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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It was back in 1995, when my husband Eric was working as a rubbish collector for the local town council, that I first got the idea of recycling clothes. He would frequently find bags of perfectly good clothes just thrown into the rubbish. I wondered if I would be able to do something with them which would make money for me and perhaps even help the community at the same time. I decided to give it a try.

The first thing I did was to place an advertisement in the newspaper inviting people in the neighbourhood to bring me their second-hand clothing, shoes and bedding instead of throwing them away. Within a week, our garage was bursting with black plastic bags. (1)___ This kept me busy for weeks.

At the same time, I was also looking for a shop to rent where I could sell these items. (2)___ But it wasn't until I contacted Adventure, an organisation which helps people to set up their own businesses, that I finally got the assistance I needed. They helped me find the right shop and gave me advice about getting a business loan to get me started. That's how Second Best was born.

For my idea to work, I was going to need a steady supply of clothes. The town council already had recycling bins for paper, glass and the like. (3)___ I was able to make arrangements to have the clothes collected and brought to my shop, where I had installed laundry facilities to cope with all the washloads I needed to do!

It wasn't only making money in the shop that interested me, though. I was still eager for the community to benefit from my idea, too, so I started to find ways that the large quantities of very old or damaged clothing that I couldn't sell in the shop could be put to use. (4)___ Some of the old clothing is now turned into bandages for hospitals, for example, while one school in the area asks for old jeans to make into lunch bags.

Adventure believes in encouraging people by giving an annual Special Merit Award to the most successful new business they have helped. (5)___ Not only had I helped so many others, they said, but I had also had to overcome a difficulty. In 2000, my shop had been destroyed by fire and I had had to start the business all over again from Scratch.

Getting back on track wasn't easy. Not only did I have to search for another shop to rent, but I also had to spend time building up new stocks of clothes, as nearly all of the original stock had been destroyed. (6)___ Otherwise, I would have been forced to call it a day.

Today, twelve years after I first started up, Second Best is a very successful small business.

It was back in 1995, when my husband Eric was working as a rubbish collector for the local town council, that I first got the idea of recycling clothes. He would frequently find bags of perfectly good clothes just thrown into the rubbish. I wondered if I would be able to do something with them which would make money for me and perhaps even help the community at the same time. I decided to give it a try.

The first thing I did was to place an advertisement in the newspaper inviting people in the neighbourhood to bring me their second-hand clothing, shoes and bedding instead of throwing them away. Within a week, our garage was bursting with black plastic bags. (1)___ This kept me busy for weeks.

At the same time, I was also looking for a shop to rent where I could sell these items. (2)___ But it wasn't until I contacted Adventure, an organisation which helps people to set up their own businesses, that I finally got the assistance I needed. They helped me find the right shop and gave me advice about getting a business loan to get me started. That's how Second Best was born.

For my idea to work, I was going to need a steady supply of clothes. The town council already had recycling bins for paper, glass and the like. (3)___ I was able to make arrangements to have the clothes collected and brought to my shop, where I had installed laundry facilities to cope with all the washloads I needed to do!

It wasn't only making money in the shop that interested me, though. I was still eager for the community to benefit from my idea, too, so I started to find ways that the large quantities of very old or damaged clothing that I couldn't sell in the shop could be put to use. (4)___ Some of the old clothing is now turned into bandages for hospitals, for example, while one school in the area asks for old jeans to make into lunch bags.

Adventure believes in encouraging people by giving an annual Special Merit Award to the most successful new business they have helped. (5)___ Not only had I helped so many others, they said, but I had also had to overcome a difficulty. In 2000, my shop had been destroyed by fire and I had had to start the business all over again from Scratch.

Getting back on track wasn't easy. Not only did I have to search for another shop to rent, but I also had to spend time building up new stocks of clothes, as nearly all of the original stock had been destroyed. (6)___ Otherwise, I would have been forced to call it a day.

Today, twelve years after I first started up, Second Best is a very successful small business.

