To Make a Home Sweet
Goethe said "He is the happiest, being king or peasant, who find peace in his home". It is true. Home is the warmest place in the world. Home is the harbor. No matter where you are, you would like to be back home in the end.
Home is the place which we often need to build. In order to create a kind of warm and intimate atmosphere. As a member of the family, it is not right to demand perfection in each other. The proper way is to cultivate flexibility, patience, and sense ofhumour. Parents can be more open-minded and trust their children, and the children should understand their parents' pains. If we have spare time after supper, we may often communicate with each other and talk about what happened in the daytime. This type of great importance because it often helps to deepen the feelings between the parents and children.
If we do so, I believe our home will always be sweet.
营建和睦的家庭
歌德曾说“无论是国王还是农夫，只要家庭和睦，他便是最幸福的人”。确实如此，家是世界上最温暖的地方，家是避风港。不管你在哪里，最终你都愿意回家。
家是我们经常需要建设的地方，为了创造一个温暖而亲密的氛围，我们彼此之间应当相互尊敬和理解。作为家庭的一员， 不要苛求对方的十全十美，而要培养韧性、耐心和幽默感。父母亲应当有更加开放的心胸，而且要相信他们的孩子，而孩子们也要理解父母的辛苦，如果晚饭后有空闲时间，我们可以经常交流自己的思想，并且谈论些白天所发生的事情。这种被称为“闲聊”的交流很重要，因为它常常有助于加深父母亲和孩子们的感情。
如果我们这样做了，我相信我们的家庭将变得和睦甜美。

TV: a Blessing or a Curse Nowadays television plays such an important role in pepople' s life that watching TV has become part of people' s life in many families. Is TV a blessing or a curse? Obviously, television, like anything else, has more than one face. As is known to us, television presents a vivid and colorful world for people. Through TV, people can learn what is happening across the world and are better informed of the latest development in science and technology. TV broadens people' s scope of knowledge. In this sense,TV is a blessing. However, television can also be harmful. The rays sent out from TV screen are harmful to people. Furthermore, attacted by their favourite programmes, many people tend to watch TV too often or for a long time. And as aresult, their studies, and work may be neglected. Especially, ifchildren stay up too late at night watching TV, they will feel sleepy in class the next day, and thus they will fall behind in their studies. 电视是福还是祸 现在电视在人们的生活中扮演了十分重要的角色，看电视已成为人们生活的一部分。电视究竟是福还是祸?很显然，电视像其他的事物一样，有利也有弊。 众所周知，电视为人们展示了一个生动多彩的世界。通过电视，人们能得知现在世界上正在发生的事情，更好地了解科学技术的最新发展。电视扩大了人们的知识面。从这个意义上说，电视是福。但是，电视也是有害的。电视屏幕发出的射线对人们有害。此外，受他们喜欢的电视节目的吸引，许多人常常长时间、过多地看电视，结果学习和工作都被忽略了，特别是孩子们如果晚上熬夜看电视，第二天上课时就会困倦，从而影响学习。 我认为，电视本身既不是福也不是祸。理智利用电视可以产生很好的效果，否则，就会产生不好的影响。

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Mobile Phone
Wherever you are, you can see many people equipped with mobile phones. It seems that the world becomes smaller nowadays. You could be found wherever you are so long as you take the mobile phone with you. Some people wonsider the mobile phone necessary and useful to them, while others may dislike it.
People who like the mobile phone are much more concerned about its advantages. It is convenient, for you can connect others easily and quickly. You don' t have to wait for an important call at home all day long. The youth of today send messages, surf on the net, listen to music and even take photos by using the mobile phone. People find it advanced for its attractive functions. In some countries, it even stands for a person' s status.
However, some people don' t like it. Imagine that you go to spend your holiday with your family after days of busy and tiresome work. When you lay on the beach comfortably, your phone rings. Then you have to go back to your office only to find an unimportant customer waiting for you. At that moment, you may even want to throw your phone away, for you just want to relax and get rid of your work.
However, whether you like the mobile phone or not, it has alresdy affected our lives and played an important role in the history of human beings.
手机的利与弊
无论你在何地，你都会看见许多人使用手机。如今，世界似乎越来越小了，只要你带部手机出门，你都会被找到。有些人认为手机对他们来说是非常有用的必需品；而有些人则有不同看法。
喜欢使用手机的人比较注重手机的好处。它非常便利，因为它让你与别人的联系既简单又快捷，你再也不用为了等一个重要电话成天守在家里了。现在的年青人喜欢用手机发短信、上因特网、听音乐、甚至照像。手机拥有非常吸引人的各种功能，是非常先进的科技产物。在某些国家。它甚至象征着使用者的地位。
当然，有些人不喜欢它。想像一下，在接连几天的繁重工作后，你好不容易可以与家人去度假。当你舒舒服服地躺在沙滩上时，手机响了。你不得不赶回办公室，却发现只是一位无关紧要的客户在等你。那时你或许想把手机扔了，因为你只想远离工作、彻底放松。
然而，无论你喜不喜欢手机，它已经改变了我们的生活，并在人类历史上发挥着重要的作用。

