Тренировочные задания к разделу "Письмо"

... My summer holidays are over and I am back to school again. I was glad to meet my classmates but I was a little bit worried about my new subjects and new teachers. I wonder what you felt on your first day at school after you summer holidays. Were you glad to see your classmates? Did you have anything to worry about?

By the way, I am going to start dancing lessons this year...

... The school I study at seems to be a thousand years old; at least, they have a lot of traditions. Some of them are rather strange. Is your school old? Do you have any traditions at school? What is the most interesting one?

As for my summer holidays, they were really wonderful...

... My friend has just returned from France. He was lucky to take part in a special exchange programme for English and French students. Are there such programmes in Russia? Have you ever participated in any of them? What are the main benefits of such programmes?

By the way, this year I'm starting my classes of the Japanese language...

...Some of my classmates are members of different youth groups - emos, townies, Goths. I can't understand why they find such groups so attractive. Are there any youth groups in Russia? Which ones are the most popular? What do you think about joining a youth group?

By the way, the music Goths listen to is so odd ...

... I have always dreamt of meeting Brad Pitt. Would you like to meet any famous person? If you could ask a famous person one question, what would you ask? Why?

By the way, my boy-friend has joined our local football team ...

... We had a lot of fun on April Fool's Day. Do you have the same holiday in Russia? Could you tell me some words about any specific Russian holidays and traditions?

As for my news I've decided to buy a new mobile phone...

... Yesterday we went shopping. I bought Christmas presents for my friends and relatives. There were so many people in the shops. Is there a tradition of giving presents at Christmas in Russia? What do you like more - to give presents or to get them? Why? As for me, I always wait for Santa Claus at Christmas ...

... We're doing a project this month at school on eating habits and customs around the world. Will you be able to help me by telling what the traditional meals are in your country? What do people typically eat and at what time of day? What are your favourite dishes?

As for me, I'm thinking of going on a diet as I feel I'm too fat...

... In a week we are going to have a fancy-dress ball at school. No idea what to wear! By the way, are fancy-dress balls popular in Russia? Do you like to dress up? If you were in my shoes what costume would you make?

Oh, I'd better go now, my mum wants me to help her with cooking ...

... and my brother is really afraid of being unemployed. I wonder if there are many unemployed people in you native town? Is it easy for young people to find a job after finishing school or graduating from the University? Do the authorities take any care of the unemployed?

By the way, I am planning to redecorate my room...

... I decided to earn some money during my vacation.

Having your own pocket money is a very good thing, isn't it? Do you earn your pocket money yourself or do your parents give it to you? What do you spend your money on? Do your parents control the way you spend your pocket money?

By the way, my parents are going to buy a new car...

... My friends and I are doing a project on successful people of Great Britain. I wonder what people you call successful in Russia. What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the world today?

As for our news my cousin Jane entered a University...

... Yesterday, when I was busy doing my homework, my mum asked me to look after my younger sister who's five. I really like her, she's so funny, but she talks all the time and asks 100 question a minute! Do you have brothers or sisters (or maybe cousins)? Do you spend much time together? Would you like to be an only child? Why? Why not?

Oh, before I forget, I have read the last part of the book "Twilight"...

... I'm sick and tired of my parents' care. Sometimes they treat me as if I were a child. Don't you think that too much care is annoying? Would you like to be independent of your parents? What does it mean for you to be independent?

By the way, we have a new student in our class...

... At school we are carrying out a survey on generation gap. I wonder if there are any problems between your parents and you (if it is not a secret, of course). Do they approve of your friends? Do they share your music tastes?

As for my news my Granny came to visit us...

... I have to do running and swimming at my PE lessons. If only I could miss them! I really hate doing any sports! It's absolutely not my cup of tea! And what about you? What do you think about doing sports? Do you like your PE lessons? Do you do any sports in your spare time?

Speaking about more enjoyable things, I went to the cinema last night...

... Guess, what my girl-friend said about the Olympics yesterday! To her mind, it is the most useless sport event and people shouldn't spend so much money on organising it. Of course, I just couldn't agree, we had an argument and nearly quarrelled. What do you think about the Olympic Games? Are they worth holding?

By the way, my girl- friend is crazy about reading. Tastes differ, but how can she compare...

As for risk-taking my sister is going to be a policewoman after finishing school:

... At the lessons of biology we are studying different animals native to a certain area. Could you tell me which animals are the most wide-spread in Russia? What is the most important animal in your country? Why is the animal important?

By the way, my classmates and I are going camping at the weekend...

:and when I opened the box I found a kitten there! It is the best birthday present I've ever got! I bought a book telling about cats and the ways to keep them healthy and happy. Have you got a pet? How do you take care of it? What animals are usually kept as pets in Russia?

By the way, my mother has her birthday tomorrow and we are going to have a party:

: After visiting the Zoo my little sister came home crying. She felt sorry for the poor animals kept in the cages. She promised never to go to the Zoo again. Don't you consider it to be inhuman to make animals live in captivity? Do you enjoy going to the Zoo? Why? Why not?

To stop my sister's crying Mum had to make her favourite cake :

By the way, we are suffering from a terrible heat:

:Something has gone wrong with my laptop. I feel as if some essential organ was deleted off my body. Is your computer as important for you as mine is for me? Do you use your computer often? What for? Do your parents control the time you spend in front of it?

By the way, my Dad says I'll have some health problems because of the compute:

: My school has won a grant in the city project. But (to the greatest sorrow of all the pupils) the money will be spent on redecorating the school instead of buying new computers for our language laboratory. Do you have computers at school? At what lessons do you usually use them? Do they help you to study? How?

As for my news I am taking part in the city's ecological project: