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My Working Day I usually start my day with getting up and doing all things that everybody does in the morning: washing, having breakfast, etc. I also got used to gather my learning tools: pencils, exercise-books, text-books in the morning. Then I usually go to the University. Fortunately, my father takes a car every morning and he often picks me up and drives me to the doors of our University building. And soon the lectures and lessons begin... We have from 2 to 4 lectures every time, depending on day. I like studying in the University more than in the school because in you can miss some lectures when you study at the University (of course, later you should take a summary from your mate and copy it). So, a student is much more free, than pupil is. After the lessons I usually come back home where I have dinner and start thinking about my ways of spending the rest of the day. I often go to my friend's place. During the early autumn and summer I often go to the sports ground or to the beach. I also like visiting different sports events, for example, soccer matches of "Luch" in Russian championship. So, the world is full of enjoyable things to do. On returning home I usually start doing my homework. When I finish it, I read a book it or watch TV. At last, I go bed. Of course, I would like to tell you more about myself and my working day, but, unfortunately, my time is rather limited and I have got a lot of homework to do.
My name is ... I am seventeen (sixteen, eighteen). I live in Rostov-on-Don. My address is ... My telephone number is... I am tall (not very tall, short, middle-sized). I am thin (not very thin, rather fat). My face is round (square, oval). I have a fair (dark) complexion. My forehead is narrow (broad) and low (high). I have a straight (turned up, crooked, aquiline) nose and a protruding (round) chin. My eyebrows are bushy (penciled), my eyelashes are thick (thin) and long (short). I have large (small) blue (hazel, black, grey) eyes. My hair is black (fair, dark, blond, chestnut), straight (curly) and long (short, not very long). I have just left school and now I am going to enter the University (Institute). I am going to be a teacher (a lawyer). I like my future profession and I am going to do my best to become a good specialist. I live with my family. It is large (small, not very large) and very good. We love each other very much and always try to help each other and to spend as much time together as we can. I have a lot of friends too. I am fond of reading and playing computer games. My favourite sport is football (swimming, tennis, hockey). My friends and I often get together to play different games, to go for a walk or to the disco or simply to talk.
The United Kingdom of G.B. and Northern Irelands is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, G.B. and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244,000 square kilometers. The UK is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. GB consists of England, Scotland and Wales and doesn't include Northern Ireland. The capital of the UK is London. The British Isles are separated from European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of GB is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. There are a lot of rivers in GB, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters if Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. The weather in GB is very changeable. A fine morning can change into a wet afternoon and evening and the wrong side out. The English people say: "Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather." The English also say that they have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon or when it rains all day long. The weather is the favorite conversational topic in GB. After they greet each other they start talking about the weather. The best time of the year in GB is spring (of course, it rains in spring too). The two worst months in Britain are January and February. They are cold, damp and unpleasant. The best place in the world is to stay at home by the fire. Summer months are rather cold and there can be a lot of rainy days. So most people who look forward to summer holidays, plan to go abroad for the summer. The most unpleasant aspect of English weather is fog and smog. This is extremely bad in big cities especially in London. The fog spreads everywhere so cars move along slowly and people can't see each other. They try not to be run over by a car but still accidents are frequent in the fog. London is a capital of Great Britain, it is a political, economic and commercial center. It's one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. It's population is about 9 million people. London is one of the oldest and the most interesting cities of the world. Traditionally it's divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epochs. The heart of London is the City. It's a financial and business center. Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Not so many people live here, but over a million people come to the City to work. There are some famous ancient buildings within the City. Perhaps, the most striking of them is St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of British churches. St. Paul's Cathedral has always been dominated the center of London. It is situated on the site of former Saxon and Norman churches. They were destroyed by the Great Fire and the present building, completed in 1710, is the work of the eminent architect Sir Christopher Wren. It is an architectural masterpiece. Londoners have a particular affection for St. Paul's, which is the largest Protestant Church in England. It's high dome, containing the remarkable Whispering Gallery, is a prominent landmark towering above the multistoried buildings which line the river-bank. The Tower of London was one of the first and most impressive castles built after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Since the times of William 1 various kings have built and extended the Tower of London and used it for many purposes. The Tower has been used as a royal palace, an observatory, an arsenal, a state prison, and many famous and infamous people have been executed within it's walls. Now it is a museum. For many visitors the principal attraction is the Crown Jewels, the finest precious stones of the nation. A fine collection of amour is exhibited in the keep. The security of the Tower is ensured by a military garnison and by the Yeoman Warders or Beefeaters, who still wear their picturesque Tudor uniform. Westminster is the historic, the governmental part of London. Westminster Abbey is a national shrine where the kings and queens are crowned and famous people are buried. It is founded by Edward the Confessor in 1050. The Abbey was a monastery for along time. The present building dates largely from the times of Henry 3, who began to rebuild the church, a task which lasted nearly 300 years. The West towers were added in the eighteenth century. Since William 1 almost every English monarch has been crowned in this great church, which contains the tombs and memorials of many of Britain's most eminent citizens: Newton, Darwin, Chaucer, Dickens, Tennyson, Kipling and etc. One of the greatest treasures of the Abbey is the oaken Coronation Chair made in 1300. The Abbey is also known for its Poet's Corner. Graves and memorials to many English poets and writers are clustered round about. Across the road from Westminster Abbey you can see the Westminster Palace, or the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. The Parliament of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords consists of just over 1,000 members of the different grades of nobility - dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts and barons. In the House of Commons there are 650 members. They are elected by secret ballot by men and women aged 18 and over. Every Parliament is divided into Sessions. Each of these may last a year and usually begins early in November. The Clock Tower, which contains the hour-bell called Big Ben, is known the world over. The bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen. The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there. There are splendid houses and lovely gardens belonging to wealthy people. Trafalgar Square is the geographical center of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson's victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson's Column stands in the middle of the square. On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum - the biggest museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, ets, and is famous for its library. The East End is the poorest district of London. There are a lot of factories, work-shops and docks here. The streets are narrow, the buildings are unimpressive. The East End is densely populated by working class families. The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometres. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-boarder with Russia. The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The population of the country is more than 270 million. If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska. America's largest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA. The climate of the country varies greatly. The coldest regions are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part is continental. The south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast. The USA is a highly developed industrial country. It's the world's leading producer of copper and oil and the world's second producer of iron ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, armaments, furniture and paper. Though mainly European and African in origin, Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations, including Chinese and native Americans. The largest cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San-Francisco, Washington and others. The United States is a federal union of 50 states, each of which has its own government. The seat of the central (federal) government is Washington, DC. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches: the executive, headed by the President, the legislative, exercised by the Congress, and the judicial. The Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are two main political parties in the USA: the Republican and the Democratic, though there's hardly any difference between their political lines.
