1. Efekty palenia.
(THE EFFECTS OF SMOKING) with the failure or inability of the younger and older generations
Smoking is the largest single preventable cause
of death in Europe today. In Britain it kills more people each
year than road traffic accidents, heroin abuse or dangerous
sports. It accounts for one in three of all deaths between 40 and
64. About 90% of lung cancers and 20% of coronary heart
disease deaths are smoking - related. Non-smokers run a small
but not insignificant risk of lung cancer from passive smoking.
There are many reasons for smoking. Teenagers
start smoking because of peer pressure and persuasion by their
friends or they are curious, so they want to find out how it is.
Some teenagers have the example of their parents. They start
smoking and then it is hard to give up cigarettes.
For many people cigarettes are their true love
and they don’t care about the consequences of smoking. Other
treat it as their bad habit.
Of course smokers know that their habit is
probably going to kill them but they prefer not to think about it.
The best example for it is an experiment which is carred out in
England. There is an Englishman who has been smoking since he
was eleven. He loves smoking and he smokes between two and
three packets a day. He says that cigarettes are your statement
about yourself. For example: if you take out a packet of
Marlboro you are saying: I’m an outdoor type or if you take out
a packet of Benson, you are saying: I’m classy...
So he has started producing cigarettes called ”Death”. And none
buys those cigarettes. The reason? Because smokers can’t say:
”Yes, I’m killing myself, but at least I know it”. They prefer to
hide the fact. People try to hide the truth. The advertisements
never show pictures of real smokers coughing up their lungs
early in the morning. Television, papers, posters always show us
clean - shaven young men. They suggest that it is manly to
smoke. Smoking is associated with the great open - air life, with
beautiful girls and true love... What utter nonsense!
The real life is different. Smokers have serious
problems with health. They have bronchial troubles, heart
disease, weak chest, their lungs callapse. In the end they have a
lung cancer. Besides smokers are managed by fertility problems
and impotence.
There are many smaller effects of smoking, too.
Smokers have stained fingers, which don’t smell very good.
Their eyes are almost yellow. They have damaged teeth and bad
breath.
2. Palenie w miejscach publicznych jest zabronione. Czy
wiesz? (SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES SHOULD BE
BANNED. DO YOU AGREE?)
As we know - smoking has got big impact not
only on the smoker. It affects non - smoker’s health, too. When
the chain smokers lit cigarettes in the public places they should
remember that they destroy the health of non - smokers. It was
proved that reeked air is more injurious for passive smokers. It
isn’t good news and smokers must know that they not only kill
themselves but also kill other people who don’t smoke. When
they smoke in a closed place - in an office, in a waiting - room,
on a train or in a restaurant - they put at risk the health of non -
smokers (they ”present” non - smokers with a portion of toxins).
Passive smokers cannot avoid breathing in the cigarette smoke.
And it is the worst thing, which is connected with smoking.
Nowadays it is very hard to find a nice cafeteria or other places
which wouldn’t be reeked. Of course if we want to have the fresh
air we can go for a walk to the park. But even there we can meet
smokers, because smoking in public places isn’t banned. It is a
big problem for people who don’t smoke. Another point is that
smoking sets a bad example for children. A lot of teenagers start
smoking because they see how many adults do it and they think
that it is a sign of maturity. Maybe if they didn’t see so many
people smoking in their surroundings they wouldn’t be so
curious and they wouldn’t do it.
In my opinion smoking in public places should
be banned. Of course, we can ban smoking, but we can also
create special places where smokers would be allowed to smoke.
I think that if we launch this campaign, it will have good
consequences for us. Non - smokers will have better and happier
life and maybe there will be fewer smokers, because there will be
the hindrance connected with smoking in the public places.
3. Dziura ozonowa. (GENERATION GAP)
The problem of the generations gap ia as old as
the hills and it appears in every family. Very often it is connected
Television is one of the media. We can live
to communicate or understand each other. There are a few without TV, but we often forget about it and most of us are under
reasons of generation gap. the big influence of TV. We are addicted to TV programmes and
Psychologists say that most young people information. Before TV was invented we were doing certain
experience conflict during the period of adolescence. They are things such as: reading books, developing hobbies, talking to
neither children nor adults and they are desperately searching for friends, leading a very active social life, visiting theatres,
self - identity. As they are growing up, they develop different circuses, cafes, museums, practising sports and spending more
values from those held by their parents. They hate the ordered time in the fresh air, more often than now.
adult world because it symbolizes the skin they hope to shed. Now not many people want to admit that their
Conflicts arise because young people feel that time is regulated by TV. Simply after school or work they rush
they have a right to be independent. Parents seem to be enemies home, gulp down meals to be in time for the favourite
who don’t let them stay out late, wear the clothes they want to programme.
wear, or be close to friend they like. What makes things even Mothers treat TV as the best pacifier, as the
worse, teenagers have a sense of impotence and rage as they moving colourful pictures keep the little kids quiet and busy. In
realize that financially they still depend on their parents and they this way children are exposed to commercials, scenes of crime
wouldn’t have a nice party or a holiday without their help and and violence and mothers do not always care what the children
support. are watching as long as they are quiet.
