Travelling. Means Of Transport




The USA

The USA is one of the largest countries in the world. It is situated in the central part of the North American continent. The area of the USA is over nine million square kilometres. It is washed by the Pacific Ocean and by the Atlantic Ocean. The most northern part of the USA is Alaska, the largest state, separated from the rest of the country by Canada.

The population of the United States is nearly 250 million people, most of the people live in towns. People of different nationalities live in the USA.

The official language of the country is English. The capital of the country is Washington. It was named in honour of the first President, George Washington.

As the USA is a large country, the climate is different in different regions. Foi example, the Pacific coast is a region of mild winters and warm, dry summers, but the eastern continental region is watered with rainfall. The region arounc the Great Lakes has changeable weather.

The main river of the country is the Mississippi. But there are many other great rivers in the USA: the Colorado in the south and the Columbia in the northwest. There are five Great Lakes between the USA and Canada.

The USA produces more than 52 per cent of the world's corn, wheat, cotton, tobacco.

The USA has an Academy of Sciences. There are many scientific institutions, museums, libraries, theatres and other interesting places in the country.

The USA is a highly developed industrial country. The USA is rich in mineral resources, such as aluminium, salt, zinc, coppers, and others. The country is rich in coal, natural gas, gold and silver, too. It holds one of the first places in the world for the production of coal, iron, oil, natural gas.

Such industries as machine-building, ship-building are highly developed in the country.

American agriculture produces a lot of food products: grain, fruit, vegetables.

The USA is a federal republic, consisting of fifty states. Each of these states has its own government. Congress is the American Parliament which consists of two Chambers.

The president is the head of the state and the government. He is elected for four years.


 

London

London is the capital of the United Kingdom, its economic, political and cultural center. It is one of the world's most important ports and one of the largest cities in the world. London with its suburbs has a population of about 11 million people.

London has been a capital for nearly a thousand years. Many of its ancient buildings still stand. The most famous of them are the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral. Most visitors also want to see the Houses of Parliament and the many magnificent museums.

Once London was a small Roman town of the north bank of the Thames. Slowly it grew into one of the world's major cities.

Different areas of London seem like different cities. The West End is a rich man's world of shops, offices and theatres. The City of London is the district where most offices and banks are concentrated; the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England are here, too. The East End is a district where mostly working people live. The old port area is now called "Docklands". There are now new office buildings in Docklands, and thousands of new flats and houses.

By the day the whole of London is busy. At night, offices are quiet and empty, but the West End stays alive, because this is where Londoners come to enjoy themselves. There are two opera houses here, several concert halls and many theatres, as well as cinemas.


 

Belarus

The republic of Belarus is a small beautiful country with the heroic past and difficult present. It is situated in Central Europe. The republic of Belarus borders on Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It has an area of more than 200000 square kilometers and the population of about 10 million. 77% of the population constitutes Belarussians. 64% live in cities, the largest of which are Minsk, which is the capital, Gomel, Mogilev, Brest, Grodno and Vitebsk.

The original Belarussian tribes are Eastern Slavic tribes. Kryvichy, Drigovichi, Radzimichi were related to the Baltic nations and grouped independent principalities, of which the most powerful was Polotsk, a port and a fortress on the river Dvina. At the beginning of the 20th century Belarus was a backward province of the Russian Empire, called the North-Western Region. About 80% of its population were illiterate. The Belarussians weren't even regarded as a nation at that time. After the revolution in 1917 Belarus was proclaimed the Belarussian Soviet Socialist Republic and soon became the member of the USSR.

More than a quarter of its area is covered with the forests and bushes. The large forests are called "puschas". The greatest of them is Beloviezskaya Puscha, which is a state preserve. It is well known by its rare animals - aurochs. There are nearly 10000 lakes and 20000riversin Belarus. The largest lake is Naroch also called Belarussian Sea. The Belarussian rivers are slow with almost no rapids. The climate in Belarus is moderately continental. The breathing of the Baltic Sea is constantly felt here. The beauty of the Belarussian nature, the past and the present of the Belarussian people have been celebrated in song and verse by the Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas - the classics of Belarussian poetry and by many present-day poets and writers, artists and composers of Belarus. Belarus has long been famous for its industries and skilful craftsmen. Unique souvenirs made by Belarussian craftsmen are known all over the world. Our Republic is rather rich in mineral resources: potash salts, coal, phosphates oil and iron. That's why Belarus has a highly-developed industry. There are thousands of enterprises in the Republic which produce tractors and automobiles, motor-cycles, TV-sets and many other goods. Agriculture specializes in milk and meat production. The main crops cultivated here are potatoes, flor, grain, herbs and vegetables. Belarus is a republic of well developed science and culture. There is an Academy of Sciences, 37 higher educational establishments, about 400 professional schools, Secondary education in compulsory here.


