Liczba słów: ",liczba_slow[nw],"
"); document.write("Richard gathered up the post lying on his doormat. There was a huge pile of flyers, bills, and letters, but two caught his attention. One was from his employer who’d never sent him post before. The other was addressed by hand. No one sent letters any more. He turned the envelope over to read the return address, but there was none.
He decided to open the official looking letter from his work, first. Maybe he was getting promoted. He’d put in a lot of overtime lately, pushing hard to finish several important projects. Maybe all his hard work was about to be rewarded. He slit open the envelope with a sense of excitement.
Feeling sick, Richard read his letter of dismissal. He was being let go! The firm was downsizing. What would he do? He forgot about the rest of his post, busy fretting about his situation.
Sitting down later, he looked at the forgotten letter. Who was it from? Curiosity overrode his worry and he opened the mysterious envelope.
It was from a friend he’d not spoken to for a few years, Matthew. Matt was expanding a successful business venture and needed someone he trusted to help him open a new branch in Richard’s area. Matt said he understood if Richard felt loyal to his current boss, so he’d offer him a very attractive pay package. Matt had given Richard his number to call if he was interested. Smiling, Richard reached for the phone, grateful for the mysterious post!
"; slowniczek[1]="gather up - zebrać
flyer - ulotka
get promote - otrzymać awans
overtime - nadgodziny
reward - wynagrodzić
slit open - rozciąć
dismissal - zwolnienie
downsize - redukować zatrudnienie
fret about - martwić się, zadręczać się
override - być ważniejszym od, wziąć górę nad
expand - rozwijać
venture - przedsięwzięcie
branch - filia
pay package - płaca z dodatkami i udziałem w zysku
Josh and Sarah had been warned to stay close to camp. Their zoologist parents were doing research deep in the jungle and had taken the children on their six-month expedition. As they discussed their findings, the children played and entertained each other.
Using small twigs lying on the jungle floor, the children built a miniature city. Sarah reached for a larger bit of wood to make a bridge. The wood moved! She called for Josh to watch as she reached for it again. The wood moved again, this time a little further.
Josh tried. Each time the children reached for the wood it moved further away. They followed it for hours before it spread its wings and flew away! It was not a bit of wood, but a very large moth pretending to be a piece of wood. They watched as it flew up into the branches above.
Sarah realised they were far away from camp as they looked around the unfamiliar jungle. She began to cry. Josh, who had been trying to be brave, broke into tears as soon as he saw his sister’s. The more they cried the louder they became, growing hysterical.
Moments later, they heard a rustle in the bushes. What was that? Terrified, they wailed and hugged each other.
“There you are!” their mother scolded. “Whatever are you screaming for?”
“We got lost!” Josh cried.
“You’re not lost. You’re two metres from our tent!”
It turns out the children had gone in a giant circle!
"; slowniczek[2]="research - badania
findings - odkrycia; wyniki, wnioski
twig - gałązka
moth - ćma
break into tears - wybuchnąć płaczem
rustling - szelest
wail - zawodzić, lamentować
scold - zbesztać, skarcić
Neil could not believe his bad luck as he watched the coach pull away from the petrol station. The driver had said he’d be half an hour when Neil got off to stretch his legs. He’d only just gone to the toilet. That couldn’t have taken more than five minutes, and now the driver was leaving him stranded without his luggage. At least he had his wallet. There wasn’t much money in it, though, and he didn’t know how long he’d be stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Neil went back into the kiosk to ask when the next coach was due. The cashier told him there was only one per day! He was really stuck.
“There’s a coffee shop just behind the station, though. At least you could get some food while you wait. It’s open 24 hours,” the attendant said.
“Great, thanks,” Neil felt his heart sink. He walked to the café, pushed the door open and heard the bell chime for the waitress.
From behind the kitchen door appeared the loveliest young woman Neil had ever seen. He gulped and said, “What have you got that’ll hold me for 24 hours?”
She looked at him in slight surprise so he introduced himself and explained his predicament.
“Well, Neil, my name’s Hannah and I just started my shift. You can keep me company, and I can keep your coffee topped up.”
“Deal,” Neil said and smiled. He knew he suddenly didn’t mind being stranded.
