Our dog Abbey died last month. My 4-year-old daughter Lucy missed her a lot and asked if we could write a letter to God to make sure he could look after Abbey well. I told Lucy that I thought we could, and she dictated (口述) these words:

Dear God,

① you, take, dog, of, will, care, my , please (?) She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Lucy

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Lucy and addressed it to God/Heaven. Yesterday, we received a package addressed, “To Lucy” with this note:

Dear Lucy,

Abbey has arrived in heaven.

She isn't sick anymore. ② Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. You don't need to worry about her. She's being looked after very well here. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. ③ You have a wonderful mother. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

    Everyone needs friends. There is an old saying, "Friends are God's way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it?

    The American writer--Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to find friends. Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seeds（种子）and take care of it to make it grow.

    First, you should choose a friend. What makes a good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks. A good friend should be kind and patient. For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints(抱怨) and do his or her best to help. To make a friend, you cannot be too shy. You should make each other happy and share your life.

    But things cannot always be happy. Even the best friends have fights. What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her. When there is no one around, talk to him or her honestly. If he or she doesn't want to talk, you can write a letter.

    There are some steps to be friends again.

    Tell him or her how you are feeling; say what your friend did wrong and explain why you did this or that; Don't forget that friendship is the most important thing in your life.

Today, many students are always stressed out. They are often too busy to think{#blank#}1{#/blank#} their diets and exercise. Healthy eating, along with regular(定期的) exercise {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (keep) you healthy. Do you think it is the only way to keep us in {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(healthy)?

As we know, it is important to give your body the energy it needs. Teenage girls {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (need) about 2,200 calories(卡路里) a day and boys need a bit more. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (fiftieth) percent of your calories should come from rice, bread, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(vegetable) and fruit. You also need to d{#blank#}7{#/blank#} a lot of water, six to eight glasses a day. Enough water will improve your skin and give you healthy hair.

Exercise can help to make you look good, feel good {#blank#}8{#/blank#} be healthy. Scientists suggest that teenagers should spend at{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(little) 30 minutes exercising every day.

Exercise can make you feel {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (relax)and energetic. It can even help you sleep better at night.

Let's eat healthily and take more exercise.

Harbin, a city in the northeast of China, drew greatattention and became the hottest tourist city last winter. In fact, on January 5th every year, the city of Harbin innortheast China{#blank#}1{#/blank#} into a winter wonderland. Tourists from all around the world come to visit the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} ice and snow festival. 

The festival started in 1963 and began as a winter party. The festival often lasts for one month. However, if the weather stays cold and dry, it will {#blank#}3{#/blank#} for a few more days. Temperatures are usually very low. They can go down to -17℃. Ice sculptors (雕塑家) use different tools to shape the hard ice and snow. These sculptors show their works in two main areas. "Sun Island" has huge snow sculptures of people and animals. "Ice and Snow World" has sculptures of buildings. At night, these buildings light up {#blank#}4{#/blank#} brightly-colored lights. Visitors can do a lot of other {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, such as skiing and ice sliding. They can also go swimming in the icy waters of the Songhua River. 

Do you think you will have your own robot? Today there are already robots that can make our lives easier and better. Let's see the fantastic robots!

Some interesting things about Start of Spring

The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year, starts on Feb. 4th and ends on Feb. 18th this year. After that everything turns green and is full of energy; people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer. Here are some interesting things about Start of Spring. 

weather is becoming warmer. Here are some interesting things about Start of Spring. 

◆   Flying a kite

Spring is the best season for kite-flying. As a tradition, it has a history of more than 2, 000 years. It can help build one's health and prevent diseases. 

◆   Erecting the egg (立蛋)

In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of Start of Spring. It is believed that if someone can erect the egg on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future. 

◆   Making a Spring Ox (做春牛)

This custom in Shaanxi is practiced right before the Start of Spring. The officers ask some artists to build an ox with bamboo, wood, paper and paint. When the paper ox is ready, people will worship (敬神) it and hope for a harvest year. 

◆   Posting spring calligraphy and paintings (张贴春季字画)

The custom of posting calligraphy and paintings on one's door in the spring was first celebrated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). People would do so to welcome spring and pray for good luck on the first day of Start of Spring. 

What do you like to do on the Start of Spring and why? {#blank#}5{#/blank#}