My Favourite CartoonМой любимый мультфильмMy name is Ilya. I’m 13 years old. I’ve been fond of cartoons from the very childhood and I still like watching some of them. I think, cartoons entertain us and keep us busy for some time, which is good for our parents. My parents also like cartoons. They sometimes watch them with me. My favourite cartoon is “Tom and Jerry”. It’s not too childish, so people of all ages can watch it. The main characters of this cartoon are the cat Tom and the mouse Jerry. Each time Tom sees Jerry, he tries to catch him, but unsuccessfully. Jerry is a little, smart mouse. He gets away with any prank. The reason, why I like this cartoon more than others, is its kind and funny plot. Each time I watch it, it makes me smile and laugh, so good mood for the day is provided. When I was younger, I also watched “Tom and Jerry”. Knowing that I’m fond of this cartoon, my mum often bought me various thematic items. For example, a plate or a T-shirt with Tom and Jerry picture. I can’t say I liked Tom’s character more than Jerry’s, or vice versa. I liked both these characters, as they were good in their own way. Tom often gets in stupid situations while chasing a tricky mouse and that makes me feel sorry for him. Jerry’s mission is not to get caught, because if he does, the cat will probably eat him. So, when I watch the series of this cartoon, I worry about both characters at the same extent. I’m sure I’m not the only child, who likes “Tom and Jerry”. Millions of kids across the world watch this cartoon. Due to its popularity, it has been translated into many languages.
Sportsmen have run marathons for more than a hundred years. In March 1981, the first London Marathon started. 7,747 people competed in it. People have run/have been running the London Marathon since 1981. It is the distance from Windsor Castle to the While City Stadium in London. It is 42,195 kilometres long. Women didn’t run marathons till 1984. Since the 1990s marathon running has been a very popular sport. People run marathons in their spare time. The record for the London Marathon was 2 hours 8 minutes and 16 second in 1985. The London Marathon is an international competition and street festival, all in one.
English-Speaking Countries There are several countries in the world where English is a native language. These countries are the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. It is also one of the official languages in Canada, the Irish Republic and the Republic of South Africa. Although these countries are situated in different parts of the world, they all share the same language. As a second language English is spoken in more than 60 countries. English is one of the most popular and widespread languages in the world. I’d like to tell you a little more about the main English-speaking countries. The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The population of the UK is nearly sixty-three million people. The UK is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. London is considered to be the capital of the country. Although everyone in the UK speaks English, the accents and dialects slightly differ. Such languages as Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Welsh, and Cornish are still spoken in some parts of the UK. Another important English-speaking country is the USA. It is situated in the central part of North American continent. The population of the USA is more than 316 million people. The official language of the country is English. However, the USA is multinational country and people from certain communities can speak Chinese, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Korean and many other languages. The USA consists of 50 states and a federal district. The capital of the country is Washington D.C. Americans use lots of slang words in their speech and have a distinctive accent. Australia and New Zealand are other English-speaking countries. They are former colonies of Great Britain. The population of Australia is more than twenty-three million people and of New Zealand – more than four million people. The official language in these countries is English. However, people there speak with a distinctive Australian accent and use lots of new words. Canada has two official languages: French and English.
