When you start a new school, go to a party or try to know a person, you often need to break the ice in order to start a friendly conversation. Breaking the ice means saying or doing something to stop feeling shy or uncomfortable around someone you don't know well. Almost everyone feels uncomfortable or shy when people meet for the first time. If you feel like this, the following ① tips can help you out.

Smile ② Whenyou smile, people think you're friendly and easy to talk to. They are also very likely to smile back and help you feel more comfortable about starting a conversation.

Be positive  Everybody likes being around happy people. Always look on the bright side of life and see everything positively（积极地）.

Be a good listener.   Don't control the conversation and don't just talk about yourself. ③ 仔细听别人讲，并且问一些关于他们自己的问题。They'll think you're worth talking to.

Be easy-going  ④ Some people may be so shy that they can't break the ice. Don't avoid being around new people just because you feel uncomfortable. If you face a situation again and again, you'll get used to it.

    Most elephants are grey. Only a few are white. It's difficult to see a white elephant. When people find a white elephant, they feel excited.

    Long ago, a white elephant was taken to the king. Only the king could have a white elephant. And the white elephant must be a very good one. People wanted to take a look at the animal. On its way to the king, the white elephant attracted(吸引) many people. They ran into the street and shouted, “A white elephant is coming!”

    All the people liked the cute elephant. Some gave it water to drink. Others sang songs to the elephant. A boy put a red hat on the elephant's head.

    Then the elephant came to the king. At last the king saw the white elephant. The king gave it a name himself. The elephant ate from gold dishes and it began a new life.

    What do you do when you come across a problem while doing your homework? Andy would take out his smart phone, open a special app and searched the problem. Answers soon appeared on the screen.

    Nowadays, many students do homework with the help of the Internet like Andy. They search for information online, use apps or discuss through social networks like QQ and WeChat.

    “It's convenient.” Andy said. “You also learn by seeing how others work them out.”

    “It also improves students' abilities.” said John, another student. He said it's true for new types of homework.

    John's Chinese teacher often asks students to give speeches on great authors. When it comes to John's turn, he usually searches online, picks out certain stories and makes PowerPoint presentations.

    “I've become skilled at finding information online and using Microsoft Office,” Wang said.

    However, many students think this trend (趋势) also brings up problems. Some students just copy the answers online without thinking. They become lazy.

    A head teacher in Andy and John's school said that knowing how to use the Internet is important. The key is to have good self-control.

    “No matter how difficult the problem is, think about it independently (独立地) first,” the teacher said. “Be sure to understand the reasons behind the answers, or you won't make progress. If you don't have confidence about your self-control, ask your parents for help.”

    Getting Help on Screen

    Ma Wanqing, 13, is a Junior I at Chengdu No.3 Middle School. By looking at this kid, you would never think he's a scientist.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} He got patents（专利）this month for two inventions（发明）：a feet-washing machine and an easy trash can（垃圾桶）.

The feet-washing machine looks like a toy, but it really works." Just hit the button, and that's all it takes: the machine washes and dries your feet for you," said Wu Di at Chengdu Zhongya Patent Office.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's something his mum makes him do every day.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} He drew many pictures, and he made many changes to his first ideas. After lots of thinking and hard work, he is finally finished.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} "It's all because I'm too lazy, "he tells them.

But his mother, Wang Xiao lin, thinks differently." He's hard-working. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}"

A story about the Mid-autumn Festival

    A great festival for the Chinese takes place on the 15th day of the 8th Chinese lunar month. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In 2019, the Mid-autumn Festival falls on September13th. As a time for families to be together, the Mid-autumn Festival has its typical food -the mooncake which is round and delicious. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Long ago there was a king in China who was very cruel（残暴的）to the people and the country didn't go well. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} So they wrote notes telling about the meeting place and time and put them into cakes. On the 15th of August every person was told to buy the cakes. When they ate them, they discovered the notes. So they got together to make a sudden attack(进攻）on the king. From then on, the Chinese people celebrated on August 15^th. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    When the Mid-autumn Festival is near, shop owners decorate (装饰)their shop windows beautifully with pictures of ancient Chinese ladies. People go to buy many kinds of mooncakes. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} On the evening of the day, people and their family have a big meal. After it, they eat mooncakes and watch the fullest and brightest moon.