14. Чтение: анализ содержания текста: все задания

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

The citizens of Cambridge were happy to get the university in their town.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Cambridge University

Cambridge University is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world (after the University of Oxford) and the seventh-oldest in the world.

The history of Cambridge University began in 1209 when several hundred students arrived in the little town of Cambridge after having walked 60 miles from Oxford. These students were all churchmen and had been studying in Oxford at that city’s well-known schools. Life at Oxford was hard for there was constant trouble, even fighting, between the citizens of the town and the students. Then one day a student accidentally killed a man of the town. The Mayor arrested three other students who were innocent and they were put to death. In protest, many students left Oxford, some of them went to Cambridge. And so the new University began.

It was Cambridge University. Of course, there were no Colleges in those early days and student life was very different from what it is now. The students were of all ages and came from anywhere and everywhere. Life in College was strict. The students were forbidden to play games, to sing (except sacred music), to hunt or fish or even to dance. Books were very rare and all the lessons were in the Latin language which students were supposed to speak even among themselves.
In 1440 King Henry VI founded King’s College, and other colleges followed.

Nowadays there are more than 30 different colleges, including five for women students and several mixed colleges, in the University. The number of students in colleges is different: from 30 to 400 or 500.

The training course lasts 4 years. The academic year is divided into 3 terms. The students study natural and technical sciences, law, history, languages, geography, medicine, economics, agriculture, music and many other subjects. After 3 years of study a student may proceed to a Bachelor’s degree, and later to the degrees of Master and Doctor.

There are many ancient traditions that are still observed at Cambridge. For example, the students are required to wear gowns at lectures, in the University library, in the street in the evening, for dinners in the colleges and for official visits.

All the students must pay for their education – classes, examinations, books, laboratories, university hostel, the use of libraries. The cost is high. It depends on college and university speciality. Very few students get grants.

Many great men studied at Cambridge, for example, Bacon (the philosopher), Milton and Byron (the poets), Cromwell (the soldier), Newton (the outstanding physicist), Darwin (who is famous for his theory of evolution) and Kapitsa (the famous Russian physicist).

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

In our time, girls are allowed to enter Eton College.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Eton

Within a ten-minute walk of Windsor Castle, across a bridge over the River Thames, there’s an old Gothic building. It is the legendary Eton College. It is one of England’s largest independent schools and one of the highest in prestige. Members of the British royal family are traditionally educated here. It was one of the best schools when first founded and remains so now; it is still commonly known as one of the greatest schools among all the schools in the world.

Following the old tradition, Eton is a full boarding school, which means all students live and study at the school with their fellow students throughout the school year. Eton is also one of the four remaining boys’ schools, so there’s no opportunity for a girl to study there. Eton students traditionally come from England’s wealthiest and most prestigious families, many of them aristocratic. Boys enter Eton at about 13 and continue to study there until they are ready to enter university.

The school was founded by Henry VI in the fifteenth century to provide free education for poor pupils who would then go on to get a higher education at King’s College in Cambridge. That connection no longer exists today.
All students have a uniform of a black tailcoat and a waistcoat, a white collar and dark trousers. All students wear a white tie. This uniform is not for special occasions, it is worn at all times for all classes. If you visit Eton during term time, you will see students walking along the streets with books under their arms dressed in their uniforms. 

At Eton, there are dozens of organisations known as ‘societies’, in many of which students come together to discuss a particular topic. The societies are traditionally governed by the boys themselves. Societies range from astronomy to Scottish dancing and stamp-collecting. Some of them are dedicated to music, some to arts, some to languages, and so on. Meetings are usually held after supper and often include a guest speaker. Among past guest speakers were composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, designer Vivienne Westwood, and actor Ralph Fiennes. 

One of the oldest and most influential Eton societies is called the Pop. Its members are like school head-boys or prefects who are given limited authority over other students. They are called Poppers and take an active part in many official events of the school year, including parents’ evenings. While all students wear black waistcoats, members of the Pop are allowed to wear any waistcoat they please. Prince William, when he was a Popper, wore a waistcoat designed like the British national flag. The style immediately became popular.

Irrespective of this, the official colour of the college is the so-called ‘Eton blue’. It’s a light blue-green colour which has been used since the early 19^th century. The main purpose was to identify Eton sportsmen in rowing races and on the cricket field.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

The British people liked potatoes at once.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Potatoes

The potato comes from the high and cool areas of the Andes of Peru. It began to be grown as food more than 7,000 years ago. When Europeans came to South America, they took the potato back to Europe.

In 1589, Sir Walter Raleigh, an English explorer and historian known for his expeditions to the Americas, first brought the potato to Ireland and planted the new vegetable there. In spite of the fact that the potatoes grew very well in the poor soil of Ireland, it took nearly 200 years for them to become a widely grown crop in Ireland and Great Britain. People didn’t like its unusual appearance and originally bitter taste. Besides, the potato was not mentioned in the Bible and it was often associated with the devil.

According to legend, Sir Walter Raleigh presented potato plants to Queen Elizabeth I.  A special royal potato dinner was made and the noble men were invited to taste the new American vegetable. But the royal cooks didn’t know how to cook potatoes: they cut off and threw away the ugly-looking tubers and brought to the royal table a dish of boiled leaves (which are very poisonous). Most of the guests died after that royal dinner and potatoes were forbidden for many years.

Only two hundred years later farmers in Great Britain and Ireland began growing potatoes. Soon the rest of Europe started to follow Britain. The only country which did not accept potatoes was France. To overcome the negative attitude of the French people towards the new vegetable, King Louis XVI started to wear a potato flower as a decoration. He tried to make the people understand the benefit of potatoes as food. Even after the French king had given an order to his citizens to grow potatoes, they still were against the unfamiliar vegetable. The farmers refused to eat potatoes because of its unusual smell and taste.

