Tom Hardy is having a house built entirely of glass. Yes, the external and internal walls, the roof, the floor, everything (1) ... of glass. The builders arrive next Monday and they will have finished the construction by the end of August. Until the house is ready, Tom (2) ... in a tent on the site so that he can watch the builders at work.

"In just six months' time I will be living in one of the most futuristic houses in the world," says Tom. "I can hardly wait. People are going to be really amazed, I'm sure of that. Journalists (3) ... round to see me all the time. I have already told them that once the house (4) ..., I'll move in straightaway."

Of course, it's no ordinary glass. It (5) ... if you (6) ... stones at it because it is thick and flexible. What's more, you won't be able to see in because this glass automatically goes dark when night (7) ...  — there is no need for curtains.

As a child, Tom Briggs knew that he (1) ... rich. By the age of 22 he (2) ... up his own software company, and it soon took off in a big way. When the company (3) ... record profits last year, Tom celebrated the event in style, by arranging a huge party on board his magnificent yacht.

But recently things have started to go wrong. There (4) ... reports of a strange virus in some products. The virus causes a computer screen to go orange and then to flash up the message "Tom is sinking'. It seems that one particularly dissatisfied employee (5) ... to programme bankruptcy for Tom's company. Even if the company (6) ... , Tom (7) ... a clear warning, which he cannot afford to ignore.

Jane (1) ... to be a nurse ever since she was a child but her father had told her that nursing was not a suitable profession for her to follow. She decided to talk to her friend, Anne, about what she should do. Jane and Anne (2) ... friends for a long time and lived in the same street. When Jane arrived at Anne's house, Anne (3) ... in the garden reading. Jane explained the situation to her. As she finished speaking, Anne's mother came out of the house and shouted to the girls to come over. "Sorry Jane, but I'm afraid, your father had an accident this morning at work and is in hospital. I (4) ... you over there now.' When they arrived at the hospital Jane (5) ... to see her father sitting up in bed and smiling broadly.

'Father, I was so worried, I thought something dreadful (6) ... .' 'Oh, there's no need to worry. I (7) ... my arm but the nurses here (8) ... such good care of me, they've been wonderful. And Jane, I've been thinking.' Jane Smiled at her friend, and knew that everything was going to be all right.

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

We (1) ... along this mountain road, miles from anywhere, when we (2) ... across a trail of tins of food and bottles of water along the road. I looked out of the car window and noticed this camper van about ten metres below us in a field, with its back door hanging off. It (3) ... off the road. We stopped the car. A young man (4) ... back up towards the road. He (5) ... in blood, so we offered to take him to hospital. As we drove off, with him lying on the back seat, he (6) ... asking about his girlfriend  — was she all right? When we (7) ... the hospital we found that she (8) ... up and taken to casualty by someone else. Luckily, she was okay  — and so was he, eventually.

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.

When student Sheridan Gregorio (1) ... at Fortaleza airport in Brazil, he (2) ... to fly home to Holland. He had had a great vacation, but unfortunately he (3) ... all his money. All he had was his airline ticket back to Amsterdam. But when he checked in, the airline employees at the airport said, "You have to pay airport tax before you (4) ... the country." Even though Sheridan explained that he was completely broke, he (5) ... to fly, so he missed his flight home. His ticket was nonrefundable, so now he needed to buy a new ticket and pay the airport tax. Since he (6) ... no money, Sheridan's only option was to sleep in the airport and work in restaurants in exchange for food and some money. He (7) ... for five months, before he (8) ... enough money for the airport tax, and the Brazilian police persuaded the airline to let him use his old ticket to go home. Sheridan finally arrived home safe and sound last week.

David de Rothschild is known (1) ... his efforts to make the earth a better place for those who inhabit it. Recently, David has become involved (2) ... a project which he believes will help save oceans. In the middle of (3) ... Pacific Ocean there is (4) ... vast pile of rubbish, which floats on the water and causes terrible damage (5) ... the environment. This region is filled (6) ... plastic waste. David came up with an ideal way to use this waste and help preserve our oceans at the same time. He is having a specially designed boat built out of 12,500 empty plastic bottles. David plans to sail (7) ... boat from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia. He is enthusiastic (8) ... the journey regardless of the difficulties it may involve. David hopes that the adventure will encourage people not to ignore environmental problems.

Dear David,

You'll never guess what's happened  — I've got a job! I saw an advert (1) ... an administrative assistant at London Insurance, and sent in my CV, more (2) ... curiosity than anything else. Well, to my surprise, I got an interview, and I managed to convince them that insurance is (3) ... very career path I intend to pursue. Apparently, they were impressed with my ambition, especially when I said I was looking for the job (4) ... good promotion prospects, and (5) ... week later I was offered the job. They seem to look after you well  — for example, I was told to send in a claims form so that they could pay (6) ... my travel expenses to the interview. Little things like that make all (7) ... difference. So I'm actually starting work on Monday David, why don't you apply? They take (8) ... 20 new graduates each year. It would be right up your street.

Best wishes,

Dan

Why do so many amusing incidents occur (1) ... train journeys? I remember the day when a ticket inspector entered the compartment where six or seven people were sitting. Everyone quickly found their ticket except for the man sitting next to me. His hands dived urgently (2) ... his pockets, and then he began to search through his briefcase. Everyone else could see exactly where his ticket was  — he was gripping it between his teeth. The ticket inspector calmly dealt (3) ... all the other passengers. Then, equally calmly, he drew the ticket from between the man's teeth, examined it with (4) ... frown and popped it back again. Once the inspector had left the compartment, (5) ... most of the passengers settled down and carried (6) ... reading their morning papers. As for the passenger who had had his ticket in his mouth, he popped it into his pocket, looking very relieved. He was generally quite (7) ... friendly person, so to make conversation I said to him, "You must have felt foolish  — searching (8) ... all your pockets while it was in your mouth." "Foolish?" he whispered. "Not at all  — I was chewing the date off."

I was brought (1) ... in a house on a main road of the city centre and I've always dreamt of living by (2) ... sea. So when the chance came for us to buy a house on (3) ... coast, I was the one telling my mum and dad to do it, but what (4) ... nightmare it turned (5) ... to be! We didn't know anyone, the roof let (6) ... water, we were cold most of the year, and in the summer we couldn't move because of the tourists

Within a year, we were moving again. We looked at houses in a village near here but it was too quiet. We ended (7) ... buying a house (8) ... the outskirts of the city where I was born, and we love it! Not all dreams are what you think they are!

(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.

David de Rothschild is known (1) ... his efforts to make the earth a better place for those who inhabit it. Recently, David has become involved (2) ... a project which he believes will help save oceans. In the middle of (3) ... Pacific Ocean there is (4) ... vast pile of rubbish, which floats on the water and causes terrible damage (5) ... the environment. This region is filled (6) ... plastic waste. David came up with an ideal way to use this waste and help preserve our oceans at the same time. He is having a specially designed boat built out of 12,500 empty plastic bottles. David plans to sail (7) ... boat from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia. He is enthusiastic (8) ... the journey regardless of the difficulties it may involve. David hopes that the adventure will encourage people not to ignore environmental problems.

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.

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

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

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

Don Strange, who works as a vet in northern England, (1) ... a busy life. As well as having to (2) ... pets which are unwell, he often visits farms where problems of various kinds await him. He has (3) ... count of the number of times he has been called out at midnight to give (4) ... to a farmer with sick sheep or cows. Recently, a television company chose Don as the subject of a documentary programme it was making about the life of a country vet. The programme showed the difficult situations Don (5) ... every day. It also showed Don (6) ... a meeting with villagers (7) ... about the damage a new road might (8) ... to their local environment. Viewers loved the documentary and, overnight, Don became a household name, known to millions of people. He continues to receive large numbers of letters which make a real impression on him, especially those from teenagers who have (9) ... the important decision to become vets themselves as a (10) ... of seeing the programme.

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

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

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

A large-scale (1) ... has been done by advertisers on the spending habits of today’s teenagers. It has come up with some fascinating results. Girls across Europe ranging in age from 15 to 18 were interviewed. The researchers (2) ... that these girls want to be successful and sophisticated and are willing to spend vast (3) ... of money to (4) ... the look they want  — when they have the money, that is! Feeling confident is the most important factor when it (5) ... to buying clothes. Another interesting piece of information (6) ... from the study is that German teenagers go for clothes that are practical and comfortable, while British and French teenagers are more (7) ... about appearance, although they all agreed that the clothes should (8) ... them properly. All the girls who were interviewed (9) ... for clothes regularly, half of them buying something from a department store or a large clothes shop at least once a month. They also see it as a social activity and (10)... round the shops with their friends is the main way they learn what the latest trends are.