The period of adolescence is inseparably The cultural level of TV programmes is low.
connected with making important life decisions, such as There are far fewer educational, biographical, historical or
choosing a career path. That it precisely where the trouble is. religious programmes in comparison to those showing violence.
Young people are told that they have the world at their feed and People love watching bed quality detective
dazzling opportunities only to be seized. However, when they stories, police investigations, political debates, commercials and
finally decide that they want to work in a travel agency instead of stupid comedies.
studying medicine or law for example, their partents tear out We get so lazy that we prefer to spend a fine
their hair and seem to be heartbroken. day drinking beer, eating hamburgers or snacks and watching
Difficulties in the relationships with parents TV, than go for a bicycle - ride or a long walk in the nearest
may lead to such serious problems as the use of alcohol or drugs, forest. That is why we are cut off from the real world.
the refusal to attend school, running away from home or even The greatest harm is done to those, including
turning to crime. In such cases screaming and yelling doesn’t children, who watch TV continuously. They often harm their
work. It seems that the best way to put matters straight is a eyesight and weaken their physical condition.
serious discussion, treating young people as equal partners and However, if we want to admit that TV can affect
accepting their ideals. If they are neglected in the most turbulent us on positive way, we must control our lives and choose these
time in their lives, their parents may lose them altogether. things on TV which are important for us.
We can say that telly has, in fact, some good
4. Jak rozumiesz dziśiaj – wzrastanie w przemocy. (WHAT sides, too. It discovers new actors, musicians, shows their talents
ARE THE REASONS FOR PRESENT - DAY INCREASE IN to let people know about them. In that way, many of them
VIOLENCE?) become film and TV stars.
Nowadays the world becomes much more Besides TV shows the events in the world. Thanks to satellite
dangerous place to live in. What we can observe is that violence stations the same programmes may be watched in different
is now something common. In the past years the number of countries. Than all people can know about the current floods,
serious crimes has increased. Most of these crimes are committed aeroplane crashes, wars, catastrophies, scientific discoveries and
for economic and social reasons. about gossip.
Many offences and burglaries are committed for Because of the phone - in programmes devoted to different
money, because theft is the easiest way to get money, cars or subjects such as drugs, pets, loneliness, amusement, the viewers
various things. Thefts are committed especially by people who can call and give their’s opinions.
do not want to work because they are too lazy. TV has both advantages and disadvantages. I
Next reason turning people to violence and think that we must choose in TV what is important, smart and
crime can be difficult relationship between parents and children valuable for us. We can let that small box separate the members
during the period of adolescence. If children are neglected in the of family. Otherwise we will stop talking to each other and will
most turbulent time in their life they could start using alcohol have more and more problems connected with this.
and drugs, refuse to attend school, run away from home or even
commit a crime, often very serious - such as murder. There are
many reasons why people kill others. Sometimes murderers kill
because they want to take their revenge or for money. But
nowadays many people, particularly kids and teenagers kill for
no reason. In many cases they do it for fun or they want to try
how it is to kill somebody. They also kill people because they are
bored and they do not have better things to do. In my opinion
TV - especially silly cartoons and cruel films could have big
impact on young minds and directly or indirectly it could make
young people use violence and commit crimes.
Another violent practice is kidnapping - usually
for ransom.
Besides we could mention that many women
are raped every year. And also some innocent children are raped,
too. The reason for that could be mental illness or unawareness
of doing something wrong.
However, in many cases that sort of crime is
committed with full - awarences and premeditation and even
without any remorse.
The other kind of violence in present - day are
wars among football fans. Each group of hostile fans thinks that
their favourite team is the best of all and they try to prove it by
using force. In these fights they often use very sharp and
dangerous weapons.
I think that we can argue if these people are
really football fans or maybe they only find in easy way to start
fights and harm somebody.