The land of blue mountains. The Great Barrier Reef on the coast of Queensland is a garden under the sea. There are 1,400 different kinds of fish, and more than 300 kinds of coral. Tropical fruit and flowers grow on the beautiful islands. It's not surprising that more holiday-makers come to Queensland every year. Tasmania, the island south of Australia, is small. It's the same size as England. It is also very different from the other states. There are no deserts in Tasmania. It often rains, both in winter and summer. Only a half of million people live in Tasmania, and a large part of the island is still covered with wild, beautiful wild forests. These forests are full of wonderful flowers and interesting animals. In the Northern Territory you will find the red heart of Australia. And it really is red, with red rocks, red sand, and red skies in the evening. Every year, thousands of tourists visit Ayers Rock and a strange group of huge red stones called "the Olgas". But these places are also holy to the Aboriginals. They believe that the land itself has life. Sydney is the best known place in New South Wales. In fact, it's the best known place in Australia. But New South Wales has more than cities. There are, for example, the Blue Mountains. They are covered with forests of blue colored eucalyptus trees. The air above the forest contains millions of microscopic drops of eucalyptus oil. When the sun shines, the air of the Blue Mountains is a real, beautiful blue. Less than a hundred years ago, there was nothing except sheep in Canberra. But then Australians decided to build a capital city.. The work began in 1913. Now, Canberra is an international city, full of diplomats and government offices. It's beautiful place, with parks, lakes, big open streets and fine buildings. Australia is sometimes called "the lucky country". One reason is the wonderful riches under the earth: gold, silver, iron, coal and many precious metals. The Bass Strait, of the coast of Victoria, has been one of the country's biggest oil fields for many years. South Australia is the driest of all the states, but it does have Murrey River. The river brings greenness and life to the south-east corner. In the early of the Australian history, the Murrey River was South Australia's main road. Before real roads and railways came, the river carried people and goods from the east up into the country. Some towns on the Murrey still keep the old river boats, and visitors can ride on them. There are two kinds of gold in Western Australia. First, there's real kind - the kind that comes out of the ground. Gold was found in Kalgoorlie in1893, and the "Golden Mile" was for a time the most expensive piece of land in the world. Kalgorlie still exports some gold, but new gold of Western Australia is wheat. Big farms grow millions of tones of wheat every year, and wheat has become Australia's second biggest export. Canada is the second largest country in the world. It covers the northern part of North America and its total area is 9,975,000 square kilometers. Canada's only neighbour is the USA. The border between the two countries is the longest unguarded border in the world. Canada's motto, "From Sea to Sea," is particularly appropriate because the country is bounded by three oceans - the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. Its vast area includes some of the world's largest lakes and countless smaller ones. One-third of all fresh water on Earth is in Canada. Canada's name comes from an Indian word kanata, which means "village". The first French settlers used the Indian name for the colony, but the official name was "New France". When the area came under the British rule in 1897, the new country was called the Dominion of Canada, or simply Canada. Canada is a union of ten provinces and two territories. Compared with other large countries, Canada has a small population, only about 27,300,000. The country, however, is one of the world's most prosperous. Canadians developed its rich natural resources and, in the process, have achieved a high standard of living. Canada is a constitutional monarchy. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and Queen Elizabeth II is its official head of state. Although the Queen holds this high position, she doesn't rule. She serves as a symbol of British tradition. Her representative in Canada is the Governor General, whom she appoints on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. The Governor's duties are limited to symbolic, mostly ceremonial acts. The real power belongs to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Canadian Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate. There are two official languages in the country: English and French. All Canadian children have to learn both French and English at school, but Francophones and Anglophones do not enjoy learning each other's language. "We have two races, two languages, two systems of religious belief, two sets of laws ... two systems of everything," said one Canadian journalist. There was a time when Quebec Province (its population is 90% French) decided to separate from Canada and form a new country. Fortunately, the movement has waned. The capital of Canada is Ottawa. A "hobby" is a special interest or activity that you do in your time off. Some people have animals as hobbies. They keep rabbits, or go fishing. They train dogs to do tricks, or keep pigeons to race and carry messages. Some are crazy about plants. They try to grow cacti or rare tropical flowers in their kitchens and sitting rooms. Others are mad about their car or their motorbike. They spend their Saturdays and Sundays washing them, painting them, or buying new bits and pieces to make them go even faster. Children and teenagers are great collectors. They collect stamps, or postcards or matchboxes, or pictures of a favourite footballer or pop star. Many people make things as a hobby. Some teach themselves at home, but a lot of people go to evening classes at their local college. Just look under letter B in a list of London or New York evening classes and you'll find: Ballet, Batik, Bengali, Body building, Breadmaking and Byzantium. But not everyone goes to evening classes to learn about his special interest. No one helped these people to do what they did. A "hobby" is usually something that a person does alone. But American (and British) families sometimes like to do things together, too. American families often have quite a lot of money to spend on their recreation. They can all enjoy their holiday home or their boot somewhere in the country away from home. Americans love to get out of town into the wild. And many go for holidays or long weekends to the one of the thirty-five fabulous national parks. These magnificent areas of countryside include tropical forests, high mountains, dry deserts, long sandy coasts. Grassy prairies and wooded mountains are full of wild animals. The idea of these parks, which cover 1% of the whole area of the USA is to make "a great breathing place for the national lungs", and to save different parts of the land as they were before the human appeared. There are camping places in the national parks, boat trips and evening campfire meetings. Americans really enjoy new "gadgets", especially new ways of traveling. But Americans do not only spend their free time having fun. They are very interested in culture too. Millions of them enjoy writing, painting and music, and at weekends visiting museums, art galleries and concert halls.P> The British are known to be great sport lovers. When they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of games we play now have come from Britain. One of the most popular British game is cricket. Summer isn't summer without cricket. But the game, which attracts the greatest attention, is football, or soccer. There are plenty of professional clubs all over Britain. A lot of people are interested in racing and risk their money on the horse-races. A great number of people are fond of playing tennis. Indeed, in one form or another, sport is an essential part of daily life in Britain. Many sports are popular in Russia. For example : hockey, soccer, weightlifting, track & field, tennis, basketball, volleyball, boxing, figure-skating, swimming, judo & shooting. The Russians are not only sports fans. They take an active part in all sports activities. It's been a tradition in this country to divide sport into professional & amateur. There are different sport societies & clubs in Russia. There are many stadiums & public sport facilities in Russia. Numerous national and international matches & competitions are regularly held in Russia. They attract a large number of fans. Most of important games are televised. Thousands of fans go to the stadiums to support their favorite team & thousands prefer to watch games on TV. But watching sports events & going in for sports are two different things. There is no need to speak about the importance of sports & games. They must become a part of your daily life. Sport helps people to stay in good shape, helps them to be fit, healthy. Some people go in for sports for pleasure and relaxation. So sport attracts a lot of people. Some of them are members of sporting clubs. You may choose any kind of sport you prefer and enjoy it. As for me, I go to the swimming pool, because it's good for my health and it makes me feel happy. People all over the world are fond of sports and games. That is one thing in which people of every nationality and class are united. The most popular outdoor winter sports are shooting, hunting, hockey and in the countries where the weather is frosty and there is much snow-skating, skiing and tobogganing. Some people enjoy figure-skating and ski-jumping. Summer affords excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, yachting, cycling, gliding and many other sports. Among outdoor games football takes the first place in public interest. This game is played in all the countries of the world. The other favorite games in different countries are golf, tennis, cricket, volleyball, basketball and so on. Badminton is also very popular. A lot of girls and women go in for callisthenics. Among indoor games the most popular are billiards, table tennis, draughts and some others, but the great international game is chess. The results of chess tournaments are studied and discussed by thousands of enthusiasts in different countries. So we may say that sport is one of the things that makes all people kin. When we are ill, we call a doctor, and he examines us and diagnoses the illness. When we have a headache, a stomach ache, a sore throat, a cold, or a pain in some parts of the body, we call a doctor. He takes our temperature and our pulse. He examines our heart, our lungs, our stomach or the part where we have pain, and tells us what the matter with us is. The doctor prescribes medicine, and gives us a prescription, which we take to the chemist's, who makes up the medicine. If you follow the doctor's orders, you'll get better; if you disobey the doctor, you may get worse, and even die. We must obey the doctor, if we want to get better. If we have a temperature, we must stay in bed and take the medicine he prescribes. If we cannot get better at home we must go to the hospital. If we are too ill to walk, we go to hospital in the ambulance. After our illness we can go to a sanatorium until we are strong again. When we have toothache, we go to the dentist's. He examines our teeth, finds the tooth which hurts us, stops or extracts it. Now here in Russia health system incorporates a variety of medical institutions. The medical service in Russia is of two kinds. Some state establishments give their employees medical insurance cards. They guarantee the people free of charge medical assistance. Some medical establishments charge fees for treatment. They may be rather high, but our medical service now uses all modern equipment and medicines and provides qualified medical help to all people. Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays traveling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms. Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City-dwellers usually like to spend a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun. Most travelers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them - the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kinds of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds. Later, perhaps years later, they will be reminded by the photos of the happy time they have had. People travel by train, by plane, by boat and by car. All means of transport have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations. If we are fond of traveling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own territory. Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life of people than in other countries. Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. There are a lot of customs you can enjoy. Some of them are very old games or plays. There is the Marbles Championship, where the British Champion is crowned; he wins a silver cup known among folk dancers is Morris Dancing, where people in beautiful clothes with ribbons and bells on them dance to traditional music with handkerchiefs or big sticks. A completely different style is the Boat Race on the river Thames, which is often held on Eastern Sunday. A boat with a team from Oxford university and the other one with a team from Cambridge University hold a race. The British think that the Grand National is the most exciting horse race in the world. It is at the Aintree Race Course, near Liverpool, every year. Sometimes it takes place on the same day as the Boat Race, sometimes a week later. Amateur riders as well as professional jockeys can take part in it. It is famous because the jumps are very high and the course is very long. If you don't like boat racing you won't have to stay at home on Easter Sunday. You can go Egg-rolling: go to Avenham Park, with a hard boiled egg - it will look nicer if you paint it. Take it to the top of the hill in Avenham Park - as you won't be alone there that day just follow the other people - and roll it down. That's it!!! If your egg doesn't break the 1st time you can do it again. May 1st isn't a public holiday in Britain, but the 1st Monday after it is. There are many May Day Celebrations, especially in the country. People erect a maypole then, a tall pole with ribbons hanging from the top. Young children dance round it, holding the ribbons. Teenage girls sometimes enter for the May Queen competition. Halloween is a day on which many children dress up in unusual costumes. The day was originally called All Halloween's Eve, because it fell on October 31, the eve of all Saint's Day. The name was later shortened to Halloween. "Remember, remember the 5th of November" are the words of an old English song. Why? Because in 1605, a man called Guy Fawkes had planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill king James 1st on that day (the king was to open Parliament then). But Guy Fawkes was caught and hanged. And still the British remember Guy Fawkes' Night or Bonfire Night. From early October you can see children with figures (called 'guys') made of sacks and straw and dressed in old clothes. The children say: "Penny for the Guy"- and with the money they collect in this way they buy fireworks. On November the 5th the children put their 'Guy' on the bonfire, burn it, and light their fireworks. At the end of the year there are the famous New Year celebrations. In London many people go to Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve. There is singing and dancing and at 12 o'clock on December 31st - or should we say January 1st? - they all sing the famous song "Auld Lang Syne". A popular Scottish event is the Edinburgh Festival of music and drama. There are a number of holidays in the USA which are celebrated every year. Here are some of them. The 1st of January is New Year's Day. People go to bed after midnight on the 31st of December. They like to see "the old year out and the new year in". Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, is dedicated to those who fought in the War of Independence, in World War I or in World War II. The 4th of July is Independence Day. It is the biggest national holiday in the USA. The Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, when the American colonies were fighting for independence against England. On the 11th of November there is Veteran's Day. It is dedicated to those who fell in the two World Wars. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. In the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrim Fathers celebrated their first harvest festival in America and called it Thanksgiving Day. Since that time it has been celebrated every year. Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December. People usually stay at home at Christmas time, and spend the day with their families. We all love our native land, beautiful nature with its blue lakes and rivers, thick forests, with its animal and plant kingdom. We are children of nature and we must be very careful in usage of natural resources. People have lived on our planet for many years. They lived and live on different continents, in different countries. People depend on their planet, on the sun, on animals and plants around them. Our ecology becomes worse and worse with every new day. People destruct wildlife, cut down trees to make furniture. They forget that people can't leave without trees and plants, because they fill air with oxygen. And, of course, great problems are population and animals destruction. The main reason of pollution is rubbish. Most our rubbish go into big holes in the ground, called 'dumps'. But dumps are very dangerous for our life 'cause they are full of rats, which can carry infections away from dumps. Another way to get rid of rubbish is to burn it. But the fires make poisons, which go into the air and pollute it. And the seas are in danger too. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste. The Mediterranean is already nearly died: the North sea is following. If nothing is done about it one day nothing will be able to live in seas. Every ten minutes one kind of animal or plant dies out forever. Of course, people can't stay indifferent to these problems. There a lot of special organizations, which try to save our nature. One of them is Greenpeace. Greenpeace began its work 20 years ago from saving whales. And now Greenpeace is a world-famous organization, which saves plants, animals and people. These organization, want to rescue animals, to help them to survive and to save jungle rain forests, which are in danger of destruction. We must find the right way to save land, people and animals. We must take care of nature, because we are the part of it. People begin to realize that environmental problems are not somebody else's. They join and support various international organizations and green parties. If governments wake up to what is happening - perhaps we'll be able to avoid the disaster that threatens the natural world and all of us with it. Winter, spring, summer and autumn are the seasons of the year. December, January and February are winter months. In winter the weather is cold, usually it snows. The days are short and the nights are long. The rivers and lakes freeze and we can go skating and skiing. March, April and May are spring months. It is very nice season. The weather is fine enough. There are many green trees in the streets, in the parks and in the yards. Sometimes it rains but usually the sun shines brightly. The birds return from the hot countries and make their nests. June, July and August are summer months. It is hot or warm in summer. The days are long and the nights are short. There are many nice flowers in the parks and squares in the summer. The pupils do not go to school they have the summer holidays. June is the first month of summer. We have the longest day and the shortest night in the year on the 21st-22nd of June. July is the middle month of summer. It is the hottest month of summer. The sky is blue and cloudless. August is the last summer month. Sometimes it is cold in August. It is many mushrooms, berries and fruits. September, October and November are autumn months. The weather is changeable. It often rains. You can see yellow, red, brown leaves everywhere. It is time for gathering the harvest. CLIMATE The climate in Great Britain is generally mild and temperate due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. The south-western winds carry the warmth and moisture to Britain. The climate in Britain is usually described as cool, temperate and humid. British people say: "Other countries have a climate, in England we have weather." The weather in Britain changes very quickly. One day may be fine and the next day may be wet. The morning may be warm and the evening may be cool. Therefore it is natural for the people to use the comparison "as changeable as the weather" of a person who often changes his mood or opinion about something. The weather is the favourite topic of conversation in Britain. When two Englishmen are introduced to each other, if they can't think of any thing else to talk about, they talk about weather. When two people meet in the street they will often say something about weather as they pass, just to show their friendliness. Every daily paper publishes a weather forecast. Both the radio and television give the weather forecast several times each day. The English also say that they have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon or when in rains all day long. Sometimes it rains so heavily that they say "It's raining cats and dogs". Rainfall is more or less even throughout the year. In the mountains there is heavier rainfall then in the plains of the south and east. The driest period is from March to June and the wettest months are from October to January. The average range of temperature (from winter to summer) is from 15 to 23 degrees above zero. During a normal summer the temperature sometimes rises above 30 degrees in the south. Winter temperatures below 10 degrees are rare. It seldom snows heavily in winter, the frost is rare. January and February are usually the coldest months, July and August the warmest. Still the wind may bring winter cold in spring or summer days. Sometimes it brings the whirlwinds or hurricanes. Droughts are rare. So, we may say that the British climate has three main features: it is mild, humid and changeable. That means that it is never too hot or too cold. Winters are extremely mild. Snow may come but it melts quickly. In winter the cold is humid cold, not the dry one. This humid and mild climate is good for plants. The trees and flowers begin to blossom early in spring. In the British homes there has been no central heating up till recently. The fireplaces are often used. but the coal is not used as it's very expensive. Britain has no good coal now and imports it itself. Many schools and universities have no central heating either, and the floors there are made of stone. The British bedroom is especially cold, sometimes electric blankets or hotwater bottles are used. What I would like to become? This question agitates me greatly. Every job has its difficulties. I think that nearly all the professions are very important in life. But to choose the right occupation is very difficult, because we must take in consideration many factors. We must consider our personal taste and our kind of mind. At the same time we must satisfy the requirements of our society. The end of school is the beginning of an independent life, the beginning of a more serious examination. In order to pass that very serious exam we must choose the road in life which will help us best to live and work. Each boy and girl has every opportunity to develop mind and use knowledge and education received at school. Some may prefer to work in factories or mill, others want to go into construction: to take part in building power stations and new towns. Many opportunities to work and to satisfy at the same time the requirements of the society and your own personal interest are offered in the sphere of the services transport, communications and many others. I would like to became a programmist. I like this profession because it very interestin. When you leave school you understand that the time to choose your future profession has come. It's not an easy task to make right choice. You can start working or continue studying to receive a higher education. There is one institute or a few institutes is nearly every Russian city. There are dozens of them in Moscow and St. Petersburg. If