A German architect, Werner Aisslinger, thinks that he (1) ... the answer to our crowded cities. It is a portable micro-apartment. These apartments (2) ... ‘Loftcubes’. and they can be lifted onto any empty, flat roof by helicopter! Each Loftcube (3) ... with a kitchen and bathroom, as well as a large living area. They are extremely modern - they have been built using all the latest ideas, fabrics, and technology in interior design. The Loftcube (4) ... at an exhibition in Berlin several years ago. but Berlin wasn’t the right place for them, because it doesn’t have a housing shortage. These apartments are needed in busy, overcrowded cities, such as London and New York. They (5) ... very much. In the future, Aisslinger hopes that young professionals who often move from city to city (6) ... them. When it is time to move, they will just take their home w ith them! 'Since the Berlin exhibition we (7) ... to a number of companies interested in building them, but no decisions have been made yet,’ says Aisslinger.

Joanne Rowling became famous almost overnight. She is the author of a highly successful series of books for young people, Joanne (1) ... of being a writer for as long as she can remember. In fact, she (2) ... up stories and characters ever since she was a schoolgirl. When she was still quite young, the family moved to a town called Chepstow. A family who lived nearby were called Potter, and she used their name for the hero of her books. She and her sister, Di, attended a state school in the town. Joanne's talent for telling stories (3) ... her a popular figure in the School. During breaks between lessons, she (4) ... by a crowd of friends, anxious to hear the latest story she (5) ... .

When she left school, Joanne succeeded in getting a place at university. After graduating, she married a journalist but, sadly, the couple soon (6) ... up and she moved to Edinburgh. She had no income and couldn't even afford a plastic folder to send her new book to potential publishers. However one wonderful day a publisher (7) ... 'yes'. It was the greatest day of her life.

In the early 19th century an amazing thing happened in America. Nearly half a million people left their homes and headed West along what was called 'the Oregon Trail', a path across the country to California and Oregon. The men and women (1) ... from poverty and hardship in the East. How did they find out about the opportunities that existed in the West? It seems that travellers who (2) ... there on trading expeditions brought back stories of warmer winters and of good farming land that was being given away by the government. Then, in 1849, news (3) ... that men (4) ... gold in California. In the early 1850s, people (5) ... to reach the West. On the journey, they met many dangers. Many settlers didn't reach the West alive. But change (6) ... to the American West. By 1870, a new railway (7) ... and the Oregon Trail had become a part of history.

Joanne Rowling became famous almost overnight. She is the author of a highly successful series of books for young people, Joanne (1) ... of being a writer for as long as she can remember. In fact, she (2) ... up stories and characters ever since she was a schoolgirl. When she was still quite young, the family moved to a town called Chepstow. A family who lived nearby were called Potter, and she used their name for the hero of her books. She and her sister, Di, attended a state school in the town. Joanne's talent for telling stories (3) ... her a popular figure in the School. During breaks between lessons, she (4) ... by a crowd of friends, anxious to hear the latest story she (5) ... .

When she left school, Joanne succeeded in getting a place at university. After graduating, she married a journalist but, sadly, the couple soon (6) ... up and she moved to Edinburgh. She had no income and couldn't even afford a plastic folder to send her new book to potential publishers. However one wonderful day a publisher (7) ... 'yes'. It was the greatest day of her life.

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

Hi, Rob!

How are you doing? I'm OK. My day didn't start too well though. My alarm didn't go off and I (1) ... . (My mum (2) ... to work early today so she wasn't around in the morning to get me up.) Then I got held up on the way to school because the bus I was on (3) ... down. When I finally made it into class, I (4) ... off by the teacher and had to stay on after school for a detention (остав­ле­ние после урока)! Then on the way back home I bumped into Craig. He (5) ... a few family dramas to deal with recently. Apparently his dad has been laid off from the bank where he worked and his sister (6) ... out of the university so they're both at home feeling miserable.

What are you up to at the weekend? A few of us (7) ... together for a game of beach volleyball. Why don't you come along?

