We spend hours, days and years of our lives in school.Imagine(想象)you could design(设计)your dream school,what would it be like? What would you be doing? We wanted to find out what teenagers around the world thought.Here is what they said:
Richard from the USA:My dream school would have a big swimming pool and two soccer fields.It would also have a cinema,a gym and a shopping center.My school has none of these,and I think there should be more pleasant things for students to do while they are studying.
Sonia from Italy:I'd like a room where we can relax and play computer games. I'd also like to have a music room.I think there should be a place for everyone to go and relax after class.
Wu from Beijing:I think it would be great to have another day off (休息日) every week,besides the weekend.If that day was a Friday or a Monday,we would have a long weekend every week.What fun!I also think school should start later,at about 10 o'clock,and finish earlier.
Hannah from Australia:In my dream school,I think the teachers should give us more freedom (自由) and choice about how we study and what we study.I also think it's not necessary for us to wear school uniforms every day.I really don't like wearing it.
February 14 is a day for people who have fallen in love. On this day, these men and women give gifts (presents)and cards to each other for Valentine's Day(情人节).This day has been popular with people in love for a long time. At first，this holiday was called Lupercalia. Then the name of the day was changed to Saint Valentine's Day. The man named Saint Valentine was killed on February 14，270 AD, because he was a Christian (基督教徒).
Before Saint Valentine was killed，February 14 was the old Roman holiday，Lupercalia. The church wanted people to think of a Christian holiday on this day，so the church changed the name of the holiday.
This change did not stop people in love from giving gifts to each other. People usually gave gloves, handkerchiefs, or even underwear was gifts. Sometimes people also put hearts and flowers on the presents before giving it to the other persons.
Valentine cards did not become popular until the 1750s. The first Valentine cards were made by hand. People wrote their own words on the cards. These words were usually funny.
Now, every year around February 14，cards and chocolates fill shops for people in love.
Reading is the key to school success and, like any other skill, it takes practice. A child learns to walk by practicing until he no longer has to think about how to put one foot in front of the other. An excellent sportsman practices until he can play quickly, correctly and without thinking. Educators call it “automaticity(自动性)”.
A child learns to read by sounding the letters and finding the meaning of the words. With practice, he stumbles less and less, reading by the phrase(短语). With automaticity, he doesn't have to think about the meaning of words, so he can give all his attention to the meaning of the text.
It can begin as early as the first grade. In a recent study of children in Illinois schools, Alan Rossman of Northwestern University found that automatic readers in the first grade not only read almost three times as fast as the others, but also got better results in exams.
According to Rossman, the key to automaticity is the amount(数量) of time a child spends reading, not his IQ. Any child who spends at least 3.5 to 4 hours a week reading books, magazines or newspapers will probably reach automaticity. It can happen if a child turns off TV just one night for reading at home.
You can test yourself by reading something new that is suitable (适合)for your level. If you read aloud with expression, with a sense of the meaning of the sentences, you probably are an automatic reader. If you read brokenly, one word at a time, without expression or meaning, you need more practice.
These days it is found that school students hardly have any sports. Is it because they have no 1 in sports? It may not be true. They often say they have 2 more important things to do.
What are these important things? Exams! They have to 3themselves ready for all kinds of exams and tests in school. So many of them almost4bookworms(书呆子). In the past in the summer holidays, they could do5 they liked, but now they have to 6all their time preparing. So 7 have kept them away from going in for sports.
Because of the pressure(压力) from 8 parents and teachers, they 9 to work harder and spend most of their time10 books. As for the students themselves, they don't want to11 the lessons because they want to further their studies. So it is necessary to give 12 of their spare time to their studies and 13 up their school sports.
It's true a good education cannot go without physical training, the14 is true a quick mind hardly goes along with a 15body. Without a strong body, you can never do anything well, how can you make great success in life?
If you think you're too shy and want to be a little bit braver, try the following. You can make it.
① There's no need to hide(隐藏)it. When they get to know you're a shy kid, they'll understand you better. This also helps you feel more at ease in talks.
② When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. Remember that other people also have feelings and most people will stay away from an angry-looking face.
③ If you find it hard to start talks, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person?
④ Think more about ways to enjoy the party or the game. Don't waste time worrying about your looks or whether people like you or not.
Take one small step at a time. Each time after you say “Hi” or smile at someone for the first time, say to yourself “You did it!” Or it could be something bigger, like buying yourself an ice cream.
Keep trying and one day you'll never be “shy” when you talk to others.
A.Learn to be a good talker.
B.Get your attention elsewhere.
C.Tell people you're shy.
D.Try to smile more.
