Tom Wilson is an explorer. He (1) ... to nearly every country in the world, but the most exciting time he (2) ... was when he went to the Congo jungle. He (3) ... by a magazine to retrace the route of a famous explorer who disappeared in the 1920's. As he (4) ... a small river he got separated from his guides. He went on alone, hoping he (5) ... them, but instead he encountered a group of natives. He stayed with them for several days and found out that a very old woman (6) ... the famous explorer. She knew how he had died. Tom became very friendly with the natives and now he (7) ... to go back and see them again. He is sure they (8) ... him back.

Three years ago a bolt of lightning almost (1) ... Lyn Miller's house with her two children inside. "There was a huge rainstorm," she says, recalling the terrifying experience. "My brother and I were outside desperately working to stop floodwater from coming in the house. Suddenly I (2) ... to the ground by an enormous bang. When I (3) ... myself up, the roof and the entire upper storey of the house (4) ... . The door (5) ... by rubble (бу­лыж­ник), but we forced our way in and found the children, thankfully unharmed. Later I was told that to be struck by lightning is a chance in a million." In fact, it is calculated at one chance in 600,000. And if you (6) ... lightning, you'll be glad to know that a company in America (7) ... a hand-held lightning detector which can detect lightning up to 70 kms away.

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.

No criminal ever believes that he (1) ... but it seems that some are trying to make crime detection as easy as possible for the police. In Japan, a country which (2) ... famous for its peaceful citizens, one robber burst into a shop and demanded money. But as he (3) ... himself in the CCTV camera (си­сте­ма ви­део­на­блю­де­ния), he changed his mind and asked the shop workers to call the police. Everything had been going fine, he said later, until he realised he (4) ... to put on his mask. And have you heard about the two British men who tried to rob a shop? Unfortunately, they hadn't cut eyeholes in the woollen masks they (5) ... . While they were trying to find the counter, they bumped into each other and knocked each other unconscious. "Don't worry," said the owner when the men came round, "I (6) ... the police and they'll be here in a few minutes. Would you like a cup of tea while you (7) ...?"

The idea of World Music Day or Fête de la Musique (1) ... in France in the 1980s but (2) ... across the globe. Today the event (3) ... on 21st June in over 120 countries. An American musician, Joel Cohen, who (4) ... for a French radio station, first came up with the idea for a music festival that everyone could enjoy and take part in. He suggested an all-night music festival to celebrate the summer solstice (the longest day). The French minister for culture liked the idea and it first (5) ... reality in June 1982. The main idea behind the festival is that music is a great way to bring people together regardless of their nationality, ethnic and cultural background. The day (6) ... individual musicians but also orchestras, cultural organisations, and schools. The best thing about the festival is that musicians (7) ... to perform outside the usual music venues and concert halls. And every kind of music is on offer.

Have you ever visited the doctor with an earache or a sore throat? Chances are, you (1) ... antibiotics to treat the problem. Alexander Fleming (2) ... across the first antibiotic, penicillin, by accident in 1928. The medicine was then developed and became widely available in the 1940s. It (3) ... against anything from blood poisoning to tonsillitis. In fact, since then, antibiotics (4) ... so easy to obtain that they are being overused. They are really for treating serious bacterial infections. Some people believe that antibiotics can be used to cure the common cold or flu but, as these are both viruses, antibiotics (5) ... no effect on them whatsoever. The overuse of antibiotics (6) ... infections known as superbugs to develop. These superbugs are too tough {устой­чи­вый) for antibiotics to fight and may be a big problem for future generations. So what can we do? Well, only take antibiotics when necessary and, if your doctor (7) ... them to you, be sure to follow the instructions and finish the course.

I (1) ... very well the first law conference l attended. It was in the 1990s. The conference had many outstanding speakers but only one of them (2) ... a lasting impression in my mind. That speaker, a law lecturer, (3) ... answering a number of questions on his paper that (4) ... when he (5) ... a question by an elderly gentleman in the audience: "If your father committed a murder and he confessed the crime to you, what would you do?" The speaker Smiled and said, "Sir, you (6) ... me a very difficult question. I need time to answer that, but I will, after the tea break."

When the session resumed, the speaker took his place on the stage. "I (7) ... to answer the gentleman's question now. As my father's son I would listen to him. I would even cry with him. As his lawyer, I would advise him to confess to the crime and I would go with him to the police station." His answer received what it (8) ... - thunderous applause.

Mount Bulla is one of the most popular winter resorts in Australia. It is about a six or seven-hour drive from the city. The resort itself is on the side of the mountain about one thousand meters up. The drive up is breathtaking. As you go up the winding road, the pine trees surround you and you can smell how fresh and clear (1) ... air is. Snow has fallen and the ground is covered (2) ... a white blanket. The actual resort is made (3) ... of three traditionally-built hotels. The largest of (4) ... three has a disco.

Just above the hotels is the ski-lift which takes you (5) ... the top of the slopes. There are also skiing instructors who teach beginners. Quite often there are special shows put (6) ... by professional skiers, which are fascinating to watch. You must like skiing to enjoy your stay as the resort is (7) ... real paradise (8) ... ski-lovers.

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.