Archie

Joanne Rowling became famous almost overnight. She is the author of a highly successful series of books for young people, Joanne (1) ... of being a writer for as long as she can remember. In fact, she (2) ... up stories and characters ever since she was a schoolgirl. When she was still quite young, the family moved to a town called Chepstow. A family who lived nearby were called Potter, and she used their name for the hero of her books. She and her sister, Di, attended a state school in the town. Joanne's talent for telling stories (3) ... her a popular figure in the School. During breaks between lessons, she (4) ... by a crowd of friends, anxious to hear the latest story she (5) ... .

When she left school, Joanne succeeded in getting a place at university. After graduating, she married a journalist but, sadly, the couple soon (6) ... up and she moved to Edinburgh. She had no income and couldn't even afford a plastic folder to send her new book to potential publishers. However one wonderful day a publisher (7) ... 'yes'. It was the greatest day of her life.

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

Recently, more and more students have started to take up (1) ... full-time paid work while they are still studying. This means that some of them end up actually leaving their degree courses because they see the advantages of having (2) ... stable income and feel that this is more useful than getting a degree. Earning a reasonable wage means that they are able to begin to pay (3) ... the debts they have run (4) ... while they were at college or university. Why do they have these debts? Sometimes it is because they are not good (5) ... managing their money and overspend (6) ... entertainment and clothes. Sometimes it is not their fault. Banks are keen to offer students credit cards and it is very easy to build up a big overdraft. And it is almost impossible (7) ... students to cover all the costs of (8) ... accommodation and other necessary expenses.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

27-year-old Londoner Andrew Terrill began a 7,000-mile walk from the south of Italy to the northernmost tip of Norway. The aim was to raise money for (1) ... homeless in England's capital. Here he reports (2) ... his experiences at (3) ... start of his adventures. "When I stood on a deserted beach at the southern tip of Italy, I didn't know quite what to expect. If I had known, I might never have left that pleasant Mediterranean beach. As I walked north into the foothills of (4) ... Apennines, it seemed impossible that I would ever reach (5) ... my final destination, North Cape (6) ... the top of Norway. The mountains were certainly a challenge. They were covered in dense forest, and there were few footpaths. There were many evil-looking snakes, a million lizards, deer and wild boar. The wildlife kept me (7) ... my toes. It was great to be out in the hills with the freedom to travel and live life (8) ... my own slow pace."

It is said that technological development has given people more leisure time than they used to have, and that this frees them up to concentrate (1) ... their interests and hobbies. It seems to me however, that most people spend their free time doing things that do not contribute (2) ... their development. To start with, the most popular free-time activities seem to be ones that people do alone. For instance, most people spend much time (3) ... the internet and, even when they are interacting (4) ... others, t hey are only doing so electronically. In addition (5) ... this, when people go out it is often to visit the shopping centre. At (6) ... same time, there are examples of people making good use of their time. At weekends, there are parks, forests and beaches full of people doing sports or taking walks together. Some people do (7) ... volunteer work for charity organisations. Other people join theatre or singing groups and there are many people who enjoy reading Sadly, however, this reflects (8) ... relatively small part of the overall population.

Attitudes towards shopping have changed dramatically over the last decade or so. Some people argue that we have (1) ... a society of consumers, and that nothing but spending money (2) ... us happy. On the other (3) ... , anyone who has worked hard to (4) ... money surely has the right to spend it on whatever they wish. Provided that we are prepared to save enough of our money for a rainy day, there seems little wrong with using the rest to (5) ... for things that (6) ... us pleasure. The delights of shopping are all too obvious. Attractive displays of food on supermarket shelves, and clothes which look fantastic on shop window models, tempt customers to part with their money, even if they do not actually need the goods they are buying. The real question is: would we all be happier if we were (7) ...? The answer is probably that we can be just as happy with money as we can without it. ERRA, what we should do is (8) ... an effort to return to the things that really (9) ... in life and share what we have worked so (10) ... to get with others less fortunate than ourselves.

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.

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

There's no (1) ... to settle for an unhealthy lunch from home or the mysterious unhealthy food in the cafeteria. Why not eat a lunch that is delicious and good for you? Did you know that the types of foods you choose (2) ... your mood and energy levels? According to dietician Andrea Garen, a healthy lunch 'needs to combine nutrient-rich foods from several food groups to (3) ... energy and concentration for several (4) ... .' And, since teenagers are growing and (5) ... through changes, the need for nutrients is (6) ... more significant. 'Because of development, calcium needs are greater during adolescence than at any other time,' says Mary Choate, a food and nutrition educator. "Good sources of calcium (7) ... dairy products and calcium-fortified cereals.' And, that's just the beginning. A balanced meal has a (8) ... variety of colours and flavours, so you'll never get bored. Basically, any lunch should contain (9) ... three ounces of protein, plus some good sources of carbohydrates. Lots of nutritious fruits and vegetables are also (10) ... .

