Hi, Tom!

The holidays have arrived again! It doesn't seem like a year since the last summer break, but in a few days we'll finish school for six weeks! I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year. Last year I did a summer job. I (1) ... out my dad in his office when he asked me if I wanted to get paid for it! It was only two mornings a week, but it (2) ... me some money to spend. How about you? (3) ... to go away anywhere this summer? I (4) ... by some friends to go on a sailing holiday and I think I will go. I love sailing. One reason I (5) ... to you is to ask if you would like to come and stay for a weekend. If you (6) ... at the end of August, we will go to the music festival in the park. I'm not sure if Lily Allen will be there this year, though. Write and tell me soon because there (7) ... many tickets... .

Love,

Olga

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.

There are so many threats to the wildlife on our planet nowadays that we are rarely surprised when we (1) ... about another one. However, some people might find it difficult to believe that small creatures like hedgehogs (ежи) would be the cause, rather than the victims, of one of these threats. One resident of an island which (2) ... off the west coast of Scotland describes how this extraordinary situation has come about. It appears that hedgehogs are not native to the islands. They (3) ... by a gardener who thought they (4) ... an effective way of controlling the slug (сли­зень) population. There are now so many hedgehogs on the island that they (5) ... many rare birds at risk because they eat birds' eggs. The hedgehogs are everywhere  — so what are the local people going to do about it? One group of conservationists tried to transport hedgehogs to the mainland. The plan might have succeeded if residents on the mainland hadn't pointed out that the hedgehogs would become just as much of a threat on the mainland as on the island. But, if action (6) ... soon, the continuing increase in the hedgehog population (7) ... in the disappearance of certain rare species of birds.

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.

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.

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.

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.

During our lifetime most of us have some experience of either owning a pet or being (1) ... close contact with someone who does. Various factors influence one's choice of pets, from your reasons (2) ... getting a pet to your lifestyle. For example, although quite a few pets are relatively cheap to buy, (3) ... cost of maintenance can be considerable. Everything must be taken (4) ... account, from food and bedding, to vaccinations and veterinary bills. You must be prepared to spend money and time (5) ... your pet, which involves shopping for it, cleaning and feeding it. Pets can be demanding and (6) ... big responsibility. People get pets for company, security or to teach responsibility (7) ... children. Pets can be affectionate and loyal and (8) ... excellent source of company as long as you know what pet suits you and your lifestyle.

In 1995 I went (1) ... a trip which was (2) ... absolute disaster. I was going to Berlin on business when, by accident, I got (3) ... the wrong train. We were on the way to Brussels before realised my mistake. When I got to Brussels I had more problems because all my money was in German Marks and I didn't have my credit card with me. By chance I found (4) ... helpful policeman who was soon (5) ... the phone to my company. Thanks (6) ... his help I was able to arrange (7) ... . Some money to be sent to a nearby bank. I spent that night in a hotel and paid my bill in (8) ... cash before leaving. In the end I got to Berlin twenty-four hours later than I had expected. Everyone thought my trip was a big joke.

(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.

At (1) ... early age Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest poet, had to help his father on his farm. When he was twenty-two, he went to Irvine, where he began to learn about making cloth. Shortly after his arrival, the factory in which he was training was destroyed (2) ... fire so he started (3) ... farm with his younger brother. While he was living on the farm, he concentrated (4) ... writing poems and fell for a local girl, Jean Armour. Robert wanted to marry her but her father would not allow him to do so, probably because he thought Burns was not wealthy enough. Her father's refusal took Robert (5) ... surprise and he decided to leave (6) ... country. Robert had to obtain the fare for the voyage by selling some poems. Just as he was about to leave he was given some advice  — to publish a new edition of the poems he had written. He received a large sum of money for the poetry and was able to get married (7) ... Jean Armour. During his marriage he continued to write the expressive poetry he became famous (8) ... .

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.

