Taiwan lies in the southeast of China. It's the largest island in China. It has an area of about 36, 000 square kilometres and it has a population of over 20, 000, 000.It is rich in natural resources. Bananas, rice, tea and so on are famous at home and abroad. Clothes, food and so on are also well known all over the world. Its beautiful scenery, such as Sun­Moon Lake and Mount Ali, and its wonderful climate make more and more travelers come to Taiwan.

    Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times. Most people of the island came from Fujian and Guangdong. All the people on both sides of the strait (海峡) have a strong wish to unite our motherland.

    Alice and John are in the music club at their school. Alice plays the violin and John plays the drums. There are two groups in the school music club: the training (训练) group and the concert(音乐会) group. Everyone starts in the training group!

     "When I first started to play the violin it sounded terrible!" Alice said. "My family asked me to practice outside."

    After a year's practice, Alice and John play much better now. They are both in the concert group and they are learning more difficult music. "We're learning the music from the film Pirates of the Caribbean. It sounds fantastic!" John said. "Playing in the club with other kids is a lot of fun."

    Playing an instrument (乐器) is not only fun. It also helps children learn to concentrate (集中注意力). "I have to concentrate when I'm practicing," Alice said. "And now it's easier for me to concentrate on my schoolwork."

    Playing an instrument can also help children become more confident (自信的). As John said, "I was scared when I played in front of a lot of people for the first time. But now I really enjoy it."

    Fire is useful and important to us. You use it to cook meals every day. But if you are not careful, the fire may take place anytime. Many people get hurt or die in fires. So knowing how to①/prə'tekt/          yourself in the fire is very important.

    When the fire happens, the first thing you must do is to find safe routes(路线) to get away quickly. ②If you are in the taller floors of the building, you can't use the lift. You should run out along the stairs. From the lower floors of the building, you can jump out through the window if it is ③/'nesəsəri/         .

    If you can't get out of the room, you must be careful of the smoke. ④事实上，大部分人在火灾中都死于浓烟。Find something wet to cover your nose and mouth. Keep low to the ground, and you will take in(吸入) less smoke. And you can also open the window, keep your head outside to get fresh air and shout for help.

    Remember: Nothing is more important than your life. You must leave everything behind, your money, your pets and so on. After you're out, don't go back for anything. ⑤        .

    Do you go to school by bus? It is very important for you to know how to be safe when taking a bus, no matter whether you like it or not.

    First, don't run to the bus stop, but walk. While you are at the bus stop, you should wait in a safe place. Do not run or play while waiting. And never get into a car with a stranger.

    Second, don't talk in a loud voice when you are on the bus, so the driver will not be disturbed(打扰). If you need to talk with the bus driver, you'd better wait until the bus stop. Never throw things on the bus or out of the windows. Never play near the emergency exit(紧急出口). When there is a fire, the most important thing is to break the window with a hammer or any sharp things and then jump out.

    Third, when you are getting off the bus, make sure you walk (not run) three more steps away from the door. This is the best place to be around a bus. Stay away from the bus wheels and watch out for moving cars!

    Last, if you leave something on the bus, never return(回到) to the bus to get it. The driver may not see you come back and he may begin moving the bus. Also, if you drop something near the bus, tell the driver before you try to pick it up, so he will know where you are.

    There are many times we need to give gifts. Keep these tips in mind as you're thinking about what gift you'll give.

    Gift giving dos

    Leave the price label in the bag if it is an expensive gift so that others can see how much they need to give back. Remember to hold the gift in both hands to give gifts.

    Gift giving don'ts

    Don't worry about what card to take with the gift. Cards are seldom used in China, so a Chinese wouldn't expect a card along with a gift.

    Choosing the right gift

    Gifts for family

    When you're meeting your partner's family, a gift is expected, food or fruit baskets are good if you have no idea what to give. If your hometown is known for a special food, buy some to take as gifts.

    Gifts for friends

    You can spend less money on friends than you do on family. Books, wallets, key rings and special foods like chocolate or coffee are good enough.

    Gifts for business partners

    When you're starting a business relationship, a tasteful gift will be better. Pens from your company or with the receiver's name is a practical gift. Local snacks from your area is a great gift too.

    Gifts to avoid(避免)

    You should remember not choose anything because of the cultural symbolism(文化象征) or the word shares a similar pronunciation to some bad things. Clocks, in Chinese, to give a clock has the same pronunciation as the phrase "songzhong". Umbrellas and shoes are not good gifts in China.

    In all, a thoughtful gift is great when you want to thank a friend, say goodbye to someone or meet families.