Yours truly,
A customer (顾客)

    China covers large areas and has a great population. Different living habits have always been an interesting topic in the country. Recently, another difference between southern Chinese and northern Chinese became a hot one: the way people shop at markets.

    People from southern China say that they always buy what they need for just one or two meals. It is normal for them to buy half of a Chinese cabbage, two potatoes and 0.25 kilogram of beef at a time.

    However, one may be laughed at if he does this in the north. Instead, buying vegetables and meat enough for a week is usual. Also, you can buy a small amount (数量) of fruit, such as a single apple or pear, each time in the south. Shop owners even help you peel and cut them. But shop owners in the north hardly offer such service. And many fruits are sold in baskets and boxes.

    The difference could be due to the different weather.

    Food can be kept for a long time in the north, as it is usually cold and dry there. Many northern Chinese have the habit of storing food, especially for the long winter. But the hot and wet weather in the south makes southern Chinese buy just enough food for one meal or one day, or else the food may go bad.

    Tony and Robert are neighbors, so their families sometimes 1 together. One day, Robert asked Tony for some 2, saying that he needed it for a business (生意).

    At first, Tony 3. But after Robert begged him several times, he lent the money to Robert. However, Tony 4 to ask for a receipt (收据) for the money.

Robert said he would 5 in six months, but he didn't do it on time. When Tony went to ask him about the money, he said that he had 6 borrowed any money from Tony.

    This made Tony very 7. He went to his lawyer (律师) and said, "My neighbor owes (欠) me much money and he won't pay back. What should I do?"

    "Do you have any proof (证据) that he owes you money?" the lawyer asked.

    "Nope." Tony said.

    "Okay, then write him a letter asking him for the 8 dollars he owes you," the lawyer said.

    " 9 I only lent him 5000 dollars," Tony said.

    "That's what he will say 10 he replies (答复) and then you'll have your proof!"

 Carol is a middle school student. She does 1 in only one subject. That is 2 . Carol always does her history homework well and 3 good grades(分数) in history tests. She likes her history teacher Mr. Aragon very 4 . She feels that he is like her 5 .

 At 6 parent- teacher meeting, Carol's mother has a7 with Mr. Aragon.8 says that Carol doesn't do well in 9 subjects. She hopes Mr. Aragon can 10 her." Oh, I didn't know that. She is 11 . I' ll try to talk to her," says Mr. Aragon.

 When Mr. Aragon talks with Carol 12 her problems(问题), Carol doesn't feel good, 13 she is grateful(感激的). She knows that Mr. Aragon is 14 trying to help. Carol 15 his ideas and tries to do well in those subjects.