Egypt's prehistoric sites are at risk from tourism. Experts believe that if urgent measures (1) ..., no prehistoric sites in Egypt (2) ... unharmed. Many prehistoric sites in the desert have already been lost to development projects. Now tourists (3) ... the country's remaining prehistoric sites faster than scientists can save them. In the far southwest of the desert is the "Valley of Pictures'. Two main caves in the valley (4) ... hundreds of paintings that date from between 7000 and 5000 BC. According to archaeologists, tourists (5) ... water over the figures to make them easily visible. Water (6) ... the surface of the paintings to break off in small thin pieces. "The paintings (7) ... in no time, says one expert. He adds: "The desert is under threat. This area has to be conserved."

Egypt's prehistoric sites are at risk from tourism. Experts believe that if urgent measures (1) ..., no prehistoric sites in Egypt (2) ... unharmed. Many prehistoric sites in the desert have already been lost to development projects. Now tourists (3) ... the country's remaining prehistoric sites faster than scientists can save them. In the far southwest of the desert is the "Valley of Pictures'. Two main caves in the valley (4) ... hundreds of paintings that date from between 7000 and 5000 BC. According to archaeologists, tourists (5) ... water over the figures to make them easily visible. Water (6) ... the surface of the paintings to break off in small thin pieces. "The paintings (7) ... in no time, says one expert. He adds: "The desert is under threat. This area has to be conserved."

Egypt's prehistoric sites are at risk from tourism. Experts believe that if urgent measures (1) ..., no prehistoric sites in Egypt (2) ... unharmed. Many prehistoric sites in the desert have already been lost to development projects. Now tourists (3) ... the country's remaining prehistoric sites faster than scientists can save them. In the far southwest of the desert is the "Valley of Pictures'. Two main caves in the valley (4) ... hundreds of paintings that date from between 7000 and 5000 BC. According to archaeologists, tourists (5) ... water over the figures to make them easily visible. Water (6) ... the surface of the paintings to break off in small thin pieces. "The paintings (7) ... in no time, says one expert. He adds: "The desert is under threat. This area has to be conserved."

Egypt's prehistoric sites are at risk from tourism. Experts believe that if urgent measures (1) ..., no prehistoric sites in Egypt (2) ... unharmed. Many prehistoric sites in the desert have already been lost to development projects. Now tourists (3) ... the country's remaining prehistoric sites faster than scientists can save them. In the far southwest of the desert is the "Valley of Pictures'. Two main caves in the valley (4) ... hundreds of paintings that date from between 7000 and 5000 BC. According to archaeologists, tourists (5) ... water over the figures to make them easily visible. Water (6) ... the surface of the paintings to break off in small thin pieces. "The paintings (7) ... in no time, says one expert. He adds: "The desert is under threat. This area has to be conserved."

§ 1. Having decided in later life that it might actually be quite nice to master another language, rather than dusting off my schoolgirl French, I opted for Spanish. Three years of half-finished evening classes later, thanks to the enthusiastic teacher’s efforts I could order in a restaurant and ask directions, but my conversational skills were limited to asking everybody how many brothers and sisters they had. The only true way to master a language is to live and breathe it for a period of time. I’d thought of taking a language ‘immersion’ course (курс язы­ко­во­го по­гру­же­ния) abroad, but two little words always stopped me: home stay. Then I saw that tour operator Journey Latin America had started offering Spanish courses in Peru, amongst other places. The opportunity to realise two long-held ambitions in one holiday  — to improve my Spanish and to see Machu Picchu  — proved irresistible.

§ 2. My misgivings disappear the moment I am met by my home-stay family, the Rojas, at Cusco airport. They greet me warmly, like an old friend. Carlos is an optician and Carmucha owns a restaurant. With their four children they live in a comfortable house right in the centre of town. Then I’m taken to a family friend’s birthday party, where I understand nothing apart from the bit where they sing ‘Happy Birthday’. By the end of the evening my face aches from holding an expression of polite, but uncomprehending interest, and I fall into bed wondering what I’ve let myself in for.

