It is said that most people have no more than 30 friends at any given time, and 400 over the whole of their lives. However, on social networking sites, most users have about 150 friends. If these numbers are correct, then friendship means different things in different situations.

One of the reasons people have more online friends than real friends at any particular point in time is that online friendships do not require much time and energy: it is easy to make Internet friends and keep them forever.

Another possibility is that it is difficult to say ‘no’ when somebody asks us to be their friend online, even if we feel we don’t really know them. The fact that they ask us suggests that they do consider us a friend, which is a nice feeling. Alternatively, they may be ‘collectors’ of online friends and simply want to use us to get a higher number of friends and appear to be popular.

(Get ready for IELTS)

Interviewer: Hello everybody! It’s Teenagers Round the World Channel. Our guest today is a teenager from Russia and we are going to discuss school and education. We’d like to know our guest’s point of view on this issue. Please answer five questions. So, let’s get started.

Interviewer: Do your school years bring back nice memories? Can you share some of your favourite memories?

Student: My school years were a mix of good and bad experiences. I liked my teachers and friendships I made there, but I struggled with some school subjects. One of my favourite memories was participating in our school’s annual talent show.

Interviewer: In your opinion, what factors affect students’ academic performance?

Student: I think some of the factors include motivation, study habits, teacher quality and home environment. The level of support students receive from their teachers and parents is also important.

Interviewer: Which skills do school students need more for their future: academic or practical? Why?

Student: I think students need both academic and practical skills for their future, but the importance of each type of skill depends on the career they want. Some careers, like cooking or building things, need more practical skills, while other careers, like science or law, need more academic skills.

Interviewer: Would you like to change anything about your school education system?

Student: Yes, I think schools could be better if there was less homework and more interactive and engaging classes. A flexible curriculum could be helpful as well.

Interviewer: What would life be like if there was no school?

Student: If there was no school, it would be difficult for people to learn important skills and knowledge that are necessary for success in life. It would also be harder for people to find jobs and pursue their interests and passions.

Interviewer: Thank you very much for your interview.

• explain the choice of the illustrations for the project by briefly describing them and noting the differences;
• mention the advantages (1–2) of the two gifts;
• mention the disadvantages (1–2) of the two gifts;
• express your opinion on the subject of the project – which of the gifts presented in the pictures you’d prefer and why.

Hi Alex! I’ve found two photos that I think will be perfect for our project on gift ideas.

One of the photos shows a young girl with a cute little dog in her arms. They are walking outside. The girl looks happy, and the dog seems to be enjoying the walk too. The second photo is of a young girl holding a new smartphone in one hand and its phone box in the other, with a look of happiness on her face. The photos give us examples of two different types of gifts: a pet dog and a smartphone.

Both gifts have their pros and cons, and I suggest discussing them in our project. For example, a smartphone is good for fast access to information and fun, but it can also be distracting and addictive. A dog, on the other hand, is nice for company and emotional support, but it needs proper training and can be costly to care for.

Personally, I’d prefer to get a pet as a gift. I’ve always dreamed of having a furry companion, and the experience of spending time with a beloved pet is priceless!

(Personally, I’d prefer to receive a desirable smartphone as a gift since it might have more advanced features, better performance, or a longer battery life than my current phone.)

Well, that’s it for now. Let me know what you think about the photos for our project. Bye!