Many people like to travel by plane, but I don't. The airport is usually far from the city. You have to get there early and wait for hours before the plane takes off and it is often late. You can't open the window. You can't choose the food. Planes are fast but it still takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city.

    I like traveling by train. I think trains are safe. Railway stations are usually in downtown. When you are late for a train, you can catch another. You can walk around in the train and open the windows. You can see many interesting things on your way. I know it takes a little more time. I also like cars. You can start your journey when you want to, and you don't need to get to a railway station or a bus stop. Also you can carry many things with you in a car. But sometimes there are too many cars on the roads.

Some birthday customs are quite similar in many parts of the world—- birthday candles(蜡烛), birthday games, and birthday cakes. But some customs are more specific to certain countries. Here are some children talking about their customs.

Linda: I am fourteen. I come from Aruba阿鲁巴岛（拉丁美洲）（荷属安的列斯群岛中的大岛）. In our country, Children take something special to school for their classmates and all teachers. Each teacher gives the birthday child a small gift like a pencil, an eraser or a postcard. The birthday child is also allowed to wear special clothes instead of the school uniform.

Lucy: I am one year older than Linda. Denmark（丹麦） is my country. A flag is flown outside a window to show that someone who lives in that house is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the child's bed while they are sleeping so they will see them at once when they wake up.

Tom: I am as old as Linda. I am from Brazil. The birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe(耳垂) for each year in my country. The birthday person also gives the first slice of cake to his/her most special friend or relative, usually mom or dad.

B

根据材料内容选择最佳答案。

    Xia Ming was worried about his study, so he wrote a letter to a magazine.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

A. Two readers read the letter from the magazine and here are their answers.

B. I'm sure you can do better.

C. Most of my classmates are much better than me.

D. But I can't get good grades.

E. When you are feeling bored, just smile and take a deep breath(深呼吸)

Americans spend their weekends in different ways. But usually they choose the same aim— to rest, to enjoy the time with their family and friends.

    Some Americans hold parties on Saturday night.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Then they won't get up until 9, 10 even 11 o'clock next morning. As soon as they get up, they will go to the nearest corner ship to buy the daily newspaper.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}  It will help them to decide what to do on Sunday afternoon.

Before going out on Sunday, they will have a meal, which is called " brunch"—"br" from "breakfast" and "unch" from" lunch".{#blank#}3{#/blank#} After brunch some Americans may have a picnic with their family or friends. They will take many things with them, such as fresh vegetables, seafood, drinks, table cloth and so on. Usually they drive to a beautiful park, a lake or the seaside.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It is the biggest meal of the week and all family members try to present(出席).

    Weekends are to be welcome everywhere.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Long long ago there was a thief. Do you know what he did one day？When he wanted to steal(偷)the bell on his neighbour's door, he walked up to the door, took hold of(抓住)the bell and pulled hard. The bell made a very loud noise. The thief was afraid and went home.

    Then he sat down to think. "I must do something about the noise," he said. He thought and thought. At last he had an idea, "Ah, I'll put some cotton(棉花)in my ears. Then I won't be able to hear the noise." The next day he went to the door of his neighbour, and took hold of the bell. This time he pulled even harder. The bell rang loudly, but the thief did not hear anything. With another hard pull he got the bell off the door. Just then the neighbour came out.

    "Steal my bell? I'll teach you a lesson," the angry man shouted. And he hit the thief on the nose.

    The thief did not know how the neighbour found out he was stealing the bell." Why did he come out just then?" he wondered.