Joanne Rowling became famous almost overnight. She is the author of a highly successful series of books for young people, Joanne (A1) ... of being a writer for as long as she can remember. In fact, she (A2) ... 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 (A3) ... her a popular figure in the School. During breaks between lessons, she (A4) ... by a crowd of friends, anxious to hear the latest story she (A5) ... .

When she left school, Joanne succeeded in getting a place at university. After graduating, she married a journalist but, sadly, the couple soon (A6) ... 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 (A7) ... 'yes'. It was the greatest day of her life.

I had heard about wilderness survival camps from some classmates who went to one last summer. They were very excited about their experience and I was very curious. So during last month's term break I decided to go to one. After everything I (A1) ... I was really looking forward to it. On the first day our instructor reassured us that the woodland (A2) ... us with almost everything we needed. We (A3) ... how to find water, how to light a fire and how to build shelter with only branches and leaves. The water was easy to find, but the food was not. To my horror, I discovered that we had to find our own. This meant hunting. We (A4) ... out in groups and managed to find some berries and mushrooms. One of the boys in the group was able to light a fire and we proceeded to prepare a meal. However, as we (A5) ... the mushrooms, they (A6) ... fire. I was able to save most of them, but they tasted strangel I realised by the second day in the camp that it is not easy to live without the things we (A7) ... accustomed to in our everyday lives.

Most people know something about dolphins. For example, almost all of us can say that dolphins (A1) ... for being intelligent and friendly. But if we are asked what colour dolphins are, how many people (A2) ... ‘pink’? Hardly anybody! It might sound like a joke, but a pink dolphin has recently been spotted in Lake Calcasieu in Louisiana, USA. The animal, whose eyes are red, is a bottlenose dolphin. His body is pink all over and this is how he must have looked from birth: he is an albino, which (A3) ... he has a med cal condition that causes pale skin. The dolphin (A4) ... several years ago, although it is only very recently that he (A5) ... to appear almost every day. Walt Furneaux, a local sailor, says he (A6) ... the animal on numerous occasions. ‘I remember the first time I spotted him. Before that day I (A7) ... anything so extraordinary in my life. He looked unreal,’ explains Walt.

As a child, Tom Briggs knew that he (A1) ... rich. By the age of 22 he (A2) ... up his own software company, and it soon took off in a big way. When the company (A3) ... 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 (A4) ... 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 (A5) ... to programme bankruptcy for Tom's company. Even if the company (A6) ..., Tom (A7) ... a clear warning, which he cannot afford to ignore.

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 (A1) ... 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 (A2) ... 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 (A3) ... that men (A4) ... gold in California. In the early 1850s, people (A5) ... to reach the West. On the journey, they met many dangers. Many settlers didn't reach the West alive. But change (A6) ... to the American West. By 1870, a new railway (A7) ... and the Oregon Trail had become a part of history.

Many parents (A1) ... that the Internet can be a useful source of information, but a lot of them (A2) ... to their teenage children spending too much time online. They've been worrying lately that their children enjoy the Internet so much that thcy (A3) ... their homework. Parents are even more concerned that children and teens (A4) ... by the violent games they play online that they may become violent themselves. However, the Internet habits of approximately 800 teens have recently been studied by scientists, with some positive findings. It (A5) ... that sites like Facebook, playing online games, and surfing the Internet may actually play an important role in a teenager's development. The study (A6) ... that US teens who were particularly interested in Japanese cartoons, for example, (A7) ... up the Japanese language through online discussion groups. In addition, some teens became interested in making videos.

