Hello, I'm Helen Brown. I have a brother, Mike. My father is a doctor and my mother is a bus driver. They don't work on Saturdays and Sundays. They like swimming on Sundays. They like cooking, but Mike and I don't. We like playing table tennis with our friends. In the evening, we watch TV. Sometimes Mike and I listen to music, but my parents don't. They like reading.

    Today is Sunday.Jenny, Kim, Steven and Danny are at home. In the morning, Jenny does her homework. Kim reads a book. Danny writes a story. In the afternoon, Kim washes her clothes. Jenny sings a song. Steven plays ping­pong. They are happy!

    Hello, boys and girls. I'm Danny. I'm tall. I'm fat. I can draw my teacher. Look, this is my teacher. He's a new teacher. He's Mr Wang. He's tall. He is big. He can play football and swim. He can ride a bicycle, too. Look at the bicycle. It's not red. It's green. It's new. I like his bicycle. Can you ride a bicycle?

Chen Jie: I have a ruler.

Sarah: I have an eraser.

Mike: I have a pen.

John: I have a book and a bag.

    There are two important dates in the last month of the Chinese lunar calendar(农历) before the Chinese New Year.

    The first is the Laba Festival(腊八节)on the 8th day of the 12^th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It is a time--people hope for a good harvest(收成) in the next year. People always eat Laba porridge( 腊八粥)on this day.

    The other important date is the Kitchen God Worshipping Day( “灶王爷”祭拜日) on the 23rd or 24th day of the 12th month. It is said that the Kitchen God goes to heaven (天堂)that day to report (报告)about. each family's activities(活动). People give him delicious food. Then he will give them a good report and give their families good luck in the next year.

Mary: What can you do at home, Lisa?

Lisa: I can clean the windows and make the bed. What about you, Tom?

Tom: I can cook the meal and water the flowers. Can you sweep the floor?

Lisa: Yes, of course. I often help my mom sweep the floor.

Mary: No, I can't. But I can do the dishes and wash the clothes.

Tom: We are all helpful at home.