There was a time when New York City buildings were almost all the same height.

3.Today you can see buildings of different heights that seem to touch the sky. They are called skyscrapers(摩天大楼). They shape the famous New York City skyline.

 It started about 90 years ago. It began like a race. This wasn't a race down the street or around a track(跑道). It was a race for the sky. Who was racing? Buildings were.Their builders were actually racing to build the world's tallest skyscraper.

 The race started slowly.

 First came the Woolworth Building, in 1913. It rose 792 feet(英尺) on the southern side of the city. Then the race heated up.In1930, two skyscrapers were nearing completion. The Bank of Manhattan Building was finished first. It rose up to 927 feet into the sky. Builders were then putting a round roof（屋顶）on the top of the Chrysler Building. It rose up t0 925 feet. The Bank of Manhattan, two feet taller, seemed to be the winner.

 A few weeks later, New Yorkers saw a strange sight（景象）.  The day that the Chrysler Building was to be completed, workers raised a shiny metal, spire（尖顶）through the top of the building, adding 121 feet to the building's height! At l,048 feet,the Chrysler Building was now the world's tallest.

 But the race was not over.  A year later, in 1931, the Empire State Building became the new winner.4.At l,250 feet, it was the world's tallest building.

 In 1973, even that record was broken. Builders finished the World Trade Center. At 1,368 feet high, it rose above all other buildings in New York City.

 Time goes on. As technology improves, taller buildings are being built. The race is still on.

    Do you hope to live a better life？Then how to make your wish come true? Keep away from anything that is useless. Do the right thing! However good or bad a situation is, it will change. The best is yet to come. Well, here are some tips for you to follow!

    •Mind your meals

    Try to eat more foods that grow naturally on trees and plants. Have meals on time every day. And remember not to go to school or work without breakfast, for it is more important than lunch or dinner.

    •Exercise and smile

    Each day take a 40-minute walk. Make time to practise some other exercise, such as yoga and Taiji. They provide us with daily energy for our busy lives. Try to smile and make at least three people smile each day.

    •Forget and forgive (原谅)

    Problems appear sometimes and they simply stay for a short time. Forget what happened in the past. Don't always think of your past mistakes. Make peace with your past in order that it won't destroy your present happiness. Life is not very long, so we shouldn't waste time hating anyone. Forgive everyone for everything.

    •Also do such things

    Call your family often and stay in touch with your friends．Each day give something good to others. Cheer up no matter how you feel. Read more books than you did before and you can learn more from them. Don't compare your life to others'.

    The favorite food in the United States is the hamburger. The favorite place to buy a hamburger is a fast food restaurant. At fast food restaurant people order their food, wait a few minutes, and carry it to their tables themselves. 人们也可以把快餐带出餐馆 and eat in their cars or in their homes. At some fast food restaurants, people can order their food, pay for it and pick it up without leaving their cars.

    There are many kinds of fast food restaurants in the United States. They usually sell some popular food among Americans, like hamburgers, French fries and milkshakes. But fast food restaurants also serve Chinese food, Mexican food, Italian food, Chicken, seafood and ice cream.

    Fast food restaurants are very popular, and many American people like them.

    When talking about inventors, who do you first think of? Forget Thomas Edison. Meet the teenage inventors at the 24Jiangsu Adolescents Science & Technology Innovation Contest (青少年科技创新大赛).

    Wang Xingyu, 14, from Kunshan No. 2 Middle School, invented "a safe line' in the zebra crossing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} "I put a spray tube (喷管) in the zebra crossing. When the light is red and  somebody crosses, it sprays water. If the light is green, it will not work, "said Wang. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} "Theres a water channel (管道) in the ground, so the water will be collected and used again, "he said.

    Zong Wangchen, 15, from Nantong Special Education Middle School, also got his invention idea from daily experience. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} When he walked on the sidewalk for the blind, he often came across obstacles（障碍物 ）. Once he even hurt his nose. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Users tie radar on their knees and wear the loudspeaker around their necks. When they meet obstacles, the radar will see them and the loudspeaker will make a sound to tell the users.

    Chen Huijuan, an official from Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology, was surprised at these inventions." {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Get inspiration（灵感） from small things in life and you can be an inventor too. "he said.

    Jack Smith is my best friend. He is 12 years old. He is from America. 他最喜欢的运动是足球。He likes basketball, too. He likes swimming very much. He often goes swimming with his father at weekends, he thinks it is very interesting. He can speak Chinese, but he can't write in Chinese. Jack Smith doesn't like English, he thinks it is too difficult. Jack has got a big family. He lives with his grandpa, grandma, father, mother, brother, and sister. Jack's mother always makes a big dinner for the family on Saturday evening. They are a happy family!

"Aly, I know you took the money." 

"I didn't take the money, Grandma. 1 you love me, you should believe me."

Her anger came from a deep place. 2 her would only cause her anger to rise. So I tried a different way.

"I love you, Aly. I don't understand3 you took my money, but I want you to know you don't have to4 from me. When you love someone, you share what you have. You can keep the money you took, and I will also give you anything else you want. What else do you need?"

She 5 me, "I didn't take your money! I don't want your things!" 

I went to the kitchen and picked up my6 cup. "It is one of my favorite cups." I put7 on the table in front of her. "You can have this cup." She looked surprised.

Then I started gathering other things and placing them before her. "Take this ring. Take this scarf. Take this..."

She said, "No, Grandma, no. Stop it!" But I 8 putting others on the table. As the things grew, the fire left her eyes, her9 dropped, and then her thin shoulders began to shake with crying. Only then did I stop and put my arms 10 her. "I love you, Aly. Just ask me for what you want but no stealing."

She didn't admit guilt(认错), but the money11 again. Aly didn't change12 , but she did change. Aly is a high school student now, and an almost straight A student. She has learned to13 people's feelings. She is smart and funny sometimes. I am so proud of the wonderful young woman she has become.

Now I can leave any money lying around. I know14 that she will not take it. She has not stolen from me since that first time. Sometimes, 15 is the best punishment you can give a child.