Life is harder for young people now than in the past. Do you agree? It is generally agreed today that we see the world according to the survivorship bias, so we judge the situation only from one side. Personally, I do not agree that in the past life was easier than now. First and foremost it concerns the education. Nowadays everyone has the right for a proper studying. The opportunity to get a basic education does not depend on the estate, gender or skin color. Doubtless, the process of getting work becomes faster and easier and it crosses with the previous point. After graduating from school you can enter any university and your success will depend only on your achievements, personal character traits, and motivation. The same applies to the process of finding a job. I firmly believe that now you can get wharever you want if you make some efforts. The last but not the least reason is the development of technology, which makes our life more comfortable. Especially we can feel it doing household chores. To draw the conclusion, the one can say that the grass is greener, but I am happy that I live in our time.

A TV documentary I learnt a lot from (review) Fat Sick and Nearly Dead is the most interesting and informative TV documentary which I have recently watched. It is a story of Australian Joe Cross who made the 60-day journey across the United States. During his trip, he was following a juice diet, changing his opinion about eating habits and the way of life and trying to convince people whom he met on the road in the rightness of his new worldview. The documentary tells us about Joe's old lifestyle and his health problems. Because of his weight doctors were really worried for his well-being. The plant-based nutrition helped Joe to lose excess weight and restore his health. Now he is a pretty strong man and he wants to help as many people as he can to change their eating habits and show the benefits of his new juice diet. This documentary makes me think about my own nutrition and ways to improve it. Everybody knows that fruit and vegetables have to be the essential part of our daily meal, but seeing their influence on one particular man. His experience inspires me to change myself. I am not sure that I am ready to give up all animal products, but I can make small steps. It is definitely worth seeing. I recommend this documentary to both people who have a healthy lifestyle and those who suffer from different diseases.

Life is better today tham it was 100 years ago. Do you agree? (essay) The world has changed dramatically in the last century. The invention of computers and the Internet made our lives completely different. First of all, it is worth to mention that modern medicine is much better than it was a hundred years ago. Penicillin which was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century saved thousands of people. Nowadays nutrition is significantly better and it helps us to live healthier and avoid a lot of dangerous diseases. Last century introduced us to absolutely new entertainment. It is computer games. Now they are even considered as a cybersport with its own competitions and rules. The concept of entertainment completely changes. The other big positive change is a way of communication. With the creation of social networks and instant messengers, we can effortlessly keep in touch with people in any place of the world. In my opinion, changes are not always for the better but I can say that I would prefer to live in my time and not a hundred years ago.

Do we need the Internet to enjoy life to the full? (essay) It is difficult to imagine that just twenty years ago the Internet was a luxury service. In recent years it has become an essential part of our everyday life. In order to decide whether the Internet is important for our life or not, we should mention its incredible power to connect people throughout the world. Numerous social networks and instant messengers made the communication simple and available. We can connect not only with our friends and family living in the other place but find new friends on the World Wide Web. Even the most self-conscious person has a chance to communicate comfortably through text messages. Furthermore, the Internet may become a great entertainment. It is not only a source of useful information but also a place to watch new films or play different computer games. The Internet made a revolution in the sphere of education. Different courses almost on any subject are now available online. I am convinced that people can live happy and full life without the Internet, but we should not deprive ourselves of the newest technologies which made our life better.

FCE article(2) - life-changing experience At first, I wanted to write something inspiring, interesting, but at the same time, I thought it would be shallow and false. So maybe my article wouldn't be so inspiring, but at least it will be honest. I have only 190 words, so it was hard to put everything that I want in this limit. So.. _____________________________________________. What would you do if it was the last day of your life? Everyone at least once in their life asks themselves this question. But does anybody really try to imagine it? I used to live with the feeling of waiting. I was waiting for weekends, for a summer, for some perfect moment. Sometimes the waiting itself was even more pleasant than the result. But four years ago my life suddenly has changed. Our country became a place of conflict of interest for two rival parts and unfortunately, my city was at the center of military operation. And I began to look at my life the other way. I stopped thinking and began to live and feel the present. I became riskier. I stayed in a quite dangerous place with my boyfriend and future husband and never regret it. I began to appreciate my parents and speak to them as often as I can. I start to actually love my life and not take it for granted. I do not wish anybody to live through my experience, but I am glad I could get something useful from it.

