Fire was discovered many thousands of years ago. The first time humans saw fire was probably when a tree was destroyed by lightning(闪电). Humans soon learned how to make fire. They probably made the first fire by rubbing (摩擦)two sticks together.

 Fire was very important to humans. They needed to keep warm at night. They used fire to cook food. They used fire to keep enemies and wild animals away. In some parts of the world fire was used to send messages. The Indians in America, for example, used fire to make smoke as a message. In some other countries people lit fires to warn their friends of danger.

Fire was also used to give light. Before the invention of the oil lamp(灯), humans burned sticks to get light. 

One man even used fire to tell the time. He invented a candle clock. He made a candle that took exactly twelve hours to burn. Then he marked this candle in twelve equal(相等的) parts. He lit the candle and could tell the time by counting the number of parts left of the burning candle. But the candle clock did not always work well. If there was a wind blowing on the candle, it burned too quickly.

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   Do you have a QQ number? Many people like to chat online using QQ. QQ has become the most popular way of communication(交流).It even changes the way people communicate with each other. Do you know who invented QQ? Let me tell you. QQ was invented by Ma Huateng.
   Ma Huateng was born in 1971. （1）When he was very young, he showed a great interest in astronomy.（天文学） However, he chose to learn computer when he entered Shenzhen University in 1989. （2）In his eyes, computer science was closer to everyday life compared to (与…相比) astronomy. He worked hard and became the best student in his class. He was popular among students and teachers at school.

（3）He worked as a computer programmer in a company in Shenzhen for five years . Then he started his own company in 1988. It was difficult at the beginning and he had to work hard every day.(4) After he invented QQ,  his business got better and better. It is said that now there are at least three hundred million people using QQ. To be honest, the number of QQ users is getting larger and larger. (5) It is a wonder, isn't it?

    How can you get happiness? Most people may say that happiness means a nice house, a car, a big bank balance and a high paying job.

    Here in India where I live now, I have travelled through villages where people seemed to earn enough to make ends meet(收支平衡). I can see happiness. I have seen smiling faces and smiling eyes. They were very happy and made my journey easier.

    I also worked on Wall Street in 1997, in a big Investment Bank. I have seen some people with a lot of money but still unhappy because they pay more attention to their material life. I am not saying that all rich are unhappy. In fact, some rich people look angry or ill, but some poor people look happy.

    Happiness is not a thing of how much you have. Happiness is a life full of hope and good emotions. You can feel happy by listening to a good song; you can feel happy watching a beautiful sunrise; you can feel happy in lots of ways that don't need any possessions(财富) at all.

Information Card

●Build a good home learning environment.

    School is not the only place for study. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}It is important to provide a workplace of their own, so that they can read books or just write a letter to their friends.

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    Kitchen and dining room are not suitable for regular study, because books and pens get in the way of daily uses of those areas. Find a place where a child can leave his papers and pens without having to clear everything away every night. For a child that likes being alone, give him a corner in his bedroom. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

●Keep things in order.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Parents should encourage their children to leave them neat and orderly when they aren't using their workplaces. It is important for the children to have room for themselves. The workplace should be personal, but not another part of the playroom.

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    Encourage the whole family to help support the environment that children need for success at school. Give them a good example of how to deal with problems, how to manage time and how to get things done in the right way. Study will be more enjoyable when it is supported by the whole family.