MY SCHOOL

I study in Gymnasium #2. It is a wonderful school with interesting history and a lot of amazing traditions.

The school was founded in 1978. In 2003 it became a gymnasium. Nowadays it is a modern building with all the necessary facilities: a lot of airy classrooms, fully equipped labs, computer classrooms, resource centers of Russian and English languages, a huge gym, an Assembly Hall, a canteen, a library and the best stadium in Grodno.

Here we get knowledge and develop different skills, learn to explore new ideas and habits, find out how to cope with complicated problems and develop the ability to analyze. After we graduate from our school we will be able to market our skills across the continent and decide for ourselves, because we will be culturally adaptable and good at English and other subjects.

The school has always been famous for its lessons of English and the students who are adept at languages. The students can also choose Chemistry and Biology, Physics and Mathematics or Linguistics as their specialization. We are not afraid of school-leaving exams in foreign languages, because we have always had to take them and passed them with flying colours.

Our school offers us a lot of extracurricular activities. Here we can go in for sports and take part in sports competitions, very often we participate in games with Lithuanian and English guests. Our gymnasium is known for its English Week, where we can express ourselves in different contests and performances and also practice speaking English. If you want to improve your skills or cope with some problems you can visit additional lessons and tutorials. The school newspaper, “The Gymnasia Times”, gives us a chance to write real articles.

Here we don’t have to wear a uniform. I know that uniforms unite students and make them feel as a part of a group. Another advantage of uniforms is that in such schools it is personality that counts. But we should wear business style clothes and we can’t wear jeans. It helps us set our minds on studies and also looks great.

            I like my school because here I can communicate with my friends and obtain the necessary skills for my future life and career. Here I always have the encouragement of my teachers and support of my friends. I also enjoy the numerous school traditions. Also it is great that we only study in the morning and have the rest of the day for ourselves.

            On the other hand, there are some disadvantages in our gymnasium. For example, the breaks are too long and the little children can be very noisy. Also I would like to have fewer lessons of … and more lessons of … or optional subjects. Sometimes the teachers can be too strict, but I know that they do it to give me my best chance.

            In conclusion, I’d like to say that I’m really enjoying my school years and appreciate gymnasium #2, because here I can get serious knowledge and have always had an opportunity to improve my skills.

School Traditions

In our gymnasium there are a lot of wonderful traditions. They are very important to us, because they unite us, give us nice memories, allow us to spend some time together and to express ourselves. Thanks to school traditions we can see school in a new light – not only as an educational establishment where we acquire serious knowledge, but also as a place where we spend a lot of time communicating and having fun.

Our school offers us a great variety of traditions. If you want to know English perfectly well, you can visit numerous additional classes, perform in Drama Fest, play games, write articles for “The Gymnasia Times” or participate in the contest for the best public speaker. If you are athletic, you can take part in the different sports competitions. A project with the European Union has also given us an opportunity to rebuild our stadium. Another amazing tradition is Final Bell. It is a very emotional holiday, because graduates say goodbye to their school, teachers and classmates. Our exchange programme is also well-known to people in Grodno. It allows us to communicate with peers and teachers from Harwich, England and visit this beautiful country. Our students can see St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and other historical monuments. They can also practice their English.

My favourite school tradition is …, because … It gives me a chance to … I have fond memories of it, because …

TOPICS

1.     HOBBIES: The variety of hobbies helps any person to relax and learn new things, doesn’t it?

2.     MY HOME IS MY CASTLE: The English say: “My home is my castle”. What does it mean for you?

3.     FRIENDSHIP: Friendship is one of the most important things in the world. Do you agree?

4.     FAMILY: They say that a family is God’s gift to you as you are to them. Is family important in your life?

5.     SHOPPING: Shopping is a necessity of life and a pleasurable pastime. Is it really so?

6.     MODERN TECHNOLOGIES: Modern technologies are both a blessing and a curse. Why do people say so?

7.     NATURE PROTECTION: Nature is one of our greatest treasures, but we are rather careless about it. What does it mean?

8.     TRAVELLING BROADENS THE MIND: They say that travelling broadens the mind. How can you explain this saying?

9.     BOOKS AND READING: A book is a person’s best friend, isn’t it?

10.                       SPORTS AND GAMES: Sports and games make us healthy and strong and raise our spirits. Can you prove that any person can find something interesting about sports and games?