 

Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and above five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 200 000 square kilometers. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast respectively.

The British isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest - east, center and southeast - is a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain. (1343)

There are a lot of rivers in GB, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The UK is one of the world’s smallest countries. The population of the country is over 87 million and about 80% of it is urban. The UK is highly developed industrial country. It’s known as one of world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. The UK is constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen, but in practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labour, the Conservative and the Liberal parties.


 

Minsk

Minsk is the capital of the Republic of Belarus, its political, economic, cultural and scientific center. It is an ancient city and dates back to the 11th century.

Minsk is situated on the river Svisloch and occupies an area of 200 square kilometers. Its population is about 2 million people. During the Great Patriotic War Minsk was destroyed by German invaders almost completely. Minsk lay in ruins. The people of Belarus rebuilt the city. Victory Square, the Eternal Flame at the monument commemorates soldiers, underground fighters, partisans who fell in the battles for freedom f our motherland. The names of many streets of the city commemorate many heroes.

The industrial enterprises of Minsk include: the Minsk Tractor Works, Minsk Computer Works, Ball-Bearing Plant, Refrigerator Plant, Watch Factory, and others. Industrial enterprises produce tractors and automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles, TV sets, radio-sets, watches and refrigerators, electronic computers, textile, footwear, food and other goods. It is also a big traffic center with a large network of railways, roads, air lines and two Metro lines. The Minsk Metro is the newest and very beautiful. Each station has some associations with historical events of the country or reflects the peaceful efforts of the people. Minsk is also known as a city of science and students. There is the Academy of Sciences and 16 higher educational establishments there, the biggest of which are the University and the Polytechnic Academy.

The city is noted for it's varied interesting cultural life. In Minsk there are 6 theaters, concert halls, a circus, dozens of cinemas, many places of culture, libraries, clubs. The most famous theaters are the Opera and Ballet theatre, the Yanka Kupala Theatre, the Gorky Russian Drama Theatre. Among the most interesting museums one can mention the Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War, the Art Museum and Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas Museums. The Art Museum is a real treasure-house of fine arts.

Minsk is a city of sports. There are good recreation and sports facilities: tennis courts, playgrounds, swimming pools in various parts of the city. The main sports structures are: the Dynamo Stadium, the Palace of Sports and Water Sports Centre.


 

Washington

Washington is the capital city of the United States. It is located on the north bank of the Potomac River.

George Washington, the first President of the USA, after whom the city was named, selected an area for the capital. A hundred square miles were taken from states of Maryland and Virginia. It was called the District of Columbia. Numbered streets run north and south: First Street, Second Street. Lettered streets such as A-street, B-street run east and west.

Washington is one of the most beautiful and unusual cities in the United States. It has little industry, and only one million people. One reason Washington looks different from other cities is that no building in the city may be more than 40 metres tall. There are no skyscrapers, because they would hide the city's many monuments from view. One can easily find a park, a square or an open area there. The most impressive and the best-known ones are the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The heart of Washington is the Capitol, which is connected with the White House by Pennsylvania Avenue. It dominates the city of Washington.

Thousands of tourists visit Washington every day. People from all parts of the United States come to see their capital and the monuments to those who in past centuries struggled for the independence of their country. The Washington Monument, the tallest stone structure in the USA, is in the Potomac River. It was opened to the public in 1888. It is 555 feet tall, is called the "Pencil" because of its shape. The Lincoln Memorial is in the west of the Washington Monument. It is designed like a Greek temple. The dominant figure is the realistic figure of Abraham Lincoln seated in the centre of the open temple. The Jefferson Memorial is worth seen, too. It is situated south of the Washington monument near the Potomac River. The Library of Congress contains millions of books and manuscripts. People are also interested in churches and cathedrals. The Washington Cathedral is on Massachusetts Avenue, and the Arlington National Cemetery is outside the city limits just across the Potomac River near the Pentagon in Virginia. The famous Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is visited by millions of people every year. Washington is the place where mass demonstrations take place against unemployment and racism, for democracy and civil rights.