When we talk about violence it should be
mentioned that many children, who use violence, are taught it at
home. Usually in pathological and alcoholic families violence is
something normal, natural and common.
Unemployment, frustration and too much free
time can be the other reason for using violence.
What can we do to decrease the present - day
rate of violence? In my opnion the most important thing is to
make very strict sentences for criminals. I think that it helps us
decrease the rate of violence among people. 6. Dlaczego ludzie uczą się obcych języków. (WHY DO
PEOPLE LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES?)
5. Kozyści i szkodliwośc telewizji. (WHAT ARE THE There are many languages in the world and
BENEFICIAL AND HARMFUL there are many reasons for learning them. Nowadays the
EFFECTS OF TELEVISION?) knowledge of foreign language is very important and useful.
 It is human nature to broaden horizons and to
explore new things - that why people study foreign languages.
We could learn them to meet new people and to
get to know different cultures. For some people learning foreign
language could bring self - confidence and satisfaction.
The next advantage of learning other language
is that you can go abroad and study in a foreign country.
But I think that the main reason for learning
foreign languages is the opportunity to find a well - paid job.
You can work for big business companies, you can be a
translater, a diplomat, an ambassador or a tour guide. You may
also go abroad and work as a press correspondent.
The knowledge of foreign languages, especially
English, is very useful and necessary in international trade and
industry. Many young people take into concideration the speed
of the world’s development and possibility of meeting people
who speak different languages and they decide to learn them.
What’s more? Young people learn foreign
languages to provide themselves with good future and welfare.
When people travel around the world it is better
for them to communicate in local language because they can find
out more about the place they visit and the culture of the country
they are in.
There are also cases when students are forced to
learn other languages by their parents who want them to have a
better life.
Next advantage of the ability of speaking
foreign languages is that people who live in countries divided
into a few regions which use different languages could
understand one another, for example: in Switzerland or Canada.
I think that foreign languages are worth
learning because you never know what will happen. For
instance: when somebody emigrates it is good to know the local
language because it helps to adopt - meet friends, get a job and so
on.
Learning other languages could be also a good
pastime. You can learn them if you want to impress somebody or
if you want to read foreign press, prose or poetry in original
version.
7. Emigracja. (EMIGRATING)
Between 1815 and 1914, the world witnessed
the greatest peaceful migration in its history. Mostly Europeans
left their homelands to start new life mainly in America. Why did
these people risk everything leaving their homes and families?
First, one major cause was the rise in population which in turn
led to land hunger. Another was politics. The army grew and
many young men fled to avoid being conscripted. Also, the
failure of the liberal revolutions in Europe caused the departure
of thousand of refugees. Reigion also encouraged millions to
leave Europe. In short, people chose to leave their homes for
social, economic and religious reasons.
Currently the USA is still seen by millions as
the Promised Land. Many people move to a new country in
search of a new life.
Nowadays people emigrate because they want
to grow the riches. In a country, where they live, it is difficult to
find well - paid job because there is a big competition. Secondly
people who emigrate want to join their families. Another point is
that people have to leave their country because their company
sends them to a foreign country. There are also some cases when
people want to escape because they are persecuted or they live in
a country where are hurricanes, earthquakes or volcano
eruptions. People are afraid about their lives and they choose
safer places to live.
In my opinion emigrants choose places which
they always like and want to live in, they select rich countries
because it is easier there to start afrash.
People who take the plunge have to change
their lifestyle. They have to find a new place to live in, work and
new friends. It is easier when they know local language because
it helps to adopt, meet people, get better job. However, it is
difficult to start from the beginning. Emigrating is an expensive
business. People need money but all they have they spend on the
most important things. If they find good work they are lucky
chaps. It is also hard to get used to new culture, food and
weather. People can feel very lonely but in many cases families
have much more time to one another, they become closer. They
miss their friends and they want to adjust as soon as possible.
8. Niebezpieczenstwo nowoczesnego zycia. Jakie srodki
ostrozności podjąć idąc samemu przez miasto. Jak ty się
zabespieczysz. (THE DANGER OF MODERN LIVING. HOW
SAFE IS IT TO WALK ALONE IN YOUR CITY. WHAT
PRECAUTIONS DO YOU TAKE?)
The modern world isn’t easy and safe place to
live. What we can observe is that the greater and more advanced
development of civilization, technology and economy, the more
dangerous it is to live.
But what do we understand by danger of
modern living? In my opinion we can discuss it in two aspects.
Namely the direct dangers like different arts of crimes to which
average citizens are exposed and the indirect dangers - caused by
the development of industry, technology which have got impact
on our health and the way of living.
