READING 1. My best friend's full name is Stuart Kenneth Young. .

His family call him Ken, for short, but his nickname at school is "Sky"! . He was born in Manchester, but now he lives in Newcastle. . Sky is fifteen years old. . He is 1.65 m tall and he weighs 50 kilos. . He's got short brown hair and dark brown eyes. . He is interested in all kinds of sports and music. . His favourite group is U2, but his favourtite singer is Bryan Adams. . Sports View is his favourite TV program. . Sky's favourite food is pizza. . He hates people who smoke all the time. . I like Sky because he's got a good sense of humour. . I also like him because he's a great dancer. . 2. BILL GATE

Bill Gates is a very important person in the computer industry. . He has been chief officer Microsoft Corporation for several years. . He is also the richest person in the United States.How did he do? . He learned a lot from his parents. . While Bill was going to school, his father went to college, got a degree and became a successful lawyer. . From this, Bill learned that you have to work hard if you want something. . His mother was a very busy teacher, but she also enjoyed going to the parties. . From this, he learned something else: If you want to work hard and play hard, you have to make a schedule.

When Bill was young, he spent a lot of time alone. . While most of his friends were playing, Bill read all of the World Book Encyclopedia and finished it when he was 8 years old. . Bill's childhood was not at work. . He used to play a lot of sports-swimming, water-skiing, tennis. . He was very serious about sports. . He loved winning and more time working-and playing - on a computer. . Before he was 20, Bill developed the world's first computer language for the personal computer. . Once when he was thinking about the future, he realized something important. . He thought that every home was going to have a computer, and every computer would need software-his software. . He said "I'm going to make my first million dollars on software by the time I'm 25." . And he did. . 3. STUDY HABIT Dear Maria, At last! Hooray! We finish all our exams yesterday. The last one was History. It was horrible. I think History is really difficult because I can't remember all the facts and the dates. I did seven subjects. The worst were Science and History. I found them very difficult. I always forget most of the things we've learned. The best subject this year was Geography, but we only had it twice a week. We're going to Wales in the middle of August, to see my granddad. Would you like to come with us? Mum says it's OK. Please write and tell me about your year at school. What was it like? Were your exams easy? Bye for now. Peter. 4. THE YOUNG PIONEER CLUB How is summer in the country different for young people from summer in the city?

"Before I came here," one child said, "I thought swimming was running through an open fire hydrant." "Here" is a summer camp that's only an hour from New York City - but a world away. This camp and four others nearby are run by the Fresh Air Fund. Since 1877, the fund has helped poor children from New York City spend summers in the country. Each year, over ten thousand children, ages 6 to 18, participate in the program. Some stay at a camp; others live with a host family. The fund pays for all expenses. The camps are for 8- to 15-year-olds. At camp, children can learn about the stars, see deer and cows and other animals, and go hiking, fishing, and of course, swimming. The children learn responsibility by helping out with chores like making beds and waiting on tables. They also learn a lot from counselors, who are often college students from around the United States and from other countries. Host families from thirteen states and Canada volunteer to have children spend the summer with them. Many of these families have their own children. The visiting children become part of the family. They go with the family on picnics, to the pool or beach, and on trips. The children are from 6 to 12 years old when they make their first visit, and most are invited back. Some of the children and families become friends for life. 5. FIRST AID When people have a cold, a fever, or the flu, they usually go to the doctor for help, or they get some medicine from the drugstore. But many people also use some home remedies for common illnesses. Here are some simple home remedies. Burns Put the burn under cold water or put a cold handkerchief on it. Then apply aloe vera gel to the burn. It's important not to put ice on the burn. Cough Drink warm liquids or take some honey. Headaches.

Apply an ice pack or cold cloth to your head, or splash your face with cold water. It's also a good idea to put your hands into hot water and leave them there for several minutes. Also, you shouldn't read or watch TV. aoloe vera gel (n): gel nha am/ l hi splash (v) : v (nc) 6. RECYCLING

