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                 Topic N1 ("Choosing a Career")

     Choosing a career is like any other activity; it is bestto

work to a plan. Too many people start looking for a specificjob

before thinking out their occupational aims. It is a good idea to

beginby  attemptingtodefine  inclearterms  what    your

requirements are from a career. This involves taking a  realistic

view of your strengths and weaknesses. You may think for example,

that you would like a job which involves organizing  people,but

liking such a job is not a sufficient justification if experience

you already may have suggests that this is not your strong point.

On the other hand, you should remember that training willlequip

you to do new things. A further point to consider is how faryou

will be willing to do for a time things which  youdonot  like

knowing that theyarenecessary  toachiveyour  longerterm

objectives. Having thought carefully about the sort of person you

are, try to work out a realistic set pf occupational  requirment.

In particular, you can answer to important questions. First: what

sort of life do you want to lead? For example,  doyouwant  to

live in the country or in the town?Isleisure  timeofgreat

importance to you? Is the size of your salary important?  Doyou

want to put down roots or travel videly?  Second:whatsort  of

work do you want to do? For example, do you like working alone or

with others? Does teaching people appeal to you? Do youwant  to

be an organizer of other people'sactivities?Do  youwantto

develop new ideas and initiate changes.

     As for me, I have made up my mind to be an engineer.Asmy

parents are an engineeres they have made a great influence onmy

choice and I can say that this profession  runsthe family.  My

choice of this occupation didn't come as a sudden flash. Ithink

that nowdays this profession is of great need and  importanceto

our country. It is my aim to be a  qualifiedspecialistandto

serve the interests of my country. To be a well prepared engineer

Ishould  havesomeimportant  qualities:   great   capability

persistance, knowledge ofscienceand, of course,knowledge of

foreign languages. Inspite ofthese arguments we musn't forget

about everybody's vacation. I think that my  facilitiescombined

with the knowledge would be quiet enough to succeed in my work.

                    Topic N2 ("At the Doctors")

     It is winter now. It is often cold. I can't say thatIcan

stand colds. So, sometime ago I suddenly fell ill.  Imounteda

high temperature. I had a running nose  anda sorethroat. Also

I had a splitting headache and a cough. My whole body  ached.My

mother fixed me a hot lemonade but that didn't help me much.She

wanted to give me some aspirin tablets too, but there weren't any

in our house. My mother told me to stay in bed, then  shecalled

for a doctor. The doctor came, remove his coat  andputonhis

white gown. The doctoraskedme  tostripto  thewaist.He

examined my lungs, felt my pulseandblood  pressure,tookmy

temperature. Then he examined my throat and said that  itwasa

little inflamed. He said that is was a light case of the fluand

told meto  stayinbed  andtohave  arest.He  wrotea

prescription for a gargle and cough medicine.  Alsohegave  me

some sulfa pills, a slip forX-Rayand  bloodexamination.He

prescribed cups and mustard plasters. The prescription, which the

doctor left, was made up at the chemist's.  Ifollowedall  the

doctor's instructions and very soon I felt  muchbetter.In10

days I fully recovered and resumed my studies.

Topic N3 ("At the Theatre")

     I will never forget my first visit to theBolshoyTheatre.

It was ages ago, but this stands out in my memory quietvividly.

My mother bought beforehand two tickets for a matineeperfomance

of the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" by Chaikovsky.We  cametothe

theatre long before the perfomance began. A sign at the  entrance

of the theatre said that "house full". Many people werestanding

at the entrace of the theatre asking if we had an  extraticket.

We left our coats in the cloak-room and bought a program from the

usher to see what the cast was. I remember we were  gladtosee

that Ulanova was dancing the main part. When  wecameinto  the

hall the orchestra were tuning in their instruments. We found our

seats which were in the stalls and went exploring the theatre. My

mother showed me the boxes, the pitm the dress-circle, the tieres

and balconies. At 12 sharp th lights  wentdown.The  conductor

appeared and the overtune began. After the overtune  thecurtain

went up. I was in raptures at what I saw on  thestage.Ihave

never seen anything more wonderful. The scenery and  thedancing

were superb. The ballet seemed to me a fairy-tale. When thelast

curtain fell, the house burst out into applause. I  applaudedso

much, that my hands ached. The cries of encore soundedall  over

thetheatre. The  dancersgotmany  curtaincallsand   were

presented with many flowers. The perfomance was a  greatsuccess

with the public. It was one of my brightest memories.

