{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It has around 3 billion fans—nearly half the world's population! And about 300 million people play this game. That's 4 percent of the world's population!

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Many people in old days played the early form of this modern game. Cuju(蹴鞠), a ball-kicking game in China, was reported as early as 2, 500 B. C.  Around the same time in Greece, people were also playing a similar ball game without using their hands.

But modern soccer didn't become official(官方的)until 1863. An Englishman called Cobb Morley introduced the idea of a soccer association(联盟). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} From then on, other associations in the countries were set up. They came together—to make up the FIFA, which organizes the World Cup.

It's not easy to tell what makes soccer so popular. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Soccer needs only two feet and a ball. This makes it a sport that developing countries can play easily. Some of the sport's best players come from these poor nations. 

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The sport's no-hands rule makes beautiful dance—like movements on the field. What's more, this sport excites the heart. Teams might score only a few times each match, so matches can turn around suddenly.

     No one knows who will win at the next World Cup. But one thing is certain: The world will be watching.

     Computers are very important to modern life. Many people think that in the future computers will be used a lot in everyday life. Maybe we won't have to go shopping because we will be able to buy most things on the Internet.There will be fewer books because we will be able to get all texts from computers. The Internet will be used to play games and see films. Most telephone calls will be made by computers, too.

    Some people are glad about these new ways of shopping and communicating(交流). Others do not think that computers will replace（代替）our old ways.

    Let's take books for example. Some people think that one day we won't read books made of paper. Instead, we will buy and read books by using computers. We will read texts on small pocket computers. The computers will keep many different books in them at the same time. We won't need to turn lots of pages and paper will be saved. Computerized books（电子图书）will be used more and more.

    Is Internet shopping such a pleasure as going to the shop? Many people say it is not. It is pleasant to go into shops and look at things you want to buy. It is also impossible that many people will want to read large texts on our computers. Because paper books will perhaps be more friendly. Maybe computers won't change these two habits.

Dear Wang Tao,

    I'm so glad to read about the changes taking place in your city. I am happy that you can travel by subway in Chongqing, though there are only six lines there. Here is London we have twelve lines.

    The London Underground is very famous. It's famous for several reasons. Firstly, part of the underground railway today is the oldest in the world. It opened in 1863. Secondly, the London Underground is also the first line to have electric（电动的）trains in 1890. Thirdly, the London Underground is the second largest metro（地下铁道）system in the world, after the Shanghai Metro. There are 270 stations in the Underground and it has 402 kilometers of tracks (轨道). What's more, the city of London itself helps make the transportation（交通）system famous! I've got a few photos to help you build a clear picture of the Underground in my city. They are together with this mail.

    In your e-mail, you also said workers were building more lines. I'm sure your city is developing fast. Maybe you can send me a few photos of your city today. I really want to see the changes taking place there. I'm happy for you to live in an ancient city with such a new look!

    So much for now. I'll write soon again. Best wishes!

Yours,John

    How would you persuade (劝说) your parents to support your dream? American actress Emma Stone created a PowerPoint presentation (陈述) to get her argument across.

    Stone is a rising star in Hollywood. She has played the role of Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man's high school love interest, in two Spider-Man movies.

The actress said she has something in common with her character in the film. "Gwen is clear on what she wants to do with her life... I think I am in the same ballpark (同一范围) there."

    Stone made up her mind to become an actress at the age of 15. But would her parents agree to her leaving school early and pursuing (追求) her dream? The young girl decided to think outside of the box.

    "I used a lot of computers when I was younger, and my dad's a businessman, so I just thought a presentation is the way to get my point across," she said.

She titled the presentation Project Hollywood and used pop singer Madonna's classic song Hollywood as the soundtrack, saying "just please let me move to LA to be an actress."

    Her tactic (策略) proved to be a success. In 2004, Stone dropped out of high school and moved with her mother to Los Angeles. She was homeschooled after that.

Now Stone is a successful actress with many films to her name. Her next step is to try different things like "bizarre (奇怪的)" characters or comedy. Will she persuade directors with PowerPoint presentations too?

    Answer the following questions:

Dear Jack,

    How are you? How was your weekend?

    I had a great weekend. My mother taught me to make noodles. We made delicious noodles together. I cleaned my room and washed my clothes. I also helped my father wash his car. I went to the library on Sunday with my friend Jerry. We had a good time in the library.

    Next weekend, I'm going to visit my grandparents. They live in a village. It's two hours away from my house. We are going to take a bus there. My grandparents like eating fruit. So I will bring them some apples and bananas. I'm going to climb a mountain with my cousin Tom. It will be fun. The English test is coming. So I'm going to study for the test.

    Did you have a good weekend? What are you going to do next weekend?

Write back soon.

Susan

    ①它是世界上最流行的歌曲。It has been sung hundreds of millions of times each year. It has been heard in outer space, at baseball stadiums, in movies and in domiciles(住处) from the White House to the remotest (最遥远的) backwoods shack (棚屋) in Mississippi. It has been wired to millions of music boxes, greeting cards, watches, toys, games and other products. And it is the only song in the English language to make people of all ages smile and sing along. ②The song, of course, is "Happy Birthday to You."

    This amazing song began its life in 1893. Written by two sisters from Kentucky, Mildred and Patty Hill, it was originally (起初) named "Good Morning to All", and intended as a classroom greeting from teachers to students.

    Good morning to you.

    Good morning to you.

    Good morning, dear children.

    Good morning to all.

    To this day, no one knows for sure who wrote the new words to Hill's melody (旋律)，or exactly when it happened. "Happy Birthday to You" first appeared in a songbook in 1924. The words were presented as the second stanza (节) to "Good Morning to You".