According (1) ... a recent survey, (2) ... British are poor savers in comparison (3) ... other nations in Europe. They may start out with good intentions but many people end up putting aside only 5.5 percent of their income (4) ... 'a rainy day'. It is believed that only 13 percent of people currently in employment in the UK are saving towards their retirement. One of the reasons (5) ... this is that they spend around 16 percent of everything they earn (6) ... luxuries such as holidays and other forms of entertainment. As (7) ... result, financial problems and personal debt have increased sharply. Owning a home is a good investment by many British people. However, house prices are now so high that they are simply unaffordable for many young people starting out. At (8) ... other end of the scale, over 800,000 households now own a second home abroad.

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.

An eco-tourism project (1) ... a difference has just been launched in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Tourists will be offered (2) ... chance to encounter a wide range of wildlife and (3) ... great deal more. This project was set (4) ... by the local villagers who were suffering (5) ... a downturn in the national economy. They decided to raise money themselves to cover the cost of educational and welfare projects. Tourists will be invited to live the African Village Experience. The tours are led by English speaking villagers, and visitors can choose (6) ... activities such as meeting the local healer to taking part in cooking or farming. Visitors are also offered (7) ... option (8) ... staying the night in the village.

Every October I like to go to France (1) ... my holidays. Last year I visited the Loire Valley and I had the best two weeks of my life. I had such (2) ... good fun I cried when it was time to leave. When I arrived (3) ... Calais, the sun was shining and I was glad I had decided to go (4) ... camping. There are lots of campsites in the Loire, and I found a small one near a beautiful castle. King Louis XIV had (5) ... castle built in order to impress a princess he wanted to marry, but she rejected him for an English Duke. I fell in love with (6) ... place at once. Although October is late (7) ... camping, there were quite a lot of people staying there. It was highly recommended in my guidebook and a friend of mine had also suggested to go to that particular site. Most of the other campers were around (8) ... my age and I made friends with several of them. Six of us have agreed to meet there again next year for another great holiday.

Sally and James Parker from Manchester got married last year. They then left their five-year-old dog, Blackie, in a dogs' home while they went (1) ... their honeymoon to Venice. While they were away, Blackie escaped (2) ... the dogs' home. The dogs' home was not in Manchester but 500 miles away in Cornwall near to (3) ... town where James's parents lived. As soon as they got back from their honeymoon, James and Sally drove to Cornwall to look for Blackie. Unfortunately, they were out of (4) ... luck. However, they refused to give (5) ... . They drove to Cornwall every weekend for the next six months. By then the weekly drive had become so tiring that James sold his business and they moved to Cornwall.

Blackie has now been missing for fourteen months. Sally and James have seen her several times but they have not succeeded (6) ... catching her. James says that (7) ... problem is that Blackie is too nervous now to let anyone come (8) ... her.

A recent survey has been analysing information about the time that people in the UK take off work because of illness. The study was carried (1) ... in 4,300 businesses around the country. The analysts looked (2) ... the number of absences, when they took place and the reasons given (3) ... them. It was found that Manchester was the city where people took most days off- an average of 11 days a year. People were off the least time of all in London (only 7 days (4) ... average). Employers also claimed that many workers chose to be absent when there was something good (5) ... television. (6) ... most employers thought their employees often did not tell (7) ... truth about why they were taking time off. Bosses said that they believed that less than 10% of (8) ... sick notes they received were genuine.

Until recently, vegetarianism was fairly uncommon in Britain, and it is still (1) ... strange by some. But since the 1960s its popularity has (2) ... greatly, to the extent that high street stores stock a huge (3) ... of products for vegetarians. The reasons people (4) ... for not eating meat are numerous. Perhaps most vegetarians do it for moral reasons, arguing that it is wrong to kill. The opposing point of (5) ... is that it is (6) ... for us to kill for food. Still, there are societies where eating meat is not allowed because it is against their religion. There are other good reasons to (7) ... up meat, one of which is the inefficiency of livestock farming. Although it is, in (8) ... cheaper to eat only vegetables, in practice vegetarianism is most popular in richer countries such as Germany and Britain, where many people exclude meat for health reasons. In these countries, at least, it (9) ... out to be a matter of (10) ... rather than necessity.

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.

The number and length of flights has (1) ... sharply in the past few years. As the human body was not designed for flying, people can (2) ... if they are on an aeroplane for a long time. Therefore, it is important to (3) ... certain measures to increase your comfort. In the air, your body is more (4) ... to the effects of alcohol, and rich or fatty foods, so it is best to (5) ... these the day before you leave as well as during the flight. A long-distance journey often (6) ... travellers feeling stiff, because they have been sitting in one position for several hours. In order to reduce the (7) ... of this happening to you, there are some exercises you can do while you are flying. Besides this, a hot shower taken after the flight can be an effective way of minimising stiffness. If you (8) ... loose clothing made from (9) ... materials, such as cotton, you will feel more comfortable. Your skin suffers in other ways too, becoming drier since you have (10) ... the ground. This can be avoided, however, if you take some skin cream with you.

Young Composers is an online resource for anyone (1) ... in music composition. Amateur musicians can upload music to their network, where their review team helps young people to (2) ... their music abilities. Their composer forum is an active community of professionals, students, and amateurs who can (3) ... questions about the life and career of composing, or (4) ... chat in the 'shoutbox'. YC's main purpose is to (5) ... people to post their music, receive feedback on it and improve as composers. One way to (6) ... from the knowledge on the forum is to (7) ... a contributing member: review others' works and, of course, post your own pieces for feedback and analysis. The best way to (8) ... advantage of the forum is to participate. By reviewing the works of others other members will get to know you and they will see that you are making an (9) ... to give back to their community. It's a great website to learn and help others to (10) ... at the same time.