11.                       THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: Only a healthy person can cope with anything. What advice can you give people on the healthy lifestyle?

12.                       GREAT BRITAIN: Prove that Great Britain is a wonderful country to visit.

13.                       LONDON: London is full of contrasts and interesting places to visit. What should a visitor to London know not to get lost and to enjoy this city?

14.                       BELARUS: People do not know much about Belarus. What interesting facts can you tell them about our beautiful country?

BELARUS

The republic of Belarus is a small beautiful country with a heroic past and difficult present. It is situated in the centre of Europe. The republic of Belarus borders on Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It has the area of 207,600 square kilometers and the population of more than 10 million people. The capital of the country is Minsk.

The country is divided into six regions. Their capital cities and the biggest cities in the country are Minsk, Gomel, Mogilev, Brest, Grodno and Vitebsk.

Historically Belarus was a part of many countries: the Kiev Rus, then the Great Principality of Lithuania and Rech Pospolita. In the 20^th century it became one of the Republics in the USSR. Nowadays it is an independent country, represented in the United Nations.

The landscapes in Belarus do not vary a lot. More than a quarter of its area is covered with the forests. The large forests are called «puschas». The greatest of them is Beloviezskaya Puscha. It is well known for its rare animals - aurochs. There are nearly 10000 lakes and 20000 rivers in Belarus. Belarus is often called a blue-eyed country because of its beautiful lakes. The largest lake is Naroch. The largest rivers are the Dniepr, Neman, Bug and Western Dvina.

The climate in Belarus is moderately continental. It means that the summers are warm or hot and the winters are cold and snowy.

The beauty of the Belarussian nature, the heroic past and the present of the Belarussian people have been celebrated in song and verse by the Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas - the classics of Belarussian poetry. Unique souvenirs from leather, straw, wood, clay, and also watches are known all over the world. Our Republic is rich in mineral resources: salt, coal and iron. There are thousands of factories in the Republic which produce tractors and trucks, motor-cycles, TV-sets and many other goods.

The people of Belarus are tolerant and clever, hard-working and hospitable. This year it is the host of World Hockey Championship and a couple years ago it became home to Junior Eurovision.

The beautiful nature and hospitable people, great events and heroic past make Belarus one of the most interesting countries in the world.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Everybody wants to live a happy and long life. Even in this fast-paced, demanding world there are some rules we can follow to stay healthy and fit.

First of all, we are what we eat. Eating the right food and well-being is not a new idea. We should eat a variety of foods, because every day our bodies need 40 nutrients. No single food provides all them all. Out daily meals should include a variety of grains, which give us energy, meat, fish or poultry make our muscles stronger, vegetables (such as cauliflower, aubergines, tomatoes, cucumbers or cabbage) and fruit (such as pineapples, peaches, pears, kiwi fruits) supply us with vitamins  and dairy products, which are a source of calcium for our teeth and bones. If you are a vegetarian, you can replace meat with nuts, beans, peas and so on. It is also a good idea to drink green tea to feel upbeat and active. Water can help to take the edge off your appetite.

Fast food is not very good for us. It contains a lot of artificial colours, flavourings and additives. It is very filling and satisfies the hunger, but it is not nutritious at all: our stomachs are full, but we practically don’t get any carbohydrates or proteins, only fat. We should also limit our daily dose of soft drinks, because they help us to put on weight.

On the other hand we can’t avoid desserts. Some of them are mood foods: they make us feel energized and happy. But we should eat pastry or chocolate within reasonable limits.

A regular workout gives us the chance to get rid of the unwanted calories. If you can’t fit the gym or swimming pool into your hectic schedule, you must at least walk home and do some morning exercises.

One more piece of advice is to avoid addictions, such as smoking, drugs or modern technologies. They make our lives shorter and less enjoyable.

Getting enough sleep is vital to our well-being. Make sure you get 8-9 hours of sleep every night.

