Each and every year, during Chongyang Festival, citizens of China celebrate the elders in their families and communities. It's a special tradition which is rooted in the deep value that Chinese culture places on honouring their elders.

Sadly, many of our aging population are seniors without sons, daughters or grandchildren to visit. While they may have great friends, they no doubt miss the tender and loving relationships unique to families. To fill this void（空虚）, many volunteers turned up on October 28 at nursing homes around the country in order to spend time with the residents. In some cases, they performed humble（谦逊的） gestures of kindness, such as combing their hair or washing their feet.

    While the kind acts were appreciated, one embarrassing story out of Anhui province raised a valuable question. Reportedly, one old gentleman had his feet washed seven times during the day by different volunteers. Is this genuinely（真诚地） caring for the elderly? Many of the residents at the home said that those gestures do not make them feel cared for at all. Their family members or community volunteers may drop by for a few hours of token time, but soon they disappear back into their busy lives.

    There is nothing we can give that is more valuable or appreciated than our time. While you may feel like there is barely enough time to care for your many responsibilities, might it be possible to spare just a moment as you walk home from school to sit with a senior who lives in your community? Just five minutes is not going to prevent you from getting your homework done, but it may totally change a day of loneliness into a day of joy for one old man or woman. Do you live far from your grandparents? Why not pick up the phone and let them know you're thinking of them? Or maybe you could remind them of the “good old days” and mail them a short letter. Imagine their surprise and joy!

We live in a complicated（复杂的） and busy world, but kindness and caring is still a very simple thing.

    During rush hours, you never know when a bus or a taxi might come. Walking might be too tiring. If it's about two or three miles away, which kind of transportation will you choose?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Bike shares are a growing convenience in many cities around the world.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Riders usually have to pick up a bike at a self—serve station and return it at another station later. However, a Chinese bike—sharing company called Ofo, is bringing this idea to a new level.

    Like any other bike—sharing service, Ofo users can get a bike at any time.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Instead, they can pick one up wherever and whenever they please. To get a bicycle, riders with the app are able to find the nearest one.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}After parking the bike, all they have to do is to lock it.

    This Chinese company already has its bicycle throughout China, the United States and Singapore.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} “We want to reach more cities, connect more bikes and serve more people”, said Ofo founder Dai Wei.

A. Thousands of bike sharing programs have been set up by the governments.

B. When a rider is done with the bike, returning is just as easy.

C. This month, 500 Ofo bicycles will be set up in Cambridge, England.

D. For short journeys, riding a bike could be the best solution.

E. The big difference is that they don't need to find a self—serve station.

English weather

    Everybody talks about the weather in England and this is not surprising. It changes from minute to minute, so it's always interesting. Someone once wisely remarked(评论) that other countries have a climate, but England just has weather! Gretel was amazed by this talk at first, but she has got used to it now.

    Last month Gretel really understood why everyone is so concerned about the weather:  you can never be certain what's going to happen. Though it was spring, there were heavy snowfalls. As usual, no one expected it. The pipes in many houses were frozen; trains failed to run; cars on the roads shrank; there were many accidents on the roads; lots of people slipped on the icy pavements and got hurt. The weather was very bad. Everyone complained gloomily(沮丧地), "What awful weather we're having! Haven't seen anything like it!". And then, suddenly, the sun came out, the snow melted and it was spring again.

    "Typical(典型的)! Just typical! " Gretel remarked. "From the way you talk about the weather, Gretel," Mr Clark said, "anyone would think you were English."

Dear Alice,

    Thanks for your e-mail. My name is Zhang Ling. I am in Chongqing. I don't have a sister. You are happy to have a sister. In the morning, I eat breakfast at home with my parents. After breakfast, my father takes me to school. I have math and English in the morning. I eat lunch at school. In the afternoon, I play sports with my friends. I eat dinner at home.

Yours,

Zhang Ling

    Tom Smith is English. He is 12. He is in No.8 Middle School. Is he in {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, Grade 7? Yes, he is. There are {#blank#}2{#/blank#}people in his family. Amy Smith is his {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. She is 60. His {#blank#}4{#/blank#} is John Smith. He is 41. What's his mother's name? Her name is Kate Smith. How old（多大年纪）is she? She's 40. Who is Mike Smith? He's Tom's {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. He is only eight.