Albert Einstein's work has enormously broadened our understanding of (1) ... universe and has had a considerable impact (2) ... all our lives. Thanks (3) ... his equation E = mc², we now know that energy and mass are directly related (4) ... each other. To (5) ... very great extent, it is Einstein who is responsible (6) ... our knowing that space and time are actually one thing. Additionally, without E = mc², we would not have nuclear power  — and nuclear weapons  — today. Einstein did not become famous because of E = mc², which was first published in 1905. At (7) ... time, his paper was largely ignored, even (8) ... most scientists. Indeed, it was 14 years later that Einstein first made headlines round the world, when scientific evidence began to show that his Theory of General Relativity was correct.

At (1) ... early age Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest poet, had to help his father on his farm. When he was twenty-two, he went to Irvine, where he began to learn about making cloth. Shortly after his arrival, the factory in which he was training was destroyed (2) ... fire so he started (3) ... farm with his younger brother. While he was living on the farm, he concentrated (4) ... writing poems and fell for a local girl, Jean Armour. Robert wanted to marry her but her father would not allow him to do so, probably because he thought Burns was not wealthy enough. Her father's refusal took Robert (5) ... surprise and he decided to leave (6) ... country. Robert had to obtain the fare for the voyage by selling some poems. Just as he was about to leave he was given some advice  — to publish a new edition of the poems he had written. He received a large sum of money for the poetry and was able to get married (7) ... Jean Armour. During his marriage he continued to write the expressive poetry he became famous (8) ... .

At (1) ... early age Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest poet, had to help his father on his farm. When he was twenty-two, he went to Irvine, where he began to learn about making cloth. Shortly after his arrival, the factory in which he was training was destroyed (2) ... fire so he started (3) ... farm with his younger brother. While he was living on the farm, he concentrated (4) ... writing poems and fell for a local girl, Jean Armour. Robert wanted to marry her but her father would not allow him to do so, probably because he thought Burns was not wealthy enough. Her father's refusal took Robert (5) ... surprise and he decided to leave (6) ... country. Robert had to obtain the fare for the voyage by selling some poems. Just as he was about to leave he was given some advice  — to publish a new edition of the poems he had written. He received a large sum of money for the poetry and was able to get married (7) ... Jean Armour. During his marriage he continued to write the expressive poetry he became famous (8) ... .

Years ago, back in the days when I was just a kid, my family used to have Sunday picnics together in a nearby part of the countryside. We would (1) ... a suitably quiet and pleasant spot, then (2) ... several hours chatting, eating and playing games in the (3) ... air. Since then, though, my parents' life has become so busy that they never seem to have the time for outdoor family meals any more. In my (4) ... this is a great pity, so I've recently started to organise picnics of my own. I get in (5) ... with some of my closest friends and first we (6) ... on a suitable place to go. Then we talk about who'll bring which food. This ensures that there will be a (7) ... of tasty things to eat, particularly if everyone makes the meals they do best. It's important, though, to keep the food simple, as everything has to (8) ... into a backpack and then be carried across fields and up river vall's. When we finally (9) ... our destination, it's time to sit down, relax and (10) ... each other's company. And I'm absolutely certain that food tastes better on a picnic than anywhere else!

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.

Dancing can be a fun way to workout. Experts say that dancing improves blood circulation, boosts energy levels and helps you (1) ... healthy bones. It's also a great way to (2) ... weight. As well as the (3) ... benefits, dancing is great for improving co-ordination and concentrating the mind. Dancing is a great stress reliever, a good dance will make you smile and laugh, leaving you in high (4) ... and inspired. There should be a very (5) ... risk of injury from dancing if you (6) ... instructions carefully, but make sure you always warm up properly or you could (7) ... up with pulled muscles. So, (8) ... on some comfortable clothes, like tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt, and get to it. Some types of dancing may (9) ... special clothes when you get more advanced; others (10) ... you to dress more casually.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. The Alpine Club in London has all the atmosphere of a country pub, where the regulars have been coming for years to have a friendly chat over great climbs. Many mountaineers have spoken here before; this particular evening, the floor is given over to Alan Hinkes. He is speaking before he sets off on his attempt to become the first Briton to climb all 14 of the world's highest peaks over 8000 metres. While five men in the world have already achieved this feat, he will be the first to climb six within a year.