As for me, I don’t do anything special to keep fit. I just do morning exercises regularly and try to eat healthy food. For breakfast I usually have cereal or sandwiches with tea. This food helps me to get ready for my busy day. For lunch I have meat, poultry or fish and some mashed potatoes or pasta. At lunch I try to get a lot of proteins and carbohydrates, which give me energy. For dinner I have a three-course meal with soup, meat and a dessert. A dessert helps me to feel happy.

My main rule to stay healthy is to eat smart food at regular intervals, have a small workout and to sleep a lot. 

FRIENDSHIP

People say that if you haven’t learnt the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learnt anything. To me friendship is very important. I have fun with friends and I can relax. I can also be myself. True friends never let me down, never go back on promises or forget about me. They are always there for me to hold my hand in troublesome times. A friend would love and support me in any situation, thick and thin. A true friend will always cover my back and help me out when I ask him to. A true friend will also never put me down or hurt me.

I can say that I have a lot of friends, but today I’d like to describe my best friend Tanya, because I know her the longest. Tanya is a very beautiful girl of 16. She is of medium height, she has curly blond hair and blue eyes. I like her style, because she often wears dresses, which suit her.

Tanya is kind-hearted and generous, she can always help me or give me a piece of advice. She is also very reliable.  I can trust her all my secrets and be sure she won’t tell anyone. She is also ready to help me in any dangerous situation. For example, two years ago I lost a large sum of money. Tanya gave that money to me and didn’t even ask me any questions and didn’t expect to get it back. As people say, “A friend in need is a friend indeed”.

Tanya is a very talented girl. She is good at writing and she often writes articles for our school newspaper. We always hang out with her and the rest of my friends in the park, study together or talk for hours on the phone. I love my friend and I think that we will always stick together.

Nowadays some teenagers have 300 friends in VKontakte or on Facebook. I think that social networks are very popular and influence the way we communicate. It is easy to have conversations without leaving your house, listen to music, watch videos, and so on. However, some teenagers lose touch with reality. They prefer the number of friends to genuine friendship. As a result they can say that they have lots of friends, but in a difficult situation they might have no-one to rely on. That’s why I think that social networks are good for us, but only within reasonable limits.

But not all the teenagers are lucky to have a lot of friends. On the other hand, some of them have enemies, which are called bullies. A bully is a person who attacks someone physically or mentally, uses name-calling and plays ugly tricks on others. They make their victims feel miserable. What can be done to stop these mean people? We shouldn’t give them our attention. We should also talk to our parents or teachers, who can stop the threats. Also it is very important to talk to our friends. A bully can only pick on people who are weaker. But if we have friends who cover our back we are stronger.

People say that friendship isn’t a big thing, it’s a million little things. For me these are loyalty and trust, respect and sincerity, affection and acceptance. It is also lack of arrogance. These are the little things that make our friendship special.

GREAT BRITAIN

         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. The area of the country is over 244,000 square kilometers.

         The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. In everyday speech “Great Britain” is used to mean the United Kingdom. The capital of the UK is London. The population is about 57 million people. About 80% of the population is urban. The largest cities are London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester.

The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.

         The landscape of Britain varies a lot. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands. England is mostly a vast plain. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain (1343 meters). There are a lot of gorgeous rivers and lakes. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one. England is also famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and seaside resorts. There are a lot of medieval castles and gorgeous villages with very old houses.

         The climate of Great Britain is mild the whole year round. The summers are warm and rainy, the winters have little snow. The British often say that they don’t have climate, only weather, meaning that the weather is very changeable.

The flag of Great Britain is called the Union Jack. The national symbols of the country are four flowers: the English rose, the Welsh daffodil, the Scottish thistle and the Irish shamrock. Some more symbols are the characteristic red phone booths, red double-deckers and red mail boxes.

         There are a lot of places, which are worth visiting. Of course, any tourist should come to London and enjoy its amazing architecture, cafes, parks and atmosphere. Stonehenge is the world-famous monument of the Stone Age. Cambridge and Oxford are not only university towns, but also beautiful places to visit.

The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is famous for machinery, electronics, textile production and shipbuilding.

         The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the Queen, Elizabeth II. But in reality she reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the government, headed by the Prime Minister. The Parliament consists of two parts: the House of Lords and the House of Commons, where the members are elected. There are three major political parties in Great Britain: the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The Conservative party is the ruling party nowadays, but the government is a coalition. The Prime Minister is David Cameron.