                     Topic N4 ("Entertaiment")

I am fond of good books and good music, and when I have some time

to spare, I like to go to the theatre or  aconcert.There  are

more than a dozen very good orchestras inBritainand  someof

them are world famous. OrchestrasinBritainhave  noconcert

hallsof  theirown,but  playinhalls  rentedfromlocal

authorities or private companies. There are 2 big  concerthalls

in London. The Old Royal Albert Hall and the NewRoyalFestival

Hall, which is one of the most modern concert halls in the world.

Theatrical perfomances are given by theatre companies. Thereare

about 200 professional theatres in Britain. Like orchestras,the

theatre companies usually play in rented theatres, but thereare

several theatres which have their own homes. The  centerofthe

actrical life is London. London is also the main center ofopera

and ballet. I am not particulaly fond of the cinema. Ratherthen

take trouble of going out to see a film, I would stay at home and

watch television. I seemed to share this attitude withthe  most

other people in Britain.InBritainthe  choiceoffilms  is

limited to youngpeople.Films  areplacedin  oneofthree

categories in Britain. "U" - suitable for everybody, "A"-more

suitable for adults, "X" - suitable only  foradults.A  person

under 16 years of age may see an "A" filem only in company ofan

adult. Only person over 16 years of age may see "X" films. Those,

who prefer to stay at home may spend their  freetime,watching

TV, listening to the radio. They have many TV and radioprograms

to choose from.

     As for me, I am agreat  cinema-goer.Ilike  thecinema

tremendously. I see all the best filmsthatare  on.Iprefer

features films, though I enjoy documentaries almost  asmuchto

say nothing of animated cartoonsfilms,news-reels  orpopular

science films. I usually go to the cinema for the morning orday

shows. If I wanttogo  toanevening  showIbook  tickets

beforehand. I like to come to htecinemaa  coupleofminutes

before the movie starts. If there is a long time to  waitIcan

always look at the portraits of film stars hanging on  thewalls

of the foyer, or listen to a little concert that is usually given

for the spectators. It is a good idea, that those  whoarelate

are not allowed to enter the hall until the news-reel is over.I

hate being disturbed when a film is on. If I like  amovievery

much I go to see it a second time and besides I see manyofthe

movies televised. I often read thepaper"Film  Week"toknow

which films have been released and which ones are beingshot.  I

know all the famous script writers, producers and cameramen.

                  Topic N5 ("Books and Reading")

     Books can fit almost every need, temper, or interest.Books

can be read when you are in the mood; they don't have to be taken

in periodic doses. Books are more personal  andmoreimpersonal

than professors. Books have an inner confidence which individuals

seldom show; they rarely have to be on the defensive.  Bookscan

afford to be bold, and courageou,andexplanatory;  theydon't

have to be so careful ofboardsof  trustees,colleagues,and

community opinion. Books areinfinitlydiverse;  theyrunthe

gamut of human activity. Books can express every point  ofview;

if you want a different point of view, you can read  adifferent

book. Reading is probably the most important skill you willneed

for success in yourstudies.You  willhaveto  readlengthy

assignments in different subjects with varying degrees of  detail

and difficulty. If you you read inaccuratly,  youwillfail  to

understand some of the information and ideas  youread.Ifyou

read slowly, you will have to spent too much  timereadingyour

assignments so that your other work may suffer.

      Poor reading may be a problem for you,but  itisnota

hopeless one. Like otherskillsyour  abiltytoread  English

rapidly and accuratly will depend upon a careful instructionand

purposeful practice. You must continue to practise on your own to

improve your reading skill.

     Reading speed is determined in part by how manywordsyour

eyes can see at a single glance. Here is a  comparisonofthree

different readers and how many stops their eyes make.

Slow Reader:

     Being і able і to read і by phrases і instead of і by single і

     words і results і from і practice.

Average Reader:

     Being able і to read і by phrases і instead of і by single

     words і results і from practice.

Fast Reader:

     Being able to read by phrases і instead of by single words і

     results from practice.

Notice that the slow reader'seyesmust  stopfourteentimes,

focusing on each word alone before they move on to the next.The

eyes of the average reader stop six or seven times  becausethey

are able to see about two words at a single glance. The  eyesof

the fast reader stop only three times. They focus at  thecenter

of a phrase and see three or four words, then move rapidly to the

next phrase. This ability to see words  oneitherside  ofthe

point at which your eyes focus is called peripheral vision. Asa

foreign student of English, you may feel, that it  isimpossible

to recognize so many words at a single glance.  Itisdifficult

for many native speakers, but it can be done - and must  bedone

if you are to read as rapidly as you  should.Youcan  increase

your peripheral vision by eye exercises.

