I once believed that a friend is a friend all the way. Now I have changed my ideas about friendships.

    1). Friends of convenience(便利). They can be the people who live next door or the mothers of our children's closest friends. Friends of convenience are good indeed. They'll help us when we need it. They'll look after our cats when we go on holidays. But we don't ever get too close or tell too much. Between us, we'll talk about being overweight but not about being sad or disappointed(失望). However, people still find it necessary to make friends like this.

    2). Special-interest friends. These friendships aren't deeply personal or emotional(感情上的). They lie in some shared interests, so we may have an office friend, a tennis friend, or even a shopping friend.

    3). Historical friends. We all have a friend who knew us when…maybe we were back in the second grade of primary school, when our family lived in that two-room flat downtown. He or she was the first, the only friend we told our secrets to.

    The years have gone by, and we have gone different ways. But we're still a personal part of each other's past. We know how we looked before our teeth were straightened(矫正), and our getting together makes us think of an earlier part of ourselves, which is important and never lost.

    4). Cross-generational friends. These are friendships that from across generations(代). I have in my own life a precious(珍贵的) friend, a woman of 65, who is clever, who listens well, and who means not only an ideal mother to me but also the person I'd like to be when I grow up.

    Best friends, I believe, totally love and help each other.

How to pick a great book to read

    The world is full of great books just waiting to be read. How can you pick one you'll really like.

    Here are some tips:

    What makes you happy?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Are you really into dinosaurs or dogs or a film star? Are there a few careers you're interested in? You can find books about almost anything you like, and you're more likely to enjoy reading a book if you're already interested in its subject.

Fact and fiction?

    Some books are entirely made up and imagined Those are called fiction books{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Non-fiction books tell stories using facts—but that doesn't mean they're boring. Non-fiction books can bring everything to life.From the first trip to the moon to what it's like to explore the deepest oceans. Try both fiction and non-fiction books to see which you like better.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}What was your mother's favorite book when she was your age or your dads? Ask them and give it a read. Then you can talk about what they liked about it and share your thoughts. It's a fun way to get to know your family a little better, and to find a book you'll enjoy!

    Ask an expert.

    Your local library is a great place to find books that you'll love, and you don't have to search them by yourself.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Your librarian can help you find other books that you're sure to love.Your teacher is another good person to ask.

Organize a book swap.(交换)

    Why not get some friends together and trade favorite books? It's always fun to see what your friends are reading.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You also can look for book swaps in your area.

    My favorite animals are swans (天鹅). They are white. They can swim very well. I think they look like beautiful girls in white dresses (连衣裙). They have a pair of wings (翅膀) and they can also fly (飞) well. I believe  (认为) they are angels (天使) from the sky (天空). They bring us love and make (使) us happy. They are always friendly to us. We can't kill them, because they are our friends. I love them!

    I also like dogs. They are not beautiful, but they are the best friends. They keep the thieves (小偷) away. Dogs have the best hearing and eyesight. They can hear (听见) in the noise (喧闹声) and see in the dark (黑暗). If we are in danger, they will help us at once (立刻). So, I love them.

    Almost everyone likes apple pies in the USA. An apple pie is easy to make, so many people make it at home. You just need apples, flour (面粉), sugar, butter and spices(调味品).

    To make an apple pie, first peel and cut the apples into pieces. Then mix them with spices and put them in a pie tin (罐). Next put butter, sugar and flour in. Put the mixture on the apple pieces and bake the pie for about 30 minutes. The smell of the apple pie is great.

    There are many different ways to make apple pies. Some families have their own secret (秘密) ways and don't tell other people about them. Pies made with berries( 浆果) are also very popular in America. But the apple pie perhaps (也许) is the dessert that everyone loves best.