Pollution: a Social Problem
When we read newspapers, we often come across the word pollution. This word was not familiar to the people some decades ago. But now, it is a serious threat to us because.it means the poisoning of the air, seas, rivers and lands, which would do harm to our health.
There are many factories that bring pollution to us. We can not have fresh air in the morning. This is mainly because of the poisonous smoke coming from factories, especially chemical ones. In rivers, seas and oceans, there are industrial wastes. Some factories just throw their wastes into seas or let them flow into rivers. When people drink the water from such rivers, they get poisoned. Besides, there is rubbish from ships and when sometimes an accident occurs in an ocean, oil flows out from tankers.
On land, the accumulation of rubbish in the streets may dirty the city and ruin our health. This is mainly due to the improper disposal of rubbish by people.
If we do mot fight against pollution, surely one day all of us will be killed. Some people like to put the blame on the industrial revolutions. On the contrary, the pollution problem will be solved only with the help of modem science and technology.
污染——一个社会问题
我们看报的时候，经常会看到“污染”这个词。这个词对于几十年前的人来说并不熟悉。然而对于我们来说，它是一个严重的威胁，因为它意味着危害空气、海洋、河流和土地，进而对我们造成伤害。
有很多工厂给我们带来了污染。早上我们呼吸不到新鲜的空气。这主要是因为这些工厂里排放出有毒的气体，尤其是化工厂。在江河湖海里到处都有工业垃圾。一些工厂把废弃物排放到江河和海洋里。人们喝了这里面的水就会中毒。除此之外，还有从船上扔下来的垃圾和海洋里发生事故的船只流出来的油。
在陆地上，街道上乱扔的垃圾不仅影响市容，还危害我们的健康。这主要是因为人们对垃圾的不正确的处理。
我们如果不对污染采取措施，总有一天我们会被杀死的。有些人总爱把这归咎于工业革命。相反，污染问题还必须靠现代科学和技术来解决。

Travels on Holidaysin China
Nowadays, more and more people like to travel in their holidays. The other day I read a report about the ways people spend their holidays. It is reported that in recent yiars several new holiday habits have been developed. Among them, the most interesting one is the growth of the so-called holiday camps.
From the report we can see that in 1990,40 percent of people stayed at home for holidays. But now the proportion has reduced to 9 percent. More people go out for fun. The proportion of camping and traveling abroad was increasing steadily, from 10 percent in 1990 to 38 percent in 2002, and 12 percent in 1990 to 26 percent in 2002 respectively. People enjoy the fresh air, clean Water and green hills when they go camping in the suburbs. In 1990,38 percent people enjoyed going to the seaside while in 2002 only 27 percent prefer to go there. What great changes!
Why did those changes appear? I think there are several reasons. First, it' s because people can afford traveling. Second, people prefer to pursue a high-quality and colorful life. Third, their attitudes to relaxation have changed. Less people want to save much money by leading a simple life. In short, people's living standard today has been rising greatly.
中国的假期旅游
目前，越来越多的人喜欢在假期旅游。前几天我看了一篇关于人们度假方式的报道，据报道，近年来新的假期习惯已经发展起来了。其中最有趣的是所谓的假期郊游的增长。
从报道中我们可以了解到，1990年，40％的人在家里度假，但是现在这个比例已经降到了9％。更多的人出去玩。出去郊游和出国旅行的比例分别由1990年的10％升至2002年的38％，由1990年的12％升至2002年的26％。人们喜欢郊游时新鲜的空气以及青山绿水。1990年38％的人喜欢去海边，然而2002年只有27％的人愿意去。多么大的变化啊!
为什么有这样的变化?我想原因有几个：第一，因为人们能够负担得起旅游：第二，人们更愿意追求一种高质量、丰富多彩的生活；第三，人们对休闲的态度改变了。越来越少的人想过那种拼命存钱、简朴的生活。总之，人们的生活水平已经日渐提高。

The Earth——Our Mother
Pcople often say that the earth is like our mother. She gives life to all the living things on the earth and provides us with air, food, water and other essential things we need for living.
Once she was beautifhl and rich, but now she becomes dirtier and dirtier, poorer and poorer. It is due to what we have done to her. Please have a good look at her: polluted rivers and lakes, growing deserts, the destruction of the forests and wild life, and the depletion of the ozone layer…
Can she bear to see her children putting the waste here and there? Can she bear too see her children cutting down the trees and destroying the grassland, to see the acid rain destroying everything? Can we bear to see our mother suffering so much? Isn' it time for us to ask ourselves whether this is the way to treat our mother?
Floods, draughts, acid rain…,these are the punishments from nature. Everyone should know that there is only one earth, lfwe go on treating her like this, it won' t be fit for us to live in any longer. It' s time for us to love her, take good care of her and cure her. We should save the earth so as to save ourselves.
地球——我们的母亲
人们经常说地球就像我们的母亲。她给了地球上所有生物生命，给我们提供生活所必需的空气、食物、水和一切基本的需要。
曾经她美丽富饶，而现在她变得越来越脏，越来越贫脊，那都是我们造成的。请好好看一看她：受污染的江河湖海、扩张的沙漠、森林和野生生物的毁灭、臭氧层的耗尽……
她能忍受她的孩子到处乱扔废弃物吗?她能忍受她的孩子砍伐树木、毁坏草原，让酸雨毁灭一切吗?我们能忍受她遭受这样的痛苦吗?我们该问问我们自己，这就是我们对待母亲的方式吗?
洪水、干旱、酸雨……这些都是自然对我们的惩罚。每个人都应该清楚人类只有一个地球。如果我们继续这样对待她，她将不再适合我们居住了。是该我们好好爱她、照顾她、治疗她的时候了。我们应该拯救地球，以便拯救我们自己。

