Photography Exhibition

Local photographer, Alison Willis, is going to have (0) an exhibition of her work here in Oxford. Ms

Willis's photographs will be on display next month in the Museum of Modern Art for two weeks and I
not in
advise you 22 to miss it. Alison became interested 23 photography several
w hile spends
years ago 24 she was working as a tourist guide. Now she 25 her time
w hat
searching for perfect images of the countryside in all seasons. This is 26 makes her

work interesting. Most of her photographs are not just beautiful pictures of places, they
tell from
also 27 a story about them. The exhibition is open 28 10 am to 6 pm daily

and noon to 5 pm on Sundays.

Summer blockbusters

In some countries, the advent of summer means long sunny days, picnics in the park, relaxing cycle
rides in the country, volleyball on the beach, and eating (0) enough ice-cream to keep the local
in
parlour 22 business. This is all very admirable, but not necessarily something that
like
everyone recognizes – especially if you are a film fan. Those who are 23 me, in other
words who love the cinema, look forward to the coming of summer for a very different reason.
least
Summer brings the latest batch of blockbusters, at 24 that's what the various film
they w ill
studios hope 25 be. Summer films are different from all the others. They seem more
exciting, more adventurous, and, dare I say, more expendable. In the summer, film fans are happy
w ith
to part 26 their cash for a couple of hours of frothy fun. There's no need for leading
actors to deliver long speeches or to provoke our thoughts after leaving the cinema. All they need to
so
do is entertain us 27 that we leave the cinema with thoughts of adventure, no matter
if
28 it is on the high seas or the in the deepest jungle, and we all feel we can be
superheroes. Well, certainly until the next ice-cream comes along.
The Oldest Runner?
When Mark Smith retired from his job at the age of 65, he did what many people at that age tend to
do. ‘I sat and watched television (0) all day long and quickly put on a lot of weight,’ he says.
rather
However, 24 than accept it like many of his friends, Mark decided that he had better do
something about it. ‘I'd been getting fed up sitting around at home, so I decided to go to the gym,’ he
used long
reveals. ‘I began to get back the level of fitness that I once 25 to have.’ Not 26
after he started at the gym, Mark saw an advertisement for the Amsterdam Marathon. ‘I immediately
give
decided to 27 it a go,’ Mark laughs. ‘Little did I realize just how hard it would be! But I
did six months of training, then went to Amsterdam, thoroughly enjoyed the marathon, and I’ve kept
since
going back ever 28 .’ Mark completed that first marathon in a respectable time, which
is why last year, at the age of 72, he ran three different marathons. Mark slowly improved his times
finishing last year’s San Francisco Marathon in an astonishing 3 hours and 38 minutes.
like
Unfortunately, 29 so many other runners, Mark has some problems with his knees and
less
his hips, so his doctor has suggested that he run 30 frequently in future. ‘It’ll just be one
marathon a year from now on,’ he says regretfully.

Write ONE or TWO.

Having a chat

The female chatterbox, a woman who seldom if ever lets men get a (0) word in edgeways, is a traditional stereotype in certain cultures. However,

carried
research 23 out by psychologists has found both sexes are equally capable of talking a lot.

In the study, almost 600 male and female volunteers were fitted with digital microphones. These were then programmed to record people speaking at

talked
regular intervals as the subjects 24 about their daily lives over a 10-day period. Using these recordings, the research team

w hereas
estimated that women speak, on average, 16,215 words each day, 25 men utter 15,669 words.

w ho took
The most talkative people of all in fact, tend to be men. Four of the biggest talkers 26 part in the study were male, one

of whom produced over 45,000 words in the course of his normal day. His total was a great surprise! The most talkative woman in the study,

in
27 contrast, managed a mere 40,000 words daily. Men were also the majority group at the silent end of the spectrum, with the

few end
quietest averaging as 28 as 500 words a day. In the 29 , there is nothing like data to undo a

stereotype!
From: Diane
Subject: Moving out
Date: 26 May
To: Joanna
Joanna!
Sorry you haven’t heard (0) from me for ages but the thing is, I’ve moved! It all happened really
quickly. I saw this advert on the college noticeboard a few weeks ago. It said that three girls were
looking last
21 for someone to share a house with them. Well I went to see it 22 week
is
and then moved in yesterday! So I’ve been really busy and that 23 why I haven’t been
in touch. Anyway, the other girls are really friendly. My room’s quite big and there’s a sitting room
w here
24 we can all sit and talk together and watch TV. It’s so much nicer than living on my
ow n how
25 . I’ve already realised 26 much I hated that. Anyway, the question is, when
give
can you come and see me? 27 me a call and I’ll tell you where to find me!
Lots of love and speak soon.
Ehsan .