FCE article(1) - sport Is sport an essential part of your life? I can say for myself that it plays an important role for my own lifestyle. We live in the age when many of us spend almost the whole day sitting on the computer. Our pastime consist of playing computer games, watching TV programmes and films or chatting with friends via social networks. Fortunately for the last years sport is becoming more popular again, so there are more sport centres and numerous physical activities, which can attract attention from different people. As for me my favourite kind of sport is cycling. From personal experience I can say that cycling is good to people of all ages and physical training. Cycling helps me not only to keep fit, improve stamina and health, but gives the chance to get rest from everyday busy life, see new places. There is a possibility that you meet new people , who in the future keep your company on your bike ride. If you want to try this type of physical activity you should not buy a bicycle immediately. First of all you should rent it or ask you friend to borrow. If you like it, you may get your own wheel. There are many different kinds of sport and you should choose the one for yourself.

FCE (letter of application) Dear Mr Peabody, I would like to apply for the job of a bartender as advertised in this week issue of Throughout the World. I have some experience of tending the bar. It should be mentioned that I have been working in this sphere for twelve months. This position would give me a good opportunity to enhance professional growth and share my experience with other colleagues. There are a number of specific skills that I could offer as a member of your personnel. I have a great experience in mixing and serving drinks to satisfied any critical customer. Moreover, my knowledge of English provides me with the ability to recommend a suitable food and beverage or calmly respond to agitated guests. My stamina allows me to work long shifts and help other bartenders during rush hour. I feel that I have necessary character traits for this position. I am dependable, multitasking , adaptable to rapidly changing circumstances and I hope you will consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you. Your sincerely, Liubov

FCE essay (1) - Do you agree that community service works better than film? Okay, I am trying to prepare for FCE exams. I understand that my writing is horrible and I will need a lot of time to improve it. I hope Italki will help me. ___________________________________________________________ Everyone who committed a crime must be punished. There are several types of punishment depended on the seriousness of the crime. Service works and fines are given for minor offences such as bar fights, property damage, participation in unpermitted meetings. I have an option that service work will be more effective than fine. First of all it requires more physical and moral efforts then paying a fine. It gives delinquent time to rethink their actions and come to right conclusions. Furthermore offender should see the results of their deeds. for example, if he paints the walls with graffiti, he should be given the work of street cleaner who removes the signs from the walls. It gives a great opportunity to feel himself on the other side. Finally community service includes the work with psychologist who may have a positive influence on behavior of troubled ones. In conclusion I want to add that community service is the best way to prevent next offence and change someone's life.

about the War The Great Patriotic War: these three words are known and remembered by each citizen of our Republic. They are inscribed in the history of our Motherland as one of the most glorious heroic periods in the life of our land. I know about this war from books, movies, the stories of my grandparents. The patriotism and heroism of Russian people are worthy of admiration and gratitude of future generations. The whole nation stood up for defense of their native land. Soldiers were fighting on the battlefield and in the same time workers and peasants are forging the victory in the home front. There were both in my family. The war left a blood mark in the history of each family. War stories are carrying over from the elders who passed this terrible test to the younger one who live in the time of other crisis. Both me and my brother know about the Great Patriotic War from the stories of our Granny. So the war for me is not just a historical period from the history lessons at school, but bitter memories and tears on the old but still beautiful face of my grandmother. My great-grandfathers also fought, but couldn't return to their families alive. My grandmother, Vera Alexeevna, was a participant of the war, but against her will. She was only twelve than the enemies came to her Motherland. All this time she wasn't leaving her native town, surviving famine, bombing and genocide. The war is terrible side of humankind. It always carry tears, pain, grief and death for all participants. Could it be worth it? I think the answer is simple and clear.