The World of English

His album The Eminem Show has been one of the best selling records around the world this summer. But the white rapper from East Detroit has as many enemies and critics as he has fans. Is Eminem, as his detractors claim, homophobic and sexist? Are rap musicians like him a dangerous influence on kids everywhere, or are they just misunderstood geniuses? The answers to these questions, of course, can be found in their lyrics.

Here is the second part of our" Great Britain Quiz" . Five lucky winners who send us the correct answers to this and Part 1 (printed in the last issue) will receive Longman dictionaries.

I. Write in the missing dates.

Some of them wear funny wigs and call each other "Right Honourable". The Speaker hardly ever speaks, and there is someone called Black Rod who is neither black, nor is his name Rod. But all are vital to the day-to-day running of the British Houses of Parliament. The strange behaviour and rituals of the Members of Parliament and officials is based on traditions that go back to medieval times. We present our guide to all you need to know about the British legislative chambers.

When listening to native speakers they do not seem to say 'one hundred' or 'one kilometre' properly. The 'one' sounds more like an 'er' sound. Can you please explain to me why this is and if I should try to do it too? Małgorzata J., Warszawa.

Dear Malgorzata,

This year Andrzej Wajda received an honorary Oscar for his life-long achievements. The distinguished Polish film director was born in Suwałki on 6 March 1926. He studied painting at the Fine Arts Academy in Kraków and cinema at the Higher Film School in Łódź.

Wajda rose to fame with a trilogy - Pokolonie (A Generation, 1954), Kanał (1956) and Popiół i Diament (Ashes and Diamonds, 1958) that vividly reflected the experience of an entire generation in postwar Poland.

Many students take a "gap year" between finishing school and starting university. Many go and work in another country and get some experience of the world outside the classroom. Prince Harry is no exception. He is spending a few months in Australia and is working on a sheep farm in Queensland as a jackaroo - a farm labourer. On a 39,000-acre farm in somewhere called Tooloobilla, Harry is rolling up his sleeves and helping put the sheep through the sheepdip.

Dear Readers,

We present the fifth issue of The English Language Workshop, which contains a variety of grammar and vocabulary practice. The English Language Workshop has two main objectives. Firstly, it serves as a review of the major grammar structures and vocabulary that you have learnt so far. Secondly, the aim of the tests is to help you prepare for exams, including the Cambridge First Certificate in English. You may check your knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary individually or in the classroom.

The entire staff at The World of English would like to congratulate all those who passed their recent Matura exams. We hope our magazine was helpful, in some small way, to your success in passing the written and/or oral English examinations. We wish you all the very best and look forward to being a part of your continued educational pursuits... And now that Matura is history it' s time to think about your future educational goals.

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Well, here is your chance to find out by taking part in our Great European Union Accession Quiz. Answer all the questions below and send them in to us without delay. Details of how to enter are given at the end of the quiz.

1. How many stars appear on the European Union flag?
a. 9 b. 12 c. 15 d. 25

2. Who composed the EU anthem, Ode to Joy?
a. Mozart b. Beethoven c. Bach d. Jean Michele Jarre

The summer is here and the travel bug has been biting everyone. Roads and airports will soon be packed with vacationers, and beaches, resorts and theme parks are ready for the tourist season. But for some folks there's no fun in those places. While people might still want the same things - relaxation, adventure or love - nowadays a summer trip's got to be further, faster or just plain freakier. Vacations ain't what they used to be, writes Steve DeBretto.

For the person who has everything