I started playing the piano when I was about eight or nine. But when I got to university, I stopped playing it. I just didn't have enough time and there were so many other things to do.

—Eliza

    When I was little, I thought I should play the guitar like my dad. But later I decided to try something else. I chose the violin. I want to be a musician when I grow up, but my dad says it's difficult to make a living from music. But I don't want to be a doctor like him. It's so boring.

—Robin

    Nobody likes living near someone like me because when I practice, I make a lot of noise! I''m sorry for that but I have to keep practicing. I have drum lessons every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, and I practice the drums every evening. I love playing them and now I play in a fantastic band.

—Lisa

    I''ve played the guitar as long as I can remember. I used to play in a subway station to make some money. Now I keep on playing it when I'm free, but I work as a cook in a restaurant to make a living.

—Carmen

    Grace is my pen friend. She is a 13-year-old English girl. What's her school life like? Now let's get to know something about the school life in England.

    •Study

    Most students take the school bus to school. Some go to school by train. When they arrive at their classrooms, they put their homework in a box. Then one student will take it to the teachers' office.

    •Lunch

    Students often have lunch at school. The lunch time is usually from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. They can have free school lunch. They don't have to pay for it.

    •Uniforms

    Students often wear uniforms at school. On their uniforms, you can see the school logo(校徽). They think uniforms are important. When they go on a school trip, they all look the same. So students may not get lost. What's more, students don't need to worry about what to wear every day. Their parents don't have to buy expensive clothes for them, either.

Many kids are always taken care of everywhere like "little princes and princesses"However, it's bad for them. They are supposed to learn some basic living skills, like cooking. Can you make scrambled eggs (炒蛋) ? Let's look at the following steps: 

Step1: Break two eggs into a bowl 

Step2: Add a little milk and mix everything. 

Step3:Heat (加热)a little oil in a pan (平底锅) on the stove. 

Step4: Pour the egg mixture into the hot pan. 

Step5: Mix the eggs and cook them about two minutes 

Step6: Add some salt and pepper. 

Step7: Turn off the stove and put the scrambled eggs on a plate 

Now enjoy the scrambled eggs! Please eat them up! 

One girl leaves her home after a quarrel (争吵) with her mum.

She walks for a long time. Then she sees a noodle shop. She is hungry. But she doesn't have money to buy noodles.

There is an old woman in the shop. She asks her, "Girl, do you want to have a bowl of noodles?" "But I don't have any money," says the girl. "Don't worry." Soon, the old woman brings the girl a bowl of noodles. The girl eats for a while and starts to cry (哭).

"What's the matter?" the old woman asks. "I'm just touched! We don't know each other and you cook noodles for me! But my mother, after a quarrel, let me get out of the house!" the girl answers.

"Girl, how can you think that way? I just cooked you a bowl of noodles. Your mother cooks for you every day. Why don't you thank her?"

The girl is surprised (惊讶的) and goes home at once. Her mum is waiting for her for dinner. The girl comes to cry again.