Most countries have medals for brave soldiers. Americans have the ‘Medal of Honor’ and Britain has the ‘Victoria Cross’. But what about brave animals? Many animals go to war: horses, dogs, cows and pigeons, to name a few. Is there any award for them?
In fact, there is. It’s called the Dickin Medal, and it’s given to animals who show bravery while serving with the armed forces. The award was created by Maria Dickin in 1943. She had previously established the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) – an organisation that took care of injured animals. During the Second World War, many animals were given the Dickin Medal, including 1 cat, 3 horses, 18 dogs and 32 pigeons.
Pigeons may seem like unlikely candidates for a bravery medal, but they were very important to the war effort. During the Second World War, communications weren’t what they are today. There was no Internet, no e-mail, no mobile phones and no satellites. So, on many occasions, soldiers had to use homing pigeons to pass on messages. These are specially-bred pigeons with an ability to find their way home, even if they are quite far away. During the war, homing pigeons were used to carry messages. These messages were usually written on small pieces of paper, which are tied to their legs.
One of the most famous pigeons to win the medal was Paddy. He was an Irish pigeon, and one of the first pigeons to return to base. He was bringing news of the successful D-Day landings in Normandy. He crossed the English Channel in just 4 hours and 5 minutes (a record).
The only cat to have received the award was called Simon. He was on a Royal Navy ship HMS Amethyst. He was originally found in Hong Kong and was taken on board the ship. He got rid of rats on the ship. In 1949 the ship was attacked and Simon was injured. He soon recovered and returned to his duty of rat catching. He was also used to raise the morale of injured teenage soldiers.
Some recent awards were given to non-military animals. In 2002, two guide dogs successfully led their owners out of the World Trade Center during the attacks of September 11th. And more recently, brave animals have been given awards in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Task 1. For sentences 1-5, say if they are “True” (T) or “False” (F).
1. There isn’t an award for animals that have been to war.
2. The award was created by a woman, who had previously established an organisation that took care of injured animals.
3. During the war, pigeons were used to carry food to hungry people.
4. Paddy was an Irish pigeon, and one of the last pigeons to return to its base.
5. Simon was used to make injured teenage soldiers happier.
Task 2. Fill in the sentences with the proper form of the words from the list below.
homing Force specially-bred injure establish
1. Armed were created to fight against country’s enemies.
2. birds were used during wars to send messages.
3. At wars, many people are or die of wounds.
4. To train a pigeon, you need to make him fly from one place to another.
5. Mike an organisation that took care of poor people.

My favorite media are newspapers. I often read them when I have free time. They are very affordable and varied these days. Quite interesting articles and news are often found there. I also like to solve crosswords that are on the back pages of newspapers. This is a good way to pass the time.

Объяснение:

Мои любимые СМИ - газеты. Я часто читаю их в свободное время. В наши дни они очень доступны и разнообразны. Здесь часто встречаются довольно интересные статьи и новости. Еще я люблю разгадывать кроссворды, которые есть на последних страницах газет. Это хороший скоротать время.

Vocabulary

A Complete the sentences with the correct word in the proper form.

culture • experience • adventure • pass • top • head • share • grab • embassy • run

1 Who was ... by when we talked about your holidays in Europe?

2 While travelling in Italy we learnt a lot about its ... and traditions.

3 I stood up on ... of a pile of books to see what was on the upper shelf.

4 I took up parachuting to have unusual ... in my life.

5 He couldn’t talk to me as he was ... to some important meeting.

6 When all gathered in front of the fire we could share ... of our trip to Singapore.

7 Mike had to get his new passport from the ... before going to the airport.

8 Polly ... her lunch with her classmate as both girls were hungry.

9 Don’t ... after the dog, it can easily bite you.

10 Leaving the flat Molly ... her school bag and said goodbye.

B Underline the correct item.