§ 2. It was during his first attempt at an "8000er" in the Himalayas in 1992 that he first thought about attempting "the 14", as the world's 14 highest peaks are known in mountaineering circles. Over the next 10 years, Hinkes gradually climbed another seven of the 8000ers. Then followed three years during which he made three attempts on the world's hardest mountain, Pakistan's K2. "K2 is not much lower than Everest," explains Hinkes, "so you have all the same altitude problems." It is also much more difficult to climb, he adds." In 2003 I had to retreat to help a guy down who was in a really bad way, then the next year I got very near the top but wasn't happy with the snow conditions."

§ 3. Hinkes' rule, which he repeats as much to remind himself as anyone else, is "No mountain is worth a life, the summit is a bonus." "It's always difficult to enjoy it on top of the mountain because you know you have to get back down," he says. Descending is always harder. "You're exhausted  — particularly if you burn uploads of calories celebrating the victory on the summit like some people do. You have to keep yourself under control for the descent."

§ 4. Hinkes celebrates his 43rd birthday on 23 April 2012, the day he intends to summit Lhotse. "I was as fit as a butcher's dog 20 years ago but it would have been difficult to force myself to go slow and the way to get fit on big mountains is to keep pushing slowly," he admits. Hinkes is very obviously looking forward to the task ahead. If he makes it  — and he refuses to be drawn into rating his own chances of success  — he is well aware that it will be largely down to his ability to keep mind, body and soul together in situations where the mountains have the final say. He is angry at any reference to the fact that he is "conquering" anything. "Mountaineers have never spoken about 'conquering mountains. It is the media and non-climbers who talk in this way. You never conquer a mountain; a mountain lets you move to the top and get back down. It lets you have a good time or a bad time on it, but it never allows you to conquer it."

§ 1. The facts of the burglary at the vicarage came to us chiefly through the medium of the vicar and his wife. It occurred in the small hours of Whit Monday. Mrs Bunting, it seems, woke up suddenly in the stillness that comes before the dawn, with the strong impression that the door of their bedroom had opened and closed. She did not arouse her husband at first, but sat up in bed listening. She then distinctly heard the pad of bare feet coming out of the dressing-room and walking along the passage towards the staircase. As soon as she felt assured of this, she aroused the Rev Mr Bunting as quietly as possible. He did not strike a light, but putting on his spectacles, his dressing-gown, and his bath slippers, he went out on the landing to listen. He heard quite distinctly a fumbling going on at his study desk downstairs, and then a violent sneeze.

§ 2. At that he returned to his bedroom, armed himself with the most obvious weapon, the poker, and descended the staircase as noiselessly as possible. Mrs Bunting came out on the landing. .

§ 3. The hour was about four, and the ultimate darkness of the night was past. There was a faint shimmer of light in the hall, but the study doorway yawned impenetrably black. Everything was still except the faint creaking of the stairs under Mr Bunting’s tread, and the slight movements in the study. Then something snapped, the drawer was opened, and there was a rustle of papers. Then came a curse, and a match was struck and the study was flooded with yellow light. Through the crack of the door Mr Bunting could see the desk and the open drawer and a candle burning on the desk. But the robber he could not see. He stood there in the hall undecided what to do, and Mrs Bunting, her face white and intent, crept slowly downstairs after him. One thing kept up Mr Bunting’s courage: the persuasion that this burglar was a residefit in the village.

§ 4. They heard the chink of money, and realised that the robber had found the housekeeping reserve of gold. At that sound Mr Bunting was nerved to abrupt action. Gripping the poker firmly, he rushed into the room, closely followed by Mrs Bunting. “Surrender!” cried Mr Bunting fiercely and then stopped, amazed. Apparently the room was perfectly empty.