"; slowniczek[3]="coach - autokar
pull away - odjeżdżać
strech one’s legs - rozprostować nogi
stranded - pozostawiony samemu sobie
be stuck - utknąć
in the middle of nowhere - na odludziu
attendant - osoba z obsługi
sink - zamierać
chime - dzwonić
gulp - przełknąć ślinę
predicament - kłopotliwe położenie
shift - zmiana
top up - dolewać do pełna
My dream job, like anyone’s, would be one that allows me to make a living while doing what I love to do. Ideally the living would be extremely comfortable, but as long as I did not have to struggle, a decent living would be enough.
Considering that the things I love to do most are travelling and talking to people, my dream job would be as a presenter on a travel programme. This is not because I think it would make me famous, but because it would mean I could get paid to travel to exotic locations. I would love to go to Borneo and hold a baby orang-utan, fly to Kenya and climb Kilimanjaro, and cruise the Galapagos to spot giant iguanas. I could also meet and talk to people living in those places.
This dream may seem selfish and self-serving, but I would also be able to educate others back home, bringing the world to people’s living rooms. Not everyone has the time or money to travel the world, but almost everyone can tune into their televisions. Also, it could help others to prioritise their travel plans and budgets. Travel shows can also help the local area featured on the program as interest in the destination grows and tourist money pours in to locals.
The job of my dreams would combine my love of adventure with my interest in meeting new people. It would also provide me with a good living and provide others with benefits as well.
"; slowniczek[4]="struggle - walczyć, borykać się, szamotać się
decent - przyzwoity
cruise - płynąć (statkiem)
spot - dostrzec, zauważyć
self-serving - egoistyczny
tune in(to) - nastawić
feature - przedstawiać, pokazywać
pour - wpływać, napływać
locals - miejscowi, tubylcy
combine - połączyć
One person in my life has had a very profound impact upon my personality. He has known me since the day I was born, was my first friend, and was my biggest teacher. That person is my older brother.
My brother helped shape the person I am today in so many ways. He has always been someone to look up to and someone to keep up with, since he is two years older than I am. As soon as he went to school, I wanted to learn to read so that I would not feel left behind. When he got books as gifts and finished reading them, I would pick them up to read, too. That encouraged me to read above my level all my life. This made me achieve better in school and helped me feel clever, which boosted my self-confidence. Now, I am a very confident person.
My brother also made me a strong person. He made me keep up with him whenever we went out to play or when we learnt something new. He didn’t let me get away with complaining or crying to our parents. Even though he made me stand on my own two feet, he would defend me against playground bullies. I have always known he was supportive of me.
Certainly had I not had grown up with an older brother, I would not be the person I am today. He helped shape my personality and character from the moment I was born.
"; slowniczek[5]="profound impact - głęboki wpływ
look up to - podziwiać
keep up with - nadążać za
encourage - zachęcać
boost - zwiększyć
get away - uciec
bully - osoba znęcająca się nad słabszymi
supportive - pomocny, wspierający
There are many places where I feel good, but the place where I feel best is around the dinner table with my family. This may not seem like the most exciting or fashionable answer, but sharing a meal with my parents and siblings makes me feel content.
Whenever my family sit down at the dinner table, we know we’ll have a fantastic meal. My mother is an amazing cook and she loves to prepare excellent dishes for her family. We appreciate it and always offer to help where we can. It brings us together.
Also, we always talk about our days and what went well and not so well for each of us. We know that everyone is listening and everyone cares. We don’t argue; we just share our daily experiences and get any worries off our minds. Any good news is met with praise and congratulations. It’s nice to know the family is proud of me. I also like hearing how everyone else is getting on with their jobs, school, or activities.
With my family, I can relax and be myself, knowing that they love me and support me. While we may have arguments from time to time, we never bring them to the dinner table. There is nowhere else in the world where I feel a greater sense of belonging.
"; slowniczek[6]="share a meal with - jeść razem z
siblings - rodzeństwo
content - zadowolony
appreciate - doceniać
praise - pochwała
get on with - radzić sobie
Friends is one of the most popular sit-coms of all time. It ran for ten very successful seasons on America’s NBC network between 1994 and 2004. Repeats are still aired around the world. The first time it was made available for Polish television viewers was in 2004.
Friends portrays the lives of six young people in their twenties, living in New York. Their interactions with each other happen in their homes, their favourite café, and sometimes their places of work.