         Britain’s location and clever people, historical heritage and industry make it one of the greatest countries of the world.

LONDON

         London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million people.

         London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world.

Traditionally it is divided into four 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, the financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Few 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 English churches. It was built in the 17^th century by Sir Christopher Wren. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal palace and a prison. Now it is a museum.

Westminster is the historic and the governmental part of London.

         Nearly all kings and queens have been crowned, married and even buried in Westminster Abbey. Many outstanding statesmen, scientists, writers, poets and painters are buried here: Newton, Darwin, Chaucer, Dickens, Kipling and so on.

         Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, or the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as Big Ben.

         Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the queen.

The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs and theatres are situated there.

Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson’s victory in the battle at Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson’s Column stands in the middle of the square.

The biggest museums of London are the British Museum, the National Gallery and the Museum of London. They contain priceless collections of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures and so on. Madam Tussaud’s Museum is famous for its collection of wax figures of politicians, movie stars, singers, sportsmen and writers.

London’s historical monuments and theatres, museums and parks make it one of the most popular places to visit in the world.

HOBBIES

            Hobbies are an important part of our lives. The pace of the modern world is crazy, people have little to no time to spare, but they still find a favourite occupation. A "hobby" is a special interest or activity that you do in your free time. Hobbies can be divided into three big groups: doing things, making things and collecting things. Doing things means doing something for the pleasure of doing it: painting, singing, dancing, playing computer games, learning languages, volunteering and going in for sports. When you are making something you get a new thing in the end. Cooking, knitting, cross-stitching, quilling, scrapbooking, photography all belong to this group. You can collect a great variety of items: coins, stamps, stickers, soap and so on. Some private collections are really valuable.

            People do hobbies for many reasons: for stress relief, to express themselves, to communicate with others, to have a feeling of control or a keen sense of achievement, to relax, to learn new things, to develop their mind or imagination or to keep fit. For some of them hobbies later become their jobs.

            It is vital for teenagers to have rewarding hobbies.  They help to build confidence. It’s if they feel like they actually are in control of something they love to do. Hobbies help teens not to get bored. If they had more good hobbies, there wouldn’t be as much violence or criminal activity going on today.

            Unfortunately about 20 per cent of young people indicate that their parents, friends or teachers have actively discouraged them from following their interest. A lot of teens could use support and guidance from adults and peers.

Let me describe my hobby for you. I am fond of cross-stitching. To do this hobby you should be creative, passionate, independent and patient. This pastime has numerous advantages: you can make beautiful presents for your friends, decorate your flat, relax and enjoy a great movie at the same time. However, it has some disadvantages, too: it is time and money-consuming and you can lose your temper when something goes wrong. My parents discourage me from doing it, because I spend too much time alone. Nevertheless, I enjoy it and recommend it to my friends, so we can do it together.

            To sum it up I’d like to say that hobbies differ, just like people’s tastes and interests. But to my mind every person should find a hobby, which is suitable for him, because hobbies help us to improve ourselves and to get rid of stress.

SPORT

Sports and games are an important part of our life. They help us to stay healthy and fit, make our muscles stronger. Also sports help us to be healthier mentally, because they say that sportsmen rarely suffer from addictions and never feel depressed. Breaking a record or winning a match gives us a keen sense of achievement. If you go in for sports, you will be a better person, because sports teach us determination, courage, the ability to evaluate risks and improve our survival instinct. If you take part in different competitions, you feel uplifted, when other people root for you. Team games teach us how to be co-operative and friendly.

There are a lot of different kinds of sports. The most popular summer sports are swimming, jogging, track and field, rock climbing, scuba-diving and football. The most enjoyable winter sports are cross-country skiing, mountaineering, skating, sledging and hockey. There are indoor sports, such as weight-lifting or martial arts, and outdoor sports, such as rugby or snowboarding.

You must remember about safety when you are doing sports. You must wear shoulder pads, knee pads and a helmet when you are roller-skating or cycling.

Nowadays extreme sports are becoming more and more popular. Those who do kayaking or bungee-jumping are daring and courageous. They do it to challenge themselves and to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of nature. But very often people say that what they do is sheer lunacy. They say that these daredevils do it to impress others and for macho reasons.

