A game of catch is simply two people throwing a ball back and forth(来回地). It seems a little1and many people may not be interested in it. The two people are close enough to talk, but too far to touch. They might have baseball gloves, or they might use their hands.
In fact, playing catch is part of2practiceto make you get used to using a ball and glove. But any American kid will teach you it's much more than that. Playing catch is a time for kids to3with your father. It's a time when there's4to worry about except catching a ball. It's a time when words move as seamlessly(准确不误地) as the ball itself, back and forth, easy and relaxing. It's an excuse to5time together.
Because baseball is an American sport, and a big part of being American, playing catch is kind of an allAmerican dad activity. In the suburbs(郊区), most people have backyardsnot 6enough to play baseball in, but just big enough for a game of catch. Those who have no7can play in the street or in the park.
When adults are asked to talk about the good8of their dads, many of them will say something about playing catch. Why？Probably because dads are usually very 9. A catch game is a time that is only for one thing. This is a time when a kid has her dad's10 . There is no work, no phone and no other people around to take your dad away from you. For the time that it takes to play a game of catch, your dad is all yours.
Dear Nicole,
How are you? Do you enjoy your summer holiday? I'm sure you do.
It's been two weeks since I returned to New Zealand, but I'm still thinking of the exciting city life in Hong Kong. In New Zealand, life is totally different. I miss the delicious sweet soup so much.
The weather has been bad these days. Yesterday I got a cold and didn't go to school today. I hate taking medicine, but I have to take it. I must get well soon because I will have tests on science and geography next week. I must prepare for the tests this time so that I won't fail again.
I remember that you like our local hand cream (护手霜), but it is quite expensive in Hong Kong. I bought you some last weekend and I am sending it to you. It's much cheaper here than in Hong Kong.
It's almost the end of August. It's time to pack (收拾) your school bag and get ready for the new school term. Take good care.
With love,
Judy
As usual, Amber was hurrying to catch the yellow school bus. Luckily, the traffic lights turned green as she was to cross the road, so she made it. When the bus passed the golden arches(拱形门) of McDonald's, they reminded her of a hamburger. She hadn't had breakfast that morning because the fruit salad on the blue dish didn't look delicious at all. However, Amber remembered that she was still on a diet. So now she was really in a black mood.
You may have noticed that several colors were used in the above story so as to help describe Amber's morning. In fact, colors influence your life more than you can ever imagine. Take language for example: You may describe a sick person as being "a bit green". To describe a depressed(沮丧的) person, you say that the person is "feeling blue". In short, colors do add interest to daily conversations.
Besides, colors can be used in many parts of your daily life. Have you ever thought about why many school buses and taxis are painted yellow, and stop signs red? Since yellow is the most eyecatching color, it can catch people's attention, especially in heavy traffic. As for red, it is the color which usually shows warning, as a result, some traffic signs use this color. For the same reason, hotwater taps are usually marked red.
The colors of a dining environment possibly decide how much you eat. Most fastfood restaurants are often decorated in bright colors such as red, yellow, orange and white for the purpose of increasing people's appetites(胃口). This is because bright colors are natural colors found in many foods, and therefore, able to raise people's spirits. Blue, in comparison with bright colors, is said to lower people's appetites because few foods are blue in nature. For those who are on a diet, blue dishes and bowls might help!
"Morning, Amber! What happened? You look a bit green，" said Violet, Amber's best friend.
"Nothing … just feeling … blue，" said Amber.
"Hey! Come to my place tonight. Do you know what I just bought? A Wii! It's red-hot."
Amber was tickled pink to have the chance to play with the Wii and said, "Sounds great！"
How did people tell the time before clocks were invented?
At first, the ancient people looked up at the sun and could tell it was the middle of the day when the sun was directly overhead in the sky. They also knew when it was morning or evening.
Later, the Egyptians used sticks. These sticks measured (测量) time during the day. The sun shone on the tall stick and the stick made a shadow (阴影). As the sun moved across the sky, the position (位置) of the shadow changed. This would let people tell what time it was.
Over time, the Chinese first used sundials instead of shadow sticks. The sundial has a type of shadow stick on it. As the sun shines on it, a shadow appears on the numbers. Each number stands for an hour of the day. But sundials don't work at night or on a cloudy day! There are no shadows unless the sun is out.