                 Topic N6 ("My Favourite Writer")

     I'm fond of reading. My favourite writer is William Somerset

Maugham and i would like to tellabouthis  biography.

William Somerset Maugham was born in 1874 and spent his childhood

in Paris in the familyof a British  diplomat. Havinglosthis

parents at an early age, he went toliveinEnglandwith  his

uncle, who was a clergyman. He was educated at King's  schoolin

Canterbury studied painting in Paris, went to Heidelbury University

in Germany and spentsix years at St.ThomasHospital in England

studying to be a doctor. He was an unsatisfactory medical student

for his heart wasn't inmedicin. He wanted, he had always wanted

to be a writer and in the evening after his tea, he wrote and read.

     In 1897 he  wrote a novel called "Liza of Lambeth", sentit

to a publisher anditwas  accepted.Itwas  somethingofa

success. So WilliamSomersetMaugham  decidedtoabandon  his

medical profession and he did it with relif. The next  tenyears

were very hard on him. He learned the  terribledifficultiesof

making a living by writing. But he survived. He became  afamous

writer. He never regretted the five years he  hadspentatthe

hospital. They taught him pretty well allheknew  abouthuman

nature.

     The novel "The moon and sixpence" (1919)isbased  onthe

life of the artist Paul Gauguin was an immediate success. Maugham

went to Tahiti and lived in Gauguin's hut while writing the book.

His fame as a short story writer began with "The Tremblingofa

leaf". Since then he wrote many collections of books, essaysand

criticism. Manyof his  booksandstories  cameoutofhis

extensive travels in the East. His  autobiographicalbooks"The

summing up" and "A writer's Notebook"  areremarkablefor  both

style and sincerity. His books have been reprinted many times.

     In 1927 William Somerset Maugham settledinthe  Southof

France and lived there until his death in 1965.

               Topic N7 ("The Book I've Just Read")

William Somerset Maugham's short stories  aremostfascinating.

Not long ago I read one of his short stories,  itisthe  story

about a man who is very rich, very  powerful,veryintellegent,

very successful in his career and yet he  ismostunhappy.  His

name is Lord Mountdrago (the storysays:he  wasanable  and

distinguished man who was appointed Secretary of Foreign  Affairs

when he was still underforty.He  wasconsideredthe  ablest

politican in the Conservative Party and for a long time  directed

the foreign policy of his country).Oneday  hecomestoDr.

Audlin whois  apsychotherapistand  whosereputationasa

psychotherapist is very good. Dr. Audlin seems to be able to help

almost everybody (the story says: he could relif certain pains by

the touch of his cool, soft hands and by talking to hispatients

ofteninduce  sleepinthose  who    were    suffering    from

sleeplessness. He spokeslowly.His  voicehadno  particular

color, but it was musical, soft and  lulling.Dr.Audlin  found

that by speaking to people in that low monotonous voice  ofhis,

by looking at them with his pale, quiet eyes, by  strokingtheir

foreheads with his long firm hands he could sometimes  dothings

that seemed miraculous). Lord Mountdrago has  astrangedreams.

They get on his nerves. And he is afraid that he will go  mad or

commit suicide if it goes on like that every night. He saysthat

hisdecision  canaffect the welfare of thecountry.When Dr.

Audlin askes to describe one of his dreams, he begins: "the first

i had was about a month ago. I dreamt that i was at  apartyat

Connemara House. It was an official party. The King and the Queen

were to be there and many prominent people too. Suddenly i sawa

little man there calledOwenGriffiths,  whoisa  memberof

parlament from the Labour Party and to tell you the truth, Iwas

surprised to see him there. The Connemaras were at the topofa

marble staircase receiving theirgusets...Suddenly  Inoticed

that the King and the Queen hadcome,turned  mybackonthe

Connemaras i understood that i had got my trouses on.  Youcan't

understand what i felt at that monent, an agony of shame. I awoke

in a cold sweat and understood what it was only a dream".

     Dr. Audlin can't diagnosethe case  and soon he learns that

Lord Mountrago has ruined his opponent in the House  ofCommons.

