A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be posted to his mother, who lived two hundred miles away.

    As he got out of his car, he noticed a young girl standing by the road sobbing (哭泣). He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother and I don't have enough money." The man smiled and said, "Come with me. I'll buy you a rose." He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers.

    As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother." She asked him to take her to a new grave (坟墓), where she placed the rose.

    The man returned to the flower shop, canceled (取消) the post order, picked up the flowers and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.

    In schools all over the world lots of boys and girls are learning foreign languages.

    There are thousands of languages in the world. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is used not only in England and the USA, but also in the other parts of the world.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} We should remember how we all learned our own language when we were children. If we could learn a second language in the same way, it would not seem so difficult. Think of what a small child does. He listens to what people say, and he tries to copy what he hears. When he wants something, he has to ask for it. He is using the language, talking in it and thinking in it all the time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    It is important to remember, also, that we learn our own language by hearing people speak it, not by seeing what they write. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In school, though you learn to read and write as well as to hear and speak, it is best to learn all new words by ear. You can read them, spell them and write them later.

A. We copy what we hear.

B. What is the best way to learn a language?

C. English is one of them.

D. If a second language is used all the time, it would soon be learned.

There are some things that are almost impossible to say to our close friends — especially if we want (A) them to be our friends for life. Are you wondering what problems others have?

"I can't stand your other friends."

    (B)My best friend, Kate, sometimes hangs out with some people that I really don't like. I think they have a bad influence on her, and she only spends time with them because they are "cool". Could you tell me if I should bring the matter up with her, or if it would be better for me to keep quiet? I don't want to lose her as a friend.

— Linda

"I won't help you cheat."

    My closest friend, Kim, has lost interest in school and studying. He says he's bored with the whole thing, so he often asks me whether I'll let him copy my homework. By now I've said no, but he keeps asking me. I told him, "I think we'll get in trouble." but he just laughed and told me not to worry. I don't want to put my grades at risk, but I'm afraid to face my friend about this, so I just keep avoiding the topic. How can I get him to stop asking? I was wondering if you could give me some suggestions for dealing with my problem.

— Mike

"No, I CAN'T do that for you!"

    Anna is my best friend. We get along with each other well, but she is asking me to do things for her all the time. "Could you help me pick out some new clothes? Would you mind if I borrowed your bike? Can you look after my apartment while I'm away?" And these are just a few examples. I've said yes so many times that now I'm afraid I'll hurt her feelings if I say no. Any ideas?

 — Amy

    My name is Jack Brown. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}I am a middle school student. This is a picture of my family. There are six people in the picture. My parents are teachers in my school.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Their names are Lucy and Tom. Lucy is 9 years old and {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Tom and I are in the same(相同的) school. Lucy is a tidy girl. Her books are in the bookcase. Her pens and pencils are in the pencil box.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} His things are everywhere. His keys are on the bed and his eraser is under the chair. Who is the other(另一个) girl in the picture? Oh!{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Her name is Linda.