How long does it take to build a new house? It usually takes about six months or more. But each year, thousands of people work together to build new homes in just four months! Who does this wonderful work? Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a group that builds homes for families in need. It has branches in different states around the USA. This group works all over the world, too. Volunteers help build the homes. They are unpaid workers. Volunteers can be builders and painters. They can be teachers or bankers. Some are students.

    Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses. More than 1.5 million people live in these houses. Building a home is hard work. Volunteers learn how to put up walls. They use tools and machines. These selfless volunteers work with the family that will live in the house. Everyone works together to make the family's dream come true.

    Suruchi Srikanth has worked with Habitat for Humanity for four years. She began volunteering in high school. She has built many homes with other volunteers. She takes her responsibilities(责任) seriously. Volunteers know that if they don't help, homes might not get built. They are good citizens(公民) who care about other people.

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.

    It's Saturday today. It's ten o'clock. Jack's father is sitting on the sofa near the window (A)他正在读今天的报纸。Jack's aunt is taking photos of some beautiful flowers in the garden. Jack's uncle is watching sports games on TV. Basketball games are his favorite sport but he can't play basketball. Where are Jack's two cousins? Look! Lily is over there. She is listening to music. She likes music very much. Lucy is in the study. She is writing an e—mail to her friend. Where is Jack? He is in the kitchen with his mother. (B)His mother is teaching him how to make dumplings.

    I am a student of a middle school. My class teacher is Mrs. Green. She is more than 30 years old. She is our English and History teacher. She is strict(严格) and at the same time she is very kind.

    In our school, there is a playground. We do morning exercises, play basketball and volleyball there. Our PE teacher, Mr. Jackson teaches us to do ball games. He was once a successful sportsman. He is our hero. Our school also has a swimming pool. We take swimming lessons there.

    Our school building is very large and the school hall is on the ground floor. Every year, we have a prize—giving ceremony(颁奖典礼)in the hall.

    Running away is a serious problem. There are lots of runaway and homeless kids living in the streets around the world.

    孩子们为什么想离家出走呢?

    Some kids run away because they're afraid to tell their parents the bad things that they did at school or in society.

    Some kids run away because there is violence(暴力)in the family.

    Some kids run away because their parents' divorce(离婚) or marry again.

    Some kids run away because they have problems at school.

    What will you do if your friend wants to run away from home?

    If your friend is thinking about running away, tell him or her that it is difficult to survive (幸存) in the streets. Try to help your friend fee less alone.

    Whatever the problem is there are other ways to solve it .Maybe you can't think of the ways right now. but an adult (成年人) will know how to help you. You should tell an adult that your friend plans to run away as soon as possible. Being a real friend doesn't mean keeping a secret that may hurt someone. And running away isn't a solution for either of you. It only makes more problems and danger.

    I have had a lot of problems recently. Firstly, I'm not happy in class. I'm so shy that I'm afraid of speaking in class. Secondly, I argued with my best friend. I'm very worried because I have few friends. I don't want to lose her. Thirdly, I feel nervous when the midterm exams are coming. And sometimes I even can't sleep well at night.

    Yesterday, my mother took me to the doctor. I told the doctor my problems and 他给我一些建议. He asked me to make more friendly friends and play games in my free time, so that I would not be so shy. He also said, "If you don't want to lose your best friend, you should talk with her. Tell her ________ you think." Because I couldn't sleep well, he asked me to eat some food that was good for sleep. And he asked me to relax. I'm trying to follow his advice. I think I will get better soon.