English topics
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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 in
them are
world famous. Orchestrasin
hallsof theirown,but playinhalls rentedfromlocal
authorities or private companies. There are 2 big concerthalls
in
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
theatre companies usually play in rented theatres, but thereare
several theatres which have their own homes. The centerofthe
actrical
life is
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
limited to youngpeople.Films areplacedin oneofthree
categories
in
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
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.
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
parents
at an early age, he went tolivein
uncle, who was a clergyman. He was educated at King's schoolin
in
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
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
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
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
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
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
one of theworld'smost moderncitiesbecause ofitshigh
buildings
and its dynamic spirit. From
Atlantic
Ocean to
Museum
and visit the shops and pubs along King's Road in
My next
stop would be
its steep narrow houses and canals lined with trees. Flying on to
Coppenhagen I wouldeatDanish open-facedsandwichesandbe
entertainde
at night clubs in
cities by this time I would head South to theItalianRiviera.
setting,
is one of the most charming vacations sports in
Of
course, a serious travellercouldnot
leave
visiting
are living museums. Continuing South, I would trace the beginning
of
Western civilization. I would make stops in
Certainly a chance to see thepyramidsshould notbemissed.
Next, I
would fly east to visit the shimmering
Here, the traveller finds many precious gems for sale,butthe
brightest
jewel of all is
would
travel to
like
mane other travellers, I would be drawn to
shopper's paradise.
Leaving
plane
bound for
sunbathes and eat spicy foods.
At this time it would be necessaryto countmyremaining
travellers checks.
If a tour of
to stop
in
would probably have run low. So, where would my round thewould
trip
end? For me there is only one answer:
will never tire of calling home.
Topic N11 ("Shopping")
Iwould
like to tellyou about shopping
in the
Marks
& Spencer is
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
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
Spencer
all over the world: in
Belguim
and
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
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
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
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.