§ 3. The following morning, I’m off to school and get to know my new group mates. We’re aged between 19 and 65, each spending up to a month studying before travelling around Peru. We have all clearly got to know about our new families. We’re all keen to meet our teachers and see which class we’ll be joining, but after sitting the placement test, we learn that as it’s not yet high season and the school is not too busy, tuition will be one-on-one. Although some find the prospect frightening, to my mind, this is a pretty impressive ratio  — though even in high season the maximum class size expands to only four pupils.

§ 4. As the week unfolds, I slip into a routine. Four hours of classes in the morning, back home for lunch, then afternoons free for sightseeing.

§ 5. As the week wears on, a strange thing starts to happen: the dinner-table chatter, which at first was so much ‘white noise’, starts to have some meaning and, wonderfully,! can follow the thread of the conversation. What’s more, I’ve started to dream in Spanish!

§ 1. Having decided in later life that it might actually be quite nice to master another language, rather than dusting off my schoolgirl French, I opted for Spanish. Three years of half-finished evening classes later, thanks to the enthusiastic teacher’s efforts I could order in a restaurant and ask directions, but my conversational skills were limited to asking everybody how many brothers and sisters they had. The only true way to master a language is to live and breathe it for a period of time. I’d thought of taking a language ‘immersion’ course (курс язы­ко­во­го по­гру­же­ния) abroad, but two little words always stopped me: home stay. Then I saw that tour operator Journey Latin America had started offering Spanish courses in Peru, amongst other places. The opportunity to realise two long-held ambitions in one holiday  — to improve my Spanish and to see Machu Picchu  — proved irresistible.

§ 2. My misgivings disappear the moment I am met by my home-stay family, the Rojas, at Cusco airport. They greet me warmly, like an old friend. Carlos is an optician and Carmucha owns a restaurant. With their four children they live in a comfortable house right in the centre of town. Then I’m taken to a family friend’s birthday party, where I understand nothing apart from the bit where they sing ‘Happy Birthday’. By the end of the evening my face aches from holding an expression of polite, but uncomprehending interest, and I fall into bed wondering what I’ve let myself in for.

§ 3. The following morning, I’m off to school and get to know my new group mates. We’re aged between 19 and 65, each spending up to a month studying before travelling around Peru. We have all clearly got to know about our new families. We’re all keen to meet our teachers and see which class we’ll be joining, but after sitting the placement test, we learn that as it’s not yet high season and the school is not too busy, tuition will be one-on-one. Although some find the prospect frightening, to my mind, this is a pretty impressive ratio  — though even in high season the maximum class size expands to only four pupils.

§ 4. As the week unfolds, I slip into a routine. Four hours of classes in the morning, back home for lunch, then afternoons free for sightseeing.

§ 5. As the week wears on, a strange thing starts to happen: the dinner-table chatter, which at first was so much ‘white noise’, starts to have some meaning and, wonderfully,! can follow the thread of the conversation. What’s more, I’ve started to dream in Spanish!

§ 1. Having decided in later life that it might actually be quite nice to master another language, rather than dusting off my schoolgirl French, I opted for Spanish. Three years of half-finished evening classes later, thanks to the enthusiastic teacher’s efforts I could order in a restaurant and ask directions, but my conversational skills were limited to asking everybody how many brothers and sisters they had. The only true way to master a language is to live and breathe it for a period of time. I’d thought of taking a language ‘immersion’ course (курс язы­ко­во­го по­гру­же­ния) abroad, but two little words always stopped me: home stay. Then I saw that tour operator Journey Latin America had started offering Spanish courses in Peru, amongst other places. The opportunity to realise two long-held ambitions in one holiday  — to improve my Spanish and to see Machu Picchu  — proved irresistible.

