The earliest maps were probably drawn in the Middle East. Some of these maps have1and they show us the people at that time thought the earth flat(平的).As time went by, the pictures became more detailed and maps were more2made. Later on, ancient Greeks(希腊人)used their3of math and science to make maps. Greek maps tell us the Greeks knew the world was 4.

    From simple pictures, mapmaking has turned into a science. Maps are made5 surveying(勘测)land. In the1900s, people around the world started to share information to make6maps. With the help of the photographs taken from the sky and space, maps are now more exactly made than ever.7the world is always changing, we will always need new maps.

    There are many types of maps, but almost all use8and pictures to describe what a place is like when the map is made. A map usually tells what the pictures 9. Some maps may show the whole world. A road map will help you know the10from one place to another. Other maps may use pictures to show the temperature and population in different places.

Playing with apps on smart phones is very common among young people. Let's try some special apps and enjoy them.

    What is the hardest sport in the world? Some people say it's boxing (拳击), because boxing is dangerous and boxers have to be strong and fast. Other people say the hardest sport is soccer.

    However, most people say the hardest sport is the triathlon (三项全能运动). A triathlon is a race that includes three sports. First, racers swim. After that they ride bicycles and finally they run. In the most common triathlon, racers swim 1.5kilometres, bike 40 kilometres, and run 10 kilometres. The winner is the person who finishes the race first.

    There is another kind of triathlon too. It is called the "Ironman Triathlon (铁人三项)". This triathlon is much longer. People who finish this triathlon are called "ironmen" or "ironwomen". This is because these people are so strong that their bodies are just like iron (铁).

    In the past, there were other races including three sports. However, they didn't use the word "triathlon". That word was first used to describe a race in California in 1974.

    Triathlon racers have to train very hard for their races. Many of them swim and run. A lot of people also do things like yoga (瑜伽). They have many different ways to prepare, but they all have the same goal. They want to be in perfect shape.

    To be an ironman or an ironwoman, you have to be strong and smart. You should know how to save energy during the race.

When I was about ten, I was woken up by the shouts（喊声）of my sister one morning. She was hungry, but my mother wasn't at home, so I made a banana cake for her. Let me share the recipe with you.

What you need:

2 eggs  3 bananas  2 cups of flour(面粉)

2 spoons of baking powder(发酵粉)

1/4 spoon of baking soda (小苏打)

1/2 spoon of salt

2/3 cup of sugar

1/3 cup of vegetable oil(油)

What to do:

l  Mix(混合) together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

l  Add the vegetable oil. Then add a little sugar, and stir (搅拌) it.

l  Pour the eggs into the bowl and stir them well.

l  Add the bananas and stir them.

l  Turn the oven to 180℃.

l  Pour them into the oven（烤箱）. Bake（烘焙） the cake for 20 minutes.

l  Get the cake out of the oven, and cut it into pieces to eat.

Every year, wildfires destroy millions of hectares of forest land. Homes are damaged, and thousands of people die. Smokejumpers help to stop this. 

Smokejumpers are a special type of firefighter. They jump from planes or are lowered by helicopters into areas that are 1 to reach by car or on foot, such as the middle of a mountain forest. They race to put out fires as fast as they can. 

At a fire site, smokejumpers first examine the land and decide 2 to fight the fire. Their main goal is to stop a fire from spreading or to slow its progress  3 ground—based firefighters arrive. Using basic equipment such as shovels (铲子) and axes(斧头), smokejumpers clear land of burnable material, like dry grass and dead trees. They carry water with them, too, but only a limited amount. 

Most smokejumpers are men. The most important factors are your height and  4 .Smokejumpers employed in the United States must be between 54 and 91 kilograms so they don't get blown away by the strong winds or get 5 when they land. 

The work is dangerous, and the hours are long. But for these firefighters, smoke jumping isn't just a job. They6 being able to jump out of planes, fight fires, and live in the forest. As 28-year-old Russian smokejumper Alexi says, "This is the best job for tough guys. "

My name is Nancy. I'm twelve years old. I'm from China. I am a middle school student. I'm in Class Three. I like green and blue. This is my new friend. Her name is Wendy. She is thirteen years old. She is from England. We are friends, but we are in different classes. Wendy is in Class Four. She likes red and yellow. She is a good student. All the students and teachers in her class like her. Wendy likes swimming, and she often swims after school. I can't swim. I like basketball and football. I often play basketball with my sister in the afternoon. 

We like animals very much. I have a dog, and she has a cat. Where are we now? Oh, we are in the park. We are playing with our dog and cat.