you want to get a professional training you can enter a technical college. There are over 2000 professions to choose and make a decision. To choose a future profession is a dilemma for all family. Fathers usually wants their children to follow their footsteps. Mothers don't want their sons and daughters to leave the native town. So they persuade kids to enter local colleges and universities. Because of the wide difference in jobs, you should find out all you can about any job which interests you. This can be done by going to the library and by reading widely, and also by talking to adults who have different kinds of jobs. You also need to think about how well you can do what you would like to do. Some follow their parents advice and some follow their own choice. To make the right choice you should consider your traits and characters. To become a good doctor you must be patient, easygoing and kind. The teacher's work requires love for children, profound knowledge of subjects and the ability to explain. Detective's job is very stressful. He must be brave, fair and strong. A couple of years ago I wanted to become a doctor. I thought it was a very noble profession. I was good at biology at the 8 and 9 forms. I wanted to help people who had problems with their health. I know that a doctor should be noble in work and life, kind and attentive to people, honest and prudent. A doctor who is selfish and dishonest can't be good at his profession. I tried to do my best to develop good traits in myself. Now I have already decided what to do. I'd like to be a teacher. I know that it is very difficult to be a good teacher. You should know perfectly the subject you teach, you must be well-educated and well-informed. A good teacher develops in his students a desire for knowledge. Teaching must be the greatest of all the arts. It is a great responsibility to educate the children. I think that's the reason why teachers are deeply respected. More and more people realize that every educated person should know a foreign language. That is why I'm going to become an English teacher. I will try to enter the department of foreign languages at the University. You study 5 years at Russian universities. After your final exams you are a qualified teacher of English. University education is deep and many-sided. Some students like a post-graduate course to follow an academic career. I know that a teacher's job is quite difficult. A teacher can't say that he knows everything in his field. He goes on learning his subject during all his career to be able to answer any question. He should be an example of competence. So choosing a career and getting a job are two of the most important things, any person does in his lifetime. If we don't think about the future, we won't have it. There is nothing more wonderful than books. We learn many things by reading books. They make the world larger for us. They tell us how great and wonderful man is. Books expand the boundaries of the familiar world for us. Books stir up our imagination, fill up our minds with the new ideas, fill our life with great expectations of joy and happiness, they develop our intellect. Some books arouse our interest, delight, feelings of curiosity and admiration, some make us think which is very important and demand great erudition on the part of the readers, some entertain, amuse us giving pleasure and delight. We can read some books and stories for laughing and some dramas and romances for tears. Books arouse different emotions in us; they penetrate deep into our souls and hearts. We love and suffer, feel sympathy or indignation, cry or laugh, struggle and reach success together with the characters of the books. Books have a great impact on our characters. We are influenced by good examples, they add to moulding of our characters and forming our moral values. Books give food for our mind and warmth for our soul. We should love books as they are the sources of knowledge and can make us strong, intelligent, well educated. There are different kinds of books, which appeal to different kinds of readers. There are science-fiction and fantasy stories, detective and spy stories, tales and fairy-tales, books about animals and nature, adventure books and books about travels, humorous stories, historical dramas, biographies and autobiographies, essays. It's so nice to read poems which gradually are unfolding and revealing their rich inner self, as one reads them again and over again. Reading is like a great adventure for me. Starting a book is always a real thrill and I want the writer to carry me off to new unknown places I've never been to before, to get acquainted with new people. There are so many different books by different writers, but only few of them become our favourites. Why? Because all books are divisible into two classes: the books of the hour and the books of all time. It's my strong belief that much depends on the author's skill with language, his manner of writing. In my opinion, if the author possesses an ability to portray life very truthfully and convincingly, if he depicts his character so vividly that people immediately recognize themselves, if he describes nature, events, people with love and understanding, if he has an ability to make people laugh or cry, his books will certainly appeal to many readers, they will enjoy the popularity, they will become the books of all time. It goes without saying that each author has his own peculiarities of writing. TV, computer, audio-visual instruments in general are all gradually taking over what used to be the domain of literature. But I don't think that reading is dying, that reading is a vanishing custom, that books will excite people, they will give keen delight and pleasure, they will create a special mood, because a book is one of the greatest wonders in the world. It gives us a unique chance to link up with the authors who lived hundreds of years ago. Thanks to books we can talk to people who lived in different centuries. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feeling. It gives us an insight not only into the past, but also into the future. The book is a faithful and undemanding friend: it can be put aside and taken up again at any moment. Attitude of modern people towards books is not so good; because they think reading books is boring. People prefer to watch TV or video than to read a book. But some people like to read books. They prefer not to sit near a TV-set and watch in the "box", but to read some fantastic story. Let's talk about this people. They can be divided into some groups. The most popular group is people who read fantastic stories. Another not so popular, but a very interesting group is people who prefer romantic and detective stories. And the last group is people who like to read non-fiction literature. There are many other small groups, but those three are bigger than others. Theatre is a place where you can see a staged play. It is also an entertainment. A theatre consists of two parts: the stage and the hall. They are separated by a curtain and the orchestra. Actors and actresses perform on the stage. If we made up our mind to go to the theatre we should go to the box-office to buy tickets. Seats can be reserved beforehand. There is a theatre in our town. On the stage of this theatre you can see such plays as "Meetings in Vienna", "Silva", "The Princess of Circus" and others. There are many talented actors in the theatre and some of them are known all over the region. They are Molchanova, Zaiseva, Smirnov, Aliev and others. I have seen the play "Mister X" and I liked it very much. But we are to admit that theatre is not so popular now as it used to be. There are many people who prefer to seat comfortably in front of the TV and enjoy themselves without leaving their homes. Usually we see films either in the cinema or on TV. But from time to time I go to the cinema. My favorite film is "Romeo and Juliet". The Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, produced a masterpiece in this adaptation. The costumes are brilliant, the actors are wonderful, the music by is perfect, and the lines are delivered beautifully. The movie starred Leonard Whiting (a British actor, who played Romeo) and Olivia Hussey (Juliet). They were young when they filmed the Classic, 17 and 15 years, respectably. This movie is one of the most realistic interpretations of William Shakespeare's Tragedy. It is difficult to live without music. We hear music everywhere: in the streets, at home, on the radio, on TV, in the parks and in concert halls. We can't live without music. We like to listen to music, we play musical instruments. Music reflects people's mood & emotions. As for me I enjoy several musical styles: pop, rock, rap, electronic and others. But I dislike metal, hard rock, country and blues. Hello, m y name is Maxim Sviridov. I work as a manager at the "Star tour" company. It is Russian company which works in the business travel market. Two weeks ago I was sent by the administration of our company to London where I studied the English travel companies, their traditions, their marketing and management. Now my business trip is coming to the end and I want to share my impressions of English business world with you. First of all English businessmen are well known all over the world for their honesty and decency. If an Englishman gives you his word he will keep it in any case. Besides that, nothing can prevent him from refusing the once taken decision. Of course, there are some exclusions, but they are so rare that nobody should put attention on them. During the last two weeks my working day was approximately the same. Early in the morning I took a taxi to my hosts' headquarters, which is situated in the City - the business heart of London. First of all I usually asked Mrs. Lapital - my secretary if there were any letters or cables for me. Then she gave me my correspondence and fresh newspapers and I followed to my office-room. There I studied all documents that had come for my name and wrote a short report about previous business day and then faxed it to my native company in Vladivostok. After that I went to Mr. Forsberg's office-room to get tasks for the new day and ask some questions about their company, its history, traditions, clients, and so on. After that I usually did what Mr. Forsberg told. My usual job was meeting with potential clients, discussing their rest plans and offering the services of Mr. Forsberg's company. I usually met with 10 or 12 people a day. They were representatives of different social groups and communicating with them increased my knowledge of England, Englishmen and their psychology greatly. This business trip was a great chance for me and I hope I used this chance fully. Now I know a lot about Western business world, about travel business and this knowledge will of course help my in my future career. Education in Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5-16. Nine tenths of all children are educated in state schools. All books and equipment are provided free. Uniform is worn in many schools but this is now quite flexible. Students never repeat a year in British system, but they may be sent to a vocation school or section. Primary school. Schoolchildren attend a primary school for 6 years (from 5 to 11 years). They study general subjects and special help is given to children with handicaps and learning difficulties. The division between primary and secondary education is at the age of 11 when almost all children in the state system change schools. Secondary school. When students transfer to Secondary school at the age of 11, they don't take any examination, but their reports are sent on from Primary school. Most children - over 80 % - go