My favourite season. There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. When spring comes nature awakens from its long winter sleep. The day become longer and the nights become

My favourite season. There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. When spring comes nature awakens from its long winter sleep. The day become longer and the nights become shorter. The ground is covered with green grass and spring flowers. The air is fresh, the sky is blue and cloudless, and the sun shines brightly. 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 get away from the city noise and spend more time in the open air. They go fishing and boating. Autumn begins in September. The days become shorter and the nights become longer. Most birds fly away to warm countries. There’s a short spell of dry sunny weather in September which is called Indian Summer. It’s a beautiful time when the sky is cloudless, the trees are golden, and the air in transparent and it’s still warm. 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’s very cold, about 25-30 degrees below zero. Winter is a good time for sports. People go in for skating, skiing, tobogganing.	At the doctor. Is there anything more important than health? I don’t think so. “Health is the greatest wealth,” wise people say. You can’t be good at your studies or work well when you are ill. If you have a headache, heartache, toothache, earache or bad pain in the stomach, if you complain of a sore throat or a bad cough, if you run a high temperature and have a bad cold in your head, or if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, I think you should consult a doctor. The doctor will examine your throat, feel your pulse, test your blood pressure, take your temperature, sound your heart and lungs, test your eyes, check your teeth or have your chest X-rayed. After that he will prescribe some treatment, pills, tablets or some other medicine which we can buy at the chemist’s. He will recommend you to stay in bed for some time, because there might be serious complications. The only thing you have to do is to follow his recommendations.	English. One billion people speak English today. 400 million people speak English as their first language. For the other 600 million people it’s either a second language or a foreign language. English is the first language in the United Kingdom, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the official languages in Canada, the Irish Republic and the Republic of South Africa. As the second language English is spoken in more than 60 countries. It is used by the government, businessman and universities. English is the language of politics and diplomacy, science and technology, business and trade, sports and pop music. 80% of all information in the world’s computers is in English. 75% of the world’s letters and faxes are in English. 60% of all international telephone calls are made in English. More than 60% of all scientific journals are written in English. To know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. Learning a language it’s a long and slow process. English is taught throughout the world and a lot of people speak it quite well. In our country English is very popular: it is studied at schools, colleges and universities. Everyone will speak English soon- I’m sure of it. We all need to understand each other. To do that we need an international language, and that’s English.
The mass media play an important part in our lives. Newspapers, radio and especially TV inform us of what is going on in this world and give us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. It is true that the world today is full of dramatic events and most news seems to be bad news. But people aren’t interested in ordinary events. That is why there are so many programmes and articles about natural disasters, plane crashes, wars, murders and robberies. Good news doesn’t usually make headlines. Bad news does. They follow celebrities and print sensational stories about them which are untrue or half-true. The main source of news for millions of people is television. People like TV news because they can see everything with their own eyes. Still, many people prefer the radio. It’s good to listen to in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house. Newspapers don’t react to events as quickly as TV, but they usually provide us with extra detail, comment and background information. The internet has recently become another important source of information. Its main advantage is that news appears on the screen as soon as things happen in real life and you don’t have to wait for news time on TV.	Saratov is one of the largest and most beautiful cities on the Volga River. Its area is 100 thousand square kilometers. Its population is about 1.5 million people. Saratov is one of the largest industrial centers and a centre of culture. Saratov is sometimes called a city of students as there 15 higher educational institutions, many colleges and more than a hundred of secondary school. Saratov lies on the right bank of the river Volga. On the north- west and south-west Saratov is surrounded by hills. Saratov is an interesting and fascinating place to visit and to live in. Saratov is a large river port. The tourists observing the most beautiful automobile bridge Across the Volga. The bridge was built in 1962, it is three kilometers long. The bridge has become one of the symbols of Saratov. A walk along the well- designed Cosmonauts Embankment. Walking higher up the hill from the Embankment the guests of Saratov can quickly get to Troitsky Cathedral, the oldest church in the city. Across the road there is the Museum of the Local Lore, History and Economy (the Museum of Regional Studies). Another famous museum is the Radischev picture Gallery, founded by the Russian painter and dedicated to the memory of Radischev. Many famous people lived and worked in Saratov: Fedin, Chernyshevsky, Radischev, Gagarin and many other outstanding people. A monument to Gagarin is placed on the Embankment in Saratov. The Kirov Square with the monument to Chernyshevsky in the center is one of the finest squares in the city. The building of the Conservatory named after Sobinov is one of the remarkable houses of old Saratov. Kirov Avenue is one of the favourite streets in Saratov.	Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. It was founded 8 centuries ago by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Historians have accepted the year of 1147 as the start of Moscow’s history. became the main target of Napoleon’s attack. Three- quarters of the city was destroyed by fire during Napoleon’s occupation, but by the mid- 19th century Moscow had been completely restored. After the October revolution Moscow became the capital. Now Moscow is one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is about nine hundred square kilometers. The population of the city is over 9 million. Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The heart of Moscow is Red Square. The Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral (Vasily Blazheny) are masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture. The main Kremlin tower, the Spasskaya Tower, has become the symbol of the country. On the territory of the Kremlin you can see old cathedral, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Tzar-Cannon and the Tzar-Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world. St Basil’s Cathedral was built in the mid-16th century in memory of the victory over Kazan. There are more than 100 museums in Moscow. The largest museums are the Pushkin museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow is famous for its theatres. The best-known of them is the Bolshoi Opera House. There are over 100 higher educational institutions in it. Moscow is the seat of the Russian Parliament (the Duma) and the centre of political life of the country.
