20. Music

There is music everywhere: at home, in music halls, in concert halls, in parks. People can't live without music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments. Music is an art, which reflects life. Music reflects people's ideas and emotions. There are lots of kinds of music: classical, folk-traditional music from a particular country, jazz, pop, rock, heavy metal, rap, hip-hop etc. Music is an international language. The most popular kinds of music among young people nowadays are: rock and pop. The are local versions but the beat and the rhythm are the same. A new technology is sweeping pop along new avenues. Band have become more proficient with their instruments, electronics and studio techniques have become more sophisticated. The huge open air festivals of music sprang from this movement.

When speaking of different forms of music I'd like to mention classical music. Classical music gives me pleasure and delight. It is always a complex of emotions, excitement. Classical music gives me the possibility to remove from tiredness and tension, to find new strength. Sometimes I prefer classical music, because it fills my mind with new ideas and makes me think. While listening to classical music I have to combine all my feelings into one and to give it name-it will be happiness. And finally it's a source of joy, inspiration and relaxation.

Only once in my life I had an opportunity to go to the concert and I would never forget it. That time I was in Moscow, in BOLSHOI THEATRE. It was so called mixed concert, performed by the grant companies: the Orchestra of the Theatre and the spectacular young traditional folk music and dance group. The Orchestra of the BOLSHOI THEATRE presented its programme first. It was a fascinated demonstration of Russian tone and Russian interpretation. They played well-known peaces of such great composers as: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Glinka, Thaikovsky. They played robust compositions, a vigorous music that roused senses and never stood for a moment. The musicians performed on different instruments, including violin, cello, viola, even oboe, bassoon.

The epitone of everything we have come to expect was from Russian folk dance group-the endless variety of colourful and beautifully embroided costumes and most important of all-boundless energy and enthusiasm. So the concert made a deep impression on me, the music give me pleasure, satisfaction and relaxation.

21 Sport and games

People all over the world are fond of sports and games. That is one of the things in which people of every nationality and class are united. It is common knowledge that it is necessary for people of all ages to go in for sport because it keeps everyone fit. Physically inactive people get old earlier than those who have plenty of exercises. If u do daily exercises u will feel refreshed, have a good figure. Going in for sport prevents from different illnesses and improves physical state. It develops the strength of the body and character. It trains willpower, makes them more organized and better disciplined in their daily activities. Finally sport makes our life more interesting.

Cricket, football, rugby, tennis, table tennis, badminton, squash, canoeing and snooker were invented in Britain. Britain's national sport is football or soccer. Baseball is the most popular game in the US. It is played throughout the spring and summer by schools, colleges and professional teams. Football is the most popular game in the autumn.

The most popular outdoor winter sports are hockey, skating, skiing, ski-jumping, tobogganing, hunting.

Summer offers excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, yachting, cycling. Among outdoor games football takes the first place in public interest. This game is played in all countries all over the world. The other popular games are: golf, lawn tennis, cricket, volleyball, basketball, badminton, snowballs. Among indoor games the most popular are billiards, table tennis, draughts, chess, darts, cards.

All the year round people indulge in boxing, wrestling, athletics, gymnastics and track and field events. Over the last few years aerobics has become popular with young girls, it helps them to be slim and healthy. I am also fond of aerobics and attend gym when I have free time, it is a kind of entertainment for me. I like to watch gymnastics, figure skating because it is beautiful and charming kinds of sport.

I’d like to mention there are extreamly dangerous kinds of sport such as boxing. I cant understand those spectators who come to see how one of the participants was knocked out at heavyweight,come to see the murdering. I think such kinds of sports should be banned in order not to lose our human face. On the other hand men have fought durng the centures, it is in their nature to prove the strength. People need some extreme to feel that our life is going forward. Many people try jumping from buildings, parachuting. Some say that people who do risk sports are reacting against society, which they feel has become dull and constricting. People turn to risk as aan escape from all boring things in their life. Risk sport can help to overcome fears that affects us in reality. People invented a lot of possibilities to make their life more interesting and exiting.

22. Painting

Art is an all embracing notion. Art had the most important role in the development of the mankind. The first were found on the walls of ancient caves. So we can guess that painting was the first way of art. Painting is the most understandable way of art, because it gives us the most full and vivid impressions.

I think that art has many functions and it’s hard to overestimate the role of art in one’s life. Art has great influence on our souls, feelings, forms, our moral values. Art forms our outlook and enriches our inner world. Art makes us think of the sense of life, how people must live, what is an ideal of beauty, what is love. Art helps us to understand people who lived hundred years ago and to learn the history of mankind. Art has a great educational significance. Art brings people up, makes them more humane and kind. The language of art is universal. Everybody in spite of age, nationality, occupation understands what is said by the painter. But I think that not every painter becomes famous. Only talented, genius people can create great, eternal art, a real masterpiece. Art is great only if it has links with people’s lives, interests, ideals. If it hasn’t, it won’t be understood or acknowledged.

My favourite genre of painting is portraiture. My favourite picture is perhaps the most famous in the world-the mysterious portrait of Mona Lisa. The masterpiece is executed by an outstanding artist, a genius Leonardo da Vinci. He was a representative of Italian Renaissance. Leonardo's paintings, drawings show that he was the most famous creative mind of his time. His contribution to Art is enormous. He was the first painter whose pictures conveyed a sense of space. The half-length portrait of Mona Lisa depicts her sitting de the window. Her figure is placed against the background of a mountain landscape. The silhouette of the woman merges onto a single entity with nature. The artist portrays Mona Lisa in a modest black dress, without useless frills and jewelry. Thus, he emphasizes the beauty of her face and hands. Her eyes are following you however you look at her face and her smile produce a magnificent impression. Leonardo perfectly combines form and colour into harmonious unity.