Paper cutting is a traditional art in China, which has been making its way along the route of the long history of paper. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It once became one of the main forms of arts, and was popular with the people of that time; even in royal families, ladies were also judged by the ability at paper cutting. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The themes of their works usually include everything in people's daily life from dumb things to the surroundings. Familiarity makes them understand the real spirit of the art.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Once they are owned by a master of papercut, they will become so supernatural that the papercuts beyond imagination flow out of his/her hands. Another tool for paper cutting is carving knives which are necessary to improve a sharpened effect or to make a good job.

    No doubt that arts come from life and serve life. The bright colors of red, green or light blue papercuts provide a merry atmosphere. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} And people like to decorate their windows and doors using colorful papercuts. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Shanxi window papercuts are simple and bold; papercuts from Hebei Province are bright in color; papercuts in southern provinces are good and fine.

    Mother's Day is celebrated in the USA. It is also a holiday in some other countries. It is on the second Sunday in May. It is a day to thank mothers. On that day mothers usually receive flowers or cards. On the cards, children will write "Thanks, Mom"， "To the best mother in the world", "Best wishes for Mother's Day" and so on. We should make mothers happy on that day.

    Where does the idea for the holiday come from? We should thank Miss Anna M. Jarvis. She brought up the idea of having such a day. She lived in West Virginia. Her mother died on May 9th, 1905.She had a deep love for her mother. She wrote letters to some important persons. In her letters she asked them to decide a day for all mothers. Then Mother's Day was made on the second Sunday in May by the USA in 1913.

    In China, children give presents to their mothers on Mother's Day, or the whole family go out and try to do something nice for their mothers. Mothers always think of others more than themselves. They love their children and families very much. Everybody should show his love to his mother and help her as much as possible.

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    Friends are very important in everyone's life because friends are always there when we need them. It's great to have many friends, and I can't think about my life without my friends.

    My best friend is Lisa. When I first met her, I was five. She is one year older than me. Now she is in the same class with me, in the 8th grade. She is tall and quite thin. She has long curly blond hair and blue eyes. Lisa and I like doing a lot of things together and talking about different things. She always helps me with my math and I sometimes help her with her English and history, I had to do a report(报告)on science once, but I didn't understand(理解) what the teacher said. The next day, I read it in front of the class. But the teacher told me that my report was wrong and my classmates laughed at me. I felt very bad about myself. Lisa was the only one who didn't laugh at me. She tried to be nicer than anybody else and made me happy.

    Lisa is friendly and everybody loves her. I am happy to have a friend like her.

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    Thank you for watching Around China. I'm Li Ling, a reporter from CCTV. Now, we're in Penghu, Taiwan. The beach here is really beautiful and clean. Today is sunny, but the weather is hot and humid. There are lots of people. Some people are taking photos; some are swimming in the sea, and others are lying on the beach. Look at this group of young men playing beach soccer. They are only wearing sports shorts and sunglasses. They are running barefoot (赤脚的). They really look cool. I'm surprised that they can play so well in this heat. This is a very beautiful and interesting place. It's also a good place to relax. I like here so much that I really don' t want to leave.

    One day a man went home after work and said to his wife, "I bought something for you." "Thank you!" said his wife. "What have you bought for me?" "I've bought a gold ring (戒指). Here it is." He took it out for his wife to see. Then he dropped it to the ground. He began to look for it on the ground, but it was dark in the house and he could not see anything. Then he went out and began to look for it in the street. Just then a friend came along. "What's the matter with you?" asked his friend. "I'm looking for my ring. I lost it just now," said the man. "Where did you lose it?" "I lost it in my house just now." "①You lost your ring in your house, but you are looking for it in the street. How foolish (愚蠢的)you are!" "Ah," said the man, "but it is dark in my house. I shall never find it there. But here in the street, it is much brighter. I can see everything." When his friend heard his words, he laughed and laughed.②你觉得这个人怎么样?

    Reading books is a good hobby for all kinds of reasons. First, reading books is fun. You can always keep yourself pleased if you like reading. This is especially useful when the weather is bad. It is a relaxing hobby, too. You can really become lost in a book.

    Next, you can read a book almost anywhere, in a car, in a waiting room, on a plane, in bed--even in a bath. All you need is a book. Reading is a convenient(方便的) hobby as it is easy to stop and then start again.

    Another good reason for reading books is that it is useful. If you keep reading as a hobby, you will get better and better at it. This means that you will read faster and will become better at understanding what you read. As your reading improves, you will probably find that your schoolwork becomes much easier. Many school subjects depend on(依靠) good reading and, as you read, you will learn more and more.

    Some people say, hat reading is out of date. That is not true. You have to be able to read on the Internet. And the more you read, the better your computer skills will be. Reading is hardly out of date!

    Good readers are most likely to be good writers, too. They are usually good at spelling as well, and have more things to write about.

    Reading books is a wonderful hobby, one of the best. What other hobbies could be more useful or more enjoyable?