Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Surely, there are times when we need to be alone. We don't always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are just the same. Sometimes friends don't get along well. That doesn't mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will make up and go on being friends.
Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very sad. We miss them very much. But we can call and write to them. It could be that we would never see them again. And we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them.
Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women who have been friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.
There's more good news for people who have friends. They live longer than people who don't. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares. If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.
Ruben lived in a small village. There was no school and he had to study in a school in the town. It was nearly five kilometres away from his village. His father couldn't buy a bike for him and he had to go to school on foot. He got up early in the morning. Usually he had to run there in order not to miss the first class. He kept running every day and it was helpful to him. He's strong and tall now and he runs faster than any other man in his village. He took part in several sports meetings and won some medals(奖牌). The young man is proud of it and always wants to have a race (比赛) with others.
One day his mother was ill and his father told him to buy some medicine for headache in the town. The young man got there soon. There were many people in the chemist's_ shop while he was waiting there. And when his turn came, he couldn't find his money. An old woman hinted(暗示) a young man had stolen (偷) it. He saw the thief (贼) had already left the shop. He ran towards him quickly. The thief found it and began to run. He was happy and tried to catch up with him. "Let's have a race and see who will run faster," Ruben called out behind.
Soon after that he caught up with the thief. But he didn't stop and went on running. At a crossing one of his friends asked, "What are you running for, Ruben？"
"I'm running after(追) a thief. "
"Where's the thief, then？"
"He wants to show that he'll run faster than I, but he's fallen behind!"
Sport is very popular in England. In other words, lots of English people like the idea of sport. A lot watch sport on TV. But the number who takes part in sport is quite small. On the whole, English people prefer to be fat rather than thin.
The most popular sport in England is football. Football is played on Saturday afternoon in most towns and the supporters(支持者) of a certain team will travel from one end of the country to the other to see their team play. There are four divisions (级别) of the football league(联赛). Not surprisingly the best teams are in the first division. But the best supporters are often in the fourth division. You have to be a good supporter to watch the fourth division football!
Many other sports are also played in England, such as golf, in which you try to knock a ball into a hole; basketball, in which you try to get a ball through a net; tennis, in which you try to hit a ball so that your opponent (对手) can not hit it. As you see, if the ball had not been invented, there would have been no sport.
Actually, that is not quite true. Athletics (田径) isn't played with a ball; nor horseracing(赛马). Perhaps that is why they are not as popular as football!
On the first day of my new high school, I almost had a nervous breakdown(崩溃). Everything about the school seemed so difficult. When I got home, my parents said, "You're nervous and that's okay. Everyone is afraid of high school. " I denied(反对) it. I wanted to be strong, so I refused(拒绝) to let anyone know about my fears(恐惧), even my closest friends.
On the first day I was late for every class and was constantly(持续地) lost. The school seemed like a puzzle that I couldn't figure out. Was this how the whole year was going to be? I didn't think I could rise to this challenge, especially carrying a huge backpack that I could hardly lift. It was so big that I could knock someone out with it! The schoolmates seemed to regard(视为) me as a fool, and they were probably right.
Despite(不管) my fears, after the first week I finally had my schedule figured out. With the exception of(除了) falling up and down the stairs a couple of times and getting laughed at, high school was turning out to be not so bad. It was actually much better than middle school and much more challenging.
Since then, I've been elected vice monitor(选为副班长) of my class, which wasn't much of a victory (胜利)since only three people ran for the four positions(职位).
It is normal to be scared about a new school. Take a deep breath and relax. High school is something that any student can overcome. Make sure you take part in some out-of-class activities because you'll find it easier to make friends. Try to do your best.
Most important of all, be who you are, whether you're a "fool", an athlete(运动员), or a lower grader. Don't try to pretend (假装)to be someone you're not. Now you know the true secrets of high school.
How to Deal with Your Homework
Write it down. Make a note on your notebook. Always be sure to write down any homework for school so you won't forget anything.
Create a homework station. Find somewhere comfortable and quiet to work. It will take twice as long to get the homework done. Shut off your cell phone, log off (退出) your computer (unless you will need it for your homework) and close the door.
Do homework as early as possible. Don't leave homework to die last minute. The earlier you start your homework, the sooner you will finish！Do all your homework as early as you can, so you don't have a pile of (一堆) homework the next day.
Think about how long it will take you to complete each homework subject. For example：English—ten minutes, science—ten minutes, math—forty minutes, history—twenty minutes.
Treat yourself. You can easily get tired by sitting through an hour or two of homework without stopping. Once you finish homework for a subject, take a small break. Just make sure it's quick (no more than 15 minutes). Do not turn on the TV, or you'll never go back and finish your homework.
A. Use your time wisely (明智地).
B. Start as soon as you get home.
C. Start your hardest homework.
D. Never do your homework in front of the TV.
E. You can take a walk or find something to eat.
F. After short breaks, return to finish up the last of your work.
G. Keep a homework notebook where you record all your homework.
My Experience in a Free School
At first I couldn't believe it! There were no1in rows; no bells rang; no one had to go to2. Although we all lived "in", 3 made us go to bed at a certain time; there was no "lights out".
The4thing was that practically all the students went to class, 5very few people stayed up late at night. Only the new people stayed up or6class. The new ones always went wild (狂怒)7, but this never lasted long. The freedom(自由) took some getting used to (习惯). Our teachers treated (对待) us like 8; never did we have to play "stand up", "sit down", "speak out". I don't9one student who didn't try his best.
The subjects were the same as those in10schools, but what a difference in the approach(方式)! For example, in botany(植物学)we had11classes in the spring or fall, but instead we12two gardens, a vegetable garden and a flower garden. 13in winter we each studied a few particular things about what we had grown. In maths, the students built three different kinds of storerooms (库房)—small ones14, but usable (可用的). They did this instead of having lessons in the classroom. They really had a15time too, designing everything, drawing the blueprints, figuring out the angles(角度)and so on. I didn't take16. I can't stand it! Besides, I could do the basic things with numbers. That's 17！
On the whole, I think I am a18person for having gone to the school. I can read and write as well as anyone else of my age, and I can think better. That's probably a real big19between the free school and regular school—the amount of20.
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（︿），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。2）每个句子只有一处错误。