Of course at this point we could mention
pollution and how it affects our health and the way we rest. We
could also talk about modern food and how all these ”good”
things we eat are bad for us.
But I would like, first of all, to concentrate on
the direct danger of modern life, namely crimes and offences. Let
me discuss different, more common direct dangers. Among these
we can mention:
- burglary which is common crime nowadays, very often
organized by groups of people;
- theft which is the easiest way to get money, cars or other things,
very often practise by young people who don’t want to work
because they are too lazy, and of course:
- murders.
There are many reasons why people kill the others. Sometimes
murderers kill people because they want their money or they
murder because they want to take their revenge. But nowadays
many people, particularly kids and teenagers, kill for no reason
however.
After what I told you I don’t have to tell you
that walking alone in our city, especially after dark, isn’t safe at
all. We have to be very careful and keep our eye wide open to see
what is happening around us. Because we are really exposed to
different dangers on the part of criminals and vandals.
How do we protect ourselves against all those
crimes? It isn’t easy to answer it. We may take a lot of
precautions but unfortunately none of them guarantees us safety.
The things which we can do is for instancxe: protect our houses
and cars. We should buy the modern locks or dangerous dog
which would frighten the burglars. We shouldn’t show people
that we have got money. If they think that we are poor they will
not steal us. As I said we should keep our eye wide open to see
what is happening around us and maybe it protect us against
burglary or other dangerous things.
9. Postęp nowoczesnych technologji napszud. (MODERN
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES)
From the beginning of the 20th century we
can observe that there are many modern technological advances
in every domain of our life. It is very hard to mention all
achievements of our world. Undoubtedly when we talk about
technological advances we should tell something about
computers which are now, in my opinion, indispensable part of
our life. They have got a big impact on our work and study.
They are also useful in conducting business transactions or
carring out research. Many domains of science or technology are
dependent on computers. They are revolutioning the design,
printing, accountancy, banking, telecommunication, energetics,
mining industry and the railway system. For example: in
factories computers are used for controlling and analysing many
industrial prosesses. Besides they are used to manufacture certain
products. They are also incorporated into the products, such as
cars, trains, ships, weapons or machine tools.
As I said computers have got the wide
application. We can use them in education young people. There
are a lot of secondary schools in the world which educate
students how to use the computers. It realizes us that they play an
important role in our life. Besides they allow us to save the time,
because they perform complicated mathematical calculations in
minutes, they can improve data gathering, testing and analysis.
What’s more? Computers are very useful in medicine. They help
us to save the life of many people. They are used in medical
diagnosis, patient monitoring and general hospital
administration. Sometimes they are better than doctors because
they are not nervous and they do not do the mistakes as often as
people. I cannot imagine the world without computers, but I
know, that not everybody thinks the same about them.
There are some people in the world who
hate them because they lost their job or had other awful accidents
with computers. One of them is Mr Arthur Henderson who lives
in Surrey. He is a very careful man. He is especially careful about
electricity. He never uses very much, so his bill, which he pays
every three month, is usually around 25. Someday Mr
Henderson had a nasty surprise. When his latest electricity bill
arrived, it was for 259.00. Over ten times as much. When he saw
it he almost had a heart attack. He was very upset. Later his sister
rang the Electricity Board for him. As a result of her phone call,
Mr Henderson got a corrected bill from the Electricity Board a
few days later. He also got a note of apology. Computer made a
mistake and it put a decimal point in the wrong place and added a
”0”.
Many people say that the future of our
civilization depends on computers. It is true but in my opinion
we should remember that computers do not replace people in
every domain of our life. I talk to you about it because last month
I watched the programme about the new procesor PentiumIII and
I heard that there are a new computer programme which allows
adults to leave alone their small children with the computer at
home. It will teach them to say, walk and so on. In my opnion it
is not a good idea because people have something which
computers have not got - feelings. Computers do not feel - they
cannot love, like, hate others, they are not people. We must
remember about it! Besides adults should control what kids and
teenagers do with the computer and in which way they use them.
It is very important thing and it is very often connected with the
Internet.
This international network of computers is
being used by 80 million people in the world. Many of us think
that this medium will soon change the way we communicate,
shop, study, conduct business and publish. The Internet has
unlimited possibilities. In an hour’s time the users of the Net can
send an important message to one hundred thousand people, visit
the most beautiful places all over the world, buy a computer,
study the weather report and even get married. The most popular
way of using the Net is e-mail (electronic mail). This system
enables the holder to send information to the other hemisphere in
just a second. This telegram costs only as much as a local
telephone connection and is the fastest in the world.
Another technological advance which is
connected with the modern world is nuclear power. It seems in
some ways much cleaner than other sources of energy. Take oil
or coal an example. When they are used in power stations, a great
deal of smoke is produced. The smoke contains a great deal of
acid. Even if the smoke is cleaned by filters, a lot of the acid still
escapes into the air. This can be carried by clouds from power
stations (for example) in England to Scandinavia. When it rains
there, the acid comes down with the rain. As a result, the fish in
lakes and trees in forests begin to die.
But many people are still against nuclear power. They believe
that the problem is not just the danger of an accident in the
atomic power station. Highly radioactive material is used.
Radioactivity can cause cancer and other illnesses. Only a part of
the material is used. The rest - called waste - is just as radioactive.
Although it is still dangerous, this radioactive waste is often
thrown into the sea. Nobody can be certain what will happen to it
there. Only one thing is certain. It will be highly dangerous for at
least 240.000 years!
Now there are less proponents than opponents of nuclear power.
It is connected with the Chernobyl disaster. This shocking event
has changed people’s attitudes and increased opposition to
fission. Now we know that after few years we can still see the big
impact this event in the Chernobyl on the people, animals and
our emvironment. There are some animals with two, three heads
or eight legs, there are more people in the world who have got
tumour, our food is denaturated.
The same problem was shown in the film ”The China
Syndrome”. What if there is an explosion in the nuclear reactor
(the part that produces the nuclear energy)? If one explodes near
a large city, how many people will die? Other experts argue that
this is impossible. But the argument will go on for a long time.
And it is also clear that nuclear power can never be the only
answer. It is only one possible answer. Some other possibilities
are solar power (from the sun), wind power and tidal power
(from the waves and tides in the ocean). And we must conserve
energy, too. Conservation will become more and more of a
necessity.
There are many people in the world who
know that they must find another way to gain the power. For
example: in England the technical experts and the politicians
agree that the barren windswept cliffs of Scotland are ideal sites
for the huge wind turbines which will help to meet Britain’s
growing need for power. Some even argue that the scale, shape
and motion of the turbines will improve the environment in the
same way that a beautiful statue enhances a garden. But locals,
like Jim Campbell, are not convinced and he said: ’I can see that
one of these things on its own might look good to some people
but when you get a hundred of them threshing away then it’s just
an eyesore’. I know that this is a very good idea to gain the
power but in my opinion the expert should think about the locals
before they will decide to build these huge wind turbines.
When we talk about modern technological
advances we should also tell something about space travel and
medicine. I told you about these things when I had got the topic
about ”Wonders of the modern world” so I think that I do not
have to tell it one more time.
At the end I would like to tell you that all
these things which I talked about are not as important as we are.
Sometimes people lost the true and they think that the best things
in the world are the material things which we can buy for the
money. This is the worst mistake which we can do. Nothing has
replace us the best friend which can be only the human because
he feels as we. He can love, like, hate us, smile, cry. He is
authentic and even the best computer programme does not
replace him.
10. Zalety i wady posiadania uludionego zwierzaka.
(ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HAVING A
PET)
Having a pet is a nice thing. However, many
people do not realize that it is also a great responsibility. It has
definitely a lot of advatages, the greatest of which is the
therapeutic effect of having a pet. It is now called ‘pet therapy’.
Pet therapy has helped ”difficult” children with emotional
problems, lonely people and sometimes antisocial individuals.
Such a therapy is a kind of treatment which stimulates people
who are withdrawn or uncommunicative. Pet therapy has given
many people a completely new attitude to life. Although pet
therapy is only now being widely used, it is not a new idea. It
was already known in the 18th century as a way of treating
mentally disturbed people. In the 70’s scientific interest was
aroused by a study examining the connection between social
conditions and heart diseases. Quite by chance researchers
discovered that the survival rate of people who owned a pet was
significantly greater than of those who did not. It was discovered
that stroking a cat or dog lowers people’s blood pressure and
reduces anxiety. Cats and dogs are not the only pets that can help
us to relax. It has been discovered that gazing at fish in a tank
helps patients relax before undergoing dental treatment.
