterday's thunderstorm, and end up (4) ... a discussion about geography, meteorology, floods, and the mysterious ways of God. Several of my casual conversations with strangers have enriched my own mind (5) ... fresh knowledge and new words. One day (6) ... blind young man was sitting beside me. He was travelling from Chicago, to study singing in New York. As (7) ... result of our conversation during that trip, I learned about South American, African and Oriental music, as well as about the latest methods of education for (8) ... blind. I have been able to use much of this information in some of my articles and books.

Humans have much (1) ... common with other life forms on Earth. Since the very first life forms appeared, all living things have been desperately struggling to survive the changing conditions of our planet. This has meant adapting (2) ... new situations and, in many cases, has led (3) ... either evolution or extinction. We are not alone (4) ... making (5) ... use of the world around us. Where we do differ (6) ... other life forms, however, is in our ability to record, and learn from, our collective history. In this, it appears that we are unique. We are increasingly becoming a species with detailed knowledge about our past. The more we learn, the better are our chances of (7) ... survival in the future. It must also be recognised, however, that we are (8) ... only species on Earth which has managed to create the means to destroy the planet we live on.

(1) ... young woman was taken to safety (2) ... a helicopter yesterday after getting stuck on a freezing Swiss mountain. She and her climbing partner spent two nights under a simple shelter on a rock 9,800 feet up one of Switzerland's most difficult mountains. The rescued woman, Rachel de Kelsey, admitted yesterday that they would have died if they had had to spend another night there. Their only chance of (3) ... survival was to dig themselves a hole (4) ... the snow behind the rock and hope that they would be found. Miss Kelsey said that she had sent messages (5) ... five friends who she thought might be able to get (6) ... touch with the mountain rescue team. The alarm was eventually raised by a friend in London after he received her text. He contacted (7) ... rescuers who found (8) ... pair but were unable to rescue them immediately because of the storm.

Did Marco Polo tell the truth when he wrote about his journey to China? Or did (1) ... 13th century Italian explorer just make up stories about places he would like to have visited?

According to some experts, when Marco was 17, he set (2) ... with his father and uncle (3) ... an adventure that lasted over 20 years. They passed through Turkey into (4) ... northern Iran, along the Great Silk Road and across  (5) ... Gobi desert. Eventually, in 1275, they reached the summer capital where they met the emperor. The opportunity to return home only came 17 years later. Shortly after his return to Venice, Marco Polo was captured (6) ... sea, possibly by pirates. They put him (7) ... prison where he devoted his time (8) ... composing his book.

Even the earliest people, who (1) ... the world about four thousand years before Christ, loved art. They produced many (2) ... of art including paintings and sculptures. Pictures were typically (3) ... on the walls of the caves which (4) ... people with shelter. These caves could be described as people's first homes. It seems that people learnt to make dyes or paints from stone very early on in their history. White, for example, was produced from chalk and black from charcoal (уголь). The mineral was (5) ... with water to make the dye. Some communities even heated minerals to produce new colours. Among the most (6) ... cave paintings in Europe are those which were (7) ... in the Lascaux caves in south-west France. They were first (8) ... by schoolboys who were (9) ... the caves. The paintings show pictures of animals such as bulls, cows, deer and horses. The pictures are very lifelike, showing that the artists had studied their subjects very (10) ... .

When the Moscow State Circus goes on its annual (1) ... of Europe, the younger members of the circus are still expected to (2) ... with their education. The circus usually stops for a few days in each town, so how do the young performers manage? One twelve-year-old gets up very early to practise her act before going to school. "It's exhausting (3) ... but I like the circus life," she says. "The worst part is when I (4) ... new friends and have to leave them, although I try to keep in (5) ... with them." The person who (6) ... the circus (7) ... sure that all the children get a proper education. When the circus arrives in Britain, he (8) ... the traveller education service and gives them the details of all the children and when they will be in certain towns and cities. "It's a fantastic system, he says. "I receive a (9) ... when we (10) ... the next town telling us where to meet. We are then accompanied to the school and introduced to the head teacher."

