There are lots of strange things about animals in the world. Do you know the following things?

    You may think bears walk slowly. In fact, they can run very fast like horses.

    Cats won't die if they fall off very high places because they can turn themselves up the right way.

    Chocolate tastes nice but you cannot give it to little dogs because it may make the little dogs die.

    We may sleep for eight hours at a time but a snail（蜗牛） may sleep for three years.

    Our ears and nose become bigger when we grow up but eyes keep the same after we are born.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    The young woman at the airline check-in desk meant no harm. She greeted a customer with a question which would be no problem in Chinese," What's your problem?" But this question is impolite in English, and the customer became very angry. In this situation, the young woman should say." May I help you?" or" How can I help you?" Then she would not be facing an unhappy traveler.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Maybe you would like something. Instead of saying" Giving me a hamburger," say," Could I have a hamburger, please?" or "I'd like a hamburger." English speakers often use the expressions" please "and" thank you". When requesting something, use" Can I" or "Could I". In formal situations," May I" is the best.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When someone asks your opinion, you don't want to make them feel upset by saying something they think is unkind. Maybe someone asks," What do you think of my idea?" Don't say," It's a terrible idea." if you don't like it. Say," I don't think it's the best idea." Then people will accept your opinion more easily.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    When you can't accept an invitation, don't say." I can't. I'm busy" Refuse in a more indirect way." I'm afraid I can't…" or" I'd love to, but…" or" That sounds great, but..." These phrases soften the message and make it easier to accept.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Avoid saying others have done wrong. Don't say," You don't understand me." Say, Maybe I need to make clear what I mean." Give special attention to" I" or" We" rather than" you". Take time to learn polite phrasing. Then you'll make your communication with people more pleasant.

    Mike was a good and well-trained boy. His parents loved him very much. He did everything well, but Mike had one bad habit. He ate a lot of sweets and chocolates. Those were his favorite. He just couldn't give up. His mother always told him, "Mike doesn't eat so many sweets. You will get toothaches."

    His mother used to keep all the sweets in a glass jar (罐子). One day when his mother went to the market, Mike saw that his father was asleep. So he walked carefully and slowly to the kitchen and got the sweet jar. Finally, he opened it and put his hand in narrow mouth. Mike picked a fist (拳头) full of sweets. But when he tried to pull his hand out, it got stuck (卡) in the jar.

    Mike's father was awake and watching. He said to Mike, "You have picked up too many sweets in your fist. It's more than your little hand can keep. Your fist cannot come out of the jar. Let go off the sweets and pick only one sweet in your two fingers and you can pull your hand out easily. Always take as much as you can control."

    Mike pulled out his hand from the jar easily and he learned a lesson for his life, too.

Amy: What's your hobby, John?

John: I like playing football with my classmates and playing the piano at home. What about you, Amy?

Amy: I like watching films and playing table tennis.

John: Are you good at playing table tennis?

Amy: No, I'm not good at it. Can you play table tennis?

John: No, I can't. And I don't like it. What about music, Amy?

Amy: I like listening to music.

    This is Mrs. White. Now she is teaching math. She works in a middle school. She lives in London, Mrs. White and Mr. White have three children. They all love animals and they have a big dog and a cute cat.

    Mrs. White is Sophie's aunt, Sophie lives and studies in Liverpool, but now she is in London. She is on her holiday here. She wants to do some shopping with her aunt.

    Mrs. White's son Arnold doesn't like shopping, but he loves going out with friends. They usually go to a park to play soccer or basketball in the afternoon. Today, Arnold isn't playing soccer or basketball. He is swimming.

    Mr. White works for a company (公司). He isn't working today, because he isn't feeling well. He is in a hospital now.