This week we asked students at New Star High School about the best ways to learn more English. Some said they learnt by using English. Some students had more specific suggestions.

      Lillian Li said the best way to learn new words was reading English magazines. She said that she never studied grammar. She thought it was too boring.

      Wei Ming felt differently. He has been learning English for six years and really loves it. He thought studying grammar was a great way to learn a language. He also thought that watching English movies was a good way to watch the actors say the words.

      Liu Chang said that joining the English Club at school was the best way to improve her English. Students got lots of practice and they also had fun.

    Alex turned his computer off and lay down on his bed．He grabbed the packet of chewing gum that was lying on the floor，popped （塞） one in his mouth and chewed it hard．

    He was bored．Today was Saturday and Steve，his best friend，was working as the newspaper boy again．Alex turned round and noticed the new skateboard under his desk that he'd won at his last skate contest．He decided to ride it to the skate shop，because the kids there would buy it from him immediately．

    He got up，grabbed his skateboard，opened the front door and rode away．He began to think of what he could buy with the money from selling the skateboard．He thought of the rock CDs．After a while he'd sell them to his friends，and with that money，he'd be able to buy skateboarding books．He'd sell those books back to Steve，and buy a few DVDs．Later he'd sell the DVDs to his elder brother's girlfriend!He could then get the ice﹣skating video，sell it to his small sister and…

    He skated along，a smile on his face，thinking of all the good things when he noticed a small bench on the side of the street．He just wanted to do one little trick on the skateboard，before selling it．He decided to do a kickflip boardslide．He didn't land on the bench and fell off the skateboard，hitting his knee on the curb （路缘）．

    He tried to get up：It hurt．He looked at the skateboard．It was broken in half…

根据短文内容，回答下列问题．

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Welcome to our talk show, Mr Brown. You are an actor and busy every day. But you try to find much time to exercise. Could you tell us what you usually do in your free time?

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}I know you like skateboarding, little John. When did you start it? How often do you go skateboarding?

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}I know you don't need to go to work on weekends, sir. How do you usually spend your weekends?

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Fruit, vegetables and milk are good for us. They are healthy. Do you often have them, Miss Yang?

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}As a waiter, you work at night and sleep in the day. How many hours do you sleep every day, Mr. Green? Do you think it's the same as a day job?

A. I'm busy and tired on weekdays. So I want to relax myself at home on weekends. I like surfing the Internet and do it for five or six hours every Saturday and Sunday.

B. I cook at home from Monday to Friday. On weekends, I usually go out to have dinner with my husband and son. Maybe I must find a job next month.

C. Skateboarding is fun. I started to learn to skateboard when I was five years old. Now I go skateboarding four or five times a week.

D. They are really good for us. I eat lots of fruit and vegetables every day. But I hardly drink milk. I think only kids can drink lots of milk.

E. I'm really busy. I have lots of movies and TV plays to make. But I want to keep in good health. So I do some running in my free time.

F. Most of us work and have meals in the day and sleep at night. A night job is different from a day job. I usually sleep for six or seven hours in the day. But I can't have meals like people who work in the day.

A. Be a Good Listener               B. Care About the Small Acts

C. Begin a Conversation             D. Make Time for Friendships

E. Give a Hand to New Neighbors     F. Remember Their Names

5 Ways To Build Friendship with Your Neighbors

    ①{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Often neighbors don't even know each other's names. But it's okay to be the one to break the ice. So as you see them at work in their yards, smile, wave and say hello. Ask how their kids are or what they think of the price at the local supermarket.

    ②{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Your new neighbors may be feeling lonely and unsure, especially if they're far from home. Your help will be welcomed by them. Leave your telephone number to them. If they have any questions, they can call you.

    ③{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Most of us find it difficult to remember people's names. Writing down the names of your neighbors and note about them, such as "Frank and Jill—Bob's neighbor," helps you remember their names. The next time we see Frank and Jill, we try to call them by name.

    ④{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    If you value a friendship with your neighbors, spend time with them. What better way to meet your neighbors than to invite them to a pool party or holiday open house? Chat with each for five minutes to get an idea of what your neighbors are like so that you can plan for food and music.

    ⑤{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    In a good relationship, it's really the little things that count. Help to bring in the mail for the elderly neighbor when there is a heavy rain. When your neighbor forgets to take in his rubbish cans, roll them back into his yard.

    Dear Mike,

    I am so grateful you are coming to see my father at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. Here is how you can find North Street Hospital.

    After coming to the People's Square, you walk northwards at the traffic lights and then come to the gate of East Street Park. Turn right and walk along the road. You'll find the Police Station. And then turn left and go along the road and take the second crossing on the right. Go on until you reach the end. You'll find North Street Hospital in front of you.

    I'll meet you at the gate of the hospital. I'm sure you'll have no trouble coming here.

Yours,

Wang Ping

Nowadays in school life, a lot of students develop a fear of tests. It's not because tests are something to be afraid of. Most students are afraid of tests mainly because they don't always think they are well—prepared and they don't have enough self—confidence. If you follow the advice below, it's not difficult to overcome your fear of tests.

People who know that they are not well—prepared are usually those who fear tests most. However, most students don't know when they are truly prepared for a test. As long as you know that you have studied well and long enough, you have reason to believe that you are well—prepared.

Be confident about yourself. Confidence before a test can bring about two results: either you fail the test and feel as if your confidence was unfounded (毫无根据的) or you could actually do well in the test because of your confidence. Some students find that they experience the first result. However, this is only because those students might not have followed the first advice mentioned above. As long as you have studied well, you will be more confident of your chance to succeed in a test. If you feel as if you have not studied hard enough, then you will not be as confident as you should be.

Ask your teacher in advance (提前) about the material that is going to be covered in the test. In this way, you will know what you should prepare for and you can get confidence in the test. But you have to be brave enough to ask. Most students do not ask unless their teacher gives the information first, so make sure that you ask.

You should know that tests are only telling if you have got the knowledge, not how good or bad your IQ is. So, even if you do badly in one test, you should know that there are other tests to come. As long as you think that there is another tomorrow, you can overcome your fear of a test. However, make sure that you are going to prepare well for the other tests.

Fear can be a problem in the process of achieving success. However, with the right attitude (态度) and preparations, you can overcome your fear of tests by using these suggestions.