1. to catch / grab a bus

2. in the middle / centre of nowhere

3. the turning point / dot

4. an idea came / got to me

5. raise / get up money from investors

6. a catchy / caught name

7. to set / make up an office

8. a search machine / engine

9. show no sign / hint of fading

10. to launch / start a project

C Fill in the prepositions (on • into • to • by • from • at) if necessary.

1. Run … the bushes

2. Stop … a place

3. Feed an apple … some monkey

4. Play … ear

5. To get a passport … the embassy

6. Disagree … everything

7. Commitment … doing sth

8. Appear … a page

9. Criticism … experts

10. Respond … requests

D Fill in the missing part of the word taking them from the frame.

night tail chart breath user child singer net make high

1. a long-… boat

2. brain…

3. …-friendly

4. a ...working site

5. ...-topping

6. a ...-songwriter

7. wear ...-up

8. ...-pitched singing

9. a ...taking event

10. ...-time ghost

Grammar

E Choose the correct answer.

1 Sally was travelling while I … in Japan.

A stayed B has stayed C was staying

2 What did you do yesterday? I phoned you at two. – I … at two.

A was walking B walked C has walked

3 – Was Pete reading when we were drawing that picture? – Yes, …

A he was B he were C we were

4 The TV … for three hours when it suddenly broke.

A worked B has been working C had been working

5 Sue … all the house work by four.

A did B had done C had been doing

6 Pauline … to the park when a child.

A went B had gone C used to go

7 I was so happy as I … all the necessary stuff.

A had prepared B prepared C had been preparing

8 How long … you … here? – About a year.

A had been living B was living C lived

9 The child … to going to bed at nine.

A used B was used C uses

10 We … dinner from three to four yesterday.

A had B were having C had been having

Everyday English

F Choose the correct response.

1 A: What was it like?

B: a It was nice, really.

b Not really.

2 A: Did you enjoy it?

B: a It was nothing special.

b Yes, it was great.

3 A: It was fantastic!

B: a The performance was amazing!

b But not very much! 4 A: You didn’t answer your phone.

B: a Yes, sorry. I was away.

b Yes, that’s all right.

5 A: I was in the theatre.

B: a Really? Oh!

b What was it like?

Reading

G Read the text and mark the sentences T (true), F (false) or NS (not stated).

1 The speaker promised to himself to spend more time on travelling.

2 The speaker couldn’t afford an expensive trip.

3 The speaker’s habit was not to waste money on anything.

4 The speaker had an extravagant taste in travelling.

5 These days all the airlines offer a lot of cheap travels.

6 EasyJet is a budget airline company.

7 The speaker never worries about his travels with budget airlines.

8 The speaker prefers EasyJet to all other companies.

9 The speaker lives in Glasgow.

10 The best way to fly cheaply is to use Skyscanner.

Grammar

E Choose the correct answer.

1 Sally was travelling while I C in Japan.

A stayed B has stayed C was staying

2 What did you do yesterday? I phoned you at two. – I A at two.

A was walking B walked C has walked

3 – Was Pete reading when we were drawing that picture? – Yes, A

A he was B he were C we were

4 The TV C for three hours when it suddenly broke.

A worked B has been working C had been working

5 Sue я не понял что в А ,так что тут хз all the house work by four.

A did B had done C had been doing

6 Pauline … to the park when a child.

A went B had gone C used to go

7 I was so happy as I B all the necessary stuff.

A had prepared B prepared C had been preparing

8 How long have you ben living here? – About a year.

A had been living B was living C lived

9 The child C to going to bed at nine.

A used B was used C uses

10 We C dinner from three to four yesterday.

A had B were having C had been having

Everyday English

F Choose the correct response.

1 A: What was it like?

B: a It was nice, really.

2 A: Did you enjoy it?

b Yes, it was great.

3 A: It was fantastic

b But not very much! 4 A: You didn’t answer your phone.

B: a Yes, sorry. I was away.

5 A: I was in the theatre

b What was it like?

Объяснение: