When you look at this lovely house in the Welsh countryside, you may think it's a picture from J.R.R. Tolkien's book “The Hobbit”. In fact it's a real house designed by a real person.

When __________________(THEY) first son was born, Simon Dale’s wife, Jasmine, said: “I wish we __________________(LIVE) in the country. It would be so good for the baby”. However, they __________________(NOT/HAVE) enough money to buy or rent a house in the country so they decided to take matters into their own hands. The house __________________(BUILD) by Simon himself, with a bit of help from his friends. The result was impressive. The home is made from natural materials, such as wood, stone and mud. It uses solar panels for energy and its water __________________(COME) from a nearby spring. It took Simon four months to complete his fairytale home. He managed to create a modern wooden eco-home – one of the __________________(WONDERFUL) houses you can imagine. Simon Dale said, “I __________________(START) working on a new house of the same eco-style. My __________________(TWO) house will be smarter than the first one. My son __________________(BE) five now and I hope to celebrate his tenth birthday in a new house.”

Stonehenge is an ancient monument in south-west England. For me, it’s the __________________(INTERESTING) place I’ve ever visited. I clearly remember my __________________(ONE) visit to Stonehenge with my aunt and uncle. They lived nearby and I often __________________(GO) to stay with them in my summer holidays. On the day of __________________(WE) trip the weather was fine. There __________________(BE) a cool wind blowing, the sun was

bright in the sky and Stonehenge looked calm and magical. In those days it was possible to walk among the stones and even touch them. It's very different now. Stonehenge __________________(BECOME) more crowded than it was. As a result, now people __________________(ALLOW) to walk around the monument but they can’t come up very close to it. Today I wish I __________________(HAVE) an opportunity to get inside the circle again but unfortunately it is not possible any more. The Stonehenge mystery is still unexplained but I believe scientists __________________(SOLVE) it in the near future.

Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood were our neighbours. They had two __________________(CHILD). Their son Michael __________________(NOT/DIFFER) from the other children very much but their daughter Matilda was a brilliant child. By the time she was five, Matilda was able to read very well. She studied every magazine and newspaper that she __________________(CAN) find around the house. Actually, she read __________________(WELL) than most school pupils. One afternoon when the parents were out of the house, Matilda put on __________________(SHE) dress and shoes and went to the library. The librarian was surprised to see such a small child. "Are you here for the __________________(ONE) time? Would you like me to find a nice book with lots of pictures for you?" she asked. “No, thank you, I __________________(FIND) what I need,” answered Matilda and pointed to a thick book of fairy tales. Then she added, “I __________________(COME) for a new book as soon as I finish this one”. The librarian was really shocked when she saw Matilda only two days later.

“I wish all children __________________(LIKE) reading so much,” the librarian said. From that day on Matilda went to the library every afternoon.

Dana Miller was a bus driver in the city of Philadelphia. Her working hours __________________(BE) from 10.00 pm till 6:00 am. It was a hard job and very few __________________(WOMAN) worked as bus drivers in those days but Dana loved her job very much. One of her regular passengers was a guitar player. Every Friday night he got on the bus carrying his guitar. The guitar __________________(MAKE) of wood, not plastic and Dana liked the way it sounded. “You should come to see our show,” the guitarist kept saying to Dana.

“I __________________(SEE) it one day,” Dana promised each time, but she never said when exactly she __________________(GO). Another passenger who often used Dana’s bus was a Biscuit Lady. She worked at the biscuit factory and often __________________(GIVE) Dana a small bag of biscuits. Dana __________________(NOT/LIKE) sweets and pastries very much but she could never resist those biscuits  — they were so fresh and tasty. “How was your night?” Dana’s husband liked to ask __________________(SHE) when she came home.

“Good music, good food and a great view of the city,” she cheerfully answered. “I wish I ______________(ENJOY) my work as much as you enjoy yours,” her husband said, “ but I’m going to have just another boring day at the office.”

Most adults miss their childhood. “Your school years are the __________________(GOOD) years of your life,”  — have you ever heard that phrase? Just recently, while I was on my way to work, I started thinking back to my own school years. They probably were not troublefree but there __________________(BE) many reasons for us to feel happy at school. One of them was spending every single day with friends. We __________________(NOT/GET) tired of being together. The __________________(TWO) one was uniform. Yes, in my opinion, the school uniform had more advantages than disadvantages. __________________(MY) was dark green. It was unfashionable but comfortable. It __________________(MAKE) of natural materials. Besides, the uniform saved a lot of time in the mornings. Now it __________________(TAKE) me hours to decide what to wear. Another thing is that I don’t really like sport. But at school we __________________(PLAY) football, netball, hockey and so on. Sport was compulsory. Now I realise that this was a good thing! And of course there were… holidays! Christmas, Easter, halfterm, and the jackpot  — the summer holidays.