No one knows who invented maps, or when or even where. The oldest known examples date back over 4,000 years, but the idea may be far older. It is not surprising that maps (A1) ... many travellers to great achievements. It is almost impossible to look at a map without wondering what (A2) ... in the place on it. Countless explorers have been inspired by maps to test the truth of what the maps describe and explore their frontiers. However, the lack of accurate maps almost (A3) ... to a mutiny (мятеж) aboard Columbus‟s ship in 1492. More recently there was a near disaster during the Apollo space mission. The astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin came frightfully close to crashing into a huge crater that lunar cartographers (A4) ... to mark. Even now, cartographers (A5) ... the world. Some jungle-covered areas of South and Central America haven‟t yet been mapped in full detail. We (A6) ... better maps of other planets than we do of our own. Many years (A7) ... before we have an atlas of the Earth as good as the one we have for the Moon.

While travelling (A8) ... a train, I've often been drawn into conversation by strangers who sat next (A9) ... me. And I have found that an exchange of ideas may sometimes turn (A10) ... to be educational as well as stimulating. You may begin with a casual mention of today's sunshine or yesterday's thunderstorm, and end up (A11) ... a discussion about geography, meteorology, floods, and the mysterious ways of God. Several of my casual conversations with strangers have enriched my own mind (A12) ... fresh knowledge and new words. One day (A13) ... blind young man was sitting beside me. He was travelling from Chicago, to study singing in New York. As (A14) ... result of our conversation during that trip, I learned about South American, African and Oriental music, as well as about the latest methods of education for (A15) ... blind. I have been able to use much of this information in some of my articles and books.

Recently, more and more students have started to take up (A8) ... 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 (A9) ... 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 (A10) ... the debts they have run (A11) ... while they were at college or university. Why do they have these debts? Sometimes it is because they are not good (A12) ... managing their money and overspend (A13) ... 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 (A14) ... students to cover all the costs of (A15) ... accommodation and other necessary expenses.

At one time, I used to think that jogging was simply impossible. I can remember a time when just (A8) ... twominute dash (пробежка) to catch a bus would leave mered in the face and almost (A9) ... breath. The turning point for me came when (A10) ... very insistent friend talked me (A11) ... accompanying her on a run round the local park. I managed just five minutes before my legs decided they'd had enough. I think it was that image of my friend rapidly disappearing into (A12) ... distance that stuck (A13) ... my mind, and led me to take (A14) ... seriously a sport which has really benefited (A15) ... my health, state of mind and fitness.

In a month's time I'll be setting (A8) ... on the trip of (A9) ... lifetime. My plan is to cycle all the way round the world, starting and finishing in my home town of Plymouth. It's taken over two years to prepare for the adventure; planning it, training for it and organising the finance. I've saved up about a quarter of the money I need, and I've managed to raise (A10) ... rest by doing up my house and selling it for a lot more than it originally cost me. Understandably, my parents are not very keen on (A11) ... idea, and I don't blame them (A12) ... wanting to try to discourage me (A13) ... going. They still haven't forgiven me for the worry I caused them when I tried, unsuccessfully, to cycle from Norway to South Africa. They've finally accepted, however, that nothing will prevent me (A14) ... attempting it, and my mum has said she'll be the first to congratulate me (A15) ... my achievement when I get back in two years' time.

Why do so many amusing incidents occur (A8) ... 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 (A9) ... 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 (A10) ... all the other passengers. Then, equally calmly, he drew the ticket from between the man's teeth, examined it with (A11) ... frown and popped it back again. Once the inspector had left the compartment, (A12) ... most of the passengers settled down and carried (A13) ... 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 (A14) ... friendly person, so to make conversation I said to him, "You must have felt foolish — searching (A15) ... all your pockets while it was in your mouth." "Foolish?" he whispered. "Not at all — I was chewing the date off."

During our lifetime most of us have some experience of either owning a pet or being (A8) ... close contact with someone who does. Various factors influence one's choice of pets, from your reasons (A9) ... getting a pet to your lifestyle. For example, although quite a few pets are relatively cheap to buy, (A10) ... cost of maintenance can be considerable. Everything must be taken (A11) ... account, from food and bedding, to vaccinations and veterinary bills. You must be prepared to spend money and time (A12) ... your pet, which involves shopping for it, cleaning and feeding it. Pets can be demanding and (A13) ... big responsibility. People get pets for company, security or to teach responsibility (A14) ... children. Pets can be affectionate and loyal and (A15) ... excellent source of company as long as you know what pet suits you and your lifestyle.

