Christmas is the most important annual festival in both Britain and North America. In its origins, it combines the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, on 25 December, with the ancient tradition of a winter feast during the darkest period of the year.

CELEBRATION

Christmas carols - a special kind of religious songs - are an important part of it. You may hear them countless times over the radio but it is quite different when you listen to people sing carols around you in church.

COUNT

At this time, too, many carol singers make door-to-door visits to people at home, collecting money for this or that charity.

SING

Many weeks before Christmas, shops start selling various Christmas cards and Christmas gifts.

VARY

Shop owners decorate their shops with holly, mistletoe, candles and colourful paper chains and lanterns.

All kinds of traditional Christmas food are also widely available.

WIDE

The first Arbor Day took place in April, 1872 in Nebraska. It was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist and politician originally from Michigan.

POLITICS

When he became a member of Nebraska"s state board of agriculture, he proposed that a special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing awareness of the importance of trees. Nebraska"s first Arbor Day was an amazing success. More than one million trees were planted.

AWARE

On April 22, 1970, Arbor Day activities were modified to emphasize the critical importance of the environment.

ACTIVE

It was a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire. Earth Day was created to remind people of their responsibility to protect the planet.

RESPONSIBLE

Now Earth Day is celebrated annually around the globe.

ANNUAL

What started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect our global environment.

GLOBE

Every year more than eleven million tourists visit Britain. Most visitors come in the summer months when they can expect good weather.

VISIT

Tourists usually spend a few days in London, then go on to other well-known cities.

USUAL

Perhaps the least visited places in England are old industrial towns.

INDUSTRY

But many people think that nineteenth-century cities show the reality of Britain.

REAL

The greatness of the past is to be still seen in their old streets.

GREAT

The cheap, concrete buildings of the 1960s look old and dirty, but for the adventurous tourists these cities are full of life and colour.

ADVENTURE

Australia is an island continent and the world"s sixth largest country. The continent and the island of Tasmania, off its south-eastern coast, make up the Commonwealth of Australia.

SOUTH-EAST

Australia is a federation of six states and two territories. The largest State, Western Australia, is about the same size as Western Europe. The country has a parliamentary system of administration modelled on the British one, and the state and federal structures are broadly similar.

PARLIAMENT

Australia"s system of administration is based on the democratic tradition.

DEMOCRAT

Australia is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, but although Britain"s king or queen is the Australian Head of State, Australia is fully autonomous.

FULL

The British sovereign is represented by the governor-general and state governors, whose nomination for the post is ratified by the monarch of the day.

NOMINATE

Ministers of the government are elected for a maximum of three years. Voting is by secret ballot and is compulsory for persons 18 years of age and over.

GOVERN

It is difficult to tell exactly how many languages there are in the world today. Scientists say there are about 2,700 languages, but no one has ever made a more definite count.

SCIENCE

In most countries there are at least two native languages, and in some cases - as in Cameroon - there are hundreds. The number of languages naturally changes as tribes die out or linguistic groups are absorbed.

NATURAL

development of languages. New words appear, existing words acquire new meanings, native words give way to international terms.

DEVELOP

Almost all languages change. A rare exception is written Icelandic, which has changed so little that speakers of modern Icelandic can read sagas written a thousand years ago.

SPEAK

If you drew a map of Europe based on languages, it would be different from a conventional map. For example, Switzerland would practically disappear , becoming part of the surrounding areas of French, Italian, and German.

APPEAR

Italy, too, would appear on the map not as one language, but as a whole variety of broadly related but often mutually incomprehensible dialects.

VARY

In the 18th century a large number of foreigners came to the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. One of the most powerful people of that time, Napoleon Bonaparte, also visited the Pyramid.

POWER

His expedition to Egypt in 1798 was not only military but archeological as well. He took with him specialists in different spheres of science. The scientist measured, explored and made many drawings of Egyptian pyramids.

SCIENCE

One day Napoleon with several servants came to the Great Pyramid of Cheops. There he wanted to be left alone.

SERVE

He ordered everyone to leave him and went into the darkness alone.

