When was the parachute invented?
Have you ever felt like jumping out of a plane? Plenty of people have, but _______THANKFUL___________ most of them did it after parachutes had been invented.
Leonardo da Vinci made the first real studies of flight in the 1480s. He had over 100 _________DRAW_________ that illustrated his theories on flight.
He designed a parachute in the 1480s, though he didn’t try it out. Another _______INVENT___________ , Faust Vrande, jumped using a similar design in 1617.
In 1783, around the same time as the first hot-air balloon, Sebastien Lenormand invented a parachute, which he demonstrated by jumping from a tree, but it was only four meters high. A few years later, having refined his design, he made a _________SUCCESS_________ jump from a taller tower.
In 1785, Jean Pierre Blanchard used a dog to test his parachute design. The dog was fine, and so was Blanchard when he used the parachute in 1793 to escape a balloon accident. These early parachutes didn’t catch on because there weren’t any flying machines around to make them _______REAL___________ useful.
The invention of airplanes has made parachutes important. Since then, their ________EFFECTIVE__________ has been proved many times.
| 2012 London Olympics How has London 2012 changed the sporting map of the world? The United States won the highest number of gold medals and the most medals in total, with China dropping to second place on the medals table after unprecedented ________DOMINATE__________ at their home Olympics in Beijing four years ago. The third place for Great Britain exceeded all ________EXPECT__________. Previously, 2008 Beijing Olympics were considered the most ________SUCCESS__________ for the British with only the fourth place. In 2008, Russia took the third place. This year, Russia fell out of the top three ________WIN__________ for the first time since the end of the Soviet era. South Korea improved to the fifth, their best finish since hosting the Games in Seoul 24 years ago. For Australia it was a _______COMPARATIVE___________ miserable Olympics, where it took the tenth place. It was their worst ________PERFORM__________ in two decades. |
Cyberspace communication
Nowadays most of us go to our computers to connect with friends instead of using our phones. Cyberspace relationships have become the norm for many people, even the most ________CONSERVE__________ ones.
The convenience and ________EFFECTIVE__________ of the Web is amazing. If we want to see a movie, find a place to eat or get in touch with a friend, we go to the Web before we call on the phone.
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Critics, however, say that cyberspace communication loses some important factors of the social atmosphere. Most Web _______USE___________ don’t understand that when we talk to someone, we get many messages from them just by their tone of voice and body language.
A tender ________EXPRESS__________ and eye contact cannot possibly be experienced over the Internet.
As with anything we do, without regular practice the act can become unfamiliar and________COMFORT__________.
There is a possibility that much can be ________REAL__________lost when we communicate via the Internet.
History of animated cartoons
Cartoon animation has a long history. A cartoon is made by drawing many pictures and showing them one after another so quickly that the pictures _______FINAL___________ seem to move. The most prominent of animated cartoons were made by Walt Disney.
Walt Disney, the ________CREATE__________ of Mickey Mouse, is a legend of the 20th century.
He invented the special camera which was used in his studios during the thirties and forties to create ________ORIGIN__________ animated pictures.
Through his work he brought joy, _________HAPPY_________, and a universal means of communication.
Walt Disney’s worldwide _________POPULAR_________ is based upon the ideas his name represents: imagination, optimism, and self-made success in the American tradition.
Today moving images are created with the help of computers. The first fully computer-animated feature film, “Toy Story”, was very ________SUCCESS__________ and since then almost all animated cartoon films have moved to computer graphics, including films such as the "Shrek" series.
Pronunciation is important
Some learners of English think that pronunciation is not very important. That is ___ABSOLUTE_______ wrong. Even if you have an acceptable grasp of the English language, with good grammar and an ___EXTEND_______ vocabulary, native English speakers may find you very difficult to understand you if you don't work on your pronunciation. Correct, clear pronunciation is ______ESSENCE______ if you really want to improve your level of English. Pay particular attention to any sounds that you are ___FAMILIAR____ with or that do not exist in your native tongue. For example, ___RUSSIA______ have difficulty pronouncing the “th” sound, as it does not exist in their native language. Remember that the pronunciation of certain English words varies depending on the part of the world it's spoken in. For example, American English differs ____GREAT_______ from British English.
