15. Food and diet

Food is absolutely indispensable to life. The body needs certain vitamins, minerals and proteins that come from a variety of foods. A well-balanced diet consists of meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, eggs, yoghurt), cereal, some starch and some sugar. Too much starch or sugar is fattening, but a small amount is necessary. Citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, lemons) break down fat and help take off weight. Dairy products are important for everyone and they are especially good for thin people. Chocolate and rich pastries (pies, cakes, cookies) are not good for anyone. One had better save them for special occasions like birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.

The right diet is extremely important either to lose weight or gain it. Over-eating one week and nearly starving the next is the worst form of a diet. The best way to lose weight and to get rid of some diseases connected with overweight is to cut down on all food. One’s daily motto should be «Eat everything but eat less!» Incidentally, alcoholic beverages contain many calories and are harmful to health in general. Soft drinks are not good either. They contain too much sugar and acid. They are especially harmful to the teeth. When you are thirsty, drink fresh juice, iced tea, or coffee. Don’t eat between meals and don’t eat before going to bed. Remember that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eat a substantial breakfast and a light lunch and you will feel much better all afternoon.

Topics for talk

2. Books and reading

I am afraid it is next to impossible to deal with the topic in any detail within the scope of one short answer. I'll have therefore to confine myself to a few brief notes on the subject.

There is no denying the fact that reading is a unique, inimitable, as well as most effective means of self - education. I've always considered reading a potent instrument, enabling one to widen his horizons and raising his IQ (intelligence quotient).

To my mind, a book is one of the greatest man-made wonders in the world. Good books combine observation with imagination and make it possible for readers to get a profound insight into human nature and condition. Books give us pleasure and delight, and prove to be a universal pacifier in time of trouble.

There exists a stunning variety of literary genres capable of satisfying the most exquisite and demanding tastes. The two principal forms of literature works are poetry and prose. Where prose is concerned, it may further be subdivided into fiction (or Belles-Lettres), science fiction defective stories more often than not referred to as 'whodunits" in colloquial English, adventure stories, romance or love stories, humorous stories, historical novels, biographies and fairly tales so much to the liking of young children.

The choice of a genre largely depends on one's personal preferences, as well as one's cultural standards and educational background. Novels and short stories normally enjoy great popularity among millions of readers all over the world. Occasionally we feel like reading easy stuff so as to relax and escape from reality into the world of make-believe. Some books are to be read slowly, meticulously, and with gusto, some others can be swallowed without second thought.

I can't think of family that doesn't possess a collection of books. Ours is no exception either. We are all great and avid readers in our family. Reading has become part and parcel of our life. We've made it a point to never go to bed without reading at least a dozen pages first.

As for me personally. I grew keen on literature in early childhood. I still remember Mum's reading fabulous fairy tales by Pushkin, Bazhov and Oscar Wilde to me as bedtime stories. In my time early teens I used to be fond of adventure stories by R.L. Stevenson, J. London. F. Cooper and J.Verne. None the less was I enchanted by the horror stories by E.A. Рое and A. Conan Doyle. As I grew older I developed a special liking for historical novels and science fiction books, that I found instructive and informative. They stirred my imagination expanding the boundaries of the familiar world.

As of now, I like all genres of literature indiscriminately, provided the book I've chosen offers

serious intellectual reading. Somehow, whenever there's some time to spare. I invariably opt for

books by classics, because for me the classical and good always go together. I am not averse to reading lyrical verse either, especially when I am in a mood.

As far as English and American literature is concerned, it gives me pleasure to think that I can read it in the original now that I've been learning English for quite some time and not without tangible progress.

Recently I've read a book which has made a very deep impression on me. It is 'Gone with the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell...