When you look at this lovely house in the Welsh countryside, you may think it's a picture from J.R.R. Tolkien's book “The Hobbit”. In fact it's a real house designed by a real person.
When __________________(THEY) first son was born, Simon Dale’s wife, Jasmine, said: “I wish we __________________(LIVE) in the country. It would be so good for the baby”. However, they __________________(NOT/HAVE) enough money to buy or rent a house in the country so they decided to take matters into their own hands. The house __________________(BUILD) by Simon himself, with a bit of help from his friends. The result was impressive. The home is made from natural materials, such as wood, stone and mud. It uses solar panels for energy and its water __________________(COME) from a nearby spring. It took Simon four months to complete his fairytale home. He managed to create a modern wooden eco-home – one of the __________________(WONDERFUL) houses you can imagine. Simon Dale said, “I __________________(START) working on a new house of the same eco-style. My __________________(TWO) house will be smarter than the first one. My son __________________(BE) five now and I hope to celebrate his tenth birthday in a new house.”
Stonehenge is an ancient monument in south-west England. For me, it’s the __________________(INTERESTING) place I’ve ever visited. I clearly remember my __________________(ONE) visit to Stonehenge with my aunt and uncle. They lived nearby and I often __________________(GO) to stay with them in my summer holidays. On the day of __________________(WE) trip the weather was fine. There __________________(BE) a cool wind blowing, the sun was
bright in the sky and Stonehenge looked calm and magical. In those days it was possible to walk among the stones and even touch them. It's very different now. Stonehenge __________________(BECOME) more crowded than it was. As a result, now people __________________(ALLOW) to walk around the monument but they can’t come up very close to it. Today I wish I __________________(HAVE) an opportunity to get inside the circle again but unfortunately it is not possible any more. The Stonehenge mystery is still unexplained but I believe scientists __________________(SOLVE) it in the near future.
Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood were our neighbours. They had two __________________(CHILD). Their son Michael __________________(NOT/DIFFER) from the other children very much but their daughter Matilda was a brilliant child. By the time she was five, Matilda was able to read very well. She studied every magazine and newspaper that she __________________(CAN) find around the house. Actually, she read __________________(WELL) than most school pupils. One afternoon when the parents were out of the house, Matilda put on __________________(SHE) dress and shoes and went to the library. The librarian was surprised to see such a small child. "Are you here for the __________________(ONE) time? Would you like me to find a nice book with lots of pictures for you?" she asked. “No, thank you, I __________________(FIND) what I need,” answered Matilda and pointed to a thick book of fairy tales. Then she added, “I __________________(COME) for a new book as soon as I finish this one”. The librarian was really shocked when she saw Matilda only two days later.
“I wish all children __________________(LIKE) reading so much,” the librarian said. From that day on Matilda went to the library every afternoon.
Dana Miller was a bus driver in the city of Philadelphia. Her working hours __________________(BE) from 10.00 pm till 6:00 am. It was a hard job and very few __________________(WOMAN) worked as bus drivers in those days but Dana loved her job very much. One of her regular passengers was a guitar player. Every Friday night he got on the bus carrying his guitar. The guitar __________________(MAKE) of wood, not plastic and Dana liked the way it sounded. “You should come to see our show,” the guitarist kept saying to Dana.
“I __________________(SEE) it one day,” Dana promised each time, but she never said when exactly she __________________(GO). Another passenger who often used Dana’s bus was a Biscuit Lady. She worked at the biscuit factory and often __________________(GIVE) Dana a small bag of biscuits. Dana __________________(NOT/LIKE) sweets and pastries very much but she could never resist those biscuits — they were so fresh and tasty. “How was your night?” Dana’s husband liked to ask __________________(SHE) when she came home.
“Good music, good food and a great view of the city,” she cheerfully answered. “I wish I __________________(ENJOY) my work as much as you enjoy yours,” her husband said, “ but I’m going to have just another boring day at the office.
