Teenagers growing pains

    Today, our students are facing many different problems and they want to ask some experts for help. Nancy says she feel stressed these days because of too much homework. She hasn't enough time to sleep for a long time and often falls asleep during the classes. John says he doesn't like to study because of the bad effect of computer games. Cindy says she gets fat because she likes to eat junk food and hardly ever takes exercise. Frank has the worst problem. He always fights with others as he doesn't know how to get on well with others and few of his classmates would like to talk with him.

    Everyone needs friends. There is an old saying, "Friends are God's way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it?

    The American writer--Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to find friends. Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seeds（种子）and take care of it to make it grow.

    First, you should choose a friend. What makes a good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks. A good friend should be kind and patient. For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints(抱怨) and do his or her best to help. To make a friend, you cannot be too shy. You should make each other happy and share your life.

    But things cannot always be happy. Even the best friends have fights. What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her. When there is no one around, talk to him or her honestly. If he or she doesn't want to talk, you can write a letter.

    There are some steps to be friends again.

    Tell him or her how you are feeling; say what your friend did wrong and explain why you did this or that; Don't forget that friendship is the most important thing in your life.

    Each and every year, during Chongyang Festival, citizens of China celebrate the elders in their families and communities. It's a special tradition which is rooted in the deep value that Chinese culture places on honouring their elders.

Sadly, many of our aging population are seniors without sons, daughters or grandchildren to visit. While they may have great friends, they no doubt miss the tender and loving relationships unique to families. To fill this void（空虚）, many volunteers turned up on October 28 at nursing homes around the country in order to spend time with the residents. In some cases, they performed humble（谦逊的） gestures of kindness, such as combing their hair or washing their feet.

    While the kind acts were appreciated, one embarrassing story out of Anhui province raised a valuable question. Reportedly, one old gentleman had his feet washed seven times during the day by different volunteers. Is this genuinely（真诚地） caring for the elderly? Many of the residents at the home said that those gestures do not make them feel cared for at all. Their family members or community volunteers may drop by for a few hours of token time, but soon they disappear back into their busy lives.

    There is nothing we can give that is more valuable or appreciated than our time. While you may feel like there is barely enough time to care for your many responsibilities, might it be possible to spare just a moment as you walk home from school to sit with a senior who lives in your community? Just five minutes is not going to prevent you from getting your homework done, but it may totally change a day of loneliness into a day of joy for one old man or woman. Do you live far from your grandparents? Why not pick up the phone and let them know you're thinking of them? Or maybe you could remind them of the “good old days” and mail them a short letter. Imagine their surprise and joy!

We live in a complicated（复杂的） and busy world, but kindness and caring is still a very simple thing.

（C）

    This year 2,300 teenagers from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of America.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They will learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George's family. In turn, George's son Mike spent a year in Fred's home in America.

    Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months' study, the language began to come to him. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}The father's word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than one of the members. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.

    “Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.

    Meanwhile, in America, Mike, a German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize (批 评) American schools,” he said. “It is far too easy by our level. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There should be some middle ground between the two.”

    At school lots of students get injured when they are doing sports or playing with each other. Here are the tips you can do at once after an injury.

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    Develop an "ear" for that language. This means that you should always listen to what others are saying and then repeat it.

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    For everything that you have in your house, label（贴标签）its name in this language. You can place these labels in your living room, kitchen, and even the bathroom. You would be surprised by how quickly you've picked up so many new words by using this method.

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    Find some books to read. You will find it easier to read if you choose the ones that you're interested in. You should remember the useful phrases and beautiful sentences while reading.

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    One of the best ways to learn a new language is to find a partner. So try to make more friends and find a partner to help you. You will find you can talk with others in that language more and more fluently（流利地）.

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    If all these methods can't help you, take some training classes. It may cost you a little bit of money, but they can really take your language learning to a new level.