A recent survey has been analysing information about the time that people in the UK take off work because of illness. The study was carried (A8) ... in 4,300 businesses around the country. The analysts looked (A9) ... the number of absences, when they took place and the reasons given (A10) ... them. It was found that Manchester was the city where people took most days off- an average of 11 days a year. People were off the least time of all in London (only 7 days (A11) ... average). Employers also claimed that many workers chose to be absent when there was something good (A12) ... television. (A13) ... most employers thought their employees often did not tell (A14) ... truth about why they were taking time off. Bosses said that they believed that less than 10% of (A15) ... sick notes they received were genuine.

Spare time activities basically fall (A8) ... two categories: traditional and modern. Traditional activities include pastimes such as collecting and reading while modern activities involve playing computer games and watching television.

Children often become interested in collecting when they come (A9) ... something their parents or grandparents have collected. Although they are keen on collecting when they first start, they very often become fed up with it as soon as they reach (A10) ... their late teens.

Nowadays there are many modern activities which are based on modern technology and it is not unusual to find a teenager's bedroom full of computer games. Surfing (A11) ... Internet is always popular (A12) ... both teenagers and adults. Another pastime which teenagers have (A13) ... common with adults is sitting in front of (A14) ... television. It is interesting to note that none of these activities involve having (A15) ... discussion about important issues - something which was popular in the past.

Stress is important. We all need a certain amount of it in order to (A23) ... fulfilling lives. However, if we have too much of it, it can have the opposite (A24) ... . It is therefore a good idea to learn a few stress management techniques. Identifying the (A25) ... of the problem we have, so that we can (A26) ... it more effectively, is one of the first (A27) ... towards reducing stress. The second is talking to a person you can trust, who will listen and, if necessary, (A28) ... you some positive advice. Not only are smoking and drinking (A29) ... to our health, they actually increase stress (A30) ... than reduce it. So, next time you want to relax, instead of (A31) ... for that glass of wine or a cigarette, have a warm bath or go for a walk. Walking has more than health benefits, it helps you think more clearly too. On the other hand, laughter is one of the best ways to (A32) ... yourself feel considerably better.

A soda drink with a turkey and gravy flavour that is (A22) ... as undrinkable by its manufacturers is selling extraordinarily well. Unexpectedly large quantities of bottles have been sold in the United States where they are preparing to (A23) ... Thanksgiving later this week. A company in Seattle which (A24) ... in unusual flavours put 6,000 bottles on (A25) ... last week at 99 cents each. They sold out within hours. Yesterday bidding (ставки) on the eBay online auction site (A26) ... more than 60 dollars a bottle. The nastiness of Turkey and Gravy Soda appears to be its biggest selling point. It (A27) ... the perfect joke gift to take home to Mum or a younger brother or sister. At Thanksgiving families traditionally (A28) ... a long weekend together. One newspaper reporter who (A29) ... the drink said that, at first sip, it tasted of sweet caramel and savoury butter and it got worse from there. Curiously, the drink is (A30) ... for vegetarians. Peter Van Stolk who (A31) ... the company which makes the drink called his product 'gross'.

Possibly the chilliest place you could ever (A22) ... in is the Snow Village Ice Hotel, (A23) ... in northern Finland. The hotel (A24) ... the warmest of welcomes in the coldest of settings. The walls, ceilings, and furniture — including the beds — are all (A25) ... from ice, so the indoor temperature stays permanently below zero. Before sending you off to your personal room for the night the hotel (A26) ... a mattress, a blanket made of reindeer (северный олень) skin, and a thermal sleeping (A27) ... . Lying in bed, (A28) ... will be impressed by total silence. Slippery surfaces and icy corners are everywhere, and the hotel's lights remain (A29) ... on all night. Last time I was there I (A30) ... in bed for hours counting reindeer jumping over fences. I finally (A31) ... asleep at 5.00 a.m. after enjoying a very brief glimpse of the legendary Northern Lights, magical displays of blue and green light visible in the night sky up to 200 times a year.

