Once upon a time, there was an old woman who lived in a small house. She planted a lot of beautiful tulips (郁金香) in her garden.

    One night, the sounds of sweet singing and of babies laughing woke her up. She looked out of the window. The sounds seemed to come from the tulips, but she could see nothing.

    The next morning she walked among her flowers, but there were no signs of anyone having been there the night before.

    On the following night she was again wakened (弄醒) by the sounds of sweet singing and babies laughing. She got out of bed and walked softly into her garden. The old woman looked closely and she noticed that a fairy (精灵) mother was singing softly, and that in each tulip-cup was a little fairy baby, laughing and playing.

    The old woman went back to her house quietly. From then on, she never picked a tulip. She didn't allow her neighbours to pick the flowers, either. When the old woman died, all the tulips disappeared overnight. But her grave (坟墓) looked beautiful, because the fairies sang above it and kept it green.

Dear Linda,

    My best friend Lily always hangs out with a girl who used to bully(欺凌) her. And she doesn't seem to want to be around me any more.

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

    It's normal for friendships to change, and it's possible that the girl has changed over time. Instead of worrying about that, pay more attention to how your own friendship is changing. Hanging out with your friend mifht help to improve your friendship.

Dear Linda,

    I often argue with my mom about my after-school hobbies. Sometimes she starts it. Sometimes I do. Anyway, I feel unhappy after arguing. What should I do?

Mike

Dear Mike,

    Find a right time to talk to your mom. Tell her that you're unhappy after arguing with her and that you'd like to work out a way to avoid arguments.

Dear Linda,

    I always dream dream of becoming a writer. But when I go back to reading a story I've written, it sounds boring and I don't want to finish it. Should I keep trying to write?

Nick

Dear Nick,

    Every writer has been where you are--a place where nothing he writes sounds right. However, you should go on writing as much as you can. The more you practice, the better you'll get. Also, keep reading can help you learn a lot about writing.

Information Card

    Do you make a resolution on New Year's Day? How to make a good resolution?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Plan for the resolution

    It is not enough to have a goal(目标). You need to think out some right steps(步骤) for the resolution. So make your plan. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} And it'll also tell you how to make the goal come true at last. Make a plan is very important.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    If you make your plan later, you may forget your resolution gradually(逐渐地). It's important that you start making your plan right now.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    You should write your resolution and plan in some places, such as a notebook or your diary.

    Think "year around", not just New Year's

    You can't finish anything in one day. You make a resolution in one day. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It may need a hundred small steps. New Year's resolution should be a starting point. You must keep a habit for making your resolution come true gradually.

A. Make your plan right now.
B. Maybe the following can help you.
C. You should exercise and eat less junk food. 
D. A good plan will tell you what to do next. 
E. Write down your resolutiona nd plan. 
F. It doesn't mean you must finish it in one day. 

    Long before I could read myself, Mum read stories to me every night. Those bedtime stories made me a reader.

    Many years later, I read a picture book to a small child in a classroom. He was from a poor family and had no friends. My reading made him very happy. Then he wanted to start something big. He said to me, "Mrs. Allyn, let's make everyone know how good this feels. Let's have a holiday for reading stories. " Then my company, Litworld, started World Read Aloud Day in January, 2010, to honour(表彰)the little boy for sharing such a great idea with us.

    Now more than 65 countries around the world celebrate it. Parents and teachers read to their children or students on this day. World Read Aloud Day tells people the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories.

So come and join us.

Information card

    The bar chart shows the amount of money spent on two types of electronic items in country X.

    Study the information in the chart by choosing and reporting the main features.

    Bob and Sue are cousins. They are in the same school, but they are in different classes. After school, Bob and Sue often play games with their own(自己的)classmates. They are listening to their teachers. Bob's having an English lesson. His teacher is talking in English. Sue's having a Chinese lesson. Her teacher is talking about writing. They love their teachers and they like their school.