Bikes or Cars
Americans like to go out by car. Although more and more Chinese own cars, most Chinese still like to ride bicycles. This is determined by a lot of factors.
As we all know, the bike advances slowly by manpower, but it can be placed where it is comvenient. However, as for the car, although it can run fast by engine, it must be parked at parking lots.
Most Americans live in the suburb which is Far fi'om urban areas and their working places. So they need cars to go shopping and go to work. And they also like traveling far. Thus a car brings them great convenience. On the contrary, most Chinese live near their working area and markets. They don' t need a car to go to work or go shopping.
I would like to ride a bike,because it costs little and is easy to use and because a bike won' t cause pollution, which is most important.
自行车或汽车
美国人喜欢乘汽车外出。尽管越来越多的中国人拥有了汽车，但大部分中国人仍喜欢骑自行车，这是由很多因素决定的。
众所周知，自行车靠人力，行进慢，但可以在方便的地方停放。然而对于汽车来说，虽然它依靠发动机行进很快，但它必须停在停车场。
多数美国人生活在郊区，远离市区及工作地点，所以他们需要汽车来购物、上班，并且他们也喜欢驾车远行。因此汽车给他们提供很大方便。相反，多数中国人居住在工作地点和市场附近，他们不需要开车去上班或购物。
我喜欢骑自行车外出，因为它花费少而会容易使用。最重要的是自行车不会引起污染。

Do We Need Space Exploration Man has been fascinated by outer space for thousands of years, It has been almost over forty years since man' s first landing on the moon. Now, some people believe that space exploration is a sheer waste of time and money. They point out the thct that it cost billions of dollars to can3' on the space research, but a little infrmation was brought back. In addition, the time and money spent on space exploration is too much to calculate. However, every coin has two sides. There are still a majority of other people who believe that space exploration has more advantages. And I agree with those people. Many new products, such as weather and communication satellites, are also products of space programs, and they have benefitted people all over the world. And what' s more. scientific knowledge about outer space has been acquired by the mankind. We benefited a lot from space exploration. We believed that it will bring more benefits in the future, which perhaps we can not even imagine now'. Space exploration is a challenge to human beings. That' s why several nations try hard to carry out space exploration continuously. 有必要进行空间探索吗 人类对外部空间着迷已有上千年的历史了。从人类第一次登上月球起至今已有40多年了。现在，有些人认为空间探索完全是浪费时间和金钱。他们指出，数百亿美元用于太空研究，但收获甚微。另外，用于研究的时间和金钱实在难以估计。 然而，任何事物都具有两面性。仍有大多数人认为进行空间探索利大于弊，我也非常赞同他们的观点。许多新产品，如气象、通讯卫星都直接得益于空间研究，使全球受益匪浅，而且人 类从中获得了不少关于太空的知识。 空间探索早巳使人类受益匪浅了，而且我们也相信，将来它会带给人类更多的好处，有些甚至是我们现在无法想像的。太空探索对我们人类来说是个挑战，这也是为什么许多国家不断进行探索的原因之一。

On Building a Paper Factory
A British company wants to build a paper factory in our city. But opinions are different on that issue. Some agree that we should build the paper factory. Ifwe do so, many new jobs can be created tbr local people, which will surely push the development of the city's economy. What' s more, the factory will bring in modern ideas of management and new machines, including equipment for protecting the environment.
On the other hand, others insist on not having it built in the city, They are worrying about the pollution most. They believe that the factory will produce noises which will disturb people' s peaceful life. Besides, poisonous gas from the thctory will dirty the air we breathe. The river will also be polluted by the waste water from the factory.
关于兴建造纸厂
一家英国公司想在我市建一个造纸厂，但是，关于这个问题，众说纷纭。一些人同意建这个造纸厂。如果建了工厂，将会有许多新工作提供给当地人，这定将推动城市经济的发展。还有，工厂能带来现代管理理念和新机器，包括环境保护的设备。
另一方面，另一些人坚持要求造纸厂不要建在城市里，他们最担心污染问题。他们认为工厂会制造噪声，打扰居民平静的生活。而且，从工厂排出的有害气体将污染我们呼吸的空气，河水也将会被工厂排出的污水所污染。
To Be a Teacher 0r a Businessman
More and more students have chosen to enter the commercial field instead of the teaching field after graduating from colleges in recent years. It has become a trend. The graduates would rather be businessmen than teachers when they hunt for jobs. Why?
Firstly, as we all know, business is a very challenging field with risks and competition while teaching is a stable profession with little risks. It is reasonable that you can get higher payment in the business field than in the teaching field. So many students tend to apply for a job with high payment in a short time after graduation.
Secondly, compared with teaching in school, doing business means a process of starting a career, so it is more exciting and challenging. Some of the graduates think teaching I is very dull and boring. They would rather to take risks tbr their ideal. They want to challenge themselves and lead a dynamic life. What is more, they can earn a great amount of money and enjoy achievements of their own career. On the contrary, teaching life is more calm and regular.
In a sentence, teaching is stable but with less payment, qb be a busincssman means higher payment or rapid promotion but more risks. Which one will you choose? It depends on yourself.
当老师还是商人
近几年来，越来越多的学生大学毕业后选择了进入商业领域而不是教育领域，这似乎正成为一种风气。毕业生们找工作的时候宁愿去做商人而不愿意当老师。那么，这是为什么?
首先，众所周知，商业是一个带有风险和竞争且具有挑战性的领域，而教育是一个稳定职业，几乎不带有任何风险。与教书相比，从商可以得列较高的报酬，这很合情合理。因此，一些学生毕业后倾向于短期内得到高报酬的工作。
其次，比起在校当老师，从商意味着一个创业的过程，因此，它更让人激动，更有挑战性。一些毕业生觉得教书很枯燥乏味，他们宁愿为自己的理想冒险创业。他们想挑战自我，过一种富有激情的生活。更重要的是，他们能赚到大钱，享受创业的成就。与此相反，教育生涯很平淡，很有规律。
总之，教书很稳定，但收入少。从商收入高，晋升快，但风险大。选择哪条道路，最终还是看你自己。