§ 2. My misgivings disappear the moment I am met by my home-stay family, the Rojas, at Cusco airport. They greet me warmly, like an old friend. Carlos is an optician and Carmucha owns a restaurant. With their four children they live in a comfortable house right in the centre of town. Then I’m taken to a family friend’s birthday party, where I understand nothing apart from the bit where they sing ‘Happy Birthday’. By the end of the evening my face aches from holding an expression of polite, but uncomprehending interest, and I fall into bed wondering what I’ve let myself in for.

§ 3. The following morning, I’m off to school and get to know my new group mates. We’re aged between 19 and 65, each spending up to a month studying before travelling around Peru. We have all clearly got to know about our new families. We’re all keen to meet our teachers and see which class we’ll be joining, but after sitting the placement test, we learn that as it’s not yet high season and the school is not too busy, tuition will be one-on-one. Although some find the prospect frightening, to my mind, this is a pretty impressive ratio  — though even in high season the maximum class size expands to only four pupils.

§ 4. As the week unfolds, I slip into a routine. Four hours of classes in the morning, back home for lunch, then afternoons free for sightseeing.

§ 5. As the week wears on, a strange thing starts to happen: the dinner-table chatter, which at first was so much ‘white noise’, starts to have some meaning and, wonderfully,! can follow the thread of the conversation. What’s more, I’ve started to dream in Spanish!

§ 1. Having decided in later life that it might actually be quite nice to master another language, rather than dusting off my schoolgirl French, I opted for Spanish. Three years of half-finished evening classes later, thanks to the enthusiastic teacher’s efforts I could order in a restaurant and ask directions, but my conversational skills were limited to asking everybody how many brothers and sisters they had. The only true way to master a language is to live and breathe it for a period of time. I’d thought of taking a language ‘immersion’ course (курс язы­ко­во­го по­гру­же­ния) abroad, but two little words always stopped me: home stay. Then I saw that tour operator Journey Latin America had started offering Spanish courses in Peru, amongst other places. The opportunity to realise two long-held ambitions in one holiday  — to improve my Spanish and to see Machu Picchu  — proved irresistible.

§ 2. My misgivings disappear the moment I am met by my home-stay family, the Rojas, at Cusco airport. They greet me warmly, like an old friend. Carlos is an optician and Carmucha owns a restaurant. With their four children they live in a comfortable house right in the centre of town. Then I’m taken to a family friend’s birthday party, where I understand nothing apart from the bit where they sing ‘Happy Birthday’. By the end of the evening my face aches from holding an expression of polite, but uncomprehending interest, and I fall into bed wondering what I’ve let myself in for.

§ 3. The following morning, I’m off to school and get to know my new group mates. We’re aged between 19 and 65, each spending up to a month studying before travelling around Peru. We have all clearly got to know about our new families. We’re all keen to meet our teachers and see which class we’ll be joining, but after sitting the placement test, we learn that as it’s not yet high season and the school is not too busy, tuition will be one-on-one. Although some find the prospect frightening, to my mind, this is a pretty impressive ratio  — though even in high season the maximum class size expands to only four pupils.

§ 4. As the week unfolds, I slip into a routine. Four hours of classes in the morning, back home for lunch, then afternoons free for sightseeing.

§ 5. As the week wears on, a strange thing starts to happen: the dinner-table chatter, which at first was so much ‘white noise’, starts to have some meaning and, wonderfully,! can follow the thread of the conversation. What’s more, I’ve started to dream in Spanish!

The New Zealanders Dwayne van der Sluis and Andrew Akers must be the happiest people on Earth now that their (1) ... and latest craze, zorbing, has become a success. Zorbing involves standing in a ball  — or zorb  — which consists of specially hardened plastic. The zorb is rolled down a hill, speeding at about 50 kilometres an hour. It may sound like quite a (2) ... pastime, but the 70 centimetres of air between you and the ground make it (3) ... to get hurt. That's why zorbing didn't take long to gain in (4) ... .

