Have you ever (hear) of the Stonehenge? Every year it (receive) more than 750, 000 visitors. People like to go to this place especially June as they want to see the sun (rise) on the longest day of the year.

    For many years, historians believed Stonehenge was a temple where ancient leaders (try) to communicate with the gods.

    , historian Paul Stoker thinks this can't (be) true because Stonehenge was built so (much) centuries ago. Other people believe the stones have a medical purpose. They think the stones can prevent illness and keep people (health).

    No one is sure what Stonehenge was used for. Some think it might be a burial place or a place to honour ancestors. Others think was built to celebrate a victory over an enemy.

    Over millions of years ago, there were deserts. Now about one fifth of the Earth's surface(be) deserts. The size of the world's deserts is always(change). Deserts can be hot or cold. The Australian Desert is a hot desert, while the Gobi Desert in Mongolia is an example of a cold desert. Deserts are dry areas where less than 25 cm of rain falls each year. The Sahara Desert in Africa receives(little) than 1.5 cm of rain a year.rain doesn't fall very often in deserts, sometimes even for years, there can be heavy rain(sudden). Because they are dry, deserts have wide changes in temperature each day. When the Sun goes, it is very hot. At night, the heat(receive) by the ground during the day(quick) disappears (消失), and then it becomes very cold. Becausethe change, living in the desert is very difficult. People can make deserts, but they can also stop them from getting larger and larger. Planting trees can prevent the sand from(spread).

    Elephants are the largest land animals alive today. African elephants live in family groups(call) herds (群). All of the elephants in the herd take careeach other. The leader of the herd is an old mother elephant. She is the matriarch (女族长). A herd may have as(few) as eight or as many as 100 elephants. The other(elephant) follow the matriarchshe knows how to keep them safe.

    Elephants learn by(watch) and copying other elephants, and also learn from life. Baby elephants stay with their mothers until they are(full) grown at about ten years old. Elephants live to be 50 or 60 years old. Elephants are smart animals with strong memories. In the dry season, a matriarch can rememberwater was found in the past. The herd will follow her there. She can also remember the safest place for baby elephants to cross a fast-moving river.

    Elephants talk to each other with rumbling sounds. Some rumbling sounds are so low and(deeply). Elephants hear sounds not only with their ears, but also with their feet, and even trunks (long noses of the elephants). They also greet each other by touching with their trunks and feet. If(dangerous) appears, mothers beat their ears to call their babies.

    In our daily lives, there is an important kind of language. It'slanguage. We can use our bodies to express our  (feel). For example, we can show our rejecting expressionshaking our heads. Also, we can learn that someone wants to leavehe is looking at his watch for several times. Here (be) an example about body language.

    Tony is very interested in Chinese food. One of his Chinese friends, May, invited him (have) dinner last Sunday. He was very glad to accept the invitation. During dinner, Tony wanted to have some more after he finished  (eat) the food on his plate. However, no one at the table noticed (注意到) this. Everyone was enjoying their food. Tony didn't want (speak) out. He thought it was impolite (tell) May that he wanted more food. So he stood up quietly and went to the washroom. A few minutes later, May found there was nothing on Tony's plate. She felt like (say) sorry to Tony. Finally, she added some food on Tony's plate.

    Doing voluntary work is an easy way to help others, and it's also a great way to help  (you). You'll feel good for  (give) your time. It's also possible for you to make  (friend) with people around you.

    Doing voluntary work is good for your health, too.  new study has found that people who do voluntary work for at least 200  hours a year are  (healthy) than those who never do. It's especially good for adults because they  (usual) sit too long every day. However, doing voluntary work helps to stop  (sit) too long and makes you do more exercise.

    Some scientists think it is even more important to you than regular exercise. Sometimes voluntary work is boring,  it can help you a lot. It can help you to keep healthy, improve your skills  become a more confident person. Now more and more people are offering  (do) some voluntary work.

    America (call) a democracy(民主国家) since its independence(独立) more than 200 years ago. However, at that time, only men (allow) to vote. Women could not get a higher education or (hold) public office. The woman's place (think) to be the home. Working women were not common. They usually (have) poor jobs and little respect.

    Slowly, however, the chances for women (increase). In the early part of last century, American women were allowed to vote and universities (set) up for women. Since the Second World War, American women (become) a large part of the American workforce(劳动力).

    Today, many women in America hold important positions, but many women (not please) with the current situation. They point out that in many cases women (pay) less than men for the same work they do. So they demand(要求) that women should be paid as much as men for the same work.

    Like most other fathers, my father cares a lot about his children. He cares about my (healthy) and how I am doing in school. He never misses any parents' meetings in my school. Yes, my father is ordinary father just like the others' fathers.

    But my father does a special thing he is not at work. He volunteers in a local hospital. He spends time (help) to take care of the sick people. He is happy (speak) with them, listen to them, and even read newspapers for them. Sometimes, he will take me with him, and when I'm there, I see that all the patients, (doctor) and nurses like my father very much. They always smile and say hi when they meet him, and some of the younger patients even run to him and ask a hug.

    Also, we (encourage) to take part in community service by my father. He believes that the happiest people are not those getting more, those giving more. And he always tells us, "To make (you) happier, you should help others." I am proud of my father.

Are you ready for this?

    Are there any companions(同伴) better than pets? Who else can be so lovely and understanding? Not much beats(胜过) a pet to make you laugh after  bad exam. Pets are cute  friendly. But to keep one at home needs a lot of care and attention.  you want an animal at home, think (care) beforehand.. Do you have enough time to take care of it? What (happen) when it gets (big)? Talk to your parents to get some advice.

    The second question may be what pet  (choose). Not all animals are good pets. Many wild ones carry diseases and can be dangerous for children. Some of  (they) need special care that you cannot give. If you want a pet from the wild, check that it is safe and healthy. When taking care  your animals, make sure you always wash your hands.  (keep) pets teaches you care and responsibility. When animals feel you are kind to them, they pay you back. Animals have feelings too. So be kind to them.

    My good friend Laura is my cousin. She is five years (old) than me. I am fourteen years old, so she is nineteen now. She lives in Bristol. She is very (friend) and easy to get along with. She has long brown hair and big eyes. She wants to be a dancer when she  up.

    When she was six years old, she began  (learn) dancing. She wants to be a super dancer, but it's difficult. She often (dance) in shows and I have watched her shows many times. I love watching her dance. We talk about everything together and we always share our (happy) and sadness with each other. My favourite saying is "A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart". Laura is  friend like this.

    Laura is very busy every day  she also studies photography at a university.  is a really good photographer and she has taken lots of  (wonder) photos. Last year, she won the first prize in the city's photo competition.

    I am lucky that I have such a good friend.

    Over millions of years ago, there were no deserts. Now about three tenths of the Earth's surface deserts. The size of the world's deserts is always  (change). Deserts can be hot or cold. The Australian Desert is a hot desert, while the Gobi Desert in Mongolia is an example of a cold desert. Deserts are dry areas  less than 50 cm of rain falls each year. The Sahara Desert in Africa receives less than 1.5 cm a year.  rain doesn't fall very often in deserts, sometimes even for years, there can be heavy rain (sudden). Because they are dry, deserts have wide changes in temperature each day. When the sun (go) up, it is very hot. At night, the heat  (receive) by the ground during the day  (quick) disappears (消失), and then it becomes very cold. Becausethe change, living in the desert is very difficult. Man can make deserts, but they can also stop them from getting larger and larger. Planting trees can prevent the sand from(spread).