Do you think the news influences people too much? ​

PAST PROGRESSIVE.
1. My father was watching an interesting programme on TV, while I was reading for the examination.
2. We were playing the chess when the telephone rang.
3. My parents were having an unpleasant conversation when I came into their room.
4. Yesterday I was trying to beat the computer at chess all evening.
5. In the zoo the lions were being fed from 8.00 till 8.30 in the morning.
6. While we were having a swim in the lake, Mary was preparing a pleasant surprise for us.
7. When we were playing football, I suddenly broke my leg.
8. My mother was sewing a dress when our plumber knocked at the door.
9. When we were hopelessly losing the match, she gave me a smile.
10. I was writing a newspaper article while my wife was having a rest in the garden.
PAST SIMPLE.
1. We graduated from the Institute in 1987.
2. My friend went to England to work for a probationary period three months ago.
3. I was on holiday in Bulgaria two weeks ago.
4. A friend of mine wrote a new operating system two months ago.
5. I was fond of swimming two years ago.
6. Tom forgot to remind me of the forthcoming lecture at Moscow State University yesterday.
7. I ate an apple, drank a glass of lemonade and went to school.
8. I wrote three novels last year.
9. I saw a lion in the zoo yesterday.
10. She was my bride in 1999.

My Favourite Writer (M. Lermontov)

One of Russia's most celebrated poets of all times, Michael Lermontov was born in Moscow in the family of a nobleman. He spent his childhood and youth in Tarckany, in the province of Penza.

In 1830 Lermontov entered the Moscow University, but very soon he had to leave it. Then he entered St. Petersburg School of Cavalry Cadets. He finished it and served in the Hussar Regiment of the Imperial Guard.

In 1837 the poet was exiled to the Caucasus for his poem "Poets Death". In 1840 Lermontov was exiled to the Caucasus for the second time. He was provoked into personal quarrel with his schoolmate. The quarrel led to a duel. On July 15th, 1841 the poet was killed. He was not even 27 at that time.

Lermontov began writing when he was very young. One of his first writings to be published was his verse tale "Hadji Arbek".

But he won fame as a poet after his poem "Poets Death" was published. Lermontov's poems "Demon" "Mtsyri" his great novel "A Hero of Our Time" and his play "Masquerade" are masterpieces of Russian literature.

Whether he wrote poetry, drama or prose, the stamp of his genius was to be found on his works. Lermontov's influence as of a poet and a thinker on all Russian writes can't be overestimated.
 

Мой любимый писатель (М. Лермонтов)

Один из наиболее знаменитых поэтов России всех времен, Михаил Лермонтов родился в Москве в семье дворянина. Он провел свое детство и молодость в Тарханах Пензенской губернии.

В 1830 г. Лермонтов поступил в Московский университет, но вскоре вынужден был оставить учебу. Тогда он поступил в Санкт-петербургскую Школу кавалерийских юнкеров. Он закончил ее и служил в полку императорской охраны.

В 1837 г. поэт был сослан на Кавказ за свое стихотворение «Смерть поэта». В 1840 г. Лермонтов был сослан на Кавказ второй раз. Его спровоцировали на личную ссору с товарищем. Ссора привела к дуэли. 15-го июля 1841 г. поэт был убит. Ему не было даже 27 лет.

Лермонтов начал писать, когда он был еще очень молод. Одним из его первых опубликованных произведений был рассказ в стихах «Хаджи Арбек».

Как поэт он стал известным после того, как было опубликовано его стихотворение «Смерть поэта». Стихи Лермонтова «Демон», «Мцыри», роман «Герой нашего времени» и пьеса «Маскарад» являются шедеврами российской литературы.

Писал ли он поэзию, драму или прозу, печать гения лежала на всех его работах. Влияние Лермонтова как поэта и мыслителя на всю русскую письменность невозможно переоценить.