Nov. 21 is World Hello Day. It began back in the 1970s as part of an effort to make the world more peaceful. It was created by the United Nations just after the war between Israel and Egypt in 1973. Its aim is to encourage people to use communication rather than force to settle conflicts(解决争端)。 The philosophy (理念) behind it is: Say “Hello” and stop war.

    It sounds like a fine idea, but most of us know that simply saying “Hello” won't bring about world peace. Still, the simple act of saying “hello ”to someone can truly make a lot of difference. You raise your head to someone as you pass by, say “Hello. it is such a casual (不经意的)thing and requires so little effort, but you might even make his day.

    Although we might not realize it, a small thing like a greeting can mean a lot to a person. Some people are lonely because they're shy. That leads to them feeling cut off. They find it difficult to communicate with people, even though they want to. They may secretly smile in their hearts after they hear your greetings. It's a good idea, not just on Nov.21, but every day, to remember to say “hello”to as many people as we can.

    No one said it better than the French writer Joseph Joubert: “Politeness is the flower of humanity(人性)''. A “Hello” to a stranger is a small thing, and often neglected (忽视), but through it we can make the world better for another person.

    Have you ever wondered what kind of music young people across the United States are listening to? Are they crazy about Britney Spears? Do they love the Backstreet Boys? Or do they dance with Eminem?

    Well, nearly 6,000 teens have taken part in a Teen & Music survey, made by the USA Weekend Magazine last autumn. And the result showed what type of music was hot and what was not.

    It comes without surprise that hip-hop and rap are the most popular types of music among American teenagers. They began in the mid-1970s with young black kids in New York, taking music onto the streets. Hip -hop and rap are well-known for the break-dancing that goes with them.

    The word "rap" comes from a slang word. It is a rapid rhyme that is spoken rather than sung.

    Pop music, such as Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, has always met the tastes of the general public. It continues to enjoy support from teens and is the second most popular music after hip-hop and rap.

    The third is rock music with exciting dance beats and simple lyrics that speak loudly of social problems. The melodies are led by electric guitars. Rock became popular in the USA in the early 1950s. The American singer Elvis Presley and British group the Beatles became world famous rock artists.

    The survey also shows that jazz is least loved by American teens. It developed in the later part of the 19th century from a mixture of African songs and hymns. Jazz tends to be the type of music that people enjoy more as they get older.

    In many English homes people eat four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.

    People have breakfast at any time from seven to nine in the morning. They eat porridge, eggs or bread. English people drink tea or coffee at breakfast. Lunch comes at one o'clock. Afternoon tea is from four to five in the afternoon and dinner is about half past seven. First they have soups, and then they have meat or fish with vegetables. After that they eat some other things, like bananas, apples or oranges. But not all English people eat like that. Some of them have their dinner in the middle of the day. Their meals are breakfast, dinner, tea and supper and all these meals are very necessary.

    ①If you have a chance to go to Finland(芬兰), you will probably be surprised to find how "foolish" the Finnish people are.

    ②Take the taxi drivers for example. Taxis in Finland are mostly high-class Benz(奔驰) with the money of two US dollars a kilometer. You can go anywhere in one, tell the driver to drop you at any place, say that you have some business to do, and then walk off without paying. The driver would not show the least sign of being nervous and worried.

    ③The dining rooms in all big hotels not only serve their guests, but also serve outside diners. Hotel guests have their meals free, so they naturally go to the free dining rooms to have their meals. The most they would do to show their good faith is to wave their registration(登记) card to the waiter. With such a relaxing check, you can easily use any old registration card to take a couple of friends to get the meals free.

    ④The Finnish workers are paid by the hour. They are very much on their own as soon as they have agreed with the boss on the pay. From then on, they just say how many hours they have worked and they will be paid accordingly.

    ⑤With so many mistakes in everyday life, surely Finland must be a place to those who love to take "petty advantages"(小便宜). But the strange thing is, all the taxi passengers would always come back to pay their fare after they have done their business; not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms. And workers always give an honest record of the exact hours they put in.

    ⑥As you can see, living in such a society has turned everyone into a real "gentleman". In a society of such high moral(道德) practice, what need is there for people to be on guard against others?

As a student，what do you think of your school life？Many students may say，"I have too much homework to do every day. I have no time to do my favourite things. I often finish doing my homework late at night. And at the weekend，and I think it's great to do some fun things like playing basketball，playing chess and listening to music after school every day. Sometimes I am really bored with my homework and my school life. 

Yes，you are very busy at school as students，but homework can really help you a lot. Doing homework can help you review what you have learned at school. And it is a very useful way to remember the contents（内容）in books. 

In fact，if you do homework in right ways，I'm sure you can have free time to do the other things you like in your daily life. When you must do your homework, please find a quiet room. Don't listen to music or do anything else when you do your homework. Remember that you can't do two things at the same time. If you meet very difficult questions, ask your parents or classmate s for help. You can also ask for help on the Internet. Make a good plan for your homework of every subject and try your best to finish it on time. 

①Playing team sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball is a great way for kids to keep moving and stay fit. These sports not only help their bodies but also give them important lessons for life.

②First, team sports show kids how to work together. When they play on a team, they have to help each other to win. This teaches them to talk and support each other, which is helpful in all parts of life.

③Next, playing team sports can make kids feel better about themselves and more sure of their abilities. When kids help their team win, they feel proud. This good feeling can help them believe in what they can do and make them feel better about who they are.

④Also, team sports help kids learn to manage(管理) their time. Kids who play sports have to fit in school, practice, and games. They know obeying discipline(纪律) is really important by doing teamwork. This teaches them to understand what the most important thing is and use their time well.

⑤Finally, being on a team is good for making friends and getting closer to people they have already known. For many kids, their teammates are like a second family.

⑥So, team sports are really important for how kids grow up. They help their bodies, minds, and social life in ways that can make their whole life better.