to a comprehensive school. "Comprehensive" means all-inclusive. They admit pupils of all abilities. But there are also grammar schools and secondary modern schools. The pupils have to pass an exam to go there; so admission depends on the result of the selective exams and the pupils abilities. All types of secondary school have the five year courses for pupils from 11 years up to the school leaving age. Pupils in all State schools in England and Wales study 10 main subjects: English, Mathematics, Science. Foundation subjects: History, Geography, A Modern language, Art, Music, Information Technology, Physical education, Religious education is also taught. Attainment tests are given at the ages of 7, 11, 14, 16. At the end of a 5-year course, at the age of 16, students sit the General Certificate of Secondary Education exams in as many subjects as possible. Weak students may only sit for free or four subjects. Better students take ten Subjects. At the age of 16 about two third of these pupils leave school and get jobs or apprenticeships. About one-third stay at school until the age of 18 preparing themselves for higher education. The 6th form. More ambitious pupils continue to study in the 6th form. They stay on at school for one or two years to prepare themselves for university. They have only three or four main subjects which are necessary to pass the advanced level exams at the age of 18. In addition to the foundation subjects the 6th formers are offered many other courses at Advanced Level such as classical Civilization, Further Mathematics, Information Technology, History of Art, Biology and many others. The school year is divided into three terms with the intervals between them during the Christmas and Easter holidays lasting about two weeks each and the summer holidays which begin rather late and continue usually six weeks. All kinds of out-of-class activities are part of school life in Britain. Students have a lot of opportunities for playing sports, attending different clubs and singing in choir. Most schools have very good libraries which students use for reference works. I study at school №..... It is situated in the center of our district close to my house. It takes me only 10 minutes to get there. I go to school 5 times a weak. We study different subjects: Russian, English, literature, history, geography, biology, physics, chemistry, math and computer science. Languages and history are my favorite subjects. I make much progress in these subjects. Our school is a 3-storeyed modern building. It has many classrooms, specialized rooms, laboratories and workshops. Specialized rooms are used to study math, chemistry and other subjects. These rooms are equipped with corresponding teaching materials, facilities and devices. On the ground floor there is a library, a cloakroom, a dining room, workshops, a gymnasium and a head master's office. Our school is located in a picturesque place. The park where grow different trees, bushes and flowers surrounds it. There is a play ground and a stadium near the building of the school. The American system of school education differs from the system in some countries. There are state-supported public schools, private elementary schools, and private secondary schools. Public schools are free and private schools are fee-paying. Each individual state has its own system of public schools. Elementary education begins at the age of six with the first grade and continues up to the eighth grade. The elementary school is followed by four years of the secondary school or high as it is called. In some states the last two years of the elementary and the first years of the secondary school are combined into a junior high school. Besides giving general education, some high schools teach subjects useful to those who hope to find jobs in industry and agriculture. Some give preparatory education to those planning to enter colleges and universities. An educated person is one who knows a lot about many things. Each person ought to do his best to become a useful member of our society. Education is very important in our life. Going on educational excursions gives us opportunities to acquire some scientific knowledge. In the Russian Federation the school education is compulsory. Pupils begin to go to school at the age of six. When they complete high grades they can either continue to study at school for more 2 years, or go to a professional school where they study not only main subjects , but are able to learn some profession. When school pupils leave school they can try to continue their education in institutes or universities. There are many schools in Russia: specialized, polytechnic, musical art and others. Nowadays appeared some new types of schools: gymnasiums and colleges. 300-400 years ago a great deal of the world was undiscovered. But now there seems little more to explore, the wild north was conquered, the jungle was conquered too. And it seems that all the pages of the great book called "The Earth" has been filled in, but exploration still goes on. In the 15th century people knew only 3 continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. They knew nothing about America. The man who discovered America was born in 1451 in Italy. His name was Christopher Columbus. Knowing that the earth was round he decided to reach India by sailing to the west. It was very difficult for him to organize an expedition as nobody wanted to help him. At last the Spanish government gave him some money. In the 1492 he sailed with 3 small ships in to the Atlantic ocean. They had been sailing for more than 2 months and at last they the land. Columbus was certain that the lands he had discovered were part of India and he called these islands "The West Indias". He made 3 voyagers to America. His last voyage was made in 1502-1504. After that, seriously ill, he remained in Spain until his death. He believed that Cuba was part of Asia. Columbus's voyagers gave Europe first important knowledge of the new world. Many places have been named in his honor. America however was named after another explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Americus Vespucius (or Amerigo Vespucci, as the name is spelled in Italian) was born in Florence, Italy, in 1454. He was in Spain during first and second Columbus' voyages. In a letter, written in 1504 and printed in 1505, he claimed to have made four voyages, in the first of which, in 1497, he explored the South American coast. This would make him the first European to land on the American continent, for at that time Columbus had only reached the outlying islands. Most scholars reject Vespucius' version of this voyage. Vespucius perhaps did accompany a Spanish expedition that of Alonzo de Ojeda to South America in 1499, and in 1501 and 1503 he probably went with Portuguese expeditions. Probably he never commanded an expedition himself and, of course, was not the first person to set foot on the continents to which his name is given. Vespucius died in Seville, Spain, in 1512. William Somerset Maugham is one of the best known English writers of the 20th century. He was not only a novelist, but also a one of the most successful dramatists and short-story writers. He was born in Paris in 1874. His parents died when he was very little and the boy was brought up by his uncle, clergyman. After his parents death the boy was taken away from the French school which he had attended, and went for his lessons daily to the apartment of the English clergyman at the church . At the age of ten the boy was sent to England to attend school. In 1890 he went abroad and studied at the University of Heidelberg from which he returned to England in 1892 and as his parents had destined him for the medical profession, he became a medical student at St Thomas's hospital in London. His experience in treating the sick gave Maugham material for his first work Lisa of Lambeth(1897). After that, although he became a fully qualified doctor, Somerset decided to devote his life to literature. "I didn't want to be a doctor. I didn't want to be anyone but a writer:" Soon after the publication of his first novel Maugham went to Spain and traveled widely to all parts of the world. He visited Russia, America, Africa, Asia. The technique of the short story had always interested Maugham. DeMaupassant and Chekhov influenced him but he developed a form of a story that has unmistakable Maugham's flavor. Somerset Maugham has written 24 plays, 19 novels and a large number of short stories. The most mature period of his life began in 1915, when he published one of his most popular novels, Of human Bondage. Maugham wants the readers to draw their own conclusion about the characters and events described in his novels. The other most prominent works by Somerset Maugham are: Cakes and Ale(1930), Theatre(1937), and The Razor's Edge(1944). Realistic portrayal of life, keen character observation, and interesting plots coupled with beautiful, expressive language, simple and lucid style, place Somerset Maugham on one level with the greatest English writers of the 20th century. The novelist and short-story writer Jack London was, in his lifetime, one of the most popular authors in the world. After World War I his fame was eclipsed in the United States by a new generation of writers, but he remained popular in many other countries, especially in the Soviet Union, for his romantic tales of adventure mixed with elemental struggles for survival. John Griffith London was born in San Francisco on Jan. 12, 1876. His family was poor, and he was forced to go to work to support himself. At 17 he sailed to Japan and Siberia on a seal-hunting voyage. He was largely self-taught, reading voluminously in libraries and spending a year at the University of California. In the late 1890s he joined the gold rush to the Klondike. This experience gave him material for his first book, 'The Son of Wolf', published in 1900, and for 'Call of the Wild' (1903), one of his most popular stories. In his writing career of 17 years, London produced 50 books and many short stories. He wrote mostly for money, to meet ever-increasing expenses. His fame as a writer gave him a ready audience as a spokesman for a peculiar and inconsistent blend of socialism and racial superiority. London's works, all hastily written, are of uneven quality. The best books are the Klondike tales, which also include 'White Fang' (1906) and 'Burning Daylight' (1910). His most enduring novel is probably the autobiographical 'Martin Eden' (1909), but the exciting 'Sea Wolf' (1904) continues to have great appeal for young readers. In 1910 London settled near Glen Ellen, Calif., where he intended to build his dream home, "Wolf House." After the house burned down before completion in 1913, he was a broken and sick man. His death on Nov. 22, 1916, from an overdose of drugs, was probably a suicide The great poet and dramatist William Shakespeare is often called by his people "Our National Bard", "The Immortal. Poet of nature" and "The Great Unknown". More than two hundred contemporary references to Shakespeare have been located among church records, legal records, documents in the Public Record Office, and miscellaneous repositories. When these owe assembled, we have at least the skeleton out line of his life, beginning with his Baptist on April 26, 1564, in Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon, and ending with his burial there on April 25, 1616. Shakespeare native place was Stratford-on-Avon, a little town in Warwickshire. Shakespeare's father, John, was a prosperous glove maker of Stratford who, after holding minor municipal offices, was elected high bailiff of Stratford. Shakespeare's mother Mary Arden, came from an affluent family of