In the UK, bus journeys are very common. Buses are often convenient（便利的）for the people who live or work in the city center. Passengers can avoid heavy traffic and not have to pay for the parking. However, taking the bus is just a necessary but boring part of life: they get on the bus, pay for it and sit or find a place to stand when it is crowded. Everyone seems sad and bored.

 In Latin America, however, bus trips can be wonderful. For a start, films are showed on the buses between cities for passengers to have fun along the journeys. Local buses do not show films, but drivers usually turn on the radio and it can be great for passengers to listen to songs and get relaxed.

 Even better than films and music are the sights and sounds on the buses. Local buses always go to parts of the town that passengers would not visit by themselves. There passengers can see shops that they have never heard about. And they can also see other cultures of the town from the windows of the buses.

Besides, passengers' luggage（行李）is also interesting. It is common to see a happy dog's head getting out of somebody's bag or a lovely chicken“speaking cheerfully”under somebody's arm. Once on a bus in Peru, a farmer even tied a sheep to the top of the bus. It was quite surprising.

 In all, taking the bus in Latin America is really fun and unforgettable.

    In the deserts(沙漠)of North Africa and Saudi Arabia lives the smallest fox with the largest ears. This animal is the fennec fox.

Fennec foxes have ears that are 5 to 6 inches long. That's big for an animal that weighs less than four pounds. Their ears help shed (去除) body heat. And, as you may have guessed, they also provide great hearing.

    It's also interesting to think about the hair of fennec foxes. Why would a fox that lives in the desert need a thick, fur coat? Actually, the desert isn't always warm. During the nighttime, a desert can be terribly cold! A fennec fox's fur keeps them warm during those desert nights. They also have long bushy tails that they use as a blanket. And the hair on their feet protects them from the hot sand in the daytime.

    Fennec foxes live in small communities of dens (兽穴).They spend most of the day sleeping in their dens, out of the hot sun. Then, when night comes, they come out in search of food. In addition to(除……之外) their great hearing, fennecs also use their great sense of smell and big eyes to track down dinner.

    Fennecs eat both meat and plants. They like eating birds, eggs, insects, snails, fruit and leaves best. Fennec fox mothers have one to five babies at a time. Sometimes they are in danger. They have to be careful with predators (捕食性动物), such as caracals (a type of wild cat) , jackals, eagle owls, hyenas and humans. Humans catch them for their fur and to sell as pets.

    I started my school life at the age of six．At first the school for me，a boy，meant play，play and more play instead of sitting in the classroom and learning something．However，I changed the way I used to behave(表现)at school with the help of my teachers．I tried my best to do well in my schoolwork and follow the school rules．

    Growing and learning were great fun．Every year we had different kinds of school trips．Not only could we learn many things from them，but also we were given many projects(课题)as homework.  It helped US know more.  At the same time，we made many good friends．In Grade 8，I won prizes in drawing and English speech competitions．Ⅳhen I was in Grade 9，I realized that I should give all my attention to my studies because l was going to take the exams to get into senior(高级的)middle school．

Whenever I think of my school life，I feel very happy and I think in everybody's school life there are many ups and downs(苦乐；盛衰)that influence his life．School is a place where all of US learn to care and share．"School''is not just a place，but a large building made up of rules，knowledge and love．I think in everybody's success，school plays a key role．I can describe my school in"Three Ss"．They are：Small，Sweet and Simple．My school was the best，is the best and will always be the best．

Northern fur seals

    Northern fur seals spend winter in the warm waters near California. There is lots of food for the seals, but there are also lots of predators. When spring comes, the Northern fur seals go on a long trip to islands near Alaska. These islands are a safe place to breed, as there are not many predators. The male seals arrive at islands first. They fight for the best females to arrive. The females arrive about four weeks later. They each give birth to one seal pup. In the next few days, the seals mate again. When they return to the islands, one year later, the females will give birth to next year's seal pups. After three months, the females and the young seals set off back to the warm waters off the coast of California. Soon after, the males also leave the islands. The fur seals travel about 10,000 kilometers on their trip from California to Alaska and back again.（改编于《七年级新理念第三册》）

    People believed for a long time that the heart was the center of a person s emotions(情感，情绪). That is why the word" heart" is used in so many expressions about notional situations.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} When that happens, you have fallen in love. But if the person who "won your heart" does not love you, then you are sure to have a "broken heart". In your pain and sadness, you may decide that the person you loved is" hard-hearted", and in fact, has a "heart of stone".

    You may decide to "pour out your heart" to a friend. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If your friend does not seem to understand how painful your broken heart is, you may ask her to "have a heart". {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Your friend" has her heart in the right place" if she says she is sorry, and shoes great concern(关心)for how you feel. Your friend may, however, warn you not to" wear your heart on your sleeve袖子), In other words, do not let everyone see how ",lovesick you are. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If your friend says "my heart bleeds for you", she means opposite. She is a cold-hearted person who does not really care about your situation.

    When you are frightened or concerned, your "heart is your mouth". You might say, for example, that your heart was in your mouth when you asked a bank to lend you some money to pay for a new house. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Be "strong-hearted". Sit down with the banker and have a" heart to heart" talk: Be open and honest about your situation. The bank may have a" change of heart"——it may agree to lend you the money. Then you could stop worrying and" put your heart at rest".

A. Telling someone about your personal problems can often make you feel better.

B. If that bank says no to you, do not "lose heart".

C. When your heart is on your sleeve, you are showing your deepest emotions.

D. One such expression is to "lose your heart".

E. You are asking your friend to show some sympathy (同情) for your situation.