Dear Sonia,

    I'm writing this letter in the classroom. It's snowing outside and I'm sitting by the window.

    Some of the boys are playing on the playground. They are throwing snowballs to each other. Some girls are building a snowman, and some are chasing each other around the tree in front of the classroom. They are leaving footprints everywhere. Our teacher is shouting something loudly to them. In the classroom, some girls are drawing pictures.

     What are you doing?

                                                                                                                                                                           Yours,

                                                                                                                                                                            Tina

    Do some colours make you feel calm while others give you energy? Scientists have studied the connection between colours and mood for a long time. Many believe that colour can influence our moods.

    Warm, bright colours such as yellow and red are positive colours. They can give people a pleasant feeling. Cool colours such as blue, purple, and green are relaxing colours. They help people experience calm feelings.

    Many public places are decorated with certain colours in order to create certain moods. Orange makes people feel hungry, and many restaurants are painted this colour.

    People use colour in their homes to create moods as well. Blue is a peaceful colour. It helps you rest, so it is a very good colour for a bedroom.

    Colours can create bad moods too. Some types of blue make people feel sad. Red can make people feel angry.

    What is your mood right now? Now look at the colour of the walls round you. Does it match your mood?

    Most Americans don't like to get advice from members of their family. When they need advice, they don't usually ask people they know. Instead, many Americans write letters to newspapers and magazines which give advice on many subjects, including family problems, the use of language, health, cooking, child care, clothes, how to buy a house or a car, and so on.

    Most newspapers regularly print letters from readers with problems. Along with the letter are answers written by people who are supposed to solve (解决) such problems. Some of these writers are doctors; others are lawyers(律师) or educations. But two of the most famous writer of advice are women without special training for this kind of work. One of them answers letters addressed to “Dear Abby”, the other is addressed(致函) as “Dear Ann Landers” experience their preparation for giving advice.

    There is one writer who has not lived long enough to have much experience. She is a girl named Angel Caveliere, who started writing advice for newspaper readers at the age of ten. Her advice to young readers, now appears regularly(正常的) in the Philadephia Bulletin in a column called DEAR ANGEL.

Some birthday customs are quite similar in many parts of the world—- birthday candles(蜡烛), birthday games, and birthday cakes. But some customs are more specific to certain countries. Here are some children talking about their customs.

Linda: I am fourteen. I come from Aruba阿鲁巴岛（拉丁美洲）（荷属安的列斯群岛中的大岛）. In our country, Children take something special to school for their classmates and all teachers. Each teacher gives the birthday child a small gift like a pencil, an eraser or a postcard. The birthday child is also allowed to wear special clothes instead of the school uniform.

Lucy: I am one year older than Linda. Denmark（丹麦） is my country. A flag is flown outside a window to show that someone who lives in that house is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the child's bed while they are sleeping so they will see them at once when they wake up.

Tom: I am as old as Linda. I am from Brazil. The birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe(耳垂) for each year in my country. The birthday person also gives the first slice of cake to his/her most special friend or relative, usually mom or dad.

    I was ten when I first sat with my grandmother behind the cashier（收银台）in her general store.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} I quickly learned the importance of treating customers politely and saying “thank you.”

    At first I was paid in candy.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} I worked every day after school, and during the summer and on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. My father helped me set up a bank account.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    By the time I was 12, my grandmother thought I had done such a good job that she promoted me to selling cosmetics（化妆品）. I developed the ability to look customers directly in the eye. Even though I was just a kid, women would ask me such things as “ What color do you think I should wear?” I took a real interest in their questions and was able to translate what they wanted into makeup（化妆）ideas.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The job taught me a valuable lesson: to be a successful salesperson, you didn't need to be a Rocket scientist—you needed to be a great listener.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Except they are no longer women purchasing cosmetics from me; instead, they are kids who tell me which toys they would like to see designed and developed.

A. Later I received 50 cents an hour.

B. Before long, she let me sit there by myself.

C. I ended up selling a record amount of cosmetics.

D. Today I still carry that lesson with me: I listen to customers.

E. My grandma's trust taught me how to handle responsibility.

F. Soon I found myself looking more beautiful than ever before.

G. Watching my money grow was more rewarding than anything I could have bought.

    My school is named the City of London School for Girls. This year is the 125th anniversary of the founding(建立) of it. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Celebratory events will be held throughout the year, including concerts workshops and summer fairs. Students and teachers will receive badges(徽章) that say “City of London School for Girls 125”. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A businessman named William Ward established (建立) our school in 1894. At that time, there was little opportunity for girls to get an education, especially those from poor families.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Girls were not expected to go to secondary school or get a university education. But Ward had high hopes for young women's futures. He thought women should have more influence in society, as well as the ability to realize their dreams.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Our newest school building is modern-looking. It opened with 446 students on Sept 18, 1969.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Opposite the school, there is part of the wall of a great Roman fort(罗马堡垒) built in 120.

    Every school has its own history. I think we should all celebrate people like William Ward who believe in giving the best education to young people.