It is interesting to visit another country, but there are some problems when we don't know the1very well. It may be difficult to talk with the people there. We may not know how to use the telephone in the country we are visiting. We may not know how to buy the things we need. In a2country we might not know where to eat or what to order in a3. It is not easy to decide how4to tip waiters or taxi drivers. When we need help, we might not know how to ask for help. It is not pleasant to have an experience5that. After a short time, however, we learn what to do and what to6, We learn to enjoy life in another country, and then we may be sorry to leave.

    When the weather is hot, you go to a lake or an ocean. When you are near a lake or an Ocean, you feel cool. Why? The sun makes the earth hot, but it cannot make the water very hot. Although the air over the earth becomes hot, the air over the water is still cool. The hot air over the earth goes up. Then the cool air over the water moves in and takes the place of the hot air.

    Then you may ask, "Why is the ocean full of salt?" Scientists will say that the salt comes from the rocks. When the rocks get very hot or very cold, they crack (爆裂). Rain falls into the cracks. The rain then carries the salt into the earth and into the rivers. The rivers carry the salt into the ocean. And then you may doubt, "But the ocean does not get more salty every year. Scientists are not sure about the answer to this question.

    We know a lot about our world. But there are still many answers that we do not have, and we are curious about them.

Paul is my good friend. This is his 1 . It's small, but it's always 2 . His bed is in the middle of the room. And a yellow quilt is 3 the bed. Paul loves yellow. Look! The bookcase is 4 , too. In it, you can see some books. A black computer is on the table, 5 it's not Paul's. It's his father's. 6 is that next to the computer? It's a photo of his family. There are 7 people in it, his parents, his sister and him. Where is 8 phone? Oh, he lost it. Do you 9 it? If(如果) you do, pleasee-mai lhim10 PAUL3456@126.com.Thanksalot.

Do you feel senior high school is still far away? The earlier you prepare for it, the easier it will be. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. 

Stay organized

"The biggest thing is to stay organized, " says Philip Tubiolo, a graduate(毕业生) from Bayport High School. " {#blank#}2{#/blank#}I always transfer(转移) paper notes online so that it is easy for me to review them. "

Ask for help

"I think a lot of kids are afraid to ask for help, " Sachem North High School's Erin Maryzek says. "If you don't understand a concept(概念)，let the teacher know. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. "

Reduce stress

"It's not just study, study, study, " says Roslyn High School's Todd Warshawsky. "I was a runner. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} " Sachem North's Maryzek agrees, "Though schoolwork is important, it's also important to reduce stress and have fun in healthy ways. "

Say no to romance

"Don't get a girlfriend or boyfriend, " advises Esteban Idrovo at Stony Brook University, "I started dating(约会) in the ninth grade. I got too distracted(分心的). {#blank#}5{#/blank#}"

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}: their family names, given names and courtesy names (字)

Take the famous poet Li Bai as an example. His family name was Li, his given name was Bai. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

People used their given names when they were among family members. But in social life, they called each other by their courtesy names to show respect. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you were talking about yourself, or if your elders were talking about you, the given name would be used instead of the courtesy name. 

Men would get their courtesy names when they turned 20. It was a symbol of adulthood(成人). {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} For example, Mencius' name was Meng Ke (孟). His courtesy name was Ziyu (子舆). Both Ke and Ziyu mean "carriage(马车)". Zhuge Liang's given name was Liang, which means "bright". His courtesy name was Kongming, which means "very bright". 

In this coming winter vacation, the Students' Union will hold some activities in and out of school: If you want to join them, take a look at the notices and make your own decision.