We Both Like Music

    My name is Frank White. I'm fourteen years old. I was born on May 13th, 1999. Mike is my good friend. His birthday is May 15th. He is only twelve years old now. Every year on May 14th, we have a birthday party together(一起) at our school. Many friends come to our party. We all have a good time at the party. We both like music. We often have a pop concert. I play the guitar. He plays the drums. Mike often sends me some CDs and I often send him tickets for concerts.

    “Thank you” is one of the first few phrases(短语） that our English teacher taught us when we began to learn English. Each time we receive help from others, we say “Thank you”. We may say it many times a day. It seems that “Thank you” is very popular among us Chinese students. But is it as popular in the UK?

    The answer is “no”. According to a recent survey （最近的报告）in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, “Thank you” is only the 20^th most popular way of expressing gratitude（感激） in the UK.

    The survey shows that British people like “Cheers” most to express their thanks. For example, when friends invite each other for a drink after a game, a smile and a “Cheers” may be the best way to say “thanks”.

    You may often hear the word spoken between two good friends. “Great”, “nice one” and “all right” are also popular informal（不正式的） ways of showing gratitude among friends in the UK.

    Of course, there are some formal ways to say “thanks” among British people. For example, when a stranger is especially helpful, they may say “brilliant” or “much appreciated” to express their gratitude.

    By the way, how do British people usually answer “thank you”? They like to say： “ You're welcome.”, “No problem” or “Sure”.

    Since you have many more ways to show your thanks, next time you want to say “thank you”, why not try one of these new British phrases?

    Last Friday, Linda and her husband heard loud noises at their windows. Although the fear of gunshots appeared her thoughts, Linda tried to look into. When I managed to sneak in a look, I saw a mixture of eggs, oranges, and such coming at our windows.”

    Bravely, Linda decided to face her “enemies”. She always believed that “all strangers are my relatives”, she went outside to see “three cute kids”. Rather than shout at them, Linda tried to connect, “Hey guys, thank you for the oranges. Can I have them so they don't go to waste?” But the kids started to run. Linda walked after them and said, “Wait! Wait! Don't be afraid! I am not going to do anything. I just want to talk. And I can use your oranges.” The kids ran off without looking back.

    Linda felt a “sense of motherly connection” after thinking for a while, and she explained “More than forgiveness, it was more like a simple care.”

When Linda ran outside to meet the “dangerous enemy”, it turned out to be a group of 10 and 11 year old children. It helps to see all our enemies as children because they once were children (which is why they often act childishly).It is much easier to see children as basically good or acting out in ways that they “know not what they are doing”.

    People don't willingly choose to be cruel, mean, or hateful. They experience things in their lives--often when they are very young--which make them take on the defenses of anger, and scorn Seeing my enemies as child makes me think of the saying, “all attacks are a cry for help”.

    Forgiveness can lead to understanding. Understanding plants the seeds for love. We can raise a whole generation of children who have the ability to stand for what all the great wise men have taught us: Love the enemy.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Don't go straight to bed after studying in the evening. Do something else, such as walking or getting exercise. Choose something that will relax you, and make you think of other things.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} When I am going to choose where to go, I feel very difficult, although there are too many wonderful places for choosing. My children are too young. I usually leave my children with my parents, but they complain all the time for they would like to go with us.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} My child always goes online even during dinner time. 1 know he is playing computer games. The problem is becoming serious these days. I'm very worried about him. It makes me unhappy because his interest in computer games is growing day by day.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Sometimes I have to work overtime, I go back home at mid-night and feel very tired. Since we are so busy, I send my child to a lodging school（寄宿学校）and pick him up for the weekend.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} My job as a model makes me lose weight and keep it, but it is a hardship for me, I cannot refuse the temptation（引诱）of the food; as many people, overeating is in my way of losing weight.

    To be healthy and happy is important for each of us. Do you want to improve(改善)your health and feel better? Here are some ways.

    Eat whole foods. Eat some healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and a little meat. If you have a healthy eating habit, you'll be happier.

    Exercise. Take up a sport you really like. If you want to keep healthy, try to exercise for 30 minutes a day, twice or three times a week．

    Get enough sleep. It is best to get eight hours' sleep a day. A cup of milk before sleeping may help you get a good sleep.

    Keep yourself busy. This is good because it stops you from having bad habits. To keep yourself busy, you can walk around the house, spend time with your pets, do a sport, or do a hobby you enjoy.

    Spend time with your friends. Spend time and have fun with them. Talk with them, but you shouldn't talk about anything bad. You should stay with the people who are healthy and happy.

    The Silk Road is known all over the world.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}It went along the north of China, India, and Persia and ended up in Eastern Europe near today's Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea.

    It was called the Silk Road because one of the major products traded was silk cloth from China. Chinese silk was soft and of high quality. So people throughout Asia and Europe loved it very much.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Even the Romans called China the "land of silk".

    Besides silk, the Chinese also sold tea, salt, sugar, porcelain(瓷器)and spices(香料). Most of the goods were expensive. This was because it was a long trip and trades didn't have a lot of room for goods. They bought goods like cotton, ivory, wool, gold and silver.

    Traders traveled in large caravans (商队). They would have many guards with them.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Most of the road was through dry land, so camels were popular animals for transport.

    Although there was some trade between China and the rest of the world for some time, the silk trade developed quickly during the Han Dynasty which ruled from 206 B. C. to 220 A.D.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}During this time, Chinese traders traveled safely. Also, traders had a higher social position.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}It not only helped develop trade between different countries, but also helped make ideas, cultures and inventions spread across the world.