London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It’s one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million. London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world. Traditionally it’s divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epoch. The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Perhaps the most striking is St Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest of British churches. It was built in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal palace and a prison. Now it’s a museum. Westminster is the historic, the governmental part of London. Nearly all English kings and queens have been crowned in Westminster Abbey. The clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as “Big Ben”. Buckingham palace is the official residence of the Queen. The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there. Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum- the biggest museum in London. The East End was once the poorest district of London- with lots of factories and docks, narrow streets and unimpressive buildings. Today, the district is changing very fast.	St Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as the “Window on the West”. Thousands of workmen were brought from all parts of Russia to build a new city on the swampy land at the mouth of the Neva River. Architects were brought from Western Europe to lay out the city in harmonious squares. Buildings were constructed of grey and rose-colored granite. The Hermitage Palace and the Winter Palace, the homes of the tsars, were equal to any in Europe. When the First World War began in 1914, the German-sounding name, St Petersburg, was changed to Petrograd. After the October Revolution the city was renamed after Lenin. During the Great Patriotic War the city suffered a great deal. The German armies laid siege to it in 1941. No food could be brought in, and people died of starvation. Daily shelling and air raids destroyed parts of the city. Now St Petersburg is an important industrial, cultural and educational centre. The population of the city is over 5 million. St Petersburg is indeed a wonderful city^ at every turn there’s something to catch your eye. The Winter Palace, the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, the Admiralty building attract thousands of tourists from every corner of the world. Petersburg’s many museums house some of the world’s most famous art collections. The city is called the Northern Venice because there are 65 rivers, arms and canals there with artistically decorated bridges. It’s also famous for its beautiful white nights.	The planet Earth it's the only place where human beings can live. Today, our planet is in serious danger. Acid rains, global warming, air and water pollution, overpopulation are the problems that threaten human life on Earth. Our forests are disappearing because they are cut down or burnt. If this trend continues, one day we won't have enough oxygen to breathe. The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today may soon become extinct. Air pollution is another serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is dangerous — equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for many Russian cities. Factories emit tons of harmful chemicals. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains. An even greater threat are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are. Fortunately, it's not too late to solve these problems. We have the time, the money and even the technology to make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place. We can plant trees and create parks for endangered species.
Sport has always been popular in our country. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. A great number of world records have been set by Russian sportsmen: gymnasts, weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, figure skaters, runners, high jumpers. Our sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games. Millions of people watch figure skating competitions, hockey and football matches, car races, tennis tournaments and other sports events. Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally — swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter — but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill. Some people jog every morning, some play tennis. For those who can afford it there are clubs where they give lessons of scuba diving or riding. In spring and summer young people put on their roller-skates and skate in the streets and parks.	The British are known to be great sports-lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of the games we play now have come from Britain. One of the most British games is cricket. Summer isn't summer without cricket. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of behaviour. But as almost everywhere else in the world, the game which attracts the greatest attention is soccer. Every Saturday from late August till the beginning of May, large crowds of people support their favourite sides in football grounds. International football matches and the Cup Finals take place at Wembley. Rugby football is also very popular, but it is played mainly by amateurs. Next to football, the chief spectator sport in British life is horse-racing. A lot of people are interested in the races and risk money on the horse which they think will win. The Derby is perhaps the most famous single sporting event in the whole world. Britain is also famous for motor-car racing, dog-racing, boat-racing, and even races for donkeys. The famous boat-race between the teams of Oxford and Cambridge attracts large crowds of people. A great number of people play and watch tennis. Tennis tournaments at Wimbledon are known all over the world. The innumerable tennis courts of Britain are occupied by people between the ages of 16 and 60. The British also like to play golf, baseball, hockey, grass-hockey. Various forms of athletics, such as running, jumping, swimming, boxing are also popular. You can sometimes hear that there are no winter sports in England.	In 2010 I decided to enter Saratov teacher’s training college and I did it. Now I’m a student of this college. I’m on my second course. Course of study in our college is 4 years. After graduating from the college we’ll get education of teacher of primary school. My speciality is English. In our college we learn different methods of teachings, maths, Russian, literature and others. If we know psychology and pedagogics well, we will know peculiarities and characters of each child. A method of teaching shows to us how to teach young children different subjects. In our college there are skilled teachers, pedagogics who are always ready to help us if we have problems. Certainly, sometimes they give us a lot of different hometasks. To answer all these questions and do all the tasks we use the library and the reading hall. There are a lot of books, magazines and newspapers on different subject. There is also a literature for soul, for interest, or rest. As I understand being a good teacher means to be a highly educated person and to know a lot. So if I want to be a skilled teacher I must continue to learn different subject and, of course, English because it is my speciality. I’m sure that my profession is demanding and responsible. Any person is lucky and happy when he finds his place in life. So I can say that I’m lucky too because I have found my place and I like my profession and my college.
Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays traveling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. Most travelers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them — the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kinds of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds. People travel by train, by plane, by boat and by car. All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations. If we are fond of traveling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own homes.	My hobbies. Hobbies are divided into four large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things. The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to traveling and from chess to volleyball. Gardening is one of the oldest of man's hobbies. It's a well-known fact that the English are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses. Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it's becoming more and more popular. Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, handicrafts. Two of the most famous hobby painters were President Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill. Some hobbyists write music or play musical instruments. Almost everyone collects something at some period in his life: stamps, coins, matchboxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches. Some collections have no real value. Others become so large and so valuable that they are housed in museums and galleries. Many world-famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them. No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby.	Our family is very small, I and my mother..I want to tell you a few words about my family. My name is Alyona. I am 17 years old. I am study in the Saratov Teachers training College in the second year. As for me everybody says I look like my mother. I have brown eyes and dark brown hair. We live in Saratov, on the 2nd floor of an apartment building.. My Mum is 44 years old, but she looks 30. I love my mom, and always ready to help her. My mother-technologist. She works at a bread factory and on the very fond of his work. We also have grandparents. They are on pension. Grandpa loves to draw. And my grandmother to cook.
My flat. We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the two floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot water. There are fourth rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. First there is a small hall with a mirror and small table with a telephone on it. The three rooms of our flat are: living-room, bedroom, my study. The floor is parquet in the rooms and linoleum in the kitchen. There is a thick carpet in the living-room on the floor. All the rooms are papered with wallpaper of a different pattern and colour. The living-room is the largest and most comfortable room in the flat. It's a large room with a balcony. There is a sofa with two armchairs and low table with a TV-set on the left-hand side of the room. On the right-hand side there is a cupboard. There is a bookcase near it. The bedroom is smaller and not so light. There are two beds, a wardrobe, a dressing-table. The room I like best is my study. It is nice and cozy. It has a bed, a desk and an armchair. In the right-hand corner there is a bookcase full of books, magazines, newspapers, and, of course, computer. The kitchen is handily arranged: there is a gas-stove, a frig, a deep sink, built-in cupboards and a table that folds against the wall when not in use. I like our flat very much.	My working day. On weekdays the alarm-clock wakes me up at 6.30 and my working day begins. then I go to the bathroom, take a warm shower, clean my teeth and shave. After that I go to my bedroom to get dressed. Then I go back to my room, make the bed.Usually my mother makes breakfast for me. But when just doesn't have to get up early, I make breakfast myself. While having breakfast, I listen to the latest news on the radio. I leave the house at 7.30 and go to the nearest underground station. It takes me an hour and a half to get to college. But I don't want to waste my time on the train. I've got a player and I listen to music. I have classes till two or three o'clock, it depends on a week day. Then I come home and have dinner. After my dinner, I have a rest for a couple of hours and then I do my homework. If I have some spare time I do some work about the house. I sweep the floor, dust the furniture and clean the carpets with the vacuum-cleaner. Sometimes my mother asks me to go shopping. Then I have free time. I go for a walk with my friends or watch TV, or read books or play my favourite computer games. Then I have supper with my family. I like evenings very much, all members of our family get together after work and study and have the opportunity to talk and to discuss our family affairs. I usually go to bed at about ten o'clock, sometimes at eleven o'clock	. My plans for the future. I have already decided what to do. I'd like to be a teacher» I know that it is very difficult to be a good teacher. It is a hard profession. You should know perfectly the subject you teach, you must be well-educated and well-informed. A good teacher develops in his students a desire for knowledge and love for truth and beauty. It is a great responsibility to educate the children. I think that's the reason why teachers are deeply respected.But there are some people who do not agree with my opinion. They say that their job is boring and very difficult. Really on the other hand a teacher should be not only well-educated, noble but very patient because every child wants to be gifted. How to do this difficult task? That`s why a lot of young people do not want to enter the Pedagogical Universities. Moreover, the teacher`s salary is miserable. I think it`s the main reason not to become teachers in future for some young people. Finally this job takes much time. In conclusion I would like to add that I`m a happy girl. All my teachers consider that their job is the best in the world. I agree with them. I want to become an English teacher. I dream to become the best teacher, respect and love all children. And I will try to get my goal.
