Green is an important color in nature. It is the color of grass and the leaves on trees. It is the color of most growing plants, too.

Sometimes, the word green means young, fresh and growing. Sometimes, it describes something that is not yet finished or plants that are not ripe.

For example, a greenhorn is someone who has no experience, who is new to a situation. In the fifteenth century, a greenhorn was a young cow or ox whose horns had not yet developed. A century or so later, a greenhorn was a soldier who had not yet had any experience in war (战争) .By the eighteenth century, a greenhorn had the meaning it has today——a person who is new in a job.

About one hundred years ago, greenhorn was a popular expression in the American west Old—timers used it to describe a man who had just arrived from one of the big cities in the east. The greenhorn didn't have the skills that he would need to live in the hard, rough country.

Someone who has the ability to grow plants well is said to have a green thumb. The expression comes from the early nineteen hundred.

A person with a green thumb seems to have a magic touch that makes plants grow quickly and well. You might say that the woman next door has a green thumb if her garden continues to grow long after your plants have died.

The Green Revolution (革命) is the name which was given some years ago to the development of new kinds of rice and other grains. The new plants produced much larger crops. The Green Revolution was the result of hard work by agricultural (农业的) scientists who had green thumbs.

Paragraph 1 Nature parks for pandas

Paragraph 2 WWF and animals in danger

Paragraph 3 The panda's home

Paragraph 4 An animal in danger

There are four people in Jim's family. They are Kate, Jim, their father and their mother.

Jim is Kate's brother. He is fourteen. Kate is Jim's sister. She is twelve. They are in the same(相同的) school. Jim is in Class 1, Grade 3. Kate is in Class 2, Grade 1. They're good students.

Their father Mr. Green is a teacher. He is thirty-nine. He teaches English in a school near his home.Their mother is a teacher, too. But she teaches Chinese in a middle school.

Now they are all at home.Mr. Green is watching TV.Mrs. Green is making cakes. Jim and Kate are doing their homework.

Both cats and dogs are popular pets (宠物). Most families, however, can keep only one pet. It can be hard to decide to take a cat or a dog into your home. Here, some middle school students are having a cats VS dogs debate (辩论). 

Group A: Donna Walker   We think cats are better for most families. Many people want to keep a pet, but they live a busy life. People don't have to take cats outside to use the bathroom. Instead, they just use a litter box. Their owners (主人) only need to keep the litter box clean. They don't need to worry if they are away at work for most of the day. 

Group B: Gary Hall   No, dogs are better. Just think about why you want to keep a pet. Dogs can bring you lots of happiness. When you go back home from school or work, your dog will always welcome you at the door with excitement. When you walk into your room, you may hardly expect your cat to be too excited about seeing you. What's the point in keeping such a pet?

Group A: Brian Ross   Well, cats usually live longer than dogs. Most cats can live up to 15 years while most dogs only have 13 years on the earth. Isn't it nice to be able to spend more time with your pet?

Group B: Annie Miller   But dogs are more loyal. A dog never leaves its owner no matter what happens. Dogs also keep you safe. If a bad man tries to break into your house, your dog will drive him away with loud barks (吠叫). 

Group A: Paula Lee   Yeah, dogs make so much noise! Some dogs bar k at almost every stranger, but are there so many bad men? Cats, however, are quiet most of the time. 

Group B: Eric Bell   Dogs can be trained well. Cats have claws (爪子) and they are interested in everything. They can cause much more trouble!

The teenager life is nice. You can enjoy it. You can do many things in your teenager years. 

Study hard at school School life sometimes is difficult, but it is really important in your teenager years. So always do your homework after school first. 

Make good friendsYou needn't know everyone at school, but it's important for you to make some good friends. Your friends can make you happy and help you. You don't need many friends. But the quality of your friends is really important. 

Have your hobbies Look for some interesting things. You can read books, sing songs and play basketball. Don't be afraid to do new things. 

Do volunteer (志愿者) work This kind of work can make you be good. And it can help you with your study and get good work. It is very good. 

Bob's Family Tree