Climbing Everest and walking up a mountain in Scotland may seem like completely (1) ... activity, but both require (2) ... preparation. (3) ... injury and even death can occur, even on an apparently easy route if a few basic guidelines are not followed. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, (4) ... the weather forecast before you (5) ... If you have any doubts at all, (6) ... your trip until conditions improve. Ensure that you have the proper equipment. Your list should (7) ... a good pair of walking boots, a thick jumper and a good (8) ... waterproof jacket. Be sure to take food supplies in case you (9) ... against problems on the mountainside and (10) ... having to spend the night there.

If you happen to be walking in your local park tomorrow and you find a book with a label inside (1) ... Read and Release me," don't just treat it as a (2) ... . You've probably (3) ... across an example of bookcrossing, a book-sharing movement (4) ... in 2001 by American software developer Ron Hornbaker, whose aim is to "make the (5) ... world a library'. Bookcrossers "release' books either by (6) ... them on to friends, or by leaving them in public places for others to (7) ... up, or 'catch', and then read, before they in (8) ... release them back "into the wild". Over half a million people worldwide take (9) ... in bookcrossing, "releasing books in cafés, airports, bus stations, telephone boxes. Often a book is left in a place which is associated with its (10) ... or content: Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express on a train, for example, or an archeology book in a museum.

When I first arrived here to (1) ... up my new job, I stayed in a hotel, but I soon started looking for a permanent (2) ..., a place to call my own. The first flat I (3) ... across was cold and uninviting. The flat (4) ... out onto a factory, so the view was not exactly inspiring. Then I had a look at a small flat in a modern apartment block. It had a parking (5) ... and was fully furnished, but the rent was far too high for me. I didn't want to end up in a tiny place, so I answered an ad for house-sharing. The house was in a quiet neighbourhood, and as soon as I saw it I (6) ... in love with it. The room to (7) ... had a big window. Although it (8) ... sharing the kitchen and the living room, I did have my own bathroom, really just a shower and washbasin. There was, however, quite a lot of storage space.

Even the earliest people, who (1) ... the world about four thousand years before Christ, loved art. They produced many (2) ... of art including paintings and sculptures. Pictures were typically (3) ... on the walls of the caves which (4) ... people with shelter. These caves could be described as people's first homes. It seems that people learnt to make dyes or paints from stone very early on in their history. White, for example, was produced from chalk and black from charcoal (уголь). The mineral was (5) ... with water to make the dye. Some communities even heated minerals to produce new colours. Among the most (6) ... cave paintings in Europe are those which were (7) ... in the Lascaux caves in south-west France. They were first (8) ... by schoolboys who were (9) ... the caves. The paintings show pictures of animals such as bulls, cows, deer and horses. The pictures are very lifelike, showing that the artists had studied their subjects very (10) ... .

Hollywood is associated with fame, fortune and glamour. Every year, thousands of young people (1) ... up there, hoping that a producer will spot them and think they have that special something that audiences want to see. Unfortunately, most of them are (2) ... on a journey that leads to disappointment. Take a (3) ... round Los Angeles and ask any waiter or waitress and they will tell you that they are only working there for the time being, until they get their break in films. A combination of failure and economic problems usually means that they eventually (4) ... up their minds to leave and return to the small town they came from, without having made their fortune.

Before you come to the (5) ... that a life in film is for you, ask yourself carefully if you are ready for that change of direction. You'll have to travel and live for a long time at your own (6) ..., working in jobs that provide you with a low (7) ..., with only the occasional glimpse of a star to (8) ... you where you want to be.

Hollywood is associated with fame, fortune and glamour. Every year, thousands of young people (1) ... up there, hoping that a producer will spot them and think they have that special something that audiences want to see. Unfortunately, most of them are (2) ... on a journey that leads to disappointment. Take a (3) ... round Los Angeles and ask any waiter or waitress and they will tell you that they are only working there for the time being, until they get their break in films. A combination of failure and economic problems usually means that they eventually (4) ... up their minds to leave and return to the small town they came from, without having made their fortune.