I wish I __________________(HAVE) as much free time now.

Dad usually comes up with original ideas. Last Sunday Dad __________________(DECIDE) that we should all go on a camping trip. The idea came to him while he __________________(READ) an article about camping. The article said that camping brings families together. “Not true”, I smiled. “What about television? It usually __________________(HELP) families to feel a lot more united.” “If the weather is fine, we __________________(GO) on a trip next weekend,” Dad said and put his magazine on the coffee table. I quickly looked over at my __________________(YOUNG) brother, Paul. He gave me a knowing smile, “Do you remember __________________(WE) last trip?” I certainly did. Last summer Dad told us that fishing would be a great activity for our family. We bought four expensive fishing rods and drove for three long hours to a big lake in Virginia.

When we got there, we discovered that we __________________(FORGET) to take the fishing rods. Ten minutes later we made another unpleasant discovery: we __________________(NOT/HAVE) the tent which meant we couldn’t stay overnight and we had to drive all the way back home again. We __________________(BE) tired and disappointed with the trip.

It was Friday evening. Liz was looking forward to Saturday because it was her husband’s birthday.

She had been preparing for this event for a long time. She had invited __________________(THEY) college friends and they were all coming from different cities. The best part was that Carlos, her husband, __________________(NOT/KNOW) anything about the arrangements. It was going to be a surprise. Liz __________________(MAKE) sandwiches when Carlos came into the kitchen. “Look, darling,” he said, “I know it’s my birthday tomorrow but I don’t want to do anything special for it.” Liz thought, “I wish I __________________(CAN) cancel the party but I can’t – it’s too late. The party will take place anyway and it will be the __________________(GOOD) party ever”. When Carlos came home on Saturday, there __________________(BE) lots of people there. Carlos __________________(TELL) them that he felt very happy to see them all and it was true! The guests enjoyed their dinner and then Liz brought in a cake. The cake __________________(DECORATE) with chocolates and jellies, and it had as many candles as the number of years Carlos had reached that day. Carlos couldn’t blow them out on the __________________(ONE) try and his friends were delighted to help him.

After school, I decided to go to university. I __________________(CHOOSE) St Andrews University in Scotland. At that time I __________________(NOT/KNOW) much about the University but when I arrived there, I liked it at once. Now I'm in my last year and I wish I __________________(CAN) stay here forever! St Andrews University is a truly special place. It __________________(BUILD) 600 years ago and it is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world. It has many traditions – for example, the ‘May Dip’. It is held on the __________________(ONE) of May every year. All the students run into the North Sea at sunrise to celebrate the coming of spring and for good luck in their exams! One of my classmates said that the tradition __________________(HELP)him to pass his exams last summer. For me the ‘May Dip’ was the __________________(COLD) experience of my life! Because the weather is famously cold, St Andrews students designed __________________(THEY) own uniform which consists of a warm jacket, jeans and boat shoes. The uniform __________________(MAKE) us all look the same, but it is the only way to keep warm!

It was a cold January day in York, Pennsylvania. Dr. James turned on the television to check on the weather. The weatherman said that it was going to stay cold for several days. According to him, the roads __________________(BE) very dangerous because of the snow and ice and he strongly recommended staying at home if at all possible. Dr. James __________________(NOT/CAN) stay at home. He worked in a hospital and there were patients waiting for him there. He put on a sweater, jacket, gloves, boots and a hat, and opened his front door. Everything __________________(COVER) with snow. A cold wind blew inside. “Wow,” Dr. James said. “The weatherman was right! I wish I __________________(HAVE) a reindeer instead of my old car.” When Dr. James __________________(DRIVE) slowly to work, he saw an accident. He stopped and __________________(RUN) to the damaged car. There was a man and two __________________(CHILD) inside. “Is everyone okay?” Dr. James asked.

“Yes, yes, we are fine,” answered the man. “I __________________(CALL) 911 already. They are coming to help __________________(WE). It looks like we won’t get to school today.”

Martin was in a hurry as he had to be in the office as soon as possible. His boss __________________(NOT/LIKE) it when anyone missed the morning meetings and Martin had already been late several times that week. His boss had warned him: “If you are late again, you __________________(LOSE) your job.” Martin was afraid of losing his job. His colleagues were nice to him, the salary was good and he sometimes __________________(GO) on business trips abroad. It was actually the __________________(GOOD) job he had ever had. He ran out of the house, jumped into his car and backed up without looking. BOOM!