Shopping. When we want to buy something, we go to a shop. There are many kinds of shops in every town or city, but most of them have a food supermarket, a department store, men's and women's clothing stores, grocery, a bakery and a butchery. I like to do my shopping at big department stores and supermarkets. They sell various goods under one roof and this is very convenient. A department store, for example, true to its name, is composed of many departments: readymade clothes, fabrics, shoes, sports goods, toys, china and glass, electric appliances, cosmetics, linen, curtains, cameras, records, etc. You can buy everything you like there. There are also escalators in big stores which take customers to different floors. The things for sale are on the counters so that they can be easily seen. In the women's clothing department you can find dresses, costumes, blouses, skirts, coats, beautiful underwear and many other things. In the men's clothing department you can choose suits, trousers, overcoats, ties, etc. In the knitwear department one can buy sweaters, cardigans, short-sleeved and long-sleeved pullovers, woolen jackets. In the perfumery they sell face cream and powder, lipstick, lotions and shampoos. In a food supermarket we can also buy many different things at once: sausages, fish, sugar, macaroni, flour, cereals, tea. At the butcher's there is a wide choice of meat and poultry. At the bakery you buy brown and white bread, rolls, biscuits. Another shop we frequently go to is the greengrocery which is stocked by cabbage, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, beetroots, green peas and what not. Everything is sold here ready-weighed and packed. If you call round at a dairy you can buy milk, cream, cheese, butter and many other products	My favourite book is "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe. D. Defoe (1660—1731) was a great master of realistic detail. The novel "Robinson Crusoe" was written in 1719. The novel is praise to human labour and the triumph of man over nature. Defoe shows the development of his hero. At the beginning of the story we see an inexperienced youth, a rather frivolous boy, who then becomes a strong-willed man. Robinson Crusoe's most characteristic trait is his optimism. His guiding principle in life become "never say die" and "in trouble to be troubled is to have your troubles doubled". He had confidence in himself and in man. He believed it was within the power of man to overcome all difficulties. Crusoe was an enthusiastic worker and always hoped for the best. Defoe is a writer of the Enlightenment. He teaches people how to live, he tries to teach what's good and what's bad. His novel "Robinson Crusoe" is not only a work of fiction, an account of adventures, a biography and an educational pamphlet. It is a study of man, a great work showing man in relation to nature and civilization as well as in relation to labour and private property.	One of Russia's most celebrated poets of all times, Michael Lermontov was born in Moscow in the family of a nobleman. He spent his childhood and youth in Tarckany, in the province of Penza. In 1830 Lermontov entered the Moscow University, but very soon he had to leave it. Then he entered St. Petersburg School of Cavalry Cadets. He finished it and served in the Hussar Regiment of the Imperial Guard. In 1837 the poet was exiled to the Caucasus for his poem "Poets Death". In 1840 Lermontov was exiled to the Caucasus for the second time. He was provoked into personal quarrel with his schoolmate. The quarrel led to a duel. On July 15th, 1841 the poet was killed. He was not even 27 at that time. Lermontov began writing when he was very young. One of his first writings to be published was his verse tale "Hadji Arbek". But he won fame as a poet after his poem "Poets Death" was published. Lermontov's poems "Demon" "Mtsyri" his great novel "A Hero of Our Time" and his play "Masquerade" are masterpieces of Russian literature. Whether he wrote poetry, drama or prose, the stamp of his genius was to be found on his works. Lermontov's influence as of a poet and a thinker on all Russian writes can't be overestimated.
My friend. I am a happy person. I have a faithful friend. Friendship is a very important thing for me. I am sure that people can`t live without friends. As English people say, "A good friend is as the sun in winter". A good proverb, isn`t it? A real friend makes our life happier and more interesting.I haven`t got a brother or a sister, but I have Yulia. She is my best friend. Yulia is not only my classmate. She lives next door. I`ve known her for twelve years. Twelve years is a very long time! I don`t remember how and when we met for the first time because we were little babies, but I remember how we went to the kindergarten and spent free time together. Yulia is very kind. She always supports and helps me in difficult situations. As a friend she is considerate, supportive and faithful. She`ll never betray me.. I think we are good friends because we can rely on each other, cheer each other up, keep each other`s secrets. We have similar interests and do everything together: walk to school, listen to music, go shopping and watch films. We help each other with homework. I write short stories and Yulia is the first reader of my works. She`s a person who I am never bored with. Without exaggeration I can say that we "ate a bushel of salt" and I believe that our friendship will last a very, very long time.	The English usually have 4 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea (5 o'clock), and dinner. Breakfast can be a full "English breakfast" of corn flakes with milk and sugar, or bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade, tea or coffee. Some people, however, have just a cup of tea or coffee with a toast. This is usually called a "continental breakfast".At midday everything is stopped for lunch. Most offices and small shops are closed for an hour and the city pavements are full of people on their way to cafes, coffee bars, restaurants. Factory and plant workers usually eat in their canteens. The English like what they call "good plain food". Usually they like steak, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and fish and chips. Afternoon tea is taken at about 5 o'clock, but it can hardly be called a meal. It is a cup of tea and a cake or biscuits. At the weekends afternoon tea is a special occasion.Friends and visitors are often invited to have a chat over a cup of Dinner is the most substantial meal of the whole day. It is usually eaten at 7 o'clock. The first course may be soup (though the English don't like it very much). The main course will often be fish or meat, perhaps the traditional roast beef of old England, and a lot of vegetables. The, next course will be something sweet and often baked, such as a fruit pie. Last of all there may be cheese, often with biscuits. It is common knowledge that the English are very fond of tea. They like to have "a nice cup of tea" 6 or 8 times a day, sometimes even more.On Christmas Day a roast turkey is traditionally cooked for dinner. It is usually followed by Christmas pudding.	Famous people.