One of the most difficult but rewarding pastimes is mountain climbing. The modern climber must (1) ... many different skills. Rock climbing (2) ... a combination of gymnastic ability, imagination and observation, but perhaps the most necessary skill is being able to (3) ... out how much weight a particular rock will support. Mountaineers climb in groups of three or four, each climber at a distance of approximately six meters from the next. Usually one person climbs while the other climbers (4) ... hold of the rope. There is no (5) ... that the most experienced climber goes first. He shows the other climbers which (6) ... to go, making the rope secure so that it is (7) ... for the others to follow. With much mountain climbing, snow skills (8) ... a very important part. The number of dangers (9) ... by climbers is almost endless. And the (10) ... of oxygen at high altitudes makes life even more difficult fot mountaineers.

Until recently, vegetarianism was fairly uncommon in Britain, and it is still (1) ... strange by some. But since the 1960s its popularity has (2) ... greatly, to the extent that high street stores stock a huge (3) ... of products for vegetarians. The reasons people (4) ... for not eating meat are numerous. Perhaps most vegetarians do it for moral reasons, arguing that it is wrong to kill. The opposing point of (5) ... is that it is (6) ... for us to kill for food. Still, there are societies where eating meat is not allowed because it is against their religion. There are other good reasons to (7) ... up meat, one of which is the inefficiency of livestock farming. Although it is, in (8) ... cheaper to eat only vegetables, in practice vegetarianism is most popular in richer countries such as Germany and Britain, where many people exclude meat for health reasons. In these countries, at least, it (9) ... out to be a matter of (10) ... rather than necessity.

Whether you like it or not, celebrity gossip is hard to avoid. Newspapers, magazines and websites are (1) ... with photos of the stars. Celebrities, (2) ... the badly-behaved ones, regularly (3) ... enormous publicity in the media. It seems we're (4) ... by scandal, eager to know who is going out whom, and whose marriage has just fallen apart. Thanks to the public's (5) ... for gossip, a paparazzo can be (6) ... $500,000 for each 'exclusive' photo of stars like Britney Spears and Cristiano Ronaldo

Celebrities (7) ... that money-hungry reporters and photographers follow them everywhere they go, often (8) ... them serious troubles. In response, celebrity hunters argue that famous people shouldn't be so sensitive. They should accept their loss of privacy as the (9) ... of wealth and success. But have things gone too far? Do we really have a 'right to read about stars having a mental breakdown, or to see pictures of them looking completely devastated after they've (10) ... up with their husband or wife? There seems to be a fine line between curiosity and cruelty.

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.

Roger Press, 40, has (1) ... his career. After spending five years as a concert pianist he has gone into business, recently (2) ... up his own company. „I have always thought that it‟s important to be commercial, to participate and compete in the modern world. So although moving on was a difficult decision, having (3) ... it I felt relieved in many ways. When I(4) ... up my performing career, people around me were more sad and disappointed than I was. But I felt free and at last I knew I was getting serious about life. After getting a qualification in business administration I (5) ... the recording company EMI and started producing programmes about famous artists. A year ago I left EMI and formed a new company, New Media Systems, which (6) ... in multimedia programmes. Now that I run my own business I am in control of my life and I can feel (7) ... of my achievements. Although the stress is high and I work (8) … hours, the stress (9) ... in piano playing was much worse. It (10) ... physical, emotional and mental skills. I prefer the pressures I live with now.'

Possibly the chilliest place you could ever (1) ... in is the Snow Village Ice Hotel, (2) ... in northern Finland. The hotel (3) ... the warmest of welcomes in the coldest of settings. The walls, ceilings, and furniture  — including the beds  — are all (4) ... from ice, so the indoor temperature stays permanently below zero. Before sending you off to your personal room for the night the hotel (5) ... a mattress, a blanket made of reindeer (се­вер­ный олень) skin, and a thermal sleeping (6) ... . Lying in bed, (7) ... will be impressed by total silence. Slippery surfaces and icy corners are everywhere, and the hotel's lights remain (8) ... on all night. Last time I was there I (9) ... in bed for hours counting reindeer jumping over fences. I finally (10) ... asleep at 5.00 a.m. after enjoying a very brief glimpse of the legendary Northern Lights, magical displays of blue and green light visible in the night sky up to 200 times a year.

§ 1. There used to be a general feeling that computer games were bad for you, and books were good. Now people are not so sure. Researchers have found that computer games, television and the Internet have become key factors in boosting children's IQs up to levels never reached by past generations.

§ 2. The idea that intelligence can be measured was first suggested about a century ago, but at that time it was hard to find tests that gave useful results. Over the past two decades, however, tests have become more complex and researchers have found that IQ scores can give a good indication of what children's future exam results will be. Some experts have even claimed that IQ scores can accurately predict what level of income and status young people will achieve in adult life.

§ 3. Why are today's youngsters doing so much better than their grandparents? Of course, better nutrition, higher standards of living and improved education all play their part in raising general levels of intelligence. But there seems to be more to it than that. Scientists are attributing the change in intelligence levels to the complexity of modern life.

§ 4. In today's fast-moving world, young people are required to interact constantly with electronic gadgets and equipment. This is developing youngsters' brains in ways that older generations never experienced. Computers are one of the major sources of stimulation, and activities such as playing games and using the Internet seem to be particularly important.