Whose name is Owen Griffiths. He did cruely and mercilessly.His

conscience has protested that injury he caused to Griffiths.The

story has a tragic end. Lord Mountdrago is unable to getridof

his terrible dreams. He commits suicide. His antagonistsuddenly

dies too. The newspaper wrote that his death was supposedtobe

dueto  naturalreasonbutweknow  thathis   death    was

supernaturally conditioned by Lord Mountdrago's  tragicend.In

conclusion we come to after having read that supernational forces

effect our lives. No matter how sensitive or insensitive we might

be to them. Thus the moral of the story is that doing good is the

only certainly happy action of a man's life.

        Topic N8 ("The Weather and Climate Fluctuations")

'Funny weather we are having' is a statment  oftheobvious  we

have used for generations as a greeting. When the deep cold lasts

long and heavy snow and blizzards give us the shivers we  replace

"funny" with something stronger, such as  "terrible",  "ghastly".

At times like these people ask what is happening to the  weather.

So we go to the experts, who tells us, in language appropriate to

the subject, what happened yesterday, what  ishappeningtoday,

and what might happen in the next few years. Weather and  climate

specialists all over the world have ammassed a  vastquanityof

information. They can describe what is happening around us.  With

satellites they can forecast more accurately what might happen in

the immediate future. Their research has produced evidence of why

past climatic changes took place.

     There have been many climate fluctuationsovverth  10,000

years since Britain was last covered with an ice sheet.  Advances

and retreats of ice in the northern hemisphere  duringthepast

500,000 years can be accounted for by changes in the warmthfrom

the Sun.

     This was caused byalterations  intheEarth's  orbitat

periods of 96,000, 40,000 and 20,000 years.

     Although thattheory  iswidleyaccepted  asapossible

explanations for ice ages, it has not been proved. More  than50

theories have been put forward, but onlyafew  havenotbeen

completely dismissed.

     Not long ago a newtheory  waspublishedin  thescience

journal "Nature". According to  Dr.GarryHunt,  ofUniversity

College, intense radiationsfromthe  nuclearexplosionofa

nearby supernova - a star - could cause the destructionof  part

or all of the ozone layer and in this way trigger an ice age.

     As for me, i likeAutumn  bestofall.  Thedaysbecome

shorter and the nights longer. It isn't so hot in  theday-time.

The trees are covered with yellow and red leaves. At theendof

summer apples, pears, plums and other fruit become ripe.Inthe

South there are many oranges, peaches and tangerines.  Autumnis

plesant when it does not rain. General Autumn is a  rainyseason

of the year. When it rains theweatheris  nasty.Theskyis

covered with heavy clouds. It drizzles. It is muddy and wet.

     Topic N9 ("The Ecological Crisis: A Myth or Reality")

At the present time the Earth accomodates  morethen5  billion

people. Half of which are undernourished. A total  of4million

deathsoccureach  yearfrostarvation.  Mankindhas   finally

realised the threat of an increasing population and has faced the

fact that something must be done. The food-supply  increaselags

considerably behind the immensegrowthof  population.Besides

conditions for life grow steadily worse due to numerous facets of

environmental pollution. And worst of all, today's man constently

contributes to his own deadly crisis. We have got too many  cars,

too many factories, toomuchsewage  andcarbondioxide,  too

little water and food deficiency - all that can be  easilytaced

to too many people. That is why many western scientists saythat

our world is going through an ecological crisis whichwill  mean

the gradual destruction of the human race. Our scientists are not

that pessimistic, although they dothinkthat  man'sincreased

tampering with the world around him is posing a growing threat to

the biosphere. It is not too latetoforestall  whatcouldbe

drastic and irreversible changes in the  environmentandensure

that the world will be a healthy place for the present and future

generations to live in.

                Topic N10 ("Holidays, Travel and Tourism")

For most people there is no problemindeciding  howtheyare

going to spend the money theyearn - itall  goesonhousing,

food, clothess, transport and, if they  arelucky,leisure  and

some holidays. Many of us havespentour  liveswithoutdoing

anything out of the ordinary and nowIhave  gotamarvellous

opportunity of doing something exciting and I will. If I  win the

prize of 20,000 dollars, I will spend it in the world round trip.

     To travel round the world has long been mydream  andwith

this sum of money behind me this dream is likely to be  realized.

I am going to take a trip round the world. I am going to do a lot

of sight seeing. I am goung to put upatexpensive  hotelsand

spend much money on entertaiment and other exciting things.

