and excitement of travel.

Using simple lines and strong colours, (4) __ _

drew giant luxurious cruise liners steaming through the waves or lying
peacefully at anchor (5) ___ faraway ports.
Few people were better (6) ___ creating such dreams than Harry
Hudson Rodmell. He (7) ___ born in the British port of Hull in 1896 and
spent (8) ___ childhood close to the ships that sailed out of the port and
over (9) ___ horizon. As a child, he showed an early gift for drawing and
painting and he often used to miss lessons (10) ___ that he could go down
to the river and sketch the passing ships (11) ___ fascinated him.
After studying at the Hull School of Art, Harry went (12) ___ to
become an excellent painter and illustrator. Although he will (13)
best remembered for his advertising posters of ships, Harry was actually
neither a great sailor (14) ___ a world traveller. Most of his work was
produced in a studio near Hull and his own voyages were limited (15) __ _
the nearby North Sea.

11. TENTS
People who love camping often think of tents as their second home.
Modern tents are both lighter (1) ___ more comfortable than (2) __ _
old canvas tents which our parents used. They are often fitted with extra
space which can be used (3) ___ kitchens or for storing equipment in bad
weather. Some tents are big (4) ___ for bicycles to be stored inside, (5)
others will only take a couple of rucksacks. Tents are generally
classified (6) ___ the number of people they will sleep in relative comfort.
They range (7) ___ the small single-occupant variety, to the six-person
tent (8) ___ looks like a luxury home.
How long tents last is an important issue for people who use their tents
(9) ___ the year. Modern tents are designed to last for years, (10) __ _
when used on a regular basis and in all weathers. Being waterproof (11)
___ also essential, so the modern tent is made (12) ___ tough, high
quality fabrics and (13) ___ double stitching and extra reinforcements.
However, it is true that the (14) ___ expensive the tent, the better it will
be when compared to cheaper tents of a similar design. People who use their
tent only occasionally may well find that a lower-priced basic tent is all (15)
--- .
need.

12. AWAY FROM IT ALL

Some people try to find relief from the pressures of family and friends by
going away (1) ___ themselves for a few days, in search of solitude. But
for those who never want to be alone for very long, (2) ___ kind of
behaviour is difficult to understand. Family members worry and friends are
offended because they think (3) ___ company is not wanted. The truth is

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that most people find the idea of (4) ___ alone not just unpleasant but
frightening (5) ___ well.
People (6) ___ fear solitude cannot imagine, for example, walking
through a forest for many hours, with only their thoughts for company. Or if
they do, they can only think of the problems (7) ___ might encounter.
They worry (8) ___ what would happen (9) ___ they fell and broke a
limb and they are sure that they (10) ___ take the wrong path and get
lost. But above all, they hate the idea of having (11) ___ to share the
sights and events of the day with them.
And yet, to walk on your own (12) ___ days can be a glorious
experience. And this is because (13) ___ noise of phones ringing, children
shouting or friends talking is replaced by wonderful sounds of wind
whispering through grass, birds singing and rain falling softly (14) ___ a
carpet of leaves. After an experience (15) ___ this, you feel renewed and
happy to go back and be sociable with family, friends and colleagues.

13. UFOs
Unidentified flying objects, or UFOs as they are generally called, can be
seen (1) ___ over the world, throughout the year In the popular
imagination, they are most likely to be seen on lonely country roads (2)
night, but this is not necessarily (3) ___ case. There are many
reports of daytime sightings and some of these come from built-up areas.
Similarly, people tend to think that UFOs are mostly seen (4) __ _
individuals travelling alone, and that this is a good reason to doubt the truth
of (5) ___ is reported. There are, however, plenty of examples of UFOs (6)
___ large numbers of people, spread over quite wide areas, have seen. The
explanation for this lies in the fact that, nine times (7) ___ of ten, the
people concerned have really seen something unusual. This doesn't (8)
--- , however, that what they have seen is a UFO, because often a more
logical explanation can be found. In (9) ___ words, the flying objects in
question can be identified, they are not UFOs. Aircraft lights, hot-air
balloons, satellites and meteorites are just a (10) ___ of the commonest
things that can lead (11) ___ UFO reports.
Some sightings remained unexplained, however, and it is (12) •

which fascinate the group of skywatchers who actually go out (13) __ _

search of UFOS. They tend to get together in areas that are said to be
"ufocal" because a (14) ___ many unexplained sightings have occurred
there. Bonnybridge in Scotland is (15) ___ such place.

