In common with other countries, Britain has serious environmental problems. In 1952, more than 4,000 people died in London because of the smog. The government introduced new laws to stop smog from coal fires and factories and the situation improved a lot.

      Today, London is much cleaner but there is a new problem: smog from cars. In December 1991, there was very little wind in London and pollution increased a lot. As a result, about 160 people died from pollution in just four days.

      One of the problem is the new "out of town" shopping centres. In the past, people often walked to shops near their homes or went by bus. Now, many people drive to the new shopping centres. Because the small shops have disappeared in the downtown, more people have to travel to do their shopping.

      Critics say that Britain needs better and cheaper public transport. Transport in Britain is very expensive. An early morning train trip from Glasgow to London (about 600km) can cost about £100, for example. A short 15-minute bus trip can cost over £1.00.

      Many people are trying to reduce the use of cars in Britain. Some cities now have special bicycle paths and many people cycle to work. Some people also travel to work together in one car to reduce the pollution and the cost.

I'm Mike I'm a middle school student. I learn many subjects in school. 我最喜欢的科目是科学 The science teacher Mrs Green, is my friend Jill's mother. She is nice and she teaches very well.

    I like maths because I think it is so interesting. I always do very well in the maths

tests (测试). My friends say I am clever (聪明的), but I don' t think so. I just work very hard.

    I also like geography. I like learning about people and places. I want to know what they are like and what they're doing. I travel a lot. I'm making plans for my trip on Sunday.

    I don't like English It is not very interesting. We read a lot, sometimes write, but we don't often speak or listen. Most children want to talk with others in English.

    Recently, Chongqing Three Gorges University has held an activity named “Cell Phone Ninja”(手 机忍者). They would like their students not to use cell phones for 21 days. It is really a challenge( 挑 战)for most students.

    The activity started on April 12. Each student who volunteered to take part in this activity got a bracelet(手环). If the students did not use their cell phones, there would be a photo on the screen of the bracelet to show that. If they used their cell phones, a different photo would appear on the screen of the bracelet. After the last class of each day, the students sent the photos to the school's public Wechat.

    More than 800 students wished to take part in this test, and 400 were chosen. After seven days, only 103 students remained. The test was set for 21 days because some scientists believe that 21 days is long enough to help people form a habit.

    According to the teachers in the university, the activity was not a competition. It depended on students themselves to make the decision. The teachers hoped their students could form better study habits through activities like this one.

    Fire is useful and important to us. You use it to cook meals every day. But if you are not careful, the fire may take place anytime. Many people get hurt or die in fires. So knowing how to①/prə'tekt/          yourself in the fire is very important.

    When the fire happens, the first thing you must do is to find safe routes(路线) to get away quickly. ②If you are in the taller floors of the building, you can't use the lift. You should run out along the stairs. From the lower floors of the building, you can jump out through the window if it is ③/'nesəsəri/         .

    If you can't get out of the room, you must be careful of the smoke. ④事实上，大部分人在火灾中都死于浓烟。Find something wet to cover your nose and mouth. Keep low to the ground, and you will take in(吸入) less smoke. And you can also open the window, keep your head outside to get fresh air and shout for help.

    Remember: Nothing is more important than your life. You must leave everything behind, your money, your pets and so on. After you're out, don't go back for anything. ⑤        .

    More than one million international students are studying in the United States. Many of them find it helpful to have a smart phone and an American credit card(信用卡).

    These things make it easy to pay for many kinds of goods and services. But getting a credit card as an international student is not a simple process. Normal US lenders ask for a social security number(社会保障号码). In addition, they ask to see a person's credit history. This helps the lenders fully believe that someone is responsible and make timely payments. These are the things most international students do not have.

    But one company is trying to make the process easier and fairer for them.

    Jack Guo is from China. He now studies at a university in California. He says having an American credit card makes it easier for students to get around town. And, he says, credit cards are important for international students who hope to live in the country in the future.

    Kalpesh Kapadia came from India to study at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He faced the same difficulties that many international students face when trying to get an American credit card. He decided to open SelfScore(万事达信用卡).

    Without asking for credit history and a social security number, SelfScore looks at materials such as passports，visas, and acceptance letters to American schools. The company also considers a student's ability to pay.

    About 10, 000 international students from more than 66 countries now have credit cards through SelfScore. Kalpesh says less than one percent of SelfScore's credit card holders are late for their payments because of different kinds of reasons.