Подготовка к ОГЭ (чтение)
учебно-методический материал (9 класс) по теме

A. 

For as long as humans have existed there has been a need to keep in touch and to transfer important information between people in different places. Before the invention of writing, oral messages were carried from one person to another between towns. Writing made it much easier to send longer messages; however, it was still difficult to make sure that your message got to the right place.

B. 

It was used by the Roman officials to transfer information throughout the Empire. Staging posts and a system with horses and carriages meant that messages could move quickly, by using many riders instead of one. It was very important for business and military reasons that good communication system existed. However, the Romans were not the first to realize this. The Chinese and Persian empires used systems of horses and riders more than 500 years before the Romans.

C. 

Before the invention of the postage stamps, letters were “franked”. It was marked on the letter that delivery had been paid for. This could have been either written or stamped. A post-mark was also stamped on the letter. Invented in 1660 in England, this was a mark that showed where and when the letter had been posted. It was used to see how long it took to deliver the letter – to make sure the service was reliable.

D. 

It is the humorous term used by e-mail users for the old-fashioned letters-in-envelopes postal system. It means that such letters travel very slowly, which actually is rather unfair. In Britain you can send letters first or second class; the first class ones normally get to their destination, anywhere in the country, the next morning. The postal service is called the Royal mail, and all the British stamps have the head of the Queen.

E. 

They were invented in Great Britain. It was a British man called Rowland Hill who proposed a stamp to be stuck on the letter to identify that postage had been paid. The first stamp was issued in 1840. It was called the Penny Black and the profile of Queen Victoria’s head was depicted there. The stamp cost 1 pence and was darkly coloured. About 65 million Penny Blacks were issued, and nowadays it is not a very rare stamp.

A. 

English is basically a Germanic language with a lot of Latin words in it. In simple terms, that means that the grammar and many of the most frequent words are Germanic, and the more formal or technical vocabulary is Latinate. The linguistic mixture is a result of historical events. But the simple historical facts appear not to explain everything about the development of the language. One interesting question is why the British did not learn Latin from the Romans.

B. 

It came as a surprise to many people when a survey showed that 172 languages were spoken by children in London schools: Chinese, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, Punjabi and others. Some of these, like the West African language Ga, only have a couple of speakers. But others, like Punjabi, are quite significant linguistic community, with their own radio programmes and newspapers, and classes for children – to ensure that they don’t forget the language of their grandparents.

C. 

A nasty shock awaits many visitors to Britain. Imagine you have learnt English for years, you can read newspapers and you have no problem following the television, but when you go into a shop in Newcastle you can’t understand a word they are saying. It is the accent, mostly the vowels, which gives the visitor a problem in the shop. Some accents are so strong that they present problems for British people, too. Intonation patterns also differ between regions.

D. 

Billions of people speak English, two-thirds of the planet’s scientists write in English, and over 80% of the world’s electronic information is stored in English. But not all the British are really self-satisfied about the status of their language. But they are quite well aware that today it is out of their hands: the reasons for the popularity of English are either lost in history, or something to do with the superpower on the other side of the Atlantic.

E. 

Let’s look at the speech of young people in Britain. Here we can find several interesting developments. One is a spread of a light London accent over much of the country. Another is an openness, through the media, to American and Australian influences. The Australian effect is quite recent, and the results from the huge popularity of Australian TV soap operas. It is the phrases, idioms and grammatical forms which are catching.

A. 

Lars Magnus Ericsson, was the first man who had a telephone in his car. When he saw a place where he could get to phone lines, he connected to them with a pair of long electric wires. Then in Russia two Soviet engineers successfully tested a mobile phone installed in a car. It could connect to a local telephone network within 20 kilometers. A year later, two engineers from Europe tried to use antenna in the phone.

B. 

The company of mobile phones in Finland started to sell their products in 1970. There were several types of phones: 2G and later 3G. Third-generation phones are now used everywhere in the world. They are small, flat and very comfortable to use. Some people say that the only problem with the new phones is to remember all the functions. The mobile phone is often called the Seventh of the Mass Media (with Print, Recordings, Cinema, Radio, TV and Internet the first six).

C. 

In many countries, most adults and many children now have mobile phones. Mobile phones are used for a variety of purposes, including keeping in touch with the family, running business, and for emergency calls. Children and adults often play mobile phone games or use the phone as an audio player. In Japan, phone companies provide immediate notice of earthquakes and other natural disasters to their customers free of charge. In the event of an emergency, disaster response crews can find injured people using the signals from their mobile phones.

D. 

Today’s mobile phones do more than just offer voice, email, Web and music services. They are stylish accessories, too. Cool design has always played a great role in digital business. People, young people especially, use the phone to express their self. Just like clothes, phones can carry a message of sports lifestyle, luxury, adventure or romance. Mobile phone companies introduce their new collections every season and it’s rather difficult to keep up with today’s mobiles.

