Did you know that a new weblog is being created each second? Many of these bloggers are teenagers. While their parents wrote in a diary to express their emotions, or shared their interests by spending time with friends, teens are now using blogs instead. In fact, in the US, one in every five school-aged teens has a blog. Most of these are just chatter, some are funny or clever, but a few have become Internet success.
For example, Chloe Spencer’s blog ‘Neopets Fanatic’ gets around 300,000 hits per month. When Chloe was 15, she started the blog out of her strong liking for Neopets, a kind of pet website. One reason her blog has so many visitors is because she gives instructions and tips for the popular pet site.

Then there is Tavi Gevinson’s blog ‘Style Rookie’. It is said to get 1.5 million hits per month. Tavi, who started her blog when she was just 12, puts up her photos of her own clothes online as well as designers’ collections. Tavi’s blog has caught on because she knows a lot about style for someone so young, and she is not afraid to try out unusual clothes or see things in a different way.
Blogs like these are interesting, but they only become really popular after better-known websites link to them or they get noticed by the media(传媒). For example, Tavi’s blog became an overnight(一夜之间) success after being written about in The New York Times. Popular blogs can even earn money, usually from advertisements that companies pay to put up on the bloggers’ sites.
So for some, blogging is just a recreation(消遣), but for others, it can become a source of income and even a full-time job!
【小题1】 Teens nowadays ________ than their parents did.

If you live in the United States, the law says you can’t have a full-time job until you are 16 years old. At 14 or 15, you can work part-time after school or on weekends, and during summer you can work 40 hours each week. Does all that mean that if you are younger than 14, you can’t earn (赚) your own money? Of course not! Kids who are between the ages of 10 and 13 can earn money by doing lots of things.
Valerie, 11, told us that she made money by cleaning up other people’s yards. Lena, 13, makes money by knitting (织) dog sweaters and selling them to her neighbors, and Reisa said she had started taking art classes and showing her work to people. People have asked her to draw pictures for them and they pay her for them. Jasmine, 13, writes articles for different magazines!
Earning is learning. By working to earn your own money, you are learning the skills you will need to succeed in life. These skills can include things like getting along with others, using technology (技术) and using your time. Some people think that asking for money is a lot easier than earning it; however, when you make your own money, you don’t have to depend on someone else. The five dollars that you earn will probably make you feel a lot better in your hand than the twenty dollars you ask for.
【小题1】Kids can have full-time jobs at the age of _________ in the USA.
A. 17              B. 14               C. 13             D. 10
【小题2】If you are 15 years old, you can’t work _________.

A child’s room is not only a bedroom. You can see computers, mobile phones, televisions, DVD players, Playstation, and other 21st-century toys. Britain’s 8 to 16-year-olds have bedroom possessions(财产) about £ 3,300.
But they don’t just have hi-tech toys(高科技玩具). A child’s room also has expensive clothes, sunglasses, watches, and sports equipment(装备) 40% of children have a room that is a home office, mini cinema, and sports hall 。90% have a TV, and 70% have a DVD player. 60% have a CD player, iPod, or MP3 player. 25% have their own computers.
With so much to do in their bedrooms, it is no surprise(惊奇) that children spend more time there than anywhere else in the house. One girl spends so long on her mobile phone in her room that her parents have to text her to speak to her. Another child goes into his room as soon as he gets home form school and plays on his Playstation until bedtime.
Childred’s bedrooms are their kingdoms(王国). Some families hardly do anylhing all together. People eat different meals at different times, and watch different TV programmes in different rooms.
【小题1】___________ of children can work, watch movies and exercise in their rooms.

Anyone who has ever traveled with a teenager knows that the teenager can make the vacation good or bad for the entire family. As a travel agent, Lynda Maxwell said, “If teenagers are happy, everybody is happy.”
Teenagers are often interested in travelling, but their interests and schedules often aren’t the same as their parents’. It means that when the parents start to look for a place of interest in the early morning, their teenagers may be sleeping soundly!
The thing makes travelling with teenagers very difficult, but it isn’t impossible. The experts said, “The keys to success is what parents do before they travel.”
For many families, the hardest part may be finding a vacation time that is right for everyone. Be sure to sit down with everyone else in the family before setting a date.
“After setting a date, ask teenagers where they would choose to go,” suggested Maxwell. It is possible that they’d like nothing more than to sit on a beach for a week. “Maybe there’s a compromise(折中),” said Maxwell.
“Most teenagers like using the Internet now, so parents can ask them to think up the ideas about what to see and do,” said Brad Anderson. “I find teenagers are excellent at making great suggestions.”
【小题1】The main problem of travelling with teenagers is that______.

Do you like to sit in front of the computer and play computer games hour after hour? Have you ever thought of what that may be doing to your health? More and more children are becoming overweight(肥胖的) and growing less creative because they spend too much time in front of the computer according to a survey.
Last week Child Protective Services(儿童保护组织)in America organized an activity. The aim of the activity was to encourage children to do some outdoor activities instead of playing computer games at home. Many American children spend about 1,000 hours a year playing computer games — more time than they spend in school. As a result, they are overweight. Some of them have very poor eyesight, and they can’t see clearly.
Everyone should pay attention to his health and try to keep healthy. The doctor says that the longer children play computer games, the more overweight they may become. And the junk food children eat while they’re playing computer games makes the weight problem more serious.
To keep fit, children need to take exercise regularly, play outside with friends, and explore the world around them. Can you spend two weeks without playing computer games? It might be difficult for computer lovers, but why not have a try?
【小题1】Children may become______ if they play computer games all day.

