【推荐1】If you wish to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate, or speed, of reading:

1. Knowing why you are reading—what you are reading to find out—will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.

2. Some things should be read slowly throughout. Examples are directions for making or doing something, arithmetic problems, science and history books, which are full of important information. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each important idea.

3. Some things should be read rapidly throughout. Examples are simple stories meant for enjoyment, news, and letters from friends, items, or bits of news from local, or hometown, paper, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors.

4. In some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow to fast, as you go along. You need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful readings when you come to important ideas which must be remembered.

【推荐2】Many students ask for advice about improving their English. There are three basic questions.

The first question is about real English. Li Hao from Hubei wrote, “I enjoy watching English films and listening to real English songs. But it takes along time. What do you think?”

This is a great way to learn English! Talk about the film or song with your friends, and guess the meaning of the new words. Just enjoy yourself!

The second question is about speaking. Sam, form Suzhou wrote, “Our school has a foreign teacher. But I’m shy and can’t speak to her. What should I do?”

When I visit China, lots of people in the street say, “Hello! How are you? Where are you from? Do you like China?” These are good questions to start a conversation. Many people are shy when they speak English, so before you begin, takes deep breath and smile! Smiling always helps.

The third question is about vocabulary. Oliver, from Anhui wrote, “I want to remember all the new words. I write them down, but I forget them quickly. What should I do?” Try to remember eight or ten words a day. Write them on pieces of paper and place them in your bedroom. Say the words when you see them, and change them every day. And when you’re shopping, how about counting the English words, or saying the English names for everything you see?

【推荐3】It seems that more and more Americans want schools to teach foreign languages to children under five years old. The most popular way to teach young children another language is called immersion （沉浸式语言教学法）. Children in the immersion program hear only the new language in the classroom. The children play games, sing songs and talk to one another in the new language. Some experts （家） say the immersion program is the most effective （有效的） for young children to learn a language. But there can be a problem when children in the United States begin to learn another language at such an early age. Not many elementary schools continue to teach a foreign language. Only seven of the fifty states require （要求） schools to teach a foreign language to students between the ages of six and twelve. Language experts say it is easier for younger children to learn a language. Still, American schools generally do not begin to teach foreign languages until secondary school. By then, students are about thirteen years old.

American schools face difficult choices about the cost of educational programs. The government has increased support for foreign language study in its Education Law called "No Child Left Behind".

At college, the Modern Language Association says more students than ever are studying foreign languages and more languages are being studied now. Spanish is the most widely taught at American colleges and universities. French, German, Chinese and Italian are also popular.

【推荐1】What time of day can you think most quickly? Are you a morning person? Or does it take you a few hours to get your brain going? A lot of recent research suggests that we should pay attention to our body clock. It can tell us what time of day we can perform best at.

Many people work best later in the morning. This is because the body’s temperature takes time to rise through the day. Taking a warm shower when you wake up can help your body’s temperature rise quickly.

But everyone’s body clock is different and some are special. Morning people will get up early and work better early in the day. Evening people will work later but work better towards the end of the day.

Research shows that we’re better at some activities at certain times of the day. Physical performance is at its best between 3 pm and 6 pm, so it’s better to exercise later in the day. Between noon and 4 pm, people begin to pay less attention. This is because we think less quickly after a big meal. Research also shows we become sleepy around 2 pm. This is why people in Spain take a short sleep in early afternoon. Finally, it is best to eat when we’re active. This allows our body to burn calories better and stops our blood sugar levels(血糖)from getting too high.

【推荐2】No doubt one of China’s greatest resources is its diverse cuisine. One of the most popular foods to be found is no doubt the street snacks that make up a large part of everyday life. “Compared with A Bite of China, which showcases chefs’ cooking processes and demonstrates delicious cuisine on air, Chinese Barbecue is more down-to-earth in depicting the people,” commented a viewer.

The new documentary series, called Chinese Barbecue, tells the story of this popular food option that sizzles (咝咝作响) over hot coals on just about every street comer in cities and towns across the country. Barbecued meat shining over hot coal containers, while not as elegant as some of the fine dining options in China, is an essential part of people’s night life. The pleasant smell and atmosphere surrounding the grilled (烤的) street food is “something that could entice people to fly downstairs at night,” the documentary claims.

In many Chinese eyes, barbecue, regarded as the most ordinary and common night street snack, is different from homemade food by mothers which is a symbol of kinship (亲切感). Barbecue is where you become connected to people in society. And unlike official business lunches, during which people are rather reserved and polite, barbecue lets people cut loose and relax with old friends and newly made friends, leaving a lasting impression of friendship.

On the other side of the world, in the United States, BBQ, well received by all ages, demonstrates the even more enthusiastic personality of Americans, who grill large steaks on their outdoor stoves at home and enjoy competing to see who has the better cooking skills. It’s safe to say that the world, as a whole, holds deep-rooted good feelings toward barbecue, either for the taste or the warmth generated by fire.

