My name is Dave. I have three good friends, Jack, Tom and Jim. Jack, Tom, Jim and I like different(不同的) food for breakfast. Jack likes cakes, Tom likes fruit, Jim likes eggs and I like vegetables. We all(都) like hamburgers for lunch. We eat hamburgers for lunch every day. Jack, Tom and I also like French fries, but Jim doesn't like them. For dinner, I don't like chicken. But Jack, Tom and Jim do. They all think chicken is very delicious(美味的).

    Here is a story of a dog. It saved his owner, Audrey Stone, who was a lady and had poor vision (视力).

    Figo, an eight-year-old dog, is Audrey Stone's third service dog. "He protects me and loves me. We are friends," Stone said.

    On a Monday, Stone and Figo were on their way back from their "usual daily walk". When they prepared to cross a street, "I gave him the order to cross the street," Stone said.

    "I said, 'Forward.' And we were in the middle of the street and it happened so quickly, but people said he just jumped at the school bus and saved me," Stone said.

    The school bus was carrying two children to a learning center. Luckily they were not injured. Stone said she didn't remember much of the accident, but one image (画面) stayed with her: a wounded Figo staying by her side, holding up his wounded right paw (爪子).

    "I knew he was hurt," she continued. "I remember Figo standing there, looking at me, trying to get close to me, but he didn't know what to do. Because he knew I was hurt." Figo had an operation (手术) on his right front leg. Figo's vet (兽医) said his leg was getting better.

    Stone said she was sure of one thing, "I'd have been sad if he had got killed." But, she added, they both lived to tell the story.

Information Card

    Eleven countries are building a great wall of trees across Africa. It is called the Great Green Wall. The aim is to bring life to the dry lands and help to fight the bad environment.

    The wall is 8, 000 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide. It covers from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east, on the south of the Sahara Desert (撒哈拉沙漠). So far, Senegal has made the best progress by planting about 11,000,000 trees.

    Many years ago, there were few trees in that area and the winds used to be very strong. It was harmful to the fields. Also, there was little rain, so few plants could grow and many people went hungry. Since the tree planting project started, the trees have provided food for the local people and increased the wetness (湿度) of the air. Little by little, there appeared green fields for people to grow plant.

    The project which began in 2007 is supposed to cost a total of 8, 000, 000, 000 dollars. Many countries are trying their best to help to continue the planting. So we will be able to see the whole green wall across Africa in the near future!

Improving Listening Sills in the Classroom

    Listening is a skill that needs to be learned and used well to be able to succeed in any environment. In the classroom, great listening skills mean the difference between a successful student and one who struggles (挣扎) in school.

    Come to class rested.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} When your body is well taken care of, your mental (精神的) focus will be much better. If you come to class sleepy or tired, it may be impossible for you to keep your eyes open and concentrate (集中) on what the teacher is saying.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Have everything you need at the start of the class. If you have homework, make sure you are ready to hand it in. Bring out your notebook and pen so you can start taking down notes Also, try to read your textbooks before coming into class. It will help you understand more easily what your teacher is talking about.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When you're in the front of the class, you'll have an easier time hearing what the teacher has to say you won't have a daydream when the teacher is near you.

    Take down notes.

    Write down what you hear in class. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It will also make you concentrate more on what is being said So you can properly take notes. Try to concentrate when you are in class so that you are able to get the key points during a lecture. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Once you learn techniques to help you with this skill, you should see an improvement in your listening.

    It's true that you can learn new words when you read or listen, but you should also study new words seriously. Here are a few things I do:

    Make flash cards(识字卡)：(A) I find this is really the best way to learn new words. Make some small cards and write the new English word on one side and the word in your language or in easy English on the other side to test yourself. To really make this work, you have to review often (You need a system! ). I think this is the best method for learning English vocabulary.

    Make sentences with the new words: This is great if you can ask someone to check them. It's also great to make some really crazy sentences-that way you won't forget them! I also collect example sentences of the words I'm trying to learn if I see the word in a book, I write down the sentence.

    Make up a mnemonic：A mnemonic is a way to remember something, like a little story. For example, (B) 我在厨房的门上贴上单词 kitchen. The problem with this is that it works for a while but then you get used to the words and forget to read them!

    Gordon stands in the hallway(走廊). No one is there. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's 8: 10 a. m. He is late for class. He has to go to the music room, but he doesn't know where it is.

    He knows the music room isn't on the first floor. His classroom is on the first floor. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} He knows he has to walk quickly. The teacher will be worried(担心的).

    Gordon goes to the second floor and he turns(转弯) to the right. He goes down the hallway. On the left, he sees a door. "It may be the music room," he thinks. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A young teacher is in it. Gordon asks the teacher, "Sorry, I'm new here. Do you know where the music room is?"

    "Sure," the teacher says. "It's on the third floor. Go upstairs and turn left. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} That is the music room. "

    Gordon thanks her and goes upstairs. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} "There you are!" Mr. Lewis says. "Your music teacher Mrs. Green asks me to find you." Gordon says, "I find you first!"