Everyone needs friends. But how do you find real friendship and keep it?

    The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to find friends. Sally says founding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seed (种子) and take care of it to make it grow.

    First, you should choose a friend. What makes a good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks. A good friend should be kind and patient. For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend could listen to your complaints (抱怨) and do his or her best to help you. To make a friend, you can't be too shy. You should make each other happy and share your lives.

    But things can not always be happy. Even the best friends have fights. What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her. When there is no one around, have a good talk. If he or she doesn't want to talk, you can write a letter.

    There are three steps to be friends again:

    Tell him or her how you are feeling, say what your friend did wrong and talk about why you did this or that. Remember that friendship is one of the most important things in your life.

    Recently, a very simple question became widely spread online: What should China be proud of ?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Lanlan, whose real name is Negar Kordi, is from Canada. She came to China five years ago and is a student at Ningbo University, Now she has 120, 000 fans on the Internet and the number is still growing.

    Lanlan loves China and Chinese.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}And that's why she is so well received among Chinese net friends. The following is China in her eyes.

    “It is the easiest country in which to find a job. If you are not too lazy, it is really very simple to find a job in China. I believe there're more job chances here than that in any other country in the world.”

    “{#blank#}3{#/blank#}About 400 million Chinese are studying English. If they can speak good English in the future, China will have the greatest number of English speakers of any non-English speaking country.”

    “The speed of Chinese trains is fast. From Ningbo to Beijing, the train runs 1,365 kilometers for seven hours and the ticket fare is only 596 yuan.”

    “Its public security is great.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}I have traveled in many countries, and I think China really is very safe.”

    “There are much more things China should be proud of. Many Chinese people often criticize (批评) China. At first, I believed that they didn't like China or that loved Western countries. But later, I realized that they just set a very high standard for China.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}” China must be much better than

other countries.”

A. The foreign language level is surprising.

B. This country of 1.4 billion people makes me feel safe.

C. A foreign girl living in China gave a very touching answer.

D. They believe that it's not enough to be number one in the world.

E. She believes China will be the strongest country in the world in future.

    Eileen Collins is the first woman ever chosen to be a spaceship pilot. She is also the first woman to command(指挥) a spaceship. Today she has flown more than 5,000 hours in more than 30 kinds of airplanes.

    Talking about high school, she said, "I have been reading all kinds of books about famous women pilots. These women went and flew into dangerous places. Their stories encouraged me." In 1977, Eileen got a pilot's license and the following year she graduated from university. She went into space in 1999 at the age of 43. She took with her the hopes and dreams of a nation of young people on the earth.

    Eileen is not only an astronaut but also a wife and the mother of a young daughter. She has short curly hair and friendly brown eyes. She met her husband, Pat, while they were together in the air force(空军).

    When she was named as the First Woman Spaceship Commander in 1998, Eileen smiled and said, "When I was a child, I dreamed about space. It was only a dream that I would be one of the astronauts someday. I hope all children will be encouraged to reach for their dreams, when they see I go into space. I believe dreams do come true!"

    In the USA, there are many kinds of restaurants.

    Fast food restaurant are very famous. You can find McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken in many countries around the world. You look at a menu(菜单) on the counter(柜台), and say what you'd like to eat. You pay the person who brings food to you. You take your food and sit down or take it away. There's no need to leave a tip(小费).

    In a coffee shop, you sit at the counter or at a table. You don't wait for the waitress to show you where to sit. She usually brings you coffee when you sit down. You tell her what you'd like to eat and she brings it to you. You pay the cashier(收银员) as you leave.

    In a family restaurant, the waitress shows you where you can sit. Often the waitress tells you her name, but you don't need to tell her yours. If you can't finish eating everything, your waitress gives you a doggy bag to take the rest of food home. You should add (增加) fifteen per cent(百分比） to the bill(账单) as a tip.

    In top class restaurants, you had better order before you come, and you need to arrive on time. The waiter shows you where to sit. If you have wine there, he may ask you to taste it. You can only refuse it if it tastes bad. When you get your Bill, check it and then add fifteen to twenty per cent to it as a tip for the waiter.

    Once upon a time, in the forest there lived a baby elephant, who had no friends. ________________ of the animals wanted to be his friend because he was too large.

    One day, a wild fire happened in the forest. The animals ran to safer places. The dry trees caught fire and the fire was sure to go all around the forest. The baby elephant ran to the nearest river, collected much water in his trunk (象鼻) and rushed to the burning trees. He sprayed (喷) the water on the fire. Finally, he put out the fire.

    Later, while he was resting after the hard job, all the animals and birds came to him and expressed their thanks for his kind help in time. They were now ready to have him as their good friend and their hero. They said, "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

    The baby elephant was happy to get so many friends and played games with them. He walked through the forest, carrying several small animals and birds on his back.