E. 

Mobile phones have increased greatly in the world. Some people carry more than one mobile phone for different purposes, such as for business and personal use. The mobiles are to be seen absolutely everywhere – in schools, restaurants, theatres and even churches. They ring during lectures, meetings and in classical music concerts. In recent survey, 62 % of people said that the most irritating thing in their lives was mobile phones on the train!

A. 

Pumpkin is a large round fruit with a thick orange skin and large seeds. Pumpkins are 90% water but they contain potassium and vitamin A. Six of seven continents can grow pumpkins. Nowadays pumpkins have come to symbolize not only the lovely color of the autumn but the spirit of the season as well. A sizable number of movies were made with pumpkin and Halloween themes. Most memorable, perhaps, is the pumpkin carriage in Cinderella.

B. 

Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Native American Indians ate pumpkins centuries before the Europeans landed. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C. References to pumpkins date back many centuries. The word pumpkin originated from the Greek word for "large melon" which is "pepon." "Pepon" was changed by the French into "pompon." The English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion."

C. 

In the United States, pumpkins go hand in hand with the autumn holidays of Thanksgiving, and, of course, Halloween. At almost every Thanksgiving table is the customary 'Pumpkin Pie'. Pumpkins are carved into decorated lanterns for Halloween. Pumpkin is one of the important symbols of the harvest festival and has been an American-favourite for over 400 years now. A lot of autumn festivals are dedicated to the pumpkin. Farmers from all over the US compete to determine who has grown the heaviest pumpkin.

D. 

In the USA, pumpkin is a very popular Thanksgiving dish. It is not sure whether pumpkin was one of the dishes in the first thanksgiving dinner. But they were, however, a part of all traditional meals long before the arrival of the first Europeans. Most parts of the pumpkin are suitable for eating, including the shell, the seeds, the leaves, and even the flowers. When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, baked, steamed, or roasted.

E. 

The pumpkin has been very important for centuries. It has been popular with wizards, witches and fairies. Maybe that’s why it is celebrated in so many festivals, folklore and fiction. People make jack o’lanterns at Halloween in the USA. In European and American fairy-tales witches often turn people into pumpkins. Even in modern The Harry Potter novels pumpkin juice is the favourite drink of the students of Hogwart’s school.

A. 

Chiswick School is a secondary school in London. It has about 1.250 pupils between the ages of 11 and 19. Like in most British schools, all the pupils study the same subjects in the first three years. Then they work for their GCSE exams – usually taking about nine subjects. Everyone takes English, Maths and Science, but there is quite a wide choice of other subjects. After the exams, some pupils leave and get jobs; others go on to do their A levels at other schools or further education college; some stay on in school.

B. 

There are six tennis courts, a gym, two squash courts and a large games field, where boys and girls play football and hockey. Pupils can also row on the nearby River Thames. There are also three main computer centres, and most subjects (such as Chemistry and Languages) have their own computers. All pupils study Information Technology. The school has a large library and a Learning Resources Centre with photocopying facilities, computer scanners and printers.

C. 

When the classes are over, Chiswick students are busy too. There is judo, dance, cooking and chess provided by the school at lunch time and in the afternoon. There are music and photography clubs. There is a theatre group which puts on a play at the end of each year. The teachers and the parents encourage as many pupils as possible to take part in numerous clubs. In the holidays, the school organizes trips such as camping in Wales or skiing in Switzerland.

D. 

There is one basic law in the school: to respect others and their property and behave in a normal, sensible way, with due consideration for the health and safety of all. In really serious cases, it is possible to exclude pupils for a period of time from school, or to expel them permanently. As in most schools in Britain, pupils have to wear a uniform. There is some resistance to wearing school uniform, but generally teachers and parents agree that the uniform is good for discipline.

E. 

If, as a pupil, you misbehave there is a system known as WRO – Warning, Report, Out. First you get a warning from your teacher, you have to carry a form around with you and the teacher signs it after each lesson – to show that you were present and behave well. If you do anything wrong at this stage, you are out; you have to go to the hall to join any other pupils in trouble. In the hall, you all work in silence under the supervision of a teacher.

A. 

Since ancient times people all over the world have tried to understand such physical phenomena like rain, snow and wind. The Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle wrote a book named Meteorologica, which was about the basic elements of the environment: the earth, the winds, the seas and rivers, and of course, the weather. He is considered to be the founder of a science, which studies the atmosphere, and the title of his book has become the name of the science.

B. 

