It was once common to regard Britain as a society with class distinction. Each class had unique characteristics.

    In recent years, many writers have begun to speak of the 'decline of class ' and 'classless society ' in Britain. And in modern day consumer society everyone is considered to be middle class.

    But pronouncing the death of class is too early. A recent wide-ranging study of pubic opinion found 90 percent of people still placing themselves in a particular class; 73 percent agreeed that class was still a vital part of British society.; and 52 percent thought there were still sharp class differences. Thus, class may not be culturally and politically obvious, yet it remains an imprtant part of British society. Britain seems to have a love of stratification.

    One unchanging aspect of a British person's class position is accent. The words a person speaks tell her or his class. A study of British accents during the 1970s found that a voice sounding like a BBC newsreader was viewed as the most attractive voice. Most people said this accent sounds 'educated ' and 'soft '. The accents placed at the bottom in this study, on the other hand, were regional(地区的) city accents. These accents were seen as 'common ' and 'ugly '. However, a similar study of British accents in the US turned these results upside down and placed some regional accents as the most attractive and BBC English as the least. This suggests that British attitudes towards accent have deep roots and are based on class prejudice.

    In recent years, however, young upper midder-class people in London, have begun to adopt some regional accents, in order to hide their class origins. This is an indication of class becoming unnoticed. However, the 1995 pop song ' Common People ' puts forward the view that though a middle-class person may ' want to live like common people ' they can never appreciate the reality of a working class life.

    An artist in Oakland, California is using his skills to help the homeless. Greg Kloehn builds very small shelters that make life on the streets a little more comfortable. The structures offer the homeless some safety and protection from bad weather. Each little house also has wheels on the bottom so it can go wherever its owner goes.

    Greg Kloehn has given away at least 20 tiny houses. Several are on the roadside near an active railroad. On a recent day, Mr. Kloehn stops at one to visit Oscar Young. The two men hug. Inside his little shelter Mr. Young gets relief from cold nights on the streets. Mr. Kloehn also visits Sweet-Pea, another friend who also lives in one of the little homes the artist built. She says it keeps her safe and protects her belongings.

    In the mornings, Mr. Kloehn searches the streets for building materials. He gathers what he can and takes it to his studio. There, he puts the houses together. Empty coffee bags become roof material. A washing machine door and refrigerator part become windows. Nails, screws and the sticky glue hold all the pieces together. The artist also attaches a small electrical device to the house. The device is powered by the sun.

    Some of the people living on the streets once had normal houses of their own. But some of the people say they have learned to live with less and they are thankful to that man.

    Mr. Kloehn says his work is not a social project. He says he is just someone using his skills to help his homeless neighbors.

    With spring officially here, we can look forward to fresh flowers and cherry blossoms. While you could stay home and admire the change in season, why not celebrate the end of winter with a fun spring time holiday？We've found a handful of terrific packages at home and abroad, good for departures through mid-May.

       London's Chelsea Flower Show for $849

    Every May, London hosts the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, showcasing astonishing gardens, and lively horticultural(园艺) displays that set the latest in garden design trends. This year, Virgin Vacations offers a six night air-land packages priced at a sweet $849.Good for departures May 21—23, this deal covers the following costs: accommodations; airfare from New York; daily continental breakfast; and one full day entrance to the Flower Show (May 24, 25 or 26).

    Cherry Blossoms in Washington D. C. from $319/nt.

    You don't need to travel far for an impressive flower show！From March 31 through April 15 Washington D. C.is hosting its yearly Cherry Blossoms Festival, marking the 95th celebration of the original gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of D. C.. Several hotels are honoring the occasion with special deals：for example, Hay-­Adams offers a Cherry Blossom Package from $319/night with lodging (two-night minimum stay), free parking, and a special amenity.

    Spring Flowers of Amsterdam for $739

    Want to catch the spring flowers blooming in the lowlands of Holland？Amsterdam is a treat to visit at this time of year, as its numerous gardens explode with color. You can go Dutch and save some serious dollars to boot！At just $739 for a four night stay with airfare, at this spring escape is priced to go！Good for travel between April 1 and May 17, the deal includes air from New York; accommodation at a budget hotel; daily breakfast; and a local map and guide.

    Tokyo Spring Fun for $949

    To spot the cherry blossoms right at the source, we recommend a spring venture to Tokyo. Now you can visit on the cheap with the Asian Affair Holidays special we found：a Tokyo spring special starts at just $949！This deal covers airport transfers; five nights' lodging at Tokyo Hilton International; and a half day city tour. This particular price is valid for departures between April 1 and April 30, perfectly timed for the best of cherry­ blossom season.

    Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood had a son called Michael and a daughter called Matilda, who was so quick to learn that her ability should have been obvious even to the most stupid parents. But she was their daughter. To tell the truth, I doubt they had noticed she crawled into the house with a broken leg.

    By the age of one and a half her speech was perfect and she knew as many words as most grown-ups. The parents, instead of praising her, called her a noisy chatterbox and told her sharply that small girls should be seen and not heard.