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were (1) ... to be one of the Seven Wonders of the (2) ... World. They are believed to have been built by King Nebuchadnezzar in the sixth century BC as a present for his wife, Amytis.

The gardens were constructed in layers. Each layer was a large terrace (3) ... with tropical flowers, plants and The large amount of water which these plants required was pumped from the river Euphrates nearby. It is said that Nebuchadnezzar and his wife would sit in the shade of the gardens and (4) ... down on the city of Babylon below.

The gardens' fame quickly (5) ..., and travellers would come from far and wide to (6) ... them. Even thousands of years ago, people used to go (7) ... Sadly, nothing (8) ... today of the beautiful hanging gardens, and the city of Babylon lies in ruins in what is modern-day Iraq.

Imagine you are walking to school listening to music on your MP3 player. All of a (1) ... it stops working and you (2) ... that the batteries have (3) ... out. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could simply recharge the batteries wherever you are? This might be possible in a few years' time as scientists are now working on a bag that makes electricity. They say that all someone needs to do is (4) ... the bag on their back and start walking. The movement of the body makes electricity in a special part of the bag. This new invention (5) ... like a brilliant idea, doesn't it? Scientists developed the "electric backpack" in order to help soldiers, who often carry around with them torches (фо­на­ри), radios and other equipment.

All these things run on batteries and at the moment, the soldiers (6) ... on these batteries to supply the (7) ... this equipment needs. With the "electric backpack", the soldiers won't need to carry extra batteries around with them. Rescue workers and mountain climbers will also find the bag useful, as will students who don't want their MP3 players to stop working by (8) ... on their way to school.

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.

Medical Science has (1) ... good progress in the twenty-first century. A (2) ... for most of the great killer' diseases has been found, and almost every day a new drug appears on the market. But according to the survey (3) ... by the British Medical Association, less than 40% of people really trust their family doctor. People are (4) ... away from conventional medicine to look for alternative forms of treatment.

The main (5) ... for this is that conventional medicine has (6) ... to satisfy the needs of the majority of people, who are actually less healthy than their parents or grandparents.

Medical students are taught that diseases are (7) ... by viruses. Therefore treatment must (8) ... on attacking them. The mind and the emotions are not thought to play any part in the disease process. But people who practise "natural' medicine (9) ... with this principle, and try to treat the whole person. They believe that personality and lifestyle are important when considering a patient's general health.

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

Imagine you are walking to school listening to music on your MP3 player. All of a (1) ... it stops working and you (2) ... that the batteries have (3) ... out. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could simply recharge the batteries wherever you are? This might be possible in a few years' time as scientists are now working on a bag that makes electricity. They say that all someone needs to do is (4) ... the bag on their back and start walking. The movement of the body makes electricity in a special part of the bag. This new invention (5) ... like a brilliant idea, doesn't it? Scientists developed the "electric backpack" in order to help soldiers, who often carry around with them torches (фо­на­ри), radios and other equipment.

All these things run on batteries and at the moment, the soldiers (6) ... on these batteries to supply the (7) ... this equipment needs. With the "electric backpack", the soldiers won't need to carry extra batteries around with them. Rescue workers and mountain climbers will also find the bag useful, as will students who don't want their MP3 players to stop working by (8) ... on their way to school.

Forget long-distance flights and take the boat if you want to arrive in Australia full of energy. You might even enjoy the holiday of a lifetime on the way, says Jan Etherington.

§ 1. My son, Tom, made the announcement on New Year’s Eve. ‘Fran and I are getting married...’ Hurrah! ‘...in Australia.’ Now, I’ve always wanted to go to Australia but like most people, I’m put off by the flight and the thought of arriving pale, exhausted and needing a week to recover. Even with a stopover, you face two long-distance flights. But it doesn’t have to be like that. I found a way to arrive suntanned, refreshed, and ready for action. I went by boat, on the Saga Rose world cruise.