14. LOVE ON THE ROCKS?

A difficult walk in the hills can make or break a friendship. You never
really know how well you are going to get along (1) ___ someone until you
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go for a walk on a big hill, in bad weather with a heavy pack. After (2) __ _
an experience, you will know (3) ___ you want to spend time together on a
longer, (4) ___ challenging walk. All people like to walk (5)
different ways - some fast, some slow; while some people like to talk, (6)
___ prefer to immerse themselves in the sounds of (7) ___ countryside ..
None of (8) ____ should be a problem as long as you can work (9) __ _
your differences by compromising and talking about everything.
It is best to (19) ___ things gently during the first few hours of a walk,
or even days in a long trip, gently. If one of you starts showing signs of
tiredness, it helps if (11) ___ in the group keeps looking (12) ___ the
bright side. And it is always important to remember that (13) ___ is no
reason why you have to stick to your planned route. It (14) ___ advisable
to alter the route if necessary, (15) ___ match the conditions or the mood
of your companions.

15. EDUCATING TOMORROW'S LEADERS

When it comes to educating tomorrow's leaders, it would be wrong to
assume that there is a formula that can be applied to (1) ___ people into
great leaders. But it is possible to prepare youngsters for leadership (2)
___ teaching them some essential skills. We all have the potential to lead,
and, (3) ___ importantly, the ability to improve our skills. The first step is
to let young people look at the great leaders (4) ___ know about. They will
soon realise that leaders have (5) ___ own, personal ways of leading. But
faced with the prospect of comparing themselves (6) ___ famous leaders,
youngsters (7) ___ well feel discouraged. We need to give them examples
of leadership (8) ___ can be found all around us.
There are countless opportunities to pick (9) ___ leadership skills at
school, in the sports field, and even at home. We should encourage
youngsters to take (10) ___ projects which involve leadership. It is also
advisable for them to keep a journal (11) ___ they can record their
experiences as leaders, (12) ___ if they seem small and unimportant. They
can put (13) ___ what they did well and also where they have done (14)
___ . This is not a waste of time because (15) ___ a journal will be a
valuable reference for years.

16. CHILD STARS

Five little girls from London, aged between nine and eleven, are being
prepared for a career as pop stars. They look much the (1) ___ as other
children in the smart uniforms of the London school which they (2) ___ .
But while their friends are thinking about homework or what's (3) __ _
dinner tonight, Jade, Jessica, Fiona and Carmen are wondering (4) __ _
soon it will be before they are top (5) ___ the pop music charts. The group

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has already recorded several songs as (6) ___ as a pop video and their first
single is being released next month.
A leading record company decided to create the group and the girls were
chosen (7) ___ the basis of both their appearance and singing ability. The
group's image is not (8) ___ glamorous one, however. The company was
keen to point (9) ___ that the girls are dressed in jeans and T-shirts on
the video, just (10) ___ other children of their age, and they certainly do
not (11) ___ makeup. As the girls are all at stage school, they sing and
dance as (12) ___ of their education and the company is working closely
with the girls' parents and teachers to (13) ___ sure that their schoolwork
(14) ___ not suffer. If, however, the girls make (15) ___ of money, they
will not be allowed to spend it. It will be paid into a special bank account
until they are older.

17. TAKE A DEEP BREATH

Climbing up the last punishing steps to the top of a hill, your lungs may
feel as (1) ___ they are bursting. The explanation for this tight feeling in
your chest (2) ___ well be poor breathing technique, or the absence of
deep, slow and controlled breathing. Poor breathing technique is surprisingly
common, (3) ___ in athletes. Breathing is similar to running in (4) __ _
most of us have never had any instruction in how to do it. (5) ___ a result,
we don't know how to do it really well.
Although athletes are taught (6) ___ to breathe, their chest muscles
may not be able to achieve (7) ___ maintain deep, efficient breathing. (8)
___ , when they try to breathe as they are told. they often (9) ___ tired
and breathless. The most effective way to improve the breathing is (10)
___ training the lungs and the rib cage muscles, not only to improve their
strength, (11) ___ also their resistance to fatigue and breathlessness.
Regular exercise will help strengthen these muscles. but (12) ___ is
another option. Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a
gadget to improve (13) ___ strength of respiratory muscles. You breathe
into the gadget through a mouthpiece for about two minutes (14) ___ day,
and, over a four-week period, your rib cage muscles become stronger. In
experiments with athletes, endurance has been improved by more (15)
___ thirty per cent after four weeks.

