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.

Hi, Tom!

The holidays have arrived again! It doesn't seem like a year since the last summer break, but in a few days we'll finish school for six weeks! I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year. Last year I did a summer job. I (A1) ... out my dad in his office when he asked me if I wanted to get paid for it! It was only two mornings a week, but it (A2) ... me some money to spend. How about you? (A3) ... to go away anywhere this summer? I (A4) ... by some friends to go on a sailing holiday and I think I will go. I love sailing. One reason I (A5) ... to you is to ask if you would like to come and stay for a weekend. If you (A6) ... at the end of August, we will go to the music festival in the park. I'm not sure if Lily Allen will be there this year, though. Write and tell me soon because there (A7) ... many tickets... .

Love,

Olga

Most people take time off work to travel, but for Ian Wright making a living requires travelling. Ian, who (A1) ... around the world many times, is one of the presenters of Globe Trekker — a popular TV series which (A2) ... the sights and sounds of different countries.

Since he (A3) ... the job as a presenter on British TV, Ian (A4) ... in over 50 episodes of the show, visiting countries like Ethiopia, Cambodia, Jamaica and Iran. On his travels, Ian often (A5) ... local food and sometimes exposes himself to danger. Once, while filming in the Pacific, he (A6) ... by a block of lava. "In Vanuatu we visited the most accessible volcano of the world. It erupted every ten minutes, spitting out lava all over the crater. It was unbelievable — until the wind changed. A piece of lava landed two meters away from my head. And we ran crying like babies."

Although Ian (A7) ... Globe Trekker episodes for many years, he is as enthusiastic as ever!

Hi, Tom!

The holidays have arrived again! It doesn't seem like a year since the last summer break, but in a few days we'll finish school for six weeks! I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year. Last year I did a summer job. I (A1) ... out my dad in his office when he asked me if I wanted to get paid for it! It was only two mornings a week, but it (A2) ... me some money to spend. How about you? (A3) ... to go away anywhere this summer? I (A4) ... by some friends to go on a sailing holiday and I think I will go. I love sailing. One reason I (A5) ... to you is to ask if you would like to come and stay for a weekend. If you (A6) ... at the end of August, we will go to the music festival in the park. I'm not sure if Lily Allen will be there this year, though. Write and tell me soon because there (A7) ... many tickets... .

Love,

Olga

Hi, Rob!

How are you doing? I'm OK. My day didn't start too well though. My alarm didn't go off and I (A1)... . (My mum (A2) ... to work early today so she wasn't around in the morning to get me up.) Then I got held up on the way to school because the bus I was on (A3) ... down. When I finally made it into class, I (A4) ... off by the teacher and had to stay on after school for a detention (оставление после урока)! Then on the way back home I bumped into Craig. He (A5) ... a few family dramas to deal with recently. Apparently his dad has been laid off from the bank where he worked and his sister (A6) ... out of the university so they're both at home feeling miserable.

What are you up to at the weekend? A few of us (A7) ... together for a game of beach volleyball. Why don't you come along?

Archie

Antonio and his friend Pietro (A1) ... on the beach when they (A2) ... somebody shouting. They jumped up and saw that there was a man in trouble in the sea. The man had caught his foot between two rocks. He (A3) ... to free himself for quite a long time, but without success. The friends realised that the man (A4) ... and that they needed to act quickly to save him. Without thinking, they jumped into the sea. When they reached the man, they dived underwater. They (A5) ... for several seconds before they managed to free the man. They swam back to the shore, and pulled the man between them. By the time they (A6) ... the beach, many people (A7) ... there, and everyone started to clap and cheer.

In a profession where black women are still in the minority, Alek Wek (Al) ... the title 'super-model'. Her life, however, hasn’t been easy. Alek was born into a poor family in Sudan in 1977, the seventh of nine children. In 1983, civil war broke out. In the end, Alek's family decided to move to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, where unfortunately Alek’s father died. In 1991, Alek and her younger sister moved to the UK. Their older sister (A2) ... to Britain three years earlier. They (A3) ... refugee status in Britain. Wek (A4) ... a course in fashion and business when she was discovered by a scout from the Models One agency in London. The discovery (A5) ... her available for the music video “Golden Eye” by Tina Turner, which eventually became the starter of her professional career. Since then Wek has been a top model for over 15 years. However, these days she (A6) ... more and more time working with charities which help Africa. Since 2002, Wek has been an advisor to the US Committee for Refugees. In the 1990s, Alek Wek changed the stereotype of how a model should look. Now she (A7) ... the stereotype of how a model should behave.

