Chris: Do you have happy memories of your childhood, Kate?

I do. I think that my childhood was the happiest time of my life and I often think about it nostalgically, wishing I could relive it.

Kate: Many adults feel the same way as you do . However, I don't. I can see too many disadvantages to being a child. For one thing , a child's world is completely ruled by his parents. He has little or no freedom of choice, whether it be about his clothes, his behaviour, his food or whatever. He has no independence, and no opportunity to judge for himself.

Chris: Yes, but it isn't wonderful when always have others to make your decisions for you. You are free to play, to enjoy yourself, without any worries about money, where the next meal is coming from, working, etc. Children find joy in living which many adults have lost because their lives have become so restricted.

Kate: But adult life can be great fun. You can make your own decisions, you don't have to obey anyone else, you can go where you like and do what you want.

Chris: I don't agree that adults are that free.What about the boss at work who tells you what to do? Not many adults are free to run their lives exactly as they choose. I still believe that childhood is the best time.

Kate: All I remember are interminable exams at school, threats from my parents and unhappiness at being ignored by older people. For me,  now is the best time!

Your will is a very powerful force. If you are really determined to achieve something, your willpower will overcome all obstacles. We have all heard of people who have overcome great problems because they were determined not to be defeated. I would like to describe a few examples that I have encountered.

The will to live is the most powerful instinct. Until we are in danger of losing our lives, we hardly know that it exists. A woman I know discovered that she had cancer. She wasn't old , she enjoyed her life and wasn't ready to give it up easily. She went to a special hospital for cancer treatment where she was put on a strict vegetarian diet and given radiation therapy. She followed her doctor's instructions and whenever I met her she was cheerful . She never let the disease get her down. After some months, she began to gain in strength until finally she was completely cured.

I remember the case of a Royal Air Force pilot who lost both of his legs in combat in Second World War. To most people, it would have seemed a hopeless situation., but this man was determined to walk and fly again. He had to wear artificial legs and had trouble learning how to walk with them. Gradually, with the help of medical staff and his friends, he learnt to walk by himself and one day he was able to fly again. His dream had come true.

Dreams and desires can therefore be powerful incentives for our will to succeed. The will needs inspiration or an objective to aim for. The desire to be successful in your career is a good example.

A friend of mine had always wanted to be a doctor. However, he came from a very poor family who were not able to support his medical studies. My friend did not let this discourage him and for five years he studied hard at university during the day and worked as a waiter at night. He must have been exhausted but he never complained. He knew that he was working towards his goal.

The twentieth century has already seen two world wars and many others between individual countries. The threat of war hangs over us all the time and is particularly acute in times of international crisis. War has disastrous effects on all countries, particularly on those which are involved in wars that go on for years. Civil wars, where people of the same country fight against each other, are also destructive.

In the two world wars, the countries involved lost an entire generation of young men. Those who could have contributed so much to the development of society were killed before they entered adulthood.

In addition to destroying generations of young people, war also destroys whole towns and cities and makes civilization take a step backwards. Instead of progressing the world regresses. Time has to be spent on rebuilding  people's hopes. The countryside is often damaged beyond all recognition.

Innocent people are made to suffer because of the decisions of a small number of men. Normal life cannot continue: people suffer poverty, hardship and even starvation. People die because of man's selfishness and greed because of man's aggression and desire for power, because his mistrusts his fellow man.

Psychologically, war develops feelings of hatred for the enemy which can take many years after the war to disappear. These days when we are aiming to work together as nations for the common good, war merely drives us apart and encourages antagonism towards other people.

The suffering caused by war continues for many years after the war has ended. Many women are left to bring up families without husbands. Soldiers are sometimes scarred for life, either physically or mentally . Countries struggle to create friendly relations but even in this situation, peace is sometimes simply an absence of war, precariously maintained in an atmosphere of threats and counterthreats.

On Sundays I get up late. If I wake up early I like to lie in bed and read a book or listen to the radio. When I get up, I have a cup of coffee and talk to my friend. We always cook a big meal on Sundays for all the family. We have lunch quite late because nobody is hungry until then. 

After lunch, we usually go for a drive in the car to the sea or the mountains. Sometimes we go and visit our parents who are old now.I like visiting them because they need our help and support . They always give us nice cakes and chocolates to eat  and some money too! In the evening we return home. Sometimes there are a lot of cars on the road and the journey takes a long time

At home, I watch television or play with my cat. Sometimes I phone a friend. I go to bed at about 10 o'clock because  I have to go to work the next morning  I like Sunday because it is a day with the family.

What about your Sundays ? How do you spend your time during this day?

