Do you like to tell stories? Do you like to write? Sometimes those questions have two different answers.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, it can be hard to write them down on paper.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Even professional writers do not write everything perfectly the first time. They have to revise their work. When you revise your writing, you look for ways to change it that will make it better.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You make sure that you have used capitals, periods and other punctuation marks in the best way. You look for words that can be taken out or changed for different, more exciting words. You make sure that your words help the reader get a picture in his mid when he reads them.

    Writing is one of those skills that take practice. The changes you make can turn boring words into exciting words.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Don't be afraid to make changes. The first time you write on a topic, you get your ideas down on paper. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}It's making it ready for readers to enjoy.

B

    After you get back home from a trip, one of the most pleasant things is sharing your stories with people. And that's what we'd like you to do. Our magazine's “True Stories” section is for your strange experiences, heart-warming tales and funny stories on your trip. So if you have good stories, please write to us!

    If your story is chosen as the best one, you will win the nine-day trip across North America, including a seven-night trip along the California coast. For more information, please call 800-227-2826, or e-mail us at TrueStories@hotmail.com.

    Besides, you need to remember a few things if you want to write a story:

    Keep the story brief (简短的) and lively (within 250 words).

    Please send your story as the body of your e-mail, not as an attachment (附件).

    Most of the stories we print have photos, so send pictures, but try not to go crazy. Send only the best one(s).

    Please send your photos as an attachment, not embedded in (把……嵌入) the body of your e-mail.

    We don't mind if you or your friends are in the pictures, as long as you tell us who or what is in the photos.

    We need to be able to get in touch with you, so tell us your phone number and home address.

A: Do you know what shopping online is?

B: Yes. I buy a lot of things on the Internet.

A: Really? Could you tell me some advantages of it?

B: Of course. First, it is very convenient. You can buy anything you want, and they will send it to your home.

A: Wow, that is great.

B: Yes. What's more, it is much cheaper than the products in a big supermarket.

A: Ah, that is quite a smart way of shopping. What is its disadvantages do you think?

B: Well, the biggest one is that you cannot see the true products. You can only look at the pictures and some introductions(介绍). You cannot try them on if you buy some clothes or shoes. Sometimes you may get the one not fit(适合)you on the Internet.

A: I agree with you. How to deal with(处理)this?

B: You can return(返回)the products if you are not satisfied now. I think shopping online is more and more popular. It will be more and more important in our life.

A: Thanks a lot for your introduction. It helps a lot!

B: You are welcome.

    Fun or kind? Old or young? Let's see what these students say about their favourite teachers?

Zhao Dan

    My favorite teachers are learned(博学)teachers because they can make their lessons easy and interesting. And in class, after learning what is in the book, we hope to learn more.

Wang Jianing

    My geography teacher Mr. Todd is kind to students. His class is interesting. All of the students want to learn and do their homework.

Wang Peng

    We boys and girls often have questions. We really want to talk about these questions with teachers and make friends with them. I don't like old teachers because they can't understand(理解)us!

Lu Hongfei

    Ms. Li is my English teacher. She always wears purple clothes. It is her favorite color. She often teaches us to sing English songs.

    My friend Tom is a good student. He is 14 years old. He is 1.53 metres tall. I am a bit short. I'm only 1.45 metres tall. Tom is a good football player. We likes playing football after school. Tom has two long legs and two big feet. His arms are long. His favorite colour is blue. Gina is Tom's sister. She is only 1 year old. She is 0.72 metres tall. She looks beautiful. She has two big eyes and a small mouth. Her favorite colour is pink. Look! She is wearing a pink dress.

    Last week Lu visited England. He stayed with my grandmother. He said it was a strange visit. "I don't understand, but I frightened(害怕) your grandmother a lot. When I arrived, I gave her a purse from Zhengzhou, she looked in it and asked me to take it back.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Do English people like spiders?"

    "Later we went shopping. Someone was painting a shop front, so there was a ladder(梯子).Grandmother stopped me from walking under it and said I must walk around it. I liked the shops and bought some lovely rose soap(肥皂) for my mother, a smart umbrella for my father and some new shoes for myself.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Your grandmother came in and screamed(尖叫) !"

    "Then I broke a small mirror in the bathroom.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}I felt very sorry. When I left I gave your grandmother some flowers. She counted and there were 13. She didn't like it.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}"I explained to Lu, "My grandmother follows the old customs(习俗). You must not give someone an empty purse or they will have no money. You must not kill a money spider or the same will happen. Also it is very unlucky to walk under a ladder and to put new shoes on the table. An open umbrella in a house means someone will die. Breaking a mirror brings seven years' bad luck, and 13 is also a very unlucky number.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}."