18. SHOPPING FOR GIRLS

Little girls all over London have a twelve-year-old boy to thank for
making some of their dreams (1) ___ true. Vivienne Pringle was out
shopping with her children (2) ___ they passed an empty shop. As a game,
she asked them what (3) ___ of thing they thought should be sold in it.
Her son Benedict Pringle said that (4) ___ wasn't a shop that sold all the

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things that his four-year-old sister liked and that's what he (5) ___ sell
there. Thinking about his suggestion, Vivienne realised it was a great idea.
(6) ___ many different shops sold some things aimed (7) ___ little girls,
no-one had thought of putting them all together in (8) ___ place.
Vivienne, (9) ___ already ran a successful mail order company, opened
her first shop last March. It is called Girlheauen. (10) ___ you might
expect, it sells traditional toys and educational games, but the best-selling
lines are party clothes and all the accessories that go (11) ___ them. In
short, as (12) ___ as it's pink and glittery, it sells at Girlheauen. But the
shop is also a fun place to visit. On Saturdays, there are dance shows led ( 13)
___ members of the sales staff and the young shoppers are invited to join
(14) ___ . It's even possible (15) ___ regular customers to hold their
birthday parties there.

19. WHERE DO TELEVISION PROGRAMMES COME FROM?

Television productions are the result of the efforts of a team of people
who work together to produce the programmes we see. First, (1) ___ is an
idea; it can be an idea (2) ___ a variety show, a drama, a special event or
even a commercial. The idea may come from a writer, a producer or an actor.
(3) ___ , the producer is the key person, the (4) ___ in charge of finding
the funds for the show, and choosing the (5) ___ members of the team to
help develop the idea.
After a decision is made to go (6) ___ with an idea for a programme, a
script is necessary. The script contains the written text of both (7) __ _
picture and sound parts of the programme. A script writer is responsible (8)
___ writing the entire programme content. The producer will work closely
with the director to transform the script (9) ___ a TV programme. The set
designer will (10) ___ called upon to help determine (11) ___ kinds of
scenery and props will be needed. (12) ___ plans are drawn, carpenters
will build and paint the set. A costume designer and make-up artist will work
with the producer to ensure that actors and actresses (13) ___ exactly
right for (14) ___ particular parts in the production. A director now (15)
___ over and rehearsals are held regularly until the dialogue and actions
are learned properly.

20. MEALS ON THE MOVE

Successful walking holidays are based on a full stomach. The longer a trip
lasts, the (1) ___ important eating and drinking becomes (2) ___ the
minds of the participants. This can be explained by the fact that, (3) __ _
from the obvious need for fuel and nutrition, food also helps to maintain
group and individual morale. Planning the food, therefore, is just as
important as planning (4) ___ things as the best route to take, what to
carry or (5) ___ to organise the equipment.
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 At the beginning, it's tempting to think that you will (6) ___ by with
whatever is light to carry or can be bought (7) ___ the way. But (8) __ _
a while, the need for something tasty and satisfying to look (9) ___ to at
the end of the day begins to (10) ___ on a greater significance. especially if
the walking is difficult or the weather bad.
(11) ___ this reason, it's unwise to leave the planning or cooking of the
food to one individual. The likes and dislikes of all members of the group
have to be taken (12) ___ consideration, as well as what each person
regards (12) ___ the normal size of a portion. Most important, however, is
the need to plan treats and surprises for (14) ___ other. Whilst the food
has to be simple both to transport and to prepare, practical decisions should
never be made (15) ___ the expense of taste.

21. POST IN HISTORY

Although it may come as a surprise to many people, postal services have
existed in some parts of the world for thousands of years. ( 1) ___ is ample
evidence that a postal service existed among the Assyrians and Babylonians,
In China a regular postal service (2) ___ established in the seventh
century BC, and (3) ___ the centuries attained (4) ___ a high level of
efficiency that some 2,000 years after its institution it won the admiration of
travellers (5) ___ Marco Polo. Efficient and highly developed postal
services were also established in the Persian and Roman empires. In ancient
times, (6) ___ services were mainly confined (7) ___ the use of
representatives of the state; private citizens (8) ___ use of slaves,
merchants and the like to send their messages and documents. In Medieval
Europe, postal services (9) ___ organised by emperors and by the papacy,
(10) ___ private citizens continued to entrust their correspondence to
various travellers. Later, around the 13th century, universities and towns
came (11) ___ have their own messengers. However, it was not (12)
___ the 14th century that merchants, the private citizens (13) ___ had
the greatest need for a speedy and regular exchange of correspondence,
began to (14) ___ up regular courier services. The needs of business led to
the development of the postal service as we know (15) ___ today.

22. TO SLEEP OR NOT TO SLEEP

Are you one of those people who toss and turn all night, unable to (1) __ _
to sleep? Although many people who have sleeping problems, (2)
chronic or occasional, automatically reach for the sleeping tablets when they
see a difficult night (3) ___ of them, there are a number of so-called "folk"
remedies which are not only cheaper but also much safer in the long run.
Most people have tried having a hot drink such as milk or (4) ___ of a
number of commercially available herbal infusions before going to bed, but
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