As one of the oldest human inventions, pottery has been around since before the Neolithic period, with objects dating as far back to 29,000 BC. While in the past, the pottery industry has served marginal niches, today’s pottery companies are thriving thanks in part to a resurgence in consumer demand for unique, handmade goods over mass-produced items.

Pottery is made up of ceramic materials and encompasses major types of pottery wares such as earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. To be considered pottery, a piece must be a fired ceramic ware that contains clay when formed.

To create a piece of pottery, the potter must form a ceramic/clay body into a specific object, whether by hand built or wheel thrown techniques, and then heat it at a high temperature in a kiln to remove water from the clay.

marginal - маргинальные
thriving - процветающий
resurgence - возрождение
demand - спрос
encompass - охватывать
earthenware - глиняная посуда
stoneware - керамика
porcelain - фарфор
kiln - печь



#advanced

A symbol is used to tell or represent something else as it has relationship or resemblance with it. Symbol is something that can give deeper meaning or it will extend the meaning of actual word or imparts a specialty to a written word by transforming it into powerful instrument. Symbolism is important in representing significant aspects like religion, mathematics, politics, color, architecture, advertising, and so on.
Symbol provides more information than what is written about the object as its description. Symbolism of some objects in the story at another level will enhance the main line of the story. For example, a strong conflict or high emotions can be symbolized as a storm or the transition from day to night, spring to winter can be symbolized using conversion of good to evil. Flowers stand as symbolic to beauty.

resemblance - сходство
impart - придавать
significant - значительный
enhance - усиливать
transition - переход
conversion - преобразование



#advanced

Taxis are found in every country. Some you have to pre-book, some you can wave down off the street and state your destination when you get in. Depending on where you are why will either quote a price before you start the journey, or they will go off of a metre which charges you either by distance or time. There are also different tariffs. In some countries a tourist will be put on a different tariff to a local person making them pay more for the same amount of time/distance. 
In some places you are able to negotiate a price before getting into a taxi. It is difficult to know what a good price to pay is when you first arrive in a destination. Make sure you look for other modes of transport that may be available as a taxi is usually the most expensive way to travel around.

pre-book - предварительно забронировать
state - указывать
quote a price - назвать цену
charge - запрашивать цену
negotiate - вести переговоры
destination - пункт назначения
available - доступный



#elementary

There are many reasons why dogs are known as man's best friend. They entertain us with their antics, greet us with an exuberant wag of the tail every day, and offer endless photo ops to fill our social feeds. But these aren't the only reasons why dogs are the best. In fact, science can back up the claims that our canine companions are the superior species, too! 

It's a wonderful feeling to have a fur-ever friend who greets you at the door with a wagging tail each day. Research has shown that being around a canine companion can have a calming effect on humans, and help us control stress two ways. First, by increasing levels of oxytocin. Second, by reducing levels of cortisol in the body. So if you're looking for a reason to add a dog to the family, chalk it up to putting you in a better mood. 

antics - выходки
exuberant - буйный
endless photo ops - бесконечные фотосессии
social feed - социальная лента
canine - собачий
calming - успокаивающий
reducing - сокращение
chalk it up - списывать на



#intermediate

A submarine is a vessel, or ship, that can go underwater. Submarines are called subs for short. Militaries and scientists use submarines to travel deep under the ocean.
Militaries use submarines to patrol ocean waters and to attack enemy ships during wartime. Military submarines are usually very large. They may carry more than 100 people. They also carry such weapons as missiles and torpedoes.
Scientific researchers and explorers usually use smaller submarines. These submarines may have mechanical arms, cameras, and other tools to help scientists study the underwater world.

submarine - подводная лодка
vessel - судно
militaries - военные
patrol - патрулирование
wartime - военное время
carry - нести/носить
weapons - оружие
missiles - ракеты
researchers - исследователи
mechanical arms - механические руки
tools - инструменты


#elementary

People all over the world are obsessed with the British royal family. Most fans know all the royal names and faces, the line of succession to the throne, and even the family's rarely-used last name.
But - despite the constant flood of royal paparazzi photos and press releases - it can be tough to discern what it is the family members actually do.
The royals don't need to worry about money, since they're supported by both taxpayers and a massive family fortune. However, every member of the royal family has their own responsibilities.

