Every morning my father buys a newspaper on his way to work. Every evening my mother looks through magazines at home. And every night, I look at the posters with photos of David Beckham and Yao Ming on my bedroom wall before I go to sleep. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Paper was first created about 2, 000 years ago, and has been made from silk, cotton, bamboo, and, since the 19th century, from wood. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}But in those days, books could only be produced one at a time by hand. As a result, they were expensive and rare. And because there weren't many books, few people learned to read.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}When printing was developed greatly at the beginning of the 11th century, books could be produced more quickly and cheaply. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Today information can be received online, downloaded from the Internet rather than found in books, and information can be kept on CD-ROMs or machines such as MP3 players.

    Computers are already used in classrooms, and newspapers and magazines can already be read online. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}No, I don't think the poster about Yao Ming on my bedroom wall will ever be replaced by a two-metre-high computer!

    How to build good relationships with people from other cultures? Actually, it is important to learn some communication skill. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Learn about the culture in advance. A little knowledge can go a long way. So if you have time before going abroad or meeting with someone from another culture, try to take time to learn the basic "do's and don'ts" of that culture. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's very convenient.

    Be respectful and tolerant. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Signs of these may appear when you communicate with people from other cultures. However, it is not the time to judge people based on these differences during basic communication. Instead, respect them for what they are, and tolerate them.

    Speak clearly and slowly. But do not shout at others even if they don't understand you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Instead, it can be seen as a rude behavior. What's more, even if there are difficulties in communicating with people from other cultures, do not treat other people as though they are stupid.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} In some cultures, looking another person in the eye when you speak is seen as a sign of honesty and interest. However, in other cultures, it may be disrespectful.

Hello, I am Mary. I live in Chengdu. It's sunny and cool in my city now. I'm studying at home. My parents are shopping. What's the weather like in your city? And what are you doing?

One Thursday afternoon, when I was in Grade 7, a new boy came into my classroom. He was short and thin. He walked up to the teacher and told her, very seriously, that he was new. His name was Christian. He sat down, took a look at me, and then looked away. I didn't think he was very nice and I was sure he wasn't the type I would like to become friends with.

During that year, I didn't talk to him much, but he smiled at me when our eyes met, always shyly. He never ate lunch with anybody, and he never talked to anybody but me.

But one day I joined those unkind kids who were making fun of him. We made fun of him though I thought it was wrong. 

"Haven't you got any friends? " a kid asked Christian, who had walked past us alone, head down.  "No, he hasn't got any friends. He's too stupid and shy. " I said. Then Christian looked up at me with the saddest dog eyes I had ever seen. I felt very sorry at that moment.

That night, I couldn't sleep because I couldn't get Christian's face out of my mind. In the weeks that followed, he never met my eyes in class and never smiled at me. It was really hard for me to decide to write him a note asking him to forgive（原谅）me. But I thought I should. 

The next day in class, I wrote him a note telling him how sorry I felt. About five minutes later, I turned and saw tears in his eyes. "You will never realize (意识到) what your apology（道歉）has meant to me, Jimmy, "he said to me. "I hope we can become friends. "

We had lunch together that noon and we had the best talk I had ever had. Over the years at high school, we were close friends.

When I think back, I realize that, if I had not apologized, I would never have known what a lovely person Christian was.

Apologies can really change your life, so never miss the chance to tell somebody you are sorry.

Mr. Wang is a teacher in our school. He teaches us English. He walks to work every day. 

Kate is both my neighbour and my best friend. I first met her five years ago. 

Kate is tall and slim(苗条的). She has long hair. She has big eyes and a small nose. I like her smiling face best. It makes her look really pretty and kind. Kate is a friendly girl. She always has a smile on her face and looks happy. She likes to help people. She helps me with my homework and she is very patient. When I feel bored or unhappy, I often go to her. She will talk to me and tell me interesting things. 

Kate wants to work with children. She would like to be a teacher when she grows up. I think she will be a great teacher.