Not many creatures can (A23) ... alive in the freezing cold of the far north. However, there are a number of creatures which (A24) ... to survive in places where the temperatures can fall as (A25) ... as minus 28 degrees. One of the most remarkable of these creatures is the Alaskan wood frog. When it gets (A26) ... cold in the winter months, up to two thirds of the water in the frog’s body actually freezes. But once the days begin to (A27) ... slightly warmer in spring, the frogs thaw out (оттаивать) again. Scientists have long been trying to discover the process that makes this rebirth (возрождение) (A28) ... and now they have discovered how it is done. The frogs produce a chemical in their body that (A29) ... the antifreeze that people use to (A30)... their cars from freezing. This chemical in the frog’s body (A31) ... in a very similar way in (A32) ... to protect its most important organs.

Until recently, vegetarianism was fairly uncommon in Britain, and it is still (A22) ... strange by some. But since the 1960s its popularity has (A23) ... greatly, to the extent that high street stores stock a huge (A24) ... of products for vegetarians. The reasons people (A25) ... 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 (A26) ... is that it is (A27) ... 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 (A28) ... up meat, one of which is the inefficiency of livestock farming. Although it is, in (A29) ... 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 (A30) ... out to be a matter of (A31) ... rather than necessity.

It is difficult to imagine a world without tomatoes. These days, the bright red fruit plays an important role in the cooking of many cultures and is a key ingredient in many types of fast food, (A22) ... both taste and colour to dishes that otherwise would be rather ordinary. The tomato (A23) ... to the nightshade family of plants, many members of which are poisonous. When they were first (A24) ... into North America, therefore, tomatoes were viewed with (A25) ... and people tended to use them as table decorations rather than as food. In Europe, the tomato was first grown in Italy in 1555, although it wasn't (A26) ... with pasta until much later. The first (A27) ... for tomato ketchup dates from 1727 and in the 1800s, tomatoes began to be used more (A28) ... in sources and soups. These days, as well as tasting good, tomatoes are (A29) ... to contain substances which are good for our health. Nutritionists (A30) ... out, however, that many processed tomato products also contain additives such as salt and Sugar which can (A31) ... the beneficial effects of the fruit.

Napoleon III of France was (A23) ... for the invention of the butter substitute known as margarine. He was looking for a cheap (A24) ... to butter for the poorer people of society, and for his army and navy. So he (A25) ... up a prize competition to see who would (A26) ... up with the best solution.

There was only one entry into this competition, from a man called Meges-Mouries. He had (A27) ... over two years experimenting, and finally found an acceptable butter substitute made from milk and various animal fats. Meges-Mouries' invention was awarded the prize.

Margarine soon went into mass production and was exported all over the world. In Britain it was called 'Butterine', until protests from farmers (A28) ... to that name being made illegal. Farmers in America were not happy about the new arrival on the market either. They (A29) ... to the yellow colouring, saying that it made it resemble butter so closely that it could deceive consumers. In effect, Napoleon III's competition is still going on. The ultimate (A30) ... of every margarine manufacturer is to produce a product that is (A31) ... to distinguish from butter. And they keep trying.

According to the United Nations' population figures, the world's population will be (A22) ... for 8.9 billion by the year 2050, (A23) ... to 6.7 billion in 2009. This figure (A24) ... into account that each woman on the planet will give birth to two children. Eight billion, nine hundred million people may sound like an astronomical figure, yet statistics (A25) ... that, throughout the world, the number of children being born is (A26) ... . The explanation (A27) ... for this is the fact that women have become better educated and would rather (A28) ... a career than enjoy motherhood. Therefore, they (A29) ... bringing up many children and being out of work for long periods of time. All the same, the world's population will continue to increase in spite of the ageing population. This will happen because of an overall rise in life expectancy, especially in the developed countries. The main (A30) ... for this is that many diseases which were fatal in the past, can be (A31) ... nowadays.

