While the rest of the city is crowded and noisy, several old men are sitting in their ancient hutong, drinking tea and playing chess. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Beijing hutongs have a very special place in the rich history of Beijing. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    According to experts, the word hutong comes from the Mongolian language, meaning "well( 井 )". In ancient times, people preferred to gather and live around wells. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} There are other explanations, too. No matter what hutong exactly means, it is commonly agreed that hutongs first appeared in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} . Nobody knows exactly how many hutongs there are in Beijing today. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    Long before I could read myself, Mum read stories to me every night. Those bedtime stories made me a reader.

    Many years later, I read a picture book to a small child in a classroom. He was from a poor family and had no friends. My reading made him very happy. Then he wanted to start something big. He said to me, "Mrs. Allyn, let's make everyone know how good this feels. Let's have a holiday for reading stories. " Then my company, Litworld, started World Read Aloud Day in January, 2010, to honour(表彰)the little boy for sharing such a great idea with us.

    Now more than 65 countries around the world celebrate it. Parents and teachers read to their children or students on this day. World Read Aloud Day tells people the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories.

So come and join us.

Information card

Where you sit and how you fit

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For more than seventy years, researchers and teachers have studied the link between the place where students choose to sit in class and what they are like as people and learners. Where do you usually decide to sit? Have you ever really thought about the reasons for your decision?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But is this really true? Well, some researchers say it is not. In fact, shy students often choose the back row because it is far away from the teacher and they don't want to answer questions. At the back, students probably won't speak much, but in big classrooms, it can be hard to see the board and hear what the teacher is saying. This could be the reason why students who sit here often get lower grades on tests and exams. For students with poor eyesight or hearing, a seat at the back of the classroom is not a good choice.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, they like watching and listening rather than joining in. These students are usually also very good at taking notes. Next time you miss a class, borrow notes from someone who sits here. On the sides of the classroom you will generally find modest and thoughtful people. These people usually get good grades in school and are interested in learning.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Then the statistics (统计数据) say you probably like your teacher. You probably also have a good relationship with your classmates. Caring, outgoing, and cheerful people usually sit in the middle. They are normally serious about learning and feel disappointed with low grades on tests and exams.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Students who sit here usually want to discuss things with the teacher and are often very interested in the subject. They want to be in the best place to see and hear everything the teacher does and says. The only problem with sitting here is that it can be difficult to see and hear what other students do and say in class. So, if you really want to hear what everyone says in class, choose a different place to sit.

     Danny and Jenny are talking about their school science fair. They are very excited. Danny is ready for the big science fair next year. He hopes to win first prize. His project is about silk worms. She is interested in that. She made a video about silk worms. She has a small piece of old silk. She also has a silk worm for the visitors. She thinks silk worms are interesting. What's Danny's project about? It's all about donuts. He talks about the history of donuts. He will make ten different kinds of donuts. You can taste them if you go to the science fair.

    Good morning! My name is Mary and my last name is White. I live with my parents and my brother in China now. I am a student. I study in Xinghua Middle School. My telephone number is 5574782. My school ID number is 888098. Tom is my best friend. His last name is Miller. He is in my school, too. His telephone number is 5570895. His school ID number is 8702223. We often go to school together in the morning and help each other with homework after school. At weekends, we like to play together with in the park near my home.

Information Card

    The purpose of students who come to school is to study.  But studying needs right ways. The following opinions are ways of studying.

    The best time to read is morning. Because in the morning, the air is fresh and our minds are clear.

    When we study, we must be patient(有耐心的). If we don't understand a text well, we must read it again. We should not read the next until we have learned the first one well.

    When we are studying, we must put our hearts into the book. We cannot read absentmindedly(心不在焉),or we couldn't get anything form the book while we are reading.

    We must always ask "why". If we can't understand well, write it down and ask our teachers or parents, brothers or friends, in any possible ways.

    Though there are many ways for studying, however, the above mentioned will be helpful if we can keep them in heart.

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