§1. As his feet splash through the warm waters of a huge outdoor pool at Dolphin Cove in the Florida Keys, USA, tenyear-old Jamie has a delighted expression on his face. He suffers from a disability which means he has difficulty communicating with the rest of the world, but the presence of playful dolphins elicits attention and squeals of pleasure. His parents are happy, too. 'In the past, he wouldn't even touch anything solid, and now he's grabbing hold of the dolphin's fin', says May, Jamie's mother. 'It's opening a new world for him.'

§2. The captive dolphins are part of the Dolphin Human Therapy programme, established by Dr David Nathanson, who uses dolphins to help children with mental and physical disabilities. The dolphins are not treated as miracle healers. Instead, the possibility of touching their grey-suede skin or even having a swim with a dolphin is a reward that encourages children like Jamie to respond to their teachers, who sit with the children at the water's edge. The sessions start with the teacher encouraging the child to motion 'hello' to a dolphin, which responds with a shake of its head or fin. The child is offered another chance to play with the dolphin if he or she works hard during the session.

§3. Adults too are attracted to swimming with captive dolphins as well. At a theme park near Orlando, people pay to have a 30-minute swim with them. It is a deeply memorable experience. When a swimmer slides into water alongside a dolphin they can actually feel their skin tingling as the dolphin scans them with sonar (гид­ро­ло­ка­тор). Then with a flip of their powerful tails, the dolphins are off, gliding around effortlessly, clearly observing their human visitors.

§4. Anyone tempted to swim with wild dolphins, however, should be careful. They can have a vicious streak. Male dolphins will sometimes kill baby dolphins, to attract the attention of females. They have also been filmed killing small porpoises (animals similar to dolphins), probably mistaking them for baby dolphins.

§5. Scientists have discovered that dolphins 'talk' to each other, through a form of whistling. The animals practise 'whistle matching', which is when one dolphin whistles and another repeats the sound within three seconds.

§6. Back at Dolphin Cove, the dolphins' contribution to the children's progress is acknowledged. 'I think dolphins are incredible,' says Jeffrey Bicknell, who works with the children. 'I've seen them look at a child and observe what the problem is, and change their behaviour according to the nature of the problem. They are more dominant with some children, more patient with others.'

§ 1. I started as a paperboy when I was 11. The route covered the richest neighbourhood in town filled with grand mansions. This sounded like a desirable post, when it was presented to me by the route manager, Mr McTivity, but of course mansions have the longest driveways and widest lawns, so it took many minutes to deliver each paper. And papers weighed a ton back then.

§ 2. During my route, I would devote a good length of time to asking myself "what if"  — what I would do if I could make myself invisible or if I could hypnotise everyone in the world. Then I might move on to consider unanswerable questions. How do migrating birds know which bird to follow? And how could we be sure that we all saw the same colours?

§ 3. In those days, I was hardly worried by the problems of the real world, so the combination of long walks, fresh air and being alone on my route let me slip easily into my own private thoughts and fantasies. But there was a price to pay for my absent-mindedness. I would suddenly realise that I couldn't remember any of the last 47 houses I had visited. I didn't know if I had left a paper, or instead just walked up to the door, stood for a moment like a mechanical robot and turned round and walked away again. It is not easy to describe the sense of self-disappointment that comes with reaching the end of your route and finding that there are sixteen undelivered papers in your bag and you don't have the least idea to whom they should have gone. Mr McTivity would not be amused if he found out. There was only one way to find the solution to this. So I spent much of my early years first walking an enormous newspaper route and then revisiting large parts of it  — sometimes twice!

§ 4. As if delivering papers seven days a week weren't enough, you also had to collect the subscription (под­пис­ка) money. There wasn't a more unpleasant task than this. But in particular, the moment that filled me with dread was collecting from Mrs Vandermeister. Mrs Vandermeister was 70 years old, possibly 80. She was very small, forgetful and practically deaf.