Meteorology supposes a lot of observations, researches and analyses. Without them it is impossible to say what the weather will be like tomorrow. In 1654 one scientist started an ambitious research project. Its aim was to record weather patterns in different Italian and European cities. The received information was studied and analyzed by the scientist. Those results were very important for meteorology. So that project gave an opportunity for G. Fahrenheit to create the modern thermometer.

C. 

If you enjoy everything from watching clouds to reading about hurricanes and tornados, then maybe meteorology is the career for you. Meteorologists, can be found all over the world doing some very interesting things! They may study the ozone layer or air pollution or make weather observations in Antarctica. They might monitor rainfall and give river flood warnings or fly in aircraft investigating hurricanes. Weather is world-wide and so are people, who study the weather!

D. 

Have you ever wondered how people are able to predict the weather ahead of time? Wouldn't it be great to know if there is a chance of rain for your football game this weekend? Weather forecasting, a prediction what weather will be like tomorrow or next week, takes into consideration many aspects, but one of the most crucial weather features is the wind. By learning how the wind affects the weather, we can learn a lot about how to predict it.

E. 

When light and water meet in the sky on a summer day, a rainbow appears. Such a wonderful sight! The legends of many cultures see the rainbow as a kind of bridge between heaven and earth. But it's just sunlight and raindrops. When sunlight enters a drop of rain, a part of it does not pass directly through but is reflected from the inner surface and appears from the side from which it entered.

A. 

If you go back to the time of Queen Elizabeth (1558–1603), people really knew how to eat and Chefs used to travel round Europe to get new ideas and ingredients. It was also the time when British explorers sailed all over the world. They brought home all sorts of exotic food: rice and tea from China, spices from India, coffee from Arabia. In the Americas they found tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts, pineapples, sugar and vanilla.

B. 

In the past, without cookbooks and TV programmes, women learnt from their mothers and spend hours every day in the kitchen. But then, around the end of the 18th century, life in Britain changed dramatically. The industrial revolution took families from farms in the country to the crowded cities. Men and women worked long hours in the factories. So they had no longer time or energy to cook properly at home. There was already an interest in fast food.

C. 

Every country seems to have a national cuisine and to be proud of it. So what is Britain famous for? The sad truth is that most of the British gave up cooking a long time ago and started buying ready-made meals from the shops. They love tins, tubes, packets and frozen food of all kinds. Of course, convenience food is an international phenomenon, but it started earlier and has gone further in Britain than in most countries.

D. 

It’s more than just a tradition – it is a way of life. Many people have tea first with breakfast, then at mid-morning, with lunch, at tea-time (around 5 o’clock), with dinner, and finally just before bed. As a nation, they get through 185 million cups per day! Most British use tea bags these days, but serious tea lovers still go through an almost Japanese-style ceremony. The selection of tea is very personal.

E. 

The country has some excellent food: lamb from Wales, shellfish and salmon from Northern Ireland, fresh fish from Scotland, cheeses from England and Wales. Unfortunately, good British food is difficult to find. Only 2% of restaurants in London serve British food. There are many more Italian, Chinese and Indian restaurants. You can have a good “British” meal without spending a lot of money by going to a pub (or public houses) that you can see everywhere in Britain.

A. 

Australia once had close ties with Great Britain. Until fifty years ago, almost all Australians were of British or Irish origin. But after World War II more than two million people arrived from Europe. New Australians, as they were known, were from Greece, Germany and Italy. Mass migration has changed Australia into a multicultural society. Today, people of Anglo-Irish origin are a minority. Many recent immigrants are from South East Asia, the Philippines and China .

B. 

Australia's prosperity has been founded on its natural resources. It produces almost every mineral from gold to uranium. Traditionally, Australia was a farming country and its wealth was founded on wool, cattle and wheat. It is still a major exporter of food, making it the breadbasket of Asia. Agriculture and mining, however, employ comparatively few people. Tourism is now Australia's largest industry, employing 6% of the population. More than three million visitors come to the country each year.

C. 

In spite of the importance of the bush to Australian folklore, 90% of Australians live in cities. Almost everyone lives within a few kilometres of the sea and of the ocean. The beaches are used in same way as parks: families have picnics, people of all ages jog, play volleyball, swim or just walk. There is great interest in water sports like water skiing, surfing, swimming and sailing. Every city has tennis courts, allowing half a million people play competitively.

D. 

The Dutch were the first Europeans to see Australia, in the early seventeenth century, but they found no opportunities to settle or trade. English explorer James Cook landed near Sydney 160 years later and claimed it for Britain. But still no one could think what to do with it. The American Revolution provided a solution. America had been used Australia as a dumping ground for criminals, mostly the unfortunate poor from cities created during the industrial revolution.

E. 