 

Travelling. Means Of Transport

People began to travel ages ago. The very first travellers were explorers who went on trips to find wealth, fame or something else. Their journeys were very dangerous but still people keep on going to the unknown lands.

Nowadays it is not as dangerous and much more convenient. Do you want to go somewhere? Hundreds of companies are there to help you. They will take care about your tickets and make all the reservations needed. You don't speak the language of the country you go to? There are interpreters that will help you. With modern services you can go around the world. You can choose the means of transport you like: plane, train, shi p, bicycle or you can travel hiking.

Of course, travelling by air is the fastest and the most convenient way, but it is the most expensive too.

Travelling by train is slower than by plane, but it has its advantages. You can see much more interesting places of the country you are travelling through. Modern trains have very comfortable seats. There are also sleeping cars and dining cars which make even the longest journey enjoyable. Speed, comfort and safety are the main advantages of trains and planes. That is why many people prefer them to all other means.

Travelling by sea is very popular. Large ships and small river boats can visit foreign countries and different places of interest within their own country.

As for me, I prefer travelling by car. I think it's very convenient. You needn't reserve tour tickets. You needn't carry heavy suitcases. You can stop wherever you wish, and spend at any place as much time as you like.


 

Visit to the theatre

Before speaking about my impressions of a theatre performance I’d like to say a few words about theatre in general.

For many centuries theatre has been one of the favorite arts that attracted so many people. As a matter of fact, the reason for this is that theatre ennobles the spectators makes them better and more humane. Theatre creates a special atmosphere: one feels the illusion of being together with the actors on stage in everything they perform.

There are basic rules of behaving to observe in the theater. It is considered impolite to eat anything or chat during a performance, and it’s also rude to be late, going to the theatre means being a very cultured person!

Actually about nine professional theatres work in Minsk, which satisfy different audience’s tastes and interests. Drama lovers are invited to visit such theatres as The Russian Drama Theatre and Yanka Kupala State Academic Theatre. The Musical Comedy State Theatre attracts us with interesting operetta performances both for children and adults and a diverse repertoire. Probably the most popular theatre of Minsk is the Opera and Ballet Theatre. The theatre has a very good reputation and is notable for an excellent direction and highly professional company.

I think I’ll always remember my last visit to the Opera and Ballet House in Minsk. Me and my wife decided to see “Swan Lake” by P. I. Chaykovsky. We booked the tickets in advance. We came to the theatre half an hour before the show and left our coats in the cloakroom. We bought the programs to see the cast. We had some time to admire the beautiful interior of the theatre and look at the photos of the leading actors and actresses. After the bell rung for the first time we hurried to the house looking for our seats which were in the stalls. As a matter of fact our seats were excellent: we had a good view of the stage. As the play was very popular with the public the house was full, I think there were no vacant seats in the boxes, the dress-circle, and the balcony. Soon the lights went down, the curtain rose and we saw a lake in the moonlight and tender sounds of music touched our ears. Since that moment we couldn’t take our eyes from the stage where delicate, charming swans were flying in the wonderful dance. We enjoyed every minute of the performance. The setting and the dancing were superb. The costumes and the scenery were magnificent. The actress, dancing the leading part was at her best and captivated the audience. When the final curtain fell and the lights went up, there came a storm of applause. The dancers were presented with large bouquets of flowers. The performance was a success indeed and it left an unforgettable impression on me.


 

My friend

It is usual for close friends to have similar ideas and beliefs, to have attitudes and interests in common. “A friend in need is a friend indeed”, -says the proverb.

Every day we mix with hundreds of people, get on well with some of them and make friends with only a few. Some people have lots of friends, others are very reluctant to make new friends. In my opinion a real friend is a person whom you trust and respect and who never lets you down.

There are no rules of how to make friends. Usually friendship between people grown when they have common views and judgments on things and events, have common interests and ambitions. A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be. A friend is a real treasure and if you have one, you have one of the most valuable gifts in life.

