People all over the world celebrate the New Year. However, not all countries celebrate in the same way, and in some countries, the New Year doesn't begin on the same date every year. It can depend on the seasons, the moon or the sun.

    In many countries, the New Year begins on 1st January, but people start celebrating on 31st December, New Year's Eve. In New York many people go to celebrate in Time Square. While they're waiting for the New Year, they listen to music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o'clock, everyone counts down from 10: 10, 9, 8 … As soon as it's 12 o'clock, everyone shouts very loudly, "Happy New Year!" and they say, "Out with the old year and in with the new!" Suddenly there are fireworks and special drinks. Sometimes people sing an old song called Auld Lang Syne. New Year's Day is often a family day. Some people relax at home. Some families get together for a special meal with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. When the weather is fine, many families go out for a walk.

    On New Year's Day, many people make resolutions for the New Year. They write down a list of things, such as "I will help out more at home. I will work harder at school." or "I won't spend so much time playing video games." When they have made their list, they read it to their family or friends and promise to follow their resolutions.

    How do you feel when you go to a birthday party? What about making a speech in front of the class? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you think you are too shy and want to be a little braver, try the following. You can make it!

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    There is no need to hide(隐藏) it. When they get to know you're a shy kid, they'll understand you better. This also helps you feel more at ease(自在) in talks.

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    When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. Remember that other people have feelings, too. And most people will stay away from an angry- looking person.

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    If you find it hard to start talks, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you.

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    Think more about ways to enjoy the party or the game. Don't waste( 浪费) time worrying about your looks or whether people like you or not.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}? "Survival Holidays" is for children to go into the lonely place for exciting activities. Now about 1,100 companies are allowed to take children into the great outdoors without their parents.

    The reason why people like "Survival Holidays" is that they think being close to nature is good for children. Many children in big cities spend all time watching TV and playing computer games. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}? Maybe yes. Children need more free time to play. They need to be left on their own, without adults disturbing them. Parents care too much about their children. They like to see the children being busy with activities that are controlled by adults, which causes many problems. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Even something like crossing a small river seems to be a hard challenge. Children are not comfortable with danger. Even slight danger like getting their feet wet or falling down seems very terrible to them.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Even years later, they will still remember what they have learned. Some have learned to stay calm in different times. Some have learned how to keep safe. Others have learned how to work in a team. All these skills will help them a lot in their lives.

A. Is "Survival Holidays" a wonderful idea

B. Have you heard about "Survival Holidays"

C. They don't know what to do when they are in danger

D. "Survival Holidays" gives them an important change

E. Many people think the survival activities are good for children

    Today more and more students like going shopping on the Internet. Do you have any ideas about it? Here are four girls' ideas.

    Sandy, twelve

    I like new skirts and jeans. At the weekend I usually go to the shops on the Internet. When I see my favourite things, I can pay for them by my credit card(信用卡).

    Kitty, thirteen

    I think it is very easy and cheap to buy things on the Internet. I only need to stay at home and choose the things I like. I can get them quickly without going out. It doesn't take too much time.

    Wendy, eleven

    I'm not good at computers. I never do the shopping on the Internet. I don't think it is interesting. When l want something, I ask my parents to buy it for me in the shopping mall.

    Shirley, twelve

Shopping on the Internet is not good. I can only see some pictures about the things. I don't believe the notes near the pictures.

    Much meaning can be carried clearly with our eyes，so it is often said that eyes can speak. Do you have such kind of experience? On a bus you may look at a stranger, but not too long. And if he finds that he is being looked at, he may feel uncomfortable. It's the same in daily life. If you are looked at for more than necessary, you will look yourself up and down, to see if there is something wrong with you. If nothing goes wrong, you will feel angry toward the person who is looking at you that way. Eyes do speak, right?

    Looking too long at someone may seem to be impolite. But sometimes things are different. If a man looks at a woman for more than 10 seconds, it may mean that he wishes to attract her attention, and to make her understand that he loves her. When two people are in a conversation, the speaker will only look at the listener from time to time, in order to make sure that the listener does pay attention to what he or she is saying. Lovers will enjoy looking at each other or being looked at for a long time, to show something that words cannot express.

    Clearly，eye contact(接触)should be done according to the relationship between two people and the place where you stay.

    Sally was a student. It was going to be her mother's birthday. She wanted to buy her a present that would be nice and useful but not expensive.

    A week before her mother's birthday, she went shopping after a quick and simple lunch. When she had been looking for half an hour, she found a shop that was selling cheap umbrellas, and decided to take a black one, since her mother had lost hers the month before.

    She thought, "You could carry that when you are wearing clothes of any color." So she decided to buy a lovely black umbrella and took it back to the school with her until her classes were over.

    On her way back home in the train that evening she felt hungry because she had such a small lunch that she went along to the dining car for another sandwich and a cup of coffee. She had left the black umbrella above her seat in the compartment(车厢), but when she got back, it had gone! When she had left the compartment, there had been no other passengers (乘客) in it, but now there were three.

    Sally began to cry when she saw that the umbrella was no longer there. The other passengers felt very sorry for her and asked what the matter was. She told them that the black umbrella she had bought for her mother was gone, and that she had to get out at the next station. After the three other passengers heard it, they asked her for her mother's address so that they could send the umbrella to her if someone had taken it by mistake, and brought it back after Sally had got out of the train.

    The next week, Sally heard from her mother. It said, "Thank you very much for your lovely presents, but why did you send me three black umbrellas?"