Then King Louis XVI decided to trick his people. In order to show the value of the potato, the king ordered to have it planted in a royal field and put guards to watch over the field. When the local farmers saw the guards at the royal field, they decided that the thing so carefully guarded must be valuable. One day, the guards were allowed to go off duty.  The local farmers went into the field, dug out some potatoes and planted them in their fields. The king’s plan was a success. From this small start, the habit of growing and eating potatoes spread all over the country.

As Europeans began to grow potatoes, they realized the advantages of the new vegetable. The potato harvest was enough to feed their own families and to sell some to the citizens of towns and cities. The new food stimulated the development of cities and industries.  Besides, the health of the people improved as they included potatoes in their diets. Now the potato is grown and enjoyed everywhere.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Thomas Blood’s crime was well-planned.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

The Сrown Jewels

Every year, millions of visitors come to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels. The Crown Jewels have been kept in the Tower since 1303 after they were stolen from Westminster Abbey. Luckily, that time most of the Crown Jewels were found shortly afterwards and put in the Tower.

Although there have been a few attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower, none of them have succeeded. But the name of one of the thieves has remained in the British history. He was Thomas Blood.

On the 9^th May, 1660, Thomas Blood, dressed as a priest, came to the Tower. He came with three well-dressed young men.

Thomas Blood had already been to the Tower a few days earlier. He was with a woman whom he introduced as his ‘wife’. When they were walking round the Tower, the ‘wife’ pretended to feel unwell and fainted. Talbert Edwards, who was Master of the Jewel House and lived in the Jewel House with his family, took the woman upstairs to his family’s rooms. He also asked his wife to help the fainted lady. In an hour or so the lady felt better and left the Tower with her ‘husband’.

On the second visit, Thomas Blood, again dressed as a priest, brought a present for Edwards’ wife for her help and attention to his ‘wife’. He gained the confidence of the Master of the Jewel House, Talbot Edwards, and asked him to show the Crown Jewels to his friends. Talbot Edwards agreed and took them to the room where the Crown Jewels were kept. Suddenly Blood took out a hammer from under his priest’s dress and struck the Master on the head. Talbert Edwards fell down and fainted. Thomas Blood took the king’s crown and made it flat with the hammer in order to put the crown into a large pocket of his priest dress. The other three men took other royal jewels and hid them in their pockets.

By chance, Talbert Edwards’ son, Wythe, arrived at the Tower earlier than expected. He found his father lying unconscious and bleeding. Wythe raised the alarm. Though Thomas Blood and his gang had left the jewel room, they were caught when they were getting out of the Tower. The broken crown and the jewels were found with them.

A report was immediately sent to the king, and Charles II sent for Thomas Blood. The king wanted to talk to the thief who had committed such a wicked crime. The end of the story is unbelievable. Thomas Blood was not punished. Moreover, Blood was awarded a pension of £500 a year. At the same time the Master of the Jewel House Talbot Edwards was dismissed for his carelessness. Later, he died in misery.

Since Thomas Blood’s attempt in 1600 up to the present date, there have been no attempts to steal the jewels. Nowadays the priceless collection is open for the public to view and the Crown Jewels are considered to be the most well-guarded treasures in the world. They are kept in the Tower and are guarded by the Yeomen Warders, commonly known as the Beefeaters. 

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

David Beckham’s school teachers supported his interest in football.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

David Beckham

David Beckham – is there a more famous and lovable celebrity? The footballer who played for such famous teams as Manchester United and Real Madrid is also a fashion model and a successful businessman.

David Beckham was born on May 2, 1975, in London, England. His father Ted Beckham was a kitchen fitter and his mother Sandra, a hair stylist. David Beckham was the family’s only son. A middle child between two sisters, David grew up with parents and relatives who were great fans of Manchester United, England’s legendary football club. From childhood, David was a promising footballer. At 11 he won the prestigious Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools National Skills Competition. David was noticed by Manchester United team officials, who asked him to try out for the club’s youth league. By the age of 16, Beckham had to drop out of school. He left home to play for his favourite team. Two years later he became a full-time player for Manchester United and one of its leading figures.

From 1992 to 2003, playing for Manchester United, David Beckham scored 85 goals. Every time he had a game, he wore different football boots – it was a sort of ritual for good luck. In 2003, David unexpectedly left his beloved team for Real Madrid. The reason was the growing conflict between David Beckham and Manchester’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Once Sir Alex Ferguson fined David for babysitting with his sick child, while his wife Victoria, a designer, was at a London Fashion Week Event. The fine was really large. The incident caused a serious personal tension between the two men and ended in Beckham moving to the other club.

In Real Madrid, David Beckham was not allowed to wear his favourite number seven, because the right to wear it was written into the contract of another player. Instead, David decided to wear a shirt with number 23, which was the number of his favourite basketball player Michael Jordan. Though David Beckham immediately became very popular with the Real Madrid fans and his shirt sales made a lot of money for the football club, the team didn’t win any serious tournaments. Perhaps, it was one of the reasons why in 2007 Beckham signed a five-year contract to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy and moved to America. However, his career in America was a rocky one – numerous injuries affected him. In May 2013, David Beckham announced his plans to retire.

It’s important to say that David Beckham has always been a devoted husband and a loving father. David and his wife Victoria have three sons and a daughter. They say the boys are being trained as ‘bodyguards’ for their little sister Harper. The youngest, Cruz, has been practicing Taekwondo, Brooklyn is interested in boxing, and the oldest, Romeo, does karate. They are preparing early so that when Harper is older, “they will all be ready to protect her from noisy fans,” David says.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Oliver managed to get through a small hole to get his snack.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Oliver the Odd Octopus

“What’s that? That creature…,” Lisa could not take her eyes off something swimming in Ken’s fish tank. The tank was large, much larger than people usually put into their flats for interior reasons. But Ken’s parents were not like most people – his father was a marine biologist, and his mother worked as a vet in the local vet clinic. Their home was different. Lisa wouldn’t be surprised to see a dog or a cat with bandaged legs there – as Ken’s mother sometimes ‘took work home.’ The creature in the fish tank, however, looked like an alien to Lisa.