§ 5. Getting money from her was a nightmare, if I rang the doorbell at 15-second intervals for an hour and 10 minutes, eventually she would realise someone was at the door. "Now who the heck is that?" she would shout to herself, and begin the long process of getting from her chair to the front door, which was just twenty-five feet away. When eventually she came to the door, it would take an extra half-hour to convince her that I was not a murderer. When she finally opened the door, she was always alarmed to find me standing there. "Oh, Billy, you gave me a start!" she'd say. "It's nice of you to pop by." After I reminded her why I was there, there would be another long pause while she went off to find her purse. She would return half an hour later to ask how much again. There would be another detour to kitchen, and finally the announcement that she didn't have that much cash and I'd have to call again another time.

§ 1. My parents always said I was born to be a sportsman. They said that even when I was in nappies, I wasn't happy unless I was kicking or throwing a ball. My first memory is of Dad and me playing football in our back garden. I recall my mum sitting down on the grass cheering me on as I clumsily kicked a football into the goal net my dad was 'defending'. The sense of achievement when I scored my first goal stuck with me, and my life has revolved around football ever since. As I grew up, I dreamed of becoming a football player. During class, I tried to stay focused on my studies; I knew that few people became professional sportsmen and it was crucial to get a good education. But I devoted every spare second to my passion. I knew that if I wanted to become a success, I would have to put all my energy into the game.

§ 2. My big break came when I was 18. Leicester City FC offered me a place in the team. It was there that I learned the true value of teamwork. I played with a fantastic group of guys there and we worked toward one common goal  — to win! I learned that every person has their own individual talents, and a great team brings these talents together. We enjoyed great success at Leicester, and I was lucky enough to become one of the UK's top scorers I was transferred to Everton and, while I was sad to leave my fellow team-mates, I was excited about working with new people and making new friends. My time at Everton was an outstanding experience. While I was there, I scored 38 goals in 52 games. It wasn't long until I was on a new journey, this time across the sea to Spain to play for FC Barcelona. I was nervous at first, but it turned out that there was no reason to panic. I felt great pride when I stepped into the stadium and onto the pitch in Barcelona.

§ 3. As you can imagine, the proudest I felt was when I played for my country, England, in the World Cup. The tournament raises the level of competitiveness for every player. Not only do you have to be mentally prepared, but you have to be at the peak of physical fitness  — so, as you can imagine, it didn't help that I had to play the tournament with my left arm heavily strapped up! But I was determined not to let one injury stop me and played anyway! Because we were astrong team, we got to the quarter finals, and I scored six goals during the entire competition and won the 'Golden Boot' award

§ 4. Football has taken me around the world, from England to Spain to Japan! I have become fluent in two other languages and have experienced other cultures. My career provided me with many happy memories that I wouldn't change for the world.

§ 1. My trip around Italy gave me the chance to try some of its regional cuisine. It was such a whirlwind that it is sometimes hard to separate one place from another in my mind. My time in Bologna, however, is perfectly imprinted in my memory. There, I had a lunch date to eat the most famous of Italian exports  — spaghetti Bolognese!

§ 2. My friend Marco had invited me to Bologna. He always said one day I should visit his home city and eat the well-known Bolognese dish, but, he added, "as you've never tasted it before." I had no idea what he meant, but about one thing I was sure; I had read in my guidebook that the Bolognese sauce, which includes beef, onions, carrot, celery, tomato paste, meat, milk, salt and pepper, dates back to the 5th century!