landowners. Shakespeare probably received his early education at the excellent Stratford Grammar School, supervised by an Oxford graduate, where he would have learned Latin smattering of Greek. In 1582 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who lived in a neighboring hamlet. Ann and William's first child was their daughter Susanna. In about two years Ann gave a birth to twins a boy and a girl, Hamlet and Judith. Then life in Stratford became intolerable for William Shakespeare and he decided to go to London and began a theatrical career. Shakespeare major activity lay in the field of drama. He was part owner of "the Globe" theatre and later of "the Blackfriars" theatre, and in 1597 he purchased property in Strarford. Including new place, one of the largest houses in the town. In all, 154 sonnets sequence. The sonnets were probably written in the 1590 but were first published in 1609. School, lessons, games, clubs, homework. But one day young boys and girls will be at school for the last time. And then they are confronted with difficulties. They must make a decision: to enter a university or try to find a job. In Britain life used to be fun for teenagers. They have money to spend, and free time to spend it on. But for many young people life is harder now. It is very difficult to find a job. There is not so much money around. Things are more expensive, and it's hard to find a place to live. Teachers say that students work harder than they used to. They are less interested in politics and more interested in passing exams. They know that good exam results may get them better jobs. Three-quarters of young people do more or less what their parents did. They do their best at school, find some kind of work at the end, and get marry in their early twenties. They get on well with their parents, and enjoy family life. They eat fish and chips, watch football on TV, and go to the pubs. Most young people worry more about money than their parents did twenty years ago. They try to spend less and to save more. For some young people, the answer to unemployment is to leave home and look for work in one of Britain's cities. Every day hundreds of young people arrive in London from other parts of Britain, looking for jobs. Some find work and stay. Others don't find it and go home again, or join the army of unemployed in London. I think that in Russia we have the same problems and some others. In Russia it is also hard to find well-paid work, and people go to big cities to find a job or to get good education. Many young people want to enter university because they don't want to go to the army . Now people want to be well-educated, because now the majority of firms and companies employ only higher qualified people, but universities can't educate all of them free, so those who don't have enough money can't get enough knowledge. The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one-seventh of the earth's surface. It covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometers. The country is washed by 12 seas of 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. In the south Russia borders with China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders with Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Byelorussia, the Ukraine. It also has a sea-borders with the USA. There is no country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can be found. We have steppes in the south, plains and forests in the midland, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts in the east. There are two great plains in Russia: the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. There are several mountains chains on the territory of the country: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia. There are over two million rivers in Russia. Europe's biggest river, Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea. The main Siberian rivers- Ob, tYenisei and t Lena- flow from the south to the north. Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean. Russia is reach with beautiful lakes. The world's deepest lake is Lake Baikal. It is much smaller than the Baltic Sea, but there is much more water in it than in the Baltic Sea. The water in the lake is so clear that if you look down you can count the stones on the bottom. Russia has one-sixth of the world's forests. They are concentrated in the European north of the country, in Siberia and in the Far East. On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical in the south. In the middle of the country the climate is temperate and continental. Russia is very reach in oil, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel and other mineral resources. Russia is a parliamentary republic. The Head of State is the President. The legislative powers are exercised by the Duma. The capital of Russia is Moscow. It is its largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial centre. It's one of the oldest Russian cities. In present, the political and economic situation in the country is rather complicated. There are a lot of problems in the national economy of the Russian Federation. The industrial production is decreasing. The prices are constantly rising; the rate of inflation is very high. People lose their jobs because many factories and plants are going bankrupt. But in spite of the problems Russia is facing at present, there are a lot of opportunities for this country to become one of the leading countries in the world. I'm sure that we, the younger generation, can do very much to make Russia as strong and powerful as it used to be. Moscow is the capital of Russia. The city is located in western Russia and lies in the broad, shallow valley of the Moskva River, a tributary of the Oka and thus of the Volga, in the centre of the vast plain of European Russia. This region is one of the most highly developed and densely populated areas of Russia. Winters in Moscow are cold and long, summers are short and mild . The moderate annual precipitation occurs predominantly in the summer months, often in brief, heavy downpours. Only a small percentage of Moscow's population is employed in the city centre because of the decentralization of workplaces. Industry is the dominant source of employment, followed by science and research. Although Moscow's role in the country's administration is of prime importance, government as a source of employment is relatively minor. Engineering (production of automobiles and trucks, ball bearings, machine tools, and precision instruments) and metalworking are the most important industries. Other important activities include the manufacture of textiles, chemicals and derivative products, and consumer goods (foodstuffs, footwear, and pianos); timber processing; construction; and printing and publishing. Moscow is the headquarters of state insurance and banking organizations. The pattern of rings and radials that marked the historical stages of Moscow's growth remains evident in its modern layout. Successive epochs of development are traced by the Boulevard Ring and the Garden Ring (both following the line of former fortifications), the Moscow Little Ring Railway, and the Moscow Ring Road. From 1960 to the mid-1980s the Ring Road was the administrative limit of the city, but several areas of the largely greenbelt zone beyond the road have been annexed since then. The centre of the city and the historical heart of Moscow is the fortified enclosure of the Kremlin. Its crenellated redbrick walls and 20 towers (19 with spires) were built at the end of the 15th century and were partially rebuilt in later years. Within the walls of the Kremlin are located the meeting places of the government of Russia. Among these are the former Senate building (1776-88), the Kremlin Great Palace (1838-49), and the modern Palace of Congresses (1960-61). Other features within the Kremlin include the central Cathedral Square, around which are grouped three cathedrals, all examples of Russian church architecture at its height in the late 15th and early 16th centuries; a group of palaces of various periods; the white bell tower of Ivan III the Great; the Armory Museum; and the Arsenal (1702-36). Along the east wall of the Kremlin lies Red Square, the ceremonial centre of the capital. The Lenin Mausoleum stands beneath the Kremlin walls, and the Church of the Intercession, or Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, is at the southern end of the square. The State Department Store, GUM, faces the Kremlin, and the State Historical Museum (1875-83) closes off the northern end of the square. Moscow's inhabitants are overwhelmingly of Russian nationality, but members of more than 100 other nationalities and ethnic groups also live there. Population density, though lowered by outward expansion of the city, has remained high because of the vast number of large apartment buildings. Moscow has a large concentration of educational institutions, and its centers of higher education draw students from throughout Russia. Moscow State University (1755) is the leading educational institution. The city's many specialized educational institutions include the Moscow Timiryazev Academy of Agriculture and the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. Scientific research is conducted by the Academy of Sciences of Russia and many institutions linked to industry. The city's libraries include the V.I. Lenin State Library. Theatre, music, and art are important in the city's life. The State Academic Bolshoi ("Great") Theatre (1825), Maly ("Little") Theatre, and Moscow Art Theatre are especially renowned. Of the many museums and galleries, the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery are notable. Few people in Moscow own automobiles, necessitating heavy reliance on public transportation provided by the Metropolitan (Metro) subway, buses, streetcars, and trolleybuses. The Metro system, which reflects the city's street patterns, is known for the elaborate architecture of its stations. Moscow is the centre of the country's rail network, on which freight transport is heavily dependent. Trunk rail lines radiate from the city in all directions to major Russian population and industrial centers, to Ukraine, Belarus, and eastern Europe, and to Central Asia. Suburban commuter traffic is facilitated by the Moscow Little Ring Railway (1908) and the Greater Moscow Ring Railway, which link radial lines. Passenger trains connect to destinations throughout Russia and Europe. Moscow is also a major river port and is served by the Moscow Canal. The Volga's various canals link Moscow to all the seas surrounding European Russia. Moscow is the centre of the country's airline network; the Sheremetyevo airport, in the north, handles international flights. England is often subdivided into three parts: the South, the Midlands and the North. The South. The landscape there is varied. The climate is warmer than in other areas. There are hundreds of miles of sea coast which vary from flat or stony beaches to high rocky cliffs. The mild and sunny climate makes the south coast popular for holiday-makers. Some coastal resorts are famous, Brighton among them. Somerset, Devon and Cornwall are rural countries with hidden fishing hamlets and Britain's warmest weather in winter. There are high and deep wooded valleys. The landscape is gentle and green; it's famous for it's quite beauty of its countryside. One of the most beautiful countries in the South of England is certainly Kent. It is known as the gardens of England, because it is famous for its fruit and vegetables. In general, the South is wealthier than other areas of Britain. Work of all kinds is provided there. British Aerospace has factories building airplanes in several parts of the South. Lots of people are involved in service industries including financial, business and government services, computer services and information system. There are science-based companies and research organizations. The Midlands. The Midlands Region has much farming land, but this part of the country is better known as an industrial area. Birmingham which is often called 'the big heart of England', is the most important city of the Midlands. It is the second largest city in the United Kingdom. Birmingham is famous for engineering, especially car production. Derby is another engineering centre. Rolls Royce makes aero engines and cars there. The West Midlands, another industrialized area where there are many collieries and steelworks, is known as the Black smoke and there are blackened buildings there. In contrast, the Midlands region has some beautiful picturesque countryside in the Peak District with its National Park. The North. The weather is considerably colder. It always snows in winter. This is a region of great natural beauty although industry of some kind has existed here for hundreds years. There is a great contrast in the North between the beautiful open, hilly countryside and the industrial towns and mining villages. In parts of the North - in Yorkshire particularly - there are gentle wooded valleys and green pastures and excellent farming land. West Yorkshire is very good country for ship-farming, and it has long been Britain's most important area because or the wool industry. Some famous industrial cities in the North are Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle-on-Tyne. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 244,000 square kilometers. The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales and does not include Northern Ireland. But in everyday speech 'Great Britain' is used to mean the United Kingdom. The capital of the UK is London. The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest -- east, center and south-east -- is a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343m). There are a lot of rivers in Great Britain, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. It is mild during the whole year . The UK is one of the world's smaller countries. Its population is over 58 million. About 80% of the population is urban. The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding. The UK is a constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen. In practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the House of Commons. There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labor, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. The Conservative party is the ruling party nowadays. The Prime Minister is(was) John Major. Wales is a country of lakes and mountains. Its about the half the size of Switzerland, and it has a population of two and three quarter million people. On the north of Wales is situated one of the most beautiful scenery in the British islands, the Snowdon Mountain. Snowdon is Britain's second highest mountain. Wales is not an independent nation. In 1292, the English king, Edward, invaded Wales and built fourteen huge castles to control the Welsh people. His son, Edward, became the first Prince of Wales, since then all the kings and queens of England have given their eldest sons the title, Prince of Wales. Prince Charles became the twenty-first Prince of Wales. Although the English have ruled Wales for many centuries, Wales still has its own flag, culture, and, above all, its own language. In the towns and villages of North Wales, many people speak English only as a second language. Their first language is Welsh. In Llanberis, a small town at the foot of Snowdon, eighty six percent of people speaks Welsh as their first language. At the local primary school children have nearly all their lessons in Welsh. The children should be bilingual by the time that they are eleven years old. It is not a problem for children to learn two languages at the same time. Children have insight into two cultures, so have all the folk tales of two languages. Children like Welsh because in Welsh you spell things just how you say them, in English there are more silent letters. Welsh is one of the oldest languages in Europe. It is a Celtic language, like Breton in France, Gaelic in Ireland, or Gaelic in Scotland. Two and a half thousand years before these languages were spoken in many parts of Europe. They died out when the Romans invaded these areas, but some of them survived in the northwest corner of Europe. But over the last hundred years the number of Welsh-speaker has fallen very quickly. Now only twenty percent of Welsh people speak Welsh. Here are some of the reasons for the decline. In the nineteenth century people thought that Welsh is an uncivilized language. If you wanted to be successful in life you had to learn English, the language of the British Empire. So in many schools children were forbidden to speak Welsh. At the beginning of the twentieth century many English and Irish people moved to South Wales to work in the coalmines and steel works. They did not learn Welsh. People, especially young people, moved away from the Welsh-speaking villages and farms of north and west Wales to look for work in the big towns and cities, so the Welsh-speaking communities became much smaller. In the 1960s and 1970s many English people bought holiday cottages in villages in Wales. Most of them did not learn Welsh. This also pushed up the price of houses so that local Welsh-speaking people cold not afford them. English comes into every Welsh home trough the television, the radio, newspapers, books, etc. There are Welsh-language TV and radio stations, but far fewer than English ones. And now there is cable and satellite TV, also in English, of course! The decline has now stopped, because a lot has been done. Road signs, bilingual documentation, and there is a Welsh language act. The future of Welsh is uncertain. The problem is that Welsh has to survive next door to English, and, as we all know, English is a very successful language. Scotland is one of four parts of the GB. The principal cities of the country are : its capital Edinburgh and the main industrial center Glasgow. Scottish towns look very different from English towns. Some words about Edinburgh. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is one of Britain's most attractive cities. It's a city for people who like to walk. You are never far from green parks, gardens and hills - even in the main shopping streets. It's a busy modern city, but the history is everywhere. At the top of the highest hill in Edinburgh is Edinburgh Castle. It was the home of Scotland's royal family until 1603 when King James the 6th of Scotland became king of England and moved to London. The road which begins at the castle and goes eastwards is called Royal Mile. At the other end of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holly Roodhouse. It was built by a Scottish king before Scotland and England were united to make Great Britain. Now it is a second home for the Queen or her children, who usually visit Edinburgh in the summer. When the royal family is not there you can visit the palace and see a lot of interesting things. There are nine hills in Edinburgh. They are long-dead volcanoes. From the tops of them you can see two types of bridges : the modern road bridges an the old rail bridges which has carried trains to the Highlands for more than a hundred years. The highlands of Scotland is mountainous and wild. In winter it's white with snow but in the summer it's purple. Highlands are famous for the Scottish Olympics or the Highland games ( it's the real name ). These games are not only sporting competitions: music and different traditional games are very important too. While athletes throw the hammer at the one end of the arena, you can watch a dancing competition at the other end. There is also a game for the strongest athletes - tossing the caber, which weights 60 kilos and is six meters long. These games are very popular in Highlands. Usually between the mountains are rivers and lakes. Scottish people like fishing very much, that's why they say that Scottish rivers are good for two : fishing is one, the other is Scotch whisky. Whisky is made from water and barley. The method hasn't changed for hundreds years. Scotch whisky is the best one. Scotland is also famous for it's kilt, the most important part of national dress and bagpipes - the national instrument. I think that Scotland is very beautiful country and if you visit it you shall never forget it. The British Parliament is the oldest in the world. It originated in the 12th century as Witenagemot, the body of wise cancellers whom the King needed to consult pursuing his policy. The British Parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons and the Queen as its head. The House of Commons plays the major role in law-making. It consists of Members of Parliament (called MPs for short). Each of them represents an area in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. MPs are elected either at a general election or at a by-election following the death or retirement. Parliamentary elections are held every 5 years and it is the Prime Minister who decides on the exact day of the election. The minimum voting age is 18. And the voting is taken by secret ballot. The election campaign lasts about 3 weeks, The British parliamentary system depends on political parties. The party which wins the majority of seats forms the government and its leader usually becomes Prime Minister. The Prime Minister chooses about 20 MPs from his party to become the cabinet of ministers. Each minister is responsible for a particular area in the government. The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and "shadow cabinet". The leader of the opposition is a recognized post in the House of Commons. The parliament and the monarch have different roles in the government and they only meet together on symbolic occasions, such as coronation of a new monarch or the opening of the parliament. In reality, the House of Commons is the one of three which has true power. The House of Commons is made up of six hundred and fifty elected members, it is presided over by the speaker, a member acceptable to the whole house. MPs sit on two sides of the hall, one side for the governing party and the other for the opposition. The first 2 rows of seats are occupied by the leading members of both parties (called "front benches") The back benches belong to the rank-and-life MPs. Each session of the House of Commons lasts for 160-175 days. Parliament has intervals during it's work. MPs are paid for their parliamentary work and have to attend the sittings. As mention above, the House of Commons plays the major role in law making. The procedure is the following: a proposed law ("a bill") has to go through three stages in order to become an act of parliament; these are called "readings". The first reading is a formality and is simply the publication of the proposal. The second reading involves debate on the principles of the bill, it is examination by parliamentary committee. And the third reading is a report stage, when the work of the committee is reported on to the house. This is usually the most important stage in the process. When the bill passes through the House of Commons, it is sent to the House of Lords for discussion, when the Lords agree it, the bill is taken to the Queen for royal assent, when the Queen sings the bill, it becomes the act of the Parliament and the Law of the Land. The House of Lords has more than 1000 members, although only about 250 take an active part in the work in the house. Members of this Upper House are not elected, they sit there because of their rank, the chairman of the House of Lords is the Lord Chancellor. And he sits on a special seat, called "Woolsack" The members of the House of Lords debate the bill after it has been passed by the House of Commons. Some changes may be recommended and the agreement between the two houses is reached by negotiations. The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada and China). It occupies the southern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes Alaska in the north and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of the country is about nine and a half million square kilometres. The USA borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-boarder with Russia. The USA consists of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The population of the country is more than 270 million people. If we look at the map of the USA, we can see lowlands and mountains. The highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley which is located in Alaska. America's largest rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Great Lakes on the border with Canada are the largest and deepest in the USA. The climate of the country varies greatly. The coldest regions are in the north. The climate of Alaska is arctic. The climate of the central part is continental. The south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than climate of the Atlantic coast. The USA is a highly developed industrial country. It's the world's leading producer of copper and oil and the world's second producer of iron ore and coal. