Each nation has many volunteers（志愿者） who help to take care of others. They ________ books to the people in hospitals or homes for the aged. Sometimes they just visit them and play games with them or listen to their ________.

Other young volunteers go and work in the homes of people who are sick or ________. They paint, clean up, ________ their houses or do their shopping. For boys who no longer have ________, there is an organization called Big Brothers. College students and other men take these boys to baseball games or fishing places and help them to get to know things that boys ________ learn from their fathers.

Each city has a number of ________ where boys and girls can go to play games or learn crafts（工艺）. Some of these clubs organize short trips to the mountains, beaches, or other places of interest ________. Most of these clubs use high school and college students as volunteers because they are young enough to ________ the names of boys and girls.

Volunteers believe that the happiest people in the world are those who help to ________ happiness to others.

I am writing to apply for (申请) the job of tour guide in London that was advertised (登广告) on your website.

I am 18 years old and I am now studying for my A levels at Grove High School. I am looking for a summer job before going to Manchester University to study languages and history.

I have lived and studied in London all my life and I know the city very well. History is one of my main interests and I have done many projects on famous London sights.

As for languages, as well as English, I can speak French, Spanish and a little German. I am a sociable person and I enjoy meeting new people. I am enthusiastic (热情的) about the sights of my city and I think this is important for a tour guide.

I shall be free from the middle of June until the end of September when my university classes begin.

If you would like me to attend an interview, you can call me at 79377211. I am free every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Yours,

Richard Bracks

Different gestures (手势) mean different things in different countries. Sometimes a gesture that is polite in one country is not polite in another and should not be used. Different meanings of gestures can also cause problems in understanding what another person is trying to say. A gesture that many people do not understand is one that uses the thumb. Most westerners will sometimes show that they like something by holding out a closed hand with the thumb lifting in the air. This is called give someone or something ＂the thumbs up＂. Often, only one thumb is used, so it should be ＂the thumb up＂.

The usual explanation (解释) for the origin of this gesture is not really correct. It says that in ancient Roman times, when people were pleased with the way a gladiator (角斗士) had fought, they showed their thumbs up. When they were not pleased, they gave the thumbs down. When a gladiator was given the thumbs up, the emperor allowed him to live. When a gladiator was given the thumbs down, the emperor ordered him to be killed.

The truth is, however, it was translated into a wrong meaning by mistake. If people wanted to save the gladiator, they put out their hands and hid their thumbs in their hands. If they wanted the gladiator to die, they pointed their thumbs straight at him.

Many ways to sleep

How do you sleep? Most people sleep on their backs or sides. Do animals sleep the same way? Actually, the ways they sleep are much more different — they can lie down, sit or stand while they sleep.

Swiss scientists did a study on 250 different mammals (哺乳动物). They found that the animals’ sleeping postures (姿势) had something to do with their size and weight.

Small animals with short legs sleep on their stomachs. Their body shape is perfect for this posture. They also like to put their legs under their bodies. Rabbits and cats sleep this way.

But larger animals sleep differently. They lie on their sides. That’s because this is more comfortable for their longer legs. Cows and hippos (河马) often sleep like this.

However, there are exceptions. Small animals such as mice sometimes sit down to take a short nap. Some large animals such as horses, zebras and giraffes sleep standing up. This way, they can immediately run away if they are in danger.

Did you know? Albatrosses are large seabirds. They can sleep while flying. They can even do that while flying at a speed (速度) of about 40 km an hour.