The New Zealanders Dwayne van der Sluis and Andrew Akers must be the happiest people on Earth now that their (1) ... and latest craze, zorbing, has become a success. Zorbing involves standing in a ball  — or zorb  — which consists of specially hardened plastic. The zorb is rolled down a hill, speeding at about 50 kilometres an hour. It may sound like quite a (2) ... pastime, but the 70 centimetres of air between you and the ground make it (3) ... to get hurt. That's why zorbing didn't take long to gain in (4) ... .

The New Zealanders Dwayne van der Sluis and Andrew Akers must be the happiest people on Earth now that their (1) ... and latest craze, zorbing, has become a success. Zorbing involves standing in a ball  — or zorb  — which consists of specially hardened plastic. The zorb is rolled down a hill, speeding at about 50 kilometres an hour. It may sound like quite a (2) ... pastime, but the 70 centimetres of air between you and the ground make it (3) ... to get hurt. That's why zorbing didn't take long to gain in (4) ... .

The New Zealanders Dwayne van der Sluis and Andrew Akers must be the happiest people on Earth now that their (1) ... and latest craze, zorbing, has become a success. Zorbing involves standing in a ball  — or zorb  — which consists of specially hardened plastic. The zorb is rolled down a hill, speeding at about 50 kilometres an hour. It may sound like quite a (2) ... pastime, but the 70 centimetres of air between you and the ground make it (3) ... to get hurt. That's why zorbing didn't take long to gain in (4) ... .

Madame Tussaud's is London's (1) ... visited tourist attraction, with over two and a half million visitors a year. There are as (2) ... as 400 models on display. Each one is worth over £20,000, that's (3) ... security is very strict there.

Madame Tussaud's is London's (1) ... visited tourist attraction, with over two and a half million visitors a year. There are as (2) ... as 400 models on display. Each one is worth over £20,000, that's (3) ... security is very strict there.

Madame Tussaud's is London's (1) ... visited tourist attraction, with over two and a half million visitors a year. There are as (2) ... as 400 models on display. Each one is worth over £20,000, that's (3) ... security is very strict there.

Have you ever wanted to come home from a holiday with something more useful (1) ... a suitcase full of souvenirs? What if you could come back with a new skill instead? Learning holidays, which combine travel and learning, have become (2) ... of the latest new trends in travel. (3) ... days, travellers can learn how to make chocolates in Italy and how to dance the tango in Argentina as (4) ... .

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) ... .

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) ... .

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) ... .

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.  Му cousin is a scientist and he is trying to find a cure ... cancer.

2.  I’m very thankful ... all the advice you gave me.

3.  The students were divided ... two teams.

4.  You can wear ... of those two dresses. They don’t suit you.

5.  All students ... informed about the new IT course last week.

6.  Scientists are doing research into this rare species ... natural habitat is the bottom of the ocean.

1.  Му cousin is a scientist and he is trying to find a cure ... cancer.

2.  I’m very thankful ... all the advice you gave me.

3.  The students were divided ... two teams.

4.  You can wear ... of those two dresses. They don’t suit you.

5.  All students ... informed about the new IT course last week.

6.  Scientists are doing research into this rare species ... natural habitat is the bottom of the ocean.

1.  Му cousin is a scientist and he is trying to find a cure ... cancer.

2.  I’m very thankful ... all the advice you gave me.

3.  The students were divided ... two teams.

4.  You can wear ... of those two dresses. They don’t suit you.

5.  All students ... informed about the new IT course last week.

6.  Scientists are doing research into this rare species ... natural habitat is the bottom of the ocean.

1.  Му cousin is a scientist and he is trying to find a cure ... cancer.

2.  I’m very thankful ... all the advice you gave me.

3.  The students were divided ... two teams.

4.  You can wear ... of those two dresses. They don’t suit you.

5.  All students ... informed about the new IT course last week.

6.  Scientists are doing research into this rare species ... natural habitat is the bottom of the ocean.