§ 2. If I’d had the time and money, I could have gone all the way round the world, but the great thing about this cruise is that you can embark (са­дить­ся на ко­рабль) and disembark wherever you wish. If you want to get to Australia or New Zealand, take a shorter flight somewhere, join the world cruise and arrive in civilised style. I picked it up in Valparaiso (the port for Santiago, Chile) and sailed on from there to Sydney.

§ 3. The Saga Rose is a good-looking ship. Launched in 1965, she is highly regarded by maritime (мор­ской) experts for her elegant lines. Passenger capacity is 587 but we were fewer than 400, with 350, largely Filipino, crew who were smart, efficient and full of good humour. It was the cleanest ship I’d ever seen and the variety and freshness of the meals was impressive, with a welcome freedom to dine in the evening at any time between 7.15 and 9pm.

§ 4. I met lots of accomplished, funny, clever, attractive people on the ship. Good company and a well-run ship are important, because, on this stretch of the journey, we were together for a month  — long enough to learn a skill. I took up salsa, inspired by dance teacher, Thabo, who made us believe we were good enough to perform in front of passengers and crew.

§ 5. Julia’s jewellery-making classes were surprisingly popular. Even cynics (like me) were impressed as, using seeds and beads from local sources, students produced desirable costume jewellery. And the watercolour classes gave amateurs the tools to capture the passing scenes more maginatively than with a digital camera.

§ 6. As we cruised into Sydney at sunrise, it was like sailing into a familiar postcard. We passed the Opera House, slid under the Harbour Bridge and, on the quayside (при­стань), Тоm and Fran waved banners of welcome. I leapt off, relaxed, fit and full of energy. ‘Let’s go shopping for a hat!’

§ 1. If you walk into any bookstore there is an entire shelf dedicated to books about people who decide to change their lives by relocating to another country. I used to laugh at those kinds of books and wonder why anyone would put themselves through the discomfort of going to live in a foreign country  — all in search of a simple lifel

§ 2. One day, instead of walking straight past this section, I selected a book to read on the train. It was about an accountant who realised one day how boring her life was, so she bought a ticket to Italy. After reading the book, the idea of moving abroad had lodged (за­се­ла) itself in my mind and was turning into a magnificent possibility.

§ 3. I resigned from the hospital where I worked, sold my apartment and moved to the region of Umbria in Italy. Once there, I rented an apartment and hired a little motorbike. I loved sampling the local cuisine and I signed up for a short cooking course. A very charming local man called Francesco ran the course. Each lesson not only did we learn how to prepare an authentic Umbrian dish, we were also rolling around the floor in fits of laughter, since Francesco was a natural storyteller and we enjoyed his talent for imitating people.

§ 4. I also took a three-month Italian language course. It is fair to say that my attempts at cooking were more successful than my attempts to acquire a new language. I tried hard, however, and after a few weeks of lessons I actually had a short conversation with a local  — OK, I only asked for directions to the train station. In my mind, though, this was a triumph of communication and I was satisfied with my modest progress.

§ 5. It was at one of these language classes that I heard a fellow student, John, mention that his neighbour, Sandro, was moving to Rome and selling his farmhouse very cheap. John said he wished he had the money to purchase it himself, as the property was sure to be snapped up soon. I couldn't believe that it cost less than half the amount that I had sold my tiny apartment for. Would I dare to copy the writers of all those books? I had to go and have a look, of course. The farmhouse was located on the top of a hill, and although it was very run-down, it possessed charm. I bought it straight away.

§ 6. The project wasn't without its difficulties, though. The farmhouse was collapsing in several places. My first priority, therefore, was to hire some local workers to add supports to the building. I also strengthened the foundations, installed a new kitchen and renovated the rest of the property. In the end, all the cost and effort were worthwhile, because I felt I belonged here as much as I did anywhere in the world, and I was determined to make it my home. I must say I sometimes look at my collection of books on Italy and think I'd like to have a goal writing one myself I'd like to share my experience and let other dreamers out there know that the difficulty is worth it. I didn't quite find the simple life, but I did find what the Italians call the sweet life  — la dolce vita.

