Is it good to be in the middle? Sometimes, no, like when you're in the middle seat on a long car ride. But sometimes, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, like when you're in the middle of a great movie. What will happen next? Middle school is {#blank#}2{#/blank#} bit like that.

Middle school is called middle school {#blank#}3{#/blank#} it's in the middle of your school years. Elementary school is {#blank#}4{#/blank#} you. High school and possibly college still await(等待) you. Middle school often includes sixth, seventh, and eighth {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, but you might go to middle school earlier or later, depending on how it's done in your area.

    For a kid, going to middle school is often a big change:

       ·First, it often means moving to a new {#blank#}6{#/blank#}, which takes some time to adjust(调整) to.

      ·Second, it may mean taking a different bus, with different students.

      ·Third, the friends you {#blank#}7{#/blank#} in elementary school may end up going to different middle schools.

    All that can make you {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a bit scared on the first day of school.

Other things that probably will be different are the teachers and the work. Have you heard that middle school teachers are really mean and the homework is really, really {#blank#}9{#/blank#}? Oh, dear. We've heard those, too, but usually they're not {#blank#}10{#/blank#}. Yes, you'll like some teachers better than others, but middle schools are not special for teachers!

    A few years ago, a little boy, not more than eight years old, went to the store himself.

    While he was going {#blank#}1{#/blank#} home, a dirty dog followed him. The dog was weak because it had a sore leg. After he found the dog was badly {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, he let it follow him home.

    The little boy's mother taught him to be {#blank#}3{#/blank#} and friendly. However, when the little boy asked his mother {#blank#}4{#/blank#} he would let the dog come into the house or not, she hesitated (犹豫)."We have no room for it," said she. The poor dog seemed to understand {#blank#}5{#/blank#} she said. It looked so sad! The little boy almost cried when he saw the dog's big {#blank#}6{#/blank#} looking up to him sadly.

    His mother was actually kind, too. She did not drive the poor hungry dog away, but let it {#blank#}7{#/blank#} in the yard. The little boy gave the dog some {#blank#}8{#/blank#}, water and clean dry grass to lie on. They also made it clean.

    After a few days the dog was {#blank#}9{#/blank#} with the help of the boy and his mother. It began to show how happy and thankful it was. Because {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their kindness, the dog finally found a home. It did what a dog could do to be a helpful family member.

Anna: What is the topic of your project?

Alice: About {#blank#}1{#/blank#} in our city.

Anna: It is a good topic.

Alice: The pollution is rather serious. It's said that some {#blank#}2{#/blank#} pour waste water into the river near our city.

Anna: It may pollute our water.

Alice: You're right. We should do a survey near the river and take action.

Anna: {#blank#}3{#/blank#} great your idea is!

Alice: I'll write my report and do something for it. Would you love to do it with me?

Anna: Sure! Let's work {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

Alice: The city is our home. It is our duty to make it clean and {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    My friend, Hugh, has always been fat, but things got so bad recently that he decided to go on a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. He started his diet a week ago. First of all, he wrote out a long list of all the foods which were forbidden. The list included most of the things Hugh loves; butter, potatoes, rice, beer, milk, chocolate and sweets. Yesterday I paid him{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. I rang the bell and was not surprised to see that Hugh didn't lose weight at all. He led me into his room and hurriedly{#blank#}3{#/blank#}a large parcel under his desk. He was very embarrassed for sure. When I asked him what he was doing, he smiled guilty y and then took out the parcel which contained five large bars of chocolate and three bags of sweets. He explained that his diet was so{#blank#}4{#/blank#}that he had to reward himself occasionally.