Hello, everyone. I am Tom. You know that different people have different hobbies. Such as reading, painting, growing vegetables and looking after animals. I was interested in stamps and started to collect them two years ago.

    My father works in a big company. He always goes abroad. Two years ago, when he was working in America, he sent home a letter with a beautiful stamp on the envelope (信封). I got the first stamp. I liked it very much. From then on I have always asked my father to send me different stamps from different countries. Later I joined a club and I have made many friends there. My friends encouraged me to write about my experiences on the stamps.

    I have collected 300 stamps. My hobby has brought me pleasure and success. I can also enjoy the beautiful designs of stamps. So I think hobbies can make me grow as a person.

    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.

Have you had a headache during a test? Have you ever been so worried about something that you have a headache or even can't sleep at night? If so, then you know what stress is. Stress is what you feel when you are worried about something.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} You may feel angry, sad, scared, or afraid — all of which give you a stomachache or a headache.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Some kinds of stress are good and others are bad. Good stress might happen when you're called to answer questions in class or when you have to give a speech.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, you may do a better job in your test if the stress pushes you to prepare better before the test.

    On the other hand, bad stress can happen if the stress lasts too long. You may not feel well if your parents are fighting, if a family member is sick, if you're having problems at school, or if anything else makes you unhappy every day. That kind of stress isn't going to help you{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Make sure you keep yourself in mind: Sleep, exercise, leisure, and food. If you get enough sleep and eat healthily, and if you exercise and leave time for fun, you'll probably fell less stressed.

A. This is kind of stress can help you to get things better done.

B. This worry in your mind can make your body feel bad.

C. The best way to face the stress is to have a balanced life.

D. And it can actually make you sick.

E. However, there are different kinds of stress.

Mr. Helpful,

    I'm not a top student .Most of my classmates are much better than me, so I usually get stressed out. Although I spend much time studying for the tests, I can't get good grades. Sometimes my father gives me some help. He tells me not to worry about it, but it doesn't work. What do you think I should do?

Wang Tao

Dear Wang Tao

    Many famous people were not so good when they were young. Edison, a famous scientist, did poorly in his studies when he was a young boy .But , as an adult, he made many discoveries (发明)that helped a lot of people .When I was at a young age, I didn't do well at school. I just kept working hard and at last I succeeded .You should take it easy (慢慢来) and try your best .Tomorrow is another day. I believe you can do better.

Mr. Helpful

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When a teacher assigns a lot of homework, Domenica Roman draws up a timetable, dividing the assignment into small parts." It's like eating a steak(牛排)," she says. "You chew it one bite at a time."

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}One student put a vocabulary list in the bathroom. He learned a new word every day while brushing his teeth. Another student used the time to remember biology terms while practicing running.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}In high school, McCray ran track, played football and was in the band and orchestra. "I was so busy that I couldn't waste time looking for a pencil or missing paper. I kept everything right where I could put my hands on it," he says.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}In an international class, Asian-Americans, on average, scored higher than other students. The teacher found that the Asian-Americans discussed homework problems together, tried different ways to work out the problems and explained their solutions to one another.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Christi is an excellent student at the University of California. If her math teacher assigns five problems, she does ten. If the history teacher assigns eight pages of reading, she reads twelve. "Part of learning is practicing," she says. "And the more you practice, the more you learn."

    Should parents ask their children to do chores? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}They think that children are too young to cook or clean for themselves or their parents. But many people believe that children can learn a lot from doing regular chores. Parents should help children learn to do the housework that they will have to do when they live on their own. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Most experts(专家)do agree. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Parents shouldn't, of course, ask a schoolboy to cook when he is doing his homework. If the child has activities after school, the time left to do chores may be short.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}When a child does what his parents ask him to do happily, he will probably have the feeling of growing up. Chores can be useful. They are a teaching tool(工具). Parents use the tool to teach children, so that they can care for themselves some day. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}If parents keep a clean house, children won't find any reason to do chores.

A. And they also give children a sense of responsibility, importance and confidence.

B. Parents must make children understand how hard they work.

C. However, the chores should suit (适合于)children.

D. Doing chores can help children get better grades.

E. Some believe that children should not do chores.

F. Perhaps more chores on weekends can be helpful.