DARK

When he came out he was pale. ‘Are you all right, sir?’ asked the guide. Napoleon was silent. Then he said sadly , ‘Never mention this matter again. Ever!’

Years later, his friend Tomblier asked him what he had seen in the Great Pyramid. Napoleon stared at Tomblier for a while, then said only two words, Something impossible !’ He never spoke about it again.

POSSIBLE

Some of the greatest and most prominent inventions in the quest to explore space have a Russian connection. The father of theoretical astronautics, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, was a Soviet. His works have been an inspiration to leading Russian rocket engineers Valentin Glushko and Sergev Korolyov.

LEAD

Soviet scientists paved the way to the well-known success of the Russian space program. Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite orbiting the Earth, was launched in 1957.

SCIENCE

On April 12, 1961, Yury Gagarin successfully made the first human trip to space.

SUCCESS

Since then, many other Russian and Soviet records in space exploration followed.

EXPLORE

Even now, Russia continues to be the leader in satellite launching.

LEAD

It is also the sole transport provider for space tourism / tourists . Other Soviet contributions to the development of space flights include the invention of space food, space suits, human spaceflight, and human space orbit.

TOUR

Do you know how the refrigerator was invented? It is one of the most important contributions of the Scots to the world.

CONTRIBUTE

If James Harrison (1816-1893), a Scottish immigrant to Australia, didn’t accidentally push ether gas into a metal tube, people might still be using boxes filled with blocks of ice to cool their food.

ACCIDENTAL

The main problem was how to overcome the need for ice in the refrigeration process.

REFRIGERATE

Ice had to be cut fresh from frozen lakes and stored inside an underground house until it was ready to be used as a cooler .

COOL

Australians had difficulty gaining access to natural ice since Australia does not enjoy that many lakes.

NATURE

Harrison’s discovery was beneficial the world over, but especially important for Australia because now it could export frozen meat to Europe. He even tried one such journey to Europe, but the ether had leaked during the voyage and ruined the entire cargo. Harrison went bankrupt but his legacy meant a huge difference to the Australian economy.

DIFFER

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. Its numerous high-rise buildings , heavy traffic congestion, intense heat and naughty nightlife may not immediately give you the best impression.

BUILD

Don’t let that mislead you.

LEAD

It is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities with impressive temples and palaces, authentic canals, busy markets and a vibrant nightlife that has something for everyone.

IMPRESS

The heart of Bangkok is probably its magnificent Grand Palace, which is one of the architectural wonders of the world.

PROBABLE

It is a collection of highly decorated holy temples and monuments.

COLLECT

Its asymmetry and eclectic styles are due to its organic development , with additions and rebuilding being made by successive reigning kings over 200 years of history. It is worth spending at least a full morning or afternoon there. At night the palace is lit up and glows in vivid colour.

DEVELOP

Water is a vital element in each of our lives. Not only is it essential to our health, but we also use it for various household tasks. Every day we use water for cooking, bathing, and cleaning, and drinking; but how often do we think about its source?

VARY

Consumers receive their water from one of two sources: a private well, or a community water system.

CONSUME

Approximately 15 percent of the U.S. population relies on individually owned and operated sources of drinking water, such as wells, cisterns, and springs. The majority of household wells are found in rural areas.

INDIVIDUAL

Those who receive their water from a private well are solely responsible for the safety of the water.

RESPONSE

Private wells are not subject to different federal regulations and are generally regulated on a very limited basis by states.

REGULATE

Local health departments may assist well owners with periodic / periodical testing for bacteria or nitrates, but the bulk of the responsibility for caring for the well falls on the well owner.

PERIOD

In his quarters at the University of Arizona, Alex is commenting on all that he sees. “Hot!” he warns as a visitor picks up a mug of tea. Alex spots a plateful of fruit and announces his choice: “Grape.” Alex is an African grey parrot.

VISIT

For the last 16 years, biologist Irene Pepperberg has been exploring the degree to which the bird understands what he is saying.

BIOLOGY

Alex also communicates what appear to be various feelings.

VARY

Are the parrot’s words merely a collection of sounds he emits when frustrated, or does this one-pound bird know what he is saying?