“Oh, now it’s my dad who’s taken work home. This guy is called Oliver. He’s an octopus, can’t you see?” Ken came up to the fish tank and tapped his fingers on the glass. The octopus immediately approached the glass and looked up at Ken. His eyes were orange, and his eight legs seemed blue. Lisa came up to the tank to take a better look, but the octopus… disappeared! It just dissolved in the water! Lisa was puzzled and Ken laughed loudly, “This is Oliver’s favourite trick. He can turn invisible. Well, almost invisible… He’s still there, but he’s changed his colour to sandy brown to match the sand in the tank. In the wild, this trick helps octopuses to hide from sharks.”

Lisa felt more and more curious about the octopus. “Are you saying Oliver is able to camouflage himself to escape danger? What else can he do?”

“Well, lots of things. He can squeeze through a very small hole. As small as a coin. Look, if I put this plate with a hole between him and his snack, he will get to his food in no time,” said Ken. He opened the tank, put his hand with a snack into the water and blocked the octopus’s way to it with a large plastic plate with a few small holes.

“I bet he’ll never get through the hole. It’s too small! Oliver’s much larger! Even his head…” but Lisa did not complete what she wanted to say, because Oliver had already moved through the hole as if he were liquid. He grabbed his snack with one of his eight arms and looked at Lisa. “Oh, he’s amazing!” Lisa couldn’t hide her surprise.

“See?” Ken was pleased with the performance. “It’s easy because he has no bones.”

“How is it possible? No bones at all? I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself.” Lisa looked at Oliver very closely and added, “He is odd, of course. But he is not ugly. He is even cute. And he looks smart.”

Ken nodded in agreement, “My dad says octopuses are very smart. They can watch and learn by watching. They are fast at learning new skills and they are good at problem-solving. For example, they can figure out how to open a jar or untie a knot. My father has been studying the behaviour of dogs and cats, and, according to him, octopuses are cleverer and more resourceful than they are. At least my father is sure of that. He’s been testing Oliver’s abilities for a few weeks, and has got some astonishing results.”

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Florence’s family approved of her wish to become a nurse.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale was a celebrated English nurse and writer. According to a survey, British people consider her to be one of the most famous British persons along with outstanding scientists, writers and politicians.

She was born into a rich, upper-class family in 1820, in Italy. She got her name Florence after the city of her birth, as there was a tradition in her family to name the children in honour of the city they were born in. She got an all-round education and according to the family’s status Florence was expected to become a faithful wife and attentive mother.

However, in 1844 Florence decided to become a nurse, despite the intense anger and distress of her mother and sister. At that time nursing was seen as a job that needed neither education nor special medical skills.

In 1854 the Crimean War broke out and Florence Nightingale offered her services to the War Office and soon left for the Crimea with thirty-eight volunteer nurses. They began their work in the main British camp, in the hospital. Very soon Florence found out that hygiene was neglected, and fatal infections were common. There was no equipment to cook proper food for the patients. Florence decided to change the situation.

Nightingale managed to found a vast kitchen and a laundry. In addition to her nursing work, she tried to organize reading and recreation rooms for the wounded soldiers. She was on her feet for twenty hours a day and so were the other nurses. Florence was called ‘The Lady with the Lamp’ for her habit of making rounds round the hospital at night. She checked on her helpless patients.
Florence remained in the Crimea until 1856, then she returned to England.

In London Florence Nightingale visited Queen Victoria and persuaded the Queen of the need to create a military hospital system. Soon Florence Nightingale set up a training school for nurses, the first nursing school in the world.  It is now called The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery and is part of King’s College in London.  The annual International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on Florence’s birthday, the 12^th of May.

In the Crimea camp, Nightingale got ‘Crimean fever’ and never fully recovered. By the time she was 38 years old, she was seriously ill. She left her house very rarely and had to stay in bed most of the time. Nevertheless, Florence continued her work from her bed. She wrote many books, some of them became the base of the curriculum at the Nightingale School and other British nursing schools.

Florence Nightingale died in London in 1910, at the age of ninety. The government offered to bury Florence in Westminster Abbey, but her relatives did not agree. However, the memorial service took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Florence Nightingale received a lot of honorable awards. Several books were written about the life of ‘The Lady with the Lamp’ and a few films were shot about her.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Mark bought an expensive caravan for his new life.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

The Moneyless Man

For most of us it seems that money makes the world go round. However, not for Mark Boyle who has turned his life into a radical experiment.

Mark Boyle was born in 1979 in Ireland and moved to Great Britain after getting a degree in Business. He set up his own business in Bristol. For six years Mark Boyle managed two organic food companies which made him a good profit.

However, in 2008, he decided to give up earning money. He vowed to live without cash, credit cards, or any other form of finance. Mark Boyle began to realise that many of the world’s problems are just symptoms of a deeper problem. He thought that money gave people the illusion of independence. 

Mark sold his house and started preparing himself for his new life. He posted an advert on a website asking for a tent, a caravan (a vehicle for living or travelling) or any other type of a house. Soon an old lady gave him a caravan for free. At least he then had a roof over his head!

After that, with his pockets empty, Mark was ready to go. He didn’t even carry keys as he decided to trust the world a bit more and not lock his caravan. On November 28^th (International Buy Nothing Day 2008), he became the Moneyless Man for one whole year.

Everything was different from then on. Mark lived in his caravan on an organic farm where he worked as a volunteer three days a week. In return he got a piece of land to live on and grow his own vegetables. His food was cooked on a stove, and he washed in a shower made from a plastic bag hanging from a tree, and warmed by the sun. 

