Jack is 10 years old, and I am his pencil. I'm Jack's helper（助手）.

    Jack's pencil box is my home. I have some friends here. They are seven crayons, a ruler, a pencil sharpener and an eraser. Because Jack loves me, I'm the king（国王）in the pencil box. My friends and I are happy every day.

    Today, I am not happy because a pen comes in. It's new and beautiful. It's a music pen. It can not only write（写） but also sing（唱歌）. But I'm old and I can only help Jack to write. Jack likes it so much! The new pen is his helper now. It's the new king. What can I do now? Shall I go to a new home?

    Peter and Mike are very good friends. They are in the same class at school. They often go to school and play t{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, and they often visit each other's home at weekends, too.

    Now they are b{#blank#}2{#/blank#} eight years old. Peter's mother has got a new baby. Peter is very glad to have a little brother, so he is always talking about his younger brother to Mike.

    At first Mike is very interested in the new baby because he doesn't have any sisters or brothers. But after some time he begins to get tired of Peter's endless talking about it. He also feels a little jealous (嫉妒) of his friend.

    One morning before class, when the two boys m{#blank#}3{#/blank#} at the school gate, Peter says to Mike cheerfully, "Do you know, Mike, my little brother, has put on nearly half a pound in weight this week."

    "That's not much at all," answers Mike. "I know a baby who can put on more than ten pounds a day."

    "Oh, that can't be t{#blank#}4{#/blank#}," answers Peter. "W{#blank#}5{#/blank#} baby is it?"

    "An elephant's," says Mike.

Information Card

Few parents can hear the words "What can I do to help?" from their kids. Teenagers spend more time on video games, computers and mobile phones, so they help less with housework.

Students at a primary school in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province were required to clean the school toilets to help them develop good habits. But some parents are strongly against the idea. They can't see the advantages of students doing such chores. They think that the school should provide students with a proper education, not the chance to be school cleaners.

In fact, parents, schools and society play an equally (同等地) important role in developing the character of students. It is good for schools to give students such tasks, because few of the students will do them at home. Their parents want them to do homework only.

In recent years, some parents will make mountains out of molehills when students are asked to do some chores in schools. Some will complain the teachers if their kids get hurt in schools; some will even challenge the schools' teaching methods and management. As a result, many primary schools, especially those in big cities, do not let students join in outdoor activities during breaks, fearing that they might get hurt. This is bad for the development of students' best qualities.

What the primary school in Fuzhou doing is worth praising. Doing chores can put a sense of responsibility (责任感) into students' minds and teach them the spirit of rules as well as teamwork. Also, it can make students' in-school experiences more meaningful.

Hi, boys and girls! I'm Gina Green. I'm thirteen {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (year) old. I am {#blank#}2{#/blank#} English girl from London. I'm studying in {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(China) now. I like the weather here because it's sunny and warm {#blank#}4{#/blank#} spring. My favourite food is noodles {#blank#}5{#/blank#} my favourite sport is tennis.

I have a friend. {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(He) name is Frank. He likes {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(swim). He is good at swimming and he can {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(play) tennis very well. Frank and I {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(be) not in the same class, but we often play tennis on {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (Sunday). He is a good friend. 

W: Did you go shopping in town yesterday, Jim? 

M: {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

W: Did you go to the computer shop called "IT Sky" in Puguo Road?

M: Yeah. It was crowded yesterday. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

W: Did you buy any books? 

M: Yes, I chose five or six books. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

W: Where did you go after that? 

M: I went to Dream Clothes in Chaoyang Street. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It was 800 yuan. 

W: Oh, that was expensive. Do you always buy clothes there? 

M: Yes. The clothes last a long time and they look smart. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}