In 1834, the clock tower in London was burned down. People planned to build a new clock which would be the biggest and best in the world. So the clock had to be big and keep very good time. The big clock was made in two years. Five more years later the tower was finished. Then people put the big clock in the tower, and made it ring out for the first time on July 11, 1859.

   In order to give the big clock a good name, people held a meeting. Someone wanted to call it the Queen of Bells, and someone thought Victoria was good. At last, a man named Benjamin Hall stood up. He was a big man. Before he started to speak, someone shouted, “Why not call it Big Ben?” Everybody laughed and agreed with him.

   From then on, Big Ben became its name. And it also became a famous building of London. People all over the world write to Big Ben. They even send birthday presents—bottles of oil-to help keep Big Ben running. Big Ben is not only a clock but also a dear friend of people.

    The speed and convenience of modern travel makes the faraway countries be reached quickly and easily now.

    Even though they now seem closer, they may still be different from your home country. So it is important to change your behavior so that you can get on well with local people. Following are some basic rules that will make communication easier, and your trip more enjoyable.

    First, never raise your voice in order to make yourself understood. If you don't know the word for something in the local language, try to draw a picture or point to the thing. Before you travel, you can also learn some basic words or phrases of the local language, such as words for please, thank you, and may I, as well as basic greetings

    Second, consider the culture of the country you plan to visit and read about the rules related to clothing. You ca bring some clothes such as shirts or T-shirts that cover your shoulders, and long trousers.

    Avoid topics（话题） that you think may be sensitive. If a topic is sensitive in your own culture, it will likely be the same in other cultures. Feel free to show interest in the history and customs of the place that you are visiting, but don't ask questions about why things are done a certain way, because you may make the local people unhappy.

    Keep in mind that in many cultures, showing affection in public isn't allowed. Kissing on the street or in public should be avoided. If you are unsure of how to behave, watch the local people and copy them.

    Finally, if you wish to take a gift, do some research. The idea of the perfect gift is different greatly from country to country, and one of the easiest ways to make someone angry is to give the wrong gift.

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    Mr. and Mrs. Brown are our English teachers. They have two sons. They are Dylan and Cole. They are students in the same class in Beijing Yucai School. Dylan and Cole are very cute and they look the same. They have big eyes and blond hair. Their mouths are small.

    Dylan and Cole like different colors and different clothes. Dylan likes black. He is in a black T—shirt and black pants. His shoes are black, too. But Cole's favorite color is blue. He is in a blue coat and blue pants. His shoes are pink. They look very cool.

Information Card

    Many of us don't pay much attention to the importance of eye care. It is said that if you take care of your body, then you can surely be healthy. That is why our eyes should be given a lot of care. Natural eye care should be put in a number one place.

There are several causes leading to poor eyesight like not enough food, genes (基因) and aging (老化). Televisions, computers and reading are also the causes of having poor eyesight.

    If you happen to work in front of the computer, it is best to take a break every once in a while. Something dirty can cause redness and they will make you feel uncomfortable. It is bad for your eyes, too. If this happens, the best way is to clean your eyes by using cold water. You must also try your best to protect your eyes from harmful things. For example, sunglasses are not just for fashion but they can also serve as a great way to protect your eyesight form UV rays(紫外线).

    Eating healthy food will do good to your eyesight. Remember that vitamins A, C and E are good for eyes. Try to eat food groups that have these vitamins. And you should do eye exercises because exercise protects your eyesight, too. If a person exercises regularly and eats the right kind of food, his eyes will stay in good condition for a long time.

    All above are natural ways of eye care that help us keep healthy eyes. Being happy all the time can also be helpful to a person's eyesight, too. In a word, eye care is very important, no matter how old a person is.

Tom and Jerry

    Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse are two of the most popular cartoon characters in the world. In the short cartoons, Tom is always trying to catch Jerry, but he never has any success. Almost every cartoon ends with Tom in trouble and Jerry laughing at him. The stories are full of fun and have a long history.

    William Hanna and Joseph Barbera both worked for MGM in the late 1930s. Their boss told them to make funny cartoons. Together they thought of the idea of a cat and a mouse. They thought it would be funny if the mouse was clever and always got the cat into trouble.

    The first Tom and Jerry cartoon was shown in cinemas in 1940. It was a great success. Over the next 17 years, they made many Tom and Jerry cartoons. Most of them are around seven minutes long.

    In total, Hanna and Barbera made 114 Tom and Jerry cartoons. The cartoons were so good that they won a number of awards. The famous cat and mouse remain popular today, as the cartoons are still shown on television around the world.