Americans think much about time. From children they learn to value(珍惜) time. As children they are taught to be on time to go to school, to work and to do everything. When they are having a good time, they say that time flies. When a person is dying(垂死的) , they say he is living on borrowed time.

    Time is money. Time is knowledge(知识). Time is everything in America. A working American has to work hard for eight hours a day or forty hours a week. This is the working time. In his spare(空闲的) time, he also works hard for more money. Even on Saturday or Sunday he also works hard as usual. In the street you can not see that a man walks slowly. They walk very fast. In fact, they are running. They love time because time can bring them money and a lot of things. But sometimes they also hate time, because they feel that they have become servants(仆人) of the clock.

    We need animals. Every animal has its place in the balance(平衡)of nature. We should try to help save the animals.

    Some people think zoos are good places. The zoos give the animals the comfortable and safe living places. If the animals get hurt or ill, people will take care of them. The zoo is a good place to know the rules in the wild world. We can be much closer to nature. We can know more about the animals in the zoos by watching, listening even smelling instead of just looking at the pictures in books.

    Some people don't think animals feel happy in the zoos. Animals like pandas, wolves and bears usually live in the wild. They play and find food by themselves. They are free and happy in the wild. If they are in the zoos, food is enough and rooms are comfortable. They do not need to do their best to find food to eat or places to stay in. They just walk around, sleep day and night, but they are not free at all.

I think we should build national parks as wild life nature reserves to protect animals. If we do nothing, animals will get fewer and fewer.

    Animals are natural resources that people have wasted all through our history. Animals have been killed for their fur and feathers, for food, for sport, and simply because they were in the way. Thousands of kinds of animals have disappeared from the earth forever. It's a great pity. It is reported that about 170 kinds in the United States alone are considered in danger.

    Therefore, we must take care of the animals around us. Once they are gone, they will never come back again. Animals are more than just beautiful or interesting. They are more than a source of food. Every animal has its importance to nature. Destroying one kind of animal can cause many problems. For example, when farmers kill large numbers of hawks(鹰), their eat rats and mice, with fewer or no hawks to keep down their numbers, rats and mice multiply quickly.

    Luckily, many people have realized this and have begun to do something to protect animals. Some groups put on performances to make people know the importance of protecting animals. Some raise money to help set up more zoos to keep them safe. Some try to get the government to pass laws on protecting the animals in danger. As a result, the number of these animals is growing.

    Information Card

    Kingston, Jamaica (population 700，000)

    Kingston isn't a beautiful city, but it's very busy and interesting. There are lots of people and lots of cafes(咖啡馆). There are some beautiful places near Kingston—the Blue Mountains and some beautiful beaches. I love it!

    Kingston, England (population 150，000)Kingston is a very busy town. There are a lot of shops and cars, and there's a university with students all over the world! It's a nice place—there's an old square(广场), and it's near the River Thames. There are some beautiful parks, too. Kingston, New Zealand (population 2, 000)Kingston is a small town near Lake Wakatipu in the mountains. It's a really beautiful place, but it's very quiet—there's only one school, one bank and one small supermarket! There's a famous old train there, too.

    When people travel abroad(到国外旅游), they sometimes stay in the homes of the local people. This is a homestay(家庭寄宿).

    I am living with an old English couple, in the west of London. They have a clean four-bedroom house. This is a new house. It has two bathrooms and a garden with many beautiful flowers. I have a bedroom of my own.

    There are some shopping centres and a restaurant next to the house, and the house is close to an underground station. It takes about 30 minutes to take an underground to the centre of London.

    I think a homestay may be a good choice for you if it is your first time to visit abroad. The local people are friendly and ready to help. If you want to celebrate the holidays with them, you will get to know more about their culture and customs.