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, armaments, furniture and paper. Though mainly European and African in origin, Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations, including Chinese and native Americans. The largest cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San-Francisco, Washington and others. The United States is a federal union of 50 states, each of which has its own government. The seat of the central (federal) government is Washington, DC. According to the US Constitution the powers of the government are divided into 3 branches: the executive, headed by the President, the legislative, exercised by the Congress, and the judicial. The Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are two main political parties in the USA: the Republican and the Democratic, though there's hardly any difference between their political lines. The land of blue mountains. The Great Barrier Reef on the coast of Queensland is a garden under the sea. There are 1,400 different kinds of fish, and more than 300 kinds of coral. Tropical fruit and flowers grow on the beautiful islands. It's not surprising that more holiday-makers come to Queensland every year. Tasmania, the island in the south of Australia, is small. It's of the same size as England. It is also very different from the other states. There are no deserts in Tasmania. It often rains, in winter and in summer. Only a half of million people live in Tasmania, and a large part of the island is still covered with beautiful wild forests. These forests are full of wonderful flowers and interesting animals. In the Northern Territory you will find the red heart of Australia. And it really is red, with red rocks, red sand, and red skies in the evening. Every year, thousands of tourists visit Ayers Rock and a strange group of huge red stones called "the Olgas". But these places are also holy to the Aboriginals. They believe that the land itself is alive. Sydney is the best known place in New South Wales. In fact, it's the best known place in Australia. But New South Wales has more than cities. There are, for example, the Blue Mountains. They are covered with forests of blue colored eucalyptus trees. The air above the forest contains millions of microscopic drops of eucalyptus oil. When the sun shines, the air of the Blue Mountains is a real, beautiful blue. Less than a hundred years ago, there was nothing except sheep in Canberra. But then Australians decided to build a capital city. The work began in 1913. Now, Canberra is an international city, full of diplomats and government offices. It's beautiful place, with parks, lakes, big open streets and fine buildings. Australia is sometimes called "the lucky country". One reason is the wonderful riches under the earth: gold, silver, iron, coal and many precious metals. The Bass Strait, of the coast of Victoria, has been one of the country's biggest oil fields for many years. South Australia is the driest of all the states, but it does have Murray River. The river brings greenness and life to the south-east corner. In the early of the Australian history, the Murray River was South Australia's main road. Before real roads and railways came, the river carried people and goods from the east up into the country. Some towns on the Murray still keep the old river boats, and visitors can ride on them. There are two kinds of gold in Western Australia. First, there's real kind - the kind that comes out of the ground. Gold was found in Kalgoorlie in1893, and the "Golden Mile" was for a time the most expensive piece of land in the world. Kalgoorlie still exports some gold, but new gold of Western Australia is wheat. Big farms grow millions of tones of wheat every year, and wheat has become Australia's second biggest export. Canada is the second largest country in the world. It covers the northern part of North America and its total area is 9,975,000 square kilometers. Canada's only neighbour is the USA. The border between the two countries is the longest unguarded border in the world. Canada's motto, "From Sea to Sea," is particularly appropriate because the country is bounded by three oceans - the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. Its vast area includes some of the world's largest lakes and countless smaller ones. One-third of all fresh water on Earth is in Canada. Canada's name comes from an Indian word "kanata", which means "village". The first French settlers used the Indian name for the colony, but the official name was "New France". When the area came under the British rule in 1897, the new country was called the Dominion of Canada, or simply Canada. Canada is a union of ten provinces and two territories. Compared with other large countries, Canada has a small population, only about 27,300,000. The country, however, is one of the world's most prosperous. Canada is a constitutional monarchy. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and Queen Elizabeth II is its official head of state. Although the Queen holds this high position, she doesn't rule. She serves as a symbol of British tradition. Her representative in Canada is the Governor General, whom she appoints on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. The Governor's duties are limited to symbolic, mostly ceremonial acts. The real power belongs to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Canadian Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate. There are two official languages in the country: English and French. All Canadian children have to learn both French and English at school, but Francophones and Anglophones do not enjoy learning each other's language. "We have two races, two languages, two systems of religious belief, two sets of laws ... two systems of everything," said one Canadian journalist. There was a time when Quebec Province (its population is 90% French) decided to separate from Canada and form a new country. Fortunately, the movement has waned. The capital of Canada is Ottawa. What is the name of the country which has volcanoes and rivers of ice, deer and sea-elephants? It is New Zealand, called the Land of the Long White Cloud by the Maoris. New Zealand is an island country. It is made up of three islands: the North and South Islands and Steward Island, a small land mass just to the south of the South Island. Most of its people live in North Island, and that is where you find big volcanoes like Egmont and Tongariro and the boiling pools and geysers and lakes of bubbling mud. Auckland, Christ church and Wellington are the biggest cities. Wellington is the capital. South Island is larger than North Island and has the highest mountains. There you can find the snow-capped Southern Alps, rising 3.764 meters to the tip of Mount Cook (named after Captain Cook, of course, because he visited the islands before sailing on westwards and discovering the eastern coast of Australia). South Island is very beautiful with its Alps and lakes, its glaciers and fiords. Have you ever heard of Milford Sound? That is one of the most picturesque of the fiords, with cliffs rising straight up out of the water, the whole scene reflected in the water. Down there, too, are the Sunderland Falls, where water drops six hundred meters, making these falls one of the highest waterfalls in the whole world. So you can see there is plenty to look at in New Zealand. Plenty of things to do for tourists, because New Zealand is also famous for its fishing, snow sports, mountaineering, sailing and hiking. The climate is pleasant at all seasons, without much difference between winter and summer. New Zealand does not have the terrible heat of Australian summers; the oceans temper its climate and the mountains bring down quite a lot of rain. What do the people do? Farm mostly. Dairy products, meat and wool are the main exports. New Zealand ranks second only to Australia as an exporter of wool. There are many factories there too, with hydro-electric stations to produce the power for them. North Island is where you find the Maoris, the fine people who lived in these islands hundreds of years before the white man came. Most of them live near Auckland. The Maoris, a Polynesian people, are the aborigines of New Zealand. After long stays in Indonesia and the South Pacific, which they explored for many years, they made their great journey to New Zealand about the middle of the 14th century. They sailed in double canoes open to all weathers. They knew the winds, the ocean currents and the stars, and this earned them the name of Vikings of the Sunrise. The capital of New Zealand since 1865, and one of its busiest ports, Wellington is at southern end of North Island, lying among hills on the western side of a natural harbour. It is the third largest city in New Zealand. Auckland (the former capital) is the largest city, and Christchurch is the second. The Maori name for Wellington Harbour means the great bay of Tara. According to Maori legend, Tara was the first Polynesian settler in this place. But Nicholson (after a Royal Navy captain) was the name given to it by the first British settlers, and it is still sometimes called by this name. In 1839 a British officer bought the site of Wellington from the Maoris; he got it in exchange for blankets and some other unimportant things. In 1840 the first settlers arrived and called their settlement Britannia. By 1842 there were 3.700 colonists in the settlement and Britannia had become Wellington. The kiwi is rather an unusual bird found only in New Zealand. It has no tail, almost no wings, and its nostrils are situated near the end of its bill. No other bird lays an egg so large in proportion to its size. Its egg is about one fifth of its own weight. This is a tremendous size. Forests of exotic pines near the centre of New Zealand's North Island, cover an area of more than 160000 hectares. This is the largest single continuous area of planted forest in the world. New Zealand has more than four hundred thousand hectares of planted forests. The most important wood is pine, which grows five times faster in New Zealand than in its native habitat in California, USA. |