There are several people with whom I am friends and whose company I enjoy. But person who is very special for me is my friend Dima. I have known him for 13 years already. I think he is really nice-looking with his dark hair, blue eyes and an attractive smile. What is more important for me, of course, is his personality, his intellect and attitude to many things. There’s mutual understanding between us. Dima always helps me, gives good advice. He is the same age as I am. When I’m in trouble he always supports me. I admire his delightful sense of humour. He always takes the smallest excuse to be amused. Very often he teaches me what to say and how to behave. Sometimes it seems to me that Dima knows me better than I myself. The best thing about our friendship is that we can talk about everything and talk about the silliest things as well.

Of course he has some faults. He is a hot-tempered person.He easily loses self-control when things don’t go well.I don’t find this feature attractive, but I know that there are bad things even in the best of us and I have to put up with it. But in general he has a charming personality; he is sociable, frank and honest. I feel that he is a similar soul.

Over the years of our friendship I understood that friendship is about giving, not taking. I hope we’ll remain friends for many years to come.


 

My flat

I have a nice flat in the historical centre of Minsk within easy reach of shops and metro stations. It is in an eleven-store building in Nemiga street. I live there with my wife and our dog. There is a river Svisloch within a five-minute walk from our block of flats and it is very pleasant to go there for a walk.
Our flat is on the fourth floor. It is very comfortable and well planned. There are all modern conveniences such as central heating, electricity, cold and hot running water and internet, of course.
Our flat is very cosy. There are only one room in our flat which is our bedroom and a living-room at the same time. Besides there is a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom and a hall. We have a very big balcony.
Our room is a large square room with a broad window. There are beautiful blue curtains on it and the room is usually full of sunshine. The walls of the room are papered with blue wall-paper with different prints on it. The curtains on the window match the colour of the wallpaper. The floor is covered with parquet. Opposite the window there is a big bed. To the right of the door there is a wall unit with lots of books and a TV-set. Opposite the wall unit there is a sofa and a coffee table with a hanging lamp above it. We like to sit there and watch TV in the evening. The room looks very cosy.

Our kitchen is not very big. So I wish it was a little bit larger. My wife decorated it to her own taste. However it is planned in such a way as to make good housekeeping easy. Everything is spick and span in it. Our kitchen is very well equipped. We have a great variety of electric appliances of any kind: an electric-stove with an oven, a microwave oven, a dish-washing machine, cooker hood and a refrigerator. To the left of the door there is a square table where we usually have meals. When we have a party we lay the big table in the living-room. Opposite the table there is a cupboard, where we keep spoons, forks, knives and plates. The floor of the kitchen is covered with linoleum because it is the most convenient variant for the kitchen. I am very fond of sitting in the kitchen with a bottle of fresh beer and watching a small TV-set that stands near the gas-stove. Sometimes I invite my friends and we sit in the kitchen talking for hours.
The bathroom is next to the kitchen. We have hot and cold water in the tap, a shower and a bath. There is also a washing-machine opposite the bath. Near the washing-machine we have a hamper. The walls of the bathroom are faced with green Dutch tiles.
Next to the bathroom is a toilet.
It is a pity our hall is very small. There is only place for a chest of drawers for shoes and a coat rack and for a built-in wardrobe with coat-hangers to hang clothes on.

In conclusion I'd like to say that we try our best to make our flat cosy and comfortable. Frankly speaking I wish our flat were a bit larger, but generally I like it as it is.


 

The house of my dream

A person’s home is as much a reflection of his personality as the clothes he wears, the food he eats and the friends he spends his time with. Everybody has in mind an “ideal house” and an “ideal home”.I'd like to tell you about the house of my dream.

I'd like to have my own house on the bank of a beautiful river with crystal water, surrounded by high mountains, covered with green forest of evergreen trees.I would live there with my wife, our children and our dog. I imagine my house to be a two-storey building. Near the front side it has a facade with columns and steps up to the front door. There are also two balconies and a terrace in my house. The windows are in the shape of arches. Through them you can see a wonderful landscape. There are lots of trees and flowers around the house. And you can walk in the shade of these trees listening to the birds singing.

As you come through the front door, you find yourself in a large hall with an open fireplace. One of the doors leads to the living room. This room faces the south, so it's very sunny and has a lovely view of the whole valley. In the middle of this room there's a thick Persian carpet.

