Jim.
    P.S. it's hot here.

    Hello! Boys and girls, I think most of you like travelling. Usually, people feel excited before a tour. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Then how can you make your tour more interesting and meaningful? Here is some advice.

    First, Look! Certainly we should look at the scenery (风景) very carefully. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} We should first know something about the place, such as its geography, its history and its famous people, etc. When we are ready for the tour, we can really understand the place during our tour even if we don't have much time.

    Second, Take photos! When we visit a place of interest, most of us take cameras. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    Third, Tastes! Some people like to buy some food because they like it most during their tour. My suggestion is: don't buy the food that you can buy in your own city or town. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Maybe you have only one chance to taste it in your life.

    Fourth, Write! {#blank#}5{#/blank#} So you can write something down about what you see and what you think during the tour. Later, when you read it, you will find that you have pleasure during the tour.

    Have a good trip!

A. If you want to take come photos, remember to choose the most special scenery.

B. You had better taste something special in the place of interest.  

C. But during it or after it, they feel it is a waste (浪费) of time.

D. When you visit a place, you should take a pen and a note.

E. Before we leave our house, we should find some books about the place of interest.

    Have you ever taken photos by using mobile phones with selfie sticks (自拍杆)?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    However, a pair of US artists from New Mexico, Arie Snee and Justin Crowe believe they have invented a better one and they call it "selfie arm". {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It makes those people in the pictures seem to be holding hands with a love one.

The pair say it offers a far better experience than using a straight stick. The selfie arm makes people feel they are not alone when they take photos. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They think their invention solves the main problem that the selfie stick has – people look alone while they are taking pictures of themselves with great interests. The product, at present, just an art project and a model, conveniently provides you a welcoming arm. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The pair say they are fascinated by these new ideas.

    The "selfie are" is made of fiberglass. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    The project that they work on shows the growing selfie stick phenomenon (现象) directly and increasing need for narcissism (自恋) and Internet agreement.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Develop an "ear" for that language. This means that you should always listen to what others are saying and then repeat it.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    For everything that you have in your house, label（贴标签）its name in this language. You can place these labels in your living room, kitchen, and even the bathroom. You would be surprised by how quickly you've picked up so many new words by using this method.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Find some books to read. You will find it easier to read if you choose the ones that you're interested in. You should remember the useful phrases and beautiful sentences while reading.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    One of the best ways to learn a new language is to find a partner. So try to make more friends and find a partner to help you. You will find you can talk with others in that language more and more fluently（流利地）.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    If all these methods can't help you, take some training classes. It may cost you a little bit of money, but they can really take your language learning to a new level.

A. Interview with Andy Griffiths

    Andy Griffiths is well known as a writer of children's books. Here are some interesting things, you might not know about him!

    What do you like to do after a long day of writing?

    I go for long runs and bike rides beside the beach. An hour of exercise after a long day of writing gives me energy. Then I'm ready to write some more.

    Do you write using a computer or by hand?

At first I write the stories by hand, and then I transfer(转录)them onto a computer. I like to write by hand when I travel. I find it very easy to lose myself in my diary when I am away from my usual activities.

    What super power would you like to have?

    X-ray vision(影像)if I can control it.

    What is your favourite food?

    Fro never happier than when I'm drinking banana milkshakes. And I love fish. But I don't like drinking fish milkshakes - they are just terrible!

    What is your favourite book?

Alice in Wonderland. It has so many surprises and such silliness in it.

    Do you write for adults too?

    Only if I really have to. T much prefer the freedom and fun of writing for children.

    What do you say to kids who say, "Why should I read?"

As Dr. Seuss says. "The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."

    When I was a child, my parents always told me that I never talk to strangers. This was part of a whole list of things I should never do: Never accept food or candy from strangers, never get in car with strangers, and so on.

    But if we didn't start conversation with strangers, we'd never make new friends. We would never get a job. ①We may miss the joy that comes from talking with strangers. And the more people you know, the more chances you can find.

    The following passage offers you some advice on how to ②break the ice.

    Don't just stare at your shoes. Go and say "Hi" to that new guy. It will be easier to break the ice if you know more about different cultures.

    British: Beautiful day, isn't it?

    The weather in Britain is changeable. So, it's one of the topics the British care most about. And there's a simple rule: Say "Yes" whether you agree with the person's idea on the weather or not. ③That's because the British start a conversation using the weather so that they can continue their talk.

    French: Where did you go on holiday?

    To talk with a French person, the safest way is to ask about his or her last holiday. French students enjoy a 10-to-15-dayholiday every two months. French employees(雇员 )get more than six weeks of holidays per year.

    American: So, where are you from?

    The US is so big and people move so often that location is always source(来源) of talk. You can try to find connection with the place they're from. For example, if someone is from Los Angeles, you could say, "Oh. I have friend who studied there."