§ 1. G. Р. Taylor is the Yorkshire vicar {при­ходcкой свя­щен­ник) who sold his motorbike to self-publish 2,000 copies of his first novel, Shadowmancer, a book that was subsequently picked up by publishers Faber & Faber and got to number one in the New York Times bestseller list. His novels bring to one’s mind dark, chilling worlds in which the supernatural threatens to take over, yet he describes his life as a writer in purely functional terms. He is able to name the exact day that he became a novelist: March 21,2002. ‘It was one of those fruitful moments in my life. Harry Potter was becoming very popular. And I thought, “This woman’s written a book. I might write one.” ’

§ 2. ‘ I got a copy of Harry Potter, counted the number of words that were on the page, measured the width of the margin {поля), counted the number of chapters in the book, how many pages were in the book and set my computer screen up so that it would have 468 words on the page. My chapters were the same length as the Harry Potter chapters; I thought, “This must be how you write a book.” ’ Shadowmancer is a simple and uncomplicated fantasy  — and Taylor, who is his own most effective critic, makes few further claims for the novel. ‘It’s a great story, but if I’d written it now, it would be a completely different book. In many ways, it’s a clumsy classic. There are a lot of things in there that I would get rid of. And yet, I think that’s the big attraction. It’s because it’s an incredible adventure story, written by a non-writer, just a storyteller.'

§ 3. Taylor returns to this distinction between writing and storytelling a number of times, distancing himself from grand and lofty ideas of the novelist’s purpose. He describes himself as a ‘fairly uneducated kid’ who ran away to London as a teenager. He is uncomfortable talking at any length about favourite novels or influences beyond J. K. Rowling: T have not read all that many books. I’m not a very literate person.’

§ 4. Taylor was a rock-music promoter in his twenties and remains a showman, happiest in front of a crowd. He describes the talks he gives in schools and at festivals, dressed up as a sea captain or as an 18th-century highwayman in a long black coat. ‘You’re using your face, you’re using your body, you’re acting out what you’re doing.’ The business of putting his thoughts in writing can be problematic in comparison. As a storyteller, in order to demonstrate shock or alarm to an audience he will ‘pause between sentences and show a wide-eyed, staring face. But to describe that in English...’

§ 1. 'Hollywood' is a household name. This small district is the centre of the American film industry and the source of over 2.6 billion yearly cinema ticket sales. Most of the films we watch come straight out of Hollywood. But have you ever heard of 'Bollywood'? It is the name given to the Hindi language film industry based in Mumbai, India. Contrary to popular belief, it far outperforms Hollywood. Last year alone, over 1000 films were produced and 4 billion cinema tickets were sold, showing that Indian cinema is far more powerful than people think.

§ 2. Many likely Bollywood fans are often concerned that they will not be able to understand the language used in the films. But there is no need to worry. Although the scripts have historically been written in Hindi, more and more films use the English language, showing India's respect for the languages that make up its culture. You will also find that most films come with English language subtitles.

§ 3. So what do you get out of a Bollywood film? It is difficult to define a film as belonging to a certain category, because there is no such thing as a typical Bollywood film. The plots can focus on the drama of a love triangle, but they can also be packed with laugh-out-loud comedy or edge-of-your-seat action. The only guarantee is that a Bollywood film won't end without several catchy song and dance routines.

§ 4. Many Bollywood films are over three hours long. Some people might think that this is too long, but there is a good explanation. The film companies say the aim is to give you, the audience, your 'money's worth'. If you are going to spend good money on a ticket, the film should be really exciting.

§ 5. There is no shortage of aspiring young actors and actresses hoping to get a role in the next blockbuster. Big shot movie producers and casting agents are always looking out for new talent. India has its own Brad Pitts and Angelina Jolies  — spectacular actors who ensure you have a truly enjoyable viewing experience!

§ 6. Shilpa Shetty is the perfect example of a Bollywood megastar. A picture of beauty and raw acting talent, she has achieved success beyond the borders of India, most notably in the UK following her appearance on the 'Celebrity Big Brother' TV series. Since then she has turned down roles in several British TV shows. Instead, she has returned to Mumbai and continues to shoot films in the land that made her a star.

§ 7. Once you get into Bollywood, you'll never want to stop watching.

