March 20, 1933

Dear Diary,

As I sit here in our humble home, the reality of the last few months weighs heavily upon my heart. The Holodomor famine has brought immense suffering to our village, and we have witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of this man-made disaster. I write these words not just for myself, but for my children and their children, so that the world may never forget the pain and anguish we have endured.

The once-fertile fields surrounding our village now lie barren, devoid of the bountiful harvests that used to nourish our families. The Soviet government's forced collectivization and merciless requisition of grain have left us with nothing. We toiled in the fields, only to see our hard-earned crops confiscated, leaving us empty-handed and starving.

Each day, I see the effects of the famine on my neighbours and friends. Their faces, once full of life and vigour, are now gaunt and hollow. Desperation has taken hold of our once-vibrant community. Parents are forced to watch helplessly as their children suffer from malnutrition and disease, their once-rosy cheeks now pale and drawn.

The village, which used to be filled with laughter and camaraderie, is now eerily quiet. We are all haunted by the same nightmare, our dreams filled with visions of food that never comes. I cannot remember the last time I heard the sound of children playing or the joyful strains of music that once filled the air.

Families are being torn apart as some are forced to leave in search of food and work, hoping that they might find some respite from this unending nightmare. Others are succumbing to the cruel embrace of death, their bodies too weak to continue fighting against the relentless pangs of hunger.

It is hard to hold onto hope when we are surrounded by so much darkness. Our once-strong faith is now tested daily, as we struggle to find any semblance of meaning in this senseless suffering. But as I sit here, writing these words, I am reminded of the resilience of the human spirit.

We must not let this catastrophe define us or break our resolve. We will persevere, for we have no other choice. We will cling to the memories of better days and strive to rebuild our lives when this famine is finally over.

I will continue to document our struggle, so that future generations may know of our pain and suffering, and to ensure that the world never forgets the Holodomor and its impact on our village.

Yours faithfully,

Ivan Kovalenko

March 20, 1933

Dear Diary,

As I sit here in our humble home, the reality of the last few months weighs heavily upon my heart. The Holodomor famine has brought immense suffering to our village, and we have witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of this man-made disaster. I write these words not just for myself, but for my children and their children, so that the world may never forget the pain and anguish we have endured.

The once-fertile fields surrounding our village now lie barren, devoid of the bountiful harvests that used to nourish our families. The Soviet government's forced collectivization and merciless requisition of grain have left us with nothing. We toiled in the fields, only to see our hard-earned crops confiscated, leaving us empty-handed and starving.

Each day, I see the effects of the famine on my neighbours and friends. Their faces, once full of life and vigour, are now gaunt and hollow. Desperation has taken hold of our once-vibrant community. Parents are forced to watch helplessly as their children suffer from malnutrition and disease, their once-rosy cheeks now pale and drawn.

The village, which used to be filled with laughter and camaraderie, is now eerily quiet. We are all haunted by the same nightmare, our dreams filled with visions of food that never comes. I cannot remember the last time I heard the sound of children playing or the joyful strains of music that once filled the air.

Families are being torn apart as some are forced to leave in search of food and work, hoping that they might find some respite from this unending nightmare. Others are succumbing to the cruel embrace of death, their bodies too weak to continue fighting against the relentless pangs of hunger.

It is hard to hold onto hope when we are surrounded by so much darkness. Our once-strong faith is now tested daily, as we struggle to find any semblance of meaning in this senseless suffering. But as I sit here, writing these words, I am reminded of the resilience of the human spirit.

We must not let this catastrophe define us or break our resolve. We will persevere, for we have no other choice. We will cling to the memories of better days and strive to rebuild our lives when this famine is finally over.

I will continue to document our struggle, so that future generations may know of our pain and suffering, and to ensure that the world never forgets the Holodomor and its impact on our village.

Yours faithfully,

Ivan Kovalenko

Articles and Determiners in English

Articles and determiners are words that provide information about nouns. In English, there are three articles: "a," "an," and "the." These articles help to indicate whether a noun is definite or indefinite.

Indefinite Articles: "a" and "an"

Indefinite articles are used when talking about non-specific, singular countable nouns. There are two indefinite articles in English:

• A: Use "a" before a consonant sound (e.g., a book, a cat, a university).
• An: Use "an" before a vowel sound (e.g., an apple, an egg, an hour).

Definite Article: "the"

The definite article "the" is used when talking about specific, known nouns. It can be used with both singular and plural nouns, as well as countable and uncountable nouns. For example: the book, the apples, the information.

Zero Article

Sometimes, English sentences don't require an article. This is known as the "zero article." The zero article is used with:

• Plural countable nouns when talking about them in general (e.g., Dogs are loyal animals).
• Uncountable nouns when talking about them in general (e.g., Information is valuable).
• Proper nouns (e.g., London is a beautiful city).

In this exercise, you'll practice identifying and using the correct articles and determiners in English. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate article: "a," "an," or "the."