According to the United Nations' population figures, the world's population will be (A22) ... for 8.9 billion by the year 2050, (A23) ... to 6.7 billion in 2009. This figure (A24) ... into account that each woman on the planet will give birth to two children. Eight billion, nine hundred million people may sound like an astronomical figure, yet statistics (A25) ... that, throughout the world, the number of children being born is (A26) ... . The explanation (A27) ... for this is the fact that women have become better educated and would rather (A28) ... a career than enjoy motherhood. Therefore, they (A29) ... bringing up many children and being out of work for long periods of time. All the same, the world's population will continue to increase in spite of the ageing population. This will happen because of an overall rise in life expectancy, especially in the developed countries. The main (A30) ... for this is that many diseases which were fatal in the past, can be (A31) ... nowadays.

§ 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. Catherine Cassidy has every reason to be proud. This summer she graduated with a degree in Zoology from Queen's University, Belfast. She has ambitions to be a scientific journalist. She is also completely deaf. She can lipread. I interviewed Catherine via e-mail. She told me getting to university was an achievement in itself. She says: 'You have to work much harder than your peers (сверстники) and have to be prepared to commit yourself.'

§ 2. The Disability Discrimination Act insists that universities increase their intake of special needs students. But there are difficulties. First, there are no reliable figures on the numbers of disabled in the community, so universities are unsure of the percentages they should be aiming to recruit. Second, some students might require specially adapted computers, or online learning support. Of all the disabilities, deafness is probably the one that is hardest to cope with at university. Universities run on talk. Knowledge is communicated in lectures, seminars, talking to fellow students — reading is only secondary. For deaf students, casual spontaneous discussions are out.

§ 3. Fortunately for Catherine, Queen's University is a centre of excellence for the teaching of deaf students. The Joint Universities Deaf Education centre (JUDE) organised a special phonic earpiece (слуховой аппарат) that enabled Catherine to listen to lectures. JUDE has been extended to the other higher education institutions of Northern Ireland. JUDE is setting an example in what can be achieved. Sharon Easton, deaf student support officer, says: "We visit schools to make deaf people aware that higher education is a possibility. Another part of our role is to talk with employers. We're offering them deaf awareness training — how to adapt to the needs of deaf employees, and where to apply for grants.'

§ 4. Catherine's skill in lip-reading made communicating with her seem so effortless that many people did not believe she had a problem. At times this experience has been painful. Catherine says: 'People have labelled me "not really deaf". It is like telling me I don't count. And this can be very disheartening, very demoralising.'

§ 5. Catherine believes that excellent and well-focused special needs support should be available to all disabled students at university whatever the cost. She says: 'You are accepted by a university on the basis of your ability to carry out mental tasks. You have a right to be there - people should not judge a person by any physical disability.'

§ 1. Imagine an entire town made up of spectacular buildings of multi-coloured ice. A town devoted to pleasure where you can ride in a horse-drawn carriage, go down ice slides (горки) and watch swimming events by an icy river. It sounds like a setting for a work of children's fiction, but this magical scene appears every January on an island just outside the Chinese city of Harbin.

§ 2. Winter in Harbin would be very boring indeed without its annual month-long Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Harbin has average temperatures of −16 °C at the time of the festival. So what better way to brighten up winter than with a colourful winter wonderland that recreates some of the world's most impressive architectural landmarks? It's possible to reproduce them using blocks of ice at Harbin because its winters, though freezing cold, are dry. There is a tradition of ice sculpture in the region that goes back hundreds of years and began with ice lantern (фонарь) artworks lit by candles.

§ 3. People who have been to the festival say the sculptures are most impressive at night, when they are lit by floodlights or from inside by clever use of LED (светодиодный) bulbs that change colour periodically. You can also appreciate the amazing detail of the snow sculptures better when there's no sunshine. If you want to see as many sculptures as possible, you should plan your trip for a few weeks into the festival. That's because by then the international snow-sculpting competition that is held during every festival is over and you can admire the creations in all their beauty.