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Santorini
Santorini is a small group of Greek islands. They were formed due to a ___VOLCANO___ eruption about 3,600 years ago. Volcanos are still very active in the area. Tourists can fly to Santorini or take a ferry and enjoy the ____NATURE____ beauty in summer, when the islands are crowded and busy. In winter Santorini seems _____POPULATED______ and ferry service is not regular. On one side of Santorini, ____VISIT______ get a view of the local villages. This area is ___HIGH______ developed and rich. On another side of the islands tourists can enjoy black sand beaches and swim near the volcano. The third part of Santorini displays ancient ruins. Although this section is not popular among tourists, it is a well-known site for ____ARCHEOLOGY_______. In fact, legends say that Santorini is the place where the lost civilization of Atlantis was once located.
St. Basil’s Cathedral
St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow was built between 1555 and 1561. According to legends, Ivan the Terrible blinded its ______BUILD________ so that he could never build such a magnificent structure again. However, these legends seem _____TRUE_______. Old documents say that the same Russian architect built another cathedral in Vladimir later. There is a deep contrast between the _____COLOUR______ exterior of the church and its modest interior. People can see very few _____DECORATE_____ and very narrow corridors inside. Several times throughout its history, the cathedral suffered ___TERRIBLE_____ from fires and enemy attacks. In one legend, Napoleon even wanted to take the church back to France with him. As he couldn’t do this, he ordered his army to destroy the church. The soldiers had already lit up the gunpowder, but a ____MYSTERY______ rain prevented the fire.
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The smartphone
Nowadays smartphones define the way people connect to the rest of the world. How did it start? On the 16th of August 1994, IBM released a personal ___COMMUNICATE_____, which became the modern smartphone.It was capable of making phone calls, faxing, text messaging and e-mailing. It was a prized _____POSSESS______ because this device also included a touch screen. It had a clock, calendar and some games. But this ____WONDER______ device was just too advanced for its time. The market was not yet ready for such a ____TECHNOLOGY_______ innovation. Faster networks, browsers and applications were needed to release its full potential.In 2000, Ericsson was the first to introduce the word “smartphone” for its _____AMAZE_______ R380 mobile phone. This device was a modification of a lightweight flip phone. The magazine Popular Science called the Ericsson R380 smartphone one of the most important _____ACHIEVE____ in science and technology.
Glass
You can hardly imagine a world without glass. Glass plays an indispensable role in ______VARY_______ scientific fields, in industry, and in telecommunications. It is used throughout the home, at work, and often in play. For centuries, glasswork has been a _____DECORATE_______ form of art. One of the greatest benefits of glass is that it lets in light and provides _____PROTECT______ from the weather at the same time. Glass windowpanes admit daylight but keep out cold or ______STORM________ weather. Electric bulbs transmit light but keep out the oxygen that would cause their hot filaments to burn up. Television picture tubes enable ____VIEW_______ to see the image that is formed inside the tube. Glass jars and bottles can reveal their contents without being opened. The principal reasons for the widespread use of glass are that most glass products can be made _____CHEAP________ and many kinds of glass can be made to suit particular purposes.
Blackpool
Blackpool is not on the list of top British places to go, but the northern seaside resort of Blackpool still draws tourists. About 6 million ____VISIT____ come to the town every year. Most of them are attracted by a great ___SELECT___ of arcades, shows and a quick few days sprawled on the sands. Speaking about the things which ___SYMBOL____ Blackpool, these are certainly the Blackpool Tower (an aging copy of The Eiffel Tower) and the Pleasure Beach. The Pleasure Beach has everything from donkey races to places of great ___NATURE____ beauty. Blackpool’s famous sea-front also boasts __TRADITION____ trams and horse-drawn carriages and a huge Sea-Life Centre where you can stare a shark straight in the eye. Blackpool is known for a ____TRUE___ hospitable attitude to tourists, so don’t miss a chance to come here at least for a couple of days.