There are few units of furniture in this room. On the left there's a leather sofa and small table nearby, on the right you can see home cinema and satellite receiver. There are two armchairs in the corner of this room. In the living room we spend our evenings chatting with each other, children play with a dog.

Then a wide staircase takes you to the first floor where there are four bedrooms. My children's rooms are really vast. The wallpapers are very colourful in bright shapes. Also there are lots of toys to play with.

In the basement there is a big garage for our cars. We have got two cars: one for me and one for my wife.Behind the house there is a swimming pool.

Our house looks peaceful and calm and the calmest room is my study. Next door to the study there is our library. It is a huge room with thousands books on history, astronomy, physics, science fictions, fantasy, poetry, etc. Someone might think that it is an archaism, because everything we want to read we can receive in Internet, but I like to handle books in my hands, to read them page by page. As for my children, they prefer associating with their friends.

We have many different electrical appliances in our house. They make our life more comfortable. Also we have some robots to help us. They look after the house, grow vegetables in our garden and involved in cooking. So, we enjoy having green and fresh vegetables on our dinner table during long winters. Our house is a beautiful place at any time of the year. In winter it's warm and cozy, in summer there is so much to do outside.


 

My daily routine

Our dynamic life is full of different activities, and I believe that it is very helpful when you have a scheduled daily routine because it can save your time.

I am not an early bird but as a rule I have to wake up quite early, at 5.30 (five thirty, or half past five) on weekdays. I stay in my bed for 5 or 10 minutes and then I get up. I open the window to let some fresh air enter the room. My morning routine consists taking a shower, having breakfast and going for a walk with my dog. At 6 o’clock I go to the kitchen where my wife has already made breakfast for me. I prefer just a sandwich and a cup of tea in the morning.

At 6.50 I leave home and go to work. It takes me about 50 minutes to get there. I often surf the Internet or read a book on my phone along the way. My working day usually lasts till 17.30. I have a break for lunch at 12.00.

When I get home from work I try to find some time for a little rest. I watch TV, play computer games, chat on the phone or just listen to music. When my wife come home from her work we usually have supper, talk about what we experienced throughout the day and watch some film. Then I often do the washing-up and take the rubbish out. I go to bed at about 11 p.m. I am usually so tired that I fall asleep at once.

I don’t have enough time for my hobbies during my weekdays, so they seem a bit boring probably. But I often devote my weekends to reading, doing sports and meeting my friends. Naturally, the weekends are different. Everyone in my family enjoys the days off, without any stress and hurry. I get up later and on these two days, I do whatever I want and whenever I want.


 

Hobbies

People live a very busy life nowadays, so they have little time to spare. Still they try their best to make use of those rare hours of leisure. A hobby is a favorite pastime of each person.
Hobbies differ like tastes. People choose hobbies according to their taste and character. Someone likes simply lying on a sofa and watching TV, while others climb the mountains.
If you have found a hobby that matches your interests, lucky you are! It means that you have made your life more exciting. Many people have nothing to do during their free time, though there are many different hobbies, such as reading, collecting different items, going in for sports, travelling and others.
If a person decides to collect something, he does it according to his finances: someone collects cars or pictures of world-known painters, while others collect beer cans or stamps. However, whatever they collect, it gives them lots of pleasure. Many collections started in a small way with one or two items. Some private collections are really valuable.
Theatre is one of the most ancient kinds of art. For centuries people have visited it for different reasons: to relax, to be amazed or entertained, to have a good laugh, to enjoy the acting of their favorite actors and actresses.
Modern life is impossible without travelling. Many people travel by rail, by air, by sea or by road simply for pleasure.
Computers are a new hobby. Many young people nowadays can spend an entire day playing computer games. They enjoy sitting glued to the monitors. Some people think that playing computer games is harmful. People start forgetting how to spend their free time. It prevents them from communicating with each other, from visiting friends or relatives. At the same time, internet gives wonderful possibilities for getting information and for education. It brings the whole world into our rooms.
As for me, the first hobby I had in childhood, when I was 5 or 6 years old, was collecting pictures from the bubble gums. Later, when I was 8, I started collecting beer cans. Afterwards, my mom threw them away “because they occupied too much space”.

And now I like reading very much and I think that it’s the most useful pastime. If a person likes reading, he can take lots of useful information and life experience from books. And, of course, I like computer-based activities, watching videos and going in for sports.

