Some countries are better than others at looking after the environment. In Europe, Germany(德国) and northern European countries work very hard to improve the environment. The people in Germany put their rubbish into different bags--paper in one bag, plastic in another. Laws do not allow people to burn too much coal.  

    In the l970s, as people learned more about environmental problems. The "Green" movement(运动) began and soon spread all over Europe. The "Green" movement tries to get governments to protect the environment. It collects information about how industry is damaging(毁坏) the environment and tells newspapers.

     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.

    Is it difficult for you to get up in the morning? Are you often late for work or school? Yes? Then a scientist called Mike has a special bed for you. His Bed will get you up in the morning! Here is how it works!

    The bed is connected to an alarm clock. First, the alarm clock rings. You have a few minutes to wake up. Next, a tape recorder in the bed plays soft music and then your girlfriend's beautiful voice comes, “Wake up, darling, please.” A few minutes later, loud music comes from the tape recorder. At the same time, you may hear the voice of your boss. Your boss shouts angrily, “ Wake up at once, or you'll be late!” If you don't get up after that, you'll be sorry! A plastic “foot” is in the bed. It kicks you in the head. Then the bed waits for a few more minutes. What! You're still in bed! Slowly the top of the bed rises higher and the foot of the bed goes lower. Finally, you fall off the bed and onto the floor. You are out of the bed and awake!

    Mike made his bed because he wanted to take part in a competition. Mike won one of the top prizes for his bed.

    Ella loves her grandpa. He lives in Texas and takes a train to see Ella every month. Ella wants him to come every week because he is good at telling stories and cooking.

    One day, Ella asks her mom to make some chicken. Grandpa often makes it. Ella's mom says, "I'll try, but no one makes it as well as(像……一样好) Grandpa does. "

    Ella watches her mom make the sauce(酱) for the chicken. It looks delicious. When the chicken is ready, Ella's family sit down to eat. Her mom is right—no one makes it as well as Grandpa does.

    The next day, Ella's grandpa comes to see her. Ella tells him the story about her mom trying to make the chicken. Her grandpa says, "That's a great story." Then he teaches Ella and her mom how to make the chicken.

    It is said that everyone has two boxes hung on our necks. The small box at the front is full of other people's mistakes, while the big one at the back is filled with our own shortcomings(缺点).Most of time, it's easy to find other people's mistakes. It's hard for us to see our mistakes behind us.

    A boy called Tony, always looked at the front box to check what was in it. He saw other people's mistakes very quickly. When Ben was impatient with him, he said to Ben, "It's so easy for you to get angry. It is hard to be friends with you."

    He told his mother that Michael was dishonest. "Michael takes my things without asking. And he forgets to return them. "Tony himself did not like sharing his things with anyone.

    When John was too tired to go hiking with him, he said, "You are such an unfriendly person."

    He thought Nick was too proud of his rich parents. But Tony was so proud of himself because he could not see any of his own mistakes!①He could not understand why he didn't get on well with others. Then his mother said to him, "If you change the boxes around, maybe you can find the answer." He did it as his mother said, and his face turned red.②他发现自己并不比其他同学更好.