§ 3. After my train pulled into Bologna station, I wandered towards the famous Piazza Maggiore, the very heart of the city. Passing by a shoe shop window display, a pair of elegant shoes caught my eye immediately. "I must try those on," I thought. Upon entering the shop, an assistant stepped forward to greet me. I began my request in faltering Italian, but the assistant smiled and quickly replied, "I speak English, how can I help you?" "Thank you," I said, "I'd like to try on a pair of shoes in the window." The shop assistant said, "Well, of course, you can try them on in the window, but everyone in the street will be able to see you!" I realised she had taken my words very literally! I Smiled, "Sorry, I meant the shoes I'd like to try on are in the window display, but I'll try them on here," I said, sitting myself down on a chair, "in size 6, please." "Size 6? We have sizes 34 to 42." Suddenly, I remembered that sizing on the continent is different to that in the UK. "I'm sorry, that would be size 39, please." I was happy to find that the shoes fitted perfectly.

§ 4. After shopping it was time to head for food I found myself back at the piazza to find Marco had already arrived. We made our way to his grandmother's home for lunch. She was waiting to greet us at the door. I could smell the aroma of home cooking. "I can't wait for the spaghetti Bolognese," I exclaimed.

§ 5. Grandma looked confused. "Spaghetti? In Bologna, we never serve spaghetti with Bolognese sauce. We use thick pasta like fettuccine or tagliatelle." Smiling, Marco said, "I told you you'd be surprised. Bolognese sauce might be eaten with spaghetti all over the world, but never in Bologna!" I must say, Grandma's Bolognese was perfect. It had been a lovely day with smart new shoes, great company and delicious food. I could hardly complain!

1.  Margherita Taylor is the only female presenter at Capital Radio, one of London's top music radio stations. She got into radio while she was a student in Birmingham. Along with hundreds of other hopefuls, she and a friend queued for hours in the rain to take part in a 'Search for a Star' competition held by a local radio station, BRMB. "I had to read a travel script and a weather script, talk about myself for a minute, then introduce a record." Within days the phone call came to say that her voice had earned her a regular show on BRMB. Truly the stuff dreams are made of. After working there for 18 months, she was offered a job with Capital.

2.  Margherita claims never to get nervous before a show. "You can't get nervous because then you make mistakes, she says. Of course, there has been the odd disaster. "For instance, when I did my first live concert show at BRMB, I'd only done one programme. In front of a crowd of 50,000, I went on stage to introduce a certain well-known singer. I said: "Please welcome our next performer. You know her best for hits like." Then I just went blank. There was this silence from the crowd, and for the life of me I couldn't think what she'd sung. That's one occasion that will stay with me for ever."

3.  Margherita says that her own musical tastes are varied. But she doesn't pick her own music for the show. The Capital computer selects the records in advance from a list approved by the station managers. "The station has a certain sound, and if we all picked our own music, it wouldn't sound like Capital," she says."But for someone who likes music, this is a dream job. I get to go to concerts and meet the bands you can hear on my show. It's great to hear the "behind the scenes"gossip."

4.  Most people would expect that a presenter's most important qualities are a nice voice and huge amounts of confidence, but Margherita says that basic maths is handy as well. "You have to make sure that you've got an eye on everything that's going on in the studio, but you've got to be able to add and subtract and think in minutes and seconds," she says. "You're dealing with timed records, and you have to be ready to switch to the news at exactly the right second. If you're going over to a live event, you need to be ready for that on time, not a second earlier or later."

5.  Margherita Taylor is very nice and very easy-going, but very much in control. She is so much a "Capital Radio girl" that you might think she is just doing a good job for the station's publicity department, although you know what she's saying really comes from the heart. She smiles a lot, laughs a lot and is generally a great advert for Capital.

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.

A few years ago, a company called Space Marketing came up with a plan to send a mile-long advertisement into space. Using light reflected from the sun, it would beam out a message as large as the moon that could be seen by every single person on the planet as it orbited the Earth.

This would have been one advert that couldn't have been thrown out with the junk mail or switched off by remote control. (1)___ Advertising standards agencies eventually decided not to allow Space Marketing to go ahead with their plans and they were forced to abandon them, but not before several major companies had made serious enquiries about launching their logos into space.