§ 4. If you are more interested in physical activities than art, you'll still find plenty to amuse you at the festival. The event is well-known for the long snow slides that are incorporated into the designs of the ice buildings.

§ 5. Perhaps the most extreme event at the festival is the river swimming. Even setting up the event is a challenge. The organisers have to remove enough ice from the surface of the River Songhua to make a pool for the friendly competitions. The brave participants jump into the water wearing nothing but swimming costumes and caps, surrounded by spectators in winter hats, coats and gloves! Although the festival has become well-known enough to attract visitors from outside China, it's rare to see a non-local swimmer in the competitions. In northern China, however, there is a strong tradition of winter outdoor swimming, especially among the middle-aged and the elderly.

§ 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. 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.

John McGregor talks to four performers who have made a career out of entertaining others.

1. The Illusionist

Who would expect to find England's answer to Harry Houdini in the sleepy Lancashire village of Mawdsley? Well, Matthew Tate has built up an impressive range of illusions and spectacular magic tricks to shock and thrill his audience, but many attribute his success to the way he manages to involve and excite his audience. They watch as he frees himself after being submerged handcuffed in a water-filled tank. He reminds his audience that failure would mean certain death and even asks them to hold their breath with him, just as Houdini did I ask him if he can tell me just one of his secrets. My question is met with a cheeky grin and, of course, complete silence!

2. The Living Statue

When people ask Maria Marks what she does for a living, she often tells them "nothing". Every day, she makes her living by dressing in an antique wedding dress, covering her skin in white clown paint and standing absolutely motionless on a pedestal in London's Covent Garden until a coin is thrown into her hat. So, what exactly draws the crowd when Maria "performs"? "Well, people want me to prove that I'm human." I ask Maria if she gets bored just standing there day after day. "No," she says. "I enter an almost trance-like state and an hour passes like a minute."

3. The Actor

Michael Webster has been an actor in London for almost fifteen years. Michael tells me all about the ups and downs of a typical actor's life. "You constantly strive to deliver a perfect performance, often under imperfect or unpleasant conditions."

I ask Michael how he feels when he's performing. "One of the most amazing feelings I have," he tells me, "is standing in front of an audience knowing that they expressly came to see me perform. It fills me with two overwhelming sensations: joy and extreme gratitude!"

4. The Circus Performer

Zhao Jian explains to me how she came to be touring the world as a hand balancer with a circus troupe. "As a young girl I was always jumping around," she tells me, "so one day my mum suggested that I enrol in one of the many acrobatic schools in Wuqiao county. We followed an exceptionally harsh programme, waking at five thirty in the morning each day to begin eight hours of tough physical exercises." And now that she has a job in the circus? "I practise an acrobatic move over and over again before I'm ready to perform it." I ask her if she has any regrets. She answers me without the least hesitation: "No, I was made for this life."

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.'

1. Roger Bates, knew he wanted his own restaurant when he was 23. But he didn't make his move until he was 39. The property he and his wife, Sandra, bought is a restaurant with rooms for guests, which is down a quiet lane on the wooded slopes of a beautiful valley. "People will come and find you if you are good enough. That was the challenge." Roger says the only unpredicted difficulty was the attitude of some of the customers. "It was hard to get used to being treated like servants.' For Sandra, the most demanding part was the physical work. She also had the difficulty of taking over someone else's staff and someone else's menus. She gradually changed the menus, and she has a little more time off now that the business is established.

2. Tony and Gina Wignell of Strathlachlan in Scotland, have spent their whole lives in the hotel and catering industry. They have made one major sacrifice, however, as by moving into a restaurant they have taken a considerable drop in income for a better quality of life. Tony and Gina used to manage a hotel, which provided financial security but never-ending work. Moving to the restaurant has meant working seven days a week in the high season, but they can make time for themselves by shutting in the afternoon. And by closing down entirely during the off-season, they get a clear two months off. But they found it hard to combine being in the restaurant trade with bringing up a family. Despite this they carried on and their children, now 18 and 20, look back and say that they never realised that there was any other life.