Special trained dogs are extremely useful for
the police because they help to trace dangerous criminals, drugs
and explosives. Such dogs can also be very helpfull to the blind
and the disabled, very often becoming their greatest and only
friends. It has also been discovered that people suffer from fewer
minor illnesses like colds, backaches and stomach problems after
buying a pet. Having a pet helps a lot in bringing up children
because when they stroke and cuddle a cat or a dog they become
open, approachable and more sociable. Most people are sure that
the companionship of animals fulfils certain basic human needs
that are still not fully understood but which are vital to our sense
of well being. There is no real explanation for the fact that
animals can change people in various way. They can be
beneficial even for prisoners because animals can help to dispel
tension. Scientists say that caring for a pet encourages
compession and reference for life.
That much about the advantage. Now, I will
move on the disadvantages. It should be obvious for everybody
that having a pet involves expenses. So when one decides to
have a pet one must give it a carefull consideration because
otherwise the innocent pet will suffer especially when it is ill and
it’s master has not got money for a vet. Another disadvantage is
when pets are kittens or puppies. It is really fantastic to have a
dog, however, a puppy may wreak our house and the owner may
find everything around damaged or at least bitten with the
puppy’s sharp teeth. I have already tackled the problem of the
beneficial influence of pets on human life, however, there might
be the other side to the picture, too. More and more people suffer
from various allergies one of which is allergy, for example, to
pets’ fur. Such people cannot keep a furry pet at home for
obvious reasons. Pets, especially big dogs and cats, may be
burdensome when the owner wants to go on holidays because
they limit the choice of places their master can stay during
holidays.
All in all advantages far outnumber the
disadvantages that’s why I would recommend to everybody to
have a pet.
11. Kozyści i niekozyści zycia na wsi małym mieście. (PROS
AND CONS OF LIVING IN THE CITY/COUNTRY)
Living in the city has both advantages and
disadvantages but in my opinion it is more comfortable and
exciting than life in the country or a small town.
First of all, cities offer better education and it is
easier to find a good, interesting and well - paid job. There are
more opportunities to succeed in life. Moreover, there is a good
selection of cinemas, theatres, galleries or restaurants where
people may spend their leisure time. There is always something
interesting to see or do and it is just impossible to be bored. The
services in a big city are always better. There are a lot of good
shops and department stores where shopping can be done
quickly and easily.
Besides, there are many sports facilities such as
swimming pools, tennis courts or gym halls where people can
practice their favourite sports.
However, living in the big city has also some
disadvantages. Most city - dwellers are forced to live in blocks of
flats where they are quite anonymous. It often happens that they
do not even know their neighbours and in an emergency they
cannot count on their help. Many of them feel lonely as it is
rather difficult to strike up a friendship in a big city. Young
people are in a better situation, because they go to clubs, discos
and they have more opportunities to meet someone.
Another big problem is heavy traffic. Fumes
emitted directly into the atmosphere pollute the air so heavily
that many city - dwellers suffer from serious medical disorders.
Besides, the noise never stops and there are numerous car
accidents almost every day. Furthermore, it is very difficult to
find a parking place, especially in the centre.
In addition to all this, the crime rate in most
cities is very high. Some people never go out in the evening
because they are afraid of being robbed or abused. They also
dread leaving their flat as there are frequent burglaries in big
cities nowadays.
In spite of all these disadvantages, many
inhabitants love their cities and cannot imagine themselves living
in the country.
What about living in the country? In Poland it
has never been easy. Even today it is not very comfortable. Of
course a lot has changed. People have built new houses, new
roads and buildings. The different between the city and the
country is gradually disappearing. However, villages do not
become cities. The rural character is preserved although the
living conditions have been improved.
Nowadays the development in agriculture is
quickly progressing. The new houses, school or culture clubs
also indicate that something has changed for the better. Before
the war, living in the country was quite different. On huge estates
there were manor houses surrounded by primitive villagers’
cottages. The peasants had to work hard in the fields and they
were paid little money. Very often children had to work together
with their parents and their education was totally neglected. In
many villagers there were no schools, electricity and gas. All this,
of course, belongs to the past.
Now most people live in comfortable and well -
equipped houses. The air and water are clean and they may grow
fruit and vegetables. The main disadvantage, however, is the
shortage of health centres, shops, cinemas and clubs. Many local
libraries have been closed recently because of the lack of money.
Another problem is unemployment. Many people who used to
work on big state farms suddenly lost their jobs. Most of them do
not have enough money to buy some land or to start their own
business.
To solve these problems, wise political
decisions should be taken. Only in this way living in the country
could become easier and better.
12. Naturalny swiat jest po panowaniem ludzi. (THE
NATURAL WORLD IS UNDER ASSAULT FROM MAN)
What should depress us most in the huge speed
and scale of the change that human beings are inflicting on the
world. Today we have so many environmental problems that it is
quite difficult to point out the most important ones.
