English can change by borrowing words from other languages. The word "tomato" was borrowed from Mexico, and “tea” came from China and so on. Now new words are formed by joining two words together. "weekend" and "cookbook" are made up of two parts. A latest one "brunch" comes from breakfast and lunch. Do you have brunch every day? Sometimes new words are shorter forms of older words. For example, the word "photo" was made from "photograph" by cutting off the end of the longer word. "Plane" and "phone" were made by cutting off the front part of "aeroplane" and "telephone". The names of people and products can also become new words. Our "sandwich" was named after a man called Sandwich who invented it and "cello" was a name given by the company that first made the product.

Can you find more examples for each of these ways to make new words?

It's March, 2050.

   Frank and Mary Smith wake up in their comfortable house in the morning and switch on the bedroom computer to get the latest news. They used to read the Times, but changed to electronic newspapers many years ago.
   There is the usual news about space: another space flight has returned from Mars and scientists have discovered a new planet. Then they turn to business news: the US dollar has risen greatly in Shanghai, one of the world's leading business centres. Mary tells the computer to buy 5,000 dollars, and there is a quick response that it has been done.
   As they watch the screen, Mary orders one of the household robots to make coffee for them.

   Frank disappears into the study to join a video conference with his partners around the world. He is a computer engineer, working for several companies. This is his third job: he used to be in marketing and then television.
   Mary has a quick look at the shopping channels - the usual selection of electric cars, household robots and cheap travel offers - before picking up the video phone to talk to her assistant. She also has a job and she is doing medical research. Both she and Frank used to have an office desk in London, but in 2014 they decided to move to the seaside and work from home.
   Frank and Mary have one daughter, Louise, who also has her own workstation at home. She goes to school only one day a week, mainly to play with other students. Classrooms disappeared in 2030 because there was no longer any need for them: communications systems have made it much easier to learn at home.
   Louise, now thirteen, is studying Chinese at present, which has become a world language as important as English. Louise has many Chinese friends. They communicate by computer.
   According to the family doctor, Louise will live to at least 130. Her wish is to work for a few decades (十年) and then spend her time on music and painting.

    True friends are rare to make these days. Even if you believe you've connected with someone, how do you really know he is a true friend? And often you will find that someone who you thought you could trust may disappoint you. There are ways you can know if a friendship is true and how you can hold onto that friend.

    A true friend is someone who will be there for you no matter what happens. Through good times and bad times, they will stand by you. They will accept you for who you are without trying to change you, and they will be there to help you grow in new ways.

    Trust is another important aspect. A true friend will keep your secrets. You can depend on them. They will listen and be someone you know you can talk things over with, even if they may not have advice to share with you.

    Friendship is a two-way street. To find true friends and keep them, you must in turn be the same as well. Be there for them in their hard times and share the good times with them. Be someone your friends can depend on and offer them the same things they give to you. A friendship will fall apart fast if only one person is giving and putting all the effort in. To keep a true friendship, you must be honest.

    There will be barriers in the road but that is the test of true friendship. If it can survive those barriers, it will be stronger and last forever. St Thomas Aquinas said, “There is nothing on this earth more prized than friendship” and it holds true.

There are some things that are almost impossible to say to our close friends — especially if we want (A) them to be our friends for life. Are you wondering what problems others have?

"I can't stand your other friends."

    (B)My best friend, Kate, sometimes hangs out with some people that I really don't like. I think they have a bad influence on her, and she only spends time with them because they are "cool". Could you tell me if I should bring the matter up with her, or if it would be better for me to keep quiet? I don't want to lose her as a friend.

— Linda

"I won't help you cheat."

    My closest friend, Kim, has lost interest in school and studying. He says he's bored with the whole thing, so he often asks me whether I'll let him copy my homework. By now I've said no, but he keeps asking me. I told him, "I think we'll get in trouble." but he just laughed and told me not to worry. I don't want to put my grades at risk, but I'm afraid to face my friend about this, so I just keep avoiding the topic. How can I get him to stop asking? I was wondering if you could give me some suggestions for dealing with my problem.

— Mike

"No, I CAN'T do that for you!"

    Anna is my best friend. We get along with each other well, but she is asking me to do things for her all the time. "Could you help me pick out some new clothes? Would you mind if I borrowed your bike? Can you look after my apartment while I'm away?" And these are just a few examples. I've said yes so many times that now I'm afraid I'll hurt her feelings if I say no. Any ideas?

 — Amy

From the Other Side

    Lara and Tara are twins.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, but they are very different in everything else. For example, hot food is Lara's favorite, and Tara has a sweet choice.

    However, this isn't the problem with the twin girls. They always argued that the opposite one was wrong.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, while Tara insisted that mornings were fresh and it was difficult to stay up till midnight.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. To put an end to their fights, their parents decided to create a small drama. They wanted the girls to understand that they were both correct from their own point of view. Their parents covered the girls' eyes with black ribbons, and brought them to the dining room. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Lara was asked to stand on one side of the board and Tara on the other. They couldn't see the other side of it. When the ribbons were taken away, they were surprised to see a huge board between them.

    Now, their father asked Lara, "What's the color of the board?" She replied, "It's black!" {#blank#}5{#/blank#}She replied, "It's white!" The two girls began to argue again. While Lara was confident it was black, Tara was sure it was white. Then, they were asked to exchange(交换)their places. They couldn't believe their eyes. Tara, who insisted it was a white board, saw a black one. Similarly, Lara, who argued the board was black, was shocked to see a white one. They understood that each of them was right in her own view. Most of us are like Lara and Tara. We are right most times, but insist that others are wrong!

A. They look like each other

B. For years, their arguments continued

C. Their mother asked Tara the same question

D. In the room, a big board was placed in the middle

E. Lara thought it was terrible to get up early in the morning