1)Though simple electric and magnetic phenomena ………… since ancient times, most basic laws of electricity were discovered between 1784 and 1831. a) was known; b) have been known; c) have known

2) After the text about the advantages of electricity………… the students went on reading about the application and consumption of electricity.

a) had read; b) had been read; c) has been read

3) We………… the resistance in each case before we begin to carry out the experiment.

calculate; b) will have calculated; c) will calculate

4) During the autumn of 1831 M. Faraday established the scientific foundation from which our electrical age ………….

a) has developed; b) has been developed; c) developed

5) He assumed that for many years the only practical electric invention made by B. Franklin …………. the lightning-rod.

a) had been; b) has been; c) was

6) In 1825 Sturgeon …………. the first electromagnet, the device in which magnetism was generated by an electric current.

a) exhibited; b) was exhibited; c) had exhibited

7) They claimed that the battery was one of those devices that………… more than once.

a) has been invented; b) had invented; c) had been invented

8) Scientists believe that by the end of the 21-st century the whole mankind…………with the new kinds of energy.

a) will be provided; b) will have been provided; c) will have provided

9) Electricity has provided mankind with the most efficient source of energy. No other source of energy………… so widely used as electricity.

a) have been; b) was; c) has been

10) M. Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction which led to the development of the electric dynamo and motor. He ………… lots of experiments before he published the results.

a) has made; b) made; c) had made

Questions: 
1. The weather in England is very changeable, isn't it? Yes, it is.
2. What comparison do the English use when they want to describe a person whose mood and opinion changes very often? The English use the comparison "as changeable as the weather" of a person who often changes his mood or opinion about something. 3. What statement is often made by the English to describe the meteorological conditions of their country? This statement "Other countries have a climate; in England we have weather" is often made by the English to describe the meteorological conditions of their country. 

4. How often does it rain in England? It often rains in England. The English have three variants of weather: when it rains in the morning, when it rains in the afternoon, or when it rains all day long. 
5. The weather is the favourite conversational topic in England, isn't it? Yes, it is. Do you find this topic of conversation interesting? No, I do not.
6. What is the best time of the year in England? The best time of the year in England is spring.
7. What do you know about London fogs? The most unpleasant aspects of the weather in England are fog and smog.
8. What kind of weather do you like best of all? I like sunny weather.
9. Where do you get the weather forecast from? I get the weather forecast from the Internet. Do you always believe it? No, I do not.

Hi Max!
  I was very glad to hear from you. I haven't written for ages because of my school activities.

Today we have discussed a very interesting question about studying English at school.
I think that learning English at school has become too complex. I believe that a great number of grammar rules, that are never used by native speakers, are no way justified. I agree that we need to learn a lot of words and expressions, because we want to feel confident in any situation and be able to maintain a conversation on any topic, at least at the elementary level. But never and nowhere, in no film or interview, you hear the verbs, for example, in the Past Perfect Continuous or  in the other complex tenses, so to say, "fancy". Sure, it is necessary to be aware of the presence of these grammatical structures, but not to the same degree. That is why I believe that the English language that we learn at school, should be simplified to the level of conversation and almost elementary, commonly used grammar rules. 
What do you think about it? What is your oppinion?

That's all for me for today. I have to go to the swimming pool.  
Best regards to your family.
Write soon.  
 Alex 

Середина письма))) Изучение английского в школе стало слишком сложным. Я считаю, что огромное количество грамматических правил, которыми никогда не пользуются носители языка, ничем не оправдано. Я согласен, что нужно выучить массу слов и выражений, чтобы можно было чувствовать себя уверенно в любой ситуации и уметь поддержать разговор на любую тему, хотя бы на элементарном уровне. Но никогда и нигде, ни в одном фильме или интервью, вы не услышите глаголов, например, в Past Perfect Continuous и в других, так сказать, "навороченных" временах. Да, иметь представление о наличии этих грамматических структур необходимо, но не до такой же степени. Именно поэтому я считаю, что английский язык, который мы изучаем в школе, должен быть упрощен до уровня разговорной практики и почти элементарной, часто используемой грамматики.