Our desks and chairs (make) of wood. The paper of books and newspapers (make) from wood, too. Wood is important in our daily life.

    Where does wood come from? It (take) from trees which grow in the mountains. Do you know how it (carry) to us from the mountains?

    First of all, trees (cut) down when they (grow) big enough. Then their branches (cut) off, and logs(原木) (make). These heavy logs (put) together in different ways and (take) down to the foot of the mountains.

    Do you like it when your teachers run over (拖延) class time? If you don't like it, you may like the new bell at Shanghai No. 8 Middle School.

    The school began to use the new bell this semester. It helps teachers remember it is break-time. The new bell has three parts. The first part lasts 15 seconds. It is made up of lovely folk music. Next, there are 20 seconds of silence. The final 25-second bell is a fast-paced march (快节奏进行曲) that seems to tell each teacher, “You have to end class now!”

    Most students and teachers welcome the new bell. This school no longer has a problem with teachers giving instructions after call is over.

    Chen Yong is a student at the school. He can't keep listening to the teacher when the bell rings, because he is thinking about his lost breaktime. “We tried many ways to stop teachers before, but nothing worked,” Chen told the ShanghaiEveningPost. “It's better now. When the folk music is on, teachers know that class is going to be over in one minute.”

    Shen Huimin, a teacher at No. 8 Middle School, agrees that the new bell is creative. “In the past, we usually wanted to add a few words after class. But we often forgot the time,” Shen said. “The new bell reminds us twice. It's a small change, but it's really solving a big problem.”

    We spend hours, days and years of our lives in school.Imagine(想象)you could design(设计)your dream school,what would it be like? What would you be doing? We wanted to find out what teenagers around the world thought.Here is what they said:

    Richard from the USA:My dream school would have a big swimming pool and two soccer fields.It would also have a cinema,a gym and a shopping center.My school has none of these,and I think there should be more pleasant things for students to do while they are studying.

    Sonia from Italy:I'd like a room where we can relax and play computer games. I'd also like to have a music room.I think there should be a place for everyone to go and relax after class.

    Wu from Beijing:I think it would be great to have another day off (休息日) every week,besides the weekend.If that day was a Friday or a Monday,we would have a long weekend every week.What fun!I also think school should start later,at about 10 o'clock,and finish earlier.

    Hannah from Australia:In my dream school,I think the teachers should give us more freedom (自由) and choice about how we study and what we study.I also think it's not necessary for us to wear school uniforms every day.I really don't like wearing it.

—More chances    to students to learn from each other.

— She is ________ honest girl.

— Yes. I have been there twice.

—So it is.