Idioms(成语) are phrases and sentences that do not mean exactly what they say. Even if you know the meaning of each word you see or hear, you may not understand the idiom because you don't understand the culture behind it.

    For example, if an American boy asks his mother what's for dinner tomorrow, she may say “I'll play it by ear”, that means she doesn't have plans for dinner and she will decide later. “Play by ear” used to mean playing music using the sheet music(活页乐谱), but now people often use it when they're not talking about music.

    There're many idioms in English. If you learn to use them, your English will be more vivid and colorful. English idioms are more common in spoken English. They can be difficult to remember sometimes. Next time when you hear somebody saying to you, “Give me a hand”, you don't necessarily reach out your hand to him/her, but you do need to be helpful. And when the situation is out of hand, you usually can do very little to manage all that. What about a green hand? It's not about the color of your hand! You're a green hand when you are very new at your work and don't have much experience. If you and your partner always work together hand in glove, you two certainly work together very well.

    Can you guess the meanings of some common English idioms to do with parts of your body?

    Teachers at American colleges and universities have many different teaching methods. Some teachers give homework and check homework every day, and students in their classes have to take many exams. Some teachers give only writing tasks. Some teachers always follow a course outline and usually use the textbook. Others send students to the library for tasks.

    The atmosphere(气氛) in some classrooms is very formal. Students call their teachers Professor (教授) Smith, Mrs. Jones and so on. Some teachers wear business clothes and give talks. Other classrooms have an informal (非正式的) atmosphere. Students and teachers discuss their ideas. Teachers dress informally, and students call them by their first names. American teachers are different in their teaching styles.

    At most American colleges and universities, libraries and learning centers can be used by students at any time. They can often use tape recorders, video machines and computers. They can buy books, notebooks and other things at campus stores. There are also services (服务) to students. They can get advice on their problems from their teachers. Colleges and universities usually offer facilities (设施) to students. Some schools have swimming pools and tennis courts. Most have fast food restaurants.

    Some people in the West like to stay at home during their weekends. They work in the garden, visit their friends, read books or watch television. Many families take their lunch to a park or some where far from the city. They like to eat under some trees or near a nice lake. If they live near the sea, they often go to the seaside. There they can fish, swim or enjoy the sunshine.

    Some people in the West like travelling. They think travelling and outdoor activities are interesting and exciting. They work hard to save money, but their main purpose is to travel.

    Most Western students often make use of their weekends to camp. There are thousands of interesting camp bases in Western countries. They can swim, go fishing, attend lectures, and take part in many other activities there. It can help them quest for the secrets of nature and teach them how to be self-reliant(自立的).

    There are many different kinds of festivals around the world. Here are four of them.

    Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland

    Ireland is an island country. It's in the west of Europe, There are wide green fields.

    Saint Patrick's Day is on 17th March. It's an important holiday in Ireland. This holiday is to remember Saint Patrick. He did good things for the people of Ireland.

    During the holiday, there are parades and lots of green. You can see people in green clothes, and you can even see green buildings.

    Red Wednesday in Iran

    Red Wednesday is a fire jumping festival in Iran. It is on the eve(前夜) of the last Wednesday of the year. People jump over the fire. They hope that it will take all the bad things away.

    Quebec Winter Carnival in Canada

    When winter comes, it's party time in Quebec City, Canada. The Quebec Winter Carnival is all about outdoor fun. It starts from the end of January and ends in mid February.

    One of the most popular activities is the dog sledding race(狗拉雪橇比赛). It has more than 30 teams and the race goes on for 6 kilometres. You can see happiness on every face.

    The Desert(沙漠) Festival in Tunisia

    Tunisia is a very important country in North Africa. Every year on the last Sunday of December, the Desert Festival is held in Tunisia. As "Ships of the Desert", camels are very important in the festival. There is camel racing and camel wrestling(摔跤).