The most important sports competitions in the world are the Olympic Games. The first Olympic Games were held in Ancient Greece. They date back to 776 B.C. They were brought back to life by Pierre de Coubertin in 1896 to honour the athletic talents of people. The Games take place in a new city every year. Almost all countries participate in the games. Belarus is rather successful in the Olympic Games. The most famous sportsmen are Maxim Mirny and Victoria Azarenko (tennis), Olga Korbut (gymnastics) and Alexey Grishin (freestyle).

In my opinion, sports are very important in our lives, because they teach us to be determined and strong. My favourite sport is skating, because the sportsmen are really graceful. I am also fond of roller-skating. I try to do it every week. It brings me joy and I can communicate and have fun with my friends.

I think that it is vital to do sports, because we can enjoy them and become healthier.

SHOPPING
Shopping is a very important part of our life. In every town or city there are countless neighbourhood shops, supermarkets, department stores, boutiques, shopping centres, brand shops, markets, flea markets and second hand shops. Also you can purchase goods in on-line shops.
Most people prefer to do their shopping in big supermarkets and department stores. It is very convenient, because there are a lot of departments or sections there: stationery, electrical appliances, grocery, glassware, furnishings, hardware, cleaning items and so on. They offer a great variety of items: from delicatessens from faraway countries to local specialties, from furniture to computer software, etc.
Neighbourhood shops are less convenient, because they are small and only offer one kind of products: at the butcher’s you can buy meat, at a bakery you can buy bread and deli, at the chemist’s you can buy toiletries and at the florist’s you buy flowers. However the service is always nice and the shop assistants or shop keepers are very polite with the customers.
The majority of young people love buying clothes in brand shops. There are no big lines (queues), there are fitting rooms, the prices are reasonable, the quality is high, the choice is always great and the clothes are fashionable. There you can buy all kinds of clothes: shirts which are striped, checked, polka-dotted, plain or with floral designs, high-heeled boots or flat shoes, flared trousers or skinny jeans. But you should always remember to keep your receipt if it turns out your items have been torn or have uneven sleeves.
My favourite shop is our local Almi. It is a huge supermarket with diverse groups of goods. Upstairs it has a food court with wonderful pizza and sushi. When you enter this store you can feel the delicious smell of freshly baked bread. The aroma of pizza will make your mouth water. To my mind you will also be delighted to see bright and colourful displays of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Advertisements and commercials play influence the process of selling and buying goods greatly. Some of them are even amusing and entertaining. But most commercials are misleading or completely dishonest. They show images of perfections and with feel dissatisfied with our family, studies, job and especially appearance.
In my opinion shopping is a great pastime. It helps you to relax and get rid of the daily stress. You can buy new things or simply go window shopping and communicate with your friends.

MODERN TECHNOLOGIES

Modern technologies haven’t been with us all that long, but they have already improved our life greatly. Mobile phones, computers, laptops, tablets, CCTV cameras, ATMs, finger scanning, television, smart ID cards, satellites and other gadgets make our life easier, more interesting and more convenient. Most of these devices are reliable and efficient.

Mobile phones make our communication a lot easier. They help us to communicate with people who live in remote places. Landline phones were inefficient and this service was not always available to everyone.

It is even easier to communicate via computers. They offer a great variety of services: social networks, communication in real time through Skype, instant messaging and so on. E-mails are delivered a lot faster than snail mail messages.

Television helps us to occupy our spare time. We are glued to the goggle box watching talk shows, films and other entertaining programmes.

Surveillance devices are used by the police to discourage such crimes as speeding, muggings, kidnappings, robberies, burglaries, shoplifting and carjacking and to identify criminals.

However it has been said many times that modern technologies have a lot of disadvantages, too.

For example, TV is doing irreparable harm. People watch rubbishy shows and endless commercials, children grow up watching spectacles of sadism and violence. Television also encourages passive entertainment and deprives us of communication.

Computer technologies have made it easy to commit high technology crimes such as hacking and virus spreading. Moreover a lot of immature people become addicted to their devices

To sum it up modern technologies can be both our friends and foes. They are not just passing fads. But they should be used within reasonable limits.

