Should parents ask their children to do chores? 【小题1】 They think that children are too young to cook or clean for themselves or their parents. But many people believe that children can learn a lot from doing regular chores. Parents should help children learn to do the housework that they will have to do when they live on their own. 【小题2】

Most experts (专家) do agree. 【小题3】 Parents shouldn’t, of course, ask a schoolboy to cook when he is doing his homework. If the child has activities after school, the time left to do chores may be short.

【小题4】 When a child does what his parents ask him to do happily, he will probably have the feeling of growing up. Chores can be useful. They are a teaching tool (工具). Parents use the tool to teach children, so that they can care for themselves some day. 【小题5】 If parents keep a clean house, children won’t find any reasons to do chores.

Tom was eight years old. He was a good boy,but he could not get up early. He slept until nine or ten o’clock in the morning. He was often late for school.

Tom’s mother didn’t want him to be late for school,so she bought him an alarm clock (闹钟）.She said to Tom,“You must get up when you hear the clock ring.”

“Yes,Mum,”said Tom.After that Tom got up at seven thirty when he heard the clock ring.

One day his mother forgot to make the clock get ready to ring. And the next morning Tom didn’t get up at seven thirty. It was time for breakfast. Mother went to see him. Tom was in bed and his eyes were open.

“Why didn’t you get up?”Mother was angry.

“You told me to get up when I heard the clock ring,so I am waiting for the bell.”

I’m David. Today is December 20th. It’s my sister Jane’s twelfth birthday.

In the morning, my parents take us to Lucky Clothes Store first. There my mother buys a red sweater for Jane and a blue jacket for me. Then we go to Green Bookstore. There I buy an art book for Jane. In another store, my father buys a basketball for her. Jane likes playing basketball with my father after school.

In the afternoon, my parents have a birthday party for Jane at home. Jane’s friends, Nick and Anna, come to the party. Nick gives Jane a new pencil box. Anna gives her a dictionary. Jane likes them very much. We play games and eat fruit at the party. We are very happy today.