I'm Mike I'm a middle school student. I learn many subjects in school. 我最喜欢的科目是科学 The science teacher Mrs Green, is my friend Jill's mother. She is nice and she teaches very well.

    I like maths because I think it is so interesting. I always do very well in the maths

tests (测试). My friends say I am clever (聪明的), but I don' t think so. I just work very hard.

    I also like geography. I like learning about people and places. I want to know what they are like and what they're doing. I travel a lot. I'm making plans for my trip on Sunday.

    I don't like English It is not very interesting. We read a lot, sometimes write, but we don't often speak or listen. Most children want to talk with others in English.

    What is DIY? Why do many people like it? Yang Chen works for a computer business in Beijing. He enjoys his work, but it is not easy for him to relax(放松) after work. One day when he saw many toy dogs in a toy shop, he had an idea. "Why not make them myself?" Then he began to make model planes, model ships and something else. He was interested in it because it brings him lots of fun and makes life colourful. So what is DIY? Yes, it is making or creating (创造) things by yourselves, with your own hands.

    It may take much time, but some people, now known as DIYers—do-it-yourselfers, enjoy doing it very much. They enjoy it because it is fun. And they also say it helps them save money, too. What's more, they think it is a good way to protect the environment (环境). It is a kind of green life. In fact, DIY is not a modern thing in China. Many people remember when it was once a way of life in the past. During the 1960s and 1970s, when there were not enough living things for people to live on, they had to use their own hands to do many things. If you wanted something, you had to do it yourself, and if you needed something, you made it yourself.

    Times have changed and DIY also has different meanings.

    Stephen Hawking was born in England in 1942. He's one of the most famous scientists on space and time in the world. He is called the King of the Universe.

    He studied math and science at Oxford University, then he became seriously ill, which made him unable to speak or breathe without the help of machines.

    He went on to study at Cambridge University after graduating from Oxford University. In 1965, he got a Doctor's Degree of philosophy（哲学）. Because of his serious illness, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams or to write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he is respected by people in the world. Then in 1988, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It was sold more than 5.5 million copies in over 33 different languages. He was once invited to China to give lectures（做演讲）. His self-confidence and humouous conversations impressed us deeply.

    It's Wednesday afternoon. School is over. The students are putting their books, pencil-boxes into their school bags. The teacher comes in and says to the students, "Don't go, children. ⑴我有事情要告诉你们. Listen to me. Tomorrow is Thursday. ⑵明天早上九点我们学校有一个家长会(parents meeting). ⑶Here are your school reports and letters to your parents. Take them home. Give your parents letters and show them your school reports. ⑷Ask them to come to the meeting.  If your parents are working in the other place now, let your aunt or uncle come, please. Because I'm going to say something about next term. ⑸Ask them to come on time. "

    Should parents ask their children to do chores? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}They think that children are too young to cook or clean for themselves or their parents. But many people believe that children can learn a lot from doing regular chores. Parents should help children learn to do the housework that they will have to do when they live on their own. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Most experts(专家)do agree. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Parents shouldn't, of course, ask a schoolboy to cook when he is doing his homework. If the child has activities after school, the time left to do chores may be short.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}When a child does what his parents ask him to do happily, he will probably have the feeling of growing up. Chores can be useful. They are a teaching tool(工具). Parents use the tool to teach children, so that they can care for themselves some day. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}If parents keep a clean house, children won't find any reason to do chores.

A. And they also give children a sense of responsibility, importance and confidence.

B. Parents must make children understand how hard they work.

C. However, the chores should suit (适合于)children.

D. Doing chores can help children get better grades.

E. Some believe that children should not do chores.

F. Perhaps more chores on weekends can be helpful.

    If you think you are too shy and want to be a little bit braver, just try the following things.

    Be open to others.

    Tell people you are shy. There is no need to hide(掩盖) it. When they get to know you are a shy kid, they will understand you better. This also helps you feel relaxed(放松的) in talks.

    Try to smile more.

    When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk with. Remember that other people have feelings, too, and most people don't like an angry-looking face.

    Learn to be a good talker.

    If you find it hard to start a talk, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person?

    Get your attention elsewhere.

    Think more about ways to enjoy parties or games. Don't worry about your looks or whether(是否) other people like you or not. You will become relaxed and find it's not so hard to talk with other people.

Title: {#blank#}1{#/blank#} to be a little braver