Today, we are told, children don't spend enough time in the fresh air. Many of them are addicted to screen on a computer or a TV—they seem to be living in a virtual world. They have lost touch with nature.

    But now 400 organizations in the UK, from playgroups to the National Health Service, are encouraging children to have some “wild time”. They want kids to swap at least 30 minutes of watching TV or playing computer games for time playing outside. Activities such as building dens, climbing trees, rummaging for conkers and playing hide and seek are just some of the things kids can do. Even if they live in a city, they can go on adventures in the garden or the park.

    Children often need a helping hand from mom and dad. They need to be shown what to do and where to go. Andy Simpson from National Health Service says, “We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids' development, independence and creativity, by giving wild time a go”.

    So despite the complicated world that young people grow up in now, it seems that going back to basics and experiencing “nature's playground” is what modern children need. David Bond from Project Wild Thing says, “We need to make more space for wild time in children's daily routine, freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted”.

    This might sound a bit old fashioned to you or maybe, like me, it's made you think about sticking on your boots, getting outdoors and reliving your childhood. There is no age limit on enjoying yourself!

    The benefits of keeping a journal (日志)

    If you want to grow, one important thing you should do is keeping a journal. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference in your life. I have been keeping journals for years. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.

    It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea only to lose it later because you didn't write it down?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible. If I'm away from my computer, I usually write it down on a piece of paper that I bring wherever I go. I will then transfer the idea to the journal in my computer.

    It helps you review all the lessons you've learned. By reviewing your journal, you can quickly see the lessons you've learned and the ideas you've gotten.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You can use the ideas to propel (鞭策) yourself forward.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}After keeping a journal for years, you can look back at it and see how far you've gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past might have been realized today.

    It helps you expand（扩展） your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea, you are thinking actively about it.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}In the end, you will expand your ideas.

A. I often experienced that myself.

B. It trains you to express your thoughts.

C. It allows you to see your progress over time.

D. Just use whatever tool you feel comfortable with.

E. Thinking actively helps you connect your idea to another idea.

F. And to be honest, I can't imagine what my life would be like without it.

G. Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

    From: terri @ wombat. Com. Au

    To: (happylizijun) @ yaboo. com. cn

    Subject: My school

Hi, Li Zijun,

    Thanks very much for your email. I really enjoyed reading it. I think we have a lot in common. I wonder if our school life is similar too.

    I go to a big high school in Sydney called Maylands High School. There are about 1000 students and 80 teachers. My class has 25 students in it, which is normal for a Year 11 class. In the junior school there are about 30 students in a class.

    In the senior high school we have lots of subjects to choose from, like maths, physics, chemistry, biology, history, German, law, geography, software design, graphic arts and media studies. (Different schools sometime have different optional subjects.) English is a must for everyone and we have to do least three other subjects in Year 11 and 12. At the end of Year 12 we sit for a public exam called the High School Certificate.

    As well as school subjects, most of us do other activities at school such as playing a sport, singing in the choir or playing in the school band. We can also belong to clubs, such as the drama club, the chess club and the debating society.

    We have a lot of homework to do in senior school to prepare for our exam, so unless I have basketball practice, I usually go straight home and start studying. I arrive home about 4 pm, make myself a snack and work till 6 pm. Then I help the family to make dinner and we all eat together. I'm usually back in my room studying by 8 pm. I stop at about 10 o'clock and watch TV or read a book for half an hour to relax. On Saturdays, I usually go out with my family or with friends and I sleep in till late on Sunday morning. Then it's back to the books on Sunday afternoon.

    How about you? What's your school life like? Do you have a lot of homework? What do you do to relax when you're not studying? I'm looking forward to finding out.

Your Australian friend

Terrie

    How did you learn how to ride your bike? Someone probably gave you a few lessons and then you practiced a lot.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} No one is born to know how to study. You need to learn a few study skills and then practice them.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Do you have trouble paying attention in class? Are you sitting next to a loud person? Is it hard to see the board? Make sure you're sitting in a good seat that lets you pay attention. Tell your teacher or parents about any problems that are preventing you from paying attention and taking good notes.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.Waiting until Thursday night to study for Friday's test will make a homework night no fun! It also makes it hard to do your best. We're all guilty of putting things off sometimes. One of the best ways to make sure that doesn't happen is to plan ahead.