Even breakfast was different. With no morning coffee to brew, Mark had to find an alternative drink to start the day with. So he drank herbal teas, sometimes with some fresh lemon verbena that he could find near the caravan. “It’s all very good for you: iron, calcium, anti-oxidants,” Mark said. 

Food was the first thing to consider. Mark discovered that there were four ways to find it: looking for wild food, growing his own food, bartering (exchanging his grown food for something else), and using loads of waste food from shops. 

Public interest in his project was divided. While a huge number of people supported him, there was criticism of him, particularly on Internet forums. 

“People are either very positive about what I’m doing or very negative; I think it’s about 70 per cent/30 per cent. It’s funny, if you don’t have a massive plasma TV these days, people think you are an extremist,” Mark said. 

People tend to ask Mark what he learnt from a year of a moneyless life. “What have I learned? That friendship, not money, is real security,” he answers.  Mark’s remarkable journey is described in his new book “The Moneyless Man”, which shows in a detailed way the challenges he faced on the road to his new world.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Levi Strauss had a few friends among gold miners.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Jeans

The history of jeans goes as far back as the 16^th century when sailors in Genoa (Italy) wore a material that eventually became the material used in jeans. The word ‘jean’ derives from the name of the Italian port city Genoa, as it was a custom to name a material after its place of origin. By the late 16^th century, jean material was already produced in Lancashire, England.

It was the California Gold Rush of 1849 that started the evolution of American trousers that would one day become blue jeans. The gold miners wanted clothes that were strong and did not tear easily. The person who suggested an appropriate type of clothing was a German businessman Levi Strauss, who had moved to America. Levi Strauss sold many different things, but his main product was a tough canvas material used for tents and wagon covers. Understanding the urgent need of the gold miners Levi Strauss decided to make trousers out of the tough canvas he was selling. The miners liked the new ‘working’ trousers, though they were uncomfortable to wear as the material was too rough.

To improve the trousers for miners, Levi Strauss began looking for a different material and soon he found a suitable one in France. The material was called ‘serge de Nimes’. Americans just called it ‘de Nimes’, and this name soon became its short form ‘denim’. Denim was a bit lighter and softer than the material Levi Strauss used for his working trousers. It was very strong and did not wear out quickly, even after many washes. The trousers made of denim became quite popular among the miners.

The only problem was that original denim was almost white and the trousers got dirty as soon as the miners started working! For that reason Levi Strauss decided to use coloured denim, and he chose dark blue. This was a radical new idea and ‘Blue jeans’ had arrived!

Levi’s jeans were so popular, that his company got bigger and bigger. Other firms were making blue jeans too. Miners liked them, but so did cowboys and other working men.

Levi’s jeans were work trousers. Male workers wore them all the time but a gentleman would not even think of wearing jeans. Things changed when western movies became popular. All the cowboys wore jeans and people thought they looked heroic, attractive and cool. Also jeans were greatly popularized in Europe by American off-duty soldiers who wore them during World War II. They made jeans seem like casual American trousers, a symbol of the American lifestyle.

In the 2000s, the sale of classic blue jeans stopped growing. Young people were not particularly interested in traditional jeans styles, mainly because of their parents, who adored jeans. Since no teenager would wear the clothes their parents were wearing, the latest generation of youth turned to other fabrics and styles. They still wear denim, but it had to be in new cuts, shapes and styles.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Geysernaya Lake is a man-made lake.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Kamchatka

When I think back to my journey to Kamchatka, it feels like I visited another world. My job involves lots of travelling, as I’m a wildlife photographer. I’m not a person who can be easily impressed, but Kamchatka amazed me! It is a peninsula in the far east of Russia, very far from big cities, and it cannot be called a popular tourist destination. 

It is not easy to get there. People usually do it by boat or by helicopter, and maybe this is why the nature of the region still looks so wild and untouched. The rivers and streams (and there are more than 14,000 of them on the peninsula) cut through mountains and valleys, making the landscape wild and dramatic. 

 The first thing I noticed was the volcanoes. Kamchatka has more than three hundred volcanoes, and some of them are still active. When I saw smoke rising from the crater of Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest volcano in Eurasia, I felt both afraid and excited. Walking on the black volcanic soil was like walking on another planet. I took some photos of the landscape, which looked like shots from a space-exploration film. The ground was warm in some places, and small hot springs bubbled out of the earth. 

I had seen geysers before Kamchatka, but nothing like the Valley of the Geysers! The guide said there were about 40 to 90 geysers, depending on how you count. Some of them erupt regularly every 15 minutes, and others once in a few hours. The temperature of the water is very high; it may be close to the boiling point, near 95-100°C. 

The guide explained that in 2007, a large landslide happened in the Valley, which dramatically changed the landscape of the place. Mud, rocks and sand buried many geysers, and some of them were flooded by water, but that was how a new lake was formed. It is cold Geysernaya Lake, and I felt privileged to see it, as not many people can. 

Along with being remote and difficult to reach, the Valley of Geysers is a very vulnerable place and needs protection. Tourists are allowed there in very small quantities. They are usually taken there by helicopter, and then they have to use special walking paths, so as not to cause any damage to the environment. There are lots of other amazing places on Kamchatka which I want to see when I go (hopefully!) there next time.

And, of course, as a wildlife photographer, I took a lot of shots of the animals on Kamchatka. You probably know that Kamchatka has the highest concentration of brown bears in the world. In summer, you can see dozens of bears fishing for salmon in the same river at the same time. But I will write about that in my next entry…

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The writer took his pen-name when working as an assistant to a publisher.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Mark Twain

Mark Twain wrote ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ in 1884. Since then, the book has been published in at least sixty languages, and some people say it is the best book ever created by an American writer. American students have ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ on their school reading list and parents, teachers and literary experts still debate the problems touched in the book.

