In the mid 1990s, people started doing business on the Internet. At that time, there were two kinds of companies. First, there were traditional companies which sold things in shops. Then, there were Internet companies which didn't have shops; they sold things only over the net.

    Traditional companies didn't want to lose any business. Quickly, they created their own website and began selling things over the net. These are the so-called "brick and click" companies. Many shops are made of brick, and you click on your mouse to buy things with your computer. That's where the name "brick and click" comes from.

    By the late 1990s, e-businesses like Amazon.com and Buy.com were in trouble. Their profits were not very high, and there was a lot of competition. Many of these businesses lost a lot of money, and in 2000, many e-businesses went out of business.

    Why are "brick and click" companies, like Barnes & Noble, Toys "R" Us, and Walmart so successful? First, many customers know and trust their names. Their websites, like walmart.com, are easy to remember. These companies also have a lot of experience. They know how to run a successful business.

    In the world of e-commerce, companies are fighting for every dollar and every customer. Will "brick and click" companies win the war? Only time will tell.

Have you ever had lucid (清醒的) dreams? Recent studies suggest that the number of people having them is on the rise. Someone having a lucid dream realizes they are dreaming and may from then on" direct" the action, or they may simply " watch" the dream unfold. The sense of awareness (知道) makes it different from a dream that is simply very lively and true to life. And although the description may seem strange, the process is far from alien to many of us.

Studies suggest that the number of people in the Western world experiencing lucid dreams, which happen once in a while, has risen by between 10 and 40 per cent since the 1980s. Today, they are so common that about one in eight of us will have one in our lives. But still, little is known about what causes them or what is behind the rise.

Research carried out at the respected Harvard University in the US shows that the brain is working hard during lucid dreams. In fact, the level of the mental (精神

的) activity in some parts of the brain is similar to that of a person who is awake. Lucid dreamers seem to share certain personal characters. For example, in general they are quite creative. They are also good at digging deep into problems and going out of their way to solve them. Furthermore, they always believe in personal responsibility rather than letting society carry the can.

Our nightmares (噩梦) may show our waking worries, with the five most common ones-- falling, being run after, feeling disabled, being late and the death of a loved one. Men are more likely to have nightmares about fights or being fired while hair and tooth loss appear more in women's nightmares-perhaps showing worries about losing their looks. Research has also found that women have more nightmares than men. Their dreams are also scarier and more unforgettable.

Dear Mom,

Today is Sunday. I don't go {#blank#}1{#/blank#} school. I stay at home. So I can {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (write) to you now. Every day, I go to school {#blank#}3{#/blank#} seven thirty in the morning. We have four {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (lesson) in the morning. We read {#blank#}5{#/blank#} write in Chinese at school.

There are fifty-five students in my class. Four of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (they) are Americans. The other students are {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (China). Chinese people are friendly. Now I have some Chinese {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (friend). My classmates {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) all my friends. They teach {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (I) Chinese. I can speak a little Chinese now. Please don't worry about me.

Yours,
Kate

Rick and his 70-year-old mother lived together in a town. Rick preferred {#blank#}1{#/blank#} when he was young. Influenced by Rick, his mother loved cookies too. So Rick often {#blank#}2{#/blank#} her different ones after work. 

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Rick's mother got older, Rick had to send her to the nursing home far from his house because of Alzheimer's disease (阿尔茨海默病). His mother started to forget his name and her health condition was worse {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. She often asked, "Who are you?" Rick told her he was her son {#blank#}5{#/blank#} and again. She called his name happily and reached for his hands. 

One day, Rick saw a shop on his way to the nursing {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. So he bought some cookies as before. After his mother ate them, she {#blank#}7{#/blank#} down and rested. Rick sat close to the bed. His mother held his hands and fell asleep {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a smile. 

Rick looked at his sleeping mother and recalled his childhood. His mother used to buy him cookies and he always enjoyed the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} just like his mother now. What sweet memories! Rick hugged his mom and told her {#blank#}10{#/blank#} much he loved her. 

Rick's mother passed away 3 months later. Rick would never forget her smile. It was {#blank#}11{#/blank#} a beautiful moment.

China's 15-year-old Chen Ye won the gold medal in the men's bowl final of skateboarding(滑板男子碗池决赛) at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sept. 25. 2023, 

Chen started getting into this sport at the age of 8. "I remember one day I went to a sports store, and by chance I saw a skateboard. I decided to give it a try, "Chen told China Daily. Although it was really challenging to stay on the board at first, Chen found it very interesting, compared with other hobbies. "Every time I learned some difficult skills, I felt the joy of making breakthroughs(突破), "said Chen. 

Gradually, Chen needed a better skate bowl for training. To meet the need, his father decided to make a skate bowl himself. "He gave up his job and worked on the bowl late into the night, "said Chen. "I'm really thankful for my father's support. "

As a junior high school student, Chen needed to find a balance between his schoolwork and skateboarding. His only "privilege(特权)" was being free from P. E. classes, during which he would do schoolwork because he needed to practice in his own skate bowl for hours after returning home. He trained in the morning, studied in the afternoon and sometimes had to have extra classes with the teachers' help. While getting ready for the competition this year, he trained for more hours at night to avoid interfering(干扰)with daytime classes. 

Looking at seven years of learning skating, Chen said this experience made him stronger and more determined to do something he truly loves.