Mr. Ma, a famous mental doctor from Beijing once said at an important meeting, “Now many young students can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people around them like their parents and classmates. Parents and teachers should care more about this problem.”
Then Mr. Ma gave some examples. One patient, a middle school student from Xi’an, was doing  badly in his lessons. He thought his teachers and friends often laughed at him, and he became so nervous and worried that one night he left his home without telling his parents. Another student, a 14-year-old school girl form Shanghai, was very afraid of exams. While she was reading the exam paper, she couldn’t think of anything to write.
A recent report from Jiefang Daily says about 18% of young students in Shanghai have mental problems. They often feel worried and very unhappy. Unluckily many of them won’t go and ask for help. Some think they will look stupid if they go to see a doctor. Others won’t talk about their secrets.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Ma offered some good ideas to young people:
●Talk to your parents ore teachers often.
●Take part in group activities.
●Try to get on well with the people around you.
●Go to see a doctor if you often feel unhappy.
【小题1】The students who often become worried or have trouble getting on with others may have ______
A. no parents         B. poor memories            C. mental problems
【小题2】The school girl’s problem happened whenever she ________
A. studied very hard    B. had exams               C. talked with her parents
【小题3】Some of those with metal problems won’t ask for help because _____
A. they don’t’ want to tell their secrets to others 
B. their parents are too busy to look after them.
C. doctors can’t help them with the problem
【小题4】The underlined word “stupid” in this passage means ______
A. studying         B. happy                C. not clever
【小题5】According to the last part, which of the following is a good idea?
A. It’s important for children to live with their parents.
B. It’s useful for students to keep quiet in class.
C. It’s not necessary for young people to have more group activities.

Most American families are smaller than the families in other countries. Most American families have one or two parents and one or two children each.
　　Children in the US will leave their parents’ home when they grow up. They usually live far from their parents because they want to find good jobs. They often write to their parents or telephone them. And they often go to visit their parents on holiday.
　　Parents usually let their children choose their own jobs. Americans think it important for young people to decide on their lives by themselves.
Children are asked to do some work around their house. And in many families, children are paid for doing some housework so that they learn how to make money for their own use.
【小题1】The size of most American families is _________that of other countries

Life are always full of stress (压力) these days. How do you usually deal with (处理) your stress? Do you know doing housework is helpful in dealing with stress? In fact, doing something like washing dirty clothes may really make people relaxed.
"Doing some housework such as washing windows or ironing (熨) clothes is a good way to face our stress without taking any medicine," says Carol Clark, a successful psychologist (心理学家) in New York. She often advises people who are under lots of stress to try doing housework every day. "While washing something," she says, "you can imagine(想象) you're washing away some trouble in your life."
Do people all agree with her idea? Here are some ideas about it.
"Housework is the main reason for the stress in my life," says Linda in France. "Get me out of doing the housework and then I'll really be relaxed."
Gary is a single (单身的) father. "So, a man pays a psychologist $200 an hour for his problem about stress. However, he is just told to go back home and do some housework. I really don't know who is crazier, the psychologist or the man!
【小题1】What does Carol Clark advise people under stress to do?

Iphones may be the most popular mobiles in the world now. Not only do adults use them, but little children also like them.
Natasha Shykes is a mother of two kids in America. When her daughter, Kelsey, was only two years old, she became interested in her father’s iphone. “She pressed the button (按钮) and the phone lit up. It seemed to be amazing for her,” said Natasha. “Then she got serious about the phone. She always cried for it. It seemed that she also wanted an iphone.”
Iphones are easy to use. So it is not difficult for little children to use them. Many applications (应用软件) on iphones are designed for children who are too young to go to school. For example, children can learn more about the animals in the world by watching the videos on the phones.
However, parents are very worried about this. They don’t know whether they should buy their children iphones or not. There are two main reasons. One is that they are afraid that children may destroy the iphones. Another reason is that they are not sure whether iphones can really be used as educational tools.
【小题1】Natasha’s daughter felt very ___________ the iphone.
A. afraid of               B. surprised at            C. interested in   
【小题2】The underlined words “lit up” mean “___________” in Chinese.
A. 点燃                B. 发出响声                 C. 点亮
【小题3】The third paragraph mainly tells us__________.
A. iphones are difficult for adults to use.
B. Many children can’t use iphones because they are too young.
C. Parents can do many things on the iphones.
【小题4】Parents are worried about the iphones because________.
A. their children may destroy the iphones.
B. Iphones are useless to their children’s study.
C. Iphones are bad for their children’s health.
【小题5】What’s the best title for the passage?
A. An Interesting Tool      B. A Popular Mobile     C. A Colorful World

American people like to say “ Thank you” when others help them or say something kind to them. People of many countries do so, too. It is a very good habit(习惯). 
You should say “Thank you” when someone passes you the salt on the table, when someone walking ahead of you keeps the door open for you, when someone says you have done your work well, or you have bought a nice thing, or your city is very beautiful. “Thank you” is used not only between friends, but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters.
“Excuse me” is another short sentence they use. When you hear someone say so behind you,
you know that somebody wants to walk past you without touching you. It’s not polite to break others when they are talking. If you want to speak to one of them, say “Excuse me” first, and then begin talking. You should also do so when you begin to cough or make any noise before others.
Let’s learn to say “Thank you” and “Excuse me”.
【小题1】You should say “Thank you” when______.