Bamboo (竹子) is one of nature's (自然) most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass.

       Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist reported one bamboo plant which grew 1.5 meters (4 feet) in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe. There are more than 1, 000 kinds of bamboo.

      Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters (1 foot) across. This plant also comes in different colors, from yellow to black to green.

     Bamboo has been used to make many things such as hats and kitchen tools. Because it is strong, bamboo is also used to build buildings.

     Many Asian countries have used bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for buildings and supporting new buildings and bridges while they are being built.

      In Africa, poor farmers are taught how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap way to find water because they have no money, and their crops often die from no rain and no water. Bamboo pipes help poor farmers bring water to their thirsty fields without spending a lot of money.

        Last Wednesday, about 7,400 American bankers went back to school again. This timethey did not go to learn—they went to teach. 1997，the American Bankers Association hassponsored Teach Children to Save Day. Every April 26, bankers across the USAteach over 1.5 million primary and secondary school students how to handle money.

      In the USA, children, especially teenagers, are often big spenders. In 2013, forexample, American teenagers spent $175 billion. This is average of $104per week per teenager. Few teenagers have any savings. They typically spendmoney as fast as they can. Nearly all will continue their (spend) habits whenthey grow up.

      It's necessary that children learn proper money management they are stillyoung. The bankers show students how to budget and make smart (decide)about money. They explain how to balance their expenses against their income.They help the students understand their family's shopping and householdexpenses as well. Of course，students(teach) how to invest and save money too.

AsBenjamin Franklin said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Moreover, money(save) at interest can increase greatly in value over time. Children, adults, need to understand the value of saving money. This is TeachChildren to Save Day is all about.

       Q：My neighbor's back garden is an overgrown jungle for a few months and I believe I've got rats under my shed as a result. I have been troubled by such a bad scene for a long time.Can I make my neighbor manage her back garden?

       A：Firstly, you will need to contact a pest control company to deal with the rat problem, which could be a danger to you and your family. The pest control company will produce a report detailing the issue and give an opinion as to whether your neighbor's overgrown garden has caused the rats to run in all directions.

      If that is the case, then you should get in contact with your neighbor in an attempt to resolve the issue. You should discuss your concerns with all your heart with your neighbor and advise her of the situation and of the findings of the pest control company.

     You do not advise whether the house is rented out or perhaps your neighbor is elderly without the ability to deal with the problem personally. If your neighbor is uncooperative, then I would advise you undertake the following action.

     Get in contact with your local authority or the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and report your concerns, particularly the pest issue immediately.You could also contact the HSE, more especially if children use the garden and are likely to come in contact with rat droppings etc, which can be dangerous to them. If the above is not successful, you should inform your lawyer and take advice. You should also document your conversations with your neighbor.

     If your house is for sale, ask your agent to prepare a report outlining the effect of the next door garden on value, but also outlining the effect on marketability and the negative impact on viewings.

Notes：

①uncooperative adj.不愿合作的，不愿配合的　②authority n ． 权力，职权，官方，当局　③marketability n ． 可销售性

Relax during a job interview

        Fewpeople actually like job interviewing. It's nerve­wracking trying to showyour“best” self to a perfect stranger. That's not easy, but thereare some ways to pull yourself together and feel more confident.

      Prepare solid talking points. It's always best to over­prepare for possible questions by not only researchingthe company and the person interviewing you, but also by preparing answers andpracticing those responses. Review the skills and experiences requested in thejob announcement and have two to three examples of how you have demonstratedeach one.

      Remember：It's a two­way street. This is a conversation, not an interrogation(审问).

 Remembering that this is a back and forthdiscussion, whereyou can—and should—ask questions as well as answer them, can help you feel morecomfortable.

      Just breathe. Your body will relax a lot. You wantto avoid upper chest breathing, as it tends to just move your stress upward toyour face.

Ifyou go into an interview picking apart your outfit or imperfect responses, you're only hurting your chances of coming off as calm and collected. Turn offyour negative self­talk and then create a different self­talk message, like “I am here to share the best ofmy ability and that is all I can really do.”

      Work it out. Putting in some gym time on themorning of your interview can help you get rid of any nervous tension. Exercisehelps calm your nervous system and tends to reduce the intensity of physicalmanifestations(表现形式)of stress such as restlessness.

A．Stop the negative thoughts.

B．Put your idea into practice.

C．When faced with an interviewer, youmay be nervous.

D．Before you walk into your interview，take a few deep breaths.

E．You're trying to prove you're the onefor the job and that you can handle stressful situations.

F．Don't forget that you're not the onlyone being interviewed—you're also interviewing the organization.

G．This will strengthen your answers andallow you to show how your experience is relevant to the job or organizationfor which you're interviewing.

—Wonderful. It is years________I enjoyed myself so much.

　 Since I have been in my new neighborhood, I have had the pleasure of meeting a few of my neighbors.My  1  idea was to make small fruit baskets and leave them on each of my neighbors' front porches(门廊)the night of Christmas Eve for them to find. I2the cards:“Happy Holidays from 5104 Northumberland Road.”

        I 3the friendly lady for last, since I was still not exactly sure where she lived. I4decided upon a house down about where I met her each morning and felt relatively5that it was hers.

       This morning I noticed a small 6inside the mailbox.It was addressed simply—Resident, 5104 Northumberland Road. I opened the 7aand took out a thank­-you card.The8said,“Thank you for the lovely fruit basket you9on the porch of Richard Kelly. It was very10. Richard Kelly passed away half a month ago. He never stopped  11about how nice it was that someone rememberedhim in his time of 12. He really appreciated it.”

        I was sincerely 13. I had no idea who Richard Kelly was or that he had been gravely ill. I had left that14lady's basket on Mr Kelly's porch by 15. I wanted to say by mistake, but that would be wrong.I believe that Richard Kelly was16to have that basket. I hate that the lady did not get to17a fruit basket from me, but I believe that 18she knew what had happened, she would not have had the outcome any other way.

         I feel blessed to have helped Richard Kelly's last days be more19. This just further reinforces (加强)my belief that there are never any20 in life.

Notes：

①addressvt.(在信封或包裹上)写姓名地址　②appreciatevt. & vi.感激，感谢，鉴赏，欣赏，赏识

      As students enter the school building, they are easy targets of peer pressure. Students may become involved in activities that are dangerous to themselves, or others, due to peer pressure.

     Drugs, including alcohol, are a major part of peer pressure. A research institute reports that about 30 percent of the teenagers are offered drugs in middle and high schools. The majority of teens consume their first drink of alcohol at the age of 13. The National Household Survey on drug use and health from the Department of Health and Human Services informs the public that 74. 3 percent of the high school students have tried alcohol. A large percentage of those who drink alcohol are also smokers. The American Lung Association points out that about 3. 1 million adolescents are smokers in the US. Almost 25 percent of teens between 17 and 18 are regular smokers.

     Peer pressure can affect the behavior, clothing choice, music and movie choice and even the personality. Academics can also be affected by peer influence.People can be affected by these factors and remain completely unaware of the changes in their lifestyle, but some people do realize when they are being pressured.Just by simply spending time with others, a person can become more like them.

   “If you are being pressured to do things that you know are wrong,” Sheats, a senior, said,“you should get out of that situation and tell a trusted adult.” For people to avoid becoming a victim of peer pressure, they must make their own decisions.Judgment of a situation based on one's morals is very important in peer pressure situations.“People,” Sheats added,“should follow their own hearts.”

—Sorry, I've got an important appointment at 9 o'clock and I can't _____to miss it.