The writer’s real name was Samuel Clemens. Samuel was born in 1835. He grew up in the state of Missouri on the Mississippi River. After his father died, young Samuel went to work as an assistant to a publisher. Ten years later, he became a pilot on a steamboat that sailed on the Mississippi. He heard the riverboat workers call out the words “mark twain!” That was a measure for the depth of water. Later he used this word combination as a pen-name. 

In 1861 Clemens travelled west and became a reporter for newspapers in Nevada and California. He wrote news stories, editorials and sketches under his pen-name Mark Twain. He became one of the best known storytellers in the West. He developed his own narrative style – friendly, funny, and often satirical, which won him a wide audience. The first success came with the story ‘The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County’.

Mark Twain travelled a lot during his lifetime not only round the USA but also to Europe and the Holy Land. He naturally began writing books about his travels. ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ was published in 1876, and soon after he began writing a sequel, ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’.

It took Mark Twain longer to write ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ than any of his other books. He started writing in 1876, but put the story away after about two years of work. He returned to it in 1883, and the following year it was published.

From the beginning, the book was strongly debated. Some critics praised its realism and honesty, but the others strongly disliked it. They protested against the personality of Huck – a rough, dirty and disobedient boy. They could not agree that such a person should be the main character of a book. What’s more, critics disliked the way Mark Twain used the language of a common, uneducated person to tell the story; no writer had ever done that before.

Today there is no longer any debate about the importance of ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ in American literature. In 1935 Ernest Hemingway wrote: “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called ‘Huckleberry Finn.’ There was nothing before. And there has been nothing as good since.”

No wonder then that the novel ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ was a great inspiration for film producers – more than 20 screen versions of the book have been shot not only in America, but also in Europe, Russia and Japan. There are feature films, musicals, cartoons and even Japanese anime.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

In the 17th century a Chinese Emperor sent tea to the British royal family as a present.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Tea

Everybody knows that Britain is a tea-drinking nation. Tea is more than just a drink to the British – it is a way of life. Many people drink it first with breakfast, then mid-morning, with lunch, at tea-time (around 5 o’clock), with dinner and finally just before bed. As a nation, they go through 185 million cups per day! No less than 77% of British people are regular tea drinkers; they drink more than twice as much tea as coffee.

A legend says that tea was discovered in China in the third millennium BC. When a Chinese Emperor was having breakfast in his garden, a tea leaf fell into his cup with hot water. The water became coloured and the Emperor was delighted with the taste of the new drink. To Britain, tea came much later. It happened in the 17^th century, when the British ships landed on the shore of China and came back with a load of tea.

Tea drinking became fashionable in England after Charles II married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. She adored tea and introduced it to the royal court. Just as people today will copy celebrities, people in the 17^th and 18^th centuries copied the royal family. Tea drinking spread like wildfire, starting first among the nobles and then spreading to wealthy businessmen who liked to sit down for a nice ‘cuppa’ in coffee houses. Tea was an expensive product. It was only for the rich and often kept under lock and key.

In the 17^th century the British really had two daily meals – breakfast and dinner. Dinner was the heaviest meal of the day, and was usually served in the afternoon. The custom of eating a regular ‘afternoon tea’ began during the 1700’s, as people began serving dinner later and later in the evening. For the aristocracy, or at least for the Duchess Anna Maria of Bedford, 6 hours between meals was simply too long. She began to ask for a cup of tea and light snacks to be served around 5 pm, and then began to invite guests to join her. The custom of ‘afternoon tea’ was born, and it spread among the upper classes and then among the workers, for whom this late afternoon meal became the main of the day. 

The first tea shop for ladies was opened by Thomas Twining in 1717 and slowly tea shops began to appear throughout England making the drinking of tea available to everyone. The British appreciated the new drink for its taste. It was also believed that tea cured lots of diseases.  However, the most important thing was that drinking tea prevented lots of diseases – to make the drink people used boiled water and drank less raw water.

For centuries now, tea has been the national drink of Great Britain. Tea has so thoroughly integrated itself into British culture that during World War II the government was seriously afraid that the country’s morale could suffer from the lack of tea and made a special decision to ration it.

Tea has worked its way into language too. Nowadays people have tea breaks at work, even if they drink coffee or cola. Many people call the main evening meal tea, even if they drink beer with it. When there is a lot of trouble about something very unimportant, it is called a storm in a tea cup. When someone is upset or depressed, people say they need tea and sympathy. In fact, tea is the best treatment for all sorts of problems and troubles.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Milton Hershey tried some other jobs before he started making chocolate.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Hershey’s chocolate

People from all over the world like the taste of chocolate. It’s the most popular dessert and snack. You may like dark or milk chocolate, you may prefer it plain or with nuts, but whatever your tastes are, you will certainly enjoy the chocolate produced by the Hershey Company. 

Hershey chocolate became famous all over the world thanks to a quiet but very hard-working and generous person – Milton Hershey, the founder of the company.

Milton Hershey grew up in Pennsylvania, USA. His mother wanted him to learn practical skills. She believed practice is more important than college education. So when Milton finished the fourth grade, she arranged for him to become a printer’s assistant. But Milton didn’t like the job and left it soon after. In a while he became an assistant in a candy factory. He helped to make candy and became very successful at it.  After a few years of training, Milton understood that he wanted to start his own business.

He bought the equipment and started the Lancaster Caramel Company. Success soon followed. Within a few years, Milton Hershey had a growing business and was selling his caramels all over the country. At that time he became focused on milk chocolate, which in those days was an expensive dessert imported from Switzerland. Milton Hershey was determined to find a new formula for the product that could allow him to manufacture milk chocolate in large amounts and sell it countrywide. He succeeded in making a new recipe.

