Tom has two good friends. They are Jack and Mark. They have different hobbies. Tom likes football. He often plays football on weekends. He thinks playing football can make him strong and healthy. He is in the school football team.

    Jack doesn't like sports. He likes listening to music. He likes Jay Chow best. He buys many of his CDs. He often listens to music on the way home after school. He thinks music can make him happy.

    Mark likes taking photos. He has a good camera(照相机). When he is free, he often takes it out and takes some pictures. Some of his pictures are in newspapers(报纸) now. He thinks we live in a beautiful world. He wants people to see the beautiful world in his pictures.

    Table manners are different from country to country. If you visit a friend's home for a meal, it's good to know about certain customs.

    Morocco

    In many homes, people often sit on the floor to eat a meal. Often, everyone eats from the same plate. It is in the center of the table. Only eat the food in front of you. Don't reach across someone for food. It is common to use your fingers and small pieces of bread to eat food. Use only your right hand to eat. Don't say "no" to food. If the host offers you food or drink, take some and try a little.

    Also remember: In many homes, it is common to take off your shoes.

The United States

    In most homes, people usually sit on chairs when they eat a meal. People eat from their own plate or bowl, but sometimes people share desserts. If you want something (for example, the water), ask for it. Reaching across someone is rude. It's OK to eat things like sandwiches, fruit, French fries, pizza, and some kinds of meat with your fingers. It's OK to say "no" to food if you don't like it.

    Also remember: People often talk when they eat a meal together.

    A friend wrote me a letter a few weeks ago. He felt hopeless at the time. He ended his letter with this question "We can't really change this crazy world we live in, can we?" I replied to him and started my own letter with these words, "Yes, we most certainly can!"

    I can still remember someone who changed my world. She was a music teacher at my primary school. She was good at playing the guitar. I wanted to impress her. However, I didn't know how to play any instrument.

    One day, she let me try playing her guitar. I did my best, but could only stumble along(断断续续). When I had done, I put my head down. "I guess I am not very good, "I told her. She looked at me with her kind eyes, smiled at me and said, "We are all good at something. You just need to find out what you are good at. Then, you can share it with the world."

    Those simple words changed me. They planted a seed(种子)in my soul that continues to grow to this day. They made me realize that I had something good inside me. I just had to find it and share it.

    Can you change the world? Yes, you can! You can change it through one choice. one person, or one kind act at a time. All you have to do is to share your goodness. Mother Teresa once said, "God doesn't ask us to do great things, only small things with great love." So make your love great!

    Joining a short-term research program in China has not only allowed Pakistani agricultural scientist Sayyar Khan to push forward with his academic studies, but also given him a chance to see a country he had heard so much about.

    Khan is now doing a one-year research program at the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. The program is sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and many young talented scientists who come from collaborating countries, such as Pakistan, are given opportunities to work in China.

    Although this is his first visit to China Khan says he is well-informed of the long friendship between China and Pakistan. He is impressed most by the cooperation (合作) in education between China and Pakistan. especially since the start-up of the Belt and Road Initiative ("一带一路"建设) in 2013.

    "Many students from my university and my city have visited China and completed their higher education here." he says, adding that he has met with many of them.

    "I hear news about China on television and read about it in print media, so I know of the rapid development of China in recent decades."

    Khan says the Belt and Road Initiative will have a very positive effect on the world.

    "I hope that I can stay in China to participate in such cooperation projects." he says. Khan says life in Beijing is much easier than he'd expected, thanks to the convenient(便利的)public transportation and restaurants offering food for Muslims(穆斯林). This encouraged him to bring his family to live with him a couple of months ago.

    He says that language is the only challenge for them so far. However, he finds no problem talking with his Chinese colleagues, many of whom speak good English. He also enjoys the relaxing working environment and has a very good relationship with his co-workers.

    Tornadoes(龙卷风) are whirlwinds(旋风) with speeds of up to 400 km per hour. In Britain, there were very few tornadoes in the past. Now, there are more than 50 tornadoes a year. Tornadoes are only one sign of the world's climate changes. There are many others. The number of thunderstorms is increasing, and there are more floods in some parts of the world, and there's much less rain in others. Scientists still do not know enough about the reasons for these climate changes. Most scientists think human activities are the problem.

    Cutting down trees, burning too much oil, and the increase in the number of cars are some of the things that cause the problems. Global(全球的) temperatures are rising because of these things. Scientists believe that if the temperatures continue to rise, the ice at the poles will melt(融化) .

    If the ice melts, sea levels will rise. Some islands might disappear completely. All this means that unless we do something to stop global warming now, there may be many other dramatic changes in the future.

    Hello, I'm Lisa. I'm a middle school student. What's this on the table(桌子)? It's a photo of my family. Look! The woman with gray(灰色的) hair is my grandmother. And the man next to her is my father, Steve Black. He is a football player. The woman next to(在……旁边) my grandmother is my mother, Annie Black. She is a teacher. The little girl in front of (在……前面) my mother is my sister, Laura. And the girl in red is me! Oh, I also have a lovely (可爱的) cat. It's black and white. Where is it? It's on my bed, haha!