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.

These days the media is full (A8) ... stories of celebrities’ private lives: their relationships, problems with weight and so on. In fact, (A9) ... public seems to have (A10) ... never-ending appetite for this type of gossip. It could be argued that celebrities invite publicity, for instance (A11) ... giving interviews or welcoming the media into their homes. However, there are several reasons why celebrities deserve a certain level of privacy. Firstly, while some people actively seek (A12) ... fame, others do not. Secondly, reporters are more interested in selling a sensational story than in investigating something (A13) ... genuine importance. Lastly, the unwelcome attentions of reporters and photographers can put celebrities under great stress. Just think of Michael Jackson or Princess Diana. (A14) ... balance, I believe that celebrities have the right (A15) ... the same kind of privacy as anyone else.

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.

We had been staying at (A8) ... holiday resort on mainland Greece for nearly (A9) ... week when we decided to visit one of the nearby islands. First, we booked the trip at our hotel, then we walked down to the harbour and found our boat. The captain welcomed us on board and we sat down near (A10) ... front. (A11) ... first, the weather was good and the sea was calm. However, after about fifteen minutes, dark clouds filled the sky, and it was clear that a storm was about to start. Ten minutes later, it was pouring (A12) ... rain and the sea was extremely rough. It was absolutely terrifying! The captain of the boat explained (A13) ... us that he couldn’t approach (A14) ... the island — he was worried that we might hit the rocks if we went too close! All we could do was wait for the storm to pass. All of the passengers were feeling very ill as well as frightened. But finally, the storm passed, the sea became calm once more and we finished our journey. I’ll never forget being (A15) ... sea during a storm.

At (A8) ... early age Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest poet, had to help his father on his farm. When he was twenty-two, he went to Irvine, where he began to learn about making cloth. Shortly after his arrival, the factory in which he was training was destroyed (A9) ... fire so he started (A10) ... farm with his younger brother. While he was living on the farm, he concentrated (A11) ... writing poems and fell for a local girl, Jean Armour. Robert wanted to marry her but her father would not allow him to do so, probably because he thought Burns was not wealthy enough. Her father's refusal took Robert (A12) ... surprise and he decided to leave (A13) ... country. Robert had to obtain the fare for the voyage by selling some poems. Just as he was about to leave he was given some advice — to publish a new edition of the poems he had written. He received a large sum of money for the poetry and was able to get married (A14) ... Jean Armour. During his marriage he continued to write the expressive poetry he became famous (A15) ... .

According (A8) ... a recent survey, (A9) ... British are poor savers in comparison (A10) ... other nations in Europe. They may start out with good intentions but many people end up putting aside only 5.5 percent of their income (A11) ... 'a rainy day'. It is believed that only 13 percent of people currently in employment in the UK are saving towards their retirement. One of the reasons (A12) ... this is that they spend around 16 percent of everything they earn (A13) ... luxuries such as holidays and other forms of entertainment. As (A14) ... result, financial problems and personal debt have increased sharply. Owning a home is a good investment by many British people. However, house prices are now so high that they are simply unaffordable for many young people starting out. At (A15) ... other end of the scale, over 800,000 households now own a second home abroad.

At (A8) ... early age Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest poet, had to help his father on his farm. When he was twenty-two, he went to Irvine, where he began to learn about making cloth. Shortly after his arrival, the factory in which he was training was destroyed (A9) ... fire so he started (A10) ... farm with his younger brother. While he was living on the farm, he concentrated (A11) ... writing poems and fell for a local girl, Jean Armour. Robert wanted to marry her but her father would not allow him to do so, probably because he thought Burns was not wealthy enough. Her father's refusal took Robert (A12) ... surprise and he decided to leave (A13) ... country. Robert had to obtain the fare for the voyage by selling some poems. Just as he was about to leave he was given some advice — to publish a new edition of the poems he had written. He received a large sum of money for the poetry and was able to get married (A14) ... Jean Armour. During his marriage he continued to write the expressive poetry he became famous (A15) ... .

