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.

C

    In April 2004,Sharon Tirabassi got more than $10 million(一百万)by winning a lottery(彩票抽奖)．She became very rich．But just in nine years，she spent almost all the money．Now she even has to work hard to make enough money for everyday use．

    Before she won the lottery, Sharon lived in a small apartment with her three children and didn't have enough money for a car．After she won it，she was unprepared for the change to her life．She spent most of her time shopping with her friends and paid for everything．She bought a big house in the richest part of town and four cars．

    Today, Sharon lives in a rented(租来的)house on a quiet street-not far from where she started．She doesn't have the big house or the expensive cars．She goes to work by bus or by bike．

But Sharon says she's happier now than she used to be．and she lives life more fully than she did before．”When I was rich，I spent all my time shopping．But now other things are more important to me．”says Sharon．Now Sharon works hard and

often talks with her children.” I'm trying to get them to learn that they have to work for money ，” she says．

    It was Mother's Day. John was so busy with his work that he couldn't go back home. When he passed by a flower shop in the evening, an idea came to his mind. "I'll send Mum some roses."While John was picking his flowers, a young man went inside. "How many roses can I get for only five dollars, Madam?" he asked. The assistant was trying to tell him roses were as expensive as forty dollars a dozen (一打). Maybe he would be happy with carnations (康乃馨).

    "No, I have to have red roses." He said, "My mum was badly ill last year and I didn't get to spend much time with her. Now I want to get something special, it has to be roses as rose is her favorite."

After hearing it, John said he would pay the rest of the money for the young man. Moved by both of them, the assistant said," Well, lovely young men, thirty dollars a dozen, only for you." Taking the roses, the young man almost jumped into the air and ran out of the shop. It was well worth twenty-five dollars John paid to see the exciting moment. Then John paid for his dozen of roses and told the assistant to send them to his mother.

    As he walked out, he felt nice. Suddenly he saw the young man crossing the street and going into a park. But soon he realized it was not a park but a cemetery (墓地). Crying, the young man carefully laid the roses," Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help me find my mum and tell her I love her."

    Seeing this, John turned and quickly walked to the shop. He would take the flowers home himself.

    Should friends be different or the same? Different people have different ideas. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. I am outgoing. I like to have friends who are similar to me. Both my best friend Linda and I like traveling. We went to Italy with our families last summer vacation. We stayed there for two weeks.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

My name is Mary. I like to have friends who are different from me. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. I am quiet and I like reading very much. Betty likes sports and she plays ping-pong well.

    I'm Peter. I like to have friends who are like me. It can be very helpful. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}and my good friend Rick is quiet, too. Sometimes I don't know what to do with my problems and he can tell me what I should do.

    I'm Bill. I have both kinds of friends. I think it is important. That makes my life more interesting.