§ 5. There are still some things that remain unexplained, however. For example, the increase in children's lo scores varies according to the type of intelligence being tested. It appears that nowadays people are better at abstract thinking than their ancestors were  — but their verbal and mathematical abilities have remained the same as those of previous generations. No one knows why this is the case. Nevertheless, during the last few years there has certainly been a general upward trend, and it has been found that the present generation have IQs about 15 points above their parents.

§ 6. It has been claimed that, in moderation, computer gaming is positively good for youngsters. It requires positive qualities such as determination, fast thinking and rapid learning. However, it seems that improvements in IQ may not last very long without continuing stimulation. The brain seems to be like a muscle and requires repeated and vigorous exercise to stay fit and healthy. When it comes to IQ, it's a case of 'Use it or lose it'.

§ 1. The moment for Olympic glory and gold occurs once every four years - a moment which becomes the focus for the lives of athletes from all over the world. This one event is their main goal and in order to achieve their dream they are prepared to make any sacrifice. All athletes are selected by their national Olympic Committee to represent their country, and once selected they face two major demands. The first is the mountain of form filling, paperwork and administration. The second is to finalise their preparation for the Games. Most athletes have highly-developed training schedules which enable them to reach the height of their performance for a particular event. However, the Olympics, creates its own timetable and pressures.

§ 2. When I was selected to represent Great Britain, I had approximately a hundred days to prepare. This included finalising training plans, raising nearly £16,000 towards the costs, seeing to travel arrangements and entry forms, and having discussions with my employer about extra time off work to allow me to prepare fully. Throughout my sailing career I had never had the opportunity to become a full-time athlete, so I needed to pursue my business career at the same time as my sporting objectives. However, any top-class athlete in any sport needs a level of business skills when competing at Olympic standard. They need the ability to plan and arrange for all the expenses effectively as well as work towards definite aims.

§ 3. Once you arrive, you stay in the Olympic "Village', which is really a small town housing 15,000 people from every imaginable culture and background. It is fascinating to watch athletes from tiny gymnasts to huge weightlifters and basketball players, and best of all is the excitement at being part of such a select gathering. There are training facilities, souvenir shops, launderettes, a bank and post office, as well as the Village restaurant which seats over 3,000 at one time.

§ 4. So what does it feel like to go to an Olympics? It can be summed up in many ways by the opening ceremony, where thousands of athletes and officials parade wearing their team kit. To most it is an event they will never forget and the honour of just being there is almost magical. And perhaps winning a medal is one of life's major experiences. For me it was the thoughts of family and friends who had all played a part on my road to success, and it felt wonderful. I feel that it is important to try and repay everyone's faith in me by putting something back into the community. I want the younger generation of athletes to benefit in the ways that I did.

§ 1. The moment for Olympic glory and gold occurs once every four years - a moment which becomes the focus for the lives of athletes from all over the world. This one event is their main goal and in order to achieve their dream they are prepared to make any sacrifice. All athletes are selected by their national Olympic Committee to represent their country, and once selected they face two major demands. The first is the mountain of form filling, paperwork and administration. The second is to finalise their preparation for the Games. Most athletes have highly-developed training schedules which enable them to reach the height of their performance for a particular event. However, the Olympics, creates its own timetable and pressures.

§ 2. When I was selected to represent Great Britain, I had approximately a hundred days to prepare. This included finalising training plans, raising nearly £16,000 towards the costs, seeing to travel arrangements and entry forms, and having discussions with my employer about extra time off work to allow me to prepare fully. Throughout my sailing career I had never had the opportunity to become a full-time athlete, so I needed to pursue my business career at the same time as my sporting objectives. However, any top-class athlete in any sport needs a level of business skills when competing at Olympic standard. They need the ability to plan and arrange for all the expenses effectively as well as work towards definite aims.

§ 3. Once you arrive, you stay in the Olympic "Village', which is really a small town housing 15,000 people from every imaginable culture and background. It is fascinating to watch athletes from tiny gymnasts to huge weightlifters and basketball players, and best of all is the excitement at being part of such a select gathering. There are training facilities, souvenir shops, launderettes, a bank and post office, as well as the Village restaurant which seats over 3,000 at one time.

§ 4. So what does it feel like to go to an Olympics? It can be summed up in many ways by the opening ceremony, where thousands of athletes and officials parade wearing their team kit. To most it is an event they will never forget and the honour of just being there is almost magical. And perhaps winning a medal is one of life's major experiences. For me it was the thoughts of family and friends who had all played a part on my road to success, and it felt wonderful. I feel that it is important to try and repay everyone's faith in me by putting something back into the community. I want the younger generation of athletes to benefit in the ways that I did.

§ 1. There are many different theories about dreams; however, the science of dreams is not exact. In ancient times, people believed that when we dreamt we entered another world which was real. As science and medicine became more advanced, different theories started to come out. Some scientists believe that dreams are just verbal, visual and emotional stimuli with no apparent meaning. However, others believe that dreams are important for our mental well-being. The leading psychiatrist, Carl Jung thought that analysing our dreams provides us with a way to think more deeply about our lives and solve problems.

§ 2. For centuries, people have believed that dreams have a deeper meaning. For example, many of us dream that we are falling and suddenly we wake up. Experts say this dream means we are feeling anxious and insecure or we feel we have failed in achieving a goal. Another popular dream is that of being chased; this means we are trying to escape our problems. Also, dreams about losing our teeth are believed to show that we are worried about our physical appearance.