There __________________(BE) a sound like someone hitting a drum. Martin had hit the car behind him. “Oh, no!” Martin exclaimed.

Martin glanced at his watch. It was 7:18. He looked around. There were no __________________(POLICEMAN) on the street and he decided to drive off quickly. It took __________________(HE) 20 minutes to get to work. The boss was not around. “Thank goodness,” Martin said to himself and sat down at his desk to work.

The boss arrived an hour later. “Somebody hit my car and left without leaving a note,” he said angrily. “I wish I __________________(KNOW) who he was. My car was absolutely new! It __________________(BUY) only a week ago.”

Martin went up to the window, saw the car and understood that he would lose his job anyway.

Tracey was very unhappy and scared. She was starting a new school.

“I __________________(NOT/WANT) to go to school today,” Tracey told her father. “I understand, Tracey,” he said. “Starting a new school can be very difficult. But you have to.”

A month before __________________(THEY) family had moved to a new town and everything was still new and strange for Tracey. Dad smoothed Tracey’s hair down and __________________(GIVE) her a little hug, “When your classes __________________(BE) over, I’ll pick you up, ok?” When Tracey got to school and looked at the big building, she thought, “I wish I __________________(CAN) run away,” but she knew it was impossible. She took a deep breath and walked up the steps to school. She went straight into her __________________(FIVE) grade classroom. “That must be Tracey,” “Hello, Tracey!”, “Welcome, Tracey!” the __________________(CHILD) in the room welcomed her. Everyone seemed friendly and Tracey felt a little __________________(GOOD). The father picked her up after school. “How was your day?” he asked. To his surprise Tracey answered that she __________________(LIKE) her new school.

“You are a brave girl,” her father said. “I’m proud of you.”

Jane liked going to the park with her mum. One day when they were there, she said, “There is so much rubbish on the ground.” They looked around. There were old __________________(BOX), waste paper and cans on the ground. Several benches __________________(BREAK). “You are right,” her mum said. “I wish people __________________(CARE) about the environment more.” “I do care about it but I __________________(NOT/KNOW) what I can do to help the park,” said Jane. Jane and her mum went home. In the evening she painted a picture of the park. At the top of the picture she __________________(WRITE) “PLEASE KEEP ME CLEAN”. The next day Jane and her mum went to the park __________________(EARLY) than usual. Jane taped her picture onto a big rubbish bin and started picking up rubbish. Some children ran over to see what was going on. They decided to help Jane. Soon all the rubbish was in the bags.

“Good job,” Jane said, “We __________________(CLEAN) half of the park. If we come and complete the other part tomorrow, the whole park __________________(BE) clean and tidy. I hope people won’t throw __________________(THEY) rubbish here any more.”

It was an early morning. Ben jumped out of his bed as soon as the __________________(ONE) rays of sun came into the room. He grabbed his backpack and started to pack. Ben put in some of his favourite things to take with

__________________(HE) on the trip to Grandpa’s. He put in his favourite book, his kite and his teddy bear. Soon everything __________________(PACK) and he started to get dressed. Visiting Grandpa had always been the __________________(GOOD) part of his summer vacation. Together, they went fishing and watched football matches.

Ben’s granddad __________________(TEACH) him how to repair bikes and other things. Ben’s mum entered his room. “Grandpa’s here,” she said with a smile. Ben told her that he __________________(BE) ready to go. He grabbed his backpack and ran into the kitchen where Grandpa __________________(DRINK) his tea. “Ready, big guy?” asked Grandpa. “Will you have breakfast before we leave?” “No, I __________________(NOT/BE) hungry”, Ben answered, “I’ll have breakfast at your place. Grandma __________________(COOK) something nice for me, hasn’t she?”

I was sitting in an arm-chair and watching my sister Alison. She was getting ready for a party. Alison was 15 years __________________(OLD) than me and she always treated me like a child. Alison took her jewelry box from the table. The box __________________(MAKE) of wood and had colourful stones on the top. “You know you must never touch it, right?” Alison said. “If the box was mine, I __________________(ALLOW) you to touch it whenever you wanted,” I answered. Alison said nothing to that. When she put on her jewelry, she looked like a princess. She moved gracefully as if her __________________(FOOT) didn’t touch the ground. Alison kissed me goodnight and left. I tried to resist my curiosity but I __________________(NOT/CAN). I opened the box. There __________________(BE) lots of rings, ear-rings, bracelets and necklaces inside. I got them all out. The __________________(ONE) piece of jewelry I tried on was a silver necklace. After that I lost track of time. Suddenly I __________________(SEE) Alison. She was standing at the doorway and looking at me angrily. I __________________(NOT/KNOW) what to say.