Before you come to the (5) ... that a life in film is for you, ask yourself carefully if you are ready for that change of direction. You'll have to travel and live for a long time at your own (6) ..., working in jobs that provide you with a low (7) ..., with only the occasional glimpse of a star to (8) ... you where you want to be.

Can people (1) ... change? If you (2) ... the Internet, you'll find huge numbers of websites that offer encouraging plans for personal change. The problem is that most of these sites are operated by someone who's selling something, whether it's a self-help book or a series of audio CDs (3) ... at making you the best you can be. What's more difficult to find are accurate statistics on personal change. However, there are plenty of statistics on getting rid of a habit, but they only (4) ... that a set of individuals could make that one change. Experts say that for a person to change his or her habits, many things need to line up. The person must have a (5) ... to change, and he or she must set up organised systems to (6) ... this change. Generally, it's believed that people have more success when one major change is tackled at a time. It also (7) ... if you write your plan out and (8) ... it with someone. Most professionals say that it (9) ... 21 to 30 days to make or (10) ... a habit.

Las Vegas is known as the marriage capital of the world. The process of obtaining a marriage licence can be completed within minutes in Las Vegas while it often takes several weeks and involves lots of paperwork in other parts of the world. It is also (1) ... cheap at just $60. There are a lot of (2) ... to choose from. The competition between different venues keeps the prices relatively low and (3) ... . This has made Las Vegas a popular destination among couples wanting to get married. The fact that it is (4) ... to plan in advance means there are plenty of spontaneous weddings in Las Vegas each year of couples on holiday.

The number one gadget for most teenagers today is the mobile phone. They seem to get enormous (1) ... from comparing new models which (2) ... them to send text messages at the speed of life. But most teachers are totally intolerable of mobile phone use in the classroom. Text messaging is completely banned and mobiles should be (3) ... switched off. This approach gets across the message that students need to concentrate. However, it shows that many schools misunderstand the full capability of the mobile phone. After all, a mobile phone is just like a mini computer, with full access to the web. There are many (4) ... ways in which mobiles can be used for learning.

Although doughnuts (пи­рож­ки) are sold in many countries across the globe, many people make the mistaken assumption that doughnuts originally came from America. Some people find it (1) ... that doughnuts have a disputed history. According to one theory, they are a Dutch (2) ... . Popular in Holland, they were brought to America by Dutch (3) ... . In the traditional Dutch recipe, doughnuts were dipped in sugar. However, over time, several varieties have appeared. Today, doughnuts are served with toppings such as icing (гла­зурь) and chocolate, and often have a hole in the middle. Doughnuts not only taste far better with a hole in the middle, but this shape (4) ... the doughnut is cooked right through and not still raw in the centre.

The best way to keep well is to avoid (1) ... foods and habits. It is also helpful to take plenty of exercise, and we should give (2) ... to people of all ages to do this, particularly the very young. If we can educate people at an early age to keep fit and to look after themselves carefully, then the (3) ... of their having problems in later life will be (4) ... reduced.

Honey was the main source of sugar in ancient times. It was highly prized not only as a foodstuff but (1) ... as a medicine. In those days, the art of bee keeping (2) ... known only to a select few members of secret societies, who were treated with great respect. Nowadays, of course, bee-keeping is not surrounded by such mystique. It is a popular hobby that can be (3) ... up by anyone with a (4) ... money to spend and some space in their garden.

Му own memories of sports lessons at school aren’t particularly good, but that’s mainly because of the type of school I went to. It was very (1) ... (COMMON) by British standards, with old-fashioned ways of teaching, and the headteacher didn’t really think sports mattered at all. The school rarely organised sports events and never invested in sports equipment. There was very little emphasis on the importance of eating (2) ... (SENSE) and the benefits of keeping fit and exercising properly. I believe that issues like (3) ... (OBESE), anorexia, the nutritional value of food, etc. should be included in sports lessons at school. Children should be (4) ... (COURAGE) by teachers to take part in (5) ... (COMPETE) sports. Winning at sports can build up your self-esteem and confidence. On the other hand, since you can’t expect to win every time, sports can also teach you how to be humble and (6) ... (REALIST).

