Homework is a problem for students all over the world. As a student, you have a lot of homework to do every day. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. And it helps you understand important knowledge. Luckily, there're several things you can do to make homework less difficult.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Write your homework down in your notebook if you need to. Don't be afraid to ask questions about it. Understand why you should do your homework.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Many schools have study halls. The students can study there. It's more interesting to play with your friends. But the more homework you finish at school, the less you'll have to do that night at home.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It is difficult to hold your attention for too long. So take some breaks while doing your homework. Taking a 15-minute break every hour is a good idea for most people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If you don't finish your homework at school, think about how much you have left. It's a good idea to make a homework plan, especially when you want to enjoy sports or other activities.

    It's a must-eat fruit in Southeast Asia. People there call it "King of Fruits" Many love it so much that they eat it at every meal. "what's it?" you may ask. It is the durian (榴莲).

    The durian can only grow in hot places. Its name "durian" comes from the Malay word "duff". It means "thorn (刺)".

    The durian is the most famous fruit in Southeast Asia. It looks big and dangerous and has a very strong smell (浓烈的气味).有许多不同种类的榴莲 They come in different sizes. A durian can grow up to 30cm long, and usually it can be as heavy as 1 to 3kg.

    The greatest thing about the durian is its inside (内部). When you open it up, a very strong smell comes out. Some people love this smell, but others don't like it! In Singapore, people cannot bring a durian into a hotel room or onto a city train. And they can't bring a durian onto some planes either.

    Although the durian has a strong smell, it tastes quite good. It tastes soft (软的) and sweet. Some animals living in the forest like it!

    My hometown is different from what it looked like before. To be honest, it is more beautiful than before. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Ten years ago, it used to be a poor village. There was only one mountain path (小路) to go there. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} People lived in low straw­thatched cottages (破草房). Now my hometown has changed a lot since our government helped us. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} So it's convenient to go in and out of our hometown. Also, we have built some schools so that the children can receive a good education. As people have made more money by working in the cities, or planting more economic crops (经济作物). {#blank#}4{#/blank#} All the villagers are living in new houses, some even in large buildings. There is a beautiful park in our town. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Every day, after dinner people would like to go to the park to enjoy themselves. We are living a happy life now.

Dear Mum and Dad,

    We have some exciting news for you. Jenny is going to have a baby! {#blank#}1{#/blank#} At first, the doctor said she might have some trouble with the baby. Now he says she is just fine. She is very healthy and happy! She still works on her paintings every day. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} She gets tired more quickly now.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} We're moving to New York! We want to be closer to you and Jane. It's much nicer to be near the family. Jenny grew up in Mexico, and she doesn't have a family member here. So that makes you even more important for us.

    Jenny is a little worried about working in New York. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In Italy her paintings are already popular. But I'm sure people will like her in New York. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I'm still working for the New York Times. I'll be writing about the United Nations in New York. We're planning to move next month.

    See you then!

Yours,

Jim

    How do you talk with new people when meeting them if you want to leave a good impression? Here are some tips for you.

    When you meet new people, you always want to leave a good impression. But do you know how to be a good speaker? Here is some advice for you.

    The first advice is that you have to show up and observe or listen to others even if you can tell stories {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. If you go near a group of people, watch their body language to see if they will offer you a {#blank#}2{#/blank#} to talk with them. The second advice for you is that some topics should be {#blank#}3{#/blank#} before the conversation. Next, you don't need to be {#blank#}4{#/blank#} of silences. You can rush to fill them or leave for another group. The last is relaxing. If you can't keep a conversation going or you {#blank#}5{#/blank#} what you should say next, take a break and clear your head, then return to the discussion.

    Have you ever been to Ireland? If not, you should think of spending a vacation there. The Republic of Ireland stands in the south of the island. There are about 4, 810, 000 people in the country and the weather is quite wet but warm. Falls of snow in Ireland are most unusual.

    Ireland is full of interesting things to do. You'll find restaurants and cafes everywhere. Most of them have a long list of Irish food and drinks. After your meal, you can take a walk along the shore. The countryside is good for horse riding. Other sports you may want to do are sailing, boating, swimming, fishing and golfing. Ireland is famous for its theaters and festivals. So why don't you stay longer for a party, an opera or a concert? The Irish people are kind and friendly. From mountains to beaches you will find people ready to stop and talk about the weather, the local geography or history and maybe about what you should see next.