How do you feel when you have to make a speech in front of class? What about when you go to a birthday party? Do you get really shy?

Shyness means feeling nervous or frightened when you’re around other people. Experts have found that more than 80 percent of middle school students feel afraid to be the center of attention. Some kids are born shy. Some become shy later because of their life experiences.

It’s OK if it takes you a while to feel yourself again when you go to a new place or meet new people. In fact, everybody gets a little shy sometimes. It’s just a case of how much.

Most people have red faces and talk in broken sentences when they get shy. But some become so shy that they won’t go to a restaurant because they are too nervous to order and pay for their food. Some are afraid of meeting new people, so they seldom go outside. This kind of shyness can be bad for a person.

If shyness doesn’t stop you from doing something you want to do, being shy isn’t a very big problem. Some experts say shy people are cleverer because they think more and talk less. Shy people are also good at working with others because they think more for other people. Some great people in history were shy, too.

You see, being shy isn’t all bad. But remember not to let good opportunities (机会) pass by just because of it! If you have to sing a song at a birthday party or practice your spoken English in front of others, just do it! There’s nothing to be afraid of.

Scientists are trying to find new clean energies, so that they do not pollute the environment. Solar power(太阳能)is one of them.

Solar power is a kind of electricity.It takes energy from the sun by using solar panels(太阳能金属板).People usually put the solar panels on the roofs of the houses and buildings.It is the family solar power system. Some countries are even beginning to build solar power factories by setting thousands of solar panels in some place, because there is enough sunshine. Solar power panels have many advantages. The power is easy to get and will never be used up. Whenever it is sunny, there is power. The power is clean and renewable. It helps to reduce waste and pollution.It is also great for the environment. In some places,because they are too far away to send electricity or not easy to build electric power factories, solar power is especially necessary.

More and more countries,such as China, the USA,Japan and India, encourage scientists to develop technology to put solar power into use. However, the power is not as widely used as expected（预期的）.

One of the difficulties is that a solar power system needs sunshine. Some countries having lots of rain, like the UK, are not suitable to develop such power systems. Secondly,a solar power factory requires a very large place to set enough solar panels to collect sunlight and change it into electricity. Maybe an area in the desert would be one of the perfect places for such a factory to build. What’s more, solar panels are expensive at present though the energy itself doesn’t cost anything.

Today scientists are working hard to develop cheaper solar power systems. Maybe one day solar power will be one of the most important clean energies in our life.

①Do you know what gift your parents want most on some special days? When you ask them about gifts, how do they answer? They may often say they don’t want or need anything, or they have everything that they want or need. If you don’t learn about their thinking clearly, you can think about these three good tips(建议) .

②A personalized(个性化的) thing is a great gift, like a special cup. You can put a picture of your family on it. You can write the names of your family on it. Or you can put some words that can make your parents happy on it. When they use the cup, ________.

③Find something to do TOGETHER. You can get tickets(票) for them to a tea house. You can also go to the cinema with them together. These are always wonderful for creating memories(创造回忆). They just want to have a happy time with you together. My mum likes this kind of gift best.

④Gifts for relaxing(放松) or keeping healthy are always great. You can buy some sports things as presents. A pair of sports shoes for walking, or balls they would like to play with are fine.

⑤Anyway, gifts with our love are always the best for everyone.