MERE

For centuries, philosophers argued that thinking and language separate humans from other species. Later, scientists had reason to be critical of claims concerning animal intelligence.

THINK

Today innovative probes of animal intelligence have convinced most scientists that other species really share with humans some higher mental abilities .

ABLE

Going for a walk is the most popular leisure activity in Britain. Despite its high population density, the UK has many unspoilt rural and coastal areas.

POPULATE

Twelve National Parks are freely accessible to the public and were created to conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage they contain.

NATURE

Most of the land in National Parks is privately owned, but administered by an independent National Park Authority which works to balance the expectations of visitors with the need to conserve these open spaces for future generations.

VISIT

The UK also works to improve the global environment and has taken global warming seriously ever since specialists discovered the hole in the ozone layer.

SERIOUS

In 1997, the UK subscribed to the Kyoto Protocol binding developed countries to reduce emissions of the six main greenhouse gases. The Protocol declares environmental protection .

PROTECT

Nowadays British scientists are taking part in one of the largest international projects that is undertaken to protect endangered species.

SCIENCE

Following a recent renovation, the new Hancock Observatory invites you to enjoy Chicago’s best views from the city’s highest open-air Skywalk. It has quickly gained popularity with both Chicagoans and visitors of the city.

POPULAR

Skywalk is Chicago’s highest open-air viewing area. It is 1,000 feet in the air! Everyone here can feel the strong wind and hear the dynamic buzz of the city below. The friendly staff will certainly tell the real story behind Chicago’s “Windy City” nickname.

CERTAIN

For those who feel uncomfortable about such a great height there are more relaxing indoor audio Sky Tours.

COMFORT

These 30-minute personal audio tours give a unique “overview” of Chicago’s wonderful sights and remarkable history! Sky Tours are available in English, Spanish and German.

REMARK

History Wall is another popular attraction . More than 100 photos on a great 80-foot display show Chicago’s rise from a small settlement to a great city.

ATTRACT

As a tour guide I have been to the Skywalk countless times and still I can’t help admiring it.

COUNT

Ray Douglas Bradbury is a US writer of fantasy, horror, science fiction and mystery. He is widely considered to be one of the 20 th century’s greatest and most popular writers of science fiction.

WIDE

His works have been translated into more than 40 languages and have sold tens of millions of copies in different countries. His popularity continues in the 21st century.

POPULAR

During his long writing career, Bradbury has written almost 600 short stories, eleven novels, as well as various poems and plays.

VARY

He first became famous for his Martian Chronicles, a collection of short stories concerning colonization of the planet Mars. In it, Bradbury portrayed the strengths and weaknesses of human beings as they encountered a new world.

WEAK

Bradbury won countless literary awards, the most important of them coming from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.

COUNT

Millions of science fiction readers all over the world are grateful to Ray Bradbury for his outstanding achievement / achievements in the field of fantasy and science fiction.

ACHIEVE

The importance of animals in British life is reflected in many ways. In the past, landowners liked to be portrayed with their dogs and horses. Countless pictures of this kind can be seen in art galleries and private residences.

COUNT

Animals are widely used in advertising in magazines and on television.

WIDE

The Royal Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is one of the largest charities in Britain.

PREVENT

RSPCA is a part of a more general movement in support of animal rights that has emerged recently in Britain and the USA.

MOVE

Animal rights organizations use various tactics: picketing stores that sell furs, harassing hunters in the wild, or breaking into laboratories to free animals.

VARY

Their main aim is to ban the cruel treatment and killing of animals both in laboratory experiments and in factory farming. The irresponsible and neglectful treatment of animals by some zoo and pet owners is also their concern.

A recent study may have an answer to one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in science - what is the purpose of sleep? The work suggests it’s really about making animals function more efficiently in their environments.

REAL

Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted a study of the sleep times of a broad range of animals. They discovered much variation.

SCIENCE

You may think it impossible but some migrating birds canfly non-stop for up to 90 hours.

POSSIBLE

Pythons and bats are among the longest sleepers at over 18 hours a day.

SLEEP

Human babies need 16 hours and their health and intellectual development depend on sleeping properly.

