What's your favourite animals? Monkeys, zebras or…… Now, let me tell you something about pandas. They come from China. Their heads and stomachs （腹部） are white, and their legs are black. Their black eyes are like a pair of black glass balls. Pandas like living in bamboo woods (树林)， because the place is cool ① 并且它们通常吃竹子。

    Pandas are lovely ,but they are in danger(危险)。② People cut down (砍到) lots of bamboo to build houses.

    Please save the lovely pandas. As a kind of great animal, everybody loves them in the world. Let's try our best to help them.

    Today is Emily's 15th birthday. The following are some presents she receives.

    Table manners are different from country to country. If you visit a friend's home for a meal, it's good to know about certain customs.

    Morocco

    In many homes, people often sit on the floor to eat a meal. Often, everyone eats from the same plate. It is in the center of the table. Only eat the food in front of you. Don't reach across someone for food. It is common to use your fingers and small pieces of bread to eat food. Use only your right hand to eat. Don't say "no" to food. If the host offers you food or drink, take some and try a little.

    Also remember: In many homes, it is common to take off your shoes.

The United States

    In most homes, people usually sit on chairs when they eat a meal. People eat from their own plate or bowl, but sometimes people share desserts. If you want something (for example, the water), ask for it. Reaching across someone is rude. It's OK to eat things like sandwiches, fruit, French fries, pizza, and some kinds of meat with your fingers. It's OK to say "no" to food if you don't like it.

    Also remember: People often talk when they eat a meal together.

    In Japan, the latest time—saving invention is a dog-washing machine. Dog owners can buy one for their dogs. They can save time by putting their dogs in the machine and then 33 minutes later, a clean, fresh-smelling dog comes out.

    The machine becomes more and more popular. The sales of the dog-washer are increasing. The machines save a lot of money for pet owners. However, it's bad news for pet hospitals because they are losing many customers.

    The washing machine has many advantages. First, the whole cleaning process includes a shampoo（洗发）, rinse（冲洗） and blow-dry. Second, tests showed that dogs enjoyed the wash and were very happy when the blow-dryer started working. Third, the most important is that the makers of the machine say it's very safe and does not harm dogs in any way.

    One dog-owner, Michiko Kobayashi, loves her new machine. She said her dog was happy, too. Michiko explained to the reporters, "Before I bought my washer, I only took my dog to the pet hospital a few times a year. Now, I wash her every week and she looks great. I also save a lot of money. "

    It is welcomed by most people who raise dogs. And it takes over the market quickly. What a beautiful invention!

Once a scholar (学者) is going to a place by boat. The boatman set sail (启航) in his boat and the boat was moving slowly. The wind was 1 softly (轻柔地). There were beautiful sounds of waves (浪花) and hundreds of birds were flying in the sky. The scholar was feeling 2 . He was very proud of (对……感到自豪) his learning. He asked the boatman if he knew 3 the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The old man 4 , "No." The scholar told the boatman that his life was 5 .

The boatman said 6 but looked at the scholar. After a while, the scholar asked again if the boatman read 7 before. The boatman politely answered that he never read any book, so he knew nothing about geography. The scholar then told him that half of his life was wasted.

Then the sky became covered with dark clouds. Soon a terrible storm came. The waves were beating 8 against the boat. The scholar became very scared. Seeing this, the boatman asked him if he knew how to swim. The scholar said, "I read many books on swimming and know a lot about it, 9 I never tried swimming." The boatman then told him 10 , "Then you waste your whole life, because the boat is going to sink (下沉)!"

Dear Jenny,

Thank you for your email. In your 1 , you tell me something about your school in America. And I 2 a lot about you and your school. Now let me tell you something about myself, my 3 and my school. I am a (n) 4 boy. I was born in Taizhou, Zhejiang. I am thirteen. I study 5 No. 2 Middle School. My home is near my school. It takes me about 10 6 to get to my school. I often go to school 7 . But I don't walk to school if it rains. I take a bus. My school is 8 . There are many new buildings, a big sports field and nice trees and flowers in it. There are 9 in my class, twenty boys and fifteen girls. My teachers say all of 10 are good students. As for my family, my mother is a doctor. She works in Taizhou No. 1 People's Hospital. My father is a 11 . He teaches English. All the students like him because his 12 are interesting. I have a sister. She is 13 , but I am tall. She is quiet and she likes reading, 14 I don't like reading. I'm funny, I like to make people laugh. We are very 15 , but we have a good time together. I am always happy at home and at school.

Yours,

Wang Fan