Around the world, summer vacation means long days, sunshine, swimming, sleeping and most importantly, no school.

      Hundreds of years ago, students took the summer off to help their parents in the fields. Today, however, summers are full of fun-no work. A summer vacation means so many opportunities for kids: extra classes, sports, hobbies or catching up on studies.  

      If you're lucky, during the weeks away from school, you can volunteer, travel or go to a camp. It's time to do a part-time job to learn a new skill. You may hang out with friends all day. Some kids just kick off their shoes and jump into rivers and swimming pools.

      If you're not so lucky, summer vacation may mean summer school-a long, hot summer inside the classroom.

      Whatever your plans are, make this summer a good one. Take on a project! Learn something! Help someone! Make this summer one to remember.

    For centuries, the body's blood has been connected closely with the feelings. People who show no human emotions or feelings are said to be cold-blooded.

Cold can affect other parts of the body. But the expression ―get cold feet has nothing to do with cold or your feet. The expression means being afraid to do something you have decided to do. For example, you agree to be CEO of a company. But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned (辞职), and all the work of the company will be your responsibility (责任). You are likely to get cold feet about being CEO when you understand the situation.

    The expression “give someone the cold shoulder” probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face to face. You may give the cold shoulder to a friend who has not kept a promise (遵守诺言) he made to you, or to someone who has lied about you to others.

    “A cold fish” is not a fish. It is a person. But it is a person who is unfriendly, unemotional and shows no love or warmth. A cold fish does not offer much of himself to anyone. Someone who is a cold fish could be cold-hearted. He or she will never feel sorry for those in bad situation.

    “Out in the cold” means not getting something that everybody else got. A person might say that everybody but him got a pay raise—he was left out in the cold. And it is not a pleasant place to be.

    Americans usually eat three meals a day. Breakfast usually comes before eight o'clock in the morning. They usually have eggs, some meat, bread, fruit juice and coffee. Lunch is between twelve and one o'clock. It is like a light meal and working people must take lunch with them or get it near workplace.

    Children in school take sandwiches, fruit, and cookies with them or eat in school. Supper. The main meal, is between six and eight in the evening. People cook it carefully. They may have meat or chicken, turkey and duck. They may all have potatoes or rice, vegetables or salad. The drink is coffee, tea or milk.

    American schools are quite different from those in China. In America at the beginning of the term, students must select their subjects and teachers.

    Selecting is very important for your marks in America. So in the first term, don t select too many subjects, or you'll feel very nervous and tired. Then you have to ask for some teaching plans. There is some information about subjects, time arranging, marks and textbooks. At the same time you must choose the teachers. Different teachers have different teaching methods. If the teacher is called "killer", many students will give up choosing him, because this kind of teacher will leave too much homework have too many exams and give too low grades. There is another thing after you select the subjects and the teachers. How to buy textbooks makes each student feel hard. The textbooks in America are very expensive. Each one is about 30-$50. In order to save money, many students buy some used textbooks, and some students usually borrow textbooks from the school library.

    In class, discussing is very important. The teacher encourages you to ask questions or show your own opinion. They don't usually ask you to sit well. Instead they allow you to sit or stand everywhere you like.