Problem: It's the end of class. When the bell rings, students of Luohu Foreign Languages School in Shenzhen quickly take out their cell-phones. They want to log on to their microblogs to check the funny things that have happened in the last hour. Since last year, the trend of microblogging has swept the country. Recent surveys show that most students in middle schools have a microblog, and some even update their blogs over five times per day. "We learn many fresh and interesting things on microblogs and they have become popular topics in class," said Liang Jianmin, 14, a student at Harbin No 3 Middle School. "If you do not know about them, you are out of the loop ." It is also a great place for students to _ stress. "My parents always ask me to study hard, and encourage me before exams, but actually it adds pressure ," said Zhang Yazhe, 15, a student in Luohu Foreign Languages School. "When I share these feelings on my microblog, I get many replies from friends in the same situation, which makes me feel better." But parents are worried that microblogging could be a waste of time. Some misleading messages may even cause danger to kids, they said. Shen Mingde, a professor at the China Education Association, suggests parents not worry too much as long as kids are not crazy about microblogging. Instead, it can become a window for parents to understand their children. "If parents can read their children's microblogs, they'll know their thoughts, thus leading to better communication and solutions to problems," he said. Micro blogging tips for kids 1. Don't microblog for more than one hour a day. 2. Never microblog in class. 3. Try to talk face to face with people instead of just microblogging. 4. Be critical . Don't trust all the messages on a microblog.
1. Which trend has become increasingly popular?
2. Are parents concerned?
3. Why?
4. Which professor disagrees?
5. of what organization?
6. How many tips does he suggest?
7. How does he think micro blogging could be beneficial?
8. Whose parents expect a lot from them?
9. What do they ask of him?
10. Where does he attend?
11. Which one?
12. How old is he?
13. Does he enjoy microblogging?
14. Why?
15. How does that make him feel?
16. How often do some students update their blogs?
17. Is the trend localized to this school?
18. Does Liang feel like it's a necessity?
Answer: 1. trend of microblogging
2. yes
3. microblogging could be a waste of time
4. Shen Mingde
5. China Education Association
6. four
7. it can become a window for parents to understand their children
8. Zhang Yazhe
9. to study hard
10. Foreign Languages School
11. Luohu
12. 15
13. yes
14. I get many replies from friends in the same situation,
15. better
16. over five times per day
17. no
18. yes

Problem: A teddy bear from Cumbria is launching into space to raise cash for charity .

Terence, an experienced traveller who has been to Iraq, will be the guest of honour on aviation legend Burt Rutan's Spaceship One when it flies above Earth. The mission takes off from California on September 29, and on his return the cuddly toy will be auctioned off in aid of the North Air Ambulance Appeal .

Spaceship One is the world's first private spacecraft, and is competing for a prestigious space travel prize. Chief executive of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), Graham Pickering, said "flying officer" Terence had been handed over to the RAF six months ago and staff had been receiving postcards from him ever since.

He said, "Terence was a fundraising idea that really took off. We have received pictures of him in a U2 craft, trying parachuting and even looking drunk and disorderly. When the RAF finally discharge him he will be a very rare bear indeed--we just hope he does not burn up on re-entry to Earth."

GNAAS, which needs charitable donations of more than PS2m a year, has three air ambulances .

Peter Bond, spokesman for the Royal Astronomical Society, said Terence's safety was not guaranteed. He said, "This is a new and experimental craft and this will only be the second time it has flown. During its first voyage it developed technical problems but hopefully they have now been resolved."

Since May, Terence has spent time with members of 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming in Basra, Iraq, and at air shows with performing fighter planes.

Spaceship One will fly 100km (62 miles) above the Earth's surface, just breaking through the planet's atmosphere.

If it repeats the feat inside two weeks, it will claim the $10m Ansari X-Prize set up to encourage the private space flight business.
1. Who will be the honorary guest on the spaceship?
2. What's the vessel's name?
3. Is it public or private?
4. Is it in a contest?
5. What toy is he taking to space?
6. Where's it from?
7. What's he going to do with it upon getting back to Earth?
8. Who'll get the cash from it?
9. Who speaks for the Royal Astronomical Society?
10. Does he promise Terence will survive?
11. How many times has that ship been in the air?
12. Did the first trip go well?
13. Why not?
14. Is it an old craft?
15. Who has Terence been hanging out with since May?
16. Where are they based?
17. Isn't that in Iraq?
18. Whereabouts there?
19. How high with Spaceship One go above our planet?
20. What's the amount of the prize they're trying to win?
Answer:
1. Terence
2. Spaceship One
3. private
4. yes
5. A teddy bear
6. Cumbria
7. it will be auctioned off
8. the North Air Ambulance Appeal .
9. Peter Bond
10. no
11. once
12. no
13. it developed technical problems
14. no
15. with members of 100 Squadron
16. at RAF Leeming
17. yes
18. in Basra
19. 100km (62 miles)
20. $10m