Bill is a smart boy. He can do all the math problems(问题) in his math book.

    One day, on his way to school, he sees a sign of a fruit store. It says: "Apples: Six for five  cents(美分)". Bill knows what to do, so he goes into the store.

    "How much are the apples？" Bill asks the man.

    "Six for five cents."

    "But I don't want six apples."

    "How many apples do you want？"

    "Well, it's not a question of how many apples I want. It's a math problem. If six apples are worth(值) five cents, then five apples are worth four cents, four apples are worth three cents, three apples are worth two cents, two apples are worth one cent and then one apple is worth ZERO! I only want one apple."

    Bill chooses(选择) a good apple and starts to eat it. The man is so surprised(惊讶的) that he can't say a word!

    In fact, all decisions come down to choosing whether to open a door or to close it. I have learned that opening a door always makes life more interesting.

    A few years ago, I was living in a small world. I worked as a teacher in a very small high school. My life was quite simple. Then one day I had an opportunity to teach in a large school. The students there came from different countries. But the school was far away from my village. So I asked myself, "Should I go to that strange place to teach? Or should I stay at home?" In my home town I was safe and comfortable.

    Finally, I decided to go. I thought this was the best decision in my life. In that large school, I learned a lot about very different cultures. I also found that just a smile or a hug could make people understand each other. My new students made me feel welcome. We had a lot of fun. It was wonderful to live in a very different area of the country. So I was lucky that I didn't close the door to the chance, or I would miss all of those wonderful experiences.

Everyone tries to get to school on time. But when bad weather gives you trouble, can you still make it before the bell rings?

In northern China during spring, big sandstorms (沙尘暴) often make trouble for students and everyone else. When the sky is dark with sand（沙子), buses and cars all move much more slowly. Sometimes, people can't even see for 20 meters. Sandstorms usually happen in spring. They have happened in more than 10 provinces in northern China this year.

People in southern China don't have to worry about this kind of bad weather. Most of the sand comes from Gansu and Inner Mongolia(内蒙古). In northern China, lots of places have few trees and don't get much rain. People there have been cutting down too many trees. When there aren't many trees, the ground can't keep enough water. Over the years, the ground dries up and turns to sand. When spring comes and the ice melts(融化), the ground becomes looser(更松散的). Strong winds take the loose sand into the sky. 

Sandstorms are bad for people's health. If people breathe too much sand, they could cough or have asthma(哮喘). Sandstorms also give farmers lots of problems. Sometimes their sheep get lost in the storms and never get back home. The winds also tear down farmers'houses. 

To stop sandstorms, you can ask your parents to help you plant some trees this spring. If you see people cutting down too many trees, tell them about the dangers of sandstorms, and ask your government to stop them from cutting. 

Our parents are important people in our life. They are our first teachers in our life. They love us and help us all the time. But do you want to get on well with them? Here are some ways to help you to be happy with your parents. 

Have fun together 

How much time do you spend just enjoying being with each other? Ask your parents to play with you. Go outside together, try some sports, or go to the movies. 

Be kind 

Little things may bring a lot to your parents. Make a meal for them by yourself and that can make your parents happy. 

Ask for help 

When you are in trouble or meet some sad things, you can ask your parents for help and advice. They will be happy to listen to you and help you. 

Have a try 

You don't have to be the best but you need to have a try. They will be happy to see you have the courage to achieve your dream. It lets them know they're doing a good job in helping you grow up. 

My friend Alice visited me last week. She arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday morning. She came from Australia. I showed her around. 

We visited the Clock Tower first. The Clock Tower was very tall. We took some photos there. Then we went to Hong Kong Science Museum. After that, we saw a good movie. 

The next day, we visited the Ladies' Market （女人街）. There were a lot of clothes shops. The clothes were cheap and beautiful. Alice bought some clothes for her parents and friends. Then we went to the Dried Seafood Street. We bought some seafood. We also had seafood in a restaurant. Both of us enjoyed the food. Then we went to a concert （音乐会） in the evening. The music was fantastic （极好的）！

On the third day, the weather was very hot, so we decided to visit Hong Kong Wetland Park. We saw many kinds of plants and animals in it. They were very interesting. Alice went back to Australia on Friday evening. She enjoyed the trip. She invited （邀请） me to visit Australia next summer.