When Justin Tong was a child, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him doing lots of housework such as carrying out the rubbish and sending newspapers. But when he grew up, he was better off than his childhood friends and lived a happier and healthier life.

This is the finding of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 children in London. It showed that the children who had worked hard in childhood had a richer and a happier future. "Children who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力) and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society," said Daniel Brown, the psychologist(心理学家) who made the discovery. "And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them."

Brown's study followed these children in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25, 31 and 47. Under Brown, the researchers compared the children's mental-health scores with their childhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.

    Working at any age is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence — the underpinnings (基础) of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this.

    Yet work isn't everything. As Tolstoy once said, "One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one's work."

My cousin Tommy was born in a small city in 2009. It's in the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (西方) of Germany, and it has a population of about 2,000,000. There are lots of things to do, with a library, a park, a zoo and a{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (体育馆). Tommy likes playing basketball, he thinks it is an {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (激动人心的) sport. He does well in it. The city is also famous for its beautiful lakes and some famous {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (大学).

Last weekend, the weather was fine. Tommy's classmates wanted to play with him. Tommy {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (提议) to go to the zoo. There were many people in it, so it's very {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (拥挤的). The children were all interested in the animals from foreign countries, especially pandas. They all {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (同意) that pandas were very cute. {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (然而), they were sorry to know that pandas and many other animals were in {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (危险). Many wild animals don't have a safe place to live, and what's more, there isn't enough clean water to drink. At last, they decided to save their pocket money to help {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (保护) animals.

Are there any rules in your family?

A reporter, Tim {#blank#}1{#/blank#} four students about their family rules.

On school days, Jack can't play computer {#blank#}2{#/blank#} and has to go to bed before nine o'clock. He must take a shower before {#blank#}3{#/blank#} to bed. He 39. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} clean the house on the weekend.

Jim has to get up at six o'clock every morning. He must do his homework {#blank#}5{#/blank#} after school. He can't watch TV {#blank#}6{#/blank#} listen to music on weekdays, either. His mother is a teacher. She is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} with Jim very much.

Sally can't {#blank#}8{#/blank#} loudly (大声地) at home. She has to listen to English before going to bed. She has to play the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} on Sundays.

Mike must run in the morning. He can't eat junk food (垃圾食品). He has to help his mom do {#blank#}10{#/blank#} housework.

Rick and his classmates are visiting the City Zoo near their school. Mr. Wells, a zookeeper, 1 them around and says, "Let's go and see our new 2 —Daisy, an otter (水獭)!"

The kids happily run to a 3 . There, they see the otter lying near the water, looking sad.

"Is Daisy sick(生病)?" Rick asks.

"No. She 4 needs friends." Mr. Wells says, "But we have no money to buy 5 otter."

" A life without a friend is terrible!" the kids feel 6 for Daisy.

The trip is fun, 7 the kids keep quiet on the bus ride back to the 8 . Suddenly, Rick asks, "Is there anything we can do for Daisy?"

"Yes!" Lisa 9 an idea, "What about having a bake sale? Then we can make some money for the zoo!"

"Great!" the kids all say, "People will love the idea and 10 !"

The next morning, the class all 11 their home-made cakes to school. The cakes are very 12 and soon sell out. "Wow! We've collected 13 $300!" Rick calls, "Let's send the money to the zoo!"

Two weeks later, a thank-you note comes to the class. It 14 .

Dear kids,

Thanks for your help! Daisy has a friend. Come and see them at any time!

The City Zoo

"Daisy must love her 15 life now!" Rick says and the class all smile.

I want to tell you something about my weekend. 1 Saturday morning, I usually get up very early. It is about 8:00 a.m. I often run with my father around my apartment (公寓). After I 2 my breakfast, I often go shopping with my mother. The shopping centre is far from our home, 3 we go there by bus. We spend about 20 minutes 4 there. The shopping centre has a 5 name. It is called Louis Mall. It doesn't have 6 Chinese name.

There are many things there, such as food, meat, clothes, shoes and so on. There 7 lots of people every day. Do you know 8 so many people come here to buy things? Let 9 tell you. The 10 there always smile. How kind they are! If you come to my home, I can take you there and have a look.