True friends are rare to make these days. Even if you believe you've connected with someone, how do you really know he is a true friend? And often you will find that someone who you thought you could trust may disappoint you. There are ways you can know if a friendship is true and how you can hold onto that friend.

    A true friend is someone who will be there for you no matter what happens. Through good times and bad times, they will stand by you. They will accept you for who you are without trying to change you, and they will be there to help you grow in new ways.

    Trust is another important aspect. A true friend will keep your secrets. You can depend on them. They will listen and be someone you know you can talk things over with, even if they may not have advice to share with you.

    Friendship is a two-way street. To find true friends and keep them, you must in turn be the same as well. Be there for them in their hard times and share the good times with them. Be someone your friends can depend on and offer them the same things they give to you. A friendship will fall apart fast if only one person is giving and putting all the effort in. To keep a true friendship, you must be honest.

    There will be barriers in the road but that is the test of true friendship. If it can survive those barriers, it will be stronger and last forever. St Thomas Aquinas said, “There is nothing on this earth more prized than friendship” and it holds true.

Where you sit and how you fit

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For more than seventy years, researchers and teachers have studied the link between the place where students choose to sit in class and what they are like as people and learners. Where do you usually decide to sit? Have you ever really thought about the reasons for your decision?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But is this really true? Well, some researchers say it is not. In fact, shy students often choose the back row because it is far away from the teacher and they don't want to answer questions. At the back, students probably won't speak much, but in big classrooms, it can be hard to see the board and hear what the teacher is saying. This could be the reason why students who sit here often get lower grades on tests and exams. For students with poor eyesight or hearing, a seat at the back of the classroom is not a good choice.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, they like watching and listening rather than joining in. These students are usually also very good at taking notes. Next time you miss a class, borrow notes from someone who sits here. On the sides of the classroom you will generally find modest and thoughtful people. These people usually get good grades in school and are interested in learning.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Then the statistics (统计数据) say you probably like your teacher. You probably also have a good relationship with your classmates. Caring, outgoing, and cheerful people usually sit in the middle. They are normally serious about learning and feel disappointed with low grades on tests and exams.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Students who sit here usually want to discuss things with the teacher and are often very interested in the subject. They want to be in the best place to see and hear everything the teacher does and says. The only problem with sitting here is that it can be difficult to see and hear what other students do and say in class. So, if you really want to hear what everyone says in class, choose a different place to sit.

⑴ {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Jeff likes sports and travel. He would like something that can help him spend boring time on his journey(旅途).

⑵ {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Mrs. Green doesn't like to exercise, but she likes cooking and reading books about foreign places.

⑶ {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Mr. Dean wants to improve his garden during summer, So he would like something that can help him to do that.

⑷ {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Lisa, a 22-year old girl, worries about her weight(体重). She is wondering how to lose weight.

⑸ {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Sophia likes to look smart. When she is free, she enjoys listening to the music. Now she plans to learn something about music.

    I am from India. India is a large country in southern Asia. It has the second largest population in the world. People in India speak 16 different languages. The main language in our country is Hindi(印地语).

    Do you know Indian food? Indian people think it is good if it is hot. My favourite food is lamb(羊羔肉)with bread and spice. I think it is the most delicious food in the world.

    Only about one third of the people in India know how to read and write. Some parents only send their sons to school. I am very lucky because I know how to read and write.

    The India elephants are very famous around the world. They eat many kinds of fruits, like bananas. An elephant eats between 330 and 350 pounds of food and drinks lots of water each day. So they have to travel to new places to get new food and water. A mother elephant always takes good care of her baby. When she is away, other elephants will look after her baby.

    Mr. Smith is an American man.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}His English classes are very interesting.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}We all like him .He is our good friend.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Tom is seven and Marry is four.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}They are very lovely (可爱的). Mr. Smith likes sport.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}He often plays basketball with us.