My family. Our family is very small, I and my mother..I want to tell you a few words about my family. My name is Alyona. I am 17 years old. I am study in the Saratov Teachers training College in the second year. As for me everybody says I look like my mother. I have brown eyes and dark brown hair. We live in Saratov, on the 2nd floor of an apartment building.. My Mum is 44 years old, but she looks 30. I love my mom, and always ready to help her. My mother-technologist. She works at a bread factory and on the very fond of his work. We also have grandparents. They are on pension. Grandpa loves to draw. And my grandmother to cook.

My favourite season. There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn and winter. When spring comes nature awakens from its long winter sleep. The day become longer and the nights become shorter. The ground is covered with green grass and spring flowers. The air is fresh, the sky is blue and cloudless, and the sun shines brightly. 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 get away from the city noise and spend more time in the open air. They go fishing and boating. Autumn begins in September. The days become shorter and the nights become longer. Most birds fly away to warm countries. There’s a short spell of dry sunny weather in September which is called Indian Summer. It’s a beautiful time when the sky is cloudless, the trees are golden, and the air in transparent and it’s still warm. 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’s very cold, about 25-30 degrees below zero. Winter is a good time for sports. People go in for skating, skiing, tobogganing.

English. One billion people speak English today. 400 million people speak English as their first language. For the other 600 million people it’s either a second language or a foreign language. English is the first language in the United Kingdom, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the official languages in Canada, the Irish Republic and the Republic of South Africa. As the second language English is spoken in more than 60 countries. It is used by the government, businessman and universities. English is the language of politics and diplomacy, science and technology, business and trade, sports and pop music. 80% of all information in the world’s computers is in English. 75% of the world’s letters and faxes are in English. 60% of all international telephone calls are made in English. More than 60% of all scientific journals are written in English. To know English today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. Learning a language it’s a long and slow process. English is taught throughout the world and a lot of people speak it quite well. In our country English is very popular: it is studied at schools, colleges and universities. Everyone will speak English soon- I’m sure of it. We all need to understand each other. To do that we need an international language, and that’s English.

At the doctor. Is there anything more important than health? I don’t think so. “Health is the greatest wealth,” wise people say. You can’t be good at your studies or work well when you are ill. If you have a headache, heartache, toothache, earache or bad pain in the stomach, if you complain of a sore throat or a bad cough, if you run a high temperature and have a bad cold in your head, or if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, I think you should consult a doctor. The doctor will examine your throat, feel your pulse, test your blood pressure, take your temperature, sound your heart and lungs, test your eyes, check your teeth or have your chest X-rayed. After that he will prescribe some treatment, pills, tablets or some other medicine which we can buy at the chemist’s. He will recommend you to stay in bed for some time, because there might be serious complications. The only thing you have to do is to follow his recommendations.

The mass media play an important part in our lives. Newspapers, radio and especially TV inform us of what is going on in this world and give us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. It is true that the world today is full of dramatic events and most news seems to be bad news. But people aren’t interested in ordinary events. That is why there are so many programmes and articles about natural disasters, plane crashes, wars, murders and robberies. Good news doesn’t usually make headlines. Bad news does. They follow celebrities and print sensational stories about them which are untrue or half-true. The main source of news for millions of people is television. People like TV news because they can see everything with their own eyes. Still, many people prefer the radio. It’s good to listen to in the car, or in the open air, or when you do something about the house. Newspapers don’t react to events as quickly as TV, but they usually provide us with extra detail, comment and background information. The internet has recently become another important source of information. Its main advantage is that news appears on the screen as soon as things happen in real life and you don’t have to wait for news time on TV.

Saratov is one of the largest and most beautiful cities on the Volga River. Its area is 100 thousand square kilometers. Its population is about 1.5 million people. Saratov is one of the largest industrial centers and a centre of culture. Saratov is sometimes called a city of students as there 15 higher educational institutions, many colleges and more than a hundred of secondary school. Saratov lies on the right bank of the river Volga. On the north- west and south-west Saratov is surrounded by hills. Saratov is an interesting and fascinating place to visit and to live in. Saratov is a large river port. The tourists observing the most beautiful automobile bridge Across the Volga. The bridge was built in 1962, it is three kilometers long. The bridge has become one of the symbols of Saratov. A walk along the well- designed Cosmonauts Embankment. Walking higher up the hill from the Embankment the guests of Saratov can quickly get to Troitsky Cathedral, the oldest church in the city. Across the road there is the Museum of the Local Lore, History and Economy (the Museum of Regional Studies). Another famous museum is the Radischev picture Gallery, founded by the Russian painter and dedicated to the memory of Radischev. Many famous people lived and worked in Saratov: Fedin, Chernyshevsky, Radischev, Gagarin and many other outstanding people. A monument to Gagarin is placed on the Embankment in Saratov. The Kirov Square with the monument to Chernyshevsky in the center is one of the finest squares in the city. The building of the Conservatory named after Sobinov is one of the remarkable houses of old Saratov. Kirov Avenue is one of the favourite streets in Saratov.

Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. It was founded 8 centuries ago by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Historians have accepted the year of 1147 as the start of Moscow’s history. became the main target of Napoleon’s attack. Three- quarters of the city was destroyed by fire during Napoleon’s occupation, but by the mid- 19th century Moscow had been completely restored. After the October revolution Moscow became the capital. Now Moscow is one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is about nine hundred square kilometers. The population of the city is over 9 million. Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The heart of Moscow is Red Square. The Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral (Vasily Blazheny) are masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture. The main Kremlin tower, the Spasskaya Tower, has become the symbol of the country. On the territory of the Kremlin you can see old cathedral, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Tzar-Cannon and the Tzar-Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world. St Basil’s Cathedral was built in the mid-16th century in memory of the victory over Kazan. There are more than 100 museums in Moscow. The largest museums are the Pushkin museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow is famous for its theatres. The best-known of them is the Bolshoi Opera House. There are over 100 higher educational institutions in it. Moscow is the seat of the Russian Parliament (the Duma) and the centre of political life of the country.

The British are known to be great sports-lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of the games we play now have come from Britain. One of the most British games is cricket. Summer isn't summer without cricket. To many Englishmen cricket is both a game and a standard of behaviour. But as almost everywhere else in the world, the game which attracts the greatest attention is soccer. Every Saturday from late August till the beginning of May, large crowds of people support their favourite sides in football grounds. International football matches and the Cup Finals take place at Wembley. Rugby football is also very popular, but it is played mainly by amateurs. Next to football, the chief spectator sport in British life is horse-racing. A lot of people are interested in the races and risk money on the horse which they think will win. The Derby is perhaps the most famous single sporting event in the whole world. Britain is also famous for motor-car racing, dog-racing, boat-racing, and even races for donkeys. The famous boat-race between the teams of Oxford and Cambridge attracts large crowds of people. A great number of people play and watch tennis. Tennis tournaments at Wimbledon are known all over the world. The innumerable tennis courts of Britain are occupied by people between the ages of 16 and 60. The British also like to play golf, baseball, hockey, grass-hockey. Various forms of athletics, such as running, jumping, swimming, boxing are also popular. You can sometimes hear that there are no winter sports in England.

St Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as the “Window on the West”. Thousands of workmen were brought from all parts of Russia to build a new city on the swampy land at the mouth of the Neva River. Architects were brought from Western Europe to lay out the city in harmonious squares. Buildings were constructed of grey and rose-colored granite. The Hermitage Palace and the Winter Palace, the homes of the tsars, were equal to any in Europe. When the First World War began in 1914, the German-sounding name, St Petersburg, was changed to Petrograd. After the October Revolution the city was renamed after Lenin. During the Great Patriotic War the city suffered a great deal. The German armies laid siege to it in 1941. No food could be brought in, and people died of starvation. Daily shelling and air raids destroyed parts of the city. Now St Petersburg is an important industrial, cultural and educational centre. The population of the city is over 5 million. St Petersburg is indeed a wonderful city^ at every turn there’s something to catch your eye. The Winter Palace, the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, the Admiralty building attract thousands of tourists from every corner of the world. Petersburg’s many museums house some of the world’s most famous art collections. The city is called the Northern Venice because there are 65 rivers, arms and canals there with artistically decorated bridges. It’s also famous for its beautiful white nights.

The planet Earth it's the only place where human beings can live.

Today, our planet is in serious danger. Acid rains, global warming, air and water pollution, overpopulation are the problems that threaten human life on Earth. Our forests are disappearing because they are cut down or burnt. If this trend continues, one day we won't have enough oxygen to breathe. The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today may soon become extinct. Air pollution is another serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is dangerous — equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for many Russian cities. Factories emit tons of harmful chemicals. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reason for the greenhouse effect and acid rains. An even greater threat are nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are. Fortunately, it's not too late to solve these problems. We have the time, the money and even the technology to make our planet a better, cleaner and safer place. We can plant trees and create parks for endangered species.

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It’s one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million. London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world. Traditionally it’s divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epoch. The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Perhaps the most striking is St Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest of British churches. It was built in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren. The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal palace and a prison. Now it’s a museum. Westminster is the historic, the governmental part of London. Nearly all English kings and queens have been crowned in Westminster Abbey. The clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as “Big Ben”. Buckingham palace is the official residence of the Queen. The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there. Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum- the biggest museum in London. The East End was once the poorest district of London- with lots of factories and docks, narrow streets and unimpressive buildings. Today, the district is changing very fast.

Sport has always been popular in our country. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. A great number of world records have been set by Russian sportsmen: gymnasts, weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, figure skaters, runners, high jumpers. Our sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games. Millions of people watch figure skating competitions, hockey and football matches, car races, tennis tournaments and other sports events. Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally — swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter — but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill. Some people jog every morning, some play tennis.

For those who can afford it there are clubs where they give lessons of scuba diving or riding. In spring and summer young people put on their roller-skates and skate in the streets and parks.