David de Rothschild is known (A8) ... his efforts to make the earth a better place for those who inhabit it. Recently, David has become involved (A9) ... a project which he believes will help save oceans. In the middle of (A10) ... Pacific Ocean there is (A11) ... vast pile of rubbish, which floats on the water and causes terrible damage (A12) ... the environment. This region is filled (A13) ... 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 (A14) ... boat from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia. He is enthusiastic (A15) ... the journey regardless of the difficulties it may involve. David hopes that the adventure will encourage people not to ignore environmental problems.

The number and length of flights has (A23)... sharply in the past few years. As the human body was not designed for flying, people can (A24) ... if they are on an aeroplane for a long time. Therefore, it is important to (A25) ... certain measures to increase your comfort. In the air, your body is more (A26) ... to the effects of alcohol, and rich or fatty foods, so it is best to (A27) ... these the day before you leave as well as during the flight. A long-distance journey often (A28)... travellers feeling stiff, because they have been sitting in one position for several hours. In order to reduce the (A29) ... of this happening to you, there are some exercises you can do while you are flying. Besides this, a hot shower taken after the flight can be an effective way of minimising stiffness. If you (A30) ... loose clothing made from (A31) ... materials, such as cotton, you will feel more comfortable. Your skin suffers in other ways too, becoming drier since you have (A32) ... the ground. This can be avoided, however, if you take some skin cream with you.

According to a recent study, your personality could determine how likely you are to be (A23) ... in an accident. In fact, it could be the most important (A24) ... behind around a quarter of all mishaps. The (A25) ... have found that there are three key personality traits that can (A26) ... some people more accident prone than others. Firstly, high t levels of aggressiveness or selfishness may (A27) ... people more at risk of having accidents as individuals with these characteristics are often highly competitive and therefore more likely to not follow instructions and to (A28) ... rules. It also seems that those who have very open personalities may also have more accidents as these kinds of people can be dreamy and (A29)... concentration. Finally, people who aren’t very dependable or (A30)... may also be more at risk. Not everyone, however, agrees with the study’s (A31) ... . A spokesperson for an accident prevention organisation said: “We must (A32) ... responsibility for our actions and educate people to prevent accidents instead of blaming our personalities.”

Young people tend to spend most of their out-of-school hours (A23) ... with homework and other school commitments. These (A24) ... them so busy that they have no time to (A25) ... for other major projects. But there are some remarkable exceptions to this (A26) ... . Some use any free time they have to (A27) ... themselves to environmental issues. Ava Lang, for example, is only 14 but at: weekends she goes round restaurants to persuade the owners to (A28) ... her with their used cooking oil. She then arranges for this to be (A29) ... into biodiesel. Another youngster who does a considerable (A30) ... of work to help others is Tim Fried. He races go-karts as a (A31) ... of raising money for charitable causes. In this way he manages to (A32) ... his love of sport with some socially useful work.

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.

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.

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.

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.

One thing I have never understood is the desire to live in the country. People (A23) ... 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 (A24) ..., country life has just as many hazards (опасности) as the big city. I have a friend who lives next to a farm and he (A25) ... that it's noisier living there than it ever was in London. The birds and animals start (A26) ... a noise first thing in the morning, quickly followed by the farm machinery. And as for crime, my friend's car has been (A27) ... 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 (A28) ... 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 (A29) ... back from work, I often (A30) ... across three or four neighbours and we have a long chat. It's that connection with other people that I would (A31) ... most if I lived in the country.

Hollywood is associated with fame, fortune and glamour. Every year, thousands of young people (A25) ... up there, hoping that a producer will spot them and think they have that special something that audiences want to see. Unfortunately, most of them are (A26) ... on a journey that leads to disappointment. Take a (A27) ... round Los Angeles and ask any waiter or waitress and they will tell you that they are only working there for the time being, until they get their break in films. A combination of failure and economic problems usually means that they eventually (A28)... up their minds to leave and return to the small town they came from, without having made their fortune.

Before you come to the (A29) ... that a life in film is for you, ask yourself carefully if you are ready for that change of direction. You'll have to travel and live for a long time at your own (A30) ..., working in jobs that provide you with a low (A31) ..., with only the occasional glimpse of a star to (A32) ... you where you want to be.

Roger Press, 40, has (A23) … his career. After spending five years as a concert pianist he has gone into business, recently (A24) … 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 (A25) … it I felt relieved in many ways. When I (A26) … 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 (A27) … 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 (A28) … in multimedia programmes. Now that I run my own business I am in control of my life and I can feel (A29) … of my achievements. Although the stress is high and I work (A30) … hours, the stress (A31) … in piano playing was much worse. It (A32) … physical, emotional and mental skills. I prefer the pressures I live with now.'