Don't Let Card Collecting Affect Your Study
Now many students become crazy about collecting cards of heroes of the Three Kingdoms in my school. After one gets a card, he will share it with his friends. Being addicted to it, many students have changed a lot.
Some students even play the cards in class so that they have fallen behind in their study. The card is included as a gift in the bag of some food which costs 1.5 yuan. Therefore, to get these cards, many students try their best to get money, even steal money. Sometimes they would rather not eat breakfast than give up buying the food with that card.
It is not long before they collect a lot of cards. Without good care the cards can be stolen easily. Thus, many students fight for the cards, which damage their friendship.
So don' be fascinated in collecting cards any longer. Study earnestly and become a good host of the new century!
不要让集卡影响你的学习
现在我们学校的许多学生疯狂收集三国群英卡。一个同学得到一张后，就会跟他的朋友们共同分享。由于沉迷于此,一些 同学已经改变了很多。
一些学生甚至在课堂上玩这些卡片，以致学习成绩下降。这种卡是在某种1.5元一包的食品袋里的赠品。因此，为了得到这些卡片，许多同学竭力搞到钱，甚至偷钱。有时他们宁愿不吃早餐也不放弃买带有这种卡的食品。
没多长时间他们就会攒很多卡。如果不小心，这些卡很容易被偷走。这样，很多同学为了这些卡而打架，这破坏了同学之间的友谊。
因此，不要再太沉迷于集卡了。认真学习，成为新世纪的有用之才吧!

Traditional Teaching Method
Do your teachers still use traditional techniques to teach you nowadays? A revol- ution in teaching techniques is required now. In the past, we just took it for granted that a teacher' s aim was to teach the students all that he knew and solve all the problems for them. Therefore, students could mot judge things on their own under this circumstance. Thus students gradually lost the ability to learn by themselves. In addition, they were only equipped with the knowledge that were taught in class and made the same judgement upon every problem which might crop up. Of course, they would find their knowledge not enough to solve practical problems.
So it is time to change the teaching method. A teacher' s goal is to help the students develop not only the ability to learn by themselves but the skills to make judgements on every aspect on their own. It' s not necessary for the students to turn to teachers for help while meeting with difficulties. The first thing is to develop the students' abilities to make sound judgements upon any problem and overcome difficulties.
All in all, the aim of teaching is to liberate, but mot to fetter the students' innate powers of making sound judgements.
传统教育方式
你的老师还在用传统方法授课吗?现在教育方式的改革需要进行。过去，老师把他所有的知识教给学生，并帮学生解决他们所有的难题，这似乎是理所当然的。因此，在这种情况下，学生不能自我判断，也慢慢失去自学能力。另外，他们只能学到课堂上的东西，面对任一突发事件都会作出同样的判断。当然，他 们业余感到所学知识不足以解决实际问题。
因此，是到了改变教育目标的时候了。老师的目的不光是帮助学生培养自学能力，还应教给他们独立判断的方法。学生一旦面临难题就请教老师是不必要的。重要的是让学生具有独立判断并能克服困难的能力。
总而言之，教育目标是解放而不是限制学生判断事物的内在能力。

Comments on the Second Class
My school have put forward the idea of having the second class so as to enlarge the students' view and their horizon of knowledge recently. Although many students doubt its function, in my opinion, there is no doubt that we will benefit from the second class.
As far as I am concerned, I have changed a lot because of the second class. In the past I was always wrapped up in textbooks and had few hobbies and interests. Although I worked very hard. I made no progress in study. Later my teacher encouraged me to join the School Literature Club. In my spare time I have read all kinds of newspapers and magazines, and learnt a lot.
The knowledge from the class is limited after all. Let' s take an active part in the second class and become all-round youth of the new age!
第二课堂之我见
最近我们学校为了开阔学生们的视野和知识面，提出开展第二课堂。虽然许多同学对其作用表示怀疑，但是我认为我们会获益于第二课堂，这一点毋庸置疑。
就我个人来说，第二课堂让我改变了许多。过去我总是埋头于课本，且爱好兴趣狭窄。尽管我努力学习，但我总不能取得进步。后来我的老师鼓励我参加校文学社。在闲暇时间我阅读了各种报纸杂志，学到了很多东西。
课堂上学到的知识毕竟是有限的。让我们积极投身于第二课堂，成为新世纪全面发展的一代。