In 2010 I decided to enter Saratov teacher’s training college and I did it. Now I’m a student of this college. I’m on my second course. Course of study in our college is 4 years. After graduating from the college we’ll get education of teacher of primary school. My speciality is English. In our college we learn different methods of teachings, maths, Russian, literature and others. If we know psychology and pedagogics well, we will know peculiarities and characters of each child. A method of teaching shows to us how to teach young children different subjects. In our college there are skilled teachers, pedagogics who are always ready to help us if we have problems. Certainly, sometimes they give us a lot of different hometasks. To answer all these questions and do all the tasks we use the library and the reading hall. There are a lot of books, magazines and newspapers on different subject. There is also a literature for soul, for interest, or rest. As I understand being a good teacher means to be a highly educated person and to know a lot. So if I want to be a skilled teacher I must continue to learn different subject and, of course, English because it is my speciality. I’m sure that my profession is demanding and responsible. Any person is lucky and happy when he finds his place in life. So I can say that I’m lucky too because I have found my place and I like my profession and my college.

Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays traveling. They travel to see other countries and continents, modern cities and the ruins of ancient towns, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants.

Most travelers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them — the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kinds of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds. People travel by train, by plane, by boat and by car. All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations.

My hobbies. Hobbies are divided into four large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things. The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to traveling and from chess to volleyball. Gardening is one of the oldest of man's hobbies. It's a well-known fact that the English are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses. Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it's becoming more and more popular. Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, handicrafts. Two of the most famous hobby painters were President Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill. Some hobbyists write music or play musical instruments. Almost everyone collects something at some period in his life: stamps, coins, matchboxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches. Some collections have no real value. Others become so large and so valuable that they are housed in museums and galleries. Many world-famous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them. No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby.

My flat. We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the two floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot water. There are fourth rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. First there is a small hall with a mirror and small table with a telephone on it. The three rooms of our flat are: living-room, bedroom, my study. The floor is parquet in the rooms and linoleum in the kitchen. There is a thick carpet in the living-room on the floor. All the rooms are papered with wallpaper of a different pattern and colour. The living-room is the largest and most comfortable room in the flat. It's a large room with a balcony. There is a sofa with two armchairs and low table with a TV-set on the left-hand side of the room. On the right-hand side there is a cupboard. There is a bookcase near it. The bedroom is smaller and not so light. There are two beds, a wardrobe, a dressing-table. The room I like best is my study. It is nice and cozy. It has a bed, a desk and an armchair. In the right-hand corner there is a bookcase full of books, magazines, newspapers, and, of course, computer. The kitchen is handily arranged: there is a gas-stove, a frig, a deep sink, built-in cupboards and a table that folds against the wall when not in use. I like our flat very much.

My working day. On weekdays the alarm-clock wakes me up at 6.30 and my working day begins. then I go to the bathroom, take a warm shower, clean my teeth and shave. After that I go to my bedroom to get dressed. Then I go back to my room, make the bed.Usually my mother makes breakfast for me. But when just doesn't have to get up early, I make breakfast myself. While having breakfast, I listen to the latest news on the radio. I leave the house at 7.30 and go to the nearest underground station. It takes me an hour and a half to get to college. But I don't want to waste my time on the train. I've got a player and I listen to music. I have classes till two or three o'clock, it depends on a week day. Then I come home and have dinner. After my dinner, I have a rest for a couple of hours and then I do my homework. If I have some spare time I do some work about the house. I sweep the floor, dust the furniture and clean the carpets with the vacuum-cleaner. Sometimes my mother asks me to go shopping. Then I have free time. I go for a walk with my friends or watch TV, or read books or play my favourite computer games. Then I have supper with my family. I like evenings very much, all members of our family get together after work and study and have the opportunity to talk and to discuss our family affairs. I usually go to bed at about ten o'clock, sometimes at eleven o'clock

. My plans for the future.

I have already decided what to do. I'd like to be a teacher» I know that it is very difficult to be a good teacher. It is a hard profession. You should know perfectly the subject you teach, you must be well-educated and well-informed. A good teacher develops in his students a desire for knowledge and love for truth and beauty. It is a great responsibility to educate the children. I think that's the reason why teachers are deeply respected.But there are some people who do not agree with my opinion. They say that their job is boring and very difficult. Really on the other hand a teacher should be not only well-educated, noble but very patient because every child wants to be gifted. How to do this difficult task? That`s why a lot of young people do not want to enter the Pedagogical Universities. Moreover, the teacher`s salary is miserable. I think it`s the main reason not to become teachers in future for some young people. Finally this job takes much time. In conclusion I would like to add that I`m a happy girl. All my teachers consider that their job is the best in the world. I agree with them. I want to become an English teacher. I dream to become the best teacher, respect and love all children. And I will try to get my goal.

