According to a report, about 60% of American families have working parents. Mothers spend about 18 hours doing the housework every week, and fathers spend about 10 hours doing the housework. What about the kids? Children aged between six and twelve spend less than three hours doing the housework every week, but almost 14 hours watching TV. How about teenagers? They spend nearly 31 hours on the Internet, but only three hours helping with the housework every week. However, some parents think children should spend more time on chores. Knowing how to do the housework is an important life skill.

Doing chores sends children the messages that they are part of the family and that they should do things for others. Every morning children care for the family pets by feeding them or walking them. It can also help the children keep healthy.

Children should take part in almost all the chores. They will feel happier when they make a contribution to the family. And it may help them understand the idea of working hard better. At the same time, they can learn a lot from doing the housework. It can help them live a better life in the future.

A school is more than a place for students to learn knowledge—it is also an environment for students to learn some social skills. When it comes to making friends with your classmates, you may have some problems. 【小题1】

Be partners with your classmates.

You may be good at one subject while your classmates may be good at another. You can be partners with them. 【小题2】 And if you need some help with your own studies, ask them for help in return.

Offer to talk to them.

If you want to make friends with your classmates, don’t wait for them to talk to you. You can offer to talk to them. It’s very simple. 【小题3】 Remember that your classmates also want some new friends. They will be happy if you talk to them.

Offer help to others.

【小题4】 If someone forgets to take the dictionary, offer to lend yours to them. If someone is feeling sad, try to make them happy. They will be happy if you are there for them when they are in need.

【小题5】

Offer to join a study group or take part in other class activities. It can provide you with chances to know your classmates better. It’s very likely that you can make friends with your classmates who have the same interests as you.

Are you used to buying things on sales? 【小题1】            

Shop around.

A “sale” price isn’t always the “best” price. Some shops sell the goods at lower prices for a limited (有限的) time. 【小题2】 So go to more shops to find goods that might fit you best.

【小题3】   

Some sale ads may say “quantities (数量) limited”, so make sure the shop has the goods you want before you go in. Others may say “time limited”, so try to understand the fact and make your goods plan for shopping as early as possible.

Go online.

【小题4】 Things online are usually cheaper but you must make sure they are good.

Don’t buy what you don’t need.

The shops sell such things to make you buy more goods. 【小题5】 If you don’t really want or need the thing, it’s not a good idea.