Every year in early April, thousands of people in China visit the tombs(墓) of their parents, grandparents and ancestors. It is Tomb Sweeping Day, the traditional Chinese festival to remember the dead.

    Tomb Sweeping Day falls on April 4 this year. On the day, Chinese families will clean away the grass around the tombs. Then they burn paper money and put flowers and fruit in front of the tombs. They hope the dead can enjoy them and bring the family good luck.

    However, it is not only the Chinese who remember the dead, people in other countries also have festivals for the dead.

    In Japan, O-Bon festival is one of the most important festivals. It is held from Aug.13 to 16. It is also a holiday for a family reunion(团圆). During O-bon, Japanese people return to their hometown and visit their ancestors' tombs. They also believe their ancestors' spirits return home to be with their family. People danced a dance to welcome the spirits. On the last day of O-bon, they put paper lanterns in a river to say goodbye to the spirits.

    In Russia, people remember their ancestors on the Day of Rejoicing(欣喜).  It's usually in late April or early May. The name of this festival means birth and happiness. Russians believe that people shouldn't feel sad for the dead because death means birth in another world. On the day, Russian people draw beautiful pictures on eggs and put them in front of tombs. After that they have a picnic together. They hope for a good life for both the living and the dead.

    Libraries give kids a quiet and safe place to read and learn. For over 100 years, libraries have played an important role in Americans' education. But how are these book-filled buildings changing with the times? You may be surprised to find out.

    Benjamin Franklin famously founded America's first lending library in 1731. But the public library system got its biggest development in the American history in the late 1800's. Businessman Andrew Carnegie donated millions of dollars to help build free public libraries across the country. Between 1886 and 1919, Carnegie's donations helped build 1,679 new libraries.

    Carnegie believed that libraries could offer the chances to Americans, young and old. He knew that the more libraries there were, the more people would have opportunities to read and use books, speeches and news.

    If you can easily find a public library in your community, you'll get more chances. After all, the United States has 9,225 public libraries. Today, libraries keep growing. Seven tenths of the libraries have free Internet. It provides much more information and opportunities to ask for jobs online.

    Libraries are also teaching kids about the fun of reading. The new program Read! Build! Play! Adds reading into playtime. As kids listen to a book that is being read aloud, they use Legos (乐高积木) to build images(图像)from the story happily. Today's libraries are always looking for creative programs to bring people into the library.

    Benjamin Franklin once said, “The doors of wisdom are never shut.” As long as the doors of public libraries are open, what he said is most certainly correct!

    Amsterdam is the bike capital of the world. Biking is a fun and easy way of getting around Amsterdam.

    Students go to school by bicycle. People ride their bicycles to work. Travelers ride bicycles freely around the city. Even police work on bicycles. You can see these every day in Amsterdam.

    There are many roads and traffic signs（标记）for bicycles. There are also many places for bicycle parking.

    If you travel in Amsterdam, you don't need to take a bus or taxi, just a bicycle. You can ride the bicycle along the roads and the streets enjoying the scenery（风景）. The city has a lot of bicycle shops to choose from. If you do not want to buy a bicycle, you can go to rent（租赁）a bicycle. They are in almost every part of the city. Going for a ride is enjoyable. It's a good idea to find an experienced guide. Because he would take you to some of the city's most beautiful places. Riding bicycles in Amsterdam is of great fun and relaxing; just remember to follow the traffic rules.

    One day an American called Simon went to London to visit his friend. Rick told him that his flat was on the first floor. When he arrived, Simon went straight to the first floor of the building. But he was told that there was no Rick on that floor. Do you know why?

    In fact, the British call the first floor of a building the ground floor. The floor above the ground floor is the first floor, which Americans would call the second floor.

    The story shows that there are a few culture differences between Britain and America, though the British and Americans both speak English.

    The British usually hide their feelings. They seldom start a conversation with strangers. For example, on the train the British often spend their time reading newspapers or books. But Americans are quite different. They're more active and easier to talk with.

    The British and Americans may use different terms for many things. The British usually use football, eraser and mail while Americans prefer to use soccer, rubber and post.

    Table manners are how to behave when you eat a meal. They include how to handle knives, forks and spoons and how to eat in polite manners. To behave well abroad, you are to know some table manners.

    Eating manners

    Japan: It is "perfectly" okay to slurp when you eat noodles. Unlike making big noises, slurping slightly is not rude. Japanese also say it tastes better if you slurp.

    Russia: Your wrists should be placed on the edge of the table while eating, a fork in the left hand, and a knife in the right hand. It is not good manners to rest them on your lap. Keep your elbows of the table. Leave some food on your plate to show that the host has given you enough to eat.

    France: Never discuss money or religion over dinner. What is different from the manners in Russia is that finishing everything on your plate is considered good manners.

    Mexico: Whenever you catch the eye of someone who's eating, even a stranger, its good manners to say "provecho" which means enjoy. In Mexico, dining is more than a meal. It's a social occasion-lunches are seldom quick and suppers can last for hours. Where you sit matters in the country. Before you get seated, look for place cards, or wait until the host seats you. And you must say"enjoy your meal"before you leave the table.

    Drinking manners

    America: If you empty a bottle into someone's glass, it obliges that person to buy the next bottle. It's polite to put the last drops into your own glass.

    Australia: In a pub it's usual to buy a round of drinks for everyone in your group. When it's your turn, say "It's my round. "When it's their round, they will buy it for you. Don't leave before you' ve bought a round.

    Japan: Don't fill your own glass of alcohol. Instead, you should pour for others and wait for them to do it for you.