The burning of fossil fuels and the destruction
of forests increase CO2 in the atmosphere. The surface of the
Earth radiates heat. Some of this escapes into space but the rest is
stored by the CO2. The temperature rises. The rise in temperature
increases the amount of water vapour in the air and this traps
more of the Earth’s heat. At the poles snow and ice melt as the
worldwide temperature rises. Because the exposed surface does
not reflect the heat so well, it absorbs more sunlight and more
snow is melted. As the oceans absorb more heat, they increase the
greenhouse effect. The oceans expand and rise as more snow and
ice melt. The climate becomes warmer (it is the effect of the
greenhouse). Therefore it will be impossible for some species
(animals and plants) to live on the Earth.
Another important issue is the case of
endangered species. On one hand there are people who kill
animals to make money on their skins and horns and on the other
hand there are people who want to buy such trophies. For
example: elephant is one of the world’s endangered species
which is still being hunted for its horns. Africa has lost 99% of
black rhinos in the past 20 years. On the other side of the world
the grey whales of Baja California have nearly disappeared.
Poachers still hunt the tiger illegally, too. We must remember
that every hour two or three kinds of animals, plants or insects
die out fo ever.
Moreover the seas are in danger, too. They are
being filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical
fertilizers and pesticides, sewage. The Mediterranean is already
nearly dead, the North Sea is following. If nothing is done about
it, one day soon nothing will be able to live in the seas.
Trees are a vital part of the water cycle and, of
course, they give us oxygen that we breathe. Unfortunately
forests are disappearing as trees are burnt or cut down.
Consequently less and less oxygen is being produced. The rate at
which the Amazonian jungle is being destroyed amounts to
about 29.000 square a year. That’s an area the size of the whole
Scotland disappearing every year.
Cities, towns and villages we leave in are the
mostly contaminated. Freon from our fridges and sprays we use
go out into the atmosphere and damage the ozone layer. Cars and
factories emit fumes directly into space pollute the air so heavily
that many city - dwellers suffer from serious medical disorders.
Our society is producing too much packaging and food waste
which are dropped in the streets or end up on the rubbish tips.
There is a risk - very serious - of epidemics. Because of this
diseases spread more easily.
Lastly, there is one more dangerous
environmental problem - the acid rains. Factories and cars release
poisonous chemicals into the air. The chemicals mix with the
water vapour in the clouds and pollute the rain which later falls
damaging trees, seas and buildings.
Our environment is being destroyed but still we
have time to do something about it. Every day during the rush
hour we can see cars stuck in traffic jams sending their exhaust
fumes up into the atmosphere, polluting our environment. If we
had an integrated public transport system with subsidised fares,
commuters would be encouraged to leave their cars at home and
switch to a more efficient from the transport. Farmers should not
spray pesticides on their crops. I am sure that it will be better for
our health. Potentially the most dangerous threat to the
environment is nuclear waste from power stations. Can it be
stored safely? By developing alternative sources of energy, such
as wind and wave power, we can make our world much safer to
live in.
13. Duchy i ufo zawsze miały logiczne wyjaśnienie. (GHOSTS
AND UFOs ALWAYS HAVE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION)
Many people believe that there are intelligent
beings on other planets and we are not alone in the universe.
During the last half of the century there have been created a lot of
tales about newcomes from beyond the earth. They are usually
described as small, green, bald and beardless creatures with big
heads and eyes and only three fingers. They are flying in discus -
shaped, gleaming aircraft. Many people maintain that they have
seen a UFO.
How to explain these tales and people’s belief
in UFO?
Some anthropologists of culture interpret UFO
as a mythological phenomenon. It plays a role af angels and
demons of the technical era. (Some sects seem to confirm this
theory - their members reckon UFO as God’s or
Satan’s messengers). According to this theory UFO may be an
illusion suggested by a strong belief.
Raports about UFO may be simple mistakes or
intentional descriformation. For example: a shepherd from
Roswell, New Mexico, found some remains of a strange, flying
machine on his field. It was recognized as a UFO and excited a
big sensation in the USA. But 50 years later the truth came to
light. The Flying Saucer from the field turned out to be a secret
US spy device used during ”The cold war”, and the place
apparently visited by UFO - a US nuclear base.
Some people paint at other proof of UFO
existence - circular traces that every summer are found on fields
in some countries. But it also can be logically explained. It may
be made by aerial circulation.
