When people say"culture", we think of art and history. But one very famous symbol in American culture is a cartoon. We all know and love the black mouse {#blank#}1{#/blank#} two large round ears—Mickey Mouse. Over 80 years ago, he first appeared in the cartoon Steamboat Willie. When this cartoon came out in New York on November 18, 1928, it was the first cartoon with sound and music. The man behind Mickey was Walt Disney. He became very {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (success). In the 1930s, he made 87 cartoons with Mickey. 

Some people might ask how this cartoon animal became so popular. One of the main {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (reason) is that Mickey was like a common man, but he always tried to face any danger. In his early films, Mickey was {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(lucky) and had many problems, such as {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (lose) his house or girlfriend, Minnie. {#blank#}6{#/blank#}, he was always ready to try his best. People went to the cinema to see the "little man" win. Most of them wanted to be like Mickey.

On November 18,1978, Mickey became {#blank#}7{#/blank#}（one）cartoon character to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Today's cartoons are usually not so {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(simple) as little Mickey Mouse, but everyone still {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (know) and loves him. Who has a pair of ears {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(famous) than Mickey's?

    A hobby is an activity we can do in our free time, so that we can keep ourselves busy with something that makes us happy. Different people have different kinds of hobbies, according to their personal likes and dislikes. Hobbies are activities we choose to do, but not activities we have to do. There is a lot of difference between wanting to do something and having to do it. We only want to do those things we like to do, and things that give us pleasure and peace of mind.

    Hobbies play a very important role in our lives. For example, they are a way of connecting us with our inner self. The time devoted to taking up a hobby is our own time. This is the time when we can connect and communicate with ourselves. During this personal time, we can do whatever we like. Doing things according to our own wishes gives us a sense of inner satisfaction, and also helps develop self-confidence.

    Hobbies also help discover talents. There is a possibility that we are interested in a certain activity, but have never had a chance to try it. If we develop our interest as our hobbies, it's quite clear that we'll do it with great interest. So, even if we have never tried a certain thing before, we can still learn to do it. The hobbyists' hidden talents can be discovered, and this can make them feel more confident.

    It's human nature to try to know more about the things we like. The moment we pursue (追求) some activities as our favorite hobbies, we want to gain more knowledge about the same hobby. Whether it's gardening, cooking, painting or collecting stamps, we always try to get a deeper understanding of what we're doing, so that we can do it more correctly. What's more, we also happen to meet people with similar tastes and sometimes, owning rich knowledge about their hobbies. Besides gaining knowledge, hobbies also provide us with a chance to meet people who share similar likes and dislikes with us.

    Whatever our hobbies are, they can be developed at any age, as a child or as an adult. However, if we begin at a young age, we can get more time to experience the joys. The hobby may grow with us, and some day, may also take us to great heights.

A School in Britain

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    I get up and get dress for school. My school has a uniform-black trousers and shoes, a white shirt and a black and gold tie. The girls wear the same, or they can wear a black skirt.

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    I don't live far from the school, so l walk there with my friends. Lots of students take the school or their parents drive them to school.

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    Students all study English, maths and science, and we can choose others. My favorites are arts and IT.

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    We have 20 minutes for break in the morning and an hour for lunch. Some students bring sandwiches to school for lunch, hut my friends and I often eat in the dinning room.

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    Lessons end at 4 o'clock, but on Mondays and Wednesdays I stay at school until 5 o'clock. I go to the Chess Club and Basketball Club. There are lots of clubs and activities at our school.

    Having a pen pal is fun and can be a great way to improve your writing skills. But most people have trouble knowing what to write to their pen pals. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Break the ice by telling your pen pal a little about yourself. Start with your name, age and job. Write about what you like to do or what's on your mind that day. What you pass on will encourage your pen pal to tell you something about this. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Ask questions. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} This will help you get to know him and probably get you a faster answer. Make your questions into the e-mail by telling him something you like to do and then asking if he's ever tried it.

    Ask for advice. You may have some difficulties in your life and want to ask for advice. Your pen pal may tell you what to do.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Also, discussing real-world questions will promote(促进) your friendship.

    English people are well known for plenty of tea that they drink. Per person in the UK consumes (消费) around 1.9 kg of tea every year. Tea is drunk by all sections (阶层) of society.

    But tea is not native to Britain. Most of the tea is grown in India and China. Tea first arrived in London in the 1600s. At this time, British ships were exploring the world and came across the drink in China. It was not long before green tea was available to buy. However, this was only available to the rich.

    At the beginning of the 1700s, the amount of tea arriving in Britain increased slowly. Black tea arrived at this time. At first people drank this tea exactly as it was in China. They soon discovered that it mixed really well with a little milk and sugar, giving the drink a special British characteristic.

    In the 1800s tea was still a product enjoyed only by people with money. At this time they began to have "afternoon tea". This includes drinking tea with a snack around 4 p. m. to avoid feeling hungry. It is a tradition that is still going today but has become less popular in recent times.

    In the late 1800s, the price of tea dropped a lot as more tea began to arrive on ships from India and China. It was no longer a drink just for rich people. Tearooms-shops where you could buy and drink tea-started to appear across the country. People enjoyed drinking tea and social activities in these places. At the start of the 20th century, Englishmen began to make tea in their homes whenever they felt like it. Kettles (烧水壶) became necessary in every kitchen.

    People believed for a long time that the heart was the center of a person s emotions(情感，情绪). That is why the word" heart" is used in so many expressions about notional situations.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} When that happens, you have fallen in love. But if the person who "won your heart" does not love you, then you are sure to have a "broken heart". In your pain and sadness, you may decide that the person you loved is" hard-hearted", and in fact, has a "heart of stone".

    You may decide to "pour out your heart" to a friend. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If your friend does not seem to understand how painful your broken heart is, you may ask her to "have a heart". {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Your friend" has her heart in the right place" if she says she is sorry, and shoes great concern(关心)for how you feel. Your friend may, however, warn you not to" wear your heart on your sleeve袖子), In other words, do not let everyone see how ",lovesick you are. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If your friend says "my heart bleeds for you", she means opposite. She is a cold-hearted person who does not really care about your situation.

    When you are frightened or concerned, your "heart is your mouth". You might say, for example, that your heart was in your mouth when you asked a bank to lend you some money to pay for a new house. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Be "strong-hearted". Sit down with the banker and have a" heart to heart" talk: Be open and honest about your situation. The bank may have a" change of heart"——it may agree to lend you the money. Then you could stop worrying and" put your heart at rest".

A. Telling someone about your personal problems can often make you feel better.

B. If that bank says no to you, do not "lose heart".

C. When your heart is on your sleeve, you are showing your deepest emotions.

D. One such expression is to "lose your heart".

E. You are asking your friend to show some sympathy (同情) for your situation.