Are you good with money? Do you get pocket money from your parents or do you work to make money? Read on to find out about British teenagers and their money!

    Pocket money

    Most teenagers in Britain receive pocket money from their parents. They might have to do some housework to get pocket money, including cleaning, cooking, washing dishes and so on.

    Part-time work

    A part-time job is a choice for teenagers who don't have pocket money or who want to get extra money. About 15% teenagers have a job. Only children over the age of 13 can work. Popular part-time jobs for teens include babysitting, delivering (递送) newspapers, restaurant work and shop work. Children in Britain can work two hours a day at the most on a school day but not during school hours. During weekends and school holidays, they can work longer hours.

    Bank accounts (账户)

    Some children and teenagers have a bank account. There is no age limit at which you can open a bank account, but a bank manager can decide whether to open an account for a child or a young person. Parents can put pocket money directly into their child's bank account. Most banks have a prepaid bank card designed for young people.

    Mobile apps

    Many companies have made mobile apps for children, including GoHenry, Osper and Gimi. Parents can add money to their children's accounts and check to see how the money is spent. Children can choose to save their money or spend it using a card. The apps suggest that kids from 8 to 13 can use the cards.

    So, many teenagers are getting experience working part-time, dealing with banks and deciding whether to save or spend their money. These are all steps towards becoming a financially independent (经济独立的) person and making and looking after your own money.

For thousands of years, humans have explored the earth. Nowadays, we are exploring space. Many astronomers (天 文 学 家) are looking for new planets and new places for humans to live in the future. But where do astronomers start looking?

First, astronomers look for a star(恒星),because our own earth moves around a star. More importantly, it is the correct distance(距离) from the Sun for heat and light. So when astronomers have found the star, they look at the planets around it. In recent years, astronomers have found nearly 400 new planets with stars. However, many of these planets are either too near the star or too far away.

Then, if the planet is in a good position(位置), astronomers look for three key things: water, air and rock. Water is important because all life needs water. And plants produce air for humans to breathe and food to eat. Rock is also important, because there is often water under the rock.

After many years of scrutinising, astronomers have found a planet that is similar to the earth. It's Gliese 581g and it's near a star. The astronomers think it has water and rock. Gliese 581g is bigger than the earth. A year on Gliese 581g is only 37 earth days instead of 365. But astronomers do not think these are big differences and some of them think Gliese 581g will be a new earth.

Eating habits are different in different {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (country). The Chinese have a saying "Eat good things for breakfast, eat a big meal for lunch, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} eat less at dinner." Many Americans agree that a man should start the day with {#blank#}3{#/blank#} good breakfast, but their ideas about lunch and dinner are quite different. 

How to eat for lunch and dinner is quite different in the two countries. Most Americans only have a short time to eat for lunch. So they eat a small lunch. After work they will have more time {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (eat) a big dinner. Also, a big dinner at home with all the family talking about their days is a way {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (take) a good rest after a long, hard day of work. 

Eating at restaurants is quite different. In China, people like talking and laughing while eating. Very often you can hear people {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (talk) and laughing loudly and they are just having a good time. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}, in America it is not {#blank#}8{#/blank#} this. They want a quiet place where they can eat a good meal far away from the noises of the outside world. If someone is talking too {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (loud), the manager of the restaurant may come and ask them {#blank#}10{#/blank#} be quiet.

There is nothing like chocolate. Just thinking about it can make your mouth water. September 13 is the International Chocolate Day, which gives us a good reason to celebrate the world's most popular sweet. 

Chocolate comes from a civilization（文明）called the Maya. They had a special food called cocoa. The word cocoa means" gift from God". About five hundred years ago, the Europeans found the Mayans and used cocoa to make chocolate. 

For centuries, only the rich could enjoy chocolate, and normal people could not get hold of it. All this changed when European companies started to produce chocolate bars in the 19th century. Chocolate comes in different colors and sizes. People often eat white, dark and milk chocolate. The biggest chocolate bar was ever made in Italy in 2011 and weighed almost 6 tons! That's as big as an elephant. 

There are also different shapes of chocolate and people often take them as holiday gifts. Chocolate bunnies（小兔子）and eggs are popular on Easter, chocolate coins are common on Christmas Day, and chocolate hearts are great gifts for Valentine's Day. At certain parties and wedding ceremonies(结婚典礼), chocolate fountains always surprise guests. 

Lots of people say chocolate is bad for your health. Not necessarily so! Scientists now say it is good for people's heart and can make the body release chemicals that actually make us happy and make us feel better. But don't eat too much of it. 

Trains are great for getting around cities and traveling long distances (距离). Here are some of the world's fastest trains.