Desire for No Examination
I have a lot of aspirations. But what I desire most is to have no examinations.
We are always told that examinations aim to check what we have learned. But I don't think so. Examination is not the best way', especially in the primary school. Examinations, composition examinations in particular, will bring students, teachers and parents a great deal of pressure. To cope with the examination, some students just remember the model essays by rote. It will do no good to the improvement of writing.
The students' scores can be measured by their daily in-class study and by the completion of their everyday homework. If we do in this way, all the students and teachers will have a pleasant time every day.
渴望不考试
我有很多愿望，但我最渴望的就是不要考试。
我们总是被告知考试的目的是为了检测我们学到了什么，但是我不这么认为。考试不是最好的方式，特别是在小学。考试，特别是作文考试，会给学生、教师、学生家长带来很大的压力。为了应付作文考试，一些学生仅仅是死记硬背范文，这对提高学生的写作没有什么好处。
学生的成绩可以通过课内的日常学习和每天家庭作业的完成情况来衡量。如果我们用这种方法检查学习效果，所有的学生和教师每天都会度过愉快的时光。

Study in Class and out of Class
Our study can be divided into two parts: one is in class and the other is out of class. Both of them are important to students. They depend on each other.
We must attach importance to after-class What we have learnt in class is very. limited, because only knowledge in textbooks can be acquired. However, we can learn more out of class. A most important thing is that knowledge comes from practice. In the after- class study we can apply out knowledge to practice.
Just Iike after-class study, study in class is also very important. It occupies most of our time. We must pay much attention to it. In-class study and after-class study are closely connected with each other and improve each other.
If that' s the case, why don't we combine them and study effectively?
课上课下
我们的学习可以被分成两部分：一部分在课堂上，另一部分在课堂外。这两部分对学生来说都是重要的，它们互相依存。
我们必须重视课后学习。我们在课堂上学到的东西是有限的，因为只能学到课本上的知识。然而，课外我们可以学到更多的东西。最重要的是知识来源于实践。课外学习可以让我们把知识应用到实践中去。
正如课外学习一样，课内学习也很重要。它占用了我们的大部分时间，我们必须重视它。课内与课外的学习紧密地联系在一起，它们互相促进。
这样的话，我们为什么不把它们结合在一起，有效地学习呢?

Haste Makes Waste The proverb "Haste makes waste" means that one may delay the time to complete one thing if he rushes to do it, because he may neglect something important in the process and has to do it again from the beginning. So one should do every step well. Take remembering English words for example, every student wants to enlarge his vocabulary. But this aim cannot be achieved in one or two days. You should stick to remem bering some words a day and revise the words every few days. In this way you can keep the words in your mind firmly. There is mo shortcut. If you want to stuff all the words into your brain and mot to revise them, you will remember nothing. So don't be hasty. Haste makes waste. 欲速则不达 “欲速则不达”这句谚语是说一个人如果急于去完成某件事，那么他可能会延误完成的时间，因为在做事的过程中他可能忽略一些重要的事情而不得不重新开始。所以要做好每一步。 以记英语单词为例，每一个学生都想扩大单词量。但是这个目标并不是一两天就能够达到的。你应该坚持每天记忆几个单词，每隔几天重温一下这些单词，通过这种方法你就可以牢牢记住这些单问。世上没有捷径。如果你想一下子就将这些单词塞到你的脑子里，不再温习，你会什么也记不住。所以不要匆忙，欲速则不达。

My Experience in Examination In my ophfion, examinations are one of the important activities in school life. I have gone through all sorts of examations since my primary school I have tasted the flavor of happiness and sadness. Before examinations, I always have a hard time and don't know what to do. During examinations I feel nervous and sometimes my mind becomes blank. Only after exaninations does the world seem to be bright again and am I brimming with vigor. We often complain that our teachers make trouble for us on purpose. But it is not true. The fact is that examinations are just a way to help us do better in our study. 我的考试体验 我认为考试是学生生涯的重要活动之一。从上小学起，我经历了各种各样的考试，体验了考试的酸甜苦辣。 考试前我觉得时间难耐，无所适从。考试时心情紧张，有时大脑一片空白。只有考试后，我才觉得世界又充满了光明，我又恢复了活力。我们常常抱怨老师故意为难我们，但事实上并非如此。考试只是帮助我们更好学习的一种方法。