We offer an amazing theme park holiday  — the most (1) ... experience in holidays. Our holidays (2) ... two weeks and during that time you will fly between several (3) ..., visiting various famous theme parks for one day each. Our group comes from all over the world so you will be travelling with new and interesting people. We start our tour in LA, where over three days we visit Universal Studios where you can (4) ... the effects of white-water rafting (сплав­лять­ся на плоту). Then it's off to Disneyland in LA to meet some famous friends. On the last day we (5) ... a trip to the breathtaking Magic Mountain theme park, where you can go on the most fantastic roller coaster rides (аме­ри­кан­ские горки). Next we (6) ... out to Miami where the programme includes a day at Disneyworld and another at Cape Canaveral to see where Homer Simpson (7) ... to be an astronaut. This will be the end of the tour  — you will be exhausted but happy. Five days of theme parks Can you (8) ... a better holiday?

One thing I have never understood is the desire to live in the country. People (1) ... life in the city with crime and noise and they have the impression that life in the country must be safer and quieter. On the (2) ..., country life has just as many hazards (опас­но­сти) as the big city. I have a friend who lives next to a farm and he (3) ... that it's noisier living there than it ever was in London. The birds and animals start (4) ... a noise first thing in the morning, quickly followed by the farm machinery. And as for crime, my friend's car has been (5) ... four times in four years. People who think the country is the safest place to be can't be right!

The other myth is that the countryside is a friendly place. Whenever I (6) ... time in the country, I'm surprised by how busy people are. They never seem to speak to each other for more than a minute or two. On my (7) ... back from work, I often (8) ... across three or four neighbours and we have a long chat. It's that connection with other people that I would (9) ... most if I lived in the country.

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.

§ 1. While having lunch in an expensive restaurant, I tasted the wine I had ordered. I thought it might be spoiled, so I called the wine waiter. He was most unpleasant at the mere suggestion that something might be wrong. Unwillingly he tasted the wine  — and immediately apologized and brought another bottle. That's what I call power!' said my guest, but it helped that I knew I was right. As the customer, you have considerable rights.

§ 2. If a restaurant fails to provide a table you have booked, they will have broken their contract with you and you can politely threaten to take them to court for the cost of a spoiled evening. They will then usually find you a table. On the other hand, if you let them down, they can take you to court for lost business. In one case, a company booked a table for one o'clock for five people at a popular restaurant, then called to cancel at 1.35 p.m. on the day, saying their client did not want to eat. When the company refused to pay up, the restaurant owner took them to court and won: the judge decided that, since it was too late to re-book the table, the company should pay for the loss of profit on the meal.

§ 3. The menu is a vital legal document. The price should be included, together with the tax (налог), and the restaurant can be fined for not displaying it outside or immediately inside the door, so that customers know in advance what they are committing themselves to. It is illegal for any establishment to give a false description of their food. Everything must be what it claims to be: fresh fruit salad must consist only of fresh, not tinned, fruit; Welsh lamb must be an animal born or raised in Wales.

§ 4. You cannot rely on getting bread and butter free. A restaurant is allowed to make a cover charge  — which relates to linen, tableware, salt and pepper, Sauces and items like bread or olives  — provided it appears on the menu by the door.

§ 5. If the food is not cooked to your satisfaction, you can insist on the restaurant taking it back and supplying what you ordered. If it gives you food poisoning, the restaurant is obliged to pay for the suffering and inconvenience provided you have been to your doctor. If the food is not up to a reasonable standard for the money, you can either send it back or pay less than the bill demands. If you do not pay the full price, give your name, address and proof of identity so that you cannot be arrested for leaving without paying.

Everyone, whatever their age, can share in the joy and fulfillment of learning, as June Weatherall found out.

§ 1. When I first retired, I thought I'd love spending more time on the gardening, needlework, and other creative activities I'd found so relaxing after my demanding job. But it didn't turn out that way. I found that I didn't want, or need, that kind of relaxation anymore, I wanted to stimulate my mind instead.

§ 2. So, with a couple of friends, I went along to an art appreciation evening class at our local regional college. It was wonderful, but only lasted a year. At the end, I asked my tutor, "What next?' He suggested I attend his history of art access course. "Whatever's that?' I asked. The college had an open evening coming up, so I went along to find out. A full-time access course takes one year and gives you access to university if, like me, you left school without any qualifications, and it's free if you do it full-time. I only wanted to do the art history bit.

§ 3. Lyn, who organises the courses for the college, was enthusiastic. "Why don't you do the whole course? You could start in the spring term with art history, do another module in the summer, then go full-time in the autumn and do all the subjects." It sounded wonderful, but wasn't I a bit old, at 63, to start being a student? A definite 'no'. One of the students that year was 82. That decided it. It must be worth having a go.