WHY WE SLEEP

Scientists have proposed the following theories on why humans require sleep:

• Sleep may be a way of recharging the brain. The brain has a chance to shut down and repair neurons and to exercise important neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate due to lack of activity.
• Sleep gives the brain an opportunity to reorganise data to help find a solution to problems, process newly learned information and organise and archive memories.
• Sleep lowers a person's metabolic rate and energy consumption.
• The cardiovascular system also gets a break during sleep. Researchers have found that people with normal or high blood pressure experience a 20 to 30% reduction in blood pressure and 10 to 20 % reduction in heart rate.
• During sleep, the body has a chance to replace chemicals and repair muscles ,other tissues and aging or dead cells.
• In children and teenagers , growth hormones are released during deep sleep.

When a person falls asleep and wakes up is largely determined by his or her circadian rhythm ,a day-night cycle of about 24 hours .Circadian rhythms greatly influence the timing, amount and quality of sleep.

Pipi said that somebody who finds the stuff that turns up if only you look, of course. What else would it be? asked Pipi, sweeping all the flour on the floor into the pile. "The whole world is filled with things that are just waiting for someone to come along and find them, and just what a turnup stuffer does."What sort of things?" asked Annika.

"Oh, all sorts of things ." said Pipi "Gold nuggets and ostrich feathers and dead mice and rubber bands and tiny little grouse and that kind of thing."

"You always find something. But we will have to hurry up so the other turnupstuffers don't come first and take away all the gold nuggets and things that are waiting hereabouts."

What do you think is Pipi going to do with all these things she may find?

Will she fetch them at her house and decorate her room?

Will she give them to people who need them?

              I   want to sleep like a bird

              To hide my beak in  my body

              When the morning comes

             Like to jump  and sing

              Looking for something to eat

             When I'm thirsty find a drop of water

            Have a shower in a lake or river

            Build a nest in the woods

            Have a family with many chicks

           In my dreams I'm flying

           I'm happy and calm

           I'm sometimes scared and tremble

           Clean my feathers and body

           Thank God I'm a bird      

EASTER IN NORWAY

Easter chickens and Easter eggs in all colours dominate Easter in Norway. Yellow chickens are everywhere at Easter time. Drawn chickens, plastic chickens, cotton chickens, and chickens made of all sorts of materials can be seen in private homes, shop windows, newspapers and magazines, on plastic bags and on television. It's no wonder yellow has become the colour of Easter in Norway.

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays in Norway. School children however have 6 days of Easter vacation.

The Norwegians in general do not pay much attention to the religious aspect of Easter. Of course, they know the story, but only some will go to church services.

EASTER IN MEXICO

Easter celebration in Mexico is held as a combination of two separate big other observances- Semana Santa and Pascua. The former means the whole of the holy week-Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday. And the Pascua is the observation for the period from the resurrection Sunday to the following Saturday.

For most Mexicans, this two-week period is the time for a great vacation. People enjoy this time with the community of their choice

Semana Santa celebrates the last days of Christ's life .Pascua is the celebration of Christ's Resurrection. It is also the release of the sacrifices of Lent.

In many communities , the full passion play is enacted from the Last Supper, the Betrayal, the judgement  ,the procession of the 12 Stations of the cross, the Crucifixion and,  finally the Resurrection. In some communities real crucifixion is included. The enactments are often nicely staged ,costumed and acted ,with participants preparing for their roles for nearly the full year leading up to Semana Santa.

EASTER IN AFRICA

In Africa , Easter is celebrated as a main function of the Christian communities.In the Easter Vigil hundreds of people assemble in the church building.

In most parish churches the Easter Vigil is anicipated ,because there are no lights ,usually beginning at 3pm and finishing at dark ,around 6pm.

The church is decorated by Vitenge and Kanga ,clothes made up in the form of butterflies ,flowers ,banana trees etc.

Christian hymns are accompanied by the beating of drums and Kigelegele , the high pitched sounds made by women.

