The Spring Festival

    The Spring Festival，Chinese New Year，is the most important festival for all of us. All family members get together on New Year's Eve to have a big meal. ①At the same time，everyone celebrates to each other. At about 12 o'clock，some parents and children light crackers. The whole sky is lighted brightly. We may watch the fireworks excitedly. How busy it is！

    On the first early morning of one year，many senior citizen get up early and they stick the reversed(倒着的) Fu or hang some couplets on the front door. Some house's windows are sticked on red paper cuttings.

    The Chinese New Year lasts fifteen days. ②所以在那十五天的时间里，我们总是挨家挨户的去探访我们的亲戚朋友。 At that time children are the happiest because they can get many red packets from their parents，grandparents，uncles， aunts and so on. The last day of the Chinese New Year is another festival. It names the Lantern Festival.

    So the Chinese New Year comes to the end.

    Many would agree that when we think of Christmas， we probably think of gifts， Christmas trees and Santa Claus. But behind all these things lies the true meaning of Christmas: the importance of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us. The story in A Christmas Carol is perhaps the best example of this.

    A Christmas Carol is a famous novel written by Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge. He only thinks about himself and doesn't treat others nicely. He just cares about whether he can make more money. And he hates Christmas. One Christmas Eve， Scrooge sees the ghost of Jacob Marley， his dead business partner. Marley used to be just like Scrooge， so he was punished after he died. He warns Scrooge to change his ways if he doesn't want to end up like him. He also tells Scrooge to expect three spirits to visit him.

    That night， three ghosts visit Scrooge. First， the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him back to his childhood and reminds Scrooge of his happier days as a child. Then the second spirit， the Ghost of Christmas Present， takes him to see how others are spending Christmas this year. Everyone is happy， even poor people. The last one， the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come， takes him to the future. He sees that he is dead but nobody cares. Scrooge is so scared that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is already the next morning on Christmas Day!

    He decides to change his life and promises to be a better person. He happily celebrates Christmas with his relatives. He also gives gifts to people in need. He now treats everyone with kindness and warmth， spreading love and joy everywhere he goes. And that is the true spirit of Christmas!

    'Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?' says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing.

    Taobao, China's largest online shopping site(网站), has become an important part of Wang Lin's life. She spends lots of money on Taobao.

    A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Wang have found the joy of online shopping. Most online shoppers are students or young workers. More women shop online than men. Clothing and home use products (产品) are the most popular online.

    It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao.

    Taobao means ‘looking for treasure' in Chinese. People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players.

    You may question the security (安全) online shopping. Wang Lin said, ‘It is very safe and convenient (便利). Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied with them, the shop owner will not get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the product.'

    Taobao: China's .{#blank#}1{#/blank#} online shopping center

    Bird lovers know that a good place to go bird-watching is Guandu Nature Park. As many as 220 kinds of birds come to this park every year. Since the park offers birds lots of food to eat and places to build their nests, it has become a paradise（天堂）for birds.

    Guandu Nature Park is also a great outdoor classroom. The park's Nature Center provides guided tours to the public. During the tour, visitors can learn about the environment. So, if you want to have a fun and educational weekend, come to Guandu Nature Park. Get away from city life and head into nature.

    Jeff is a hard-working farmer. He grows very good corn (玉米), and he often wins the corn competitions.

    One day, a newspaper reporter found that Jeff shared his seed (种子) corn with his neighbors.

    Why do you share your best seed corn with your neighbors? They also take part in the competitions, the reporter asked.

    Jeff answered, "Didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen (花粉) from the corn and blows it from field to field. If my neighbors grow bad corn, my corn will be bad, too. If I want to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.

    This is the truth about life. You can't improve your corn if your neighbors' corn doesn't improve.

    If you want to live well, you should help others to live well. If you want to be at peace, you should help others to be at peace. If you want to be happy, you should help others to get happiness. Your happiness and the happiness of others go together.

    Mary is a six-year-old girl. She often goes to the shop and goes to the church (教堂) with her mother. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    One day, when they are in the church, the pastor(牧师)asks, "Who wants to go to the heaven(天堂) ? Please put up your hands. "All the people but Mary put up their hands. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    "I want to go home with my mother," answers Mary."

    When they get home, it is dark. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} She is very busy. She washes some clothes.  She cleans the table and the chairs. Then she wants to sweep the floor. But the broom (扫帚) isn't in the room.

    "Could you help me, Mary? Would you like to go. out and bring the broom for me?"

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    "Never fear, God can help you,"

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} She puts her hand out of the door.