Australians used to live on a diet of lamb and potatoes. But with such a variety of climates and with so many ethic groups, the Australian diet has changed dramatically. Cities like Melbourne and Sydney are proud of their huge range of ethnic restaurants and multicultural cuisine, ranging from Italian to Tibetan. The barbecue is a national institution. It is an informal event for people and there is nothing more refreshing than a swim before eating fruit, fresh salads, and steaks.

A. 

A strawberry is a small fleshy red fruit used in desserts or eaten on its own. It is usually sold in small baskets known as punnets. Strawberries contain no fat and are very low on calories. They are a rich source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and others. The United States is the top strawberry producing country in the world, followed by Spain. The typical modern strawberry is a hybrid from both North and South America.

B. 

Strawberries taste great with just about anything and they make a great snack on their own. The berry was known from the late middle ages but was not very popular then. People say that the name of the fruit comes from the way it was sold. Popular legend is that long time ago in London strawberries were very cheap. Children from London and other towns picked the berry themselves and then tied onto pieces of straw to sell in the town markets yelling “straws of berries” to get attention.

C. 

There are many strawberry festivals held around the world in celebration of strawberry season. Each strawberry festival is unique, but some of the common elements are often a youth show, carnival rides, a sell of homemade goods, musical performances, art contests, and baking competitions. You'll probably have the chance to buy fresh strawberries or strawberry pies. Most strawberry festivals charge a small entrance fee, but it is well worth it to experience strawberry related fun for an entire weekend.

D. 

North American native people called strawberries as berry of the heart and ate strawberries as a favored dessert. White settlers who came into contact with native people liked the berry. Then one doctor prescribed a diet of only strawberries believing that rheumatic illness could be cured if strawberries were eaten every day. According to his observations the leaves of the strawberry could be used in tea and would help to lose weight as well.

E. 

Whether you eat strawberries as juice, jam, or mix it with a cake, it has the same delicious taste. It is not just delicious, but also good for our health and appearance. The berries are widely used in cosmetics. During the late 20th century strawberry flavored beauty products have become very popular. There appeared many products such as facial cleansers, shampoos, soaps, and others.

A. 

The early history of Canada is a story of fish and fur. But after World War II, Canada began to develop its own industries, such as producing cars and airoplanes. Today, Canada is the largest producer of nickel. It supplies the world with iron and copper as well as wood, paper, oil, gold and silver. Canada now has moved swiftly with research and development in fibre optics and communications.

B. 

Canada has a reputation for being a mosaic of world cultures. About 40% of Canadians are of British origin. French descendants of the French adventurers live in Quebec. The French language they speak is unique. Words, grammar and even pronunciation still have connections with seventeenth-century French. Canada's third-largest ethnic group is German. Then come Italians, Ukrainians, Dutch, Greeks and Polish. Toronto, the centre for international immigration, is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

C. 

With so much winter and snow, it is not surprising that Canadians are good at winter sports. Ice hockey (simply called hockey) is a national pastime and it is so popular that it is more of a religion than a sport. This is especially true in Quebec, home of the Montreal Canadians, one of the most successful professional sports teams anywhere. Other popular spectator sports include curling and football. The official national summer sport is lacrosse.

D. 

Canada's two official languages are English and French. They are the mother tongues of 60% and 23% of the population respectively. You can notice the both languages on highway signs, maps, tourists' leaflets and all types of packaging. Canadian English contains elements of British English and American English in its vocabulary. The five most widely-spoken non-official languages are Chinese, Punjubi, Spanish, Italian and Arabic.

E. 

The school summer vacations are from the end of June to the early September. On the first Monday of September the Canadians have Labour Day. Originally, it was an occasion to celebrate workers' rights. Nowadays this holiday is, first of all, an opportunity to spend time in the countryside, or have picnics or other outdoor activities with family and friends. For students, the Labour Day is the last chance to have a party before the new academic year.

A. 

The United States is the second largest country in North America after Canada. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east, by the Pacific Ocean in the west and by the Gulf of Mexico in the south. The country is so big that there are four standard time zones. It also possesses many islands in the Pacific Ocean and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in the Atlantic. The USA has the third largest population in the world (after China and India).

B. 

The American Dream, the hope for a better life in a new country, has attracted people from all over the world. Most of them leave their homeland because they are poor and have few opportunities. Some are forced to leave because of famines and civil war; others come for religious freedom. There are nearly 250 million people living in the USA. 10% are Spanish-speaking people than people of Asian and Pacific Island origin.

C. 

Each September, more than fifty million students between the ages of five and seventeen start the new school year. Students attend classes for an average of five hours a day, five days a week, and they have homework assignments to complete after school and on weekend. Many students sign up for after-school programs at their school or nearby. Sports are very popular. There are children’s baseball, soccer, football, and basketball teams in almost every school. 41% of high school graduates go to college.

