If you think you're too shy and want to be a little braver, try the following. You can make it.

             There's no need to hide it. When they get to know you're a shy kid, they'll understand you better. This also helps you feel easier in talks.

              When you smile, people think you're friendly and easy to talk with. Remember that other people have feelings, too, and ①most people will stay away from an angry-looking face.

      Take one small step at a time. If you find it hard to start talks, say something nice about people around you.         Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person?

      Turn your attention elsewhere.         ②Don't waste(浪费) time worrying about your looks or whether people like you or not Don't lose heart Each time after you say “hi” or smile at someone for the first time, say “I did it!” to yourself.        

Keep trying and one day you'll never be shy when you talk to others.

A. Bay Bridge           B. The Jing-Hang Grand Canal     C. The Fuchun River

D. The Qiantang River    E. The West Lake                F. Xixi Wetland

Known as the "Paradise on Earth", Hangzhou is blessed with beautiful scenery.

①{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It lies in the west of the city. It is also called the Lake of "Xizi" a famous beauty in ancient China. Su Dongpo spoke highly of it in his poem: "It looks like the fair lady at her best, whether she is richly or plainly dressed." Whether it is sunny or rainy, misty or snowy, it is always so fascinating!

②{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It is a man-made wonder created by the Chinese people, which still remains in use for nearly two thousand years. It is 1797 kilometers long. It is from Hangzhou to Beijing. As the longest man-made waterway in ancient China, it plays an important role in the cultural communication between the north and the south. It also provides Hangzhou with a valuable chance to learn from other places.

③{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It became famous before the West Lake. Every year in the eighth month of the lunar calendar, the river tides will come rolling and roaring like powerful armies. As tides rose, ancient people would hold sports activities on the river, which are no less thrilling than sea surfing. On the upper stream is the Fuchun River, a quiet peaceful river in Fuyang District.

④{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It is a rare secondary urban wetland, an ecological wetland and a cultural wetland all in one. As an international garden city, Hangzhou is a place where you can see green vegetations and bright flowers everywhere in every season.

⑤{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Hangzhou is close to the sea. The Westlake used to be a lake linking to the sea, and became an interior lake only after dams were built around it. Most part of the urban area of Hangzhou used to be a bay. Today, Hangzhou Bay is linked to the East Sea, where a sea-crossing bridge has been built to span the bay.

C

    In April 2004,Sharon Tirabassi got more than $10 million(一百万)by winning a lottery(彩票抽奖)．She became very rich．But just in nine years，she spent almost all the money．Now she even has to work hard to make enough money for everyday use．

    Before she won the lottery, Sharon lived in a small apartment with her three children and didn't have enough money for a car．After she won it，she was unprepared for the change to her life．She spent most of her time shopping with her friends and paid for everything．She bought a big house in the richest part of town and four cars．

    Today, Sharon lives in a rented(租来的)house on a quiet street-not far from where she started．She doesn't have the big house or the expensive cars．She goes to work by bus or by bike．

But Sharon says she's happier now than she used to be．and she lives life more fully than she did before．”When I was rich，I spent all my time shopping．But now other things are more important to me．”says Sharon．Now Sharon works hard and

often talks with her children.” I'm trying to get them to learn that they have to work for money ，” she says．

Some birthday customs（习惯） are quite similar（相似） in many parts of the world—- birthday candles, birthday games，and birthday cakes. But some customs are more special to some countries. Here are some children talking about their customs.

Linda—I am fourteen. I come from Aruba. In our country, children take something special to school for their classmates and all teachers. Every teacher gives the birthday child a small present like a pencil, an eraser or a postcard. The birthday child doesn't need to wear special uniform(校服). He or she can wear family clothes.

Lucy—I am one year older than Linda. Denmark（丹麦） is my country. We hung a flag(旗帜) outside a window to show that someone in that house is having a birthday. Presents are placed around the child's bed while they are sleeping so they will see them at once when they wake up.

Tom—I am as old as Linda. I am from Brazil(巴西). The birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe(耳垂) for each year in my country. The birthday person also gives the first slice of cake to his most special friend or relative, usually mom or dad.

    I'm Jim. Today is my birthday. I want to thank my family for their love. So I cook dinner for them. I know my mother likes hamburgers and salad. But my father likes chicken and tomato soup(汤). I have a brother. He likes hamburgers, too. But he doesn't like salad. He likes carrots. I have a sister, too. She likes fish(鱼肉) and bread. I like chicken and strawberries. I will buy these things for the birthday party.

    Students in Japan are trying a new kind of travelling. In the past they could only go to the museums. That was boring for the teenagers. They often went by bus. Many of them felt sleepy in the museum. But now they can go out of doors. They can go to factories, villages and many other places they like.

    Experiential education (体验式教育) is now very popular in North America. It is also becoming more and more popular in Japan. Just look at the JTB, Japan's biggest travel agency. It has more than 300 different travel programs for students and schools. More than 25 schools have taken part in the programs.

    Where are the students going? They travel to fishing villages in Kyushu and farming villages in China. Some even go to English classes in England. Wherever they go, they enjoy helping the disabled(残疾的). By doing so, they learn how to take care of others. It's an experience that students will never forget.

    Travelling in Japan also does the farmers and fishermen good. Now there are many people visiting their villages. Visitors' coming every year brings them a lot of money and a better life.