It was an extremely hot day. My younger brother Walt and I had decided to go swimming in a deep swimming hole across Mr.Blickez’s farm and through some woods，because it would be the only way to cool us down.

The only problem with our plan was that this farm was guarded by a huge mean Hereford bull（公牛） named Elsie. Mr. Blickez had told us that Elsie was the meanest bull in town, maybe even in the county and we believed in him. But the hotter it got，the more we thought there was something fishy about what he said. For one thing，we remembered Mr. Blickez liked telling tall tales; for another，Elsie seemed like a strange name for a bull. Finally，I talked Mom into asking permission for us to walk across the farm，and Mr. Blickez agreed.

On our way across the farm，we stopped at the fence to admire the swimming hole. The sun shone brightly on the cool water. We couldn’t wait to get there. Suddenly，Walt shouted loudly. Elsie had run to him and was licking（舔）his back. I immediately hid behind the fence. However，when I looked up，I saw that Elsie wasn’t a big mean bull at all. She was licking my brothers back as long as he stood still.

When we discovered the truth，we were so happy. We then ran to the swimming hole and jumped in. The water was just as cool as we had dreamed. After that day，we had many good days and we often visited our secret swimming hole guarded by the so-called“big mean bull”.

March 16th is World Sleep Day. This year’s slogan (标语) is “Breathe Easily, Sleep Well”. Its aim is to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep.

Sleep is like food for the brain. Enough sleep helps the body and brain grow and develop. According to the National Sleep Foundation in the US, adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. For students aged 10 to 17, a healthy amount is about eight to nine hours per night.

But many students don’t get enough sleep because of early school start time and heavy homework. About 80 percent of middle school students don’t get enough sleep, the China Youth and Children Research Center reported. For some students, they want to sleep early, but they keep worrying about their schoolwork and can’t fall asleep quickly. For others, they may even have insomnia which might keep them awake (醒着的)all night.

These sleeping problems greatly affect people’s lives. Experts have shown that lack of sleep for teenagers leads to poor grades. Students without enough sleep cannot pay attention in class or do well in sports. Also, the lack of sleep may make them depressed (沮丧的).

Luckily, with good sleeping habits, it is easier to fall asleep. Some of these good habits include avoiding drinks that make people excited late in the day, going to sleep at the same time each night, and sleeping in a comfortable place that is dark, quiet, and neither too warm nor too cold.

Steve and Yaser first met in their chemistry class at an American university. Yaser was an international student from Jordan. He was excited to get to know an American. He wanted to learn more about American culture. Yaser hoped that he and Steve would become good friends. At first, Steve seemed very friendly. He always greeted Yaser warmly before class. Sometimes he offered to study with Yaser. He even invited Yaser to have lunch with him.

But after the term was over, Steve seemed more distant. The two former(以前的) classmates didn’t see each other very much at school. One day Yaser decided to call Steve. Steve didn’t seem very interested in talking to him.. Yaser was hurt by Steve’s change of attitude. “Steve said we were friends,” Yaser complained. “And I thought friends were friends forever.” Yaser is a little confused.

He is an outsider(局外人) to American culture. He doesn’t understand the way Americans view friendship. Americans use the word “friend” in a very general way. They may call both casual acquaintances(熟人) and close companions(伙伴) “friends”. Americans have school friends, work friends, sports friends and neighborhood friends. These friendships are based on common interests.

American society changes rapidly. Studies show that one out of five American families moves every year. American friendships develop quickly, and they may change just as quickly. People from the United States may at first seem friendly. Americans often chat easily with strangers. They exchange information about their families, hobbies and work. They may smile warmly and say, “Have a nice day.” or “see you later.” schoolmates may say, “Let’s get together sometime.” But American friendliness is not always an offer of true friendship.