D. 

This day celebrates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492. As Columbus was Italian, working for Spain, Columbus Day is especially important for many Italian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Since 1971, the holiday has been commemorated in the U.S. on the second Monday in October. Officially, the people of the USA are invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities. In some towns and cities, special church services, parades and large events are held.

E. 

Most Americans enjoy sports – both playing sports themselves and watching their favourite teams and competitions. Children are encouraged to participate in sports at an early age. The rivalry between high schools and colleges in sporting events goes right through the school year from football in September to track and field in June. Sports are important in college. Students who show talent in a sport like tennis, track and field, swimming, football, or basketball can apply for sports scholarships.

A. 

The island of Ireland is bounded to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, the east coast is washed by the Irish Sea. The western landscape mostly consists of cliffs, hills and mountains. The country's interior is relatively flat, traversed by rivers such as the River Shannon and numerous lakes. Agriculture and food is an important industry in Ireland, with about 64% of the total land area used for agriculture. The main cities are Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

B. 

Ireland has always been an agricultural country. It is almost self-sufficient in food and a major exporter. High technology industries have now made Ireland into Europe's largest (and the world second largest) exporter of computer software. American companies like Apple and Intel have invested heavily in Irish computer factories. The secret of Ireland's success is a young and highly educated population, who speak English. Now Dublin, the capital of the country, is an important world financial centre.

C. 

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and his day is celebrated on the 17th March with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. It's a time for fun. On that day almost every town has a parade of bands and floats. Some floats depict scenes from Irish history, others advertise products. The largest parade is held in Dublin.

D. 

The Celts were the first known inhabitants of the island. They gave the Irish the basis of their language and culture. Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is said to have brought Christianity to the Celts. Later, the Vikings arrived from Scandinavia and founded Ireland's two main cities, Dublin and Cork. At the beginning of the seventeenth century the British started an invasion on Ireland. They imposed their language and laws.

E. 

It was imposed on the people of Ireland, yet it has produced some of the most imaginative writers of English literature. This creativity goes back the Gaelic poetry of the Celts. Irish is still the official language of Ireland, but the great majority of people speak English. Most television programmes are in English too. As a result of immigration, Polish is one of the most widely spoken languages in Ireland after English and Irish.

A. 

The USA is often called a melting pot – a total mix of races and nationalities. In fact, the same could be said of Britain, except this process took far longer. The British today are the result of wave after wave of conquest, migration and mixing. Now there are many people of all colours and races in the UK. They are mostly former inhabitants of the former British colonies. There are special newspapers, magazines, radio and TV programmes for them.

B. 

Visitors to Britain are often surprised by the titles of the magazines on newsagents' shelves. Some of them are extremely specialized and lots of them are on new technology. The British are also great newspaper readers. An almost universal British custom, going for a walk, is another surprising fact.

C. 

Recently people have been moving into suburbs, smaller towns and the country. Villages, farms and cottages, which used to be full of agricultural workers, are now the homes of people who drive to their offices in cities. Even so Britain remains one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with nine in ten of the population living in towns or cities.

D. 

The Cotswolds are gentle green hills in agricultural country to west of England. A mixture of small fields separated by old-dry stone walls and lines of trees make this a perfect example of traditional English rural area. Farming is balanced with cattle and sheep, and small spots of woods. Many farms, houses and churches, like the walls dividing the fields, are built of local honey-coloured stone. Villages with climbing roses around the doors of the cottages are small and beautifully kept.

E. 

The poet William Blake wrote 200 years ago of “England's green and pleasant land.” In spite of their mainly urban lives, this image is still strong in British people imagination. They love the countryside and watch hours of wildlife programmes on TV every week. Some of the first environmental organisations in the world started in Britain. The British managed to defeat the London smog: replacing coal by oil and gas. And they are rather proud of this achievement.

A. 

Two people never see the same rainbow. Each person sees a different one. It happens because the raindrops are constantly moving so the rainbow is always changing, too. Each time you see a rainbow it is unique and it will never be the same! In addition, everyone sees colours differently according to the light and how their eyes interpret it.

B. 

A rainbow is an optical phenomenon that is seen in the atmosphere. It appears in the sky when the sun’s light is reflected by the raindrops. A rainbow always appears during or immediately after showers when the sun is shining and the air contains raindrops. As a result, a spectrum of colours is seen in the sky. It takes the shape of a multicoloured arc.

C. 

Many cultures see the rainbow as a road, a connection between earth and heaven (the place where God lives). Legends say that it goes below the earth at the horizon and then comes back up again. In this way it makes a permanent link between what is above and below, between life and death. In some myths the rainbow is compared to a staircase connecting earth to heaven.

