When you were at school, the last thing you probably wanted to do was to spend your weekends going to work. There was homework to do, sports to play and fun to be had{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When I was a teenager I had to deliver newspapers to people's homes and work at the checkout.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's one of those things that is seen almost as a rite of passage(成人仪式). Teenagers agree that it teaches valuable lessons about working with adults and also about managing your money. So, that's no bad thing!

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}A 2015 study found that not taking part in part-time work at school age was blamed by employers' organizations because young adults were ill-prepared for full-time employment. But despite (尽管) this, recent statistics have shown that the number of schoolchildren in the UK with a part-time job has fallen by a fifth in the past five years.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Probably not. Some experts feel that young people feel going out to work will hinder their performance at school, and they are under more pressure now to study hard and get good exam results - and a good job in the long term{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    "Have you finished your lesson, George?" said Mr. Prentice to his son, who had laid aside his book and was busy making a large paper kite.

    "No, father, "replied George, hanging down his head.

    "{#blank#}1{#/blank#}"

    "Because it is so difficult, father. I'm not sure that I shall learn it.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}My memory is so bad."

    "If I were to promise you a holiday on the thirtieth of the month after next, do you think you would forget the date?"

    "{#blank#}3{#/blank#}"

    "You are good at skating, and flying your kite, and playing footballs, aren't you?"

    "Yes, father."

    "And you cannot learn your lesson! My dear boy, you are lying to yourself.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}"

    "But have I not tried, father?" again asked George.

    "{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Come, for this afternoon lay aside that kite you are making, and give another effort to get your lesson ready. Be serious, and you will soon learn it."

    Being a good friend isn't always easy, but taking the time to nurture（培养） a lasting friendship is worth the effort. As the years pass, some people will stay by your side; but many won't. And you'll realize that each friendship you keep is valuable. To have a good friend, you must be one. But, what is the quality of a good friend? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Being trustworthy. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you say you'll go out with a friend and just cannot go, give your friend a gift and tell him or her you're sorry. Nobody's perfect, and it's okay if you break a promise once in a blue moon, but don't make it a regular thing.

    Be respectful. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If your friend doesn't share the same values and beliefs with you, respect his or her choices and be open to hearing more about them.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Don't interrupt conversations. Take the time to truly understand when your friend is talking to you. Listening may open space between the two of you.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The best gifts are often hand-made and come from the heart. A phone call can mean as much as a visit!

A. You don't have to spend a lot of time or money to be good friend.

B. Good friends show respect for each other by being open and supporting each other.

C. Just follow these steps.

D. Be a good listener.

E. Don't ever make a promise that you can't keep.

    Peter wanted to travel, especially to English-speaking countries such as America and Australia. But he knew that he had to improve his English, so he went to Green Language School to take English lessons. Peter worked very hard at his English. At last, he became ill. Every evening he went to bed, closed his eyes but he stayed awake(醒着的).

    Peter was worried so he went to see the doctor." I can't sleep at night. What should I do, Doctor?"

    "I have a piece of advice, "said the doctor. "Try to count(数)numbers. When you count up to 1,000, you'll be asleep."

    The next day Peter returned to the doctor's office." Did you try my advice？And are you better today?" asked the doctor.

    Peter wasn't happy. "Er, I tried counting from one, two...up to four hundred and twenty-one, and I felt sleepy. Then I got up and drank some coffee. Then I went on counting up to 1,000. But I still couldn't be asleep."

    Sally was a student. It was going to be her mother's birthday. She wanted to buy her a present that would be nice and useful but not expensive.

    A week before her mother's birthday, she went shopping after a quick and simple lunch. When she had been looking for half an hour, she found a shop that was selling cheap umbrellas, and decided to take a black one, since her mother had lost hers the month before.

    She thought, "You could carry that when you are wearing clothes of any color." So she decided to buy a lovely black umbrella and took it back to the school with her until her classes were over.

    On her way back home in the train that evening she felt hungry because she had such a small lunch that she went along to the dining car for another sandwich and a cup of coffee. She had left the black umbrella above her seat in the compartment(车厢), but when she got back, it had gone! When she had left the compartment, there had been no other passengers (乘客) in it, but now there were three.

    Sally began to cry when she saw that the umbrella was no longer there. The other passengers felt very sorry for her and asked what the matter was. She told them that the black umbrella she had bought for her mother was gone, and that she had to get out at the next station. After the three other passengers heard it, they asked her for her mother's address so that they could send the umbrella to her if someone had taken it by mistake, and brought it back after Sally had got out of the train.

    The next week, Sally heard from her mother. It said, "Thank you very much for your lovely presents, but why did you send me three black umbrellas?"

    I am walking through the winter park where the trees stand cold and bare (光秃秃的). The yellow leaves have fallen to the ground. Now, a group of women gather at the sides of a path. In the cold winter, they're moving their arms and legs to a rhythm (节奏). They are, of course, the dancing aunties.

    It seems that if you go to any public space around China, you're likely to see these dancing aunties. When I first came to China, it was one of the first things that annoyed me. That's because in Britain dancing in public is not a cultural habit. You won't see any age group swinging their arms and tapping their feet in a park. Usually, they just take a walk for exercise.

    Now and again the dancing aunties have hit the headlines (头条新闻). Some people find them annoying. But others respect their right to dance in public. Most of them are middle-aged. They finally have some free time to do whatever they like. There is no more work, and their kids have left.

    All in all, I like seeing these women enjoying themselves. They remind us of the importance of exercise as we get older. Besides, most of them have raised the whole families. Now it is their time to have fun and enjoy some peace.