So, in 1900 Milton Hershey sold his caramel company and started up a chocolate factory. In fact it was more than a factory. Milton Hershey built a whole town around the factory – with houses, schools, churches, and stores. He wanted the people who worked in his factory to live nearby and feel comfortable. The factory was focused on producing the Nickel Bar, a relatively cheap chocolate bar that everyone could afford. Later, Hershey Kisses were added. These delicious, bite-sized pieces of chocolate were named after Milton Hershey himself. 

As success and profits rose, Milton Hershey invested more money in the infrastructure of his town and added a sports arena, a stadium, and a school for orphaned children.

Milton Hershey died in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 1945, one year after his retirement as chairman of the board. He was 88 years old. By the end of his life Hershey had donated most of his money to his town and the school for orphans.

His chocolate factory remains the largest in the world. The town of Hershey is still home to about 12,000 people and draws more than 30 million visitors each year. They come to see the famous Hershey Park, which boasts a roller coaster, Ferris wheel and other rides. The factory tours draw more visitors annually than the White House. Guests can take a tour through a mock chocolate factory that includes a ride through a simulated roasting oven, and eating samples of Hershey chocolate.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Mr. Nuttel was an old friend of Mrs. Sappleton.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

The Open Window

Mr. Nuttel, a young gentleman, came to live in the country. The doctors said a quiet place like that and complete rest could help cure his nerves. He didn’t know anyone round there. That’s why his sister gave him letters of introduction to some nice people she knew. 

One of the letters was to Mrs. Sappleton. When Mr. Nuttel visited her, Mrs Sappleton was busy and he was asked to wait for several minutes. The servant invited Mr. Nuttel into a room. There Mr. Nuttel met Mrs. Sappleton’s niece, a very self-confident young lady of fifteen. The young lady asked him what he knew about her aunt. Mr. Nuttel knew nothing except Mrs. Sappleton’s name and address.

Mr. Nuttel looked around. There was something about the room that told him there were other people living in the house. So he was wondering if Mrs. Sappleton was married. Suddenly the girl got sad and told a story of Mrs. Sappleton’s tragedy. Mr. Nuttel was greatly surprised because his sister hadn’t told him anything about it. The tragedy was very unusual for that peaceful place. 

The girl pointed at the French window, which opened on to the lawn and said that Mrs. Sappleton always kept it open.  Mr. Nuttel stated that it was natural to keep the window open because the weather was quite warm. But the girl sighed and explained that her poor aunt always kept the window open in the evenings because she was waiting for her husband and sons to return. Three years ago they had gone hunting and never came back. The story caught Mr. Nuttel’s imagination deeply. He felt very upset.

He felt a little better only when Mrs. Sappleton finally appeared in the room. She apologized for being late and asked if he minded the open window. She said her husband and sons would soon be home from hunting. They always came in that way. Then, she continued talking cheerfully about hunting ducks. But Mr. Nuttel felt terrible.

He made an attempt to change the topic and told her about the reasons why he had come to the country. But Mrs. Sappleton didn’t seem to notice. She was constantly looking at the open window. Mr. Nuttel felt uncomfortable. He understood that he had chosen the wrong moment to visit her. Suddenly Mrs. Sappleton cried happily pointing at the window, “Here they are at last, just in time for tea!” Three male figures were walking across the lawn towards the window. They carried guns and a dog followed them.

Shocked and afraid, Mr. Nuttel grabbed his stick and hat and rushed out of the house. Mrs. Sappleton was extremely surprised at the extraordinary man who had left the house so quickly without a word. Her niece suggested that it was because of the dog. She said that Mr. Nuttel had been afraid of them since childhood – once, a dog had seriously bitten him. This was enough to make the young man lose his nerve. The young lady was so good at making up stories!

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

The narrator has found convincing evidence that today’s teenagers read less than their grandparents did.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

What Do Teenagers Read?

Writing essays is not my favourite pastime. I prefer solving maths problems or running my blog. You may say that writing for a blog and writing essays are just the same, but they’re not!

Anyway, today we’ve got an assignment to write an essay about what genres teenagers prefer to read. At first, I wanted to write that teenagers do not like reading at all, and that is why they have no favourite genres. However, I then thought that the common belief that teenagers do not read may be just a stereotype, and not a fact. Indeed, a lot of senior people complain that we read much less than they did, but where is the proof? Has anyone ever done any research? Are there any figures, graphs, or diagrams proving that contemporary kids read less than teenagers sixty years ago, or how much less? 

Feeling intrigued, I decided to search the web. Guess what! I was right – nobody has provided any evidence. I did not find any figures. But what I did find was a list of teenagers’ favourite genres! The list was generated by AI, of course, but it provides some interesting information to consider. So, according to AI, fantasy and adventure books are at the top of the list, and I agree with that completely. I also prefer stories about magic, quests for hidden keys, and portals to any other kinds of books. 

The next in rank are love stories, books about relationships, and challenges of teenage romance, and here, my personal preferences do not coincide with my AI assistant’s choice. Not at all! I never read love stories, finding them too boring, and I was surprised to find out that they are so popular. On the other hand, why shouldn’t they be? My sister loves them, and her friends do, too. To be precise, the girls prefer watching romantic films to reading romantic books, but, anyway, the genre is the same.  

Thrillers and crime stories are third in popularity. For some reason, this genre has always been popular with people of all ages. Just remember the queen of detective stories, Agatha Christie. I don’t think there’s any person who has never read any of her books – except for my sister, maybe. There are a few Agatha Christie books in our home library, but only mum can read them. Do you wonder why? Because they are in French, and mum is the only one in our family who knows French. I study Italian at school, but my level doesn’t allow me to read Italian books in the original. Probably, in a couple of years, I’ll be able to do it.  

Science-fiction books take only fourth place in the ratings. At first, I thought AI was mistaken, but then I agreed with it. Our technological reality is breathtaking, and recent discoveries are so unbelievable and exciting, that science-fiction books cannot compete with science journals. And you? What’s your favourite reading genre?