John Baines is an environmentalist. He is interested in all things to do with the environment and the need to protect it. Two years ago, he got his bicycle out of the garage and repaired it, and now he uses it as much as possible. He uses his car less. He tries to do ten percent fewer miles every year, so last year he drove eleven thousand miles, and this year he's going to try to do only ten thousand. This doesn't mean he travels less, this means he walks more. When he does shopping, he always walks now. He uses public transport when he can, usually going by bus. His car runs on unleaded petrol because it's cheaper and it keeps the air cleaner. About in the home, he saves as much as he can. He doesn't throw rubbish away. He has different bags for different things. One bag has all the cans going into it, from the cat food to the beer. The second bag has all the papers going into it, and the third bag has bottles such as oil bottles, wine bottles. But the milk bottles still go on the doorsteps so that they can be reused. He takes these bags to places where they can be recycled. 7. TRAVELING AROUND VIETNAM

Dalat is the capital of Lam Dong province in Vietnam. Its name derives from the language of the local ethnic group Lat andits meaning is "Stream of the Lat." In Vietnam, Dalat is a popular tourist destination. It is famous for its temperate climate, beautiful sights such as waterfalls and lakes. It is also famous for vegetables and flowers such as orchids and roses. There is a wine-making industry, too. The average temperature is 17oC, and does not rise above 19oC in the hottest season. Its temperate climate is ideal for agriculture production. derive (v): xut pht t ideal (adj): l tng wine (n): ru vang 8. TRAVELING ABROAD Preparing For Your Summer Vacation Are you taking a summer vacation this year? If you are, you should prepare for your trip now. There are a large number of preparation tips available for summer travelers. No matter where your vacation destination is, you will need to take the climate into consideration. If you are visiting a tropical location, you will need to bring along the appropriate clothing. Bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops are common appeal found at beaches and aboard cruise ships. While you may be expecting warm and sunny weather, it is still advised that you prepare for the worst. Raincoats and an umbrella may be a great addition to your summer clothing. Whenever you leave home, no matter where you are traveling to, you are always encouraged to have the proper forms of identification such as your ID card and driver's license. Also, it is advised that you bring along all health insurance and auto insurance cards. If you get into an automobile accident; this information will come in handy.

Perhaps, the most popular summer vacation destination is the beach. When vacationing at the beach, it is important that you bring along the appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Many vacationers do not realize the dangers of sunbathing without sunscreen. You will need to make sure that you have beach towels and plenty of water on hand. Besides, many families make the decision to go camping. When camping, you will need to determine where you will be sleeping. If you plan on camping outdoors, you will need to make sure that you have your tents ready to go and that all of the pieces are accounted for. If you plan on boating, hiking, or fishing, you will want to bring the appropriate gear, shoes and fish-hook with you. To prevent unnecessary expenses, you are encouraged to check your luggage before you leave. Especially, if you have developed an itinerary, you are encouraged to give this information to your family members. In the event that something happens back home, you can easily be reached. If you have any pets, you will need to make the proper arrangements for someone to care for or feed them. It cannot be emphasized how important the preparation for your summer vacation is. Preparing for your vacation may seem overwhelming, but if you do your preparation in steps the process becomes easier to manage. 9. Halloween

Halloween Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. Halloween has origins in the ancient festival known as Samhain, which is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". This was a festival celebrated mainly in Ireland and Scotland. This festival is regarded as the "Celtic New Year". The celebration has some

elements of a festival of the dead. The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Other world became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home while harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. But where does the origin of the name "halloween" come from? The term Halloween is shortened from All Hallows' Even een is a shortening of evening. It is now known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st. Halloween is also related to A jack-o'-lantern which is typically a carved pumpkin. At night, a light is placed inside to illuminate the effect. Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" In some parts of Ireland and Scotland children still go guising. In this custom the child performs some sort of show, i.e. sings a song or tells a ghost story, in order to earn their treats. 10. The Great Pyramid of Giza

