Australia is one of the largest countries in the world. It is 1 smaller than China. It is in the south of the earth. Australia is big, but its population is 2. The population of Australia is nearly as large as that of Shanghai.

    Enough laws have been 3 to fight against pollution. The cities in Australia have got little air or water pollution. The sky is blue and the water is 4. You can clearly see fish swimming in the rivers. Plants5very well.

    Last month we visited Perth, the biggest city 6 Western Australia, and went to a wild flowers' exhibition(展览 ). There we saw 7 large number of wild flowers we had never seen 8. We had a wonderful time. Perth is9 for its beautiful wild flowers. In spring, every year Perth has the wild flowers' exhibition.10visiting Perth, we 11 a day in the countryside. We sat down and had a rest near a path at the foot of a hill. It was quiet and we enjoyed ourselves. Suddenly we heard bells ringing at the top of the hill. What we saw made us 12all our things and run back to the car as quickly as we could. There were about three hundred sheep 13towards us down the path.

    Australia is well-known for its sheep and kangaroos. After a short drive from 14 town, you will find yourself in the 15of white sheep. Sheep, sheep, everywhere are sheep.

    Australia at last! The flight was tiring, but here I am at last, in Sydney! Look! Here we are at last! The Sydney Opera House! It looks like shells!

    It's wonderful and amazing! And I'm taking the plane to New Zealand on Tuesday. I'll post again from there.

    Coffee and Paris! Paris is beautiful! We went on a great city tour.  We also took a boat ride on the River Seine. And it's nicer to just sit at a street care and watch the world go by. But, to tell you a secret. Frank's disappointed because no one can understand his French!

    Don't come here! We're staying at a farm in Utah. There is nearly nothing! It's too quiet. Every morning, we get up really early, and we ride the horses. Then it's breakfast and more riding--not my idea of fun! So, today I walked to a little town near the farm where they actually have Internet!  Next week, we're shopping in New York. I can't wait!

    You have probably heard the popular Australian greeting, "G'day mate!"

    G'day is a short form of "good day". And "mate" is the same as "friend". Some think that "mate" came from the word "shipmate", used by people working on ships.

    But Australian English is much more complex(复杂的) than just saying "G'day mate!". There are many special words and expressions in Australian English when you see someone you know. For example, if you're being lazy you're a "bludger". If you crash your car you've just had a "pulling a sickie".

    Australian English is a funny mixture(混合体), because English and Irish(爱尔兰的) criminals(罪犯) were sent by the British to Australia. They brought their slang(俚语) with them.

    Also, it's because there are so many special plants and animals in Australia. Many of their names come from Aboriginal(土著的) English, like "Kangaroo" and "Dingo".

    Nowadays, Australians watch a lot of American television and listen to American music. That has a large effect(影响) on the way they speak.

    There are actually three types of Australian accent(口音), but the most well-known is Broad Australian English. It is common in country areas. It's the most difficult to understand.

    So next time you meet an Australian, remember that there's a reason they sound so special!

    Last night one of my Chinese friends took me to a concert of Chinese folk music. The piece  was played on the erhu  (especial) moved me. The music was strangely beautiful, but under the beauty I  (sense) a strong sadness and pain. The piece had a simple name, Erquan Yingyue (Moon Reflected on Second Spring), but it was one of the most moving pieces of music  I've ever heard. The erhu sounded like someone crying, and I almost cried along with it as I listened. Later I looked up the history of Erquan Yingyue, and I began to understand the sadness in the music.

    The music was  (write) by Abing, a folk musician  was born in the city of Wuxi in 1893. His mother died  he was very young. Abing's father taught him to play many musical instruments, such as the drums, dizi and erhu, and by age 17, Abing was known  his musical ability. However, after his father died, Abing's life grew  (bad). He was very poor. Not only that, he developed a serious  (ill) and became blind. For several years, he had no home. He lived on the streets and played music to make money.  Even after Abing got married and had no home again, he continued to sing and play on the streets. He performed in this way for many years.