It was Friday evening. Liz was looking forward to Saturday because it was her husband’s birthday.
She had been preparing for this event for a long time. She had invited __________________(THEY) college friends and they were all coming from different cities. The best part was that Carlos, her husband, __________________(NOT/KNOW) anything about the arrangements. It was going to be a surprise. Liz __________________(MAKE) sandwiches when Carlos came into the kitchen. “Look, darling,” he said, “I know it’s my birthday tomorrow but I don’t want to do anything special for it.” Liz thought, “I wish I __________________(CAN) cancel the party but I can’t – it’s too late. The party will take place anyway and it will be the __________________(GOOD) party ever”. When Carlos came home on Saturday, there __________________(BE) lots of people there. Carlos __________________(TELL) them that he felt very happy to see them all and it was true! The guests enjoyed their dinner and then Liz brought in a cake. The cake __________________(DECORATE) with chocolates and jellies, and it had as many candles as the number of years Carlos had reached that day. Carlos couldn’t blow them out on the __________________(ONE) try and his friends were delighted to help him.
After school, I decided to go to university. I __________________(CHOOSE) St Andrews University in Scotland. At that time I __________________(NOT/KNOW) much about the University but when I arrived there, I liked it at once. Now I'm in my last year and I wish I __________________(CAN) stay here forever! St Andrews University is a truly special place. It __________________(BUILD) 600 years ago and it is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world. It has many traditions – for example, the ‘May Dip’. It is held on the __________________(ONE) of May every year. All the students run into the North Sea at sunrise to celebrate the coming of spring and for good luck in their exams! One of my classmates said that the tradition __________________(HELP)him to pass his exams last summer. For me the ‘May Dip’ was the __________________(COLD) experience of my life! Because the weather is famously cold, St Andrews students designed __________________(THEY) own uniform which consists of a warm jacket, jeans and boat shoes. The uniform __________________(MAKE) us all look the same, but it is the only way to keep warm!
t was a cold January day in York, Pennsylvania. Dr. James turned on the television to check on the weather. The weatherman said that it was going to stay cold for several days. According to him, the roads __________________(BE) very dangerous because of the snow and ice and he strongly recommended staying at home if at all possible. Dr. James __________________(NOT/CAN) stay at home. He worked in a hospital and there were patients waiting for him there. He put on a sweater, jacket, gloves, boots and a hat, and opened his front door. Everything __________________(COVER) with snow. A cold wind blew inside. “Wow,” Dr. James said. “The weatherman was right! I wish I __________________(HAVE) a reindeer instead of my old car.” When Dr. James __________________(DRIVE) slowly to work, he saw an accident. He stopped and __________________(RUN) to the damaged car. There was a man and two __________________(CHILD) inside. “Is everyone okay?” Dr. James asked.
“Yes, yes, we are fine,” answered the man. “I __________________(CALL) 911 already. They are coming to help __________________(WE). It looks like we won’t get to school today.”
Tracey was very unhappy and scared. She was starting a new school.
“I __________________(NOT/WANT) to go to school today,” Tracey told her father. “I understand, Tracey,” he said. “Starting a new school can be very difficult. But you have to.”
A month before __________________(THEY) family had moved to a new town and everything was still new and strange for Tracey. Dad smoothed Tracey’s hair down and __________________(GIVE) her a little hug, “When your classes __________________(BE) over, I’ll pick you up, ok?” When Tracey got to school and looked at the big building, she thought, “I wish I __________________(CAN) run away,” but she knew it was impossible. She took a deep breath and walked up the steps to school. She went straight into her __________________(FIVE) grade classroom. “That must be Tracey,” “Hello, Tracey!”, “Welcome, Tracey!” the __________________(CHILD) in the room welcomed her. Everyone seemed friendly and Tracey felt a little __________________(GOOD). The father picked her up after school. “How was your day?” he asked. To his surprise Tracey answered that she __________________(LIKE) her new school.