D. 

We all believe that the rainbow is arch-shaped. The funny thing is that it's actually a circle. The reason we don’t see the other half of the rainbow is because we cannot see below the horizon. However, the higher we are above the ground, the more of the rainbow’s circle we can see. That is why, from an airplane in flight, a rainbow will appear as a complete circle with the shadow of the airplane in the centre.

E. 

In many cultures there is a belief that seeing a rainbow is good. Legends say that if you dig at the end of a rainbow, you'll find a pot of gold. Rainbows are also seen after a storm, showing that the weather is getting better, and there is hope after the storm. This is why they are associated with rescue and good fortune. If people happen to get married on such a day, it is said that they will enjoy a very happy life together.

F. 

You can never reach the end of a rainbow. A rainbow is all light and water. It is always in front of you while your back is to the sun. As you move, the rainbow that your eye sees moves as well and it will always ‘move away’ at the same speed that you are moving. No matter how hard you try, a rainbow will always be as far away from you as it was before you started to move towards it.

G. 

To see a rainbow you have to remember some points. First, you should be standing with the sun behind you. Secondly, the rain should be in front of you. The most impressive rainbows appear when half of the sky is still dark with clouds and the other half is clear. The best time to see a rainbow is on a warm day in the early morning after sunrise or late afternoon before sunset. Rainbows are often seen near waterfalls and fountains.

A. 

The population of London grew in the 17th century. Many houses were built during that period. It was needed after the Great Fire of 1666. In the 19th century the city suffered from pollution and epidemics. The German bombings during World War II destroyed the historical centre of London. After the war the city was reconstructed and now it is one of the most beautiful European capitals.

B. 

Each year in December, the people of Norway send a present to Londoners. It is a very big Christmas Tree, which is put in Trafalgar Square. In this way they thank Britain for help during World War II. This tree becomes one of the unforgettable sights of London, especially when it is lit by hundreds of fairy lights. Londoners often group around the tree and sing Christmas songs.

C. 

Trafalgar Square is situated in central London. It is one of the greatest and most famous tourist attractions. Any visit to the capital usually begins with this place. It’s absolutely necessary for every tourist to see Nelson’s Column. Everyone should admire the lovely fountains of the square. Also, you can’t say that you’ve been to London if you don’t take a picture of yourself in the square.

D. 

London was founded by the Romans in the 1st century AD and called Londinium. There is a common theory that the word “Londinium” comes from the name of a Celtic village. Also, the adjective “lond” meant “wild” in the Celtic language. Perhaps, it characterized the river Thames, on which the city was started. So, most scientists think that London is a “village on the wide river”.

E. 

In spite of being an important industrial and business centre London is known for its parks and open spaces. In every part of the city, you can find at least one park. It can be just a small pool with surrounding trees or a big and magnificent park like Hyde Park or Regent’s Park. They are all loved and visited by Londoners all the year round.

F. 

The liveliest part of London is West End. There are a lot of pubs, clubs, shops, theatres and cafes there. All kinds of pastimes are offered to tourists. Most of them choose shopping in Oxford Street with its stores, boutiques and gift shops. It’s a pleasant experience because the choices are great.

G. 

Big Ben is one of London's best-known sights. The name “Big Ben” actually refers not to the clock-tower itself, but to the thirteen ton bell hanging within. The tower is not open to the general public. A tourist from abroad can’t visit it. The citizens of the UK are luckier. They can write a letter to a member of Parliament and ask to allow them to tour the clock tower. Usually, the permission is given.

A. 

Many cities in the United States hold marathons. The city of Chicago, Illinois, has its marathon once a year. The running area in Chicago is almost absolutely flat. The scenery is amazingly beautiful. This fact has helped some runners set some of the world’s fastest times there. Many of them hope to go back again.

B. 

Some people know that they have no chance of winning but they participate anyway. They are not officially registered for the race - they just start running with the crowd. These runners are called “bandits.” Many of them finish the race hours after the serious runners but they are happy to cross the finish line anyway.

C. 

An important battle took place in Marathon in Greece more than two thousand years ago. Greece’s army won the battle. A Greek runner was sent to Athens to announce the victory. The man ran for about 40 km at top speed. He announced his message. Then he fell to the ground and died. In memory of the great runner a marathon was included in the Olympic Games.

D. 

Recently, a British writer and journalist, Mario Roter, ran in a marathon. He thought it would be fun to write an article about what people felt during the race. Later he said that running forty-two kilometers was no fun. Many people agree that there is no pleasure in running a marathon, but afterwards it feels great to know that you have done it.

E. 

People usually start training for a marathon in early spring. They run often and gradually increase the length of their runs from eight to twelve and even to twenty kilometers. At this point it is necessary to build up the needed strength. In the months before the race, the average participant runs a total of more than eight hundred kilometers.

