—So please stay in ________ bed for a few more hours.

— I agree. It's kind ______ you to say so.

—Not yet. I need ___ ten minutes.

    Donald was not very good at maths. He could not understand the teacher's 1. Even when the teacher explained something again, Donald still could not 2it. “Never mind,” Donald told himself. “I'm quite good at other 3. I cheat (作弊) in the maths exam, then I won't be in4.”

    “My deskmate Brian Smith is best at maths,” he thought, “and I'll be able to 5his answers.”

    The day of the exam came, and Donald sat 6Brian Smith, who always sat at the front of the 7. Donald carefully copied Brian's answers onto his own exam paper. At the end of the exam, the teacher 8the papers and graded (评分) them.

    Then she said, “Well, boys and girls, I've decided to give a9to the student who got the highest grade. It's 10for me to decide whom I will choose, however, because two students, Donald and Brian, got the 11grade.”

    “Let them share it.” one of the 12said.

    “I've thought about that,” the teacher said, “but I've chosen Brian.”

    Donald was 13when he heard this. He stood up and said, “That's not fair.”

    “That's 14,” the teacher said. “However, Brian's answer to Question 18 was 'I don't know.' Yours was 15do I.' ”

    A university professor recently made several tests with different animals to find out which was cleverer than other animals.

    In one test the professor put a monkey in a room where there were several small boxes. Some boxes were inside other boxes. One small box had some food in it. The professor wanted to watch the monkey and to find out how long it would take the monkey to find the food. The professor left the room. He waited a few minutes outside the door. Then he got down on his knees and put his eye to the keyhole (钥匙孔). What did he see? To his surprise, he found himself looking into the eye of the monkey. The monkey was on the other side of the door and looked at the professor through the keyhole.

    Roger, a young man from China, has taught Chinese in a primary school in England for 3 years. A lot of children like his class and he enjoys teaching them very much. All the pupils are quite interested in what Roger teaches them. They learn quickly and do everything carefully.

    One day he said to the children, “People in a lot of Asian countries wear white clothes at funerals (葬礼), but people in America and in Europe wear white in the weddings because white means purity and happiness. What colour does an English woman wear when she gets married?”

    Mary said, “White, sir, because she is happy.” “That is good, Mary,” Roger said. “You are quite right. She wears white because she is happy.”

    But then one boy in the class put up his hand. “Yes, Dick?” Roger said, “Do you have a question?” “Yes,” Dick said. “Why do men wear black in our country when they get married, sir?”

    Young people can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents and classmates.

    Liu Wei, a Junior 2 student from Hefei, could not understand his teacher and was doing badly in his lessons. He became so worried about it that he started to cut his finger with a knife.

    Another student, 14-year-old Yan Fang from Guangzhou, was afraid of exams. She got very worried when she looked at the exam paper. She couldn't think of anything to write.

    A recent report from Jiefang Daily says about 18% of Shanghai teenagers have mental problems. Their troubles include being worried and very unhappy. And having problems in learning and getting on with people. Many students who have problems won't go for advice or help. Some think they will look stupid (愚蠢) if they go to see a doctor. Others don't want to talk about their secret.

    Liang Yuezhu, an expert on teenagers from Beijing Anding Hospital has the following advice for teenagers:

*Talk to your parents or teachers often

*Take part in group activities and play sports

*Go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell

A: Do you think Suzy would be a good chairperson?

B: Well, she is h because she often helps other students.

A: That's true. And she's s enough that she won't give up e.

B: Maybe. Who e would be suitable?

A: How about David? He is lively, clever and o.

    Chinese are very generous when they begin to educate their children. No caring about the money, parents often send their children to the best schools or even abroad to England, the USA or Australia. They also want their children to take extra-course activities where they will either learn a musical instrument or ballet, or other classes that will give them a good start in life. The Chinese believe that the more expensive an education is, the better it is. So parents will spend a large number of money on education. Even poor parents will buy a computer for their child.

    However, what most parents fail to see is that the best education they can give their children is usually very cheap. Parents can see that their children are skilled in some areas while poor in others. What most parents fail to realize is that today's children lack (缺乏) self-respect and self-confidence.

The problem is that parents are only educating their children on how to study well, but parents are not teaching them the most important skills they need to be confident, happy and clever.

    Parents can achieve this by teaching practical skills like cooking, sewing and doing other housework. These activities are teaching a child not only to read, but also to think. And that is more important.

内容要点如下：

1）推荐Simon 担任学生会主席；

2）推荐理由：①积极、自信、勤奋好学、成绩优秀，是你班的班长；

②乐于助人，经常为同学解决难题；

③对人大方、为人善良，同学们愿意与他交朋友；

④聪明、富于创造力和想象力，能想出很多新主意；

⑤有耐心，有条理，能计划好每一件事情，并关注细节。

Dear Principle,

    I am writing to recommend Simon as t he chairperson of the Students' Union.

Yours Sincerely

Peter