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Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth is not well-known to many people. It’s a typical small English town with a ___POPULATE__ of 70,000 people. It’s located in a coastal area in Norfolk and has a rich history of ____FISH____ industry. The locals are ___REAL___ hospitable people. Most of them own small guest houses or B&Bs as well as souvenir shops. The town also has a market (usually on Wednesdays and Fridays) selling ____VARY____ goods from household products to clothing. There’s also a large number of chip stalls within the market place. During winter months most places are closed or are open at limited times so ___EMPLOY____ also goes up as most seasonal jobs come to an end in winter. Over the last few years the local authorities have done a lot to ___MODERN___ the town to fight this problem.
The Bath Boat Centre
The Bath Boat Centre is situated at the heart of the beautiful heritage city of Bath. It’s an old ___BUSY___ on the Avon Canal. Here at this centre they ___SPECIAL___ in day trips from Bath to Bradford-on-Avon either on a floating restaurant or on mini-boats. You can have a __WONDER__ experience watching the canal life go by or making stops and exploring the area. In any case, you’ll see a hidden world which is ___REAL___ great. The organization has a commitment to excellence and is proud of being ____RELY___ and it offers good value for money. The Bath Boats Centre can show you a different way to enjoy the areas of great ___NATURE___ beauty.
Bradford-on-Avon
Bradford-on-Avon is a town in west Wiltshire with a population of about 10000 people. The town’s many historic ___BUILD___, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists. A ____VISIT___ can trace the history of the town back to the Roman times. However, the town grew due to the woolen textile industry, which still serves the local farming ____COMMUNE____. The ancient bridge in the centre of the town is its ___NATURE____ focus and still has two of its 13th century arches. On the bridge there stands a town lockup which was ___ORIGINAL___ a chapel. At first the town may seem ___IMPORTANT___, but it was the centre of English textiles up to the Industrial Revolution.
Caernarvon Castle
Caernarvon Castle is a must to visit for anybody who plans to see Wales and its sights. Caernarvon is a ___REAL___ amazing example of medieval architecture. Caernarvon was built in the 13th century by King Edward I to ___SYMBOL____ the King’s power over Wales and its people. He intended the castle to be a Royal residence and the seat of his ___GOVERN___ in North Wales. However, when his first son was born in Caernarvon, he decided the castle had even more ___IMPORTANT__ for the British royalty. This ____BEAUTY___ place is now where the title of the Prince of Wales is given to the first son of the British monarch. Prince Charles is the Prince of Wales nowadays. There are so many things to see there that it is ____POSSIBLE___ to do it in just one day, so plan your visit accordingly.
Brighton
Brighton is generally known by its nickname ‘London by the sea’. It’s a seaside city less than 50 miles south of London. It is actually a ___COMBINE___ of several other towns under one roof. Brighton is one of the most popular seaside destinations in Britain so millions of ___VISIT___ come here every year. Brighton is also home to many ___FAME___ people including Noel Gallaher, a singer, and Julian Clary, a comedian. Since Brighton is a seaside city, most of what is going on deals with coast ___ACTIVE____. There’s always plenty to see and do along the beach. Brighton is also known for its variety of festivals throughout the year, the most well-known being ___PROBABLE__ the Brighton Festival. It is ___POSSIBLE___ to see and do everything in just one day, so plan your stay in Brighton for at least a few days.
Bath
“Bath is the finest place on earth for you may enjoy it without getting tired”. These are the words of the 18th century ___TRAVEL____ James Boswell upon his first visit to the place. He was right, of course. This is a _____TRUE____ glorious Georgian city with its well-preserved Roman remains and famous baths. Bath is one of the easiest cities to explore with a compact centre of broad main streets lined with numerous historic _____BUILD___ and pretty shops. Everything you could want to see is within walking distance but you can spend several days in Bath each day doing something different and something ____EXCITE__. Don’t forget that nearby is the ancient and ___MYSTERY____ Stonehenge, a circle of enormous rocks on the edge of the Salisbury Plain. Perhaps Bath and its surroundings have some greatest sights in Britain. A trip to this city or in any ____DIRECT_____ from it will lead you to an wonderful day.