So as you can see there are a lot of things to do during your free time.


 

Our University

The Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank is one of the oldest universities in our country. Thanks to the traditions it combines academism, openness and innovations.

The university has gained a good reputation and has become a leader in the field of teacher training for 100 years of its glorious and rich history. Outstanding scientists and teachers, famous scientific schools and centres, a high standard of professional and interpersonal ethics, the continuity (непрерывность) of traditions and the possibility to transfer rich pedagogical and life experience to the younger generations - all this is BSPU nowadays.

BSPU is a member of the Euroasian universities association. This fact shows that the professional training is maintained on a very high level and it confirms that our university can integrate into the international community.

Higher education is the level of basic training aimed at developing the student's personality, his intellectual and creative abilities, enabling him to obtain specialized theoretical and practical knowledge. At the end of the training course the student gets a certification of a specialist with a higher education and a Master's degree.

In accordance with a special permission (license) to carry out educational activities, BSPU provides getting higher education in 79 specialties and 6 specializations. Designing and implementation (реализация) of educational programs of higher education are provided by 11 Faculties and 56 Departments.

The system of training pedagogical staff at the university includes four / five-year training of specialists at the first stage of higher education with the possibility of continuing education in order to obtain the Master’s degree (степень магистра) at the second stage of higher education. After obtaining a Master's degree a graduate of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank has the right to continue his/her education doing PhD (кандидат наук) studies and then Doctorate (докторская степень) studies.

The training of students in the institution of higher education is organized in full-time and extramural (заочный)(including distant education) forms of education. The terms of training depend on the complexity (сложность)of the educational program and the form of education.

The university provides students with ample (обильный) opportunities for self-improvement and advanced training. Students can get additional training at the Additional Education Center.


 

University life

Students are the future of every country. They are young citizens of our society, full of infinite energy and progressive ideas, fantastic plans and noble ambitions, hopes and dreams. Student life is the brightest period of our life. It is a mixture of studies and great fun.

A student has certain duties to perform. It goes without saying that the primary student duty is studying hard and acquiring proper knowledge for the future career. He must attend all the classes at university, do all the work at the right time, be punctual and disciplined. It can help the student achieve his goals and become diligent and perseverant (прилежным и настойчивым). If he doesn’t neglect (пренебрегать) his studies he will receive rich dividends in his future work.

Examination time at the end of each semester is quite tough for students. They spend endless days and nights on studying and cramming (зазубривать). Although some of them use cheating, copying someone’s essays or course works. And you are lucky if you are not caught by the teacher because he can punish you by a poor mark or even by excluding from the University.

Most of the student’s time is devoted to reading and learning. It’s unbelievable but some students manage to deal with part-time jobs because they need a lot of money to study at university. Tuition fees and books are very costly nowadays, and if you rent an apartment it’s even more expensive. So students have busy schedules including studies, work and going out to socialize.

A good student never wastes his spare time uselessly. He should also go in for sports to stay in good health and mood. They say: “A sound mind lives in a sound body.” Students love participating in both academic and extra-curricular (внеклассный) activities at college: different festivals, intellectual quizzes (викторина)and summer camps. This social life broadens the mind, develops your talents and communication skills. And this is a wonderful time when you find real friends among your classmates at University.

Finally I’d like to say that it is absolutely great to be a student!


 

Shopping

I should say that I am one of those people who hate shopping and the idea of doing the shopping drives me mad, though, of course, I like delicious food and nice clothes. It means somebody has to do it for you. In our family it’s my wife’s responsibility. She knows what to buy and where to buy at a cheaper price. I live in a big city, so there are very many shops and supermarkets here.

I seldom go shopping, but I know where this or that thing can be bought. For example, if I want to save time, I go to the nearest food store where I can buy everything I need: bread, milk, sugar, eggs, butter and so on. I prefer this shop because the goods are ready-weighed and ready-packed. I find it convenient and always go there if my wife forgets to buy something and I am sent for it. For my wife going shopping is a kind of pastime and even entertainment. She can spend hours and hours dropping in at one shop after another in search of something special or unusual. More than often she buy things that we practically don’t need.

Nowadays there are different ways of shopping. Years ago people went to the shops and bought everything they needed. With the development of progress shopping began to change and now you can purchase things on the Internet. To attract customers shops provide various services: free home delivery and installation of some gadgets, money-back guarantee, buy and win coupons, repair services. They sell their goods on credit and what not. How inventive people may be in their thirst to get somebody else's money!

