“Thank you” is one of the first few phrases(短语） that our English teacher taught us when we began to learn English. Each time we receive help from others, we say “Thank you”. We may say it many times a day. It seems that “Thank you” is very popular among us Chinese students. But is it as popular in the UK?

    The answer is “no”. According to a recent survey （最近的报告）in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, “Thank you” is only the 20^th most popular way of expressing gratitude（感激） in the UK.

    The survey shows that British people like “Cheers” most to express their thanks. For example, when friends invite each other for a drink after a game, a smile and a “Cheers” may be the best way to say “thanks”.

    You may often hear the word spoken between two good friends. “Great”, “nice one” and “all right” are also popular informal（不正式的） ways of showing gratitude among friends in the UK.

    Of course, there are some formal ways to say “thanks” among British people. For example, when a stranger is especially helpful, they may say “brilliant” or “much appreciated” to express their gratitude.

    By the way, how do British people usually answer “thank you”? They like to say： “ You're welcome.”, “No problem” or “Sure”.

    Since you have many more ways to show your thanks, next time you want to say “thank you”, why not try one of these new British phrases?

    Some people around you look so cool and happy, but you often feel lonely. Or the friends you have do not really understand you that make you feel lonely, too. So what can be done when you have this feeling?

    Understand people's differences

    Not everyone has to do things the same way or behave the same way. Find people who have the same feeling. That is always a good basic for the friendship. You can take part in activities outside school like sports, art classes and dancing classes. There you can have more chances to find people who have the same interest as you.

    Develop your friendship

    Friendships do not just happen, and they need work. Phone your friends once in a while. Being there when they need you means that they will do the same for you.

    Accept others' invitations

    Even if someone invites you to a neighborhood street party, you never know who else will be there. Laughing and playing together could start a new friendship.

    Start a club

    Make your circle of friends big by starting a club. Going camping together or regularly (有规律地) going to the movies doesn't take much time.

    The summer holiday is coming. What a perfect chance to plan a trip! How about backpacking (背包旅行)? Maybe you're too young to do it. But it doesn't matter. Follow me and you'll learn about an interesting way to travel.

    Have you ever noticed foreigners with big bags on their backs? They wear jeans and T-shirts, and have guidebooks or maps in their hands. They look curious (好奇的) about everything they see. They enjoy themselves without a tour group. That's right! They are backpackers.

    Backpacking is a popular way for Westerners to travel outside of their country. It's cheap so that people can travel more and see more places. Most backpackers are young people because backpacking needs a strong body, courage and freedom.

    Backpackers usually do some homework before setting out. They search for information about their destination (目的地) country: food, fun places to visit, hostels (青年旅舍) and things to buy. They are sure they know how to change planes or where to get the train.

    Backpacking is a freer way to travel. You can change your destination whenever you want. It also allows travelers to explore and see more. And you can decide how long to stay there. If you go with a tour group, there may be a lot of rules and you may not be free to do things as you like.

    For thousands of years, kites have been made and flown by people of all ages living in most parts of the world. ⑶Kites have been especially popular in Asian countries. In Korea, people fly kites on the first few days of the new year as a kind of celebration. In Japan, kite flying is an important part of the boy's festival that is held each May. In China, one day out of every year is celebrated as Kite Day. At these special" kite celebrations", thousands of kites are flown. ⑷They are made in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Some are shaped like fish, butterflies, or birds. All of them are very bright and colorful. Most kite fans fly their kites just for fun, but serious kite fliers take part in contests. Kites are used for practical(实用的) purposes, too. The U.S. Weather Bureau uses kites to collect information about winds and weather. Some of the kites used in this kind of work carry scientific instruments and fly higher than 20,000 feet. To fly a kite, it's usually necessary to run into the wind for a few feet. As the kite begins to rise, let out more line and pull it. Do not fly a kite near trees or electric lines, or in an area where there are low-flying planes.

    Because of the high price of housing, many of us are living in smaller spaces than we'd like. However, living in small spaces is not that bad. It has some advantages.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It can take thousands of dollars to make a large space look better. Small spaces, however, make decorating simpler and more affordable. Instead of many pieces of large, expensive furniture, you only need a few to make your style. You'll have plenty of money left for other things.

    They're easier to clean. This must be one of your favorite things about living in a small space. The bigger the space is, the longer it takes to tidy up. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}That's why small spaces are welcomed by those who like being surrounded by cleanliness and don't want to spend much time and energy in keeping them that way.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It takes a lot to pay for heating, cooling and electricity, which can also cost much energy. When you compare the electricity bill of someone living in 500 square feet with that of someone living in 3, 000 square feet. the difference can be great, We use less energy and produce less waste when we live in small spaces. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    They're easier to show your own style. Have you ever walked into a large home that feels more like a museum than the small home of someone you know? It's usually not the most familiar or welcoming atmosphere. Actually, you want your home to show your personal style. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. They're cheaper to decorate.

B. No one wants to spend hours just cleaning.

C. So it also does good to our beloved Mother Nature.

D. They're money-saving and environmentally friendly.

E. It is much easier to decorate a small home in your own style.