Dear Know,

      I need some advice on how to make friends! I have just moved to a new city. I am 13. I don't know anybody here and I want to make some friends. What's the best way? Where can I meet people?

                                                                                                                           Yours,

                                                                                                                                Tony

Dear Tony,

     There are lots of things you can do. First, you can ride your bike in your neighbourhood and try to find some kids. When you find some, you can go up and talk to them. You should also let your parents know that you want to make friends because they can help you. Maybe you can ask your parents to take you to the library or some places where there are lots of kids. You could try joining an art class or a sports club. These are all great ways to meet people. You can also try making friends at churches (教堂) if you go to churches on Sundays. Try to be active wherever you are, but just be yourself and don't try so hard. It takes time and patience. I hope you will find a best friend soon!

                                                                                                                 Yours,

                                                                                                                         Know

    A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple trees he grew.

    One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to plant it. The farmer was pleased with the gift, but he did not know where to plant it.

    He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his fields, his neighbours would come at night and steal some of the apples. If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit. Finally he planted the tree in his woods. But without sunlight and good soil(土壤), the tree soon died.

    Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place. "What's the difference?" the farmer said angrily and then told what he had thought.

    "Yes, "said the friend, "but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed(毁掉) a good apple tree!"

A: Have you read today's newspaper?

B: No.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

A: Yes.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

B: How did it happen?

A: Two pupils were playing football on their way home {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

B.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

A. They were taken to the hospital and the doctors began to operate on them at once.

B: How are the children now?

A: They were saved at last and {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

B: I hope everything goes well .

A: I hope, too.

George Michael

    Michael was born in London. His father, Tom was a restaurant owner{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When Michael was young, he lived with his parents and his elder sisters, Yioda and Melanie.

    Michael spent his childhood in Kingsbury, London{#blank#}2{#/blank#}While he was in his teens, he moved to Radlett with his family. There, Michael attended Bushey Meads School in Bushey. When he was in Bushey, he met an important person{#blank#}3{#/blank#}The two young men had great dreams. Both of them wanted to be musicians. They became friends. In 1981, they formed a music group “Wham!” . The music group made them famous. Lots of people got to know them{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    After that, Michael didn't give up his career as a singer{#blank#}5{#/blank#}He was best known for his work in the 1980s and 1990s, including the songs Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Last Christmas. His albums such as Faith (1987) and Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1(1990) were popular, too.

    The Chongyang Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month and is also called the Double Ninth Festival. As both the month and the day are nine, it got this name. To celebrate the day, people usually climb mountains and enjoy chrysanthemum (菊花), so the festival is also known as the Height Ascending (登高) Festival or the Chrysanthemum Festival. In China, nine has the similar pronunciation with the word “forever”, meaning long life. So the Chinese government set the day as the Seniors' Day.

    The festival has a history of over 2000 years. During the Warring States Period, there was the Chongyang Festival. But it was only celebrated in the imperial palace. From the Han Dynasty, it began to be popular among the common people. The name of the Chongyang Festival first appeared in the Three Kingdoms Period. During the Jin Dynasty, there were customs of enjoying chrysanthemum and drinking wines on the day. It was not (A) officially set as a festival until the Tang Dynasty. Since then, all the people have spent the festival with kinds of activities. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, people in the imperial palace all ate flower cakes to celebrate. The emperor climbed the mountain on the day as well. In 1989, the Chinese government set the day as the Seniors' Day.

    As September has the clear sky and fresh air, it is a very good time to climb the mountain. There will be a happy sense of excitement by climbing the mountain in this season. Also, it is good for health. Since the Western Han Dynasty, it has been the custom of climbing on the Chongyang Festival.

    On the day, enjoying chrysanthemum is very popular as the flower means long life. Drinking chrysanthemum is regarded as a way to prevent disasters and bad things. Inserting Zhuyu and sticking chrysanthemum are also traditions to avoid the bad as (B) they have special smells which can repel (驱逐) insects and keep out the cold.

    Eating Chongyang cakes is another tradition on the festival. There is no fixed way of the cake but the one with nine layers (层) with two sheep on it is the best. Two sheep means Chongyang. Nine layers show people could do well in everything.

    ①Mike lives in Zhengzhou of China. But he is from Canada. He is 12 years old this year. ②He speaks English. And he speaks Chinese a little. Mingming is his good friend. He is a Chinese boy. He often goes to the English Corner. He likes to speak English there. ③It helps him with English. Of course, he often helps Mike with Chinese. Mike has a pet at home. It is a dog. He likes it very much. ④The name of it is Wangwang. Mingming likes it, too. So he often plays with Wangwang in Mike's home.