§ 3. There has been a lot of research done into controlling dreams and this has led to the term lucid (осо­знан­ный) dreaming. Lucid dreaming happens when you are aware that you are dreaming and are able to control what happens in your dream. This is an amazing skill but it is also extremely difficult to do and not many people are able to learn it. Lucid dreaming can be a way to experience the strange world of your dreams but it is also believed to help personal development and improve your problem solving skills.

§ 4. Some people are able to see future events through their dreams. There is the case of the man who dreamt that he took his son on a camping trip and his son died near a lake. Some time after he had had the dream, the man and his son were invited on a camping trip. Then, at a certain time during the trip, the man remembered his dream and noticed that everything was the same as in his dream; the boy was standing near a lake looking down at pebbles. The man quickly grabbed his son and took him to safety.

§ 5. There is still a lot of research taking place into dreams, and it will be some time before we are able to really understand the strange dream world that we enter every night. Dreams allow us to experience things that would not be possible in real life, and by analysing our dreams we can learn more about ourselves.

This is what the famous musician Yehudi Menuhin writes about himself.

§ 1. Being a touring musician is a bit like being a sailor. It's constant motion, a continuous routine of settling into new hotels and meeting new people. So my ideal holiday is enjoying being alone with my wife.

§ 2. My earliest memory of a holiday was when I was five. We had just bought our first car, and drove joyously from San Francisco, exploring the most beautiful parts of California. It was a wonderful experience. I vividly remember the beautiful Yosemite valley, a place of waterfalls and beautiful mountains, a wilderness before we polluted it with cars and noisy stereo systems. As a child I collected photographs of those huge railway engines that pulled hundreds of goods wagons across America. These trains were like monsters, with groups of four wheels on each side. For Americans trains are hugely romantic. My first train journey across America was when I was eight years old. During the day I sat at the window watching the scenery fly past. At night I always had the top bunk bed in the sleeping compartment. I would scramble up to read in bed, feeling cosy and contented as the train rhythmically travelled over the rails through the night.

§ 3. Since then I've worked and studied for many hours on trains, enjoying the view and the sense of timelessness. I loved the smell of steel upon steel mixed up with the smell of the countryside. I loved the sound of the engine's horn, which used to remind me of the ferries which crept along in between the ships in San Francisco Bay on foggy nights. I have been lucky travelling all over the world and managing, just occasionally, to take a few days actually to see something more than just the airport, hotel and concert hall. When my wife and I were in Peru, we took three days off and flew in a small plane to the mountains where we spent a wonderful time walking and exploring in the jungle.

§ 4. Forty years ago we bought a small house on a Greek island and went there whenever we could. Initially there were just a few carts, and everything was transported on the back of a donkey or a man. We had a tiny cottage with a lovely garden of fruit trees where we used to pick grapes and oranges. We spent a lot of time on the beach  — as I love swimming  — and in the village getting to know people. After ten or fifteen years we were firmly involved in the community, able to share a totally different world, different language, different music.

§ 1. Cruising over the pack-ice with our heavy snowmobiles, my guide, Arne, and I looked out across the dazzling expanse of snow. We had come to the tiny, remote island of Svalbard northeast of Greenland, to photograph polar bears, but now we were exhausted with searching. The day had been particularly frustrating, as every bear we'd slowly approached had run away from us. Fed up and hungry, we decided to abandon our search for the afternoon and stop for a snack beside one of the many tall, blue icebergs.

§ 2. As always, a good meal was followed by an intense desire to sleep, and we decided to give in to it, even though the temperature was down to −30 °C. Sleeping at the same time would be unwise with our furry friends around, so we decided to take it in turns. As Arne slept, I scanned the Snow with my binoculars, looking for anything moving. An hour passed. I was just about to wake my companion, when I noticed a dot on the horizon. I wiped the lens, but it was still there. I began to make out the typical mayonnaise colour and the striding walk  — it was a polar bear and it was heading in our direction. I awoke Arne instantly. For the next thirty minutes, the bear continued on its direct course towards us, which was strange because the wind was blowing our scent straight towards him, so he must have been aware of our presence.

§ 3. When he was a couple of hundred metres away, I decided to lie down in the snow so as to get a better photograph. "You realise you look like seal like that, don't you?" warned Arne, for once sounding a bit worried. ave for dinner. Onwards the bear came, and by now I could hear the crunching Seals are what polar bears like to sound of his feet on the ice. It struck me that this was a big bear, travelling at some speed. I turned to speak to Arne, and saw him pulling a gun from his bag. Polar bears are incredibly unpredictable animals, and to be in their environment without protection is foolish. But Arne had strict instructions from me only to use the gun to frighten the bear away, and then only if necessary.

§ 4. By now the animal was only 25 metres away and the atmosphere had changed. Arne sat up on the snowmobile calmly awaiting the bear's next move, while struggled to change the film in my camera with my cold, shaking hands. Then, just as I was thinking that there was no escape, as I tensed myself for the inevitable attack, the bear veered off (из­ме­нил на­прав­ле­ние) to one side and then went straight past us. "Look!" whispered Arne. "Behind us!" I turned and saw a second creamy head with two black eyes peering around the corner of an iceberg a few hundred metres behind us. A female bear. Our friend's goal had clearly been in his sight the whole time, and we were the only thing between him and his beloved.

§ 1. Cruising over the pack-ice with our heavy snowmobiles, my guide, Arne, and I looked out across the dazzling expanse of snow. We had come to the tiny, remote island of Svalbard northeast of Greenland, to photograph polar bears, but now we were exhausted with searching. The day had been particularly frustrating, as every bear we'd slowly approached had run away from us. Fed up and hungry, we decided to abandon our search for the afternoon and stop for a snack beside one of the many tall, blue icebergs.

