Summer vacation means long days, sleeping in or enjoying the summer sun. It is quite true for students to enjoy a rest after a long and difficult year. But more and more parents fear their kids forgetting a lot of knowledge, so they send their children to summer schools. Because summer schools have many advantages, they can help children go over the knowledge that they have learnt during the school year.

    In summer schools, students probably study in a more relaxing situation and can come up with interesting topics for discussion with their teachers. Usually, the number of. students attending summer schools is smaller, so this gives them a good chance to connect with other students and teachers better. If a student has failed a course, summer schools may help him or her. Moreover, they are building their creativity(创造力) and imagination(想象力) as well as learning social skills.

    On the other hand, summer schools bring children problems at the same time. It takes children the whole summer vacation to learn without playing. That is too long. As a result, it may make them less interested in school during the coming year.

    For many students, taking summer classes can be a tiring experience. Teachers teach the subject too quickly, where only harms the whole education of students. Summer schools are usually expensive. They usually offer only a few subjects. So many students have to take classes that they don't like.

    A summer school can be a good chance for students who need it, but it can be difficult for students who need a rest. So you can decide whether a summer school is suitable for your children.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Tim, from America, is travelling around the world. His last stop is to visit a tower where he can stay over the night.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Michael, a student of history, is ready to write a paper on old towers. He is going to visit one in Europe.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Gina, a teacher from Australia, likes shopping very much. She is thinking of buying different things for his students.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Sarah is a college student. She is on holiday in July and would like to visit the tallest tower of the five below.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Peter is interested in plants and animals. He is now looking for a tower where he can see fish and other water animals.

The Art of Paper

    Chen Zijiang is a paper-cutting expert whom I interviewed for my article on Chinese Art. Paper-cutting is something that he learned to do from an early age.

    "It is a Chinese folk art with a long history," Mr Chen told me, "Paper cuts of animals have been found in tombs{#blank#}1{#/blank#}" He added that by the Southern Song Dynasty, paper-cutting had become an important part of everyday life.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}They are paper cuts for decoration, for religious purposes(宗教目的) and for design patterns.

    Paper cuts for decoration are often seen on windows and gates.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} They are also used on presents. A present for parents whose child has recently been born might show a paper cut of children, for example. Paper cuts which show the Chinese character for double happiness are often used to celebrate weddings.

    Paper cuts for religious purposes are often found in temples.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The third kind of paper cuts are those used to make patterns on clothing. They are also sometimes used to decorate jewellery boxes {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. They are usually put up during holidays to bring good luck.

B. They are also used as offerings to the dead.

C. Dragons are very popular patterns for these designs.

D. They can date back to the time of the Northern and Southern Dynasty.

E. Mr Chen went on to explain that there are three types of paper cuts which people still make today.

    Paper cutting is a special form of traditional art in China.It has has a history of over 1, 500 years. People started to do paper cutting in China in the 6th century.It has a number of special uses in Chinese culture.Almost all of them are for health, happiness or peace.Red is used the most widely of all the colors.Since long ago, Chinese people have been interested in cutting paper into traditional Chinese characters.

    Paper cutting is popular around the world, but only the Chinese paper cutting is listed in the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists (联合国教科文组织的非物质文化遗产名录) in August 2010, because it has long history and it tells people so much about Chinese history and culture.

    Paper cutting has developed fast over the past few years.It is still popular in China now.During special festivals like the Chinese Spring Festival, people cut beautiful pictures and put them on windows and doors.

Information Card

Dear Li Hua,

    Thanks for your last letter. In your letter you talked about your problems on English study. Here are some tips on learning English for you.

    Read a book, newspaper or magazine in English with a dictionary. This will help you learn new words in a fun way. Even by spending just 15 minutes a day, your skills can be improved greatly.

    Listen to speeches and watch movies or documentaries in areas you aren't familiar with. They are fun tips on improving English. This activity will help improve listening and vocabulary at the same time.

    Know English grammar inside and out. It is one of the top tips on learning English. Grammar is a basic tool for English learners. It can help you understand better.

    Keep a diary. It allows you to use all of your English skills. This is one of the greatest tips on improving English at any stage of learning the language.

    All in all, learning English is hard, but with these tips on learning English, I believe you will get better at English.

Yours,

Lisa

⑴{#blank#}1{#/blank#}⑵{#blank#}2{#/blank#}⑶{#blank#}3{#/blank#}⑷{#blank#}4{#/blank#}⑸{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    When talking about inventors, who do you first think of? Forget Thomas Edison. Meet the teenage inventors at the 24Jiangsu Adolescents Science & Technology Innovation Contest (青少年科技创新大赛).

    Wang Xingyu, 14, from Kunshan No. 2 Middle School, invented "a safe line' in the zebra crossing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} "I put a spray tube (喷管) in the zebra crossing. When the light is red and  somebody crosses, it sprays water. If the light is green, it will not work, "said Wang. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} "Theres a water channel (管道) in the ground, so the water will be collected and used again, "he said.

    Zong Wangchen, 15, from Nantong Special Education Middle School, also got his invention idea from daily experience. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When he walked on the sidewalk for the blind, he often came across obstacles（障碍物 ）. Once he even hurt his nose. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Users tie radar on their knees and wear the loudspeaker around their necks. When they meet obstacles, the radar will see them and the loudspeaker will make a sound to tell the users.

    Chen Huijuan, an official from Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology, was surprised at these inventions." {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Get inspiration（灵感） from small things in life and you can be an inventor too. "he said.