My Home Is My Castle

“My home is my castle” is the famous English proverb,  meaning that every person should feel safe and secure at home.

I live in a humonguous block of flats on the outskirts of Grodno. My house is well-located, because you can find a lot of shops and cafes around it. The house is also close to a bus and trolleybus station and public transport can take you to any part of our city. Next to my house there is a small park with a pond.

The house is made of bricks, which makes it very warm and cosy. There are 2 spacious bedrooms, an airy living-room, a bathroom and a separate WC, and a balcony. The kitchen is tiny, though. Of course, we don’t have a garage, but near the house you can find a small garden with a cute white fence.

The house is fully furnished. It also has all the modern conveniences: central heating, hot and cold running water, a lift (so you don’t have to use the stairs, double glazing, built-in wardrobes, a fitted kitchen and so on. Our flat is also fully equipped: you can find a fridge, a microwave oven, a blender and other household appliances in the kitchen. I like doing my household chores, because we have so many clever machines.

We’ve recently renovated our flat, but it is quite modern, so it only needed some minor repairs.

I have my own room. It is spacious and comfortable. In my room I have a sofa, a desk, a wardrobe and a computer. I can find everything for my studies and rest there.

I can’t say that my flat is luxurious or overpriced. But it is well-maintained. But more importantly, it’s the place where I feel at home. It is truly my castle.

FAMILY

 In today’s uncertain world it is vital to have a great family. In a family people would do everything for each other and will always be there for you. Also a strong family makes you feel safe and confident. With them you can talk for hours and share your secrets, deepest thoughts and fears. Families help us carry through many hardships and difficult situations.

Let me describe my family. My family is rather small: it consists of my mother and father, my sister and me. My mom is 36, she is a doctor. She is very smart and kind. My father is a driver, he is 38. I’m really lucky, because he can always give me advice and he will always listen to me. My sister is 7 and she studies at school. I think she is really annoying: she calls me names, hides my things and plays other ugly tricks on me. Nevertheless, I love her and try to compromise with her. After all she is just a little girl.

It is very important to have family traditions. They are the glue that holds families together. They give children a sense of security. They know that in an uncertain world, some things stay the same. Traditions also promote closeness. Also lasting memories are formed.

In my family there are some traditions, too. First of all we always celebrate holidays together: Christmas, Easter, New Year, birthdays and so on. My favourite holiday is Christmas. On the 24^th of December we gather together and have a big family dinner. Other traditions include cleaning up together every Saturday and going to our country house on picnics. On Sundays we go cycling in summer and skiing in winter.

It is great when you have a loving family and no problems at all. However, most families face some problems. The most difficult problems are sibling rivalry and generation gap.

What is sibling rivalry? It happens because of age and personality differences between children. One or both of them might think that the other child is getting more attention from parents. This leads to physical fights, name-calling and arguments. To fight jealousy children should look for win-win solutions. And parents shouldn’t get involved too often, because these situations will teach children very helpful skills.

Generation gap is a big problem in some families, too. It is when children and parents don’t understand each other and have different values, norms, outlooks and attitudes, because they grew up in different times. How can families bridge generation gap? They should treat each other with respect and love, share their thoughts and try to find common ideas or activities.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that family is the most valuable thing in life. No-one else can make you happier. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. 

BOOKS AND READING

Books are an important part of our life. They teach us to be polite, generous, hardworking, friendly, understanding and romantic. Actually there are more books in the world than people alive. There are a lot of different genres of books: science fiction, detective stories, fantasy, romances, adventure stories, autobiographies, historical novels, fairy tales, mystery books and humorous stories. Also there are small books like poems and short stories and large books like novels.

When I find a superb book I read it from cover to cover. When I am choosing what to read I look at the genre of film. For example, I’m fond of science fiction and fantasy stories. Also I read the title of the book, because it can tell us a lot about the plot. If the book keeps me in suspense or is touching, exciting and amusing I recommend it to my friends. I tell them that it’s a must! If the book is absolutely disgusting I tell my friends that it is boring and silly.

