Island University has a competition for middle school students.

    Read about the competition on their web site.

    School Competition

    Students! Here is your chance to help the physically disabled(残疾人). Think out a robot or a machine to help them live better. There'll be three prizes. The winning schools will each get $15,000. Read the information below:

    What do you have to do?

    Try to know problems faced by the physically disabled in Hong Kong. Write a 200-word article on the difficulties these people have to suffer each day.

    Try to know modern inventions that help the physically disabled. Then think out a robot or a machine that will improve the lives of the physically disabled. Draw your invention. You can make as many drawings as you like to show your invention. You can even make a small model of your invention.

    Write a short description of your invention.

    Who can join?

    All middle school students in Hang Kong.

    So, come on! Join the competition, and get the chance!

    Believe it or not, I've always been a people pleaser. I often put others before myself because I want to make my friends happy{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Can you help me with my English?" Grace asked me on the first day after she became my desk mate. "Of course," I replied without hesitation（犹豫）. Grace has been working really hard on her studies and needed my help — although I didn't have much time left for her.

    One day after school, while I was doing a huge amount of homework, Grace's phone call came.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} but I still felt bad about saying no. When Grace ended the call, the clock said it was 00:15 am. But I still had homework left and I wanted to sleep. This was bad for a Junior 3 student who is going to take an important exam this June.

    Finally I burst into tears. I felt so tired and realized that the stress had an effect on my health. I tried to get myself out. Studying is more important than other things,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} . It's now important for me to say no, no, no. "Can you do me a favor?" Grace asked last Monday. "Sorry I just have to review my biology notes," I answered. "All right, it's up to you," she said. I felt completely relaxed when I heard her reply{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    To be honest, I have felt much happier since learning to refuse. I have more time to spend on my study at present. I still try my best to help others{#blank#}5{#/blank#} .

A.She complained a lot and it made me feel bored

B.If anyone asks me for help, I always say, "yes!"

C.Anyway, it's not so hard to say no at all

D.but sometimes I say no because I know everyone has a limit

E.so Grace has to come the second

    A group of students from the US have been in China for a week. Here is part of their chat history (聊天记录) on WeChat.

20:45

    Hi, everybody! Anything to share today?

20:49

    Yes. I went to a restaurant to have dinner with some friends this evening.

    When we finished the meal, the waiter brought us the bill. It was 270 yuan.

    We gave him 300 yuan and left 30 as a tip(小费) for his service(职务).

To our surprise, he returned us the change!

    Really? How kind he is!

20:53

    @Sunny It's different form that of the US. I worked in a restaurant in my free time. I accepted tips. Well, something interesting happened to me this morning…

20:55

    I couldn't find the bus stop. I came up to a man who was walking near me and showed him the bus number. He nodded and asked me to follow. We walked for about 10 minutes and finally got to the bus stop. I wanted to give him a hug (拥抱) to show thanks, but he just said goodbye and walked away. I couldn't believe that he had taken so much trouble for a stranger(陌生人)!

    It seems that Chinese people don't usually hug.

    I guess so. It's really unforgettable!

21:02

    I agree. The Chinese people I have met these days are all so friendly, polite and helpful. Well will enjoy the rest of our trip for sure.

    Helen has always been interested in helping her community (社区). Her first volunteer experience was for the American Red Cross when she was in high school. When she was a school teacher, she also found time to volunteer.

    After she retired (退休), she started volunteering to help the old. When her father was older, he was not able to see as well as he used to, which made her sad because he had always enjoyed reading. She decided it would be fun to read to elderly people in her community.

    She also helped one woman write her stories. Ann was almost 100 years old, and Helen wrote down information about her life when she visited her. She put the information in a book and got it published (出版), Ann was very excited to share her life story with her children and grandchildren.

    After a strong storm hit some southern cities, Helen volunteered again for the American Red Cross. She prepared food and answered phones in a care centre.

    One day Helen read an article in the newspaper about refugees (难民) who needed to learn English. She met once a week with Sahra, a 38-year-old woman from Somalia. Helen gave Sahra a camera and asked her to take pictures of her daily life. In the end, they wrote a book together and used the photos in the book. This helped Sahra learn many new words about her everyday life.

    Helen says, "The real value of my volunteer work is becoming friends with the people I help. They enrich my life as well as I enrich theirs."