“You are a brave girl,” her father said. “I’m proud of you.”
Every year the world goes dark for one hour, the Earth Hour. The event is organised by the __________________(NATION) World Wildlife Fund. At tourist destinations, in offices and private homes, lights are switched off for one hour at __________________(EXACT) 8:00 pm. The idea is to show that our planet is in danger and it needs care and __________________(PROTECT). It's __________________(POSSIBLE) to remain indifferent to changes in the climate which go on and on. The Earth Hour is not about saving an hour’s electricity. It’s about realising that we live on a __________________(WONDER) planet and need to look after it — not just for an hour a year but every day. The Earth Hour is a part of an __________________(ECOLOGY) education whose aim is to make people understand their responsibility to the planet
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Many tourists find they don't like staying in city hotels. They prefer to avoid __________________(NOISE) cities completely. They are attracted instead to dramatic views of mountains and __________________(PEACE) valleys. If you like this sort of tourism, Mountain View Camp is for you. You’ll have an __________________(FORGETTABLE) vacation there. The Camp has a view over the __________________(IMPRESS) Hampson Valley. In the camp, tourists can rent either tents or bungalows. All the guests have free access to different facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms and playgrounds for children. The camp is a successful __________________(COMBINE) of both comfort and a green environment. The tourists can also have lunch in one of the many restaurants and try European or __________________(NATION) cuisine
Millions of people want to learn English. There are lots of __________________(DIFFER) methods and the main problem is how to choose the best one. Some people believe that the most __________________(EFFECT) way is to study English in Britain or in any other English-speaking country. The advantage of going to Britain seems obvious. Everyone around you speaks English. It’s practically __________________(POSSIBLE) to avoid communication, so you’ll learn English __________________(QUICK). On the other hand, one can learn English at home. There are lots of possibilities there too: a good __________________(TEACH), a language school or an on-line course. There are many ways to get a good language __________________(EDUCATE) now.
Piranhas are South American fish. There are lots of scary stories about them. Most people think that piranhas are very __________________(DANGER) creatures. However, a __________________(SCIENCE) from St Andrews University, Anne Magurran, has recently announced that to call piranhas cruel killers is not fair. They __________________(USUAL) eat fish, plants and insects. According to Professor Anne Magurran, piranhas attack people and animals only when they want to defend themselves. However, most travellers strongly __________________(AGREE) with this point of view. They recommend keeping away from the water where piranhas live. When the fish attack in groups, it is practically __________________(POSSIBLE) to survive. Whatever your opinion of piranhas, this is a __________________(USE) piece of advice one should follow.
Siem Reap is a small town in Cambodia, a country in southeast Asia. It is built around a __________________(FAME) cathedral. The town is charming with some fine examples of French colonial architecture. A legend says that a French
__________________(WRITE) once called the town “a pearl of Cambodia”. Nowadays, this town is quite popular with tourists. They often use it as a starting point for their _________________(EXCITE) travellings. The town is really remarkable. There you will find some __________________(IMPRESS) stone monuments and statues, ancient buildings and picturesque ruins. Note that it’s __________________(USUAL) hot there in the summer. Please ensure that you take __________________(COMFORT) walking shoes, light clothing and plenty of water to drink.
Have you heard of a Tadeus Bodnar? He is a __________________(FAME) Hungarian hairdresser. Not long ago he stopped using the __________________(TRADITION) scissors and comb. Now his instruments are axes, irons and vacuum cleaners. Now he is very __________________(SUCCESS) and happy because with his innovative techniques he can express himself better. He cuts hair in his shop in Budapest by chopping it with an axe. Then he styles the hair using a vacuum cleaner, or straightens it with an iron. It’s difficult to believe but the extravagant hairdresser is very popular. Many people find him very __________________(CREATE). Every day there’s an __________________(END) line of people streaming to his shop. They wish to change their __________________(APPEAR) and have a thrilling, new experience.
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