Have you ever planned a trip to Europe? What should you consider before you travel? First of all, it is important to think about money. It can be difficult to (A)estimate how much you will spend. (B)A wallet that is lost or stolen can also cause problems.

    Experienced travelers would learn about the money they will use in a foreign country. Most  European countries now use the euro(欧元). So you should know the different value between the euro and the money you use in your own country. We call it exchange rate(汇率). This rate changes every day. You can find out the exchange rate through a bank or the Internet.

It is not wise to carry a large amount of cash(现金). Many travelers prefer to carry travelers' checks(支票) rather than bring cash. (C)They can be used in many places around the world and they can be exchanged for the local money. (D)It is possible to get them back if they are lost or stolen. Travelers can also use bankcards instead of cash. But they must be careful and make sure not to lose them and to keep their passwords secret.

    Mr. Brown is a very busy man. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} He often forgets his family's birthdays. Today he remembers it is his wife's birthday. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So on his way home from hospital, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When Mr. Brown gets home, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} "Happy birthday to you. It is January 14^th today. I remember your birthday this year." Mr. Brown laughs(大笑) and says, "My birthday was yesterday, not today. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}"

A. he buys some flowers in a shop.

B. He always works hard.

C. He loves his wife.

D. He gives his wife the flowers and says,

E. I do not like them

F. But thank you all the same.

    Sometimes the world may feel like an unhappy place. However, you can make a difference. If you make even a person smile today, you can help make this world a better place. Here is a list of ideas to help you.

Send a handwritten letter

    In this age where everything is sent by email, it is a shock to receive a letter through the post. Writing a few words on paper to a friend is an easy way to make one smile. Even a postcard with a couple of sentences could really make someone's day- all for the price of a stamp！

Volunteer

    Volunteering is one of the nicest things you can do. It requires (需要 ) some time and research to find the perfect project before volunteering. Whether you volunteer at your local youth group or take dogs from the shelters for a walk, the simple fact that you are giving up your time to help someone else is unbelievable. There are so many chances, so you are sure to find one that is right for you. And it doesn't necessarily have to take up all your time-it could be once a week or a couple of times a year.

Make something for a special person

    Whether you're creative or not, taking time to make something for someone else M shows how much you appreciate (感激 ) them. Even if you think you are not creative, the receiver will feel lucky to get such a special gift that you put your time into. Some ideas could include a card, painting, drawing, song, poem or cake!

Tell someone "I love you"

    It can be anyone-a family member or a friend. You don't even have to say "I love you". Perhaps you can tell a friend that you appreciate all they are to you, or remind your mum that you love her. Sometimes, in our busy lives, we forget to take a moment to tell people what they mean to us.

    It's December. It is snowy and the weather is really cold in the north of China. You can see many children playing with snow. Some of them are making snowmen. Some are skating on the river. It's so cold that the water in the river freezes (冻结). It's a white world. How beautiful!

    But in Australia, the weather is hot now. Many people go swimming in the sea. They are having a good time. Jim and his friends are playing soccer near the sea. They want to swim after playing soccer.

    Why can they swim in December? It is winter, isn't it? Yes, it is in China. But it isn't in Australia. That's because China and Australia have different seasons in a year.

    It is widely accepted that television is playing an important part in people's lives. But, there is a heated discussion as to whether television does good or harm.

    Television keeps one learning more about present events, allows one to follow the most re­cent developments in politics and science, and offers various programs which are .both instructive and exciting. The most distant countries, the strangest customs and the most attractive scenes of nature are brought right into one's room or house.

    However, some people insist that television is bad rather than good. They argue that it has brought about many serious problems. The major one is its effects on young people. Children are now so used to getting their information and entertainment from television that their ability to read and write as well as physical ability has been greatly weakened. Even worse than that, vulgar(庸俗的) advertisements and poor programs may develop their bad tastes, shape their view points badly towards human life to such a degree that their minds might be destroyed.

    In a word, television has both advantages and disadvantages. Whatever effects it has, one point is certain, television in itself is neither good nor bad. It is the use to which it is put that decides its value to society.