Studying Abroad
In recent years, studying abroad has been popular in our country. More and more middle
school students would like to go abroad through mediators. Is it good or bad to study abroad? In my opinion, on one hand, it has some advantages. Studying abroad can provide better studying conditions. People can make rapid progress in their foreign language study and it can also help widen their field of vision. Meanwhile, young students can learn advanced science and technology from foreign countries and spread cultures of different nations.
On the other hand, it has disadvantages. For example, because of the lack of living experience and poor capability to take care of themselves, they may feel lonely and homesick. In addition, high living expenses and tuition fees will become a heavy burden upon their parents.
So I think whether studying abroad or not should be decided according to oneself and one's family. It is not right to follow others.
国外学习的利与弊
近年来，我们国家掀起一股出国学习的热潮，越来越多的中学生愿意通过中介到国外学习。到国外学习有利还是有弊呢?我认为，有有利的一面。到国外学习能提供良好的语言环境，更利于语言的学习，拓宽视野，学习国外先进的科学技术，传播各民族不同的文化。
同时也存在不利的一面，例如，中学生年纪太小，缺乏生活经验，自理能力差，情感孤独思乡。同时，学习生活费用高，也给家长带来很大的压力。
因此，中学生是否出国学习应根据自己及家庭的实际情况来决定，不要盲目追赶潮流

Blowing Balloons
Blowing balloons is an interesting game. You may have some ideas of it. It is of great ＆#118alue to your health, especially to those who are fat. People usually make an airless balloon halfairfilled, put it on the hand, then blow it hard. Shortly after it flies up, his partner blows it away towards the opposite party. And the opposite blows it back. Repeat doing so until the balloon drops onto the follr. Any party onto whose floor the balloon drops will be the loser. So any party who tries to control the balloon's direction and blows it with great efforts will make the balloon fly straight to the other party and will have more opportunities to win.
吹气球
吹气球是一项有益的活动，你可能对此有所了解。它对你的健康极有好处，特别是对那些体胖的人更是如此。人们通常给气球冲上一半气，放在手上，然后使劲吹。当吹起后，同伴立即将气球吹向对方。对方再把它吹过来。反复这样做，直到气球掉在地上。在哪方落了地，哪方就输了。所以哪方能控制好气球的方向，并使劲吹，就能使气球径直飘向对方，哪方赢的机会就多。

About Review
As we all know, there are three stages in study preview, study in class and review, among which review is the most important. From my experience, I'd like to talk about the importance and steps of review. Firstly, make a review plan with certain contents of subjects at acertain time. Secondly, carry on the review plan regularly. Thirdly, examine what has been reviewed and make supplement in time. One thing to remember is to keep notes all the time. I follow my review plan strictly and have made progress in my study. It turns out to be good enough. Of course, there is more than one way to review. So long as we review regularly, we can find more ways to improve our studies.
关于复习
我们都知道，学习有三个环节：预习、课堂学习和复习，三者中复习是最重要的。我愿意从我的经验谈复习的重要性和步骤方法。首先，制定复习计划，确定在某段时间里复习课程的具体内容。其次，有规律地执行复习计划。第三，检测所复习的内容，及时弥补。有一件事必须记住，就是要时时记笔记。我严格遵循复习计划，在学习上取得了进步，证明复习是可取的。当然，不只有一种复习办法。只要我们有规律地复习，我们可以找到更多改善学习的方法。

About Beijing
Beijing has a history of over 3,000 years with a population of nearly 13 million and a lot of places of interest around it. In recent years, the city of Beijing has been advancing very quickly. You can see more museums, parks an shopping centers here and there. More and more highways and overhead walkways have been built up. What's more, a lot more buses which burn cleaner fuel, such as CNG or LPG, are put into use, to prevent air from being polluted. Water in the rivers is clean again. Wherever you go, you can see green trees, grass and beautiful flowers. All these make life in Beijing more convenient, pleasant and colorful. Beijing is still advancing to the bright future.
关于北京
北京有3000多年的历史，近1300万人口和许多名胜古迹。近年来，北京发展得很快。你能看到更多的博物馆、公园和购物中心，比比皆是。北京已建成越来越多的高速公路和过街天桥。还有，更多的公共汽车投入使用，它们都使用环保燃料，以防空
气受到污染。河水又变得清澈了。无论你走到哪里，你都能看到绿树、青草和美丽的花朵。所有这一切使北京的生活更便利，更怡人，更多姿多彩，北京仍在向着美好的明天迈进。

Our City
Our city is a new and developing city, and was built at the beginning of 1980s. The infrastructure for water, gas, electricity and other energy in this area is complete and sufficient. From here one can travel to any place by sea, by air or by land. And there is a highway leading to the capital, Beijing. Besides there are many other advantages for the investors to work here. For example, the areas around this city are rich in natural resources. The public order is very nice and so on. The most impor ant. thing is that the government of this city supports foreign investors in many respects. In a sentence, this city is filled with enthusiasm and vigor. It is a good place for investors.
我们的城市
我们的城市是一座新兴的发展中城市，始建于20世纪80年代。这个地区的基础设施(如水、气、电和其它能源)齐全并且充足。这里的海陆空交通便利，又有一条高速公路通往首都北京。除此之外，投资者在这里工作还有许多其他优势，例如，城市周围地区的自然资源丰富，公共秩序良好等等。最重要的是这个城市的政府多方面支持外国投资者。总而言之，这个城市充满激情和活力，是投资者的乐园。