Many years have passed since that night. Now I am a designer – I create clothes and accessories. My sister likes my work very much.

The phone rang in Clark Taylor’s house at nearly three in the morning. He answered it only after the __________________(FIVE) ring. “Hello,” Clark said in a sleepy voice. “Mr. Taylor. Thank goodness. I need your help.”

Clark definitely __________________(KNOW) the voice. However, he was sleepy and __________________(NOT/CAN) remember who it was. “Mr. Taylor!” the man said. “I am in trouble. The police allowed me only one phone call. And I am calling you.”

Then, the fog cleared. Although nearly ten years had passed since __________________(THEY) last meeting, Clark was able to recognise the voice. It belonged to Martin Hall, one of the __________________(BRIGHT) math students he had ever had. “Martin, what’s happened? Where are you? ” Clark asked. “In the police station. I __________________(ARREST) at the railway station two hours ago. I was going to a conference. The police mistook me for another person. The irony is that I really do look like the criminal that they are looking for.

Besides that, I __________________(LOSE) my ID card and I can’t prove who I am. You are the only person in this town who knows me. Can you help me?” Martin Hall asked. “If you give me the address, I __________________(COME) at once,” Clark said, jumping up of the bed. It was not difficult for him to prove that Martin Hall was his former student. Clark brought a scientific journal with Martin’s article and a photo of him. The __________________(POLICEMAN) were surprised to find out that their prisoner was a capable young scientist.

By today’s standards, my mobile phone is pretty basic. It’s a Nokia. It’s a small device that receives telephone calls and sends text messages. Other than that, my phone __________________(NOT/DO) much. Most of my friends wish they __________________(HAVE) smartphones because they are cool and trendy. They say the __________________(GOOD) thing about a smartphone is that you ‘can do everything with it!’ That’s right, smartphones have many more functions than a simple phone, however, not all of them are needed. In everyday life, smartphones __________________(USE) mainly for checking social networking sites, replying to emails, and playing games. Grown-ups as well as __________________(CHILD) like playing games. Anyway, I prefer my good old Nokia. It’s my __________________(ONE) mobile phone. When I bought it, it didn’t cost __________________(I) very much. And I am not afraid anyone will ever steal it. It’s also very reliable. Yesterday I dropped it. It __________________(FLY) down the staircase and hit the wall. I thought that __________________(BE) the end of it and I would have to buy a new one. But nothing of the kind  — it still works properly!

Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story happened to __________________(THEY) when they had to leave their home city, London, during the war. They __________________(SEND) to the house of an old Professor who lived in the country, ten miles from the nearest railway station. He __________________(NOT/HAVE) a wife and he lived in a very large house with a housekeeper. He himself was a very old man with white hair which grew over most of his face as well as on his head.

The children liked him almost at once. Only Lucy, who was the __________________(YOUNG) of them, felt a little afraid of him. On their __________________(ONE) evening, after dinner, they said good night to the Professor and went upstairs. It was the largest house they had ever seen, so Peter suggested exploring it in the morning. When the next morning came, there was a steady rain falling.

“I wish the weather __________________(BE) more cheerful!” said Edmund. “Stop complaining, Ed,” said Susan. “I think the weather __________________(IMPROVE) soon.” “We were going to explore the house,” Peter reminded them. He __________________(EAT) a sandwich at the moment and was absolutely happy with the whole situation.

Everyone nodded and at that point their amazing adventures __________________(BEGIN).

I come from England but now I live permanently in Quebec, Canada. When my parents __________________(BRING) me to Canada, I was fifteen. It was the winter and I __________________(IMPRESS) by the amount of snow there. I asked my new friends what they usually __________________(DO) for entertainment in such a cold climate. Their answer was simple, “In winter __________________(CHILD) and adults go skiing and skating.”

Before arriving in Canada I had never tried skating and my Canadian ice experience was really painful. To start with, it took __________________(I) half an hour to pu on the skates. I _________________(NOT/KNOW) how to move so my new friends showed me some basic techniques. However, when I was left alone on the ice, I __________________(FALL) over immediately. When I opened my eyes, my new friends were standing around. They weren’t laughing, they looked worried. “Are you OK?” they asked. “Fine,” I said, “I wish I __________________(CAN) skate as easily as you do.” “You definitely will,” they smiled. And they were right. By the end of my __________________(ONE) winter in Canada, I felt confident on the ice. More than that, I found out that skating was a really exciting activity!