DEVELOP

Most of us probably feel we need around eight hours sleep to function well. Some people have difficulty / difficulties in getting enough sleep and this may lead to serious health problems.

DIFFICULT

The United Nations (UN) has published its prediction about the size and age of the world’s population three hundred years from now. This report can help environmental scientists and policy-makers to understand dramatic changes in the world’s population in the future.

SCIENCE

The report suggests that if the birth rates stay the same, there’ll be a huge expansion of the global population.

GLOBE

You may think it is impossible but three centuries from now there may be over one hundred and thirty trillion people.

POSSIBLE

The report says that the world’s population is likely to be significantly older. The average age will be fifty while today it is twenty six.

SIGNIFICANT

Almost a quarter of all the inhabitants of the planet will live in Africa.

INHABIT

Researchers think that India, China and the United States will continue to be countries with the biggest population.

RESEARCH

The potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum who was a chef at a restaurant in New York. Fried potatoes were popular at the restaurant because they were rather inexpensive , but one day a visitor complained that the slices were too thick.

EXPENSIVE

Crum made thinner slices, but the nervous customer was still dissatisfied.

NERVE

Crum finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork, hoping to annoy the extremely difficult customer.

EXTREME

But the customer was happy - and that was the invention of potato chips!

INVENT

Industrial manufacturing of potato chips began in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1895.

INDUSTRY

The chips gained even more popularity in 1926 when a wax paper potato chip bag was invented that helped to keep them fresh and crisp.

POPULAR

The growth of tourism infrastructure related to the base of Ayers Rock, or Uluru began in the 1950s. Soon it started to produce adverse environmental impacts.

ENVIRONMENT

It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres of land beyond the park’s northern boundary was chosen as the site for a new resort.

RESERVE

A year or two later, the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara started.

DEVELOP

The camp ground within the park was closed in 1983 and the motels closed in late 1984, coinciding with the opening of the luxurious resort. In 1992, the majority interest in the Yulara resort held by the Northern Territory government / governor was sold and the resort was renamed Ayers Rock Resort.

GOVERN

Since listing the park as a World Heritage Site, the annual number of visitors rose to over 400,000 people by the year 2000.

VISIT

Increased tourism provides regional and national economic benefits. It also presents an ongoing challenge to balance conservation of cultural values and tourists’ needs.

CULTURE

The English language is famous for the richness of its vocabulary. Webster’s New International Dictionary lists 450,000 words, and the new Oxford English Dictionary has 615,000, but that is only part of the total. Technical and scientists terms would add millions more.

SCIENCE

The wealth of existing synonyms means that speakers of English have two words for something denoted by one word in a different language. The French, for instance, do not distinguish between house and home, between mind and brain. The Spanish cannot differentiate a chairman from a president.

SPEAK

In Russia, there are no native words for efficiency, challenge and engagement ring. Of course, every language has areas in which it needs, for practical purposes, to be more expressive than others.

PRACTICE

The Eskimos have fifty words for types of snow, though there is no word for just plain snow. Naturally , African languages have no native word for snow.

NATURAL

Nowadays, globalization influences the development of languages.

DEVELOP

Some native words disappear , giving way to international terms.

APPEAR

The most usual way to entertain friends at home is to invite them for a meal, either in the evening or at lunch-time on a Sunday. When guests are invited for a meal, they often sit and chat while they have a drink before the meal, and coffee is usually served afterwards.

USUAL

Several close friends are sometimes invited at once to make a small party to celebrate a birthday, a child’s coming of age or some special achievement / achievements .

ACHIEVE

These parties are almost always informal , there is no dress code and in summer, when the weather is fine, people may hold a barbecue in the garden.

FORMAL

Formal occasions, official receptions for foreign visitors, when written invitations are sent, rarely take place in people’s homes, although they did in the past.

INVITE

The host often provides various kinds of entertainment, or at least entertains guests with interesting stories and merry jokes.

VARY

The tasty meal is often followed by party games or dances which are intended to amuse or interest people in a way that gives them pleasure and make them enjoy the party.

TASTE