heartfelt adj=sincere

heartless adj=cold, cruel, icy, steely, stony, unemotional

heart -searching noun = self-examination, self-questioning

hearty adj=a hearty welcome, enthusiastic, warm

heart of a problem = a person or a situation in an unfriendly environment

heart attack=cardiac arrest, heart failure

heart specialist noun =cardiologist

heart to heart =frank

to set your heart on =want

heartache =heartbreak=sorrow

heartbreaking adj=distressing, grievous, pitiful, sad, tragic, heartbroken

heartbroken=degested, desolate,,despairing,miserable

heartburn =indigestion

hearten verb=encourage

he has a weak heart=a bad heart condition

he's got a dicky ticker==his heart stopped beating

hold/clasp/ press somebody to one's heart or chest=  emotional

heart pounded with excitement/emotion

he's kindhearted =good person

his heart is//he has his heart in the right place

he's tenderhearted

he has a heart of gold

my heart bleeds for them

with a heavy heart

your gesture went straight to my heart

heartfelt/devout wishes for a speedy recovery= to become healthy

I was immensely relieved 

open heart operation

heart depth, dead, height, core

in the heart of the city

in the heart of the jungle

get to the heart/bottom of the matter

in the middle/depth/dead of winter

at dead of night

at the height of summer

the core of a fruit/matter

dear heart

sweetheart

open/bear one's heart to somebody

from the bottom of one's heart

have all one's heart in/put all one's heart into something

not have the heart to =do things

I didn't have the heart to refuse

my heart isn't in something, not feel like

his heart isn't in his work

my heart isn't in anything anymore

hold somebody dear

have something at heart

something is close to one's heart

I have your happiness at heart

heartfelt words, words coming from the heart

grudgingly, half-heartedly

heartily,cordially, passionately,with all one's heart

laugh heartily

I'll do so with all my heart

in all conscience, upon one's conscience

I lost my heart to him/her

tear somebody's heart out

after one's own heart

my heart sinks/breaks

in one's heart of hearts

he's got guts/grit, he's got plenty of pluck/spunk, he's a man of mettle/spirit

  COLOUR    AS    A    NOUN

   BE//LOOK/FEEL OFF: I do not feel so well.

   CHANGE COLOUR: Become pale and red

   LEND COLOUR TO SOMETHING: Make something look possible.

   GIVE A FALSE COLOUR TO SOMETHING: Give an unreal image

   LOCAL COLOUR: Of a particular  area in the world 

  SEE SOMETHING IN ITS TRUE COLOURS: See something as it is in reality

   COLOUR BLIND: Somebody who cannot recognise the colours around him/her

  WATER/OIL COLOURS: Used for painting

 PAINT SOMETHING IN BRIGHT OR DARK COLOURS: Describe something in a pessimistic or optimistic way

COME OFF WITH FLYING COLOURS: Have a great success

JOIN THE COLOURS: Join the army

LOWER ONE'S COLOURS: I surrender

SAIL UNDER FALSE COLOURS: Show something different than what I am

SHOW ONE'S TRUE COLOURS: who I am

STICK TO ONE'S COLOURS: Be faithful to my opinions

COLOUR BAR: According to a race

COLOURFUL: With vivid colours

COLOURLESS: Without colours

  It is a lovely traditional event for young and old. People like to dress up and have meals at home. They decorate their houses with pumpkins and make pies and sweets from this tasty vegetable. Children trick or treat and visit many places to celebrate this enjoyable custom and people offer them cookies candies and other sweets. When they get the sweet they say "Thanks! Happy Halloween. They sometimes play tricks on people's houses and they do not get a sweet.

What's this? It's a wich

What colour is her dress? It's black.

What colour is her hat? It's black too.

What colour is her hair? It's white.

Is the woman in front of the house wearing a mask?Yes, of course

Enjoy this time of year and celebrate with your family!

Happy HALLOWEEN!

       OH  NO ! SOME WORDS ARE MISSING HERE!

Bodies are made to move ! They are not designed for sitting around in front ..... .television or reading magazines. Keeping fit doesn't .........you have to be a super-athlete ,  and even a .........exercise can give you a lot of fun. When you're fit and healthy, you'll find you look better and feel better.

You'll .........more energy and self-confidence.

Every time you move you.............exercising . The human body is designed to bend, stretch, run, jump and climb. The  .........it does, the stronger and fitter it will become. Best of ........exercise is fun. It's ..........your body likes doing most -keeping on the move.

Physical exercise is not only good ..........your body . People who take regular exercise are usually happier, more relaxed and more alert ........people who sit around all day. Try an experiment-next time you're ...........a  bad mood, go for a walk or play a ball game in the park. See how .................better you feel after an hour.

A sense of achievement is yet...............benefit of exercise. People feel good ...........themselves when they know they have improved .............fitness.

People who exercise regularly will ..........you that they find they have more energy to enjoy life. So have a go - you'll soon see and feel the benefits.

CAN YOU CHOOSE FROM THESE WORDS?

Tell, another,much,about, their ,mean,have,of,are,little ,more, for , all ,what ,than ,in

Olive trees originated in a number of Mediterranean countries such as  Italy and Greece around 5000 BC, but it was the Ancient Greeks who first cultivated them and pressed the oil in Crete. From there the oil was exported to mainland  Greece, the rest of the Mediterranean as well as Asia Minor and Northern Africa . The Romans then planted olive groves throughout the entire Mediterranean basin.

