3. Fill in the blank spaces in the letter with these useful phrases.

a) secondly

b) firstly

c) unfortunately

d) to sum up

e) however

f) is not what i expected from

g) an alternative

h) we can solve this problem

i) to make matters worse

j) thank you for your time

k) I have a few ideas to solve this problem

and make our school more environmentally

friendly

l) I must express my own, and other students

m) I am writing to draw your attention to​

Education is an important part of modern life. Being educated means to know a lot of necessary and useful things for life, which is why every decent person studies at school.

Originally Russian education starts from the early age. Children can start going to kindergarten from the age of two, but this is not a compulsory education. It depends on parents’ decision and child’s wish to attend this institution. However, school is mandatory. Every child starts going to school from the age of seven and till 16. Mandatory education in Russia is presented by three types of schools: primary, secondary and high. The primary school teaches its pupils elementary skills, such as reading, writing, counting. Many schools also offer foreign languages or some other special disciplines at this age. The most important period is the secondary school, which starts from the 4th or 5th grade, depending on school. This is the time when children start learning Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Physics, Computing, and many other new subjects. At the 9th grade children face a very important period in their life. They have to choose whether to continue school education, or to leave for other types of educational institutions, such as college, specialized schools and else. If the pupil decides to continue studying in high school, which lasts for two years, he can enter the university after school graduation. Of course, it’s only the general pattern of education in Russia, but there can also be some exceptions nowadays. For example, there are lots of special schools, where they pay attention only to particular subjects. Also, apart from state schools, there are a number of private schools, where education is not free of charge.

1.(Becky and Tom) were supposed (to have stayed at the widow Douglas'.)  

2. (The number of the unemployed) is reported (to be increasing with every year. )

3. (Many new textbooks) are expected (to be published soon.)

4. (The Moscow Underground) is said (to be the finest in the world.)  

5. (A hare) is known (to run very fast.)  

6. (The man) was seen (to take off his coat.)

7. (The diamond content of the mines in Western Yakutia) is said (to be in no way inferior to that of the world-famous South African mines.)  

8. (My close friend) is known (to have learned "Eugene Onegin" by heart) .

9.(These devices) are considered (to be very effective).

10.(The crisis) was announced (to be over) but they should prepare for the worst.