    Break it up! When there's a lot to study, it can help to break things into chunks(大块). Let's say you have a test on 20 spelling words. Instead of thinking about all of the words at once, try breaking them down into a five-word chunks and working on one or two different chunks each night.

    Ask for help. You can't study effectively if you don't understand the material.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} You can check yourself by reading through your notes. Does it all make sense? If not, ask your teacher to go over it with you.

    Get a good night's sleep. So the test is tomorrow and you've followed your study plan—but suddenly you can't remember anything, not even 2+2! Don't worry. Your brain needs time to digest(消化) all the information you've given it. Try to get a good night's sleep.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Plan ahead for tests and projects.

B. Study regularly instead of just the night before.

C. You can learn how to study in much the same way.

D. You'll be surprised by what comes back to you in the morning.

E. If you're studying math or science, do some practice problems.

F. Be sure to ask your teacher for help if you're confused about something.

G. Good studying starts in class.

    If your family is thinking of getting a pet, consider adopting from an animal shelter, where all animals are in need of loving homes. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are some tips for you to find great animals.

    Make some decisions.

    Think about what you want in a pet and remember that all pets have different personalities. Cats tend to be more independent, but kittens need lots of attention. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} However, they are usually great companions and love to spend time with their family.

    Visit the shelter.

     {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Remember that you may need to visit more than one shelter, or you may need to make more than one visit. Try to bring along everyone who will be living with the new pet. Ask the shelter staff lots of questions. And never adopt an animal because you feel sorry for it—be patient so you can find a pet who is truly a good match for your family.

     {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Buy all necessary supplies and food well before the animal comes home. Make sure that the entire household is in agreement about rules and responsibilities—will the dog be allowed on the couch? Who will clean the litter-box? Put it in writing before the pet arrives.

    Bring your new friend home!

    You'll probably be excited when your new pet arrives, but be sure to give it space and time to get adjusted to a new home and a new family. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Interact with your pet a lot and get it used to a routine, and soon you'll be one big happy family!

A. Get everything ready

B. Both cats and dogs are human's good partners.

C. Dogs need to be walked at least twice a day.

D. The pet may act differently once they leave the shelter.

E. Set aside at least a few hours to visit shelters in your area.

F. Put away the garbage cans.

G. Some may come with emotional or behavioral issues, but most are happy, healthy, and ready for a loving home.

    Five Things to Do in a Traffic JamTired of traffic jams? Here are some tips that can help you to calm down in a traffic jam. Listen to CD audio book. It's a good idea to keep several audio books in your car. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Listening to an exciting story is more interesting than sitting silently and being bored. Sing loudly. If you begin getting angry because of a long traffic jam, turn your CD player on or radio up. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Imagine you're a wonderful singer and the audience is listening to you in admiration. Your stress will disappear. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.You can use the radio and play entertaining games while waiting. For example, you can guess the song or the singer or to see how quickly you can recognize a new song. Have a snack Keeping a tasty snack in the car is especially good for waiting in traffic jams. Choose what you like most of all, so you will look forward to traffic jams to have a chance to eat the delicious snack. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}In that case, time is the last thing to worry about. Argue with the radio talk show host Find a station with a radio talk show.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}If you disagree, you can show your anger. Don't be afraid to call their ideas stupid. Only make sure that the car windows are closed so no one may hear you. Sitting in a traffic jam can be very stressful but next time you can use these simple tips, and you won't notice how long you have been waiting and soon you will be on your way.

A. Play games

B. Use the radio.

C. Enjoy every bite of it.

D. Listen to their debates carefully.

E. Loud singing can help to reduce stress.

F. Begin to enjoy them as quickly as you can.

G. The storyteller's voice can clear all your bad emotions.