Language experts have found that children can learn two languages at the (1) ... time and that they can't really tell the (2) ... between them. They can easily switch from (3) ... language to the other once they have learnt when and with whom they should use each language.

Have you ever started a new hobby, but given up after oily a couple of weeks? Or started a course and stopped after the first few lessons? Most of us have tried to learn something new, but very (1) ... of us ever really get any good at it  — (2) ... is just too difficult to continue doing something new. But now there is some good news: did you know (3) ... if you can keep up your new hobby for just 30 days, you have a better chance of succeeding? And you may learn something new about yourself as (4) ... .

1.  I have visited many countries, but it was Brazil that impressed me rather more than any other.

2.  Having graduated from university with a degree in biology, I would wanted to travel and see

3.  either wild animals and plants in their natural habitat. People who had visited Brazil described

4.  how much beautiful it was and I discovered that what they had told me was true. First of all,

5.  approximately a quarter of the world’s plant species they are found in the Amazon basin, so no

6.  other matter where you go, you see the most beautiful plants, including orchids. Whatever part of

7.  Brazil you go to it, you won’t be disappointed. However, I believe the southern states can be the most

8.  magical and it is because I very love flowers that I enjoyed myself so much. Having lost my camera, I

9.  wasn’t been able to take photos, but I saw a lot of the local fauna and flora. It was a wonderful experience

10.  and, taking into my consideration the amount of time I had at my disposal, I managed to see a lot.

1.  I have visited many countries, but it was Brazil that impressed me rather more than any other.

2.  Having graduated from university with a degree in biology, I would wanted to travel and see

3.  either wild animals and plants in their natural habitat. People who had visited Brazil described

4.  how much beautiful it was and I discovered that what they had told me was true. First of all,

5.  approximately a quarter of the world’s plant species they are found in the Amazon basin, so no

6.  other matter where you go, you see the most beautiful plants, including orchids. Whatever part of

7.  Brazil you go to it, you won’t be disappointed. However, I believe the southern states can be the most

8.  magical and it is because I very love flowers that I enjoyed myself so much. Having lost my camera, I

9.  wasn’t been able to take photos, but I saw a lot of the local fauna and flora. It was a wonderful experience

10.  and, taking into my consideration the amount of time I had at my disposal, I managed to see a lot.

1.  TV documentary maker and environmental Campaigner Sir David Attenborough has perhaps done it

2.  more rather than any other British person to educate the public about the natural world. Fascinated

3.  by animals since its childhood, he did a degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, and

4.  a few years quite later became a trainee producer at the BBC. In the 1950s, he was one of the

5.  first people to film animals in their own habitats for television, and far quickly got a lot of positive

6.  attention because of the quality of his programmes. To being reward Attenborough for his excellence,

7.  the BBC offered him a job such as the head of one of its TV channels, but he wasn’t interested.

8.  In 1972, he returned to programme-making, and travelled the world as well his projects became

9.  even more ambitious. A number of newly discovered both plant, insect and bird species have been

10.  named in his own honour. He’s thought to be one of the most well-travelled people on the planet.

1.  TV documentary maker and environmental Campaigner Sir David Attenborough has perhaps done it

2.  more rather than any other British person to educate the public about the natural world. Fascinated

3.  by animals since its childhood, he did a degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, and

4.  a few years quite later became a trainee producer at the BBC. In the 1950s, he was one of the

5.  first people to film animals in their own habitats for television, and far quickly got a lot of positive

6.  attention because of the quality of his programmes. To being reward Attenborough for his excellence,

7.  the BBC offered him a job such as the head of one of its TV channels, but he wasn’t interested.

8.  In 1972, he returned to programme-making, and travelled the world as well his projects became

9.  even more ambitious. A number of newly discovered both plant, insect and bird species have been

10.  named in his own honour. He’s thought to be one of the most well-travelled people on the planet.