While speaking about shopping I can't but mention a very specific phenomenon of our life -advertising. We have to listen to ads and watch commercials at least hundred times a day. It penetrates (проникать) to our minds and makes us wear some kind of clothes and shoes, it insists on our chewing all the time, cleaning our teeth with Colgate after we drink Coffee Nescafe.

If you want to do the shopping you should know some rules. First of all, you should pay for everything you buy. It is important to spend money rationally. If you are queuing up at the cash-desk you need to wait for your turn. You should check your money before and after paying. It is important to think over your choice and to buy only good things. These are the main rules of shopping. Knowing the rules helps to get real bargain.


 

Seasons

There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Every season is beautiful in own way.

When spring comes nature awakens from its long winter sleep. The days become longer and the nights become shorter. The ground is covered with emerald-green grass and the first flowers. The air is fresh, the sky is blue and cloudless, and the sun shines brightly. The trees are in full blossom. The nightingale begins to sing its lovely songs, and sweet melodies may be heard from every wood and park. The days are warm and everything is full of life and joy.

Spring is followed by summer. The weather is usually fine in summer, but it can be very hot, especially in July. Sometimes there are storms with thunder and lightning. In summer people try to go away from the city noise and spend more time in the open air. They pick mushrooms and berries in the forests, swim in the rivers and lakes, go fishing and boating. Most people prefer to have their holidays in summer.

Autumn begins in September. The days become shorter and the nights become longer. The leaves turn yellow, red and purple and fall to the ground. Most birds fly away to warm countries. There is a short spell of dry sunny weather in September, which is called "Indian Summer". It is a beautiful time when the sky is cloudless, the trees around are golden, the air is transparent (прозрачный) and it is still warm. But gradually (постепенно) it gets colder and colder. It often rains in October and November which makes autumn an unpleasant season.

In winter the sun sets early and rises late. The rivers and lakes are frozen over. Everything is covered with snow. Sometimes it is very cold, about 25-30 °C below zero. Going out in such weather isn't very pleasant. Winter is a good time for sports. People go in for skating and skiing. Tobogganing (катание на санках) is also popular, not as a kind of sports, but rather as a fun.

As for me, I like all seasons, but I think - there is nothing like late spring.


 

My favourite season

There are four seasons in the year. They are: winter, spring, summer and autumn. Spring consists of three months: March, April and May. But we define spring not only with the help of a calendar. We can feel it. Air is fresh; the warm wind blows in spring. You can see and smell new emerald grass, the sun spreads golden beams. The trees are in full blossom. The nightingale begins to sing its lovely songs, and sweet melodies may be heard from every wood and park. The days are warm and everything is full of life and joy. Why are we waiting for spring? Why are we so glad to see new leaves and flowers? Probably we are tired because of long, cold and gloomy (мрачный) winter. People become more patient, friendlier.

Spring is my favourite season. I prefer this season to the others because in spring the nature is new,everything becomes easy. Among all seasons spring plays a special role. Every year it begins a new page in nature life. I call spring a wonderful morning of the year.

Many poets have devoted their works to spring. For example, Pushkin, Yesenin, Tyutchev, Fet wrote beautiful poems. Savrasov, Shishkin painted amazing spring landscapes. Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky composed their fantastic masterpieces under the influence of spring mood. It seems to me there is something magic in spring…

So spring is my favourite season, because it always brings new hopes and expectations, new joys and a lot of fun.


 

My meals

It goes without saying that I prefer to have meals at home. At the weekend I like to get up late and have a good breakfast but on weekdays I'm always short of time in the morning. So I just have a cup of strong tea or coffee and a couple of sandwiches.

As I spend a lot of time at work (usually eight or nine hours) it's necessary to have a snack at midday just to keep me going. But I really enjoy my evening meal at home. My wife is a wonderful cook and her dinners are always delicious and various. A full typical dinner comprises soup, a main course and a dessert. My favourite soups are: red beet and mushroom soups. For the main course we usually have some meat or fish, potatoes and vegetables. The most typical meat is a pork or veal chops or chicken. Some other dishes served as appetizers for dinner or for supper are different kinds of salads. We also have a lot of vegetables – green peas, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers. For dessert we have some fruit, fruit juice or just a cup of tea or coffee.