§ 1. Holly Sinclair arrives at the north London restaurant where she and I are to have lunch. She looks exactly what she is: a 21-year-old who, thanks to three number-one hit songs, a millionaire husband and blossoming acting career, is having the time of her life. Once she opens her mouth, however, you realise that the person inside her body is actually a middle-aged woman.

§ 2. She has recently acted in three quite different roles that truly caught her imagination. Her three number-one hits have brought her a big measure of artistic freedom, and she intends to make full use of it. "I don't have to do things for the sake of them. It means I can wait a while, find the right things. I've got the time to go out and find out about life, observe people and dynamic situations that help me in my work. Ultimately, I'm only ever going to do the things that interest me, that I feel I can do something with. Even if I'm offered a blockbuster, it may not be right at the time, or benefit me."

§ 3. Naturally, Holly Sinclair knew what she wanted in life from an unusually early age — and that, whether she cares to admit it or not, was fame and fortune. At 12, she left Swindon, where her father worked as a builder, and moved to London. Once there, she boarded with her great aunt and uncle while attending the Oldham Theatre School. Three years later, her debut single, "Like Me" became the first of her three number-one hits (she holds the record for being the youngest singer to achieve such a feat). It was not, she says, very hard to leave her parents and three young brothers. She wasn't even particularly homesick. "I wanted to study and I didn't want to stay where I was. I wanted more, I was just very ambitious. I don't know where it came from." After she became famous, most of the time she was rather alone. Her schedule left little time for being a teenager.

§ 4. Then she met her pop-star husband, Freddy Frinton. After their first date, Freddy sent her a silver Ferrari full of roses, in spite of the fact that Holly couldn't drive (the car has since been sold, because Sinclair prefers to drive herself around in a small family car). Then they got married in a Las Vegas wedding chapel, with no family and no rings.

§ 5. She spends her money on CDs and DVDs and going out. The only thing she really wants is a fast car. But then, she wonders whether she can't get another year or two out of her old car first. "Money's never been a big part of my life. Freddy and I never have conversations about money. Maybe we would if we were very poor." She still looks as composed as a waxwork model. Does she feel young or old for her age?"Not old exactly, but when I get together with friends, I see a difference in our personalities. Sometimes I get angry with myself that I've done too much, that I haven't saved anything. I mean, what could possibly make me excited?' Holly is smiling brightly, but it sounds assad and as empty as anything I have ever heard.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Watching wooden dolls come to life may not be one of the most popular forms of entertainment today, but with over twenty years’ experience, talented puppeteer (кукольник) Peter Roberts has earned himself the title ‘master puppeteer’ due to his extraordinary ability to transform puppets into believable, almost living characters. “People are quite often surprised to hear what I do for a living and have little appreciation of puppetry as a form of entertainment. But puppet theatre has been popular in many cultures and may have been the very first kind of theatre,” he explains.

2. As Roberts writes his own scripts and musical scores, his shows are highly original. “A puppet show can involve anything from clowning to storytelling,” he explains. Equally varied is the audience he performs for. Roberts believes that this form of entertainment crosses international boundaries and can be appreciated by people of all ages and cultures.

3. Roberts’ fascination for puppets started when he received some beautiful glove puppets one Christmas. He started putting on shows with these for family and friends and then moved on to handmade Chinese string puppets. Learning mostly from books and personal experience, he continued with his ‘hobby’ while studying for a degree in architecture. “By the time I left university,” he explains, “I was already spending most of my free time carving puppets and putting on shows in the community, so I hardly noticed the transition from student to full-time professional puppeteer. I realised I had long since abandoned all thoughts of pursuing any other career!”

4. The puppets are designed specifically for each show, which is extremely time-consuming. Each one is out of English limewood and then painted. Some of his ‘characters’ appear in exhibitions; others are used for puppeteering workshops. Anyone interested in puppetry can be trained to assist, and not just with the actual puppet making. Puppet theatre companies in the UK are usually small, but each one still needs writers, performers, musicians and even sound and lighting engineers.

5. When most people hear the word ‘puppetry’, they more than likely think of a way of keeping children entertained at birthday parties. However, Roberts is keen to point out that puppet theatre can often be used as an effective educational tool. “Through the mouths of pup sets come serious messages sometimes,” he says.