§ 4. The art history part of the course, which I've just completed, was stimulating. The tutors are enthusiasts and infect us all with their enjoyment of the subjects they teach. "Lively' would be the word to describe the classes. My fellow students, who are also doing subjects like psychology, maths, biology, etc., are good company. They're mainly people in their thirties with children, taking a second bite at the educational cherry.

§ 5. We have homework and have to do an essay each term for each subject, and sit exams. For art history, we had to produce a journal about all the painters we'd learnt about  — which was fun, but rather time-consuming. Occasionally, I envy the more typical mature students, who just do courses for fun and don't have to do exams or essays, but really I'm a very happy lady. There are drawbacks, however. The main one is you have to make a commitment. During term time, you can't just drop everything and go out for the day if the sun shines  — one of the supposed joys of retirement.

§ 6. Will I go on to university if I'm successful? I'll see how next year goes. Meanwhile, exercising my brain cells is working well for me. I feel alive. The garden's getting a bit out of control, but that's the least of my worries!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Stacey

I had lessons in Hindi at a local language school. Unfortunately the only class available at my level was late in the evening. So after a long day at school, and then all the written homework we have to do, I didn't have a lot of energy left for language learning. Also, some of my classmates were much older than me and I didn't really get to know them. But that didn't matter because whenever we did group activities, which I'd never done before, but took to straight away, I made sure I was with the younger ones. I was having lessons every evening and that was costing my parents quite a lot, but we'd booked to go to India later that year so there was no time to lose.

2. Chloe

I really want to learn Polish so I bought a course of language lessons as an MP3 to play on my iPod. That meant I could work on it anywhere I went, particularly at those times when you've got nothing to do, like standing at the bus stop. Once I was concentrating so hard on getting a grammar point right that I completely forgot I was on the bus and I started repeating restaurant phrases aloud. I felt a bit uncomfortable when I noticed everyone looking at me, so I didn't do that again. Actually, one problem with learning on my own was not knowing when I was saying words properly and when I wasn't. Overall, though, it was a useful course and I think it was good value for money.

3. Amy

I used the Internet to improve my Spanish. It cost nothing, of course, and although at first I didn't know quite where to look, in the end I came across some great websites where I could practise reading and listening and do grammar exercises. At the same time, I was joining social networking sites and getting in touch with Spanish-speaking teenagers from various parts of the world. I also tried online chat in Spanish, but I couldn't keep up with people. All the time I was thinking about my grammar and it was taking me so long to reply to each sentence after I'd read it that I didn't think it was fair on them, so I gave up. I'll try again sometime, though.

4. Laura

I was living with an English-speaking family and the idea was that I'd pick up a lot of language by being there with them, but it just wasn't happening. Everyone watched television all the time and rarely spoke to me. After a week I left and moved in with a couple who had young children, and that was better. They were all very friendly and I could chat with them anytime, really. When I got things wrong they would often correct me and I think that helped me improve my speaking a lot. I would also have liked to be nearer the city centre, because the house was so far out of town that I couldn't get to the kinds of places where other teenagers went in the evenings.

1.  Housewife and grandmother

I went down a cliff to raise money for charity. It was an enormous challenge as I’m actually quite afraid of heights. It was only really the moment of going over the edge that was difficult: after that it was very easy. You just have to get into the'rhythm and not go too fast. My son is really keen on climbing and some of his friends from his university

climbing club set everything up and organised the whole event. There were about twenty of us who did it and between us we raised well over the target amount.

2.  Lawyer

I ran a triathlon and managed to get over 50 people to sponsor me. I had to train for months and it was really hard work but well worth it. I actually enjoyed the training more than the final event because on the day the weather was terrible. In the months running up to the event I followed a very strict regime and it felt good to be working towards such a specific goal. Knowing that I was going to be able to give a large donation to charity made me even more determined to do it. It was such a positive experience I’m going to do it again next year.

3.  Environmental consultant

I cycled from L.A. to Quito last spring. All my family thought I was mad but I love cycling and I knew it would be an amazing way to see lots of really interesting places. I managed to raise quite a bit of money for charity through sponsorship although that wasn’t my main, objective. I turned 30 in March and I really wanted to be doing something totally different rather than just sitting at my desk in the office. I wanted it to be something I could look back on when I am older and feel proud of. The fact that I was able to do something to help those less well off than me at the same time, well that made it even better.

