The Special Olympics

    The Olympics are some of the most exciting sports events in the world. But there is another Olympics about which you may not have heard. This is the Special Olympics, for people with mental disabilities.

    The first Special Olympic Games were held in Chicago in 1968. One thousand people competed in many events. Since then Special Olympic programs have been organized in all 50 states and more than 150 countries. Today more than a million people take part in the Special Olympics.

    Mentally disabled persons over the age of eight may take part in the Special Olympics. These people may also have physical disabilities. People have run in races using crutches or walkers. A young girl enter the long jump event with an artificial leg. A blind runner raced around the track with the help of his coach's voice. A deaf basketball team planned their plays using sign language.

    Winning is wonderful for people who may never have had much success. But training for and entering the Special Olympics is also important. The participants become more confident. They learn how to concentrate in order to play well. Then they use that concentration in school to improve their schoolwork. Like anyone else they feel great when they prove they can do something well.

    Mum and dad are two of the most important people in your life. You probably see at least one of them every day. And they influence (影响) you more than anyone else you meet in your 1ife. So if your mom loves to read, you just might grow up carrying a book wherever you go, just like she does.

    But parents do a lot more than just passing on their hobbies. Mums and dads care for（关心）their children from the minute they were born. So they are the people we should respect(尊敬) and love best. It's very important to stay close, get along, and build a strong relationship with your parents. But not every child knows how to do this. Here are some ways to help you.

    Spend time together. Don't play a computer game or watch TV, ask your mum and dad to play with you. Go outside together, or read a book out loud.

    Be kind. Little things might mean a lot to your mum or dad. You can make your parents happy with a hug (拥抱), a card, or a joke（笑话）. It's also lovely when a child cleans up his or her room without being asked. And if you try not to fight with your brothers or sisters, your parents might be very happy.

    Do your best at whatever you do. You don't have to be perfect, but when you do your best, you make your parents proud(自豪). It makes them happy to see how you're turning into a great kid. Why? Because it lets them know you're doing a good job.

    When we talked about the space, we know the universe means the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars and so on in space. Many of the stars are so far away that we can't see them.

    Through our geography lessons, we know the earth ①goes around the sun, and the moon goes around the earth.

    We have day and night because the earth keeps moving all the time. Just because the moon is closer to the earth than the sun, it looks much bigger than the sun. ②The sun is bright enough to give out very strong light. The moon can't give any light at all, but it looks quite bright, too. Why? In fact, the light from the moon comes from the sun. ③But in fact the stars are much bigger and brighter than the moon.

    ④在宇宙中仍然有许多其他的行星。But of all these planets, only on the earth there are living things. People on the earth have studied the space all the time. They've sent many spaceships into the space many times. On November 3 and 14,2011,Chinese scientists let Shenzhou Ⅷ successfully dock with(对接)the Tiangong Ⅰtwice. This is one of the greatest events in the history of China's space.

    In the countryside of China, many people are moving to cities to find work. They move because often there isn't much work in the countryside. Service like hospitals and schools are usually not very nice there.

    But in the big cities like London, New York, Pairs, people are moving out. They want to live a quiet life. They don't like the city because the city is noisy and dirty. The traffic is heavy. Living in the cities costs too much. They want a house with a garden and clean air. So they move to the countryside with clean water and green trees. There, they begin new lives and try to make new friends.

    What foods are successful? Hamburgers and pizzas are popular. But instant noodles(方便面) have also become a world success. Now instant noodles are celebrating their 61^st birthday!

    Instant noodles were invented by a Japanese named Momofuku Ando. To find a way to make noodles last longer, Ando began experimenting(实验) in 1955 and three years later, he made the first bag of instant noodles. Now, 61 years on, they're eaten all over the world. In fact, they're so popular that Japanese consider instant noodles as their best invention!

    Each year, 95 billion packets of instant noodles are eaten around the world. In the UK, people call instant noodles "pot noodles". University students like them a lot. During the first term at college, you may be given a gift bag that includes instant noodles. Instant noodles are cheap and easy to eat. But watch out! People may think you are lazy if you are an instant noodle lover.

    The UN often sends instant noodles as part of its food aid. This is because of their long life and high fat, which makes people feel full for longer time.

    However, instant noodles aren't totally innocent(无辜的). They are high in fat and salt. Health experts say they are bad for us and we shouldn't eat them too often.