Olive oil was (and still is ) an important part of Greek culture and it has had many medicinal, magical, ceremonial and practical

uses throughout history. It has been used in medicines, lamps, candles, soap and of course food. It was associated with strength, health, youth, power and beauty and was seen as precious and so was also a very valuable commodity. At one point anyone who cut down an olive tree was sentenced to death.

Today, we know that there is truth in some of the ancient beliefs. Olive oil has many nutritional benefits and it is a well-known fact that people who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil have less chance of contracting diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

QUESTIONS

Which areas imported Cretan olive oil?...............................................

Which other civilisation also cultivated olive trees?...........................................

In what ways have people used olive oil?........................

Why was olive oil considered precious?...........................................

What was the punishment for those who cut down olive trees?

Why is olive oil beneficial ?..............................

  A  flash flood swept across the coastal plain about 100 miles southwest of here , killing scores of villagers in a marketplace yesterday morning.

Reports from the area said 75 bodies had been counted, and dozens, and dozens of people were missing.

The food followed heavy rains which filled the coastal plain's dry creek beds to overflowing . The flood crest, several feet high, hit the village of Khemis Nagua at mid-morning yesterday as farmers from the surrounding area joined townsfolk in an open marketplace.

The roaring waters swept the village's flimsy dwelling places, The market sheds, shoppers, cattle and farm implements for miles across the unobstructed plain. 

       The flood was over almost as soon it started, the reports said, as the crest swept out to sea. Rescue workers quickly moved into the area from Safi, about 25 miles further south.

When did the flood occur?

1 .on the morning of Sept.24

2. in the afternoon of Sept  24

3. in the afternoon of sept .23

4. on the morning of Sept.23

5 the passage does not provide the answer

In which country is the village which was flooded?

1 in Khemis Nagua

2. in Casablanca

3. in Morocco

4. in Safi

5. in Algeria 

6. in England

What happened to the creek beds?

1 they were swept for miles across the plains.

2. The mattresses on them were ruined by the floodwaters.

3. Nothing.

4. They were flooded

5. They were probably swept out of the flimsy houses.

what happened to the crest of the floodwater eventually?

1It went down the drains.

2 It was evaporated by the sun.

3. It went into the sea 

4. It soaked into the ground.

5. It went into the mountains

In what direction would an aeroplane fly from Safi to reach Casablanca?

1 to the south

2. to the southwest

3. to the north

4. to the north-west

5. to the north-east

What does flash mean in line 1 of this passage?

1a bright flash of lightning

2. a storm

3 sudden

4. unexpected despite the climate

5. which came and went very quickly.

What is the meaning of flimsy in line 9 of the passage?

 1 small

2 made of wood 

3. made of mud or clay

4. very weakly constructed

5. crowded and very small

6. connected with the cinema

What do implements refer to in line 10 of the passage?

1equipment

2equipments

3 shoppers and cattle

4. wells and irrigation canals 

5. employers

6 .employees

What is the meaning o unobstructed in line 10?

1 .with ranges of hills on it

2. hilly in most places but with valleys at intervals

3 flat and without  barriers of any kind

4. stretching for long-distance, regardless of its physical features

5. devastated by the floodwaters

What does over mean in line 12?

1. beneath 

2  started

3on top of 

4. above 

5. finished

6 at its hight

LET'S REARRANGE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INTO  FIVE GROUPS BRINGING TOGETHER THOSE WHICH ARE SIMILAR OR RELATED IN MEANING.

The words are in alphabetical order: accident, air, announcement, authority, bulletin, calamity, control,communication,disaster,ditty,domination,flat,hotel,house,influence,lodging,message,melody,misfortune,notice,power,residence,song,trouble,time. 

AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH A FIVE-WORD GROUP IS: outlook, view, scene, prospect, vista

accident= a car accident

air=breathe air

announcement=informs people about something

authority=give orders to people

bulletin=short news report

calamity=great damage to people's lives or property

control=the power to make decisions about how a country an area is run

communication=expressing ideas or giving information

disaster=a flood, a fire  an accident which causes a great damage

ditty=a short simple song

domination=control over somebody in an unpleasant way

flat=a number of rooms in a building

hotel=a place people stay for a short time and pay for their meals 

house= a building people live in

influence=the effect that somebody or something has on the way people think or behave

lodging=a room to stay and all meals provided

message=a written or spoken piece of information  we send to people

melody=the main tune in a piece of music

misfortune=bad luck

notice=to see or hear somebody or something

power=the ability to control people and things

residence=a house

song=a short piece of music

trouble=problem,worry,difficulty

time=minutes, seconds and hours

inner life=

gentle beauty=

abstract formlessness=

subtle charm=

foggy painting=

faltering lines=

insecure distances=

Can you find the meanings of these pairs of adjectives and nouns?

How does the poet feel in this poem?