In the deserts(沙漠)of North Africa and Saudi Arabia lives the smallest fox with the largest ears. This animal is the fennec fox.

Fennec foxes have ears that are 5 to 6 inches long. That's big for an animal that weighs less than four pounds. Their ears help shed (去除) body heat. And, as you may have guessed, they also provide great hearing.

    It's also interesting to think about the hair of fennec foxes. Why would a fox that lives in the desert need a thick, fur coat? Actually, the desert isn't always warm. During the nighttime, a desert can be terribly cold! A fennec fox's fur keeps them warm during those desert nights. They also have long bushy tails that they use as a blanket. And the hair on their feet protects them from the hot sand in the daytime.

    Fennec foxes live in small communities of dens (兽穴).They spend most of the day sleeping in their dens, out of the hot sun. Then, when night comes, they come out in search of food. In addition to(除……之外) their great hearing, fennecs also use their great sense of smell and big eyes to track down dinner.

    Fennecs eat both meat and plants. They like eating birds, eggs, insects, snails, fruit and leaves best. Fennec fox mothers have one to five babies at a time. Sometimes they are in danger. They have to be careful with predators (捕食性动物), such as caracals (a type of wild cat) , jackals, eagle owls, hyenas and humans. Humans catch them for their fur and to sell as pets.

①Gamaham: The most difficult thing about learning English is to remember new words. I study the words and remember them, but a week later I have forgotten most of them. When reading something in English, I always get into trouble when I come across a new word. There must be a better way to learn new words. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

②Viekers: I have been studying English for so long now, and I don't enjoy it any more. I used to like it, but now I feel as if I'm not making any progress. I wish there was something I could do to make me interested in studying English again.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

③Selina: I wish I could improve my spoken English. Every time I join in a group discussion or try to speak English to someone, I find it difficult to express myself. I don't know what to say and I can't think of the words I need. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

④Gina: I don't like English at all. Why do we have to study English? I'd rather spend more time on maths and science, because I think those subjects are more important. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

⑤Jim: I think it's easy to remember new grammar rules, but when writing something I always make a lot of mistakes. How can I learn to use the rules that I have learned? {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

    Learning to play an instrument can be one of the most exciting ways to spend your free time. There are many different kinds of instruments to choose from: guitar, piano, violin … There is always one that's right for you. The following may help you make it.

    Make a choice (选择).

    First, you need to choose an instrument that you would like to learn to play.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} This may be the kind of music that you also enjoy listening to.

    Get your instrument.

    When you finish choosing your instrument, you need to buy it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Some schools will lend students instruments. Or you can buy a second-hand instrument and it's usually much cheaper.

    Get ready to learn.

    After you get your instrument, you should then make a learning plan. You can have personal(个人的) lessons with a music teacher or go to a music school. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Play for others.

    After you learned to play a song for some time, you should start playing for others. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Then you can try to play for larger groups of people.

    Keep going.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Keep learning as much as you can and practice often. As you learn more, you will get better and better.

A. You can also choose to learn on your own.

B. If it is very expensive, you can borrow one.

C. It is a good idea to start with your family or friends.

D. To become a good musician, you have to keep playing.

E. You could also think about the kind of music you'd like to play.

    Ways to Increase Your Confidence

    There are some ways you can use to increase your self-confidence. Some of them you'll need to practice a lot before they start to work. It's like playing the guitar or soccer. They might not work too well the first or second time you try them. But as you do them, you build a deeper confidence in yourself.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Exercise will improve your confidence and your way of looking at life. Plus, being healthy and looking better can also help you feel more confident.

    Create something.

    Everyone is a creative(有创造力的) person. Rediscovering your creativity is a good way to improve your confidence in yourself. Creating something is a wonderful but not always easy experience. But when you're done, you not only feel good about yourself. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Use your body.

    If you start to walk fast you'll soon start to feel nervous. If you start to walk slower you'll soon start to feel more relaxed. To feel more confident, use your body in a more confident way. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Learn how confident people around you or on the TV use their bodies.

Compare yourself to yourself.

This will take away a lot of unnecessary pain in your life. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Compare yourself to yourself. Improve yourself and see how you grow and become a more successful, more confident and happier person.

    Everyone loves chocolate- kids and grown-ups alike, and no matter what your age is, you are sure to enjoy learning more about chocolate. Read on to learn some fun facts.

    All the chocolate we eat comes from a special plant- the cacao tree. These trees produce a special kind of seeds. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Then they are used to make chocolate.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So they grow best when under the branches(树枝) of taller trees in the forest. They won't begin to bear fruit, however, until they are at least three to five years old. Cacao trees produce beautiful flowers all the year round. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A kind of small flies pollinate(对......授粉) these small flowers. These flies are so small that they easily stand on the head of a needle(针状物). They beat their wings very fast—1, 000 beats a second! {#blank#}4{#/blank#} A cacao pod(可可果) has about 30—50 seeds. This is enough to make about seven milk chocolate candy bars!