In early spring, the changing temperature usually makes a number of Chinese people uncomfortable. Cold air, bringing rain or even snow, easily tears up(破坏) the warmth of the spring within a night(一夜之间).

    However, with the coming of Guyu-the Grain(谷物) Rain, the blue sky and gentle winds would finally stay. Falling usually on or around April 20 every year, Guyu is the sixth of the 24 solar terms(节气). It means the beginning of a lively summer and people get busy from now on.

    Sow(播种) grains

    This is an important period of the growth of grains. The ancient Chinese already knew that as Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing. The farmers usually catch the chance to plant rice, corn and beans.

    Hope for safety and harvest

    For those living near the sea, they will hold some ceremonies(仪式) on Guyu, hoping for safety as well as harvest during the coming fishing season.

    Watch the peony

    It's also a great time to see the peony(牡丹), which is known as “the Queen of All Flowers” in Chinese culture. As a result, watching peonies becomes one of the most enjoyable activities for many. The flower is said to be the favourite of Empress(女皇) Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, who was the only woman ruler in Chinese history.

    Pick tea leaves

    Tea leaves picked before Guyu are among the best tea leaves. People believe that the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck. So the habit of drinking tea at this time of year has become a tradition in some places of China.

    I'm Anna, This is my sister Lily's room. It is always tidy(整洁). This is her desk and that is a chair under the desk. That is a bookcase on the desk. You can see many(许多) books and model planes in it. My brother Paul makes(制作) these model planes for her. Look at the tape player on the desk. It is white. Where are the tapes? They are in her bag. Where is her bag? It is on the chair.

    Amy and Liu Yun are going to have a busy day next Sunday. In the morning they are going to buy a dictionary and a new CD at the bookshop. Then, they are going to have hamburgers and French fries for lunch. After lunch they are going to borrow some magazines and books in the library. Finally, they are going to buy some fruit and go home by subway.
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    Iceland is a northern European country with amazing natural beauty and oceans around. There are lots of volcanoes(火山). It has a short summer which lasts from June to August. The long winter starts from September and ends next May.

    Summer in Iceland is a golden season for tourists. Every year, people from all over the world come here to see the beautiful sights and enjoy the exciting whale-seeing(观鲸).

    In winter, when people in Iceland complete their daily work, they will have a lot of special activities to spend the long dark night. Skating, riding snow motorbikes and having parties can really make an exciting night. After all the fun, a hot bath must be the first choice to relax. There are also story telling activities for children, which can teach them to be strong and kind. The most popular stories are about Christmas in Iceland.

    Because of a long cold winter, Iceland has a short growing season. Food problem was always a headache for Iceland in the past. It had to buy most of its food from other countries. Later, when farmers learned to use lights and underground heat to grow crops(庄稼)all year round in the greenhouse, things changed a lot.

    Living in such a nice environment, most people in Iceland live a happy life. According to a survey about happiness made each year in Europe, Iceland is always among the top 3.