My favourite book is Merry Poppins. The author of this book is Pamela Travers. She is brilliant and very talented. The story tells us about the wonderful adventures of children with their nurse. First they think that Merry Poppins is very strict. Later on they find out that she is very kind. Moreover, she shows them amazing places. Marry Poppins is my favourite character. She is really pretty and interesting. I am fascinated by her.

NATURE PROTECTION

The word environment means everything around us. Nowadays people understand how important it is to solve the environmental problems that endanger people’s lives. The most important ecological problems are:

·         water and air pollution;

·         noise pollution;

·         destruction of rainforests;

·         shortages of water, food and natural resources;

·         global warming;

·         the growth of population.

There is no ocean or sea which is not used as a dump now. Governments test their nuclear weapons there, factories and plants pour harmful industrial wastes into rivers and seas, tankers leave lots of oil in the water. This poisons and kills fish and animals, destroys their habitats. It is dangerous to drink such water or use it in any other way.

The pollution of air has become a big problem, too. Most of the pollution comes from cars and buses, plants and factories. The wastes come back to the Earth in the form of acid rains and destroy forests and buildings.

People are told not to sunbathe often, because ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer. Normally the layer protects us from such radiation. But as a result of air pollution we now have holes in the ozone layer.

The greenhouse effect is another dangerous result of air pollution. People burn a lot of rubber, wood and fuel, that’s why there is more carbon dioxide in the air. A lot of rainforests have also been cut down. It means that there is less oxygen in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide works like glass in a greenhouse: it lets the heat from the sun to get to our planet, but doesn’t let it to go back into space. That’s why the temperatures have risen. Ice in cold countries melts, which leads to higher sea levels.

Nuclear power stations can go wrong and cause nuclear pollution. Radiation cannot be seen, but its effects are terrible.

What can we do to help the environment? If we plant some trees, we will get more oxygen and less carbon dioxide. If factories, plants, cars and buses use filters, the air will be cleaner. If we save and not waste water, there will be no water shortages. If we don’t listen to loud music, we won’t have problems with our hearing. If people stop cutting down trees, animals won’t lose their habitats. If we recycle, reuse and reduce our rubbish, the planet will be cleaner.

TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND

         Nowadays people on our planet can’t live without travelling.

         Different people travel for different reasons. Some people want to see historical places, ancient ruins and medieval castles and learn about the culture, traditions and history of the country. Others prefer active or even extreme holidays, such as white-water rafting or hiking. Nature-lovers are eager to admire spectacular scenery, stunning views and magnificent natural wonders: waterfalls, beaches, rainforests, snow-capped peaks and sparkling lakes.  There are people who enjoy relaxing on a palm-fringed beach, where it is boiling hot, or taking a cruise of the Mediterranean. Still there are travellers who like spending their holidays in luxurious and trendy hotels with lots of extra facilities, such as fully equipped gyms and swimming pools. They enjoy the finer things in life, such as glamorous rooms, health spas, gourmet dishes and splendid interiors of the hotels.

         Today travel agencies offer a great variety of tours and means of transport. You can travel by bus, car, plane, train. You can even go on a voyage by ship.

         What do we begin with when we travel? First we should choose our destination: an elegant hot spot or a legendary European city or something else depending on our likes and dislikes. Then we should book the tickets and the hotel. We can check out the vacancies and confirm them on the Internet. It’s better if the hotel is a stone’s throw from the downtown or the beach. When we travel abroad we shouldn’t forget about insurance. Before the trip we should pack our suitcase – bring with you your insect repellent, first aid kit or passport!

When you are there you must catch a glimpse of all the places to visit. Don’t forget to sample the local dishes when you travel. Giving a chance to the national cuisine is an important step of the journey, because it gives us a lot of information about the land and its traditions. It is also necessary to bring back handmade souvenirs from your trip.

Sometimes our plans fall through and we must cancel reservations. Then we should remember to be polite. Other things can happen abroad: they can mislabel our suitcases, lose documents and so on. In case of an emergency we should go to the embassy.

As for me, I am fond of travelling, though living out of a suitcase is not my thing. I have already been to many places of interest/countries: … . It has always been my dream to visit …: I want to see …, admire …, get to know … .

A wise proverb says: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel are reading only a page”. Travel broadens your mind, giving first-hand experience and unforgettable impressions.