【推荐3】We live on Earth. It’s our home. But how much do you know about it? Let me tell you something about our Earth.

The Earth is not flat as we see but it is like a huge sphere in the space. Like the other seven planets (行星), the Earth is running around the Sun. It’s the third nearest one to the Sun. It takes the Earth about 365 days to run around the Sun.

At the same time, the Earth is going around itself. If you are in space, you can see lots of white clouds over the surface (表面) of the Earth. Through the clouds, you can see the blue colour of the oceans, and the brown colour of the land. About 70% of the Earth is covered with water. Why do we have day and night? When the half of the Earth is facing the Sun, it’s daytime. As the Earth turns, and this half is away from the Sun, night is coming. And it’s daytime for the other half.

【推荐1】Have you ever thought about your body changes? Up to about the age of eight or nine, girls and boys look quite alike. They have similar shaped bodies and their voices sound almost the same. As they grow, all their organs(器官) grow, too.

At the same time after the age of ten, often at eleven or twelve, boys' and girls' bodies start changing. This time of change is called puberty(青春期), The changes mean their bodies are getting ready so that they’ll be able to have children when they’re older.

The changes don't happen to everyone at the same time. Each person has his or her own body---changing timetable. By the time they're eighteen, they should be complete. Girls start changing some years sooner than boys, Until they're fifteen or so, they grow faster than boys of the same age. As years go by, boys can catch up and grow taller and stronger. Girls grow taller and heavier as well. Their faces and breasts become fuller. As well as   all the changes you can see happening, other important changes --- ones you can' t see --- are happening inside your body at the same time.

A big sandstorm hit Northern China on February 13. It covered many cities with thick clouds of yellow dust (尘土).

The storm, which came from Mongolia (蒙古国), was the first sandstorm to hit China in 2024. Many flights and classes were canceled because the visibility (能见度) was lower than 500 meters.

The storm was the result of warm and dry weather in the area, together with the strong winds from Mongolia. “There has been little rainfall so far this spring and the temperature is rising. So now is a worrying time for sandstorms,” said an expert from Beijing.

In recent years, sandstorms haven’t been as common in northern China as before. The land with desertification (荒漠化) has been falling by 7,585 km² per year in China, and the area of sandy land has been decreasing by 1,284 km² a year. This is thanks to China’s Three-North Shelter Forest Program (TNSFP，三北防护林工程) which started in the 1970s. Millions of trees have been planted in northern China to prevent sandstorms and protect the environment.

Besides, China has a color-graded warning system (预警系统) for sandstorms (as shown in the picture), with red meaning the most serious, followed by orange, yellow, blue and green. Therefore, people would have time to get prepared for the sandstorm.

【推荐1】Have you ever seen this photo? The girl in the photo named Su Mingjuan is known as "Big Eyes". The photo was taken in 1991 when she was seven, by a press photographer(摄影记者) called Xie Hailong. The photo shows Su at her desk with a pencil in the hand in a primary school. It made a strong influence and caused more support( 支持) for Project Hope( 希望工程 ).Su Mingjuan comes from Anhui Province. Her family was so poor that she could hardly go to school.

With the help of Project Hope, she was able to go on studying. She studied very hard and did quite well in her lessons. In 2002 she passed the National College Entrance Examination（高考). And she went to study financial (金融的) science at Anhui University. Now she works in a bank (银 行). Su Mingjuan is lucky. Project Hope changed her life.

【推荐2】Mike and his aunt live in the same city. On weekends, Mike often goes to see his aunt and his cousin, Kitty. Kitty is a girl of five years old. Mike likes her very much. He usually goes to visit them on his bike, because he doesn’t like taking buses.

Today is Sunday. He goes down Long Avenue. There are many stores, a big supermarket, two banks, two post offices and a library along the street. He is a little hungry, so he has a hamburger and some French fries in the KFC at the end of the street.

Then he turns left and starts to go down Sixth Street. There is a school and a bookshop on the right. Mike buys two picture books for his cousin. Then he goes on. Fifteen minutes later, he turns right and goes into a small street. There are some buildings on the left side of the street. His aunt lives in the yellow building.

【推荐3】Hello! My name is James Brown. I'm 13 years old and I am a student at the National School of Music in Leeds. Classes start at 8：30 every morning and finish at 3：30 in the afternoon. I have many school subjects like English, math, science and many other subjects, but music is my favorite one. I really love music.

Christina Turner is my music teacher. She is a very tall woman and a little fat. She has short, curly and brown hair, a big nose and a big mouth. Her hands are so big! And she wears glasses. She is not very beautiful. But she's the nicest person I know! She’s funny and likes telling us stories.

She is always in a good mood（情绪）,trying to do the best she can----she teaches different kinds of music. When we need help, she will always be there for us. She is my favorite teacher---- she's simply the best!

【推荐2】

【推荐3】Kids’ birthday parties are more fun than adults’ parties. You don't have to be serious and there are a few things for parents to remember when they want to have one for their kids.

Make a list. Each kid wants different kinds of parties. Write down all your kid’s ideas on a piece of paper and then get things ready according to the list.

Make invitations. Make sure you won't have the party at the same time as your child's soccer game. Make sure you write down the name of each guest. So you will know the number of things you have to prepare such as chairs and plates.

Buy something. If you go to a party store, they will have everything you need and you won't have to go to different stores to get everything ready.

You need to decide whether to buy a cake or make one. Decide what kind of food to have. Make sure to get the food ready on time.

You could have some drinks such as coke and juice. Having a small bottle of cold water is a good idea too, especially during hot weather.