Twenty-First Century Books

      Probably you have seen someone reading a book on an electronic reading device. Over the past few years, these small computers have become more popular. For that reason, more companies that make  {#blank#}1{#/blank#}   paper books are now making electronic books (ebooks). Most ebooks are the same as paper books,   {#blank#}2{#/blank#}  people download a file into a reading device rather than   {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  the paper book. This way they can  {#blank#}4{#/blank#}   many books.
      Books companies are adding special features   {#blank#}5{#/blank#}   some ebooks. These extra features might include sound files, picture files, or video files. When the readers click on these files they learn more about the book, the story, or the writer.
    The latest electronic readers are smaller and   {#blank#}6{#/blank#} , but they are also much more powerful. They can store much more information, so writers and book companies can do more with   {#blank#}7{#/blank#}   ebooks. They do not want to just add files to   {#blank#}8{#/blank#}   completed book. They are making the sound, picture, and video files part of the story. Readers need these files to understand the whole story. Readers can {#blank#}9{#/blank#} change the story.
    Readers already have a lot of books to choose from. If they can change the way stories end, they will have more {#blank#}10{#/blank#}  !

Dear Tony,

    I am very glad to get{#blank#}1{#/blank#} letter again. But I'm sorry to know that you have {#blank#}2{#/blank#}many problems. I really worry about you. Today I like to give you some{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. I hope it can help you a little.

    You should be{#blank#}4{#/blank#}outing and friendly than before. You should take part in more after-class{#blank#}5{#/blank#} with your classmates and make friends {#blank#}6{#/blank#}them. As for your studies, you should listen to your teachers{#blank#}7{#/blank#}in class and if you have any questions, you should {#blank#}8{#/blank#}them for help. You said that you didn't understand what your English teacher said in class. You can tell{#blank#}9{#/blank#}the problem. She can help you. Of course you can also get help from your classmates. I'm {#blank#}10{#/blank#}they will be kind to you. I wish everything will be OK.

    Huang Hua

    Is it true that we British people have a different sense of humor from people in other countries? Let's have a look at what we laugh at in {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    To us British people, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} and important people often cause laughter. It's not just politicians (政客) who make us laugh, but anyone whose job is to tell other people what to do and who takes {#blank#}3{#/blank#} too seriously.

    We laugh at the power, but also, pitifully, at anyone who is treated {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. We know they cannot win, but if they do win sometimes, it's even {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Our clowns (小丑) are often silly people doing silly things, while in America, they are often clever people doing clever things-and {#blank#}6{#/blank#} at last.

    The fact that we laugh when other people might feel {#blank#}7{#/blank#} is one of the strangest things to learn about British humor. We do have a strong sense of irony (反讽). After some terrible experience, we might say, "Not very {#blank#}8{#/blank#}." And we might say in the middle of a typhoon, "It's a bit windy today." Or "There is a tiny problem," when something has gone {#blank#}9{#/blank#} wrong. We don't like to express strong feelings, but just "keep calm and carry on".

    Another things that can make it difficult {#blank#}10{#/blank#} British humor is that we don't always laugh or even smile when we say something funny. We often keep a straight face or use an unsmiling expression when we're making a joke.

    Do you think the British sense of humor is special?

    My cousin Peter is a 12-year-old boy who is quiet and easy-going. He works hard at school and always{#blank#}1{#/blank#} good grades. So my parents always tell me {#blank#}2{#/blank#}from Peter, to be as hard-working as him. "If you work harder than Peter, we {#blank#}3{#/blank#} so happy." They sometimes say.

    Last weekend, I went to Peter's house to ask him for help with my computer, because he's good at that. But just before I got to his house, I {#blank#}4{#/blank#} him running to me in a hurry.

    "What's going on?" I asked him.

    "I {#blank#}5{#/blank#} to stop two boys from fighting."

    "Who are fighting? And why are you running?"

    "My brother Alan and I …"

    Every night in Jinan University in Guangzhou, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}play diabolo (空竹) as a crowd watches in amazement.

    Chen Zhelun, 25, a Malaysian-Chinese started the diabolo club, which helps to increase the popularity of this traditional Chinese game. He is one of many students expressing their interest in the country's cultural heritage (遗产) by {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    The diabolo, which came from China, is popular among Chinese living in Malaysia.

    "We played diabolo from primary school onward. I thought I could find someone {#blank#}3{#/blank#}in China, but only a few students knew about it. So I started a club to develop it," says Chen.

    To Chen's surprise, the old game has interested a huge crowd—more than 1,000students have joined the club.

    "It {#blank#}4{#/blank#}and it's fun," says Chen.

    But some prefer quieter activities. Every weekend, one classroom in Shenzhen University is always crowded, but it's unusually silent. The members of Lanting Calligraphy Club are writing Chinese characters with traditional brushes.

    As head of the traditional Chinese local operas club, Kong Yanquan plans to put modern elements (元素) into traditional culture to get students to join his club.

    "I think it's everyone's duty {#blank#}5{#/blank#}China's traditional culture among young people," he says.