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.

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

1. Hugo

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

2. Danie

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

3. Krystyna

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

4. Robin

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

When Usain Bolt was a young boy growing up in Jamaica, his parents took him to the doctor because he couldn’t keep still. He was gifted at cricket, his first love. ‘But I just happened to run fast. It was easy and I was winning. And my dad said I should concentrate on running because it’s an individual sport and, if you do good, you do good for yourself.’

Nobody can hold a light to Usain Bolt — he is a one-off (уникум). There’s the size, for a start: 1.96 metres (ideal sprinters are thought to be no more than 1.85 metres). Then there’s the scoliosis, a curved spine which means one leg

is shorter than the other. (A43)__And the attitude — at warm-up his rivals look as if they will explode with tension, but Bolt smiles, even dances. And, of course, Bolt is said to be the fastest man ever.

Bolt maintains that he isn’t quite as cool and laid-back as he appears to be. There are things that bother him. (A44)__For example, he says he was so uptight before the junior World Championships final — where he became the youngest gold medallist at the age of fifteen — that he put his shoes on the wrong feet.

(A45)__That’s when Jamaica turned on him. His own people said he was undisciplined, he partied too much.

And yes, he did; but the truth was he was suffering with his spine. People, he says, are quick to criticise.

Bolt arrived in athletics at a time when the profession had lost a lot of respect over drug-taking. Here was a man who looked and acted differently. In 2008, though, he had to beg his coach to let him run the 100 metres at the Beijing Olympics. (A46)__Despite that, not only did he win gold but he broke the 100 metre world record. He broke his own record at the 2009 World Championships and went on to win gold in the 2012 London Olympics in the 100 metre and 200 metre races and the relay.

‘The image on the track is that he just turns up and runs but it isn’t true,’ says his manager. ‘He’s very competitive.’ And the thing is, says Bolt, if he weren’t easy-going, he wouldn’t run so fast. He looks a little blank when I ask him what makes him such a good runner. Perhaps his height help., and those huge strides, he suggests. (A47)__‘The way his feet move, the way the mechanics are so perfect. Everything is perfect for running.’

I’ve never met a sportsman quite like Bolt. He is opinionated, funny and grounded. I ask him about his ambitions. Eventually, he says, he’d like to make a go of playing football professionally. (A48)__‘People say I’m a legend but I’m not until I’ve fulfilled my potential.’

Anne Carlisle explains the history and work of Britain’s police detectives.

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

Becoming a plain-clothes detective in the CID is no easy task. Firstly, a police officer needs to have served for at least two years as a uniformed officer. (A43)____Once this period has been completed the officer can then apply to go to a detective training school. However, there’s no guarantee they will be accepted.

In order to become a detective, an officer needs to possess a wide range of skills and qualities, the most obvious being complete honesty and good character. They also need to be highly observant and to have good judgement. (A44) ____An officer with all these skills could more than likely find themselves being accepted to train as a detective.

Most of these ‘detectives-to-be’ discover that the really hard work begins once they get to the training school. There, the officers receive intensive instruction in all areas related to solving major crime. For instance, they will have to learn about psychology, which will come in handy when they are questioning suspects and witnesses. Perhaps the most difficult subjects, though, deal with learning all about the modem scientific methods now used in crime detection.

Once our future Sherlocks have completed their initial training, they begin life as detective constables and start working on unsolved crime cases in the CID. Most of the work they do is not nearly as glamorous as it seems on TV and in novels. (A45)____Not exactly fascinating work, but essential all the same.

Apart from having to do painstaking investigative work, detectives also have a lot of paperwork to deal with. (A46)____Every detail of a crime and its investigation must be recorded. Most detectives find the amount of clerical work they have to do the most frustrating part of their job.

Nonetheless, it can be a very rewarding job; a detective gets great satisfaction knowing they have solved a major crime. However, a detective’s job is still not over after a suspect has been arrested and charged. (A47)____Only when the offender is actually behind bars is the detective’s goal achieved. Then there’s always the next case to tackle, of course.

In many ways, the detectives of today are similar to the ones of the past. Much of the work has hardly changed at all. Detectives still have to ask questions and find answers. (A48)____Whether it is using computers or looking through a microscope, it all helps to get the crime solved. In the end, just like the detectives we avidly watch on TV, they are heroes doing everything in their power to get the bad guys off our streets.