Space may indeed be the final frontier for advertisers, because on Earth we are already surrounded by advertising wherever we are and whatever we are doing. (2)___ There are the promises of health and vitality on the cereal packet weate from this morning, for example, and the ad that we saw on the side of the bus we caught to work. Most of the time, we are probably not even aware of these less obvious advertising tactics, but that doesn't mean that they aren't effective. (3)___ You are in a packed cinema, watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster. There are adverts before the film or during a break in the film, but are there any during the film? Well, look carefully at the make of car your favourite actor is driving. And what about his watch? Can you see what brand it is? Chances are, you can, and the company that owns the brand is likely to have paid thousands for it to appear in the film.

Whilst products are most often placed' in this way in movies and TV series, they also sometimes appear in music videos, video games, plays and even books. (4)___ You may not realise you are being influenced by a technique that sounds so simple, but advertisers consider product placement to be a highly effective form of advertising. After all, they would not be willing to spend as much money as they do on it if they didn't truly believe it worked.

In fact, associating products with cool, exciting lives seems to be one of the most common forms of advertising. (5)___

And let's not forget the power of pure entertainment (6)___ If the consumers are looking forward to the next 'episode' of an ad, once again the product has become associated with something 'cool" and is therefore likely to See a considerable rise in popularity.

So, whether Space Marketing eventually succeeds in launching ads into space or not is perhaps a less important issue than it might seem.

Many people go away on holiday and discover as much about themselves as they do about the places they visit.

1. Hugo

When my eldest daughter, Alice, was ten, she asked for a holiday with me  — just the two of us. I have four children So it can be difficult for Alice to get a word in, and I understood what she wanted. I decided to show her Venice and Alice was curious to see it. We arrived at night, which was completely magical. The water gives the city a sense of mystery. Even if you've been down a street before, the next time you find it you see something different and that stops you recognising it. So you constantly get lost. Alice loved Venice. We laughed a lot, and the best thing for me was seeing her excited face.

2. Danie

I went to Jamaica with a friend. We had so much fun  — it was one of the best holidays I've ever had. Everyone and everything is very relaxed in Jamaica. The thing you hear most often is 'No problem, man'. At first I thought they were just saying it, but then you realise nothing is a problem because the whole place is so relaxed. And that attitude makes you relax and forget about all the things you usually worry about. We spent one day at a port watching a cruise ship come in. When that happens, all the shops double their prices and you have to bargain for anything you want to buy. You look at something and shake your head and they lower the price and you still shake your head, but you eventually find out at what stage you should agree on a price. I bought some really great wooden statues for half the original price!

3. Krystyna

I thought I would try an activity holiday last year as l reckoned an activity holiday would help me discover hidden talents. Perhaps I would turn out to be a brilliant canoeist, mountain climber or skydiver. The trouble with holidays like this is that you may not like what you discover. I had forgotten that I would be with a group of people each day. It had never occurred to me how competitive some people would be. Whatever we did, they had to be first. They will also have the loudest voices and make the most irritating remarks. Such daily companions can come as a shock if you are more used to quiet conversations with your best friend.

4. Robin

We arranged to go on safari. Part of the holiday included a canoe safari on the Zambezi river. In our canoe there was just my friend and myself and the guide. I'm not terribly athletic and when I got into the canoe I managed to tip it over and we all ended up in the water. I was quite frightened because of the crocodiles there. We couldn't turn the canoe upright but the guide was very calm. He pointed to a rock in the middle of the river and told us to swim to it as fast as we could, while he went to get help. Then he came back with another canoe, but after that I refused to go back on the water. I was quite surprised by my reaction. Not that I'd thought of myself as a particularly brave person, but the shock of what happened left me feeling very nervous.

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.

Four readers suggest great locations where you can watch wildlife in its natural surroundings.