Our School
Our school, which was set up in 1945, lies in the south of Changchun City. It is famous in our city.
It has 24 classes. 8 classes in each grade. The number of the students and teachers adds up to over 2,000. In the front of the school stands a high classroom building, behind which is a lab buiding. We have many of our chemistry and biology classes in it. Between them is a new library built 3 years ago. There are a large number of books there. After lunch a number of students like reading there.
On the right there is a football field and two basketball courts. They are our favorite places in our spare time. It is said that a swimming pool will be built to the left.
Our school is big and beautiful, covered with green trees and colorful flowers. Many piople call it a garden school. It's really a good place for us to study in.
我们的学校
我们的学校坐落在长春市的南部，建于1945年。它是我市著名的学校。
全校有24个班，每个年级8个班。学生和老师加起来有2000多人。校园的前面耸立着一栋很高的教学楼，它的后面是实验楼。我们很多化学课和生物课都在那里上。这两者之间是3年前新建的图书馆，里面有大量的藏书。午饭后，许多学生都爱在这里看书。
右边是一个足球场，两个篮球场。这两个地方是我们课余时间最爱去的地方。据说在左边还要修建一个游泳池。
我们的学校又大又美丽，绿树成荫，鲜花盛开，很多人称它为花园学校。这真是一个我们学习的好地方。

My Favorite Program
Nowadays more and more programs are shown every day. My favorite program is "Discovery" which is broadcasted by CCTV at 5' clock every other afternoon, except weekends. The program provides us with knowledge in natural and scientific aspects. I like to know about the secrets of animals and some scientific research. I acquire some knowledge about nature and science of the past, present and even the future. It is an interesting as well as instructive program. Besides, the pictures are very vivid and beautiful. It' s really a great joy to watch it. Ifyou don't believe what I said, just watch it by yourself. and then you will know I am right.
我最喜欢的节目
如今，每天的节目越来越多。我最喜欢的节目是“发现”，这个节目除周末外，隔天下午五点在中央电视台播放。这个节目为我们讲述了自然和科学领域的知识。我想知道一些有关动物和科学研究的秘密。我获得了从前、现在和未来的自然科学知识。这个节目不仅有趣，而且很有教育意义。此外，节目的画面逼真美丽。观看这个节目真是一种享受。如果你不相信我的话，就请亲自看看，到那时你就知道我说的没错。

“Polo” Cars
"Polo" which is made by Chinese Volkswagen Automobile Manufacturing Group Co, is the latest product. It is designed for Chinese families. The car is in a popular and fashionable style with fbur seats, and can travel on all kinds of roads and under all kinds of Weather. In addition, the proper size of the car makes it easy to drive. Usually, its highest speed is 180 kilometers per hour. Anyone who owns a "Polo" will enjoy it very much.
The price--RMB130,000, is lowet than that of the same kind both at home and abroad. It is certainly a wise choice to buy a "Polo" car.
“Polo”牌小汽车
“Polo”牌小汽车是由中国大众汽车制造集团推出的最新产品，是为中国家庭量身定做的。属于普及型产品，设计新颖，有四个座位，可在各种路面和气候下行驶。此外，适中的车体使得它很容易驾驶。通常，它的最高时速达到每小时180公里。任何拥有“Polo”牌小汽车的人都会喜爰它。
每辆13万人民币的售价在国内外市场都是比较低廉的。购买“Polo”牌小汽车是个明智的选择。

The Family Computer
The family computer is small and not very expensive, but it has a good look. It can be used easily. You can calculate, make notes, learn English, call others and type letters on it. Computers can work hundreds of times faster than human beings. What' s more, you can surf on the net, watch VCDs, play games, do office work and even do shopping in a supermarket with it. By connecting a computer to the Internet, we can get the latest information in all fields. We have been greatly helped by computers. Through the Intemet, computers help us live a more convenient life. They link the world and make the world a large family.
家用电脑
家用电脑外观精美小巧，价格还不贵，使用方便。你可以用它来计算，做笔记、学英浯、打电话、写信等。电脑比人脑工作快成千上万倍。更重要的是，你可以用它上网、看影碟、打游戏、办公，甚至到超市购物。通过把电脑连到互联网上，我们能获得各领域的最新信息，我们得到电脑的很大帮助。通过互联网，电脑使我们过上了更便捷的生活。电脑连接了这个世界，使世界成为一个大家庭。

The Olynpic Games
The Olympic Games, first held in 776BC, has a history of more than one thousand yiars. The Games is held every four years.
Many countries try their best to bid forhosting the Olympic Games. And every country does its best to get more medals in the Games. In 2000, the city of Sidney held the 27th Olympic Games. Over one hundred countries all over the world took part in it. We won 28gold medals that year. China, a major sport country, will hold the 29th Olympic Games in 2008. People from all walks of life are participating in various activities and making good preparations for it.
There are five rings on the Olympic flag, which are considered to symbolize, the five continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America. The Olympic motto is: "Swifter, higher, stronger." The Games can promote the understanding and friendship among different peoples and different nations.
奥林匹克运动会
公元前776年首次举办的奥运会，已经有一千多年的历史了。奥运会每四年举办一次。
许多国家尽他们最大的努力争办奥运会。每个国家在运动会中都争取拿更多的奖牌。2000年，悉尼举办了第27届奥运会，全世界100多个国家参加了这次盛会。那年我国获得了28枚金牌。中国作为一个体育大国，将于2008年举办第29届奥运会。各条战线的人们正在为奥运会做着各项准备。
奥运会的会旗上有五个环。五环被认为象征着五大洲：欧洲、亚洲、非洲、澳洲和美洲。奥运会的口号是：“更高，更快，更强。”奥运会能够促进各民族以及各个国家之间的理解和友谊。

The Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn is a very important Chinese festival. It falls on the 15th day of August. A few days before the festival, everyone in the family will help to make the house clean and beautiful. Lanterns will be hung in front of the house.
On the evening there will be a big family dinner. People who work far away from their homes will try to come back for the union. After dinner, people will light the lanterns which are usually red and round. Children will play with their own toy lanterns happily.
At night the moon is usually round and bright. People can enjoy the moon while eating moon-cakes which are the special food for this festival. They can look back on the past and look forward to the future together. It is said that there was a dragon in the sky. The dragon wanted to swallow up the moon. To protect the frighten the dragon away.
中秋节
中秋节是中国一个很重要的节日，在八月十五号。在节日来临的前几天，家庭中的每一个人都帮着打扫房子，把房子装扮得漂漂亮亮的，灯笼挂在屋前。
晚上有一顿美餐，离家在外工作的人也要回来团圆。晚饭后，人们点亮灯笼，一般是红色的圆灯笼。孩子们会高高兴兴地玩他们的玩具灯笼。
晚上月亮又圆又大，人们在赏月的同时吃着中秋节特别的食品——月饼。人们在一起回顾过去，展望未来。据说天上有一条龙，它要把月亮吞下去。为了保护月亮，孩子们要弄出很大的响动把龙吓跑。

The Four seasons
A year has four seasons. Every season has three months. The weather of one season is different from that of any other. The life cycles of plants are controlled by the seasons.
The first season is spring. The three months in it are March, April and May. During that time we have warm weather and fine days. All plants come to life. Animals wake up from hibernation. It is time for farmers to get ready for their fields.
The second season is summer. The three months are June, July and August. The weather is very hot and it often rains. People can go swimming and sightseeing. It is time for all things to grow up.
The third season is autumn. The three months are September, October and November. The weather becomes cooler and cooler. Leaves begin to fall to the ground. It is the harvest time for farmers.
The fourth season is winter. December, January and February are the three months of that season. The weather is very cold, and most of the plants die at that time. Sometimes it snows. People can enjoy skating and skiing. But winter doesn' t stay with us for a long time, for spring comes again soon.
四季
一年有四季，每个季节有三个月，每个季节的气候都不一样。生命的轮回由四季控制。
第一个季度是春季。春季的三个月为三月、四月和五月。在这段时间里，天气温暖、晴朗，万物复苏。冬眠的动物们也醒过来了，农民们开始忙农活。
第二个季节是夏季，包括六月、七月和八月。天气非常热，而且老是下雨。人们能游泳、观光。夏季也是万物生长的好时候。
第三个季节是秋季，三个月分别是九月、十月和十一月。天 气越来越凉，树叶开始飘落。这是一个收获的季节。
最后一个季节是冬季，这一季包括十二月、一月和二月。天气非常冷，大多数植物都死了。有时候还下雪，人们可以滑冰和滑雪。但是冬天不会太长，因为春天马上就要来临了。

Stamps
When we send a letter or a postcard, we have to put stamps on the envelope or on the card. When did people first begin to use stamps? Who was the first to think of this idea? Here is some information about it.
In the early nineteenth century, people did mot use stamps. They had to pay for the letters or postcards they received. People didn' t like it. First, it was not convenient. Second, sometimes they had to pay for the letters they didn't want to receive at all, such as advertisements. Third, the postage was high at that time. And it was difficult for postmen to collect the postage.
Then one person thought out an idea to solve this problem. He was Rolland Hill, a schoolmaster in England. He was the first to put forward a proposal to use stamps in 1850s. He thought it would be much more convenient for people. They could go to a nearby post office to buy stamps and put them on the envelopes before they sent letters. The post office could simply put seals on the stamps to prevent them from being used again. That was a good idea and it was accepted by tile government finally.
邮票
当我们寄信或寄贺卡时，我们必须在信封或贺卡上贴邮票。人们什么时候开始使用邮票的呢?谁是第一个想到这个主意的人呢?下面是一些相关信息。
十九世纪初，人们并不使用邮票。他们是在收到信或贺卡时付邮资。人们不喜欢这种方式。第一，不方便；第二，有时候他们不得不为他们不希望收到的信付钱，例如广告；第三，那时候邮费很高，邮递员要收邮资很困难。
然后有人想到了一个方法来解决这个问题。他就是Rolland Hill，英格兰一年学校的校长。他是第一个在十九世纪五十年代提出使用邮票这个建议的人，他认为这对人们来说会方便得多。在发信之前他们可以去附近的邮局买邮票，贴在信封上。邮局只需在邮票上盖上邮戳就能防止邮票被再次使用。这个好想法最终被政府接受了。