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Most children don’t enjoy doing housework. They like playing computer games rather than cleaning the rooms. But in Australia, Jim and Robert’s mother, Mrs Black, have good and proper ways to get their children to do housework.

Here is an example.

“Mum, have you worked out next week’s housework? Let Jim and me choose the cards. I can’t wait. It’s fun!”

When Robert shouted out, his mother had already put ten cards on their big table. On the cards, there are some words like these, “sweep the floor, clean your bedroom, help mum cook, wash vegetables, make beds, feed the fish, cut the wood, clean the bathroom” and many others, Jim and Robert chose two cards for each day from Monday to Friday. Then they would hang them on the weekday task board. Jim likes to clean the bathroom, so he picked up the card “clean the bathroom”. Robert loves to make the bed so he picked up his favorite card. Jim again picked up “wash vegetables” and Robert chose “feed the fish”. Soon the two boys were happy to take away all the cards.

To help the children do housework, their mother thought hard and came up with this idea. Of course, the parents did the housework on the weekends and left Jim and Robert two days free.

People use languages to communicate (交流). Any language has its ways to express people’s minds. One of the ways in common is the use of idioms(习语). An idiom is a group of words. It has a special meaning that is different from the usual meaning. For example, under the weather is an idiom meaning ill. So when people say “I’m under the weather”, they are saying that they’re not feeling well. Another example, in all weathers means in all kinds of weather. So, “There are homeless people sleeping on the streets in all weathers” tells us that homeless people sleep on the streets no matter whether it is cold or hot.

Different languages may have different ways to make idioms. For people who are learning a foreign language, idioms could cause misunderstandings and bring them endless problems. On the other hand if things are done right, idioms can also be a fun way of looking into a new culture and understanding how the people think and talk.

Metaphor (比喻) is often used in idioms. Let’s read the following two examples:

▪ Example 1: It makes my blood(血液) boil (煮沸) when my brother breaks my computer.

▪ Example 2: The night was dark and quiet; my blood ran cold when I heard a strange noise outside on a dark night.

In neither situation above, can our blood reach the point so high or so low in temperature. However, with the situations the two sentences created, it is not difficult to understand the ▲      feeling in the first example and very afraid in the second.

Of course, not all idioms are this easy to understand. When we come to idioms of a foreign language, a good dictionary of idioms is always suggested.

①As Daddy’s only daughter, I realized what made my Daddy more wonderful than all the other fathers. I’d ever seen or heard of—his large hands.

②Daddy had long smart fingers that could make lots of paper toys for me to play with. His hands could tie my hair beautifully. That’s why I was proud when the other students talked about my hairstyle. I kept this a secret for years. His hands could paint a second-hand bike to look new. I got one on my tenth birthday. His hands could cook a delicious and colorful meal in minutes. I was always interested in watching his hands work. Even as I grew hungrier, I felt happy watching his hands.

③Daddy’s creative hands were also useful and hardworking. They could fly a kite high in the sky as well as to get it down from the top of a tree. They could wash my white dress clean, which became my favorite one. To my surprise, those hands raised(抚养) seven children after mom’s death. It was his attitude that showed what he really was, far more than his abilities.

④Not only were Daddy’s hands capable(能干的), they could also send a message full of love. When I was sick, he made me feel better. He would take a small blanket (毯子), warm it up and cover it around my small cold feet with his loving hands. They seemed to understand my pain before I could cry. When I was stressed out, Daddy would often hand me a cup of hot milk and sat next to me. He would say, “The best is always to come, my dear.”

⑤The more I read Daddy’s hands, the more stories I sense(感知) from them. Daddy’s hands were perfect. They had the knowledge and power to move mountains. They made the impossible possible.

A．	B．
C．	D．

Maybe you are a common student. You may think you will never be a top student. However, anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here’s how:

“What’s wrong, dear?” said Mrs. Smith to the little boy, Tom Blair, who had tears in his eyes.

“We have all got a ______ called Little Jim to learn,” said Tom, “and the one who says it best will get a ______ from the teacher. But I don’t think I can learn it.”

“Why not?” said Mrs. Smith.

“It is so long and hard for me. And other boys always ______ me and call me ‘Slow Tom’” said Tom in a ______ voice. “Well, dear, don’t mind ______ others say,” said Mrs. Smith kindly. “Look at that snail (蜗牛) on the wall, how ______ it is! But if you watch it, you will see it will get to the top at last. When you feel like losing heart, ______ the snail on the wall.”

At last, the day came. The teacher called up the boys to repeat the poem. After five or six boys had tried, it finally came to Tom’s turn. ______ Tom got up, there was a laugh because most of the boys thought he would fail. But he did not ______ a word. And his heart was full of ______ when the teacher said, “Well done. Tom Blair!” After the ______ of the class had tried, the teacher said Tom had done ______ and he gave him the prize.

“And now tell me,” said the teacher, “how you learned the poem so well?”

“Please, sir, it was the snail on the wall that ______ me how to do it,” said Tom. “I saw it climb up the wall bit by bit. It did not stop, nor turn back, but went on and on. And I thought I would do the same with my task. So I ______ learned it bit by bit and did not give up.”

“Now, boys, let us give a good ______ for Tom Blair and the snail on the wall.” said the teacher. And the old house rang with a loud, long cheer. For all were glad that “Slow Tom” had got a prize at last.

Friends are important to everyone.     51    , some people may have trouble in keeping their friendships. Here are some tips on how to make your friendship     52     (deep) and stronger.

★Be yourself. A lot of teens try     53     (keep) the friendship once they become friends with some people. Your identity (身份) is always changing, but some of your personality will stay the same. Find out     54     those things are, think hard about who you want to be, and then show your love     55     (true) to the people around you.

★Avoid gossip (八卦). Friends shouldn’t speak ill of other friends. If you’ve heard something bad about your friends, you should find a right way of     56     (ask) them about it by     57     (you). If you’re not sure how to talk to them about it, ask a trusted friend for advice.

★Protect your friends. Very often, somebody doubts (怀疑) one of your     58     (friend). It’s important to find out both sides of the story, but it’s also a good chance to show your friend that you trust him by telling him.

★Return the care. There are times when     59     friend will lend you a textbook, or a shoulder to cry on. A good friend will cheer you up when you’re in trouble and listen patiently when your friend shares a problem     60     you. Be sure you are as helpful as your friend, because he will take notice and feel good.

71. 假如你是李华，收到了英国的笔友Jason的邮件。请你阅读后回复。要求：不少于 80 词，可适当发挥。

Yours,

Li Hua