F. 

Usually there are lots of runners. The line of people stretches back hundreds of meters. As the winners are awarded prize money it is important to avoid cheating. In order to track all the participants, special chips are used. When the participants register for the marathon, they get their identification number and computer chips.  The chips are activated at the start of the race and keep time.

G. 

A marathon is usually a big public event. In the city where the marathon is held hundreds of people give their time and effort to make the race possible. The city police block traffic on the main roads. Some runners thank the officers as they run by. Every few kilometers there are volunteers who offer water to the runners. Lots of people cheer.

A. 

The first Starbucks opened in Seattle, Washington, 1971. Three friends, who all had a passion for fresh coffee, opened a small shop. They began buying and selling fine coffee, for which people travelled from all over the country. It wasn’t a café at that time. It was a shop selling coffee and special coffee equipment.

B. 

In 1981 Howard Schultz joined the Starbucks company and became its leading manager. He once went to Italy and was impressed by the coffee culture he found there: people were sitting in beautiful cafés enjoying their cups of coffee for hours. What he saw made him think about Starbucks as a café. He decided to turn the Starbucks shops into fashionable and romantic coffee bars.

C. 

Mornings are always good when they include a healthy breakfast. But eggs, bacon, porridge, bread – who has the time to cook? Fortunately, Starbucks can solve this problem. The coffee shop offers delicious breakfast sandwiches and cakes with your morning coffee. You can choose from 8 varieties on the menu. It will really be a good morning!

D. 

Starbucks today is working hard to develop their recycling program. Their cups are made partially from recycled paper. More and more Starbucks cafes today serve drinks in china cups. What's more, the company encourages people to bring their own cups and mugs for coffee. If there are fewer paper cups used, it will help keep our forests alive.

E. 

Starbucks coffee is grown and bought from three different regions around the world. One group comes from Asia, the second from Africa and the final one from Latin America. All in all, the company buys its coffee from 24 countries. Each kind of coffee has its own special taste and aroma which you can try and enjoy at any Starbucks café.

F. 

If you want to bring a piece of Starbucks home, why not buy one of their special cups or mugs? You can choose from a classic white coffee mug or a mug from a limited collection or a mug with the seasonal design. For those who are ready to show their love for Starbucks, there are caps and T-shirts and even scarves. You can find all of these in almost every coffee shop.

G. 

"MyStarbucksIdea.com" is the first social website from Starbucks. In this way the company hopes to be closer to those who buy their coffee. They want to know their views and opinions about the prices, the service and the quality of the coffee. Anyone can enter the site, make a comment or suggest something. These ideas will help Starbucks to improve.

A. 

Florida has always been very popular with tourists from different parts of the world. It presents a lucky combination of pleasant climate and man-made attractions. Thousands of parents and their children go there in search of fun, sun and entertainment. They enjoy theme parks like the Walt Disney World Resort and the Sea World Resort, numerous movie studios, water parks, pools and other facilities.

B. 

One of the most popular places is the Walt Disney Resort, the biggest amusement park in the world. It includes different attractions for younger tourists. Children can enjoy magic exhibits or explore science at special centers situated within the area of the resort. They can also watch wild animals at the Animal Kingdom or enjoy one of the world movies at Disney Studios.

C. 

However, there is more to see in Florida than just Mickey Mouse. Florida is probably the sunniest state of the USA.  Its nickname is the ‘Sunshine State’. Though Florida is one of the flattest states in America, its landscape is really amazing. Lakes with fresh water, hills, forests, eight miles of coastline and countless small islands create a fantastic atmosphere in the resort.

D. 

Florida provides an opportunity for adventure on both land and water.  There are many types of unique wildlife, including dolphins and whales, deer and black bears. Tourists can enjoy African wildlife in a huge park in Tampa Bay. Giraffes, lions and zebras walk through the park’s grounds. Tourists can watch the animals in the wild and take photos. It goes without saying all kinds of hunting are strictly prohibited.

E. 

Besides all of this, Florida is also an extremely popular seaside resort. One of its beaches was called the safest bathing beach in the world. The range of facilities for holidaymakers is also impressive – from banana riding to renting boats for fishing and dolphin watching. Numerous cafés offer tourists excellent service, tasty seafood and a vast variety of drinks to cool down on a hot day.

F. 

The warm summers and mild winters make Florida an ideal place for different sports like boating, diving, surfing and water skiing. Not only are water sports popular – lots of people go there to play golf and they even plan their vacations around golfing! There are more golf courses in Florida than in any other state of the USA. There are state and private courses within a short driving distance of each other.

G. 