§ 2. As always, a good meal was followed by an intense desire to sleep, and we decided to give in to it, even though the temperature was down to −30 °C. Sleeping at the same time would be unwise with our furry friends around, so we decided to take it in turns. As Arne slept, I scanned the Snow with my binoculars, looking for anything moving. An hour passed. I was just about to wake my companion, when I noticed a dot on the horizon. I wiped the lens, but it was still there. I began to make out the typical mayonnaise colour and the striding walk  — it was a polar bear and it was heading in our direction. I awoke Arne instantly. For the next thirty minutes, the bear continued on its direct course towards us, which was strange because the wind was blowing our scent straight towards him, so he must have been aware of our presence.

§ 3. When he was a couple of hundred metres away, I decided to lie down in the snow so as to get a better photograph. "You realise you look like seal like that, don't you?" warned Arne, for once sounding a bit worried. ave for dinner. Onwards the bear came, and by now I could hear the crunching Seals are what polar bears like to sound of his feet on the ice. It struck me that this was a big bear, travelling at some speed. I turned to speak to Arne, and saw him pulling a gun from his bag. Polar bears are incredibly unpredictable animals, and to be in their environment without protection is foolish. But Arne had strict instructions from me only to use the gun to frighten the bear away, and then only if necessary.

§ 4. By now the animal was only 25 metres away and the atmosphere had changed. Arne sat up on the snowmobile calmly awaiting the bear's next move, while struggled to change the film in my camera with my cold, shaking hands. Then, just as I was thinking that there was no escape, as I tensed myself for the inevitable attack, the bear veered off (из­ме­нил на­прав­ле­ние) to one side and then went straight past us. "Look!" whispered Arne. "Behind us!" I turned and saw a second creamy head with two black eyes peering around the corner of an iceberg a few hundred metres behind us. A female bear. Our friend's goal had clearly been in his sight the whole time, and we were the only thing between him and his beloved.

I had been invited by Jack and his son John to participate in a film they were making about shark diving. I had been diving and writing about the ocean for a decade and had frequently found myself in the water with sharks. Never intentionally. They just appeared, unwanted. The idea of swimming with them seemed dangerous. Still, Jack McKen- ney had asked me to participate. 1)____

To attract the sharks, we laid out plastic boxes wired together and filled with frozen fish. Once dropped over the side, the boxes lay half in and half out of the water: As the bait thawed, a long line of blood and fish followed us. (2)____

The stars of the film promised to be blue sharks. Fast and slim-bodied with pointed snouts, they grow to 12 feet in length and are known to attack humans. (3)____I thought someone was welcoming our visitors by pounding rapidly on a large bass drum. Then I realised that the fierce pounding was the beating of my own heart.

The shark cage sat on the deck. It was mainly constructed from wire. The idea was to swim into the cage once under the water. The only hand-held weapon I was given was a broom handle.

By the time I got to the cage, five sharks were swimming around us. As they glided past, they seemed curious, and'I felt like something hung up in a meat market. (4)____Strangely, proximity seemed to calm my fear.

We began to hand-feed the sharks as they cruised by the cage. Several times, I offered a fish, then yanked it away at the crucial moment. Then I felt guilty about teasing the monsters and began to want more contact.

I decided to go outside the cage. (5)____“They tend to hit some part of your body that is not moving. Usually this means the head.”

Outside the cage and checking in all directions, I moved to where Jack was shooting one particular shark for the film. (6)____It put on a slight burst of speed and glided in my direction. I had ten seconds to get my own broom handle in position, and when the shark was a foot away, I hit it firmly, on the snout. The shark twisted away, and disappeared into the depths. Relieved, I realised the mildest show of aggression seemed to put these fellows off their feed.

I had been invited by Jack and his son John to participate in a film they were making about shark diving. I had been diving and writing about the ocean for a decade and had frequently found myself in the water with sharks. Never intentionally. They just appeared, unwanted. The idea of swimming with them seemed dangerous. Still, Jack McKen- ney had asked me to participate. 1)____

To attract the sharks, we laid out plastic boxes wired together and filled with frozen fish. Once dropped over the side, the boxes lay half in and half out of the water: As the bait thawed, a long line of blood and fish followed us. (2)____

The stars of the film promised to be blue sharks. Fast and slim-bodied with pointed snouts, they grow to 12 feet in length and are known to attack humans. (3)____I thought someone was welcoming our visitors by pounding rapidly on a large bass drum. Then I realised that the fierce pounding was the beating of my own heart.

The shark cage sat on the deck. It was mainly constructed from wire. The idea was to swim into the cage once under the water. The only hand-held weapon I was given was a broom handle.

By the time I got to the cage, five sharks were swimming around us. As they glided past, they seemed curious, and'I felt like something hung up in a meat market. (4)____Strangely, proximity seemed to calm my fear.

We began to hand-feed the sharks as they cruised by the cage. Several times, I offered a fish, then yanked it away at the crucial moment. Then I felt guilty about teasing the monsters and began to want more contact.

I decided to go outside the cage. (5)____“They tend to hit some part of your body that is not moving. Usually this means the head.”

Outside the cage and checking in all directions, I moved to where Jack was shooting one particular shark for the film. (6)____It put on a slight burst of speed and glided in my direction. I had ten seconds to get my own broom handle in position, and when the shark was a foot away, I hit it firmly, on the snout. The shark twisted away, and disappeared into the depths. Relieved, I realised the mildest show of aggression seemed to put these fellows off their feed.