The Microwave

The first microwave produced for domestic use (0) was launched in 1967. This was after two decades spent
that
making improvements to the first commercially-used microwave, 22 was tested in a restaurant

in Boston, USA, in 1945. This restaurant machine stood almost two metres high, weighed 340 kg, an$5,000. d cost
w ho
‘The early domestic microwaves were out of this world,’ says Elizabeth Walter, 23 ran a

microwave cookery school in London in the 1970s. 'One of the best things was that you could adjust the
used
power and cooking speed. We 24 to do cakes and demonstrate how to simmer sauces, and
could
make casseroles. There was hardly anything you 25 not do!' However, the microwave has
had
26 considerable criticism from professional cooks, in spite of its speed and efficiency. ‘I’ve
w hy
always hated them,’ says a head chef at a well-known London restaurant, ‘I don’t really know 27
that
I feel that way. Perhaps it’s 28 microwaves represent speed and a lack of skill.’ Many chefs

still think this way. Nonetheless, the domestic microwave remains a standard part of the modern kitchen.
Tim Smith
101A Wentworth Road
Wimbledon
London W1 2NQ

Hi! I’m having a great time (0) in Rome. It’s hot and sunny and the people 22 are

very friendly. Yesterday, we 23 w ent to the Coliseum. It was very old 24 building

really interesting. This afternoon we’re going shopping in the local markets.
going the
Tomorrow we’re 25 to leave Rome in 26 morning and travel
by
27 train to Venice. We’ve got some friends there. They’re going to take
us
28 to St Mark’s Square. I’d also like a trip on a gondola! See you soon

Welcome to summer

If you want a school holiday filled (0) with action, excitement and adventure then you’ve come
the
to 23 right place. At Summer Adventures we provide adventure activity and outdoor
for
holidays 24 young people of all ages, nationalities, and abilities. It doesn’t matter
ow n
whether you want to come on your 25 or as part of a group, we’ve got activities for
this
everyone. So if you want to do 26 completely different, make new friends and generally
home
have a great time, this is the place for you. It’s a chance to leave your parents at 27 ,
and have a go at some of the sports you’ve always wanted to try. And we promise you’ll
have
28 the time of your life!

to
Do you want 29 find out more? Just click here
Magda
from
Hi! My name’s Magda (0) and I’d like to make new friends to email. I’m 21 Poland, but I
old
live in a flat in London. I’m eighteen years 22 and I’m a student at London University. I
her any
have one sister. 23 name’s Ela and she’s fifteen. I don’t have 24 brothers. I
can
25 speak English, French, and Spanish. I like playing tennis and really enjoy
listening play
26 to music. I also 27 the guitar quite well and I often go to the cinema. Please

write to me!

From: Tomas
Subject: Party!
Date: 30 July
To: Ben
Hi Ben,
on
It's (0) my birthday and I’m having a party! It’s 21 5th August. That’s this Saturday. It
is a
22 at 8 pm at my house. There’s going to be 23 lot of friends from my school. I
of to
think you know some 24 them? Also I want 25 go shopping tomorrow. Can you
go like
26 with me to the supermarket? Would you 27 to help me make a cake? We
can have fun!

Speak soon.
Tomas
 use
Have you (0) heard of The Student Economy Card? You can 22 it to get reductions in
able
shops, hotels, restaurants and many other places so you’ll be 23 to save money
wherever you go!
for
You can apply 24 a card if you’re a full-time student at a:
- secondary school - further education college - language school - university ######
have
but you do 25 to be at least twelve years of age.
until
The Student Economy Card costs just £10 and it is valid from September of one year 26
w hat
December of the following year. So 27 are you waiting for? Just complete the online
w ithin
application form and you will receive a card 28 five days.

From: 'Jessica'
Subject: New Home
Date: 16 July
To: 'Tommy'

Hi Tommy
We’ve arrived in Portugal and have moved (0) into our new house at last! The house is quite big,
and
21 there’s plenty of room for you to come and stay. It also has a nice garden and a
the if
swimming pool. But 22 best thing about the house is its beautiful views. 23
climb
you’re swimming in the pool, you can 24 the mountains of the Serra de Estrella in
Portugal and the Sierra Franca in Spain. It’s wonderful. The village is nice as well. It’s small, but you
find are
can 25 what you need at the local shops. There 26 also some cafés and a
to
restaurant. There’s even a golf course and a lake next 27 the village.
I hope you can visit us soon!
Jessica
My Job

I’ve always written stories. When I (0) was a child, I wrote funny poetry and short stories. As I grew
up
21 , I started reading serious writers like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Cervantes. I wrote
w hen
my first novel for adults 22 I was eighteen. It was very serious and to be honest it wasn’t
but that
very good, 23 I enjoyed doing it. After 24 , I wrote three more novels.
better
These were 25 than my first one but they still weren’t very good. Finally, I
to
decided 26 write a book for teenagers. At last, publishers liked my work. They
me
published it and asked 27 to write more. Today I’m a popular children’s writer.