As for my eating and drinking habits, I can tell that I'm not into sweets and as most men think that chocolate is nothing else but a kind of sweets. I dislike any kinds of buns, cakes and pies. But I'm into hot pizzas and sushi.On special occasions, my family goes out to eat in cafes and restaurants. I like trying cuisine of different countries. I don't think I'd like to eat this every day but it's really good for a change.

In the end I should mention that we always should remember that we eat to live but not live to eat.


 

Shopping for food

There is no doubt that shopping is a very integral part of life. It is difficult to imagine our life without shops, especially food shops. Almost every day we do shopping that is why it is often said that shopping for food is just an everyday necessity. There are different kinds of shops however a lot of people prefer to do shopping in supermarkets because it is very convenient as they can buy different things at once. There are people who hate going shopping and find it a bit boring and people who say that shopping for food is entertaining. So it is a difficult question, because there are many opinions about it.

Personally I am convinced that shopping for food is a necessity and hard work. In my opinion people have to spend their spare time in supermarkets, because food is an essential part of our existence. Furthermore, people have to put up with crowded shops and standing in a queue for ages. Sometimes shopping can take a whole day. Supermarkets offer a wide range of foodstuff. There are a lot of rows of shelves full of different kinds of tins, bottles, jars; bright displays of fruit and vegetables; the freezers full of frozen delights and expensive specialties. Therefore people are fascinated with this atmosphere and it is difficult not to give in to temptation and buy something. People face a big choice and often don’t know what to choose from such various assortments.

Other people first of all have to look at the price, because they are pressed for money and at times it is tiresomely.

Though shopping for food can be a time when you feel relaxed. For some people it can be like a therapy. They go shopping to get pleasure and just elate. Moreover, they enjoy displays full of foodstuff, so it is fun for them. They give in to temptation and buy everything they want. Supermarkets simplify our life, because there we can find everything we need.

In conclusion, taking into consideration the points of both sides, I would like to stress that shopping for food is a necessity even if it is a hard and boring routine; we just have to do this. Anyway, shopping is an important part of our daily life. Some people find it boring and hard, others think that it is very entertaining. «So many men so many minds».


 

Eating out

In today’s rapid society, people can afford to spend less time for eating. That is why eating out has become so popular, and there is no doubt that it’s here to stay. In fact, it seems that you simply can’t get away from it. People are too busy to cook and eat proper meals. Young people pick up the idea that speed means excitement, whereas anything traditional is slow and boring. As a result, they turn down traditional food and go for eating out instead. While eating out we can choose from a wide range of eating places. The busiest tend to be fast food restaurants which are popular with young people and families. Many people eat out in Italian restaurants, takeaway from Chinese and Indian restaurants are also popular. Fewer people go to smarter, more expensive restaurant where the food is served on the one hand more slowly, but on the other hand deliberately for you.
Unfortunately many people today have unhealthy eating habits. Teenagers eat more processed food than ever before. When eating out, they choose fast food restaurants for the obvious reasons. They are cheap, and filled with people of their own age. However, fast food restaurants are not the only source of unhealthy food. The modern day families have both parents working outside the home and this means parents don’t often have the time to prepare healthy nutritious meals for their family. Supermarkets are filled with prepackaged (расфасованный), instant (растворимый) foods, tinned soups, frozen ready-made dishes, fizzy drinks, crunchy crisps. All of them can affect our health badly.
The most obvious health problem of eating fast food is putting on weight. Teenagers are at risk of developing diabetes which is connected with obesity (ожирение). The food we eat affects our brain work, emotions we have, our energy, strength and weight.
Another contributing factor to unhealthy eating habits is irregular meal times. Most people skip breakfast because they don’t have time. Lunch is also a problem. As a result the most popular foods at lunch time are snacks. These come in the form of burgers, fries, hot dogs or sandwiches. After school most young people fill up on biscuits, crisps. Combined with sugary soft drinks the average young person’s diet is unhealthier now than it has ever been.
Our bodies need variety. To stay healthy, we should follow simple rules such as to go for meals that have a balance of low-fat meat, fruit, vegetables and breads. Choose fresh fruit instead of sugary, high-fat desserts. If you start making healthy choices now, your body will thank you later.


 



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