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    How do you keep cool during summer? Air conditioners or electric fans are good tools in modern society. But1that, people could only use fans.

    Over 3,000 years ago, fans began to be used. They were made of feathers (羽毛), bamboo or silk. They came in different2, including round and square.

    Later, with the invention of paper, folding(可折叠的) paper fans became popular during the Song Dynasty. There are usually beautiful3on fans. Some are landscapes（风景）. Others are flowers and animals. Moreover, many great people including Su Dongpo, a poet of the Song Dynasty, and Tang Yin, scholar (学者) and painter of the Ming Dynasty, once painted their masterpieces (杰作) on fans. This made fans not only4tools in daily life but also great artworks.

    So, with its value ofbeauty, people take fans as a symbol of status （地位）. That's why in old China, emperors and scholars often held fans.

    Today, fans are also great collectors' items (藏品) and gifts. On the opening ceremony of the2008 Beijing Olympic Games, folding fans were   5to leaders and officials (官员 ) of othercountries. While they were6fans to get cool, they were also experiencing Chinese culture.

    My friend and I entered a little coffee house and ordered two cups of coffee. While we were waiting, two young men came in and began to order, “1cups of coffee, please. Two of them for us and three there on the wall.” The waiter served them with respect (尊敬). They paid for their order, took the two and left. As soon as they left, the waiter2put three pieces of paper on the wall. We saw this with great3.

Some more people came. Two girls asked for one coffee each, paid and went away. Then came three lawyers who paid for seven coffees —three for 4and four suspended(待用). I really 5 what the suspended coffees were. Suddenly a man came into the coffee house. The way this man was dressed didn't 6 the style(风格）of this coffee shop. He kindly ordered a coffee on the wall. The waiter served coffee to this man, showing him the same 7 as the other customers. The man had his coffee and left 8 paying. The waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dustbin.

At that moment, I knew the meaning of the suspended coffees. It's simple—people pay the coffee in advance(预先) for someone who can't 9it. The tradition with the suspended coffees 10 in Italy, but it has spread all over the world. A suspended coffee is not only a cup of coffee, but also the warmth and love to someone in need.

    Many people like to travel(旅行 ) on vacations. Now more and more travellers in the United States are spending nights at small houses 1inns instead of (代替) hotels. They get a2 for the night and the breakfast for the next morning.

    In the past five3 ten years, these bed-and-breakfast places have become popular in the United States. Many of these America's bed-and-breakfast inns 4old historic(历史上著名的) buildings. Some bed-and-breakfast inns have only5 rooms. Others are much larger. Some inns do not provide(提供) telephones or televisions in the rooms while(而)6do.

    Staying at a bed-and-breakfast inn is much different 7staying at a hotel. Usually the cost is much lower. Staying at an inn is like visiting  8 home. The owners are  9to tell about the interesting places to visit. Many travellers say10 enjoy the chance (机会) to meet local families.

    "Sesame Street" is a TV programme for children. It first appeared in New York 1 1969. It is called" the longest street in the world". That's because the TV programme by that name can be seen in so many parts of the world.

    In the US over six million children watch the programme regularly. The viewers include more than half the nation's pre-school children. Parents love the programme. Many teachers also think it is very helpful, 2 some educators are against certain things in it.

    Tests show children from different background have benefited from watching the programme. Those who watch it five times 3 week learn more than those who watch it once in a while. In the US the programme is shown at 4 hours so that more children can watch it. The programmes all 5 songs, stories, jokes and pictures to help children understand numbers, letters and human relationship. But there are some differences. For example, the programme made in Mexico City devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching letters one by one.

    Why is "Sesame Street" more successful than other children's shows? There 6many reasons-the good education of its producers, the support 7 the government and businesses, and the skillful use of many TV tricks. Also 8 watch it with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on it. But the best reason may be that it makes every child 9 able to learn. Children find themselves learning, and they want to learn 10.