The last reason for spreading stories about UFO
may be (and often is) money. People want to attract tourists to
their city or cash in on books and so on.
To sum up: there is no proof that UFO exists,
but also no one can prove that something does not exist at all.
As far as ghosts are concerned.
Fewer people believe in ghosts and
metaphysical phenomena than in UFO. This may be, because
UFO is material in contrast to ghosts. We live in the world of
nationalism and scepticism that despises ”superstitions”.
In my mind, such scepticism is unnatural. For
thousands years people’s lives have been full of metaphysics.
Nowadays life is poorer and that is why some people want to
believe, for example, in UFO. Moreover, I think that there is a
contradiction between disbelief in supernatural phenomena and
religious belief.
But there are attempts at finding logical
explanation. For example the theory of chords that seems to link
all national and irrational elements of the world.
14. Podruzowanie rozszerza choryzonty. Czy do końca się z
tym zgadzasz. (TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND!. HOW
FAR DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS?)
In the last years tourism has really taken off.
The tourist industry will soon be the largest industry in the
world. Now more than 600 million tourists a year travel the
globe. Travelling to all corners of the world gets easier and
easier.
There are people who travel on business,
science or politics. Many young people leave their countries to
study, but most of people want to see something new and
different from what they are used to seeing. Vast numbers of
them want to visit the world’s most treasured sites: the
Parthenon, the Mediterranean, Stone henge.
Naturally there are both pros and cons of
tourism. One advantage is that travelling broadens people’s mind
because they visit museums, theatres, galleries and other places
of interest. For instance: when they visit castles and palaces they
learn the history of royal families. This kind of travel educates
them. They widen their knowledge about the things that they
read about. In addition people get more sensitive and open to art.
Another good point is that people can see a lot of interesting and
beautiful spots. They can meet a lot of different people from
foreign countries. Tourists can come across various cultures and
religions of many nations. Tourists can see how other people
live, behave and what they think.
However there are many disadvantages. One is
that people destroy environment. They litter beaches and other
places, they also often don’t keep to the trails but step over the
wild plants and places of natural beauty. For example the
Mediterranean is the dirtiest sea in the whole world or the Tatra
Mountains are being destroyed by crowds of tourists every year.
Another drawback is that tourists devastate monuments - they
chiselled into rock their’s sign.
On the minus side is that travel costs a lot of
money and most of people will never see these sites because they
haven’t got so much money. We should remember that many
places are under the threat of destruction. Many replicas have
been built for instance - the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux
in France have been closed.
Until recently, we all believe that travel
broadens the mind, but now many of us believe the exact
opposite ”Modern travel narrows the mind”.
In my opinion it depends on people. There are
people who want to see as much as possible but they don’t
destroy anything.
15. Historia Warszawy (WARSAW'S HISTORY)
The first documents which mention Warsaw are
dated between 1281 and 1321. In the 14th and 15th centuries
Warsaw began to assume the role of the capital city of the Duchy
of Mazovia, which was incorpored in 1526 into the Polish
kingdom. Thanks to its convenient site, Warsaw flourished and
became the most important town in Poland by the 16th century.
Its central location was the main reason for holding royal
elections here.
After Wawel Castle in Cracow burnt down, King Zygmunt III
Waza moved his permanent residence, court and the crown
headquarters from Cracow to Warsaw in 1596.
During the reign of the Waza dynasty, Warsaw
became an important centre of sciences and arts. The city`s
development was halted by the Swedish invasion in the middle
of the 17th century. During the reign of the Saxon dynasty in the
18th century, Warsaw once again became an important cultural
centre.
Warsaw had its second golden age during the
reign of the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski. It
was in this time that the May 3 rd Constitution was rattified - the
first European bill of human rights, a modern city administration
introduced, the arts flourished, and the National Theatre and the
Ministry of Education were established . But it was also the
period of the partitions. In 1795, after the third partition, Poland
was erased from the map of Europe and for the next 123 years its
territory was divided between Russia, Prussia and Austria.
Warsaw was the focal point of three uprisings against the foreign
rule. In 1918, Warsaw became the capital of the reborn Polish
state. Development of the city, including the construction of new
roads and modern residential districts was short-lived, however,
halted by the outbreak of World War II. In 1940 the Nazis
created the Warsaw Ghetto. They destroyed it completely in
1943 after killing off the remainder of the Jewish population in
the Ghetto Uprising. After the failure of the Warsaw Uprising in
1944 the Nazis destroyed the city, razing over 84 percent of the
buldings to the groung.