§ 1. 'Art for art's sake,' is a translation of a French quotation which expresses a philosophy about what art should be. What is meant by the phrase is that a true piece of art should be able to stand alone, to do nothing more than to please the eye. Bryant Holsenbeck, an artist from North Carolina, USA, takes the idea behind the quote a step further: while she does create art of great beauty, she also creates art that carries a valuable message.

§ 2. Through her work, Holsenbeck aims to show how wasteful people have become in today's society. She has been involved in many art projects, widely diverse in both theme and scope. Whatever her subject, all of Holsenbeck's art has one thing in common; it is all constructed from 'stuff that people simply throw away because they had thought it was rubbish.

§ 3. Holsenbeck's main philosophy is that nothing is really 'just trash'. She believes that the fact that American

landfill sites (му­сор­ная свал­ка) are so full of recyclable items says allot about American culture. She has said that, 'Americans create more garbage, perhead, than any other culture, yet we are blind to our waste.' Holsenbeck has made it her calling to 'make the blind see' and she does this through her art. By working within communities, she feels that she can open the eyes of people. She can also show them that the throw-away culture in which we live needs to change and if it doesn't, the world will soon find itself in a terrible situation indeed. Holsenbeck feels that when a person gets involved in her communal art projects, they become more aware of the fact that what they throw away has an impact on the environment. With Holsenbeck's designs, this impact is a positive one because from the garbage come works of great beauty.

§ 4. One of Holsenbeck's recent projects was a vast labyrinth created from old unwanted shoes. The labyrinth was a group effort and Holsenbeck had the children of the community where it was constructed write their concerns about the planet, and life in general, on the individual shoes. Once the labyrinth was completed, an open invitation was extended to community members of all ages to walkthrough the labyrinth, read the children's messages, and learn what it is that threatens today's world.

§5. Holsenbeck's work has been recognised across the US. Wherever she goes, and whatever she does, her message remains the same, 'My installations are both meditations and questions. Where does all this 'stuff' come from? Where does it go? What do we do with it? Why is it here? Let's hope people start getting Holsenbeck's message.

§ 1. Minutes before the start of a British Grand Prix in August, the drivers' faces are grave with concentration. Fans are screaming. Squeezed into his driving seat, Nelson Jones is pulling on a pair of tight black gloves. No question where he's expecting to finish: "First," he says. At the start signal, with a burst of engine noise, the drivers move quickly to the first turn.

§ 2. It all sounds a lot like a Formula One car race, but there's a difference  — Nelson is thirteen years old, and he's racing in a go-kart. What could be seen as child's play is in fact the first step for young talent to move into professional race cars, because it introduces them to the essential basics such as finding the racing line, concentration and how to compete on the track. That track record makes karting a must for youngsters keen to make racing their life's ambition.

§ 3. Nelson Jones has actually been racing since he was eight years old. "When my son Nelson showed us how gifted he was with racing, even at an incredibly young age, I knew we had to do something," Nelson's father says. "Racing can be really dangerous and it gets expensive, but when I had the opportunity to buy him his first official kart, I rushed to do it."

§ 4. After taking part in three or four local races in Britain, in which he won first place, Nelson decided that he would go for it and have a crack at his first international Grand Prix in Germany, which he won as well. Nelson now travels all over Britain and Europe to take part in races. The interest he showed in racing was not via the usual exposure to video games. "We lived near a small karting racetrack and I became fascinated  — I couldn't stop talking about it. One day, as we were driving past, I made my father stop the car so I could have a better look at the karts flying by. I saw so many people, including kids my own age, and I took a liking to it straight away.'

§ 5. Nelson eventually got his chance to try it out. The family hired an instructor for amateurs to teach Nelson, who took him as far as the age of twelve. The instructor then informed Nelson's father it was time to look for someone more qualified. Perhaps it is Nelson's good fortune in having always been expertly advised that has made him so relaxed about facing the pressures of an international racing circuit. But what is it like to be so young with a schedule fully booked with races, and all eyes watching him, expecting victory after victory? It's good for me, as I know what I need to be doing. The public's expectations help me focus and concentrate so I can race at my highest level.'

