Mum and Dad ——they’re two of the most important people in your life. Here are some ways you can stay close, get along, and build a strong relationship (关系) with them.

Spend time together. Don’t play a computer game or watch TV by yourself. Ask your mum and dad to play with you, go outside together, play a game or read a book out aloud. Try to spend more time together.

Share your feelings and ask for help. Many kids say they’d like their parents to help them when they’re unhappy. Tell them if you’re sad or have a problem. They will be happy to help you.                                   

Be kind and caring. Little things will mean a lot to your mum or dad. You can brighten a parent’s day with a hug, a card or a joke. It is also lovely when a kid cleans up his or her room without being asked. It’s important to show that you care for each other. Kids and parents show their love by respecting(尊重) each other and being caring, polite and thoughtful.

Do your best at whatever you do. You don’t have to be perfect, but when you do your best, you make your parents proud. It makes them happy to see how you’re turning into such a great kid. Why? Because it lets them know you’re doing a good job.

The American Computer Museum was open to visitors in 1990 in Bozeman, Montana. At first it was planned to build in Princeton, New Jersey. The founders moved to Bozeman in 1988 and after looking at the area they decided to start the museum there. With Yellowstone National Park to the south and Glacier National Park to the northwest, the museum attracts(吸引)thousands of visitors from all 50 states and over 50 countries. The American Computer Museum has been written about in many publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, PC Week, QST Magazine and USA Today.

When visitors first enter the museum, they are shown a video introducing the museum and its collections. All visitors are given the chance to join in tours led by friendly tour guides. It has had visitors aged from 3 to 93 ——it is a big family. Over 1,000 exhibitions are shown in the 6,000 square metres museum. Travelling through the museum, you will see the exciting 20,000 years of history of the information age. Technology becomes easier to accept when one learns about its origins(起源)in the natural process(进程)of human development.

Cinyee Chiu, an artist from Taiwan, is always happy to try something new. Her amazing works won lots of prizes. Among them “24 Solar Terms（节气）” is the most popular.

Ancient Chinese divided a year into 24 parts according to the changes of the weather. It’s the 24 solar terms. But not everyone knows them well. Cinyee Chiu put the 24 solar terms in pictures to help people understand them better.

Cinyee turned each solar term into an animal. But these animals are not just animals. You can also find seasonal fruits, vegetables or beautiful flowers on them.

When spring comes, water gets warm and fish start to swim around. So Cinyee chose fish as a symbol ofBeginning of Spring. Also, she drew spring vegetables, Chinese chives（韭菜）on the back of the fish.

White Dewfalls on about September 8th. It shows the beginning of the cool autumn. There are colourful leaves and cooler nights at this time of year. As the temperature falls, white dew（露珠）is often seen on the grass and trees at night. ForWhite Dew, Cinyee chose a raccoon（浣熊）— a small animal with thick hair. She drew white spots（小圆点）on the raccoon to show dew. And she used the dragon fruit to show the colours in autumn.

The young artist really gave the ancient Chinese culture a new look.

The ways of celebrating New Year

On the night of December 31, people all over the world celebrate the arrival of the new year. People can forget the troubles of the past year and start with a “clean slate (从头再来)”.

This year’s celebrations will be quite different. For example, the famous Times Square celebration in New York City will not have a crowd for the first time in 114 years. It will go online, allowing “visitors” to explore Times Square virtually (虚拟地) with an app. People can watch musical performances, enjoy a virtual fireworks show, and even take selfies (自拍) “on site”.

In the US city of Naperville, the “Countdown at the Carillon (钟琴下的新年倒计时)” event will also go online. It is held every year. People have recorded a video of the carillon bell striking (敲响) midnight, followed by bells playing Auld Lang Syne《友谊地久天长》. When the video is posted online, everyone can keep the city’s tradition and count down to the new year together at home.

In London, Sydney and Vienna, New Year’s events also changed. There will be no public gatherings. But people can still gather at home, of course —with safety being kept in mind. Lifestyle website RealSimple has created a list of party tips (提示) such as keeping an eye on people’s drinks to make sure they don’t accidentally (意外地) share the same cup.

66. 假如你是Dave，昨天收到了好朋友Jim的邮件，他在邮件中向你倾诉了他的烦恼。请你根据邮件中提到的问题，用英语回一封邮件，给他提出一些建议。以下是 Jim提出的烦恼：

I’m glad to hear from you and I’m sorry to hear that you are in trouble with your parents and study.   

Good luck!

Yours,

Dave