If you are really interested in music festivals, then you have probably heard of the Bestival Music Festival. It takes place every September on the Island of Wight, the UK. As it is at the end of summer, people think it's their last chance to go to a festival and have fun before going back to boring work.

    The dream begins as soon as you start traveling to the island. In order to get to the campsite (营地) of the Bestival, you have to take the ferry (渡轮). The ferry is full of happy festival lovers who are ready to join in the fantastic music party. After you arrive at the campsite, you can put your tent up. There people talk with each other openly. They are not that cold like those you meet in your everyday life. 

    The festival lasts for four days. During that time you forget all your worries and problems, just like living in a dream. And it is really hard for you to come back to "reality" after that. 

    It seems that Bestival gives people a real sense of unity. I joined in the Bestival with my friends the year before last. It was so happy and we all lost ourselves in the beautiful music. We Are Family sung by Sister Sledge was my favorite. I'm really looking forward to joining in it for a second time.

    Mother's Day is a celebration in memory of mothers. It celebrates the importance of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, mostly in March, April or May. Let's see how different people celebrate their Mother's Day.

Mexico (May 10)

    Children make gifts and give them to their mums on Mother's Eve (May 9). On the morning of May 10, families make a special trip to church and eat tamales(玉米饼), sometimes filled with meat, cheese or vegetables.

    South Africa (Second Sunday of May)

    Besides giving mums Mother's Day cards, people show their thanks for their mothers by wearing red and pink flowers called carnations. If their mothers have passed away, they wear white carnations.

United Kingdom (Fourth Sunday of Lent(大斋期))

    Mother's Day is a traditional day for people to visit their hometown and attend their home churches. People also bake(烘焙)special fruitcakes to give to their mums.

Indonesia (December 22)

    People throw big parties for their mums, filled with fun activities-such as cooking competitions and kebaya-wearing competitions! (A kebaya is a traditional blouse and skirt.)

There are some ways to improve your English, but I think the most important thing is to make English all around you. Here is some advice for you.

Listen to the radio in English. If there are no English radio stations where you live, listen to one on the Internet.

Watch TV and movies in English. If there are English channels on your TV, watch them. If there are no English channels, you can buy some DVDs of English movies.

Speak English to your friends. You can make friends with someone who is good at English and speak English with him or her as much as possible. You'd better make friends with people whose native language is English. Ask your friends to correct your mistakes when needed.

Study or travel to an English-speaking country. Of course the best way to improve your English is to live in English environments. You will find yourself surrounded with the language everywhere. It can be a more difficult and expensive choice, but you may find it to be a very valuable and helpful experience.

Spider monkeys are New World primates(灵长类). They get their names because they have very long limbs(四肢) and tails, which make them look like spiders. They are often seen with their limbs on different branches.

Spider monkeys can be in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil. They are 35 to 66 centimeters long and weigh 13 to 26 pounds. They have long tails that they use to catch tree branches, kind of like a 5th hand.

Spider monkeys live in groups. One group usually has dozens of spider monkeys. They communicate with each other through screeches (尖叫声). At night, spider monkeys break off into smaller sleeping parties of about half a dozen or fewer. Unlike many other primates, males (雄性) stay together throughout their lives with the females. They leave their first groups to find another group.

When they go out to look for food, spider monkey groups take separate actions in order to avoid competition for it. They mainly eat fruit and nuts. They also eat other things like insects, honey, leaves, spiders and bird eggs. Spider monkeys actually play an important part in the spreading of seeds throughout the South American rain forests. Enemies that they need to keep an eye out for include animals like lions and crocodiles.

Spider monkeys are dying out. Woodcutting, which leads to the loss(丧失) of their natural living places, is playing a big role in their loss. These monkeys are also hunted for food, or to sell as pets. Spider monkeys are actually one of the most popular monkey pets around because of their look and their behavior. We must do something to protect them. After all, such good and interesting monkeys should live with humans for many years to come.

Mr. Han was a teacher of English. There was a large international gym near his home. On a sunny Saturday afternoon Mr. Han was taking his two little boys to play tennis in the gym. He walked up to the American man at the ticket box and asked, "How much is it to get in?"

"Nine yuan for you and nine yuan for any child over six years old," the American man answered. "We will let them in for free if they are six or younger. How old are they?"

Mr. Han said, "The younger one is three and the other one is seven, so I think I should give you eighteen yuan."

The American man said with a surprised look on his face, "Hey, did you win the lottery （彩票）or something? You need to give me only nine yuan if you tell me the older one is six. You see, I don't check your ID cards （身份证） today. And the man at the ticket gate won't either（也不）. In fact, it is difficult for anyone to tell the difference between kids of six and seven."

"Yes, that may be true, but the children would know the difference." Mr. Han said. "And that is the most important thing."