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. David Mulcahy

David Mulcahy is a high-powered stock broker. He owns a beautiful flat in London's exclusive Notting Hill area. As well as a delightful home, David owns a brand new Mercedes, the car of his dreams "The only problem," David says, "is that I never get to drive it to work! I refuse to pay £8 to get in and out of the centre, so instead I take the tube!" "The tube', which is London's metro system, is a cheaper alternative, but David still thinks it's far too expensive. "A day pass on the tube is around £5. So, I pay over £100 each month, just to get to and back from the office!" He goes on, "I wish I could drive my car to work, but it seems that the car of my dreams is turning out to be a complete waste of money!"

2. Rachel Childress

Rachel Childress is the director of a large multinational organisation. Her commute is quite different to that of others. While most people get on the bus, Rachel takes the Channel Tunnel (or "Chunnel'). She lives in England but works in France. One of Rachel's close friends suggested that she should either move to France or give up her active role in the company. But she didn't think so... "Well, it's a brief 35 minute journey and manage to avoid all those horrible, long queues." The 'chunnel' train can accelerate to speeds of up to 160 km/h, so Rachel can even get to work faster than some of her friends who work in London. She says, "If it wasn't for this marvellous feat of engineering, I wouldn't know what to do."

3. Benjamin Goldstein

Benjamin Goldstein is a naval architect and his job requires him to travel to many parts of the world to oversee projects that he is responsible for. "I was offered this job as soon as I finished getting my qualifications and I almost turned it down, because I didn't think I would be able to stand all the travelling. I ់ it would be just too tiring. Fortunately, a good friend of mine, who also does a lot of travelling, gave me tips on how to cope with it and I've never regretted accepting the job." He says, "If you keep yourself fit and make sure you get plenty of rest before and during long flights, it isn't actually that bad. And good nutrition helps, too."

4. Judith Kettering

Judith Kettering made a big move last year. After completing university, she decided that she wanted to start a new life in another country. She wanted to teach English to foreign children, so she hopped on the aeroplane to Greece and, since then, she has never looked back. "I'm so happy here in Athens, but if there's one thing that annoys me it's the traffic jams! The buses are so slow!" She claims that, sometimes, buses have been up to 45 minutes later than the time stated on the schedule. "I've been late for work several times because of traffic jams and it's caused me a lot of bother!" She has a proposal though. "If more people got on the bus instead of driving, the roads would be clearer and services could run more efficiently. Plus, if you're a bit of an 'earth child' like me, you'll know that getting on the bus or tram is a great way to fight against air pollution!"

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.

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!

«Body image» is the picture you have in your mind of your size, shape and general appearance  — and how you feel about it. Where does this image come from? Lifestyle adviser Anne Banks examines the issues.

Do you love what you see in the mirror? No? Then you are not alone. Almost everybody worries about what other people think, and we all get stressed out about the size of our feet or the shape of our nose.

It’s the images we see in the media that are mostly to blame. (1)__ Whether it’s a hunky actor in designer jeans and trendy jacket or a stunning model in an elegant dress, they’re sending the same message: «If you look like me, your life will be perfect».

But appearances can be deceptive. Compare today’s magazine covers with those of fifty years ago. (2)__ Not any more! Nowadays, blemishes are removed from photographs with the help of a technique called «airbrushing». A photographer or designer can straighten teeth, alter skin colour, and even change a hairstyle. That perfect face is just a trick of the camera after all!

The «perfect» body shapes aren’t natural, either. Go down to any gym and you’ll find young men «pumping iron» in an effort to live up to some masculine ideal that says that «real» men should be strong and muscular. Body builders, desperate to increase the size of their muscles, often eat food with far more calories and protein than is natural, which is a danger to their health. (3)__

It’s the same for the girls. We all know of celebrities who go on starvation diets so that they can wear «size zero» clothes. They end up ruining their health. The irony is, naturally curvy girls who diet until they’re stick-thin actually end up looking awful. Ask boys! (4)__ Unfortunately, some girls are so obsessed with their weight they just don’t realise!

(5)__ These include pop singers like Mis-Teeq, Jamelia, and Rachel Stevens. Rachel Stevens doesn’t want to be stick-thin. «There’s always been this pressure to be skinny, but you’ve got artists now like J-Lo and Beyoncé who are really curvy and look absolutely stunning», she says.

