Dear Dad,

    I've been in Hyeres for two days. Hyeres is a beautiful town. I live in Mr. LeBlanc's house. The weather now is sunny, but the radio says it will rain tomorrow. Mr. and Mrs. LeBlanc are nice and they send their wishes to you. Their daughter, Lisa, is 12 years old. She is friendly to me, but her brother, Ben, is not so good. He keeps looking at me and saying, "Hello! How are you?"

    The LeBlancs' house is very small. I have to share a really small room with Lisa. She woke me up last night because she had a toothache. I hope she'll be all right.

    We will go to the beach this afternoon. It's boring because there isn't a lot to do there. We only sit there and read books. I can't wait to go home.

Love,

Susie

    Children often have their exams in July. The school year will end soon. Boys and girls will have about two months to relax. The summer vacation is the best part of the year for most children. The weather is usually fine. They can swim, go to summer camp or visit other places with their parents.

    Of course, the beaches are good places for relaxing. Some children are lucky to live near the sea. They can enjoy the sea anytime. For the children far from the sea, they can only go to the beaches for one or two weeks with their parents.

    Why do children like spending their summer vacation on the beaches? It is because they like the sand, the sun, the cool wind and the sea water. There are lots of new things to see, nice things to eat, and exciting things to do.

Seasons

    In many places, the weather changes during the year. These changes are called seasons. In the north and south, there are four seasons in a year. Each season brings changes that are important for plants and animals that live in different parts of the world.

    Spring starts when the day and night are the same length(长度). The weather gets warmer and sunnier. Trees and plants start to grow. Many animals have their babies in spring.

    Summer begins on the longest day of the year. In the north, this is on June 2lst. Summer is usually the warmest and sunniest time of the year. Fruit grows on trees and plants. Young animals grow bigger and stronger.

    Autumn starts when the day and night are the same length again. During autumn, the leaves change colour and fall from the trees. Some animals collect(收集) food before winter comes.

    Winter begins on the shortest day of the year. In the north, this is on December 21st. The weather is colder and in some places there is lots of snow. Plants and trees stop growing. Some animals, like bats(蝙蝠) and bears, find places to hide and sleep. This is called hibernation(冬眠).