    By the time she was three, Matilda had taught herself to read by studying newspapers and magazines that lay around the house. At the age of four, she could read fast and well and she naturally began seeking for books. The only book in the whole of this enlightened household was something called Easy Cooking belonging to her mother, and when she had read this from cover to cover, and had learnt all the recipes by heart, she decided she wanted something more interesting.

    "Daddy," she said, "do you think you could buy me a book?

    "A book?" he said. "What do you want a book for?"

    "To read, Daddy."

    "What's wrong with the telly? We've got a lovely telly with a twelve-inch screen and now you come asking for a book!"

    Nearly every weekday afternoon Matilda was left alone in the house. Her brother went to school. Her father went to work and her mother went out playing bingo. On the afternoon of the day when her father had refused to buy her a book, Matilda set out all by herself to walk to the public library in the village. She asked Mrs. Phelps, the librarian, if she might sit a while and read a book. Mrs. Phelps, slightly surprised at the arrival of such a tiny girl unaccompanied by a parent, nevertheless told her she was very welcome.

    "Where are the children's books please!" Matilda asked.

    "They're over there on those lower shelves," Mrs. Phelps told her. "Would you like me to help you find a nice one with lots of pictures in it?

    "No, thank you." Matilda said. "I'm sure I can manage."

    From then on, every afternoon, as soon as her mother had left for bingo, Matilda would walk down to the library, where she spent two glorious hours sitting quietly by herself in a cosy comer devouring one book after another. When she had read every single children's book in the place, she started wandering around in search of something else.

    Mrs. Phelps, who had been watching her with interest for the past few weeks, now got up from her desk and went over to her. "Can I help you, Matilda?" she asked.

    "I'm wondering what to read next," Matilda said. "I've finished all the children's books."

    "You mean you've looked at the pictures?"

    "yes, but I've read the books as well. I thought some were very poor, but others were lovely. I like The Secret Garden best of all. It was full of mystery. The mystery of the room behind the closed door and the mystery of the garden behind the big wall".

    Mrs. Phelps was stunned." Exactly how old are you, Matilda?" she asked.

"Four years and three months," Matilda said." I would like a really good book that grown-ups read .A famous one."

    Mrs. Phelps looked along the shelves, taking her time." Try this", she said at last," It's very famous and very good. If it's too long for you, just let me know".

    "Great Expectations," Matilda read, "by Charles Dickens. I'd love to try it"

    Vacation in the U. S. usually means slower days, and no school teachers know, however, that vacation means students will likely fall behind, and forget things they learned during the year. Simon Vanderpool, a special education teacher in Lexington, Kentucky, decided to do something about it.

    He started a program called Books and Barbers. Children go to the barber, choose a book and read out loud while the barber cuts their hair. The child gets a sticker and can take the book home. And there is an added bonus: money. The kids get paid to read.

    Vanderpool says barber shops are places where kids can feel comfortable. "Once a student feels comfortable, that's whenever the brain opens up, and that they are able to start focusing on nothing but learning." Amir Shalash owns a barber shop. But he is doing more than cutting children's hair. He is listening to them read, and helping them with their reading.

    Most of the children getting haircuts at barber shops are boys. Vanderpool's idea was to do more than just help them with reading and money. The teacher wants to help kids who are growing up in a home without a father liike he did. Also, I created the program in order to provide a positive mentor(指导者）for the kids that go into the barber shop, and are able to have someone that they can rely on and they can trust in, and just build a bond between the two of them." Shalash says he and his fellow barbers like being mentors.

    "The biggest thing is that we try to influence as many kids as we can, and that was my whole intention of it."

    If you could sail around the world with only one companion, who would you choose? Guirec Soudee, a 24-year-old man from France, chose his pet chicken.

    Soudee has been sailing around the world for two years. No matter which country he sails to, Monique, the hen, is by his side. He found her in the Canary Islands and knew right away they were meant to be best companions. "I didn't speak any Spanish and she didn't speak any French, however, we could always have a small talk, even though she didn't understand me." Soudee joked.

    He had always wanted a companion for his journey and originally thought about bringing a cat, before deciding it would be too much work to look after on a boat. Upon meeting Monique, Soudee realized a hen was the perfect choice. He believed they could communicate with each other well.

    Not only does it cost little to raise Monique, but she lays eggs as well — some things that are always a plus in a situation where storing a lot of food can be a challenge. She lays about six eggs a week on average, even in cold climates like Greenland, where Soudee and Monique are docked(进港) now.

    And what happens when the weather at sea gets bad? Usually Soudee lets Monique stay freely on the boat, but when the winds get terrible he ensures she is safe in her hutch so that she doesn't fall out of his boat and into the sea. Another thing Soudee must care for is the rule in every country he visits. They had met with customs officials in Canada. He was permitted to keep her, but he knows they might not always be so lucky.

    Although Monique can sometimes get on his nerves, Soudee says she's much better than a human companion aboard. "She follows me everywhere. All I need to do is shout 'Monique!' and she will come to me, sit on me, listen to my small talk and give me company," he said.

    After visiting Greenland, they'll head down the Bering Strait to Nome, Alaska. From there the destination is undecided, but Soudee will certainly discuss where they should travel to next with Monique.