          My travel experience would begin in New York, knownas

one of theworld'smost  moderncitiesbecause  ofitshigh

buildings and its dynamic spirit. From New York I would cross the

Atlantic Ocean to England. In London I would explore theBritish

Museum and visit the shops and pubs along King's Road in Chelsea.

My next stop would be Amsterdam, an attractivecitybecause  of

its steep narrow houses and canals lined with trees. Flying on to

Coppenhagen I wouldeatDanish  open-facedsandwichesandbe

entertainde at night clubs in Tivoli Gardens. Having seenenough

cities by this time I would head South to  theItalianRiviera.

Portofino,  ahandsomefishing  villageresemblingan   opera

setting, is one of the most charming vacations sports in  Europe.

Of course, a serious travellercouldnot  leaveItalywithout

visiting Florence, Venice, Naples and Rome, for all thesecities

are living museums. Continuing South, I would trace the beginning

of Western civilization. I would make stops in Athens and  Cario.

Certainly a chance to see thepyramidsshould  notbemissed.

Next, I would fly east to visit the shimmering island ofCeylon.

Here, the traveller finds many precious gems for  sale,butthe

brightest jewel of all is Ceylon itself. Leavingthisisland  I

would travel to Bangkok, an Oriental city of manycharms.Then,

like mane other travellers, I would be drawn to  HongKong,the

shopper's paradise.

     Leaving Asia, I would load my overstuffedsuitcase  ona

plane bound for Acapulco. In this Mexican resort, Iwouldswim,

sunbathes and eat spicy foods.

     At this time it would be necessaryto  countmyremaining

travellers checks.

     If a tour of Latin America were still possible, I would want

to stop in Peru, Argentina, Brazil. But bythat  timemufunds

would probably have run low. So, where would my round  thewould

trip end? For me there is only one answer:Moscow,the  cityI

will never tire of calling home.

                      Topic N11 ("Shopping")

Iwould  like to tellyou about shopping in the United Kingdom.

Marks & Spencer is Britain's favourite store.Touristslove  it

too. It attracts a great variaty of customers from house wives to

millionaires. Princess Diana,DustinHoffman  andtheBritish

Prime-minister are just a few of itsfamous customers. Last year

it made a profit of 529 million pounds. Which  ismorethan  10

million a week.

     It all started 105 years ago when a youngPolishimmigrant

Michael Marks had a stall in Leeds market. Hedidn't  havemany

things to sell: some cotton, a little wool, lots of buttons and a

few shoelaces. Above his stall heputthe  nowfamousnotice:

"Don't ask how much - it's a penny." Ten years later hemet  Tom

Spencer and together they started Penny stalls in many  townsin

the North of England. Today there are564brances  ofMarks&

Spencer all over the world: in America,Canada,Spain,France,

Belguim and Hungary.

     The store bases its business on 3principals:  goodvalue,

good quality and good service. Also, it changes with  thetimes;

once it was all jumpers and knickers. Now it is  food,furniture

and flowers as well. Top fashion designers advice  onstylesof

clothes. Perhaps, the most important key to its  successisits

happy well-trained staff. Conditions of work are excellent. There

are company doctos, dentists,  hairdressers,etc.And  allthe

staff can have lunch for under 40 pence.

     Suprisingly tastes in food andclothes  areinternational.

What sells well in Paris, sells just aswell  inNewcastle  and

Moscow. Their best selling clothes are: for women -jumpersand

knickers (M & S is famous for its knickers); for  men-shirts,

socks,pyjamas,  dressinggownsand  suits;forchildren   -

underwearand  socks.Bestsellers  infoodinclude:   fresh

chickens,vegetables  andsandwiches,   "Chicken    Kiev"    is

internationally the mostpopularconvience  food.Shoppingin

Britain is also famous for its Freshfood. Freshfood is a chain of

food stores and verysuccessfulsupermarkets  whichhasgrown

tremendously in the twenty years since it was founded, and now it

has branches in the High Streets of all the towns of any sizein

Britain. In the beginning the stores sold only foodstuffs, but in

recent yearstheyhave  diversifiedenormouslyand  nowsell

clothes, books, records, electrical and domestic  equipment.The

success of the chain has been due toanenterprising  managment

and to attractive layout and display in the stores. It  hasbeen

discovered that impulse buying accounts for almost 35 per cent of

the total turn over ofthestores.  Thestoresare  organized

completly for self-service and customers are encouraged to wander

around the spaciously laid out stands.  Specialfreegifts  and

reduced prices are used to tempt customers into  thestoresand

they can't stand the temptation.