1 Reading Comprehension - 7 ways to protect the environment

We all want to protect our planet, but we're mostly too busy or too lazy to put up big change that would improve our lifestyle and save the environment. These are 7 simple habits to implement in your everyday life which will make a difference. There is nothing new here but if you follow at least some of these tips, you can be proud of yourself participating in the protection of the environment. 1. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs: It is true that these bulbs are more expensive, but they last much longer and they can save energy and in the long term your electricity bill would be reduced. 2. Donate: You have tons of clothes or things you want to get rid of. If they are still usable, give them to someone who needs them. You may also choose to give them to associations. These associations may sell them and collect a little money. Not only will you protect the environment, but you will also contribute to a good cause. 3. Turn off your devices: When you do not use a house device, turn it off. For example, if you don't watch TV, turn it off. Turn off the light when you leave a room (even if you intend to return.) It's an easy habit to take up which will help you save a lot of money. 4. Walk or cycle: Driving is one of the biggest causes of pollution. If you want to use your car, ask yourself the following question: do I really need my car? Walk or use your bike if the journey is a short one. 5. Detergent: Follow the recommended dose of detergent to wash your clothes or dishes. 6. leaky faucets: Watch leaky faucets, which can cause a significant increase in the the water bill. An average of 120 litres of water can be wasted due to a dripping faucet. 7. Rainwater: Think of recovering rainwater. This water can be used for different purposes. This list is far from being exhaustive but in addition to saving the environment, all these tips will help you save money.

2 Reading comprehension. Lionel Andrs Messi

Lionel Andrs Messi , born on 24 June 1987, is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Barcelona and the Argentine national team. He is one of the best football players of his generation and is frequently considered as the world's best contemporary player. Lionel Messi, whose playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, receivedBallon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21 and won both by the age of 22. Diego Maradonaonce declared that Messi was his "successor."

Lionel Messi's talent was early detected by his father. When he began playing with the local team, his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona . At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which is a medical condition in which the body does not produce enough growth hormone and whose treatment nessecitates a lot of money. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004 05 season, he broke the La Liga record for the youngest footballer to play a league game, and also the youngest to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in 2006 07; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clsico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008 09 season, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa Amrica tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team.

3 Christmas
Christmas which is celebrated on December 25th is an important Christian holiday. The origin of the word "Christmas" comes from "Christ" and the "Holy.Mass" . It is believed that the day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ although a lot of people doubt that the Day corresponds to the actual date of his birth. In spite of its Christian origin, Christmas is also celebrated by a lot of nonChristian countries and the celebration includes a lot of non religious customs. People exchange gifts and greeting cards. Homes are decorated with Christmas trees, light and garlands. Dinners are planned with special food and all the families ghather to have a lot of fun. A central imaginary figure in Christmas is Father Christmas, also called Santa Claus. He is believed to fly on his sleigh bringing gifts for children . Christmas is also an opportunity for economic growth. It has become an important period for buisiness activity. Shops make a lot of profit and a lot of countries realized this economic impact.

4 Santa Claus
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa", is a figure which was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, a historical, legendary and mythological figure who in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day).The legend is based on the tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, he is often depicted in a manner identical to the American Santa Claus, but he is commonly called Father Christmas

5 Martin Luther KIng, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American a clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement whose methods were similar to Mahathma Ghandhi's. He used nonviolent methods to fight for the advancement of civil rights in the USA. Martin Luther King, Jr was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was an excellent student and entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was only 15 years old. He has become a national icon in the history of modern American liberalism. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. As a result of Rosa Parks refusal to leave her seat for a white passenger, King led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott. He also helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he expanded American values to include the vision of a color blind society, and established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and stopping the Vietnam War. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986.

6 Malcolm X
Malcolm X has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history. His original name was Malcolm Little but was also known as ElHajj Malik El-Shabazz. Malcolm was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. He was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. Some criticised him of preaching racism, black supremacy, antisemitism, and violence. He . Malcolm X had a very harsh childhood. His father died when he was young. It was rumored that he was killed by white. Also at least one of his uncles was lynched. When he was thirteen, his mother was placed in a mental hospital, and he was placed in a series of foster homes. In 1946, at age 20, he went to prison for breaking and entering. While in prison, Malcolm X had undergone so many changes in his personality. He became a member of the Nation of Islam and after his parole in 1952 he quickly rose to become one of its leaders. For a dozen years Malcolm X was the public face of the controversial group, but disillusionment with Nation of Islam head Elijah Muhammad led him to leave the Nation in March 1964. After a period of travel in Africa and the Middle East he returned to the United States, where he founded Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. In February 1965, less than a year after leaving the Nation of Islam, he was assassinated by three members of the group. Malcolm X's expressed beliefs changed substantially over time. As a spokesman for the Nation of Islam he taught black supremacy and advocated separation of black and white Americansa stark contrast with the civil rights movement's emphasis on integration. After breaking with the Nation of Islam in 1964saying of his association with it, "I was a zombie then ... pointed in a certain direction and told to march" and becoming a Sunni Muslim, he disavowed racism and expressed willingness to work with civil rights leaders, though still emphasizing black self-determination and self defense.