Hurricanes are a fact of Florida life. They can affect some vacations that is why it’s wise to avoid Florida in certain months.  The Florida Hurricane Season officially starts on June 1 and ends on November 30. Historically, September is the most active month of the year. The National Hurricane Centre monitors the territory of Florida in order to warn the people of the danger well beforehand.

A. 

Recent research shows that lots of teenagers are suffering from lack of sleep which is causing problems with their behaviour and learning. As a result schools have introduced a new lesson where students are given more of an idea of the importance of sleep. According to medical data, they should get at least nine hours' sleep a night. Young people should realise that sleep is very important if they want to do well at school and enjoy life.

B. 

It’s common knowledge that people sleep best in a dark room that is slightly cool. It's important to close your blinds or curtains and make sure they're heavy enough to block out the light. You can add extra blankets or wear pyjamas if you're cold. Note that an uncomfortable bed, heat and noise can ruin a good night's sleep. A TV is also a distraction.

C. 

If you don’t sleep enough or have a disturbed sleep you can get heart disease, high blood pressure and even diabetes. People who don't sleep enough get colds and flu more often than those who do. Moreover, recent research proves that poor sleepers gain weight more easily than people who sleep well. Extra kilos are the reaction of the body to the stressful sleepless situation.

D. 

Think twice before watching a movie late at night. Don’t spend sleeping time on endless computer games. The thing is that by getting up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends, you teach your body to follow a healthy regime. You'll quickly fall asleep, will have a good night’s sleep and will wake up at the expected time feeling fresh and active.

E. 

Some easy steps can prepare your body for going to sleep. You probably have some regular bedtime habits, even if you don’t realise it. Brushing your teeth, taking a shower, reading a book and setting your alarm clock may all be part of your evening routine. Remember that you should perform these activities in the same manner and in the same order every night.

F. 

Sleepless nights at exam time are very bad for students. If you prepare for your exam late at night, it will not improve your performance during the exam. On the contrary, it will affect your ability to concentrate, to react quickly and to analyse information. Recent research shows that the results of the tests written after sleepless nights are lower than usual grades.

G. 

If you think that during sleep, the brain rests, you're mistaken. It's a common myth about sleep. Sleep is definitely needed – but it's not your brain that needs to rest, it's your body that needs to relax. Your brain is still working when you're asleep, controlling physical functions like breathing and your heart beat. However, because the brain does not have to go through the constant stress of thinking, you get up refreshed and recharged.

A. 

You can enjoy pasta on any budget, and you can have a different and delicious low-cost meal every day of the week. Just serve it with a different sauce. It’s easy to make a healthy meal in minutes that will satisfy your whole family. Pasta tastes good and it's healthy. It also has a long shelf life, so you can keep it in the kitchen cupboard until you need to cook a meal.

B. 

It's rather difficult to find out where pasta comes from. Archeologists believe that cooking noodles was already quite a common practice in Arabic countries in the 5th century AD. At the same time, the Chinese were also making a noodle-like food. The way it reached Europe is still a mystery, though there are many theories – some believe that travelling Arabs from Central Asia were responsible for bringing early forms of pasta to the West.

C. 

Despite its reputation, pasta is a low-calorie dish which is good for you. With only 200 calories per cup and a gram of fat, it is perfect even for those on a strict diet. Pasta is naturally packed with vitamins and necessary minerals so it is heart-healthy as well. Pasta may help people to control their blood sugar and weight so it is recommended as part of a well-balanced diet.

D. 

It seems that pasta was first introduced to Italy in the eighth century. Its ‘home’ was the southern island of Sicily. Prior to its wide use in the 13th century, pasta was considered to be a luxury product in Italy. The reason was that it took a lot of time to make it as all the work was done by hand. By 1400, pasta was sold in shops, but at night a guard was kept to protect the high-priced goods.

E. 

Only in the 16th century did pasta become popular and affordable to all classes of people. In the city of Naples a machine was made that allowed huge quantities of pasta to be produced. It turned pasta into a cheap food. The number of pasta shops in Naples grew to three hundred. From Naples pasta began to conquer the rest of the country.

F. 

By the 17th century, machine-made pasta had become part of the daily meal among both rich and poor. Pasta was sold as street food by people called maccaronaros, who cooked it over an open fire. It was eaten on the spot with bare hands, with no sauce. The wealthy, who did not eat with their hands, preferred fresh pasta with cheeses and meat. With the introduction of the fork, pasta began to be served at special occasions all over Italy.

G. 

When most people talk about pasta, they usually think of Italy and its cooking traditions. The country and its dish have become synonymous. When Italians immigrated to different countries all over the world, they took their pasta with them to each area that they inhabited along with other customs and habits and thus pasta has become the world's favourite food.