Chester
Chester is a tourist city with a population approaching 100,000. Like many British cities, it was __ORIGINAL___ founded by the Romans. Chester’s popular ____ATTRACT__ and sights include the racecourse, the clock tower and the cathedral although it has a good range of shops as well. Nowadays Chester is hoping to offer even more ____ENTERTAIN___ with a new racecourse. Indeed Chester is most ___FAME____ for its race days. At weekends, when the races are on, traffic into and out of the city can be very busy. There’s also a new club “Cruise” which is made up from 6 rooms each representing a different country in the world. This is an ____AMAZE___ club and if you manage to go to Chester, it is worth visiting. One more thing to do is taking a river boat cruise during the summer months to learn a little more about the history of Chester and to ___REAL___ appreciate the beautiful scenery.
Boston Public Library
Dating from 1852, Boston Public Library contributes much to Boston’s reputation as the “Athens of America”. The old building is notable for its magnificent facade and interior art. ___VISIT____ can pick up a free brochure. The brochure will be ___HELP___ to visitors. _____ALTERNATIVE___, free guided tours depart from the entrance hall at various times. This ___ORIGIN____ building, inspired by Italian Renaissance, can boast of enormous bronze doorways, iron gates and lanterns. From there a marble staircase leads the guests inside. Besides this _____AMAZE___ artistry, the library holds untold treasures in its special collections, including John Adams’ personal library. If you visit this place once, it will be ___POSSIBLE____ for you to forget it.
Texas Rodeo
The rodeo is a really exciting event. It is a thrilling ____COMPETE____ between cowboys from all over the country. It has a long tradition and even today there are rodeo schools which keep it alive and ___PROFESSION___. The rodeo is a spectacular sight. If a ____VISIT____ has a place in the first row of the arena, he or she may even be sprinkled with sand by the passing horses. The _____PERFORM___ usually starts with an opening ceremony by horsemen dressed in bright colours and carrying flags. All through the show the master of the ceremony ___CONSTANT___ jokes with special clowns. A rodeo in Texas is certainly an exciting experience which is practically ___POSSIBLE____ for a tourist to forget.
New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium has sea creatures of all sizes, shapes and colors. This place is ___CERTAIN___ the centerpiece of downtown Boston’s waterfront. Its main ____ATTRACT__ is the newly renovated, three-story Giant Ocean Tank. It literally swirls with thousands of creatures, including turtles and sharks. ___COUNT___ side exhibits explore the lives and habitats of other underwater species, as well as penguins and marine mammals. ___VISIT____ to the aquarium can watch training sessions. There animals show off their ___INTELLIGENT___ and athleticism. Note that some animal rights groups make a strong case that marine mammals should not be kept in captivity, so from time to time the aquarium has to face these protests. The New England Aquarium is really a beautiful place and an ____FORGETTABLE____ experience for anybody.
Central Park
One of the world’s most well-known green spaces, Central Park in New York occupies 843 acres of land with European-style gardens, a lake and a reservoir. ___NATURAL___, among Central Park sights one should also mention an outdoor theater, a memorial to John Lennon and a very famous statue of Alice in Wonderland. Many tourists consider Central Park to be a truly ___BEAUTY___ place. It is important to say that this huge park was designed as a leisure space for all New Yorkers, ___REGARD____ of color or class. Today, this “people’s park” is still one of the city’s most popular __ATTRACT____. It is also a very popular place for numerous ___JOG___. Even in winter with its snowstorms there is something to do there, like cross-country ____SKI____. If you plan to visit New York, Central Park is an absolute must for you.
The Met
The Met is an encyclopedic museum, founded in 1870. It has one of the biggest art ____COLLECT___ in the world with more than two million individual objects. Among them you can find anything from Egyptian temples to American ___PAINT___. The museum attracts over six million ____VISIT___ a year to its 17 acres of galleries making it the largest single-site attraction in New York City. In other words, plan on spending some time here. The museum has _____WONDER___ examples of ancient Egyptian art, some of which date back to the Paleolithic era. The 27 galleries devoted to classical antiquity are illuminated by natural daylight. In the northwest corner, the American galleries demonstrate a wide ___VARY____ of decorative and fine art from throughout US history. The Met is ___REAL___ worth visiting. If you go to New York, do not miss a chance of going there.
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