If you go to another country, what kinds of things would you buy? Would you buy a camera in Japan, some beautiful clothes in {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (French), or a watch in Switzerland? No matter {#blank#}2{#/blank#} you may buy, you might think those products {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(make) in those countries．However, you could be wrong．Kang Jian is {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 18-year-old student from Shanghai．Last year he {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (go) to visit his aunt and uncle in San Francisco．He found it interesting that so many products in the local shops were made in China．“I wanted to buy a toy car {#blank#}6{#/blank#} my cousin, but even though most of the toys were American brands, they were made in China．” Toys are not the only things made in China．“I wanted to buy a pair of basketball shoes,” he explains．“But I had to visit five or six stores before{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (find) a pair made in America!” He realized that Americans can hardly avoid {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (buy) products made in China．“In fact,” he continues, “there {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) many other things there made in China — footballs, handbags, pet food, mobile phones．Even American flags are made in China!” Kang Jian thinks it's great that China is so good at making these everyday things．However, he wishes that in the future China will also get {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (good) at making high-technology products that people can buy in all parts of the world．

The Bird's Christmas Tree

    It's a sun shining winter afternoon. In a small yard in Luss, Scotland, Kate and Effie{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (tie) the baskets to the branches（树枝）of the Christmas tree and filling them with corns. The children {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (work) busily but happily for many hours, making the little baskets for the birds.

    Many birds come in. Some are eating, and others are dancing.

    Even the pretty blue jay(蓝松鸦) {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(forget) to be pretty. When he has eaten his fill, he is flying away, crying "Thanks, thanks!"

    What a happy life the tree brings to the birds and the children! But two weeks ago, the tree {#blank#}4{#/blank#}nearly {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(cut) into firewood.

    Two weeks ago， the Christmas tree was once in the living room. Kate and Effie, and Sue and Tom, had a happy Christmas Day, for the tree was hung with gifts for them all.

    One day, when the children{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(play) games around the tree, John came and told them that he was going to carry it into the woodshed.

    "What {#blank#}7{#/blank#}you {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(do) with it, John?" the children asked.

    "I want to cut it into firewood," answered John.

    "Oh, don't!" cried the children. "Our beautiful tree! Let us {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(have) it a little longer!"

    "What will you do with it?" asked John.

    "We {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(put) it in the yard and make a Christmas tree for the birds," replied the children.

    So John carried the fir tree into the yard. There it {#blank#}11{#/blank#}(stand) in the white snow, spreading out its beautiful green branches.

    "Now" cried Effie, "let us make some baskets {#blank#}12{#/blank#} (fill) corns. Then we will tie them to the tree for the birds. "

    What happened next? As you can see at the beginning of the story, the birds are living happily. With the birds and the tree, the children are also very happy. It is hard to tell which are happier, the birds or the children. I believe the tree is the happiest of all.

—Yes. I enjoyed{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(I).

—Oh, I have nothing{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(do) .

Hi Simon,

    I haven't written till now. I've been busy with the course and making new friends since I got here. I'm speaking English with my classmates all the time and going out in the evening with {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (they). We're a real mix of nationalities: Chinese, Russian, Italian, Spanish ... We talk about kinds of things {#blank#}2{#/blank#} English and I'm learning a lot about other languages and countries too.

    My host family are very nice. The parents are very {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (friend) and kind. The children are both in primary school {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they are very sweet. But they can be a bit annoying(恼人的) too. If we have to watch the film Frozen together one more time, I'm going crazy! I know all the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (song) by heart now!

    We live near the school. It's a short bus ride from Edinburgh city centre. There is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} ancient castle(城堡) and we 're going there next week. Yesterday my Italian friend invited me {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (watch) the free street shows. We {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (see) a magician doing card games- it was so much fun!

    I {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (send) you some photos of Edinburgh Castle next time. Take care and let me know what you {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (do) at the moment.

Frank