1. Read the passage and do the tasks that follow. The Great Pyramid of Giza Over two thousand years ago, a Greek writer named Antipater made a list of what he called the Seven Wonders of the World. The only one of those ancient sights that remains today is the Great Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the world's most amazing landmarks. Rising high above the Sahara Desert in the Giza region of northern Egypt, the Great Pyramid stands some 450 feet into the burning desert sky and occupies of an area of 13 acres. The rough climate of the Sahara has actually caused the pyramid to shrink 30 feet from its original height. The pyramid was such an amazing feat of engineering, that it remained the tallest structure in the world for over 3800 years.The entire pyramid was originally faced with polished limestone to make it shine brilliantly in the sun. Most Egyptologists, scientists who study ancient Egypt, agree that the Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BC, a little more than 4,500 years ago. It took tens of thousands of workers twenty years to build. The pyramid contains over two million stone blocks. Although most of the blocks weigh two or three tons, some weigh up to 80 tons! The Great Pyramid of Giza was ordered built by the Pharaoh Khufu as a magnificent tomb. The interior of the Great Pyramid contains many rooms, connected by passages leading to the outside. His vizier (advisor) Hemon is credited with being the pyramid's architect. Khufu's pyramid is actually part of a complex of pyramids that includes the Pyramid of Khafre, the smaller Pyramid of Menkaure, a variety of smaller pyramids and structures. 2. LESSON: Read the passage carefully and fill in the blanks with the information you have read. A writer named made a list of seven ancient wonders of the world years ago. Of all seven wonders in the list, only the Great Pyramid of Giza in remained today. Most , scientists supposed that the Great Pyramidof Giza had been built around BC, 4500 years ago as a magnificent by the emperor Khufu . The Great Pyramid of Giza is risen above the Desert in northern Egypt. It occupies an area of acres and stands feets into the desert. However, it is shrunk about feet because of the of the Saharah. There were of workers to build this pyramid in years. It was faced with and there are many rooms connected by inside the Great Pyramid. The Great Pyramid of Giza remained the structure in the world for over years and it is really one of the world's most amazing 11. COMPUTER The Problems of Using a Computer Too Much The effects of computer usage have been long debated but it is true that excessive computer usage contributes to various long-term and short-term health problems.

Repetitive Strain Injury Repetitive strain injury occurs when areas of the body have repetitive movements over a long period of time. Typing, mouse usage and even poor posture can cause repetitive strain injury. Symptoms can range from mild pain to severe pain. Eye Strain Eye strain happens when you strain your eyes by using them continuously, causing pain and headaches. This can happen because of reading, studying and computer usage, especially if you don't take enough breaks while using your computer for several hours. Usually eye strain will go away once you rest your eyes. Back/Shoulder Pain Poor posture and continual computer usage can result in back and shoulder pain, according to a study of 30,000 teenagers from the University of Bergen, Norway. Overusing computer can become a big problem because it results in continuous pain. Correcting your posture and taking plenty of breaks can alleviate some of the symptoms. Depression Sitting in front of a computer for five hours a day can increase the risk of depression. Mental disorders and sleep disorders requires the restriction of computer use to less than five hours a day. Restricting computer usage may actually be good for your mental health and symtoms of depression may be decreased if you use the computer to chat with friends and family in a short time.

12. INVENTIONS

Chinese Inventions For thousands of years, the Chinese were isolated in Asia and came up with their own way of doing things. Now that their work has spread, modern man will use at least one Chinese invention in their lifetime. You'll be surprised to realize that you probably use one every single day!

Compass The planet has a magnetic field that makes magnetic north very easy to find. The Chinese harnessed this principle and invented the first compass in the 11th century. It found magnetic north and showed what direction the traveler was headed.

Fireworks The superstitious Chinese wanted a way to frighten evil spirits and bring good luck. They took their invention of gunpowder and made small rockets. Since then, fireworks became much more elaborate and "pyrotechnitians" or fire-works makers, got a place in Chinese society.

Paper Paper was invented by Cai Lun in 105 AD. He created durable paper by pressing hemp, tree bark, rags and bamboo. By the time the first European paper mill was founded in 1009 AD, the Chinese had been using paper for 900 years. Bamboo paper is still a favorite for calligraphy artists today.

Steel The Chinese were the first people to combine carbon and iron to make steel. They've been making it since the first century BC in blast furnaces powered by the Asian monsoon winds. Since steel is so durable and strong, they used their invention to craft swords and weapons. 13. Mexican Day of The Dead

The Day of The Dead (or El Da de los Muertos) is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November every year in Mexico, the USA and Canada. The Day of the Dead is also sometimes called All Soul's Day. The Day of the Dead is a lively and happy festival. During the holiday, family members gather together to pray for deceased family and friends, and to remember them. Mexican traditions connected with the holiday include building elaborately decorated altars or shrines (called offrendas) in homes to honour loved ones who have died, and decorating altars with photographs, skulls made from sugar, scented candles,and offerings of favourite foods and drinks for deceased relatives and friends. Graves and altars are decorated with orange or yellow marigolds during the festival, as

marigolds are thought to attract the souls of the dead. Many people believe that it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living on the Day of The Dead. 14.