【推荐3】Halloween is a festival celebrated on October 31st. The name of the holiday means “hallowed” or “holy evening” because it happens the day before All Saints Day. It is said that Halloween is the children’s New Year’s Eve. They dress up with special costumes (服装), they eat too much, and they stay up too late celebrating.

Children go around the neighborhood wearing make-up, and dress in masks and colorful costumes. The most common costumes are witches (巫师), ghosts, skeletons (骷髅), and popular TV, movie and storybook characters. Some costumes are homemade; others are bought in stores. The children go from door to door saying “trick or treat”. People give them candy, cookies, fruit or money. Sometimes money is collected to help UNICEF, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

Homes, stores, and classrooms are decorated in the traditional Halloween colors, orange and black. Usual decorations are witches, ghosts, skeletons, and Jack-o’-lanterns, Jack-o’-lanterns are pumpkins that are carved (雕刻) to look like faces. They are placed on doorway entrances and in windows. Horror movies and ghost stories are shown on TV on this day.

Adults and older children also celebrate Halloween with parades, festivals, and costume parties. Some people create their costumes; other people rent them. Contests are held, where the best costume receives a prize. One of the party events popular with children is dunking (浸泡) for apples. Apples are put in tubs filled with water. People try to get the apples using only their mouths; hands cannot be used.

【推荐1】Four of the Oldest Buildings in the World

One of the oldest buildings in the world is the Knap of Howar, which dates back to 3700-3500 BCE.The farmhouse is one of the oldest, still-standing stone houses in Europe. It includes two stone homes linked through a hidden passage and joint walls. Archaeologists say Irish or Scottish monks could be the first builders and residents of the Knap of Howar. Although the house is still standing, these abandoned places around the world are better candidates for restoration.

The Megalithic Temples of Malta, or the Ġgantija Temples, date back to 3600 to 3200 BCE. The two temples on the island of Malta are UNESCO World Heritage sites. It’s one of the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Archaeologists think the temple was used for ritual animal sacrifices.

Shunet el-Zebib is partially standing, but mostly in ruins. It’s still, however, one of the oldest buildings in the world. The Egyptian temple built in 2750 BCE is of mud and brick. It has an underground tomb as well as an above-ground complex. Architecturally, it’s a nod to the Egyptian pyramids soon to come.

Built in 530 BCE, the Tomb of Cyrus is one of Iran’s World Heritage Sites and one of the oldest buildings on the planet. It’s also believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world, according to Atlas Obscura. The base isolating used on the tomb protects the main structure from moving apart from the foundation.

【推荐2】Harry is eighteen now.He studies in a middle school.His parents like him very much and hope he can become a famous man.So they often tell him to study hard and they do all for him.They call him at six in the morning, after breakfast his father takes him to school in a car and in the afternoon, as soon as the young man comes back, the supper is ready.Of course, he never washes his clothes or goes to buy something in the shops.

Once Harry's father was sent to London on business.He would stay there for half a year.When leaving, he told his wife to take good care of their son.

The woman had to get up earlier and did all what her husband did before.And two months later she was so tired that she was ill in bed.Now the young man got into trouble.He couldn't do any housework.He had to do as his mother told him.Even he didn’ t know where to get on the bus!

Yesterday Harry’s mother found his shoes were worn out and told him to buy a new pair in the shop.But he didn’t know how to choose.The woman had a sigh（叹息）and gave him a shoe pattern（样品）and told him to buy a pair of shoes himself.It’s Saturday today and Harry doesn’t go to school.With a policeman’s help, he found a shop.The shopkeeper was friendly to him.The man brought a lot of shoes and asked him to choose.When he was trying on a pair, suddenly he remembered something and took them off.The man was surprised and asked, “What’s the matter young man?” “I’m sorry, I’ve left the shoe pattern at home!”

【推荐3】Do you know what a castle is? A castle is a building special to Europe. Castles were built in the Middle Ages by king and other powerful people who live in. Castles were used by people to protect themselves from their enemies. They are big buildings made form stone and wood.

Today there are still castles all over Europe. Some are in ruins. But some built later are still in good repair and used even today. One example is Windsor Castle, which is a home to the British queen. It is in the country or Berkshire, not far from London.

Castles have walls around them. In the old days, soldiers would stand on the walls to guard the people in the castle. If enemies came they would shoot arrows and throw stones at them. Castles also had moats. A moat is a river around the wall that makes it difficult for enemies to get in. It could be either dry or filled with water.

Other people from younger countries love European castles. In the US there are rich people who have brought broken parts of castles to their country and rebuilt them. And some people build “replica” castles — modern copies of Castle.

You probably know the Disneyland Castle in California, US. But did you know it is based on a famous castle in Germany built by King Ludwig Ⅱof Bavaria?