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

Michael Eavis started the festival to earn money.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury Festival is one of the largest open air music and art festivals in the world. It became an example which other festivals followed. Of course, Glastonbury is best known for modern music, but its programme also includes dance, comedy, theatre, circus and other arts.

The festival organiser, Michael Eavis, was a common farmer. In 1970 he visited an open air concert which greatly impressed him. So he decided to organise a big festival outdoors in the same year. He knew it wouldn’t bring any money, but it didn’t matter. At the first festival there were more than one thousand people. Each of them paid £1 for the ticket. The price also included free milk from the farm. Later on, the festival took place almost every year and grew in size and audience. 

The festival takes place in southwest England on a farm. It’s a beautiful and mystical place called the Valley of Avalon. It is surrounded with a lot of legends, symbols, myths, and religious traditions dating back many hundreds of years. Legends say that here King Arthur’s sword was made and the king himself was buried there. No wonder that the main stage of the festival, Pyramid Stage, has the form of a pyramid. Many believe that this is a very powerful structure, which gets energy from the stars and gives it to people. 

In many ways, Glastonbury is like a mix of different festivals, which take place in the countryside and last for a weekend. Each area of the festival has its own character, its own fans and its own special attractions. For example, dance lovers go to the Dance Village. There is also a big cinema area, Theatre and Circus. Children can have fun in the Kids’ Field. Some people spend the whole weekend in their favourite area. However, most of them prefer walking around and trying lots of different things. 

Most people who stay at Glastonbury Festival live in tents. There are lots of different camping areas, each one with its own atmosphere. You can choose where to stay: in a quiet place or a lively one. There are also places for families and disabled people. Anyway, you should remember to bring a tent with you. Of course, it’s possible to rent one, but it’s quite expensive. 

There are hundreds of rubbish bins on the territory. All cans, glass, paper, electrical and electronic equipment, wood and waste are separated and recycled. Visitors are asked to clean after themselves and not to leave rubbish. The festival supports those who come by public transport or by bicycle, not by car.

If you’re thinking about visiting Glastonbury, you should book tickets in advance. Today an average ticket is about £200 for three days, which is quite expensive. Nevertheless, the tickets are sold out in two or three hours. So be quick to catch them. There are usually more people wishing to get to the festival than tickets. 

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

According to the legends, the Round Table was wooden.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

The Knights of Camelot

The story about Camelot, the kingdom ruled by King Arthur, is popular with writers and film producers. You have probably seen films and serials about it, and such names as Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot sound familiar. Some people believe they were real, while others think Camelot and its inhabitants were only a legend. 

There is no real proof that Camelot ever existed. Historians and archaeologists have searched for it, but they have not found any clear evidence. Anyway, they do not give up, and believe that Camelot was probably inspired by real places in Britain. Possible locations that researchers suggest are an old hill fort, where local legends say Arthur once lived, and a Roman fortress town connected with old Arthurian tales.

Despite the absence of material evidence, there are many references to Camelot in literature. Camelot was mentioned for the first time in the 12th century by a French writer, and there were other stories and poems after that. They differ a lot, as the storytellers added their own vision and interpretation of the events. The things that all the versions have in common are the famous sword, Excalibur, and the Round Table.

Excalibur was not an ordinary sword. Its name comes from Latin and French words meaning ‘cut steel.’ For a long time, it had been stuck in a large stone and nobody could pull it out. The old tale said that only the true king would be able to do that, and Arthur proved to be that king. He pulled the sword out of the stone, and the people of the kingdom gladly accepted their young ruler. According to other stories, however, it was the Lady of the Lake who gave the sword to Arthur as a magical gift. When Arthur died, Excalibur was returned to her. 

The Round Table, another symbol of Camelot, was the place where Arthur and his knights gathered. In some films, it is featured as a massive rock or stone construction, but the old legends insist that the huge table was made of wood. Yes, it was created from a single large piece of oak, and all sorts of golden ornaments and other decorations were added by storytellers much later. The table had no head or end, which meant that all the knights were equal, and as important as the king himself.

Camelot was meant to become the Kingdom of brave, generous and free people, but in the end, the dream began to fall apart. The unity of the Round Table was broken, and Arthur fought his last battle against his own knight. Arthur was badly wounded and carried to the island of Avalon, where he still rests. Nobody has ever seen his grave yet, and even the legends do not give us any clue about exactly where it might be. Some legends, however, say that King Arthur will return one day, when Britain needs him again.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

There were only two rooms and a kitchen in the house.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

‘The 1900 House’

‘The 1900 House’ was a reality television programme in Britain. It took people back a hundred years to the time of Queen Victoria, when there were no computers, mobile phones or the Internet. The idea of the show was to give people an experience of living in the past. 

A modern family, the Bowler family, spent three months living like people at the beginning of the 20^th century. There were the parents (Paul and Joyce) and their four children (three daughters and a son). The cameras recorded them every day. The house didn’t have a telephone, a fridge, a TV set or even central heating. The Bowlers wore clothes from 1900 and ate the food that existed in England at that time. There wasn’t much to choose from. The main dishes on the table were meat and fish, and the day usually started with a cup of tea and porridge. 

The father of the family, Paul Bowler, still went to work but in an old-fashioned uniform. He couldn’t read newspapers or use a computer. The mother, Joyce, became a housewife and stayed home. She did all the cleaning, washing and cooking. The children still went to school, but they changed their clothes on the way to and from school so their classmates wouldn’t know anything about this unusual project. 

The Bowlers noticed that life at the beginning of the century was much slower. It was rather hard for them to get used to the new speed. For example, it took 28 minutes to boil water and make a cup of tea. And can you imagine cleaning the house without a vacuum cleaner or washing clothes without a washing machine? There wasn’t any toothpaste or modern shampoo. Without central heating nobody thought about a warm bath or a shower in the morning. Toothbrushes were made of pig and horse hair. Toothpaste was expensive so most people cleaned their teeth using salt or soda. The children thought it was horrible.