3. It's a similar story for Tina Bricknell-Webb and her husband Tony. "I'm on my feet for such long hours. You have to be incredibly strong to do this job.' Tina's first experience of cooking in a restaurant was when the chef walked out three days after it opened. Gradually, her confidence has built up. For Tony and Tina the hard work has been made worthwhile by a special award for excellent food. Tony believes their restaurant works because they run the show themselves. "If you have a place like this, the customers want to see you there every time they come in. You're an actor and they've bought your performance with the price of a dinner." Clearly proud of their achievement, the Bricknell-Webbs admit there have been sacrifices. They have no social life and no children. If they did start a family, the restaurant would have to go.

4. David and Jane Blackford found this to be true. When their restaurant opened for business they had two small children. "When they were very small we could manage by putting them to bed early but later there was a real conflict of interest. On Saturdays and Sundays we'd sit them down in front of videos. I ended up feeling it was David and the restaurant against me and the children.’ When David caught pneumonia, they made their decision. The family had to come first. "One day we may have another adventure in the restaurant trade, but for the time being putting up the "closed" sign has been a great relief.'

John McGregor talks to four performers who have made a career out of entertaining others.

1. The Illusionist

Who would expect to find England's answer to Harry Houdini in the sleepy Lancashire village of Mawdsley? Well, Matthew Tate has built up an impressive range of illusions and spectacular magic tricks to shock and thrill his audience, but many attribute his success to the way he manages to involve and excite his audience. They watch as he frees himself after being submerged handcuffed in a water-filled tank. He reminds his audience that failure would mean certain death and even asks them to hold their breath with him, just as Houdini did I ask him if he can tell me just one of his secrets. My question is met with a cheeky grin and, of course, complete silence!

2. The Living Statue

When people ask Maria Marks what she does for a living, she often tells them "nothing". Every day, she makes her living by dressing in an antique wedding dress, covering her skin in white clown paint and standing absolutely motionless on a pedestal in London's Covent Garden until a coin is thrown into her hat. So, what exactly draws the crowd when Maria "performs"? "Well, people want me to prove that I'm human." I ask Maria if she gets bored just standing there day after day. "No," she says. "I enter an almost trance-like state and an hour passes like a minute."

3. The Actor

Michael Webster has been an actor in London for almost fifteen years. Michael tells me all about the ups and downs of a typical actor's life. "You constantly strive to deliver a perfect performance, often under imperfect or unpleasant conditions."

I ask Michael how he feels when he's performing. "One of the most amazing feelings I have," he tells me, "is standing in front of an audience knowing that they expressly came to see me perform. It fills me with two overwhelming sensations: joy and extreme gratitude!"

4. The Circus Performer

Zhao Jian explains to me how she came to be touring the world as a hand balancer with a circus troupe. "As a young girl I was always jumping around," she tells me, "so one day my mum suggested that I enrol in one of the many acrobatic schools in Wuqiao county. We followed an exceptionally harsh programme, waking at five thirty in the morning each day to begin eight hours of tough physical exercises." And now that she has a job in the circus? "I practise an acrobatic move over and over again before I'm ready to perform it." I ask her if she has any regrets. She answers me without the least hesitation: "No, I was made for this life."

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.

1. School student Ester Montoya knows she has to improve her marks in her main subjects. She's trying hard, but it's not easy and sometimes she feels she's doing too much work, "I have to get away from it now and then," she says, "so recently I've joined a local youth theatre It really helps because it takes my mind off everything, it's a kind of escape from reality. Also I'm meeting other people of my age and I'm hoping to make some friends there. Something I've been meaning to try, though, is work helping others, perhaps old people. A friend of mine does it, and she says it really makes a difference — both to them and to her."