So come on boys and girls, take control of your life! We hr mans come in all shapes and sizes and there’s no «correct» to look. It’s what you say and do that really matters. (6)__ They’re not what they seem! Anyway, why waste your time trying to live up to somebody else’s ideal? Being fit and healthy is far more important. Just believe in yourself! After all, if you like yourself as you are, everyone else will probably end up liking you, too!

1. Alice Chan, 29

Not having a clear idea what career path to take, I opted for something I knew my parents would approve of - in my case, advertising. It couldn't have been a more glamorous job, dining with clients in Smart restaurants, jetting around the world to film ads. But I just couldn't be myself. So one day I just handed in my notice and retrained as a social worker, working with kids from disadvantaged families. And I've never looked back. It's meant a huge drop in my income but it's a sacrifice I'm happy to make for the sake of doing something worthwhile.

2. Jon Golding, 32

I used to work for an IT firm. I was never interested in progressing within the company but I was too scared to let go of the guaranteed income. I was a keen guitarist in my spare time. One day I was on holiday with a group of friends and we were chatting about our dreams. That was a turning point for me and I came home and enrolled on an evening course in guitar-making. I quit my job, converted my garage into a studio and set up my own business building guitars. My company is now one of the UK's leading guitar-builders. Needless to say, I haven't regretted my decision for a moment

3. Felix Mason, 34

I wanted to do something useful with my life and my dad was a science teacher so I decided to follow in his footsteps. But it turned out to be a thankless job. I was putting all my energy into it but getting very little back, apart from increasing demands from managers and parents. Finally, after 10 years, I quit. I was quite keen on writing. So I took on a very junior role as assistant editor for a technology magazine. After just three months, I was made editor, and four years on, I'm publisher of the magazine. Much as I miss the students, office life suits me far better. Being able to just get up and get a coffee whenever you want is amazing. You can't do that when you're teaching until the bell goes.

4. Debbie Fielding, 27

I'd been working as a veterinary nurse and the routine nature of the job was starting to get to me. I didn't get on with my boss, so when I was made redundant last year it came as quite a relief. I'd often dreamt of starting a company which provides specially trained animals to the film industry and it seemed like the right moment to give it ago. So I retrained and researched the opportunities available to me. It's taken a while to get the business up and running. I'm building up client contacts slowly and I expect things to take off properly within the next few months.

The Airport Express service has been in full operation for the past three weeks. This train service takes you from the centre of the city to the airport very (1) ... (RAPID) and at a very reasonable price. The carriages are comfortable and (2) ... (SPACE) but food and drink is (3) ... (AVAIL) because the journey is short. There is an on-board television service with informaticm-about flights and airport facilities. In (4) ... (ADD), the train has telephones for passengers to use. Many travellers are already choosing the train in preference to a long and tiring journey by car or taxi.

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

In 1967, the use of drugs by (1) ... in the Olympics was banned. Before modern drugs became a problem, athletes had tried all sorts of ways to get an (2) ... advantage, including drinking a mixture of alcohol and raw egg before a race, hoping for an improvement in their times. Unfortunately, in 1960, a Danish athlete died after taking drugs and the (3) ... was taken to outlaw certain substances. Today, there are (4) ... chemicals that athletes are not allowed to take during training and officials randomly test athletes for evidence of these drugs.

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.

(1) ... of the nicest ways to spend a summer afternoon is to have a picnic. (2) ... is something about eating out of doors that is very special. Of (3) ... , some things are essential if the picnic is going to be an enjoyable experience. The weather has to be sunny; (4) ... many people enjoy eating sandwiches in the pouring rain! The site must be carefully chosen. Then, when the meal is finished, you can just relax in the sunshine, or go for a swim.

Graffiti began in the 1960s in New York City when someone started writing his signature or "tag" on as man surfaces (1) ... he could. Other young people copied him and soon (2) ... were designs and paintings on walls everywhere. Graffiti is something you either love (3) ... hate. It is actually illegal and some countries try to deal with the problem by not allowing people under the (4) ... of 18 to buy spray paints.

Surveys show that more and (1) ... young people plan to work a great (2) ... longer than people did in the past. In fact, the majority expect to continue working beyond the most typical retirement age of 65. The reasons are that most people’s pension won’t be worth as much (3) ... it is now and we are living longer now. Some companies are also looking for more experienced employees because they already understand the needs of business and they are often better (4) ... their younger colleagues at jobs which require greater concentration.