In Western countries, many children do chores to get pocket money. 1 usually start to do this at the age of 10.
School students have to do homework and study 2 tests on weekdays. So they often do chores on 3. Some young kids only do 4 chores. So they don't get much money. But that's all right. Many of them only want to 5 candies. And candies are cheap！They help wash the dishes after dinner, and 6 the family cat or dog.
When kids get 7 ， they want to buy more and more things. They want things that are more expensive than candies. Then they have to work harder！They often 8 the family car, cut the grass, walk the dog or cook dinner.
Doing chores is a good 9 for kids to learn new things. For example, they can learn how to use a lawn mower(割草机) or 10 to cook. Of course, their parents help them at first.
Should we teenagers help our parents do chores? Is it important for us to learn how to do chores? I think so. Most of teenagers like us are the only child in each family. So our parents love us very much. They do everything well for us and don't want us to do any chores. I think it's bad for us. The following is a real story.
I have a classmate called Li Ting. She is the only child in her family like me. Her parents love her so much that they don't let her do any chores. Every day she only gets up，has meals, goes to school, comes home, does homework and goes to bed. So she doesn't know how to do chores. One day, her father was badly ill and had an operation(手术） in the hospital. Her mother had to take care of her father in the hospital and couldn't cook the dishes for Li Ting for a week. Li Ting didn't know how to cook meals. Later she even had instant noodles(方便面）only for meals. From the story we know that it's very important for us to learn to do chores and other skills besides(除……之外） studying.
B
Fifteen years ago, I began to work as a reporter.The job is sometimes difficult, but for most of the time it's amazing because it taught me many unforgettable lessons.
In India, I visited a city.There were many homeless children living in the street.But a kindhearted Indian woman called Rosa opened a home for them.She looked after about two hundred kids, fed them, taught them and gave them hope.
Another time, I was in Japan after a terrible earthquake(地震)．I met a lady.Her house fell down.Her son was missing and many people thought it was impossible to find him.But the lady did not give up hope.She kept moving heavy bricks(砖块) for four days by herself.She did not stop until she found her son.He was still alive!
Then in China, I met a young boy with a serious illness.He had to have twenty operations in hospital.But when I met him, he was still smiling!
Now I always remember the courage(勇气) of those people when I meet difficulties in my life.
C
“Make-A-Wish” is one of the world's most wellknown charities(慈善机构)．It makes wishes come true for children who have serious illnesses.It gives them hope and joy and helps them forget about their health problems and have fun.
It all started in 1980 in Phoenix, Arizona.Christopher was a 7yearold boy who was very sick.He always dreamed of becoming a police officer.Tommy Austin and Ron Cox, two police officers, made his wish come true.They gave Christopher a tour of the city in a police helicopter(直升飞机) and made a real police uniform(制服) for him.
There are four kinds of wishes children usually have：
I wish to go.Children usually want to travel or go to a concert, a game or a park.
I wish to meet.Children sometimes want to meet their favorite actors, singers or players.
I wish to be.Some children wish to become actors, singers or police officers.
I wish to have.They often want to have a computer, a game, a bike or many other things.
Let's hope more wishes will come true in the future.People who work in the charity always try for the best.Almost 25，000 volunteers help, work or give money.Will you be one of them?
A：Parks are really important in a neighborhood.
B：Sounds good.What can we do?
A：Well, we can pick up garbage(垃圾)．
B：What a great idea!
A：Yes, let's ask them to come.We can ask the neighbors, too.
B：
A：We should bring garbage bags and buckets(水桶)．
B：
A：Let's volunteer on Saturday.The weather will be sunny.
B：
A：Wear old clothes.We'll probably get dirty.
B：OK.I will tell the others.
A．People must keep them clean.
B．When should we volunteer?
C．What should we wear?
D．Maybe we can invite our friends to help.
E．Let's volunteer to clean up Central Park.
F．I learned a lot from the activity.
G．What should we bring?
