Mellish school is in the slums of Brooklyn for pupils between twelve and fifteen years of age. There are about 1500 pupils there, and 90 teachers.

It’s a problem school, perhaps one of the most difficult schools in America. The white teachers can’t walk to the school because they may be attacked. They all drive to school, and their cars have special locks. There’s always a black policeman at the door of the school. He has a radio contact with the school guards. Pupils must have a written permission from the teacher if they want to go to the toilet. There’s a guard outside the washroom. Only one child can go into the washroom at a time, and he can’t stay there long.

The children who live in that district go to that school. They are all black children. However, why do the teachers work there?

“It’s very hard of course,” says Jane Flinch, a forty- five-year-old teacher. Most children have problems at home. Some of them are beaten by their parents. Some of them sleep at the lessons because they had to work at night. Some of the children get sick at the lessons because they didn’t have breakfast or even a meal for a day or two.

It’s the love of the job that keeps the teachers in that school. They teach and do social work. They feel that they are doing something good for the children who need help.

“There’s also the problem of violence,” says one of the teachers. “Sometimes when I go into a class, I can feel that some of the children are like a dynamite. However, I feel quite safe. I am sure that other pupils will help me.” There is very little money for teaching in that school. There is no money to buy food for the children.

The principal of the school has been there for many years. A lot of his happy optimism has gone. “No, I’m not optimistic about the future. Look around you,” he says and points out of the window at the high wall round the school. ”It’s not a very bright sight: buildings have holes instead of the windows, shops are closed, groups of people are sitting on the steps of the houses. They have nowhere to go and nothing to do.”

“We need money,” he says, “money is the only way to help this school and these people, and, of course, jobs for the people.”

a) small children.

b) older children.

c) small and older children.

2. The white teachers can’t walk to school because

a) they live far from the school.

b) they don’t like to walk.

c) it’s dangerous for them.

3. There’s a policeman

a) at the door of the school.

b) near the toilet.

c) outside the washroom.

4. The white teachers work there because

a) they can’t find a better job.

b) they love their job.

c) they get a lot of money there.

5. The school needs

a) more money

b) more teachers.

c) more policemen.

Miklukho-Maclay was a Russian scientist and traveller who lived more than a year on the island of New Guinea. The ship came to the island in the evening of a September day in 1871. Next morning the captain said to Maclay:

“You are coming ashore. Why don’t you take more men with you? Have you a gun?”

“I don’t need a gun. I have presents for the natives.”

The island was beautiful. There were trees and flowers everywhere, and it was very hot. The sun shone brightly high above Maclay’s head. He walked for some time down a forest path. Suddenly he stopped because he heard a noise. A native stood in front of him. He looked at Maclay quickly and then started running away. Maclay ran after him. The native looked back and suddenly stopped. Maclay took out some presents and showed them to the man. The native took the presents and smiled. This was how Miklukho-Maclay met the first black man on the first day of his life in New Guinea. The native’s name was Tui. He was Maclay’s best friend all the time that the traveller lived on the island.

On the first of October Maclay started out for a walk in the forest. He carried no gun. He had only a notebook and a pencil. In the forest, he met a native boy who saw him and ran away. Maclay heard the voices of men and women and the cries of children. Suddenly many men with spears in their hands came out. They stopped and looked at Maclay angrily. When he tried to say something, one of the men wanted to throw his spear at him. Maclay did not know a word of their language. He could not explain that he was their friend. He knew that he had to do something quickly. And a good idea came to him. He suddenly sat down on the ground and began to take off his shoes. Then he lay down, put a bag under his head and ... slept. The natives did nothing to him.

1. The sportsman is
a) boxer 
b) a wrestler   
c) a runner

2. He began to do sports when he was
a) 15 
b) 17.    
c)  18.

3. If you strengthen your legs, you feel as if your body has become
a) much lighter 
b) heavier 
c) smaller

4. Long distance running is a good relaxation for
a) Your mind 
b) the arms and back muscles 
c) the leg muscles

I will tell you about myself. I grew up tall and thin with no great strength in my arms. Wrestling came into my life when I was 18. I was 188 cm tall and weighed 85 kg and could not compete with my rivals in strength.

Then I decided to build up my muscles. I developed a system of exercises, which helped me to become stronger. I spent much time weight lifting. I lifted a bar equal to my own weight, which is up to 100 kg. However, that happened after two years of regular exercising. At first, the weight was only 30-40 kg. In general, I advise to choose the weight, which is twice as small as your own.

Push-ups were also of great help to me. At first, I could push up only 3 or 4 times, so weak were my arms! Then 30 times. Interesting enough, if you strengthen your legs, you feel as if your body has become much lighter. It is a very useful exercise. I also worked with dumb-bells and weights and threw heavy stones into air. You must combine muscle-building exercises with long distance running. It is a good relaxation for the arms and back muscles.

I was considered the strongest heavyweight wrestler in the world. However, I have never been the biggest among my rivals. I weighed a little over 100 kg but defeated even those who weighed 120, 150 and 180 kg like the American Chris Taylor whom I threw on the floor at the 1972 Olympics. If you are strong, you do not fear any rivals! My advice to you is if you want to be strong, take up physical exercises at once.

For many people lunch is a quick meal. In cities there are a lot of sandwich bars, where office workers can choose the kind of bread they want - brown, white or roll - and then all sorts of salad and meat or fish to go in the sandwich. Pubs often serve good, cheap food, both hot and cold. School-children can have a hot meal at school, but many just take a snack from home - a sandwich, a drink, some fruit.

'Tea' means two things. It is a drink and a meal! Some people have afternoon tea, with sandwiches, cakes, and, of course, a cup of tea.

The evening meal is the main meal of the day for many people. They usually have it quite early, between 6:00 and 8:00, and often the whole family eats together.

On Sundays many families have a traditional lunch. They have roast meat, either beef, lamb, chicken, or pork, with potatoes, vegetables, and gravy. Gravy is a sauce made from the meat juices.

The British like food from other countries, too, especially Italian, French, Chinese, and Indian. People often get take-away meals - you buy the food at the restaurant and then bring it home to eat. Eating in Britain is quite international!

 a) yes   b) no    c) it doesn't say in the text   d) I don't know

a) all sorts of fruit  b)  vegetables  c)  orange   d)  meat

 a) tea  b)  coffee   c) nothing   d) both

a) at home  b)  in the office  c)  at sandwich bars   d) in restaurants

 a) yes  b)  no   c) they don't eat at all  d)  I'm not English, I don't care