19.

Learning a Language

I’m going to start off by saying that the ________ way to learn a new language is by taking formal classes.

20.

If you ________ the time or money to attend classes, you can of course teach yourself any language you want.

21.

If you have absolutely no prior knowledge of the language you ________ to learn, start by buying the same textbooks that schools use because they are easy to understand.

22.

Kizhi Pogost

Located in Lake Onega, this tiny island has been inhabited since the ________ century. Nowadays it is the only ensemble with two multi-domed wooden churches preserved in Russia.

23.

However, the original churches on Kizhi Island burned down in 1693 and the currently existing churches ________ on the very site of the former ones.

24.

The Church of the Transfiguration is a monument with exceptional architectural features. It gave birth to the legend about Master Nestor, who ________ the 37m high nail-less church using nothing but an axe.

19.

Siberian Tiger

Tigers are renowned for their power and strength. They live primarily in eastern Russia's forests, which offer the ________ human density.

20.

Over the past hundred years, hunting and forest destruction ________ overall tiger populations dramatically.

21.

There were once nine tiger subspecies, but three became extinct during the ________ century.

22.

My First Year at Wennington School

I came to Wennington School in the autumn of 1968. The school itself was doing rather well; it had a new theatre and science building but the rest of the school was much as it ___________ for years before.

23.

Life in general was not too bad for me. In the first year I ________ a bit by a couple of boys.

24.

However, that __________ long. Personally, I tended to leave my fellow pupils alone as I was more interested in making life hell for the staff.

19.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese soccer player. He is considered one of the ________ sports stars of his time.

20.

Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting CP, before ________ a contract with Manchester United in 2003.

21.

Since that time, Ronaldo ________ 32 trophies, including seven league titles. No doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is an exceptionally gifted soccer player.

22.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is the world’s most famous prehistoric landmark. With its unique concentration of monuments, Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site. That’s why visitors are only allowed to walk along several ________.

23.

Stonehenge is situated on Salisbury Plain in England. It ________ of a ring of vertical standing stones, topped by connecting horizontal stones.

24.

Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge ________ from around 3000 BC to 2000 BC. It could have been a burial ground for ancient people.

19.

The Bald Eagle

In 1782, American leaders chose the bald eagle as the national bird of the new country because it is one of the _______ birds in the world.

20.

In 1972 there _______ only 3,000 bald eagles in the entire United States. Today, the government and the people are trying to protect the bald eagle.

21.

We are sure that the American national bird ___________ а symbol of strength and courage for many years to come

22.

Eton College

Eton is one of the most famous public schools in the world and is referred to as “the chief nurse of England’s _______”.

23.

Eton _______ in 1440 by Henry VI. It is well-known for its history, wealth, and notable alumni, called Old Etonians.

24.

Eton is the largest boarding school in England and the _______ most expensive independent boarding school in the UK.

Cigarette Warning Labels – Do They Work?

19. Warning labels __________ (ADOPT) in the late 1960’s with a minor note saying ‘Smoking can be hazardous to health’. It was only the 1970’s that confirmed: smoking could kill. 

20. Smoking is a habit that people are not ready to quit even when they are dying. This is because cigarette smoking leads to a rapid addiction for nicotine and is even __________ (ADDICTIVE) than alcohol. 

21. A person who __________ (just) (START) to smoke knows that he is entering a dark road. 

22. So, if his __________ (ONE) experience is not good he may read the warning label on the cigarette box and decide to not smoke again. 

23. However, if smoking is a habit, a smoker __________ (NOT CARE) about the side effects of smoking. 

24. Although he knows that smoking is injurious, he thinks that it __________ (NOT HARM) him very soon. So he ignores the warning labels and continues smoking. As a rule heavy smokers don’t really care about themselves, because if they did, they would not be smoking in the fist place.  

September Mood in England

19. It’s Monday morning and Miss Williams walks into her office. Her holiday is over and she __________ (just) (RETURN) to work.  

20. She looks brown, relaxed and __________ (HAPPY) than usual. 

21. The other girls stand round her. ‘Where __________ (you) (GO)?’ one of the girls asks. 

22. ‘Italy, not far from Naples. I enjoyed it very much.’ she answers, __________ (SMILE) happily. 

23. Her boss, Mr. Wetridge comes in ten minutes later. He looks a bit worried because he __________ (THINK) about the winter.  

24. Central heating ___________ (INSTALL) in his house five years ago and now it’s time to have it repaired.  

19.

The National Health Service in GB

The NHS (the National Health Service) in GB ________ centrally and medical insurance is compulsory.

20.

The main ________ of the NHS are the same as those faced by equivalent systems in other countries.

21.

But the country spends ________ money per person on health care than any other country in the western world.

22.

Detskiy Mir

Detskiy Mir is the largest children's goods retailer in Russia. It ________ opened its doors on June 6, 1957.

23.

The original Detsky Mir building in Moscow was a dream store for any Russian child in the USSR, but since then it ________ even better.

24.

When you enter the store, you find ________ in the marble entrance with a high ceiling decorated with the most famous Russian fairy tales for children. The view is spectacular.

19.

This is the latest news from BBC. Yesterday an earthquake ________ the southern port city of Bandar Abbas in Iran, cutting power and telephone lines.

20. 

At the moment emergency teams ________ people, suffering from injuries. Fortunately, there are no reported deaths in this quake.

21.

This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for ________ information

22.

Rostov Veliky is one of the oldest Russian cities. It was mentioned in the ancient chronicles of the IX century as the city that ________ on the shores of Lake Nero long before this time.

23.

Rostov Veliky ________ many ancient churches and monasteries. Today it is one of the largest religious centres of Russia.

24.

The present view of the city centre is pretty much the same as it was centuries ago. That is why a lot of historical movies ________ there

19.

Nowadays many big cities try to solve the problem of traffic jams. In January 2003, the Congestion Charge ________ in London to help solve the city’s traffic problems.

20.

On its own, the traffic charging scheme does not solve the problem of congestion in the city. London’s motorists still have traffic problems, ________ through the city’s streets.

21.

However, the city’s authorities claim that without the Congestion Charge the traffic problems in London would be much ________ now.

22.

A Floor-cleaning Robot

Technology makes our everyday life more comfortable. A floor- cleaning robot is one of the best examples of how rapidly the technology ________ today.

23.

Massachusetts-based company “iRobot” ________ its floor-cleaning robots since 2002.

24.

Today the company has announced a new version of a robot that not only remembers the layout of your home but can also empty ________ back at its dock.