It was in the Victorian Era(维多利亚时期) that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were more concerned to meet the tastes of the middle class. The best known works of the period included the works of Charles Dickens and the Bronté sisters and others.

    Charles Dickens came on the literary scene in the 1830s. Dickens wrote vividly about London life and the struggles of the poor. Most of his works were written in a very humorous style, which was popular with readers of all classes.

    The Bronté sisters were English writers of the 1840s and 1850s. They began to write from early childhood. In 1846 they published the first book at their own expense as poets; however, their book attracted little attention, selling only two copies. Then the sisters turned to writing novels, each producing a novel in the following year.

    An interest in rural matters and the changing social and economic situation of the countryside may be seen in the novels of Thomas Hardy and a number of others.

    Literature for children developed as a single style. Some works became well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Adventure novels were written for adults but are now generally grouped in the list for children. Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author at the end of the Victorian Era, best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902.

    For generations, cereal（麦片） has been the base of the American breakfast, but it now seems to be losing some of its advantages. Sales of breakfast cereal in the US are not so popular.

    The consumer's desire for a healthier way to start the day is now at its highest ever. Shoppers are seeking out “high protein(蛋白质) and fiber content and natural ingredients,” an expert said in a report. “Consumers today believe cereal is overly processed and doesn't contain enough nutrients.” That means cereal is facing the competition from fresh fruit, yogurt, breakfast bars and drinks, and even all-day breakfast meals at McDonald's or other fast-food chains.

    Consumers are increasingly seeking products that match their personal definition of real food, and that can mean foods that are less processed. Another big challenge for the industry is the ever-changing pattern of breakfast eaters, with an emphasis increasingly being placed on satisfying time-squeezed lifestyles. This desire for convenience seems to be especially increasingly being placed on satisfying time-squeezed lifestyles. This desire for convenience seems to be especially evident among young people who believe that cereal is inconvenient because it involves cleaning a dish afterward.

    Then there's the issue of price. Brand-name cereal prices jumped after the financial crisis in 2008, owing largely to the higher prices of grains and other ingredients. It's only in the last two years that prices have stabilized（稳定）.

    However, manufacturers and industry analysts say that if breakfast cereal makers can keep on adapting to consumers' changing needs, especially among young people, the business can grow again; besides, young people are still eating a lot of cereal, just not always for breakfast. Ready-to-eat cereal is in 90 percent of all households and nearly 94 percent of young households. For this group, cereal is more than just a breakfast item. It is also a popular snack option.

    Most American students go to traditional public schools. There are about 88,000 public schools all over the US. Some students attend about 3,000 independent public schools called charter schools.

    Charter schools are self­governing. Private companies operate some charter schools. They are similar in some ways to traditional public schools. They receive tax just as other public schools do. Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning. These governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate.

    Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach. Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them. Class size is usually smaller than in traditional public schools.

    Governments strongly support charter schools as a way to re­organize public schools that are failing to educate students. But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools. One teachers' union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of students in traditional schools and charter schools.

    The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government's delay in releasing the results of the study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Union education experts say the study shows that charter school students performed worse in math and reading tests than students in regular public schools.

    Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools have more problems than students in traditional schools. Other education experts say the study results should make charter school officials demand more student progress.

    If you're looking to fully experience Africa's breathtaking scenery, and have an eye for adventure, then there's only one place to be. Here, inside Africa picks four of the best hikes from across the continent.

    ⒈Kilimanjaro

    Make it to the top of Tanzania's 5,895-meter Kilimanjaro, and you'll be standing at Africa's highest point. The mountain is Africa's most-visited hiking destination, attracting tens of thousands of tourists and adventures every year.

    You don't have to a technical climber to climb Mount Kilimanjaro; you just need not be pretty physically fit. There are six routes to choose from difficulty, scenery and success. No special equipment

    ⒉Atlas mountains

    The High Atlas is an impressive mountainous range in central Morocco that hosts North Africa's highest peak. Mount Toubkal, at 4,165 meters. There's a variety of routes to follow during your climb but inexperienced climbers should note that the hike through the mountain's challenging zones is quite demanding.

    ⒊Mount Kenya

    A long-extinct volcano. Mount Kenya is Africa's second-highest peak, at 5,199 meters.

    Lying just south of the equator, the mountain's deep valleys and diverse wildlife will guarantee you wonderful scenery and a fantastic hiking experience.

    The climb, however, to the mountain's steep ice-capped peaks is quite challenging, making it the most technical, probably, in that East African area.

    ⒋Mount Meru

    Mount Meru may forever exist in the shadow of its neighbor, Kilimanjaro, but Tanzania's second-highest mountain (4,565 meters) has its own devotees.

    It's less known, but Mount Meru is for the true enthusiast who wants to experience what very few people actually do.

    Mount Meru is often used by mountaineers to accustom themselves before trying to conquer Kilimanjaro, or by those wanting a hike with the local Massai.

    As I stuck in the mud (泥), with my bike on top of me, I wondered what had forced me to come here. Madagascar is not a good place for a cycling holiday: one of the world's poorest countries, only 11 percent of roadway is paved (铺). South of the town of Antalaha, where I started, the road was in worse condition.

    I appeared from a week in the wilderness and reached the start of the Route National 5 at Maroantsetra, but my dream of a smooth road and speed was suddenly destroyed by mud. The "worst road in the country" changed my bicycle into a burden (负担) for days. Finally, I was claimed by the road. Tired. Alone.

    As I wiped (擦) the mud from my face and looked upwards, I was greeted by a Malagasy man. He helped me stand up and smiled playfully while he pointed to my bike, which sat next to his. I started again. But I fell again in the mud. Angrily, I told him to go on, but if he understood he showed no sign of it. His smile forced me back onto the bike. We continued like this for hours. But I fell less. Studying my quick guide, slowly I learned. As we passed through a village, a group of children saw me and shouted loudly. His only words were: "Their parents tell them while people steal and eat them. Funny, no?"

    I tried to ask why, but he had already set off. I tried to catch up; as I got closer, he took it as a challenge and sped up. We raced along the road. I rode a little faster and I was just behind, about to catch up with him. With a smile, he sped up and was away, leaving me breathless.

Nuclear(核心的) Family

53.7% of Canadians live in nuclear families.A nuclear family usually has parents and children.It is also called the traditional family.This kind of family was the most popular in the 1950s and 1960s.Now the traditional family is choosing to have fewer children than in the past.

Single-Parent Family

In this kind of family,there is only one parent caring for one or more children.The number of single-parent families is becoming larger.The environment of the single-parent family is not very good for the mental and physical health of children.

Extended(几代同堂的) Family

There are grandparents,aunts,uncles and cousins in this kind of family.Members of the extended family live together for many reasons,such as helping to raise the children,caring for each other and dealing with money problems.The number of this kind of family has increased by 40 percent in the past ten years.

Childless Family

A childless family is the one that choose not to have children.The couple has never had children because of some reasons.Most have thought carefully about whether to be parents but finally give up because they think it isn't really right for them.To replace children,childless families usually have pets instead.