4.  Retired primary school head teacher

We used to make a big effort to get the children involved in charity events as I think it helps raise their awareness of world events and the fact that in many places there are people, particularly children like themselves, who live in very different circumstances to them. I think they get a great sense of satisfaction too from knowing that they are able to do something to help. Each year we had a special day; where all the children paid a small amount of money and then came to school for one day in their own clothes and not in school uniform. We also regularly held parties where the children were encouraged to donate old toys and books and things which we then sold. All the money we made went to our chosen charity.

1. School student Carla Ruiz lives in a hot country and has become very aware of the need to save water. 'Spring and autumn used to be quite wet, but these days it hardly rains at all,' she says. 'Nearly all the rivers have dried up, destroying all the wildlife in and around them, and no matter what we do they'll never be the same again. At least, though, we can use water more sensibly. That's why at home I recently decided to do simple things like making sure there are no dripping taps, or taps left on while I'm brushing my teeth or washing food. Within a few days I was regularly doing these things without even thinking, I know they made a difference because the water bills went down quite a bit. My parents noticed that so they started doing the same.'

2. Trainee manager, Vincent Owen, is doing his bit to save the planet by using less electricity around the home. 'I was talking to this guy at work and he told me that we waste a huge amount of energy every year by leaving things like the TV, DVD and computer on standby all the time, so nowadays I try to remember  — not always successfullyto switch them off at night. Incidentally, I've now got solar panels on the roof so that all the hot water is powered by the sun. That was a big investment, and it ended up well over budget, but I'm sure it'll pay for itself in the end.'

3. While Lin Chen is on a gap year, she is travelling round Europe with friends. 'We had intended to fly everywhere, she says, 'but when we worked out just how much extra pollution that would cause, we decided to do it by train instead. It was cheaper, too.' They began their tour in Greece: 'We all felt the obvious place to start was where European civilization began, so our first rail journey began in Athens. We travelled to Patras on the west coast, taking the ferry across to Bari in southern Italy. From there we took the overnight train to Paris, and a few days later we went on the Eurostar to London. We saw far more of the countryside than we would have done by plane.'

4. Tanya Petrova works in a restaurant with an extensive menu, but at home she will only eat local or seasonal food: 'I strongly believe that transporting food thousands of kilometers, or storing it under refrigeration for months on end, ultimately has a highly negative impact on the environment. I always try to buy food that is produced locally, and I have a special calendar to show me which kinds of food are in season so that I know what I'm buying is really fresh. Apart from the environmental considerations, I'm convinced the food I eat, which has far fewer chemicals in it, helps me avoid the kind of illnesses that seem to be so common these days.'

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.

When you first meet Beatrice Smythe, you are struck by her wonderful smile and her well-toned muscles.

'Performing on stage is one of the most exciting experiences possible. All the nerves and fright you feel in the wings just melt away when you face the audience. Although you are aware of a sea of faces watching you, this is not what you concentrate on. (1)___ If you focus on this, then your dancing will look natural and unforced.'

So how did Beatrice get started? 'I began taking ballet lessons in a local school when I was six. My teachers felt I had talent but after 11 years of ballet, I realised I wanted to do something different. (2)___ That was it! I had never seen dancing like this before and immediately decided it was for me. The following year I was offered a place at a London contemporary dance school where I completed a three-year course.'

Today Beatrice is a permanent member of the Charmed Circle Dance Company. But was it a difficult transition from studies to career? 'I was warned that the competition would be fierce. (3)___ Applying for even the smallest part meant auditioning with dozens of others. Finally, I was lucky enough to be offered a trial period of one year with Charmed Circle, even though it meant working without pay. It was an extremely difficult period, as you can imagine.'

'I could have been tempted to join other dance companies on a temporary basis doing one-off paid performances. But this would have meant missing out on the chance to become part of the regular line-up of what is now one of Britain's leading contemporary dance companies.' (4) ___ But Beatrice's ultimate ambition is to make it to America, where the ideas behind contemporary dance were first pioneered and developed.

When asked about what it takes to become a dancer, Beatrice didn't hesitate. 'You have to love what you're doing, you have to keep pushing yourself to the limit and you have to be slightly mad, tool (5) ___ Most dancers will tell you how physically painful daily training can be. You also have to be extremely self-motivated'

So what does Beatrice particularly enjoy about contemporary dance?"Well, for one thing, contemporary movements are so different from those in other types of dance. In ballet, for example, the movements are strictly structured and you have to stick to them. In contemporary dance, however, the movements are more expressive and each have individual meanings in themselves. (6) ___ This makes them very moving experiences both to perform and to watch.'

