Dear Adam,

    I'm on vacation in Central America and having a great time. I'm in Guatemala. It's a small country but there is so much to see and do! There are volcanoes (火山), mountains, rainforests, beaches and Mayan temples (玛雅寺庙) in the country.

    The Mayan people have a long and interesting history. They built many temples. Last Friday I visited a Mayan temple at a place called Tikal. The temple has a history of about 1,300 years. It is a wonderful place to visit.

    I am staying at Lake Atitlan now. Some people say it is the most beautiful lake in the world. It is a very big lake and there are mountains and volcanoes around it. You can walk around the lake and even climb to the top of a volcano.

    The volcanoes at Lake Atitlan are not active volcanoes (活火山), but tomorrow I am going to see an active volcano called Pacaya. Active volcanoes can be dangerous because they still erupt (爆发) sometimes. I want to climb Pacaya. It erupted in 2010. I hope it won't erupt when I' m there!

      I'll send (发送,) you another e-mail soon.

                                                      All the best,

                                                       Kate

    There were two fishermen named Tom and Jack. They were close pals. One day they went out to catch fish together and have a fish meal in the field. They sat at a distance and started hunting for fish. Tom got a big and beautiful fish in a few minutes. He was so happy and placed the fish in the ice box. He decided to cook the fish in the noon. He spent some more time and caught a few more fish. He decided to make a grand meal with the fish. Also, he froze a few fish to take them back home.

    After an hour or so, Tom went to Jack to see if he needed any help. Jack said no. In a few minutes, Jack caught a large fish. However, he put it back into the lake. Tom was surprised at his act, but he remained silent. Jack caught more big fish, and put them all back into the lake. Very frustrated, Tom angrily asked him, "Are you mad? Why do you put your fish back into the water? They are beautiful and big!" Jack replied, I know they are big, but I don't have the big pan(锅) to cook the big fish! So I'm looking for a smaller fish that fits my cooking pan! God is troubling me today."

    A dog on a surfboard is something you might enjoy seeing in a funny video. But would you believe that a real surfing dog could help raise money for those in need? A dog named Lucky is using her special talents to do just that.

    Lucky's trainer started coaching her to become a service dog when she was a puppy. Lucky did well during training. She learned how to turn on lights, open doors, and do other jobs. These skills would be useful for her to help a person with special needs.

    Judy, the dog s trainer, concentrated (关注) on Lucky's positive qualities. Like most dogs, Lucky loved water, so Judy look her to the beach. Lucky quickly became good at surfing. Her talent got people's attention. Judy decided that instead of being a service dog. Lucky would become a" surfing" dog. The idea was that Lucky could use her surfing talent to raise money to help people.

    Lucky's first charity event was in 2009. She starred at an activity to help a teenager named Patrick. Patrick was unable to walk, but he had always dreamed of surfing. At the event, Patrick's and Lucky were supposed to use their own surfboards. Lucky decided to jump on Patrick's board, however. They surfed together and raised $10, 00. The money helped pay for Patrick's medical treatment and his own service dog.

    Encouraged by this event, Judy started the organization named Surfing for Paws-abilities. Lucky now travels to different places and surfs at events t0 raise money for the organization that helps people in need.

    Not only does Lucky raise money, but also what she has done inspires many other organizations to help both people and animals. She's surfed to make money to buy pet masks for fire departments. She's surfed al charity events to help fight human and animal cancer. She's even shown off her surfing skills to raise money to buy teddy bears for children in hospitals and people in nursing homes. As of 2012, this amazing dog has raised $250, 000 to help those in need.

    I have many teachers now and I love them all, but I think I love my English teacher, Sophia, best.

    Sophia is from the UK. But she loves Chongqing very much. She thinks Chongqing is great. She loves Chongqing food. Do you know what she likes for breakfast? Bread and milk? No, she doesn't. She only has noodles (面条). Hot pot (火锅) is her favorite and she always eats it on Saturday and Sunday. Sophia has a daughter and a son. Her daughter's name is May. Her son's name is Jack. They are ten years old. They go to the same school. They like hot pot, too. They are all in Chongqing now.

    We have English from Monday to Friday. So Sophia is very busy. But she is always nice and happy. All my classmates like her and her classes very much. She often plays English games and sings English songs with us. When we have questions, we like to ask her for help.

    Now I think I can do well in English because I have the best English teacher, Sophia.

Ashley was outspoken, fashionable, and the "Queen Bee" in my school.

I looked up to her and idolized her. I listened to the music 1 listened to, wore the clothes she wore. I even took art class 2 I had really wanted to take theater. I finally fitted in her group.

One day, I walked out of my last class a few minutes earlier to 3 for our group at the dining hall. Concentrating on my homework, I didn't notice they had sat down 4 me. Before I could turn back to say a word, I realized what they were talking about.

I listened 5 . "She's such a loser," one girl said.

Another girl added, "Ashley, she always follows you, trying to 6 you."

"I wish she would leave us alone. We were in the same summer school and now she thinks we're best friends." The once familiar voice sounded so cold and 7 .

I was mortified. My hands were shaking. I couldn't help crying sadly. I felt heart-broken for the very first time. How did this happen? I thought we were 8 .

I ran home. My mother just held me while I sobbed for hours. The 9 she gave was so simple, and I had heard it a million times. "Just be yourself and people will like you for 10 you are." This time it became so 11 . Then and there I decided to find myself back. That was exactly what I did.

Over the next month, I went through a lot of 12 . I bought new clothes that I wanted to wear. I no longer went to 13 class with them, and took theater. I began making new friends. I developed my own opinions and never again followed the crowd.

I had a (an) 14 school year. When I look back, I think it was the year when I discovered the person I was going to be. Despite the pain I felt that day, it was a 15 they had given me. I will never forget about it!

Hi，I'm Helen. I am a Canadian girl. They are my grandparents. They are kind. My grandfather is 70 and my grandmother is 66. They have two sons and a daughter. My father is their first son. His name is Mike. He is a teacher. My mother's name is Sally. Bob is my uncle. Emma is my aunt. My uncle has a daughter. Her name is Alice. She is my cousin. My aunt has a daughter and a son. They are Kim and Tony. I like Kim. She is my good friend. She likes green very much，but I like yellow. We are in the same school. I like my family!