Some British and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. You should not be upset if your English friends don't invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you.

    Dinner parties usually start between 7 and 8 p.m. and end at about 11 p.m. Ask you hosts(主办人) what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine(酒) as a gift.

    Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks. If you want to be very polite, say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember—It's not polite to ask how much things cost.

    In many families, the husband sits at one end of the table and the wife sits at the other end. They eat with their guests(客人).

    You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it.

    Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short “thank you” letter. British and American people like to say “thank you, thank you, thank you” all the time!

    My cousin and I have very different living habits. I think I have a good habit. I take an active part in sports. After school, I often play ball games with my classmates. I don't like indoor activities. I'm hardly ill, and I haven't caught colds for years. I get up at the same time every morning and go to bed at the same time every night. I always sleep for nine hours each night, and I always feel refreshed (精力充沛的) in the morning.

    My cousin, however, has a very bad living habit. She never does exercise. She even hates walking to the bus stop from her home. She prefers indoor activities. She likes to play computer games and watch TV. She is overweight and often falls ill. She always goes to bed late and gets up at the last minute. She often feels tired in the morning.

Jing Baoshan is 69 years old. He lives a quite special life in Pinglu, Shanxi. Jing's given name, "Baoshan", means "protecting (保护) the mountains".

In 1970, 18-year-old Jing joined the People's Liberation Army of China, and then he worked in the Tanggula Mountains for 17 years. In 1987, Jing returned to his hometown in Pinglu and became a forest ranger (护林员). He loved the forest and said the trees were all his children.

Jing patrolled (巡查) the forest once a week. He took a hatchet (手斧) to protect himself from dangerous animals during the 30-km walking. At the lookout tower (塔), he also used a telescope (望远镜) to watch the forest once an hour and reported to his workmates every three days. He wrote his diary under a candle and talked to stars when he felt lonely (孤独的).

Jing retired (退休) in 2012. During his 25 years of service, Jing helped fight forest fires many times. There was a forest fire in 2000. Unluckily, four villagers died. He cried (哭) sadly and decided to protect the forest for the rest (剩下的) of his life. Jing didn't leave the forest after he retired. He kept protecting it as a volunteer (志愿者).

Here is a travel diary from Peter.

Rock music meets theerhu

Rock music is coming out of my computer. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a rock music lover, I play {#blank#}2{#/blank#} electric guitar in the school band. Sometimes I write songs and share them online. There {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) so much fun in music. 

Right at this moment, the sound of Grandpa's erhu cuts in. Yes, music is also my {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(grandpa) hobby. But it's a different kind of music. He likes {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(play) the erhu in the park with his friends. They sing Beijing opera together. There are many fans of {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(they). 

An idea suddenly {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(hit) me:" Why don't we {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (put) our music together? I can write a song {#blank#}9{#/blank#} us. "

"Grandpa!"I rush {#blank#}10{#/blank#} his room . . . 

There is {#blank#}11{#/blank#} art festival every autumn in my school. I decide {#blank#}12{#/blank#}(take) part in it with Grandpa this year. After a {#blank#}13{#/blank#}(week) practice, we are on the stage. I nod {#blank#}14{#/blank#} Grandpa and we fire up our instruments. Everybody {#blank#}15{#/blank#}(move) with our music. 

Grandpa gives me a big smile, and I smile back. It feels great {#blank#}16{#/blank#}(enjoy) our hobby together.