XBOX 360 Kinetic, RoboSapien, WiiParty, these are just a few of the modern toys sold in recent years. But some of the most popular toys are actually quite old.

Games have been around for thousands of years. In 4000 B. C, Babylonians played a board game that was similar to chess. Yo-yos made of stone were first used in ancient Greece around 1000 B C. And kites appeared in China around the same time.

    Another famous game is Scrabble. It was invented by an architect in the 1930s, but it didn't get popular until 1953 And since then, more than 100 million sets have been sold worldwide.

    As you can imagine, toys and games are a multi-billion-dollar industry. Mr. Potato Head, the first toy advertised on TV, grossed more than $4 million in its first year. Play-Doh made its inventor Joseph McVicker a millionaire by his 27th birthday, while Mattel sells 1. 5 million Barbie dolls each week (that's two dolls each second!).

    Some toys go out of fashion, but then become popular again, such as Rubik's Cube. Research says parents are increasingly choosing to buy toys they remember from their own childhood.

    These days, toys are not just for fun. RoboSapien is a remote-controlled robot that was launched in 2004. He can walk, turn around and do other poses. RoboSapien was designed by Mark Tilden, who once created robots for NASA space missions. He expected the toy to be used mostly by and scientists, but almost 2 million RoboSapiens have been sold worldwide since its launch as a toy?

    Fancy a game anyone?

I am a book lover. So my house is forever full of 1. I have new ones, old ones, hard covers, paperbacks, 2and non-stories. I have three boxes of books in my closet, two boxes of books on the floor of my bedroom, and a box of children's books 3 for my future grandchildren. I have even more books 4the two I wrote on my desk. I try to keep the books 5 building up by donating as many as I can to the local 6, but as soon as I donate a few, I find myself buying a few more.

    Books I read keep my mind young, and my heart 7, and soul bright. They bring me knowledge, laughter, and joy. They connect me with the wisdom of the past and the new ideas of the 8. They keep me moving on the right path as a journey through life.

    I have learned that people are a lot like books as well. Some have bright and shiny covers 9  don't have very much to say inside of them. Others look old and plain but so full of 10and light that reading them can 11your whole life. One difference between books and people, though, is that while a book has an ending, the writing inside of us 12forever.

Take care when writing the book of your own life. Fill it with love for yourself, others and this world. Fill it with all the wisdom you have learned, goodness you have done, 13you have shared, and joy you have 14. Keep writing it every day, too. Make it everything you are and everything you want to be, and then15it to everyone. I know it will be a wonderful and fantastic book.

Dear sister,

I've been happy here in New York. But when holidays are coming near, I really feel "There's no place like home", just like the English proverb says, "East, west, home is the b{#blank#}1{#/blank#}."

You must be doing well in English class. The letter you sent to me was written in good English.

Well, I want to i{#blank#}2{#/blank#} my friend Diana to our home. I dare not tell Mama directly. If Dad and Mum say that will be all right, please write to me as soon as possible.

Diana is a poor girl whose parents died last month in a terrible accident. She has to spend the holidays alone. She wants to see China and try e{#blank#}3{#/blank#} that we Chinese do. She p{#blank#}4{#/blank#} speaking Chinese for two years and can speak a little now. She has great curiosity about our family life and will ask you many questions about it. Isn't it a good chance to u{#blank#}5{#/blank#} each other? I'm sure you'll learn many things from her.

Please give my love to our father and mother!

Your sister,

Mei

Hello, everyone! My name is Peter. I like sports. My favourite sport is football. I often play it with my friends after school. We have a good time.

Of the four seasons, I like summer best. It's hot but I can swim with my friends. I can have ice cream. It's cool!

I have a bird and a dog at home. The bird's name is Polly. It's two years old. It's black, blue and red. The dog's name is Snow. It's one year old. It's white. They are my good friends.

Of all the colours, I like blue best. My pens ,pencils, and bed are blue.In my home, my desk and chair are blue too.

Jane Greenall and Paul Greenall are my parents. My mother likes playing table tennis. Her favourite pets(宠物) are cats. My father likes swimming. His favourite pets are dogs.

Did you find or lose anything? Here are some lost and found notices.