Dear Sir,

    My name is Li Qiang. I'm in Class 3, Grade 2, and I'm thirteen and a half years old. I want to be in a club in our school. I do well in languages and I can speak English very fluently（流利地）. I can also play the piano very well. I took part in several English competitions. Last year in School English Show I got the first prize. So I think I can be in the English club.Can I join you? Me email is liqiang666@163.com. Please write me back and let me know.

Li Qiang

Teenagers growing pains

    Today, our students are facing many different problems and they want to ask some experts for help. Nancy says she feel stressed these days because of too much homework. She hasn't enough time to sleep for a long time and often falls asleep during the classes. John says he doesn't like to study because of the bad effect of computer games. Cindy says she gets fat because she likes to eat junk food and hardly ever takes exercise. Frank has the worst problem. He always fights with others as he doesn't know how to get on well with others and few of his classmates would like to talk with him.

    We often dine out with others, but do you know some basic etiquette (礼节)? If you behave well at the table, it will make your partners happy. But if you don't know how to behave yourself, you will feel embarrassed. Here are some tips for the table etiquette.

    When helping a woman pull her chair to the table, hold it and guide it. Don t shove(碰撞)it against the back of her legs.
     If you're seated at a table with eight or fewer guests, wait for everyone to be served and for the hostess(女主人) to begin eating before you dig in. At a long banquet table, it's OK to start when several people are seated and served.

    If you prefer not to have wine while dining out, don't turn your glass upside down, and don t make a big deal of saying you don't drink. Simply place your fingertips on the rim(边缘) of the glass and say" Not today, thanks."

    When you excuse yourself to go to the restroom, just say" Please excuse me."

    When out with friends or family—even at a fancy restaurant –it's OK to ask for your leftovers(吃剩的饭菜) to be wrapped. But don't do it at a business lunch or dinner.

Information Card

    Farming in the USA today is very different from that 100 years ago. In those days, farmers did not have many machines to help them. They had animals. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}This meant that farms were smaller than they are now. Farmers also worked in a different way in the past. In those days, farmers grew fruits and vegetables and kept cows, pigs and chickens to feed their families. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Farmers have a very special life in many ways. First of all, they can't leave the job at the end of the day. They live on the farm and there is always work to do. Second, a lot of farm work is outdoors, so the weather is very important for farmers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A lot of bad weather means farmers will lose money. Finally, farmers work with plants and animals. They understand nature better than other people do.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Spring is a time for planting. Farmers are busy getting the fields ready and then planting the seeds(种子). In summer, farmers must take good care of the plants. Some may need water. Other plants may have problems with insects or diseases. Then in fall, the fruits or plants are ready for picking. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Winter is a time for rest or for work on the farm machines.

A. Farm work changes with the seasons.

B. That is a very busy time for farmers.

C. But animals work slowly compared to machines.

D. It is also important for the success of their farms.

E. Today farmers grow things on the farms so they can sell them.

    Mr Smith was ill and he went to see a doctor. The doctor asked him to put out his tongue(舌头), and then he said," OK, You can put your tongue back now. There's nothing wrong with you, but I'm afraid you have a problem. You hardly ever take exercise."

   "But, doctor," Mr Smith said," I don't think so."

   "Don't tell me what you think," the doctor said," I know what you need. I see a lot of people like you. None of them goes any exercise. They sit in offices all day and in front of the television in the evening. You must walk quickly for at least(至少)20 minutes a day."

   "I don't want to hear any excuse," the doctor said." You must find time for exercise. If you don't, you will get fat and have health problems."

   "But I walk every day," Mr Smith said.

   "Oh, yes, and I know what kind of walking that is. You walk a few meters to the bus stop from your house, a few more meters from the bus stop to your office, and a few more meters from your office to your dining—room for lunch and back. That's not a real walk. I'm talking about a walk in the park or by the lake for twenty minutes every day."

   "Would you please listen to me, doctor? Mr Smith said, getting a little angry with his doctor.

   "I'm a postman," Mr Smith went on," and I walk for nearly(几乎)seven hours every day."

    For a moment the doctor was silent(沉默的), then he said quietly," Put out your tongue again, will you?

Information Card