Each character, Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler and Joey, is of equal interest in the show. Throughout the ten year run, each character develops a great deal and each one provides a lot of laughter. One of the aspects of Friends that makes it so wonderful is that all six characters are funny, interesting, and quirky in some way. Also, because they are all central to the show, the stories never get boring. If the show were mainly about one or two of them, it would have become tiresome.
Watching an episode of Friends is like visiting family. Viewers get to know the characters so well over the years. We get to see them fall in and out of love, get married, get divorced, have children, develop careers, and through it all remain very close as friends.
Friends is such a well-written, funny show, it is no wonder the networks have had a difficult time replacing it with anything quite as successful.
"; slowniczek[7]="network - sieć
air - emitować
portray - przedstawiać
quirky - dziwaczny
tiresome - nudny; irytujący
replace - zastąpić
The National Geographic Magazine is available world-wide and first appeared in Poland in 1999. National Geographic’s motto is, “Inspiring people to care about the planet.” The magazine accomplishes this through feature articles on nature, science, culture, history and space. One of the most famous features of National Geographic is the photography.
Perhaps most noted for its wildlife and nature photos, National Geographic is visually stunning. The distinct yellow border frames outstanding cover photographs. The glossy pages and striking images compel people to buy it and to look through it. Images of rare animals, vanishing landscapes, and unique environments show readers the planet in ways never imagined to the average person.
National Geographic also highlights cultures and ways of life that most people do not get to experience. This brings global issues to readers’ attention without becoming overly political. Although National Geographic takes an outspoken stance on the environment and its predicaments, this is only to uphold the mission statement. Readers must know what is happening on and to the planet if they are to be inspired to care.
National Geographic appeals to a wide audience, and is read by an estimated 50 million people every month. Every reader will find something of interest within its pages, whether it be amazing photographs or inspiring articles.
"; slowniczek[8]="accomplish - dokonać, osiągać, realizować
feature article - artykuł główny
noted - znany
stunning - zapierający dech w piersiach
frame - otaczać ramką
outstanding - wybitny, wspaniały
cover - okładka
glossy - błyszczący
striking - niezwykły, uderzający
compel - zmuszać
highlight - zwracać uwagę, podkreślać
outspoken - otwarty
stance - stanowisko; postawa
predicament - kłopotliwe położenie, trudna sytuacja
uphold - przestrzegać, podtrzymywać, kultywować, wspierać
mission statement - deklaracja misji
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper is a literary classic that has been met with both praise and scorn since it was first published in 1826. This seems to be a book that people either love or hate.
There are several reasons to love The Last of the Mohicans. It is an exciting tale, set in the tense period of North American history in which the French and English constantly battled for control of the territory. Into the struggle were inevitably drawn the indigenous peoples. Their story is also told in this book, which was unusual for the time. Generally speaking, Europeans such as Cooper, did not hold Native North Americans in high regard. Similarly, one of the central characters is of mixed race, which would have been very controversial in 1826.
Another wonderful aspect of The Last of the Mohicans is the manner in which Cooper brings the landscape to life. Readers get a vivid picture of the beauty of the natural environment. Some may find it overly descriptive and therefore laborious to read.
There are some plot errors in the book, which can make it somewhat confusing. Adding to the confusion is the fact that several characters are known by more than one name. It can be difficult to realise to whom Cooper is referring at some points.
Overall, The Last of the Mohicans is old fashioned in prose, but perhaps years ahead of its time in content and social issues.
"; slowniczek[9]="praise - pochwała, pochwały
scorn - pogarda
tense - napięty
struggle - walka
inevitably - nieuchronnie
indigenous - rdzenny, tubylczy
peoples - ludy
hold in high regard - darzyć wielkim szacunkiem
vivid - żywy
laborious - mozolny, przychodzący z trudem
content - treść
Computer games are pervasive in today’s society. Portable consoles and downloadable games mean that people can play on the move or in their homes. This form of entertainment provides both advantages and disadvantages, especially for young people.
Sceptics may argue there is nothing good about computer games. However, many games are used for education and many are developed specifically for classroom use. Teachers can use computer games to individualise tasks for children working at different rates. Many games add a social element when players connect online to play with or against each other. Often these games include a live chat option in which people can discuss the game or anything else. Most games involve intricate use of the controller, developing hand-eye coordination. Also, decision making skills and strategy building are developed.
