Julia is twenty-four. She lives in London. She’s a fashion model, and she often works for Balenciaga. Julia is tall, with dark hair and blue eyes. She’s very beautiful. Of course.

Julia’s boyfriend, Bill, is twenty-two. Bill is small, and he’s not very good-looking, but he’s very nice. He’s a graphic artist, and he’s very clever. Bill is Julia’s new boyfriend.

Julia’s old boyfriend, Steve, is thirty-five. He’s tall and handsome and looks like a movie star. He’s a financial consultant for a big insurance company in the City, and he makes half a million pounds a year. He’s got a beautiful apartment, with a wonderful view of the river. He’s got an expensive car, and he likes going to the best restaurants. The problem is, Steve is not very nice.

Julia is very happy with Bill. When she tells her friends about him, they are usually a little surprised, because Bill doesn’t make very much money, he’s got a small apartment in Peckham, and he drives an old Austin mini. “Oh well, Julia,” they say, “it’s your life!”

It’s true that Bill doesn’t make a lot of money, In fact, he only makes £15,000 a year. But that’s not a problem for Julia. She’s not interested in his money. She makes £15,000 a week.

Paula and John

Paula and John have breakfast at 7:30 every morning. Paula always has tea, but John prefers coffee. John likes bacon and eggs, but Paula can’t stand them. She prefers fruit — just a very simple breakfast. But she makes bacon and eggs for John.

Paula works at home and usually has a sandwich – or sometimes just a salad – for lunch. John works in an office and always has fish and chips.

In the evenings, they often go to the cinema. Paula likes thrillers, but John prefers comedies. So one day Paula decides, and the next time it’s John’s turn.

After the cinema they are usually pretty hungry. Now, Paula likes Mexican food, and John likes… Mexican food, too! So it’s not a problem for them to decide what to have for supper.

But there is one small problem, and that is: Where to go? Paula likes the “Old El Paso”, a nice little typical Mexican restaurant near the cinema. John prefers the “New Tex-Mex”, a nice little typical Mexican restaurant not far from their apartment. So they have an agreement. If Paula decides on the film, John can decide on the restaurant. And vice-versa.

Bernice Beaton, the PR consultant for London Transport

Bernice Beaton is a freelance PR consultant, that is, a public relations consultant. She works with the PR department — the public relations department — of London Transport. London Transport is the company responsible for the buses and the Underground in London.

Every morning, Monday to Friday — and often on Saturday and Sunday, too — Bernice goes out into the city of London. She stops people in the street, and asks them questions. Do they work in London? Where do they live? How do they get to work? Do they take the bus? Do they take the Underground? What do they think about the service? What do they think about the traffic? (They always say: It’s terrible!) Have they got any suggestions — to make the service better?

In the afternoon, Bernice goes to her office, and writes a report.

At the end of the day, Bernice is very tired. She’s tired of asking questions, and she’s tired of London Transport. She doesn’t like buses (red is not her favourite colour), and she can’t stand the Underground (she’s a little claustrophobic). She prefers to ride her bicycle to work in the morning, and home in the evening. And if it’s not a nice day, she takes a taxi!

The Lost Dog

Last Saturday, Emma walked to the park. She saw a small dog sitting near the bench. The dog looked lost and scared. Emma approached it slowly and patted its head. The dog wagged its tail. She decided to take it home. Emma called the local animal shelter and reported the found dog. The next day, the owner called Emma. They were very grateful and came to pick up the dog. Emma felt happy that she could help. She even received a thank-you card from the owner a week later. Emma framed the card and hung it on her wall as a reminder of her good deed.

The Storm

While Sarah was cooking dinner, the lights suddenly went out. She was stirring the soup when the wind started howling outside. Sarah walked to the window and saw the trees swaying violently. She was trying to find a flashlight when her phone rang. It was her neighbor, Tom. He was checking if she was okay. Sarah told him she was fine but a little scared. They decided to wait out the storm together. Sarah grabbed some candles, and they sat in the living room, talking until the storm passed. It was a long night, but they felt safer together.

The Traveler

Anna has visited over 20 countries in the past five years. She has climbed mountains, explored ancient ruins, and tasted exotic foods. Anna has always loved adventure, and she has never been afraid to try new things. Recently, she has decided to write a book about her travels. She has already written three chapters, and she has shared some stories with her friends. Anna has also started a blog where she posts photos and tips for other travelers. Her friends have told her that her experiences are inspiring.

The Missing Key

Sarah has lost her house key. She has looked everywhere but cannot find it. Yesterday, she remembered that she had used the key to open the garage. She went to the garage and searched, but the key was not there. Sarah has asked her family if they have seen it, but no one has. She has also checked her bag and pockets multiple times. Last week, Sarah found her lost phone in the car, so she is hopeful that the key will turn up soon. For now, she has to use the spare key.

The Camping Trip

Tom and his friends must plan their camping trip carefully. They should bring warm clothes because it might get cold at night. They can choose between two locations: a forest or a lakeside. Tom thinks they should go to the forest because it could be more adventurous. However, they must check the weather forecast first. If it rains, they may need to postpone the trip. Tom’s friend Lisa says they ought to bring a first-aid kit in case of emergencies. They must also remember to bring enough food and water.