Challenge! 6 Complete the text with the correct words (a–d).
Cheating at cards
1 Mississippi is a long, wide river which flows 2 the south-eastern states of the USA. In the first half of the nineteenth century, steamboats 3 slowly along the river, and, on board the steamboats, men hoped 4 a lot of money by playing card games such as poker and faro. George Devol started playing cards for money on the steamboats in the 1840s, when he was only seventeen years old. However, George was different from most card players. There wasn’t 5 on the steamboats as good 6 George at cheating at cards. People 7 played cards with him lost all the money they had. George wasn’t ashamed 8 his talent. In fact, he wrote a book about his experiences. George had made over $2 million from cheating at cards by the time that he died in 1903.
1 a The b A c - d An
2 a over b through c along d during
3 a had travelled b used to travel c had travelled d were travelled
4 a win b to win c winning d to winning
5 a nobody b everybody c somebody d anybody
6 a as b that c than d at
7 a which b who c whose d when
8 a at b on c of d over
There are four seasons in a year: winter, spring, summer and autumn. All seasons are good in their own way. Winter, for example, is full of celebrations, presents and snow. Spring is the time of nature awakening and flower blooming. Autumn can be rainy and yet beautiful, full of multi-coloured leaves. However, my favourite season is summer. I choose summer not only because my birthday is in June, but also because it’s the time of holidays. Summer is the season when the sun shines brightly, the sky is rarely cloudy and the water in the sea becomes warm enough to swim. Even if it becomes too hot, you can always go for a walk in the shady woods. I also like summer because there are many berries, fruit and vegetables, not to mention numerous flowers on the fields. Among them roses, dandelions, daisies, and other flowers. Sometimes the air in summer becomes stuffy, but occasional thunderstorms bring relief. After the thunderstorms the air becomes remarkably fresh and very often we can see the rainbow in the sky. Summer is also the time when I and my family go on holiday to the seaside. It’s a wonderful time, when we can have a rest from the intense academic year and relax. I think all children love summer because of long school holidays and I’m no exception. I also enjoy my free time, playing with my friends, watching TV, and doing other fun activities. Nevertheless, I don’t forget to do some useful reading from time to time.