Water clocks used water to measure time at night. Water dripped (滴落) slowly from one bowl into another. The level of the water in the bowls showed the time.
People also used sandglasses. You may have seen one. Some games still use sandglasses. The sand falls from the top of the sandglasses to the bottom. It measures short amounts of the time. The more sand falls, the more time has passed. When the sand has finished falling, you have to turn the sandglasses over.
B . 
C . 
D . 
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A. Then keep taking steps. B. I can't start such a huge goal. C. And how can you try to reach your goals? D. To change a habit, try changing where you spend your time. E. Is it more important to practice singing than play video games? F. Does shopping take you a lot of time？ |
You have lots of things you'd like to do. But sometimes it's hard to get to the finish line — just like your goal. How can you break your bad habits and develop good ones?
Here are a few opinions we often get from kids, followed by ideas that might help.
● I can't get away from screens.
If you usually spend time lying on the sofa and watching TV programs or a video when you're bored, go somewhere else instead. Take a book to your room or your violin to the backyard. Or ask if you can help cook in the kitchen.
●
Start with "showing up." Then take one small step or do one tiny task, followed by another and another. For example, how do I practice the piano? First, sit at it. Then play one note at a time.
Starting with a supersimple step often helps. Why? It's easy, quick, and gets you in action.
● I have no time.
Take a look at the choices you make about how you spend time. Do those choices show what's important to you? Can you spare 10 minutes a day to work on a goal? Let's suppose you want to be singer.Talk with a parent about why your goal counts. Discuss whether you can let go of something less important to free up time to achieve it.
A. The story tells us that we should never be afraid of failing. Even if we fail once, don't give up and keep on working hard. One day in the future, we will be strong enough to be the winner.
B. It tells us that a man is never too old to learn. If he keeps studying hard all the time and never loses heart, he can learn more than others and at last he will beat others.
C. It tells us we should always be confident of ourselves. Offer to help when people are in need and show everyone that you can do it to help them out.
D. It tells us that a man who rules a country must first get the trust of its people. If a man wants to win the trust of other people, he should always keep his words. Then people will believe his words.
E. It tells us that a man spent all his time working for his people and country. A great man like him will always be remembered in people's heart.
F. The story describes the deep friendship between friends. They understood each other well and shared the interest. It expressed how good it is to have a friend like this.
Zhuge Liang's Love for the Country: Zhuge Liang tried his best to help his emperor to make his country much stronger. He said, " I'll work hard for my country until the last day of my life."
Shang Yang Builds Trust: Shang Yang made some new laws to build Qin into a powerful country. He gave 50 pieces of gold to a man who moved a bamboo as he said before. So people thought that they could believe him and they obey his new laws.
Mao Sui Recommends himself: Mao Sui was a confident man. During the Warring States period, the Prince of Zhao needed 20 clever people to help. But he could only find 19. While he was worrying, a man called Mao Sui came and recommended himself.
Goujian's Hard work: Goujian is the king of Yue. During one war, Wu beat Yue and Goujian failed the war. He was caught. But he didn't give up. Instead, he worked hard all the time. A few years later, he led his army to beat Wu.
A Lasting Friendship: Yu Boya was good at playing the qin (琴). One day, while he was playing music on his qin, a man named Zhong Ziqi shared his opinion with Boya. To Boya's surprise, Ziqi understood him very well. Their friendship lasted for life long and Boya even broke his qin when Ziqi died.
The Lantern Festival is a (tradition) Chinese festival. It
(fall) on Tuesday this year.
It is a part of celebrating the Spring Festival. The day leads to the first full moon night of year, and is also the night when the earth returns to spring.
During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wen decided that the
(fifteen) day of the first lunar month would be the Lantern Festival. The day provided a chance unmarried men and women to meet.
In ancient times, young women, especially daughters of rich (family), hardly stepped out their houses. But during the Lantern Festival, all people (come) out for lantern shows.
Watching lanterns at night was just a chance for young women to find a man
attracted them so much. Another activity,(guess) the answers to lantern riddles, gives young people a chance to communicate with (they) lovers and know more about each other.