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.

If there’s one thing above all that students need to learn, it’s how to learn! More specifically, students need to know how to learn effectively. There are a number of techniques and skills you can employ to improve your learning. Read on to find out more.

First of all, you need to be in the right frame of mind. Studying should be seen as an enjoyable opportunity to learn rather than a necessary evil that prevents you from relaxing or having fun. (A43)___In order to take that step, get rid of any distractions. If you have a computer, a TV or PlayStation in your room, turn it off or study somewhere else. Also, think positively when you study by reminding yourself that you have the skills and abilities to get ahead. Don’t let negative thoughts take over. If you haven’t allowed yourself enough time to prepare for an exam or to write an assignment, don’t give up! (A4)___And never, ever compare yourself with others. We’re all different and we all have different abilities and talents.

Then there’s sçheduling. You have to develop a schedule in order to make the best use of your most valuable resource, time. Маке that schedule and stick to it because it will guide you in how to manage the available time most productively. Don’t! You must take your studying seriously — it isn’t something to be done when you get around to it or have some spare time. (A45)___Do you really think you can learn an entire term’s worth of course material in one night? Of course not. By spending just half an hour a day revising the material, you’ll stay on top of things. Study regularly throughout the term for as many subjects as you car Don’t wait until exam time to open your books!

So, you’re ready to study and you’ve got a schedule. W hat next? Read effectively. (A46)___How often have you read to the bottom of a page and suddenly realised that you remember absolutely nothing? Probably more often than you care to admit. Unless you read ‘actively’, you won’t learn. How do you become an active reader? (A7)___This makes sense as the important things to learn are usually answers to questions. If you ask and answer questions about what, why, how, when, who and where, you will begin to make sense of the material and remember it more easily. Another good technique to use is to break up chapters into sections and deal with each one separately. (A48)___Make sure you understand everything before continuing to the next section. In this way, you steadily build up your understanding of the material in small, manageable steps.

See? It is possible to study and learn without stress if you study smart!

Stonehenge, the location of which is Salisbury Plain in England, is a prehistoric monument. Its construction took place in about 1,800 BCand is undoubtedly an amazing human (Bt) ... (ACHIEVE). It consists of two circles of huge stones, some of which weigh up to 50 tons. What makes Stonehenge all the more (B2) ... (IMPRESS) is the fact that some of the stones (B3)... (ORIGIN) came from Pembrokeshire, which is over 200 miles away. Transportation of these stones would have been carried out using manual labour, since very little (B4) ... (TECHNOLOGY) advancement had taken place at the time.

Chameleons, a (B1) ... of tree-living lizard, are found in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Arabia and Southern Europe. They are unusual in their appearance with their bulging eyes, which move (B2) ..., and their long curled tail, which can be twisted around branches to increase their grip. The chameleon's eyesight is exceptional for a reptile; its 360-degree vision makes it highly (B3) ... at hunting prey and spotting predators (хищник). Today, many chameleon species are (B4) ... because of pollution and the destruction of their natural habitat.

Computers are incredibly useful in many ways. I used to have no idea about them — I was really (B1) ... at anything technical and felt very (B2) ... whenever people asked me to do anything on the computer. When I first started using them, I made a lot of mistakes and would feel very embarrassed when people referred to the latest technological (B3)... and I didn’t know what they were talking about. But now I know enough not to feel (B4) ... ignorant when my friends discuss the latest gadgets.

While some people consider cooking to be boring, especially those who are occupied daily with the task of feeding a large family on a small budget, (B5) ... find it a creative and fulfilling activity. Cooking for a family (B6) ... members are not only choosy but (B7) ... have limited tastes hardly gives the cook much creative opportunity.

Have you ever started a new hobby, but given up after oily a couple of weeks? Or started a course and stopped after the first few lessons? Most of us have tried to learn something new, but very (B5) ... of us ever really get any good at it — (B6) ... is just too difficult to continue doing something new. But now there is some good news: did you know (B7) ... if you can keep up your new hobby for just 30 days, you have a better chance of succeeding? And you may learn something new about yourself as (B8) ....

My friend and I had been (B5) ... plans for this holiday for a long time. It was our dream to take a break from work for a couple of months, and have a holiday that (B6) ... of us would ever forget. We (B7) ... a lot of research and had a few arguments before we made our final decision, but at last we both agreed on Thailand.

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.