My friend and I entered a little coffee house and ordered two cups of coffee. While we were waiting, two young men came in and began to order, “1cups of coffee, please. Two of them for us and three there on the wall.” The waiter served them with respect (尊敬). They paid for their order, took the two and left. As soon as they left, the waiter2put three pieces of paper on the wall. We saw this with great3.

Some more people came. Two girls asked for one coffee each, paid and went away. Then came three lawyers who paid for seven coffees —three for 4and four suspended(待用). I really 5 what the suspended coffees were. Suddenly a man came into the coffee house. The way this man was dressed didn't 6 the style(风格）of this coffee shop. He kindly ordered a coffee on the wall. The waiter served coffee to this man, showing him the same 7 as the other customers. The man had his coffee and left 8 paying. The waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dustbin.

At that moment, I knew the meaning of the suspended coffees. It's simple—people pay the coffee in advance(预先) for someone who can't 9it. The tradition with the suspended coffees 10 in Italy, but it has spread all over the world. A suspended coffee is not only a cup of coffee, but also the warmth and love to someone in need.

    People all over the world celebrate the New Year. However, not all countries celebrate in the same way, and in some countries, the new year doesn't begin on the 1 day every year.

    In many countries, the New Year begins on 1st January, but people start celebrating on 31st December, New Year's Eve. In New York many people go to celebrate in Times Square. 2  they're waiting for the New Year, they listen to music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o'clock, everyone 3 down from 10: 10, 9, 8… As soon as it's 12 o'clock, everyone shouts very 4, “Happy New Year!”

    New Year's Day is often a family day. Some families get together for a special meal. When the weather is fine, many families go out for a 5.

    On New Year's Day, many people make resolutions for the new year. They 6a list of things, such as “I will help out more with housework. I will work 7 at school than others.” or “I won't spend so much time playing video games.” When they have made their 8, they read it to their family or friends and promise to 9 their resolutions(办法).

    So it doesn't matter how they celebrate. 10 people in countries all over the world, it's a time to say goodbye to the old year, and to welcome the new.

    There's a hotel in northern Sweden. It is1. It's open only from the middle of December to late April. The name of the hotel is the Ice Hotel. The hotel is completely made2ice and snow. Every year, more and more visitors want to stay at this very cold hotel.

    In the first year, the Ice Hotel had3one room, Now the hotel has 37 rooms and 6, 500 overnight guests every year. The hotel has a reception desk, a main hall, a cinema, and hotel rooms. There's an ice4for weddings(礼), too!

    In early October, artists and workers prepare the hotel. They use5snow equipment(设备)to prepare snow and ice. In November, builders bring ice from a very clean river. In December, the outside part of the hotel is finished.

    The rooms are6as there are no telephones and no televisions. The Ice Hotel visitors can use computers to send e-mail messages to friends and family.

    In late April, the last guests leave the hotel. The weather becomes warmer, and the beautiful Ice Hotel begins to melt. In June, the Ice Hotel is a water hotel.

    Red is the color of China. Among all the1, red is most easily seen. The color red is fresh and pure, and in China we call it China Red. Chinese people are attracted by the color red not only because it makes people excited, but also because it has 2 meanings in Chinese culture and history.

    No country in the world have ever3a color in such a way as China. Here, red is a symbol. It gives color to the soul(灵魂) of the nation. In the past, red represented dignity(尊严) and mystery. Even now Chinese people love the color much more than others do. It can be said that "China Red" is an everlasting theme for China, and an 4 color for the Chinese people, "China Red" has5 a very popular word, attracting the world's attention.

    Finding red-colored things in China is very6, as you can see the color everywhere. All traditional red things have been playing a special role in China, the walls of7 palaces, the national flag. Chinese knots(结) and lanterns.

    Red is the color of the8, health, harmony, happiness, peace, richness and so on. Only real things and events fully(完全地)9and explain its beauty. The color can be alive and meaningful only when it's connected with people.

    In China, red is more than just a color. It carries the long history and culture of the Chinese nation. China Red is10of mysterious charm(神秘的魅力) beyond description and it is right here in China waiting for you to feel, to discover!

Have you ever had lucid (清醒的) dreams? Recent studies suggest that the number of people having them is on the rise. Someone having a lucid dream realizes they are dreaming and may from then on" direct" the action, or they may simply " watch" the dream unfold. The sense of awareness (知道) makes it different from a dream that is simply very lively and true to life. And although the description may seem strange, the process is far from alien to many of us.

Studies suggest that the number of people in the Western world experiencing lucid dreams, which happen once in a while, has risen by between 10 and 40 per cent since the 1980s. Today, they are so common that about one in eight of us will have one in our lives. But still, little is known about what causes them or what is behind the rise.

Research carried out at the respected Harvard University in the US shows that the brain is working hard during lucid dreams. In fact, the level of the mental (精神

的) activity in some parts of the brain is similar to that of a person who is awake. Lucid dreamers seem to share certain personal characters. For example, in general they are quite creative. They are also good at digging deep into problems and going out of their way to solve them. Furthermore, they always believe in personal responsibility rather than letting society carry the can.

Our nightmares (噩梦) may show our waking worries, with the five most common ones-- falling, being run after, feeling disabled, being late and the death of a loved one. Men are more likely to have nightmares about fights or being fired while hair and tooth loss appear more in women's nightmares-perhaps showing worries about losing their looks. Research has also found that women have more nightmares than men. Their dreams are also scarier and more unforgettable.