【正文】 sked in surprise.“I’m so sorry, Mom. I finally understand that we need to share the housework to have a clean and fortable home,” I replied.P22 2bDear Sir,I don’t understand why some parents make their kids help with housework and chores at home. Kids these days already have enough stress from school. They don’t have time to study and do housework, too. Housework is a waste of their time. Could we just let them do their job as students? They should spend their time on schoolwork in order to get good grades and get into a good university. Also, when they get older, they will have to do housework so there’s no need for them to do it now. It is the parents’ job to provide a clean and fortable environment at home for their children. And anyway, I think doing chores is not so difficult. I don’t mind doing them.Mr. SmithDear Sir,I think it is important for children to learn how to do chores and help their parents with housework. It’s not enough to just get good grades at school. Children these days depend on their parents too much. They’re always asking, “Could you get this for me?” or “Could you help me with that?” Doing chores helps to develop children’s independence and teaches them how to look after themselves. It also helps them to understand the idea of fairness. Since they live in one house with their parents, they should know that everyone should do their part in keeping it clean and tidy. Our neighbor’s son got into a good college but during his first year, he had no idea how to take care of himself. As a result, he often fell ill and his grades dropped. The earlier kids learn to be independent, the better it is for their future.Ms. MillerUnit 4 Why don’t you talk to your parents?P27 3aDear Mr. Hunt,My problem is I can’t get on with my family. Relations between my parents have bee difficult. They fight a lot, and I really don’t like it. It’s the only munication they have. I don’t know if I should say anything to them about this. When they argue, it’s like a big, black cloud hanging over our home. Also, my elder brother is not very nice to me. He always refuses to let me watch my favorite TV show. Instead he watches whatever he wants until late at night. I don’t think this is fair. At home I always feel lonely and nervous. Is that normal? What can I do?Sad and Thirteen Dear Sad and Thirteen,It’s not easy being your age, and it’s normal to have these feelings. Why don’t you talk about these feelings with your family? If your parents are having problems, you should offer to help. Maybe you could do more jobs around the house so that they have more time for proper munication. Secondly, why don’t you sit down and municate with your brother? You should explain that you don’t mind him watching TV all the time. However, he should let you watch your favorite show. I hope you’ll feel better about yourself in future.Robert HuntP30 2b Maybe You Should Learn to Relax!These days, Chinese children are sometimes busier on weekends than weekdays because they to take so many afterschool classes. Many of them are learning exam skills so that they can get into a good high school and later a good university. Others are practicing sports so that they can pete and win. However, this doesn’t only happen in China. The Taylors are a typical American family. Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy.” On most days after school,” Cathy says, “I take one of my two boys to basketball practice and my daughter to football training. Then I have to take my other son to piano lessons. Maybe I could cut out a few of their activities, but I believe these activities are important for my children’s future. I really want them to be successful. ” However, the tired children don’t get home until after 7:00 . They have a quick dinner, and then it’s time for homework.Linda Miller, a mother of three, knows all about such stress. “In some families, petition starts very young and continues until the kids get older,” she says. “Mothers send their small kids to all kinds of classes. And they are always paring them with other children. It’s crazy. I don’t think that’s fair. Why don’t they just let their kids be kids? People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.”Doctors say too much pressure is not good for a child’s development. Dr. Alice Green says all these activities can cause a lot of stress for children. “Kids should have time to relax and think for themselves, too. Although it’s normal to want successful children, it’s even more important to have happy children.” Unit 5 What were you doing when the rainstorm came?P35 3a The Storm Brought People Closer TogetherBen could hear strong winds outside his home in Alabama. Black clouds were making the sky very dark. With no light outside, it felt like midnight. The news on TV reported that a heavy rainstorm was in the area.Everyone in the neighborhood was busy. Ben’s dad was putting pieces of wood over the windows while his mom was making sure the flashlights and radio were working. She also put some candles and matches on the table. Ben was helping his mom make dinner when the rain began to beat heavily against the windows. After dinner, they tried to play a card game, but it was hard to have fun with a serious storm happening outside.Ben could not sleep at first. He finally fell asleep when the wind was dying down at around 3:00 . When he woke up, the sun was rising. He went outside with his family and found the neighborhood in a mess. Fallen trees, broken windows and rubbish were everywhere. They joined the neighbors to help clean up the neighborhood together. Although the storm broke many things apart, it brought families and neighbors closer together.P36 4b Fill in the blanks with was, were, when or while.At 7:00 ., I woke up. ______________ I______________making my breakfast, my brother ______________listening to the radio. ______________I was eating, the radio news talked about a