English is the first language of several countries. However, it has many differences. British, American, and South African English are all spoken differently. In many English language courses, the British and American differences are taught. One is not more correct than the other, but there are important differences between the two.

    Probably the biggest difference between American and British English is the vocabulary. Different words and expressions are used to talk about the same thing. For example, in the United States, people throw their garbage into the trash can. In England, people throw their rubbish into the dustbin. In Britain, people take a lift to the fifth floor. In America, people take an elevator.

    American and British grammar can be also different. For example, speakers of British English will ask "What did you do at the weekend?", but Americans usually say "on the weekend." In the United States people usually say "I've gotten a new car.", but in the UK they will say "I've just got a new car."

    The pronunciation in American and British English is also different, even when the spelling is the same. The word "tomato"—pronounced "to-mah-to" in British English—is a classic example of this.

    Vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation are three ways English is different in different parts of the world. Learning all these is not easy, so English learners should just know that they are always there.

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    When the teacher asks a question in class, Wang Xiaobin never raises his hand and this situation is very common at middle schools. This 15-year-old boy always waits for other classmates or the teacher to give the answer. “What if my answer is wrong?” Wang asks.

    Wang said only six or seven students in his class raise their hands when a question is asked. ①“I think it's a problem that may affect (影响) our studies, but I am afraid of making mistakes in front of my classmates,” he said.

    When we asked the teacher, Hu Wei, why the students didn't raise their hands, he said, “They lack (缺乏) confidence, they are afraid of showing off, or they're afraid of losing face by giving wrong answers.”

    To encourage students to raise their hands in class, Hu suggests that teachers should repeat the question, then try to guide and encourage students to offer their answers. ②Hu also advised students not to be shy, but brave enough to try.

    Sun Pin, 16 of Fujian, always raises her hand as soon as she comes up with the answer, even if she isn't sure she has gotten it right. Sun can't understand why some of her classmates keep silent in class. She enjoys raising her hand a lot. “It keeps me enthusiastic(热情的) and confident to express my idea,” Sun said. “Raising my hand has really made me excellent.”

    Jack London was born in San Francisco in 1876. Life was hard when Jack was growing up and he started working when he was 10. He did lots of different jobs. In his free time he went to the library and he spent many hours there, reading. In 1894 he went back to school, and published his first short story Typhoon, off the Coast of Japan. Then in 1896 he went to the University of California at Berkeley, but he had to leave because of money problems.

    In 1897 he left for the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska. However, he became ill and came home and started working as a full-time writer. He wrote short stories and soon he was well-known. In 1903 he wrote his most famous story: The Call of the Wild.  His next novel was The Sea-Wolf (1904) which is perhaps his best literary novel.  With the earnings he bought a large farm in Califonua, where he died in 1916, aged only 40 years old.

    London was a prolific writer in his short life.  Between 1905 and 1916 he published 18 novels and six collections of stories, as well as a play, various works of non-fiction and a biography.  He is best-known for his descriptions of nature and the animal world.

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    Anger(生气) is a kind of feeling. Many things can make you angry. When your teacher gives you too much homework, when your team loses an important game, when a friend borrows our favorite thing and then breaks it, you may get really angry.

    Usually, your body will tell you when you are angry. For example, you breathe(呼吸) faster, your face turns red, and you may want to break something or hit someone, but sometimes you hide your anger. For example, you may hide it in your heart. But if you do this, you may get a stomach ache or headache

    In fact, it's not good to hide your anger, and it's common for you to get angry sometimes. But anger must be let out in the right way, without hurting others or yourself. When you get angry, you can talk about it with other people, such as your friends, your parents, your teachers and so on. You can also count from 1 to 100, go for a bike ride, and think about good things, etc.

    Remember that how you act when you are angry can make something better or worse. Don't let your anger control you.

A. Actions(表现)    B. Ways          C. Reasons(原因)

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    In 1995, the UNESCO's General Conference held in Paris designated the World Book Day on April 23 to say thanks to books and writers worldwide and to invite everyone to be a lifelong reader.

    The following reading list consists of 5 books, 3 in English and the others in Chinese, about China and Chinese culture.

    ⒈Insights into Chinese Culture (中国文化读本)

    As an overview of Chinese culture, this book shows many ways of Chinese culture, they include Chinese customs, scenic spots, science and technology, folk art, literature and international cultural exchanges. Many people think it a perfect start for anyone who wants to learn about China.

    ⒉Quotations from Confucius (孔子语录)

    This book keeps most of the words and thoughts from Confucius, who is the greatest educator and thinker in history. People around the world think Confucius' teaching ideas and philosophy are still working in today's education.

    ⒊Chinese Folk Art series (中国民间艺术系列读本)

    Published by Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House, each book focuses on one folk art, such as paper-cutting, clothing and Chinese New Year picture. Readers can enjoy the beautiful photos and learn the history and development of each art.

    ⒋Chinese Characters (中国汉字)

    This book offers us a main introduction about the wonderful culture of Chinese characters. With enough examples, it proves that learning the most difficult language in the world can be rather interesting.

    ⒌Symbols of China (中国符号)

    Taking a special way to explain Chinese culture, this book chooses over a hundred cultural symbols and tell the story behind every one of them. Like a hundred small mirrors, these symbols show the value of traditional Chinese culture.

    People believed for a long time that the heart was the center of a person s emotions(情感，情绪). That is why the word" heart" is used in so many expressions about notional situations.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} When that happens, you have fallen in love. But if the person who "won your heart" does not love you, then you are sure to have a "broken heart". In your pain and sadness, you may decide that the person you loved is" hard-hearted", and in fact, has a "heart of stone".

    You may decide to "pour out your heart" to a friend. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If your friend does not seem to understand how painful your broken heart is, you may ask her to "have a heart". {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Your friend" has her heart in the right place" if she says she is sorry, and shoes great concern(关心)for how you feel. Your friend may, however, warn you not to" wear your heart on your sleeve袖子), In other words, do not let everyone see how ",lovesick you are. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If your friend says "my heart bleeds for you", she means opposite. She is a cold-hearted person who does not really care about your situation.

    When you are frightened or concerned, your "heart is your mouth". You might say, for example, that your heart was in your mouth when you asked a bank to lend you some money to pay for a new house. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Be "strong-hearted". Sit down with the banker and have a" heart to heart" talk: Be open and honest about your situation. The bank may have a" change of heart"——it may agree to lend you the money. Then you could stop worrying and" put your heart at rest".

A. Telling someone about your personal problems can often make you feel better.

B. If that bank says no to you, do not "lose heart".

C. When your heart is on your sleeve, you are showing your deepest emotions.

D. One such expression is to "lose your heart".

E. You are asking your friend to show some sympathy (同情) for your situation.