I started playing the piano when I was about eight or nine. But when I got to university, I stopped playing it. I just didn't have enough time and there were so many other things to do.

—Eliza

    When I was little, I thought I should play the guitar like my dad. But later I decided to try something else. I chose the violin. I want to be a musician when I grow up, but my dad says it's difficult to make a living from music. But I don't want to be a doctor like him. It's so boring.

—Robin

    Nobody likes living near someone like me because when I practice, I make a lot of noise! I''m sorry for that but I have to keep practicing. I have drum lessons every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, and I practice the drums every evening. I love playing them and now I play in a fantastic band.

—Lisa

    I''ve played the guitar as long as I can remember. I used to play in a subway station to make some money. Now I keep on playing it when I'm free, but I work as a cook in a restaurant to make a living.

—Carmen

There are some snack shops inside schools in China. These shops sell snacks1a lot of salt and sugar. Many young students like 2 snacks. Because they think snacks taste good. They often go there3 some after class. But eating 4 snacks is not good for 5 health. 6 the Chinese government( 政 府 ) said there would be 7 snack shops in the schools from April 1st.

There is also a new 8 on students' food safety. The government is asking schools to keep an eye on students' 9. It asks teachers to 10 with students at school together at the lunch time.

Two men were travelling together through the forest on a lonely path. Before the travelling, they said they would help each other when there was danger. They had not gone far when a bear rushed towards them from some bushes.

One man was a good climber, and quickly climbed up a nearby tree. The other man tried to climb the tree but failed. Looking at his friend in the tree, he shouted loudly for help. The man in the tree was afraid that his friend under the tree would pull him down, so he didn't give his friend a hand.

The man under the tree, seeing that he had no chance alone against the bear, fell to the ground and pretended to be dead. The bear came nearer and nearer. It made his blood run cold.

The bear came to him, lowered its great head, smelled him all over and touched him with its nose. The bear thought the man was dead, so it went off into the forest again without hurting him. After the bear left, the other man came down from the tree, and smilingly asked his friend what the bear had said to him. "For I could see," he said, "that he put his mouth close to your ear."

"He told me to tell you," replied the other, "that you were a great coward(懦夫), and that it is dangerous to travel with a friend who leaves you behind when there is danger."

Becky was in the bathroom. She was brushing her1 and the tap（水龙头）was on. "Turn that tap off. " a voice came out. Becky was scared. She looked around，but saw no one. "Turn off that tap. You are2 water!"

"Who. . . who are you?" Becky's voice was3 . 

"I'm a drop of water. Do you know4 I'm from?"

"From the tap，I think，" said Becky. 

"Yes. But a few days ago，I was in a cloud. Then I dropped into a river. The river carried me to a lake. Then I travelled to your city and it was time5 cleaned up. "

"Get cleaned up?" Becky asked. 

"Yes. I was6 during my journey，so they must clean me up. Then I travelled7 the pipes（水管） under the ground. I waited there8 you called me，and here I am. After you've finished with me，I'll go to a sewage plant（污水处理厂）. Then they'll push me into the river and I'll go 9 to the sea again. "

 "Again?"

 "Yes，So10 not to pollute me or waste me!"

I'm forty. I left school 22 years ago. I don't regret many things about my school days but there are a few things I wish I'd known earlier as a girl. So here is my list of three things I'd learned at school.

□As a young child you try many new things. If you fail, you try again until you learn. Then you start school where you are usually only praised for doing things correctly. So what happens? You stop trying new things in case you get it wrong. I always remind myself: I won't give up halfway until I make it.

□I always wanted to be the best and one way of feeling good about myself was to see how much better I was than others. There was only one problem with this. When I saw they were better than me, I felt terrible. Now I compare me with myself. I asked myself if I did things as well as I could.

□How much time do you spend worrying about the future? I used to worry a lot. Now I know most things you fear usually never happen. If they happen, then they will most often not be as bad as you expected. In 6 months you probably won't remember most of the things you worry about now.