11-year-old Hilary said, “The most difficult thing was finding entertainment. We couldn’t go to the cinema or to a café. It was a new experience to be with the family for half a day or more. It was new and hard to be nice to each other all the time. But I really think we all became closer.” 

17-year-old Kathryn remembered that she couldn’t wear any make-up. She had to wear a corset every day and had only three sets of clothes: one to wear every day, the second – to wear while cleaning, and the third was for special events, like celebrations.

When the show was over the Bowlers were asked: what did you miss most from the modern world? The father said it was a hot shower. The mother had longed to have a quick cup of tea. The daughters said it was the music, the hot water, shampoo and “normal sounds like the washing machine” that they missed. For the son it was pizza and the computer. 

It’s interesting that the family was allowed to keep anything they wanted after the project. Joyce took her corset and each of the children took something from the house to remind them of their experience.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

During the reign of Empress Catherine II the cats received the official status.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Hermitage cats

Hermitage cats have been officially kept in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, since its foundation. The cats prevented intensive breeding of rats and mice in the State Hermitage Museum. The director of the Hermitage, Mikhail Piotrovsky, said, “Cats have become a very important part of our Hermitage lives and a significant part of Hermitage Legends.”

It is believed that the history of the Hermitage cats started with a cat that was brought from Holland by Peter the Great. In the XVIII century there were lots of rats in the Old Winter Palace. The history of cats continued due to Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. Visiting Kazan, she noticed that there were no rats and mice in the city because of the large number of cats. The Empress ordered to bring some Kazan cats to St Petersburg, to the old Winter Palace. The cats had done their job, and almost all the rats disappeared from the palace. After the construction of the Winter Palace, the cats settled down in the new building too. The founder of the Hermitage, Empress Catherine II, gave the cats the status of ‘gallery guards’. 

Cats in the Hermitage existed for a long time, during the war with Napoleon, and after the revolution, under the Soviet regime. In 1941, when the Great Patriotic War began, the works of art were evacuated to the Urals, to Sverdlovsk.

After the war, two cars brought new cats to the Hermitage. The rats, that had invaded the building during the war, stepped back. However, in the 1960s it was decided that the cats were not needed any more. Employees of the museum caught the cats and took them away. But, soon after, rats invaded the building. Since then, the museum has never got rid of its cats.

Today, about seventy cats live in the Hermitage to protect it from mice and rats. Each cat has its own passport and a veterinary card. They live comfortably in the basement. The place where they live is always warm and dry, and all the rooms of the basement are equipped with small holes, to let the cats move freely inside and outside the building.

The Hermitage employees regularly buy food for the cats. They try to make their meals healthy and diverse. Each cat has its own bowl, tray and basket to sleep. In summer, the cats are more often outside on the lawns and courtyards than in their basement.

To control the number of cats in the Hermitage, employees sometimes give away their cats to residents of the city. The new owner has to present their passport and leave their contact details. The adopted animals are accompanied by a certificate from the Hermitage.

Прочитайте текст. Определите, какие из приведённых утверждений соответствуют содержанию текста (1 – True), какие не соответствуют (2 – False) и о чём в тексте не сказано, то есть на основании текста нельзя дать ни положительного, ни отрицательного ответа (3 – Not stated).

As the patients need him very often, Peyo lives in the hospital yard all the time.

1. True
2. False
3. Not stated

Doctor Peyo

It is a common belief that cats, dogs and other pets can help people feel happier and healthier. This story is about Peyo, a horse that treats people. He belongs to a breed called the Arab-Barb, which was created in North Africa. The horses of this breed are strong, elegant, and temperamental. They are considered excellent for riding. Peyo, however, was born in Europe and is not just known for his strength and beauty, but also for his unique ability to comfort people who are seriously ill. Peyo became a celebrity in medicine, though his career started ordinarily for a sports horse.

Peyo’s owner and trainer, Hassen Bouchakour, started working with him about two decades ago. He prepared the young horse for competitions and shows. Peyo galloped, jumped, and performed in different sports and cultural events, showcasing impressive tricks such as dancing, bowing, and even walking on his hind legs. But over time, something unusual began to happen.

Once, after a show, Peyo walked away from his trainer and approached a man from the audience. The horse stood quietly beside the person for a long time. The trainer was very much surprised by Peyo’s behaviour. The man, who was seriously ill, said that the horse’s presence made him feel better. His pain was released.

That wasn’t the end of the story. His trainer noticed that Peyo tended to stand near people with visible or even invisible health problems.Amazingly, the horse was able to detect people with serious illnesses even before their diagnoses were known. Doctors were curious about the extraordinary abilities of the horse, but were not able to explain them. 

Meanwhile, Peyo has changed his career dramatically. He is not a sports horse anymore. Now, Peyo and his trainer work in a hospital. There, Peyo calmly walks through the halls and gently enters patients’ rooms. He chooses who to visit, without any direction from his trainer. He finds the patients who need him most and brings them peace and even joy. 

The doctors and nurses affectionately call the horse Doctor Peyo. They say that Peyo’s presence has visible effects: it reduces patients’ heart rates and blood pressure. It releases pain, which means lower doses of painkilling medication are needed. Some patients who have not spoken or smiled for days relax and smile when the horse is near.

Scientists are still studying Peyo’s behaviour. They want to understand how animals like him can help cure people, and believe that his natural ability to connect with people could improve future therapy programs that involve animals.

When not working, Peyo lives on a quiet farm, where he can rest and run with other horses. His trainer provides healthy food and good medical care.

Peyo is a real celebrity. Videos with him have gone viral online, and his story inspires people. He shows us that healing does not only come from medicine, but sometimes comes from a gentle heart and soft touch.