2. For seventeen-year-old Steve Ellison, life is particularly busy right now. He's revising for some important exams but he still manages to find time for his favourite free-time activities, which include long-distance running. As well as doing plenty of exercise, he also tries to maintain a healthy diet. "I've told myself I must always eat a variety of healthy food, with lots of fruit and green vegetables, though if I'm out with my mates I may give in to temptation and have a and chips. I never drink coffee because it makes you talk and act nervously, and it keeps you awake at night, too, which is bad for your stress level."

3. First-year university student Amelie Lefevre believes that the best way to beat stress is to organise your life more sensibly. "My life used to be pretty chaotic, there always seemed to be so much to do, often jobs that other people should E. doing. So what eventually learned to do was to say no, politely, to extra work. That helped, as did making a list of priorities for each day, with somethings scheduled for today, others for tomorrow and some that could be postponed for longer. I also make rules for myself about the amount of sleep I need. There was a time when I was staying up until all hours, but I was exhausted the next day so I don't do that any more. I think I managemy time quite well now."

4. Student Ndali Traore likes to get up early so he has a relaxed start to the day. "I hate leaving jobs till the last minute, and I always try to do those I like least first, he says. When he has some free time, he goes to the cinema, or out with friends. If something's bothering me," he says, "I often find that just talking to them about it helps. Particularly if you can make a joke about it, because it always seems a lot less serious when you do that.' If he's on his own, he has a special way of dealing with stress: "I try to recall occasions when I was really relaxed, such as spending the day by a beautiful lake in the sunshine. That often works, he says.

The days when people would go to a zoo for (B1) ... are long gone. Today's zoos play a role in the protection of

threatened species. The way animals are treated in a zoo has changed, too. Many intelligent animals suffer from (B2) ... in captivity and their keepers now try to improve the (B3) ... state of animals in their care. They do this, for example, by providing the animals with a variety of different food or by changing the animals' daily routine. Although some critics of zoos remain (B4) ..., there can be no doubt that animals in Zoos today enjoy a more comfortable existence than in the past.

One of the most important (B1) ... in the history of the motorcar was the development of the Model-T Ford in 1913, which was the first car to be produced on a large scale. The inventor of this method of production was Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company. The production line, as it came to be known, offered employment to thousands of workers. It seemed (B2) ... but the company cut costs as well, making cars affordable to clients. In addition, the replacement of old work practices made cars more (B3) ..., while (B4) ... improvements to the interior of the car made driving a pleasure.

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 (B1) ... of reasons. In the first place, cigarette advertising should be stopped because an (B2) ..., 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 (B3) ... 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 (B4) ... .

York is (B1) ... one of the most interesting cities in Britain. It is a very well-preserved walled city which has seen over 2,000 years of eventful history. However, York is also a modern city with an excellent shopping centre and plenty of clubs and other places of (B2) ... for those who like to stay out late. Any visit to York would be (B3) ... without going to the Minster, York's Cathedral, a wonderful example of Gothic architecture on the grand scale. The Minster supposedly took 250 years to finish. One of its most impressive sights is the stained glass Rose Window, which looks particulary magnificent on a fine, (B4) ... day.

Honey was the main source of sugar in ancient times. It was highly prized not only as a foodstuff but (B5) ... as a medicine. In those days, the art of bee keeping (B6) ... 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 (B7) ... up by anyone with a (B8) ... money to spend and some space in their garden.

As you know, I finish school this summer and I am looking (B5) ... to starting work and earning some money of my (B6) ... . Eventually I want to open a shop and intend to get a job in the local department store to gain as (B7)... practical experience as possible. Of course my parents want (B8) ... to go to college and do a business course but I feel I'd learn more on the job.

One of the most exciting archeological discoveries in history was (B5) ... in 1922, when the British archaeologists Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon (B6) ... across the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. When Carter entered the dark chamber Carnarvon asked him (B7) ... he could see anything. "Yes, wonderful things," came the reply.