1. Kevin: Hallo Bay, Alaska

The first time you see a bear your mouth definitely goes dry. Unlike in other more frequently visited areas, the bears at Hallo Bay don't associate humans with food, so they pose no risk to people. For me, Hallo Bay's a magical place. I've always been a person who was structured and organised, but I've said for years now that I lost my list in Alaska. One thing which makes Hallo Bay so special is that the remote camp has just a dozen guests at a time, with guided groups of no more than half that many heading out to search for the bears. For me, even without the bears it would be a gorgeous place to visit.

2. Ray: Playa Grands Sanctuary, Costa Rica

With concerns mounting about the pressure on the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica's popularity as a wildlife venue could be about to take off, and deservedly so. Costa Rica has it all: iguanas at your feet, capuchin monkeys overhead, sloths (ле­ни­вец) and jaguars are to be seen. However, perhaps the most magical thing to do here is to watch turtles lay their eggs on a moonlight beach. It does require patience; we waited two nights, napping on hard benches at the Playa Grande sanctuary, before one of the wardens shook us awake. We were allowed quite close to watch the turtle dig a hole with her flippers and deposit hundreds of eggs. She then casually covered them up and headed off back down the beach.

3. Sarah: Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

It's so hard to recommend just one location in Africa to go in search of the big five! However, if you've never been on Safari before, then travel is straightforward in South Africa and its parks are the cheapest if you're short of money. The parks have well-equipped campsites and good-quality roads, so it's perfectly possible to hire a four-by-four and head off on your own. There's also an impressive selection of volunteer projects involving animals, particularly around the country's biggest parks. I spent four weeks helping at a veterinary practice with African Conservation Experience. I got the chance to work with lion, cheetah, elephant and buffalo. The work's extremely hands-on and you have to be ready for anything, whether it's taking a lion's temperature or treating a dog for a snake bite!

4. Amy: Chitwan National Park, Nepal

With tigers, snow leopards and one-horned rhinoceros, Nepal certainly has its share of endangered animals. visited Chitwan at the foot of the Himalayas. The park was set aside for wildlife in 1959 and is the place to see Indian rhinoceros as well as being one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger. One of the best ways to view both is from the back of an elephant  — something that is rather fabulous in itself. We were having breakfast one day when two elephants were being taken for their daily wash on the river bank near our hotel. We made a small donation and asked to help  — it was one of the most amazing animal encounters possible, sitting on the backs of those huge elephants scrubbing their backs whilst they knelt in the water and sprayed us from their trunk!

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.

When you have accepted our offer of (1) ... you will be given a uniform which you have to wear while on duty. Our uniform has been designed after detailed (2) ... with members of staff and reflects the quality and style of our business. It helps to form the customers' first impression of us. Please note that male staff are not permitted to wear jewellery of any kind and female staff must not wear rings or earrings which are (3) ... in shape or design. Wristwatches must be (4) ... in size and appearance.

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.

Rising temperatures and a hotter climate? Well, if you are fortunate enough to live in a country with a (1) ... climate, it sounds great, doesn't it? But there is a dark side. This climate might bring with it mosquitoes, (2) ... of malaria. It is important to remember that malaria is not an (3) ... disease providing it is dealt with promptly. So if you should come back from the tropics feeling ill, it is (4) ... to receive medical treatment as quickly as possible.

A (1) ... number of people feel that washing with antibacterial soaps is the (2) ... thing to do. (3) ..., their ignorance has led them to believe that these soaps are better than normal ones. However, research has shown that there is no real difference between washing with ordinary soap or soap containing antibacterial agents. It has also been proved that being too clean actually has (4) ... effects, as our bodies do not become resistant to germs (мик­ро­бы). This discovery has come as a surprise, especially to those who believe that bacteria have to be fought with every means known to man.

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.

The most common materials which are recycled are paper and glass. Some plastics, metals and textiles can be recycled as (1) ... . In theory recycling seems obvious: however, in practice it is not always cost-effective. Often the cost of collection and transportation is greater (2) ... the cost of the energy saved. It also means that (3) ... are fewer jobs available in industries (4) ... as mining, as demand for raw materials is lower.

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) ... .