Most of us can't wait to go on holiday without our parents. We can choose where to go, what to do and who to go with. But are first holidays with friends always great? Read about Sophie, Fred and Chris. Where did they go? Did they have a good time?
| Last summer, after we finished out exams, I invited my friend Paula to go on holiday to Greece with me. We got a flight to Athens and then we went by ship to the island of Milos. We were really tired when we got there, but we both wanted a swim, so we went to the beach. You can guess! We lay down and closed our eyes and when we woke up TWO hours later, we were really hot and thirsty - and red! Never again! Sophie, 16 |
| My first holiday was a weekend in London. Jim, Simon and I travelled by tram (有轨电车) from my house to the bus station. When we arrived there, I put my hand in my pocket but my wallet wasn't there! Where was it? I think I lost it on the train. Jim and Simon each lent me money for the bus. We stayed at Jim's aunt's house in London and we had a fantastic weekend. Fred, 13 |
| My first holiday was with my friend Tom at a campsite (露营地) in a forest near our town. We didn't want my parents to drive us there, so we went by bus and then on foot. It was a long walk to the forest and it was raining! I put the tent up quickly because I knew how to do it, but all our things were wet. Then the sun came out the next day. We dried everything and had a great time! Chris, 12 |
In a small fishing village in Southern Thailand, some boys play football with great interest. They run, shout, jump and kick like most other football players, but these boys are especially good at keeping control of the ball because their football field is a raft(筏) in the middle of the sea. They live on the island of Koh Panyee, where all the houses are on stilts (桩子). The island has a total population of three hundred families, but although the village is small, its success on the football field has been huge. Since 2004, the Panyee Football Club has won the Thai Youth Football Championships seven times.
The story of Panyee FC begins back in 1986. Some of the young boys from the village were watching the World Cup Football Championships on television. Suddenly, one of the boys said, "We watch football on TV, but we've never played it." The boys made a decision. "Our football team starts today. We want to become world champions (冠军)!" they shouted. But the villagers laughed at them. "Are you crazy? Have you ever played football?" they asked. "You've already formed a team, but you haven't found a field yet! How can you practice?" The boys were determined(坚决的) to make their dream come true. They used old fishing boats and pieces of wood to make a floating football field. They practiced for hours every day, even when the field was wet and developed amazing skills. That first year, they made it to the semi-finals of the local football competition. They have now played for over twenty-five years and they are one of the best youth football teams in the country.
a. Panyee FC won the Youth Football Championship.
b. The boys built a football field and practiced every day.
c. The boys were watching the World Cup on TV.
d. Panyee FC got to the semi-finals of a local football competition.
Do you like to watch sports? A lot of people in the world do. Every day, people watch sports on television, go to professional sports events, and watch local teams play against each other. Why do so many people watch sports events like soccer, baseball, and tennis?
One reason is that people can feel like they're in the game when they watch. Scientists studied people's brains to see what happens when people watch sports. They found that brain cells(细胞) called "mirror neurons" help people understand other people's actions and feel the same as others do. For example, if a person watches a snowboarder fly into the air, the person might feel the excitement that the snowboarder feels.
The human brain helps people enjoy watching sports for another reason, too. When a person's team or favorite competitor wins a competition, the person's brain gives out a chemical(化学物质). This chemical gives the person a feeling of happiness. As an example, sports fans yell, cheer, cry, and hug each other when they see their favorite team win a big game.
Being sports fans can also make people feel like they are part of a community. When people go to sports events and sit with other fans, they feel like they belong to a group. They don't even have to know the other fans. This feeling is important for humans. Humans are social animals and have to be around other people. They can get that feeling when they do activities in groups, such as cheering for their favorite teams.
Watching sports has lots of advantages. If you're not a sports fan, watch a game or two. You may like it.
We've all heard of fake(假的) news, but do any of us really understand what it means? Is it a story that isn't real or true? Does the person behind the story make a mistake?
Actually, there are two kinds of fake news — misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation: When someone believes false (错误的) information is true and shares it with others, this is called misinformation. Disinformation: When someone knows that he is sharing false information with others, then it's called disinformation. It's important to learn how to tell fake news so that we're not tricked into believing it or letting it influence our opinions and actions.
Usually, when people share fake news, they don't realize that it's fake. Sometimes people just want to show a service or product is good, so that someone can make money. Fake news can also be shared when someone wants others to hear his own personal opinions, and be influenced by him.
The information often includes rumors(谣言) and lies and it can be spread to help or hurt a person, group, organization or even a country.
With fake news, sharing is not caring! When fake news causes stress or hurt to others, those who have helped spread it (by sharing it with friends on the Internet, for example) will say they are not to blame(谴责). In their opinion, they did not write it, they only shared it.
Sharing fake news is just like adding fuel (燃料) to a fire. It is exactly what the person behind the fake news wants and needs. If the false information doesn't get shared, it doesn't get seen. And if it doesn't get seen, it cannot hurt others. So, when it comes to fake news, we must refuse to share it too.
How to improve your conversation skills
Do you like to meet new people? Do you like to talk, or are you shy? Whatever your answers are, this guide can help you improve your conversation skills.
To begin with, say something about the weather or the place you're in. Talk about the weekend - we all have something to say about weekends!
Know about events in the news. Read restaurant and movie reviews. Find out about the popular music scene or what's new in fashion or sports.
Keep eye contact and say, "Yes," "Hmm," "Uh-huh," "Right," and "I know." And say, "Really?" "That's interesting." It encourages people to talk.
Ask questions like "What do you do in your free time?" or "What kind of food do you like?" Use follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.
Responses like "I have no comment" and "I don't know." can sound rude. And if you don't want to answer a personal question, simply say, "Oh, I'm not sure I can answer that," or "I'd rather not say."
A. Ask information questions. B. Be polite. C. Smile. D. Be a good listener. E. Make the conversation interesting. F. Have some topics ready to start a conversation. |
Dominic is my neighbour. He started living in the flat (公寓) downstairs about two months ago. I've never seen him or spoken to him and I didn't know his 1 until last week. I'm a 2 British neighbour – I don't think I need to have a good 3 with my neighbours.
Dominic plays the guitar. Well, 4 he's learning to play the guitar. Every evening, he comes home and plays the guitar. For an hour. Or maybe two. Sometimes it 5 for the whole evening. And sometimes he 6 at the same time. I can hear his voice clearly. In fact he's got quite a good voice. But he isn't a good guitarist.
Now, I'm a(an) 7 person. I love music. And Dominic is learning to play the guitar. I really can't ask him to stop 8 his favourite instrument. So I tolerant (容忍) his music, his guitar and his singing.
Dominic's other hobby is DIY. That means he 9 things. His favourite time for DIY is on Saturday mornings. BANG BANG BANG. I don't know what Dominic is doing. But I know he likes doing it.
When I got home yesterday evening, I found a 10 . And that's how I know my neighbour's name is Dominic. It had three spelling mistakes, but it was 11 . It said that he's working late every night 12 . So, he often sleeps in the mornings. But unfortunately, Dominic isn't getting 13 because my radio is too loud in the mornings.
I 14 what I should do. So I sat on a chair, took off my coat, and wrote a polite note to Dominic. I wrote about good neighbors, noise and being tolerant. But I didn't give it to him. This morning I got up, put the 15 on and turned the volume (音量) down. I am too considerate(体贴的), I know.
Nice to meet you, Dominic.
| repeat against lay turn off humorous |
Linda is from England. She has exciting job. She's been taking (photo) all over the world for many years, and she loves traveling. Traveling is exciting, sometimes it can be hard. Several years ago, Linda was in a terrible bus accident. A truck hit the bus and caught fire. She (save) by two tourists who pulled her out of the bus and took her to a nearby village. The people in the village took care of her as much as they could, but there weren't any doctors and there was no medicine, and she needed to get to a hospital. She was (bad) hurt.
Luckily, a stranger offered (help) her. Linda hadn't met (he) before, but he (drive) her for eight hours to a hospital in the city.
Linda nearly lost her life in the accident, but she had a goal. This goal helped her to get better and better. Her goal was to climb Alps(阿尔卑斯山) which is (high) mountain in Europe and just a few years her accident, she did it! Linda has never forgotten the strangers who helped her. She says she's alive today because of the kindness of strangers.
| From: Jim |
| To: Li Ping |
| Hi Li Ping, How are you doing? These days, I am reading a book about Chinese culture. And I have great interest in traditional Chinese festivals. Could you please tell me about your favorite festival? What do you usually do during the festival? Looking forward to your reply. Yours, Jim |
| From: Li Ping |
| To: Jim |
| Hi Jim, …… Yours, Li Ping |