The Queen's calendar was filled with various activities known by the catch-all term "engagements."
Engagements include hosting heads of state, taking diplomatic trips, throwing parties at palaces, opening new sessions of Parliament, presenting citizens with awards, and a whole bunch more.

obsessed - одержимый
line of succession to the throne - порядок престолонаследия
discern - различать
taxpayers - налогоплательщики
engagement - обязательство



#intermediate

A stuffed toy is more than just a child’s companion. It’s scientifically proven that the first relationship a child establishes is with stuffed animal toys or a special teddy bear. Children tend to give the teddy bears a name they love and allocate them new personalities and roles. 

Such activities make the child bond with the toy as they learn new things such as how to care, share, empathize, and socialize with another person. 

On the kid’s end, the teddy bear provides the child with friendship, comfort, a companion, and more that enables the positive development of the child. The child learns how to play, express, react, talk, and learn. Eventually, the child can start socializing with others in the real world. 
 
stuffed toy - плюшевая игрушка 
establish - устанавливать 
tend to - как правило 
allocate - выделять, назначать 
bond - связывать 
empathize - сопереживать 
enable - разрешать, позволять 
eventually - в итоге, в конечном счете 
socializing – общение 



#elementary

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling. 

People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment. Early treatment may help get symptoms under control before serious complications develop and may help improve the long-term outlook. 

Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior and emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. 

schizophrenia - шизофрения 
abnormally - ненормально 
hallucinations - галлюцинации 
delusion - бред 
impair - нарушать 
disabling - инвалидность 
disorganized speech - беспорядочная речь 
 


#advanced

The first items created for household use were made of stone, as wood was not readily available during the Neolithic time period. Over the years, especially in modern years, the concept of functional furniture in households exploded while keeping the artwork aspect that was displayed in the Neolithic period. The basic design of most furniture has remained the same for the most part though material and stability has become stronger and longer lasting with more of a focus on comfort and luxury in our modern lives. Chairs have become designed as more than just a place to sit, but as a place to relax with items such as recliners and rocking features. Beds are designed to comfort us as we sleep instead of providing the mere basics to keep us from lying upon the ground.  
 
household use - бытовое использование 
dresser - комод 
explode - взорваться 
recliners - кресло (которое откидывается назад) 
rocking features - функция качания 
mere - простой 
 


#intermediate

Myth gives us a way as individual, community and culture of perceiving matters that are usually hidden. It offers a way to perceive matters that shape our lives for good or ill. To have the feeling that there are unknown forces that shape our lives as individuals or collectives is to not know the myths and archetypes that we live by. It helps us get a grasp of things so that we can shape, so that we can move beyond feeling like a cork on a turbulent sea. 

Myths work on many levels. They work at an intra-personal and interpersonal level, at the level of community and tribe, and at the level of culture. They address matters psychological, sociological, matters economic and political, even matters cosmic. They are multivalent. 

perceiving matters - восприятие вещей 
archetypes - архетипы 
a grasp of things - понимание вещей 
a cork on a turbulent sea - пробка в бурном море 
intra-personal - внутриличностный 
Interpersonal - межличностный 
tribe - племя, клан 
multivalent - многовалентный 
 


#advanced

People often use the word religion to mean the worship of a god or gods. But some religions do not have gods. One thing that all religions have in common is that they help their followers to find meaning in the world. The major world religions of today are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism. 

Religions usually have rituals, or special patterns of actions, that followers perform. They often have prayers that followers say and holidays on certain days of the year.

Religions set out rules or guidelines for how followers should live. However, many religious rules have to do with treating others well and doing the right thing. Religions also have sets of beliefs that followers accept as true—for example, belief in a god and life after death. 

worship - поклонение 
followers - последователи 
Christianity - христианство 
Sikhism - сикхизм 
Judaism - иудаизм 
patterns of actions - модели действий 
set out - устанавливать 

 

#elementary