Computer games can also have negative effects on people. There is a growing obesity problem in the western world that is tied to the modern sedentary lifestyle. Gamers do not move much while playing on their consoles. Also, parents may use games as a form of babysitting or safe entertainment. Computer games can become addictive and lead to people playing them at the exclusion of other normal, healthy activity and interaction.
While computer games can provide education and develop social and life skills, it is important that people use them in moderation. Computer games can be part of a balanced life, but they can also take over and contribute to health and social issues.
"; slowniczek[10]="pervasive - wszechobecny
portable - przenośny
on the move - w drodze
intricate - skomplikowany
obesity - otyłość
tied to - związany z
sedentary lifestyle - siedzący tryb życia
addictive - uzależniający
exclusion - wyłączenie, pominięcie
in moderation - z umiarem
take over - przejąć kontrolę
Fame comes to people for a number of reasons. Some gain fame for their talents, some for their wealth, some for their heroism, and some for their stupidity. Whatever the reasons a person becomes famous, what may have seemed a blessing can easily become a curse.
Today, celebrities court publicity and paparazzi. However, this can become invasive, leading to unwanted scrutiny. Famous people cannot leave their homes without being completely groomed, made up, or styled. If they do, photographs appear in the tabloids, accompanied by nasty captions. Celebrities cannot relax and be human without consequences.
Another curse of fame is the lack of privacy. Famous people have the intimate moments of their lives detailed in magazines and newspapers and on television and radio programmes dedicated to such topics. People feel free to comment on the personal lives of others whom they have never met, as long as those people are famous.
Fame is fleeting and it may be lost it at any time. There is often a younger, richer, braver, stupider person waiting in the wings to take the top spot in the limelight. This can make famous people paranoid and force them to do more outrageous things to keep their celebrity.
Certainly, famous people enjoy many benefits of their status: large bank balances, access to top clubs and restaurants, and first class treatment. While fame may bring money and a following of admirers, it also brings unwanted attention and public scrutiny, which is most certainly a curse.
"; slowniczek[11]="celebrity - znana osobistość, celebryta; sława, rozgłos
blessing - błogosławieństwo
curse - przekleństwo
court - przyciągać, prosić się o (coś złego)
publicity - rozgłos
scrutiny - obserwacja, dokładne badanie
groom - dbać o siebie
be made up - mieć makijaż
nasty - nieprzyjemny, niemiły, złośliwy
caption - podpis (pod zdjęciem)
lack - brak
intimate - intymny
fleeting - krótkotrwały, chwilowy
be waiting in the wings - tylko czekać na właściwy moment
top spot - miejsce na szczycie
in the limelight - w centrum zainteresowania
outrageous - skandaliczny, szokujący
benefit - korzyść
balance - stan konta, saldo
top club - ekskluzywny klub
treatment - traktowanie
a following of admirers - grupa wielbicieli
Being unmarried, whether by choice or by circumstances, has both advantages and disadvantages. Although single status is not the stigma it once was, many people still hold marriage as an important aspiration. While waiting to find that perfect life partner, single people can enjoy the positive aspects of being unattached.
Single people are free to spend their social time as they choose. There is no pressure to be home at a certain time or to mix with another person’s friends. Married people often feel obligated to engage in social activities of their partners’ choosing, whether they like these activities or not.
Financially, marriage can provide a certain amount of stability. Two incomes in a household double the potential spending power. However, single people can control their money more ably as no one else accesses their funds. Checking the bank balance offers no surprises. They rely on themselves for money and can spend as they choose.
Married people have the benefit of each other’s company. There is always someone to share meals, events and activities with. However, this closeness can also be tiresome. Single people do not need to look at the same old face day after day. They can spend time with a variety of friends or perhaps romantic partners.
Sharing one’s life with one other special person is rewarding and comforting. However, if one has yet to meet that special person, one can enjoy the freedom, independence and variety of the single life.
"; slowniczek[12]="circumstances - okoliczności
stigma - piętno
unattached - samotny, wolny, bez partnera/partnerki
mix with - nawiązywać kontakty z
obligate - zobowiązać
engage - angażować się, wdawać się
ably - umiejętnie
double - podwajać
access - mieć dostęp do
balance - stan konta, saldo
rewarding - przynoszący satysfakcję, cenny
comforting - podnoszący na duchu, pocieszający