Like most tourists, I enjoy taking photographs on holiday and can't wait to show them to friends and family when I get back. But whilst for me they represent treasured memories, to others they are more often than not simply a collection of boring, badly composed, out of focus pictures. So this year I decided to do something about this by booking myself on a trip to Rome which included photography lessons.

The first time I went to Rome, I remember thinking that it was a photographer's paradise with a fantastic photo opportunity lying around every corner. (1)___ Added to this was the fact that there were crowds of tourists everywhere, blocking all the best views. But this second time things were different. Antonio, my photography tutor, was on hand to give expert advice every step of the way.

The first thing Antonio told our group was that the secret to creating a good photographic image rather than just a snapshot is to first take a long look at what you want to photograph. For example, he said, you should consider the background just as much as you do the subject. (2)___ You can get unwanted figures out of your image simply by getting down on your knees to take a picture, for instance, or changing the angle of the shot.

Our first port of call was Piazza Navona, where Antonio gave us advice about how to photograph the Fountain of Neptune. (3)___ Then, he added that we should take the photo with the fountain slightly off centre.

Next, we headed off to the Pantheon, which was originally an ancient Roman temple. Along the way, I took the opportunity to photograph anything that caught my eye. The Pantheon itself is so huge that it is impossible to take a good photograph of the whole thing. (4)___ I tried out this technique by lying down on the floor and taking a picture of just one section of the great domed ceiling. I was pretty pleased with the results.

For the next couple of hours, we wandered around the historic centre visiting many of Rome's architectural highlights. (5)___ And I felt that I was really able to appreciate the sights as I had to look at each one so carefully in order to get good pictures.

We finished off our first morning tour with a stop at a traditional Roman street café. After all the hard work and walking I'd done, a large Italian ice cream seemed like the perfect reward! (6)___ It felt like a whole new world had opened up to me. I learnt an incredible amount over the next two days, as well as having a thoroughly enjoyable time in one of the world's most beautiful cities.

Cigarette advertising is a popular topic for discussion, as an increasing number of people believe that it should be banned (за­пре­ще­но). I support this view for a (1) ... of reasons. In the first place, cigarette advertising should be stopped because an (2) ..., harmful product is being promoted. Another major reason for banning cigarette advertising is the fact that it targets young people. They become attracted to the glamorous (3) ... of smoking, which leads to them taking up the habit. The average teenager does not consider the harmful effects of smoking or the fact that Smoking is (4) ... .

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.

Ali Baba's restaurant in central London is one of the best restaurants I've been to for a long time. It has an extensive range of Turkish dishes including plenty of choices which are (1) ... even for vegetarians. The restaurant has a very pleasant atmosphere. At weekends diners can enjoy performances by Turkish singers and dancers. We are sure that you will have an (2) ... evening if you go to Ali Baba's. You will also find it unexpectedly (3) ... . A meal for two will cost roughly £20 on condition that you stick to the house wines. But there is an excellent (4) ... of these on the wine list.

It's hard to find a place to eat which satisfies the whole family. I remember my parents taking me as a child to the most (1) ... restaurant they could find. They didn't think it was worth spending a lot of money on someone who had notable manners. Today the choice of restaurants is so great, however, that total (2) ... is rare. It's difficult to explain exactly what I am looking for in a restaurant. It's certainly not (3) ... surroundings, although I must admit that I'm usually (4) ... to go into a place that looks dirty.

Many young people nowadays are pessimistic about the future. The pessimists see that the world is getting (1) ... and more crowded. As a result, it is becoming more difficult to find work; even though people (2) ... their best to go to university, they are not sure they will be lucky (3) ... to find a job afterwards.

The next time someone asks (1) ... my hobbies are, I'll turn the question round and ask them to (2) ... me about their hobbies. I doubt that they have any. I don't think we should deny it (3) ... longer: the hobby is dead. Ask any teenager or adult about how they spend their spare time and they'll respond with a list of activities rather than mention collecting something.

The Red Sea coast of Egypt is surely one of the best places in the world to go underwater diving. Its hot sunny climate and clear warm water (1) ... it the ideal place for beginners as (2) ... as for experienced divers. Man different types of diving are possible in the area. At centres for complete beginners (3) ... are training courses which include simple dives with a qualified instructor. These dives get them used to being underwater and teach some basic skills (4) ... as swimming and breathing below the surface.

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