Shopping. When we want to buy something, we go to a shop. There are many kinds of shops in every town or city, but most of them have a food supermarket, a department store, men's and women's clothing stores, grocery, a bakery and a butchery. I like to do my shopping at big department stores and supermarkets. They sell various goods under one roof and this is very convenient. A department store, for example, true to its name, is composed of many departments: readymade clothes, fabrics, shoes, sports goods, toys, china and glass, electric appliances, cosmetics, linen, curtains, cameras, records, etc. You can buy everything you like there. There are also escalators in big stores which take customers to different floors. The things for sale are on the counters so that they can be easily seen. In the women's clothing department you can find dresses, costumes, blouses, skirts, coats, beautiful underwear and many other things. In the men's clothing department you can choose suits, trousers, overcoats, ties, etc. In the knitwear department one can buy sweaters, cardigans, short-sleeved and long-sleeved pullovers, woolen jackets. In the perfumery they sell face cream and powder, lipstick, lotions and shampoos. In a food supermarket we can also buy many different things at once: sausages, fish, sugar, macaroni, flour, cereals, tea. At the butcher's there is a wide choice of meat and poultry. At the bakery you buy brown and white bread, rolls, biscuits. Another shop we frequently go to is the greengrocery which is stocked by cabbage, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, beetroots, green peas and what not. Everything is sold here ready-weighed and packed. If you call round at a dairy you can buy milk, cream, cheese, butter and many other products

My favourite book is "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe. D. Defoe (1660—1731) was a great master of realistic detail. The novel "Robinson Crusoe" was written in 1719. The novel is praise to human labour and the triumph of man over nature. Defoe shows the development of his hero. At the beginning of the story we see an inexperienced youth, a rather frivolous boy, who then becomes a strong-willed man. Robinson Crusoe's most characteristic trait is his optimism. His guiding principle in life become "never say die" and "in trouble to be troubled is to have your troubles doubled". He had confidence in himself and in man. He believed it was within the power of man to overcome all difficulties. Crusoe was an enthusiastic worker and always hoped for the best. Defoe is a writer of the Enlightenment. He teaches people how to live, he tries to teach what's good and what's bad. His novel "Robinson Crusoe" is not only a work of fiction, an account of adventures, a biography and an educational pamphlet. It is a study of man, a great work showing man in relation to nature and civilization as well as in relation to labour and private property.

One of Russia's most celebrated poets of all times, Michael Lermontov was born in Moscow in the family of a nobleman. He spent his childhood and youth in Tarckany, in the province of Penza. In 1830 Lermontov entered the Moscow University, but very soon he had to leave it. Then he entered St. Petersburg School of Cavalry Cadets. He finished it and served in the Hussar Regiment of the Imperial Guard. In 1837 the poet was exiled to the Caucasus for his poem "Poets Death". In 1840 Lermontov was exiled to the Caucasus for the second time. He was provoked into personal quarrel with his schoolmate. The quarrel led to a duel. On July 15th, 1841 the poet was killed. He was not even 27 at that time. Lermontov began writing when he was very young. One of his first writings to be published was his verse tale "Hadji Arbek". But he won fame as a poet after his poem "Poets Death" was published. Lermontov's poems "Demon" "Mtsyri" his great novel "A Hero of Our Time" and his play "Masquerade" are masterpieces of Russian literature. Whether he wrote poetry, drama or prose, the stamp of his genius was to be found on his works. Lermontov's influence as of a poet and a thinker on all Russian writes can't be overestimated.

My friend. I am a happy person. I have a faithful friend. Friendship is a very important thing for me. I am sure that people can`t live without friends. As English people say, "A good friend is as the sun in winter". A good proverb, isn`t it? A real friend makes our life happier and more interesting.I haven`t got a brother or a sister, but I have Yulia. She is my best friend. Yulia is not only my classmate. She lives next door. I`ve known her for twelve years. Twelve years is a very long time! I don`t remember how and when we met for the first time because we were little babies, but I remember how we went to the kindergarten and spent free time together. Yulia is very kind. She always supports and helps me in difficult situations. As a friend she is considerate, supportive and faithful. She`ll never betray me.. I think we are good friends because we can rely on each other, cheer each other up, keep each other`s secrets. We have similar interests and do everything together: walk to school, listen to music, go shopping and watch films. We help each other with homework. I write short stories and Yulia is the first reader of my works. She`s a person who I am never bored with. Without exaggeration I can say that we "ate a bushel of salt" and I believe that our friendship will last a very, very long time.

The English usually have 4 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea (5 o'clock), and dinner. Breakfast can be a full "English breakfast" of corn flakes with milk and sugar, or bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade, tea or coffee. Some people, however, have just a cup of tea or coffee with a toast. This is usually called a "continental breakfast".At midday everything is stopped for lunch. Most offices and small shops are closed for an hour and the city pavements are full of people on their way to cafes, coffee bars, restaurants. Factory and plant workers usually eat in their canteens. The English like what they call "good plain food". Usually they like steak, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and fish and chips. Afternoon tea is taken at about 5 o'clock, but it can hardly be called a meal. It is a cup of tea and a cake or biscuits. At the weekends afternoon tea is a special occasion.Friends and visitors are often invited to have a chat over a cup of Dinner is the most substantial meal of the whole day. It is usually eaten at 7 o'clock. The first course may be soup (though the English don't like it very much). The main course will often be fish or meat, perhaps the traditional roast beef of old England, and a lot of vegetables. The, next course will be something sweet and often baked, such as a fruit pie. Last of all there may be cheese, often with biscuits. It is common knowledge that the English are very fond of tea. They like to have "a nice cup of tea" 6 or 8 times a day, sometimes even more.On Christmas Day a roast turkey is traditionally cooked for dinner. It is usually followed by Christmas pudding.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04