Wayback in 1828, the world's first modern police force was created by Sir Robert Peel. The Metropolitan Police Force of London made its home at the famous Scotland Yard and quickly became the model for police forces around the world. But it would be another decade before the Detective Branch of Scotland Yard was set up. This branch later became the Criminal Investigation Department (commonly known as C.I.D) and to this day remains the main police department in Britain responsible for major crime investigation.

Becoming a plain clothes detective in the C.I.D is no easy task. Firstly, a police officer needs to have served for at least two years as a uniformed officer. (1)___ Once this period has been completed the officer can then apply to go to a detective training school. However, there's no guarantee they will be accepted.

In order to become a detective, an officer needs to possess a wide range of skills and qualities, the most obvious being complete honesty and good character. They also need to be highly observant and to have good judgement. (2)___ An officer with all these skills could more than likely find themselves being accepted to train as a detective. Most of these "detectives-to-be' discover that the really hard work begins once they get to the training school. (3)___ For instance, they will have to learn about psychology, which will come in handy when they are questioning suspects and witnesses. Perhaps the most difficult subjects though deal with learning all about the modem scientific methods now used in crime detection.

Once our future Sherlocks have completed their initial training, they begin life as detective constables and start working on unsolved crime cases in the C.I.D. Most of the work they do is not nearly as glamorous as it seems on TV and in novels. (4)___ Not exactly exciting, but essential duties all the same.

Apart from having to do painstaking investigative work, detectives also have a lot of paperwork to deal with. (5)___ Every detail of a crime and its investigation must be recorded. Most detectives find the amount of clerical work they have to do the most frustrating part of their job.

Nonetheless, it can be a very rewarding job; a detective gets great satisfaction knowing they have solved a major crime. However, a detective's job is still not over after a suspect has been arrested and charged. (6)___ Only when the offender is actually behind bars is the detective's goal achieved. Then there's always the next case to tackle, of course.

1. Spellometric Language Schools

The Spellometric Organisation has been running courses in Britain for the last 25 years and now has five schools in the south and south-west of England. The schools use a well-practised and proven teaching technique which recognises that spelling and numerical skills are the basis of all languages and so should form a central part of all lessons. The schools cater mainly for students aged twelve to eighteen years. Lessons take place in the mornings, starting at 8:00am and finishing at 1:00 pm. The school arranges accommodation for students with local families.

2. Gattegno School of English

Situated in Central London, the internationally renowned Gattegno school opened in 1967 and uses Gattegno's "silent way" methodology to teach students. Teaching throughout the year, the school also organises summer courses with students attending from all over the world. Students must be over the age of eighteen and the maximum class size in this school is six.

3. Lancing English Association

The Lancing English Association runs two summer schools, one in Bath, and one in Bristol, mostly attended by young students from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Teachers use the audio-lingual method. The maximum class size is ten. The school day starts at 9:00am and finishes at 1:00 pm. In the afternoons and evenings students take part in a varied activity programme which includes cricket, football and horse-riding. Students can also enjoy the schools' indoor swimming pools. School trips to London and other tourist destinations take place at weekends. Courses last from two to eight weeks and are residential, with students staying in accommodation on the school site.

4. Pangloss School of English

The Pangloss School specialises in intensive English courses for students who wish to improve their English rapidly in the space of a few weeks. The school day lasts from 10:00am to 8:00pm, with intensive instruction in all aspects of the English language, from grammar structures to vocabulary. The course is particularly appropriate for students about to study at English Universities or business people looking for more specialised language skills. The maximum class size is five students. The school is situated in the Cambridgeshire countryside, just outside Cambridge itself.

1. Claire Lippold, 23, works for the Bat Conservation Trust

I did a degree in biology, and studied bats as part of my thesis. When I saw the ad for this job, I thought it would be perfect for me. We get about ten thousand calls a year, many from people worried that if they have bats in their attics they can't have any building work done. They need the right advice, because the law protects bats. We're contracted by an organisation called Natural England to arrange a service whereby anybody with bats on their property can have a specialist volunteer come out and give information and advice about the creatures they're living with. Generally, once they have the information, they're happy.

2. Anthea McNufty, 26, works for NHS Direct, the phone-in helpline operated by the National Health Service

Having worked in nurse training for a while, I found I missed the patient contact I'd enjoyed doing nursing itself. When I saw this job, I thought of it as a way of getting some of that contact back - without the cleaning up! I remember the dread of what the calls might be about on my first day, but they give you so much training before you're let loose that you can handle it. It was a bit difficult not having the physical clues I'd have been able to pick up on the wards. But you very quickly get used to working with the computer, it makes you feel safe.

3. Agnes Thomson, 60, works for a major broadcasting company

Yesterday, I got lots of calls relating to weekly programmes, though there was quite a contrast: the radio show for the blind, 'In Touch", and "Watchdog' on TV. The 'In Touch' callers had heard of some new equipment and wanted further details. Watchdog is a consumer programme and people generally call me because they have a problem with a product from a company we've covered on the show. Quite often people phone to complain spontaneously, and when we call them again within ten days with a response, which we promise to do in some cases, they've forgotten what made them cross.

