There are 24 solar terms (节气) in China, and the Grain Rain(谷雨) is one of them. It falls on April 19 this year.

    This solar term is called the Grain Rain because it is known for “rain” that helps the grain grow. From its name, we can guess it means a time of more rain. So if you go out in the next two weeks, you may need to bring an umbrella with you.

    But this is a great time for planting crops. If you miss the time for planting during the Grain Rain, you will feel sorry later. So maybe you can try to plant some flowers or vegetables in your garden. When the spring rain falls, farmers begin to grow crops (庄稼). Farmers often say, “Spring rain is as precious (珍贵的) as oil.” It brings farmers hope for a good year ahead.

    There are also many interesting customs during the Grain Rain. In the northern part of China, people like to eat Chinese toon (椿芽) mixed with eggs. The food made during the Grain Rain tastes wonderful and is good for your stomach. In the southern part of China, the tea leaves are picked during the time. They are called Grain Rain tea, which is famous for its freshness and sweet smell.

    My name is Zhang Tian. There is a computer in my bedroom. I often use it to do many things. I can do my homework on it. Sometimes I go online and download some information for my lessons. It helps me a lot. Now I am good at all the subjects at school. When I have time, sometimes I watch movies on the Internet. I can also download music from the Internet. I have some good friends from different cities, so we often talk with each other at the weekend. My mother always tells me not to play computer games, because it's not good for my eyes. I don't have a printer now. My father is going to buy one for next month.

Information Card

    Some students are going to some different places this weekend. Where are they going? Can you find their places they want to go?

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Sally: I have a pen pal in Wenchuan. Some days ago, I got a letter from her. She said she needed some school things. I bought some and I want to post them to her. So this weekend, where will I go? Do you know?

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Ricky: I don't like weekends. For me, I have no weekends. My parents usually ask me to go to evening school to learn English and other subjects. I always feel tired. That's why I don't like weekends.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Barbara: I love weekends. I can do what I want to do. I want to go to a quiet place to study because Mid-term Exam（期中考试）is coming. I want to borrow（借）some books from that place and return（还）some to that place. Do you know where I want to go?

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Angle: This weekend will be an exciting one for me. My parents are going to take me to have something special in the place. It is said that we can try some Indian food. Isn't it interesting?

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Stella: I want to relax myself on weekends. This weekend, I want to do something different. I want to go to this place. There, you can see many kinds of animals there. And children like to go there with their parents.

A.   B.    C.

D.    E.

    When I first arrived on this island, I had nothing. But I've found the ship and made a small boat. I've brought back many things I can use—food and drink, tools, knives and guns. Although I have lost everything, I have not lost my life. So I will not give up and I will wait for another ship. I have already cut down trees and built a house. I go out with my gun almost every day to kill animals and birds for food. I'm even learning to grow fruit and vegetables.

    A few weeks ago, I found the marks of another man's feet on the sand. Who else is on my island? Not long after that, I saw some cannibals trying to kill two men from a broken ship. One of them died but the other ran towards my house. I helped him kill the cannibals. This man now lives with me and helps me. I named him Friday because that day was the day I met him. He is smart and I have already taught him some English.

—Taken from Robinson Crusoe

    Answer the following questions with No More Than Seven Words.