4. Caroline Hickman, 34, works for a company with a wide range of household products

I really get a lot out of the work. We have such a wide range of products - from beauty and haircare through to nappies (nenehuku) and household cleaners - that no two calls are ever the same. With laundry products, for example, we get lots of Specific queries - people want to know what to use with certain types of material. We can't always go into details of all the settings of different brands of machine, though. We also get a lot of calls about skincare from people who want to know about specific ingredients in our products. You also get fascinating insight into the country's lifestyles. For instance, we tend to get lots of calls about cleaning products on a Monday, presumably because people buy them over the weekend, then, towards Friday we'll get haircare and beauty because they're planning a night out.

1. Mary Elton Mark

I loved photography from the moment I first picked up a camera and knew my life would be devoted to it. I don't think you can develop or learn a "way of seeing or a "point of view'. It's something that's inside you. It's how you look at the world. I want my photographs not only to be real but to portray the essence of my subjects, too. To do that, you have to be patient  — it can't be rushed. I prefer doing portraiture on location. On a subject's home ground you pick up certain hints that tell you personal things and they come up with ideas.

2. Tina Barney

I don't know how my brain works, but I do know that I work really fast. My shoots don't vary: an hour to set up, an hour to take the shots. And the minute I walk into a room I know what I'm going to shoot, although what that is only becomes clear to me after seeing the result. So it's a subconscious (под­со­зна­тель­ный) process. I started taking pictures in the 1970s for all the beautiful reasons photography was known for. Then all of a sudden digital technology booms and darkrooms get disappeared from photography schools. But I really believe in the classical way. It all comes down to looking at a piece of art and dissecting it and understanding how it's put together. I think the most important thing is to go out in the world and see.

3. Rankin

I think if you aren't fascinated by people, you'll never succeed as a portrait photographer, because your pictures will look cold. You don't have to know anything about the people in advance of the session, you just tap into them  — it's a skill. Every shoot is different and you have to alter your approach accordingly. You have to try to get into people's heads, so that they can open up to you and give you something. Sometimes we chat first, but sometimes it's good for everyone to be fresh and tense when you start out. I use the technique of being casual and informal and rude or asking my subjects to do ridiculous things, but I don't set out to upset anyone. I hope the viewer sees what I see. I think two words that would describe my work well are: humour and honesty.

4. Sebastião Salgado

It's difficult to explain why we're more attracted to certain images than others. For me, black and white photography has a certain kind of power. I'm talking about instantaneous photography, the kind that happens in a fraction of a second. A great picture is one that transmits a lot of emotion and where you can see who took it; who that person is. I come from a Latin American world, where you believe in things and you form a relationship with your surroundings. I also grew up with a sense of mysticism and belonging. The cynicism that exists in certain kinds of photography, and that pleasure of seeing oneself as a deep individualist, that's not for me. We're a gregarious species made to live together. That's the point of view of my photography and the starting point of all my work.

Many years ago, archaeology was about making discoveries and finding buried treasure. Now it has become a more scientific subject. Archaeologists are becoming (1) ... interested in finding out more about the lives of ordinary people rather than the dramatic lives of kings and emperors. 99% of archaeology is concerned with reading, excavating, recording, and classifying, and it is neither thrilling nor dangerous. However, the real (2) ... of archaeology comes through an (3) ... stream of new discoveries. Even the smallest piece of pottery, however (4) ... it may appear at first glance, can change our whole understanding of things that happened in the past.

Acting is certainly not a career for anyone who likes (1) ... Actors who are at the start of their careers, when they are still (2) ..., must go where the work is. This means they never really know the (3) ... of time they will spend in any one place. There is a lot of (4) ... in the theatre, too.

Thomas Edison knew his new invention, the lightbulb, would be revolutionary, but it's (1) ... that he realised quite how much the introduction of (2) ... would affect the kitchen. The modern kitchen is overflowing with electrical appliances. For a busy parent whose kids are hungry, the simplest (3) ... these days is to take some frozen food out of the freezer and pop it in the microwave. It's been particularly (4) ... for women - no longer do they have to stay all day chained to the cooker and the kitchen sink.

Last year I won a (1) ... in a newspaper and the prize was a holiday for two in a well-known Mediterranean resort. It turned out to be an (2) ... unpleasant experience and one which my husband and I would not like to repeat. Our room overlooked the road, which was unfortunately being widened at that time, and the noise from the machinery was deafening. The road works went on 24 hours a day and as a result we suffered several (3) ... nights. So we decided to (4) ... our stay and catch the first available flight home.

Ask any sports enthusiast in England to name the most popular sports and the answer will probably be football, cricket, golf and rugby. A lot of people play those games. As a (1) ... of fact, far (2) ... people go fishing, play badminton or sail. (3) ... do we get it wrong? Because sports editors, of newspapers and television channels, are stuck with their traditional patterns of judging by crowds rather (4) ... by how many actually go out and do the thing.

As you know, I finish school this summer and I am looking (1) ... to starting work and earning some money of my (2) ... . Eventually I want to open a shop and intend to get a job in the local department store to gain as (3) ... practical experience as possible. Of course my parents want (4) ... to go to college and do a business course but I feel I'd learn more on the job.

Nowadays, just about everyone has a mobile phone. This wonderful invention helps people to stay in touch with others at any time of day and night and no (1) ... where they are. It has brought people closer and it must certainly have saved many lives by enabling immediate contact with the emergency services. It also, on the other (2) ..., has its disadvantages. Perhaps the (3) ... obvious of them is the sound of people talking loudly on their phone on public transport, unaware of (4) ... much they are disturbing other travellers.