Q: Jay Kohl, an American student, posted an online advertisement two weeks ago searching for a Chinese family to stay with so that he can learn the language and culture. "I'm a clean, non-smoking, and warm-hearted American man looking for a homestay in the Wudaokou area to improve my Chinese language skills," he wrote. "I'm willing to offer help with English tutoring and even can help you with applying for foreign universities." He still hasn't found a suitable home. "Most of the families that contacted me seem to be interested in doing business instead of cultural exchange," he said. "I think I might have to rent an apartment in the end." Kohl isn't the only foreigner finding it difficult to find a homestay in Beijing. Michael Benson, who wants to come to Beijing in September, has also faced the same problem. Why is finding a homestay family so difficult? Beijing Today _ a Chinese teacher, Jessie Xi, who has been teaching foreign students at the University of International Business and Economics for more than six years. Xi has accepted many homestays, and from her own experience and what she's been told, she said there were four major problems visitors may meet when applying for homestays. Problem 1:Having too high expectation for language improvement. Problem 2: Considering oneself as a guest instead of a family member. Problem 3: Not making clear what a family's rules are beforehand. Problem 4; Overly high demands for the living environment.

1. America
2. Chinese
3. No
4. No
5. Kohl
6. two weeks ago
7. online
8. the Wudaokou area
9. no
10. his Chinese language skills
11. foreign universities.
12. doing business
13. Having too high expectation for language improvement, Considering themselves as guests instead of a family member, not making clear what a family's rules are beforehand and overly high demands for the living environment.
14. English tutoring
15. a Chinese teacher
16. more than six years
17. at the University of International Business and Economics
18. language improvement
19. a suitable home.

Numbered questions:
1. Where was Jay from?
2. What type of family did he want to stay with?
3. Is he dirty?
4. Does he smoke?
5. What's Jay's last name?
6. How long ago did he post an ad?
7. Where did he post it?
8. What area did he want to find a family in?
9. Is Jay a woman?
10. What type of skills does he want to improve?
11. What type of universities is he willing to help the family apply for?
12. What have the families that contacted him seemed more interested in?
13. What do many foreigners apparently find it difficult to find in Beijing?
14. What type of tutoring is Jay willing to offer help with?
15. What type of teacher is Jessie?
16. How many years has she been teaching?
17. At which university?
18. What type of expectation might be too high?
19. What has Jay yet to find suitable?

Q: One hot afternoon in the summertime a family and their dog were getting ready to have a dinnertime picnic in the park. The dishes in the picnic included peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, watermelons, potato salad, and chocolate cookies. When they got to the park the father, George, was looking for a good place to have the picnic. While they were walking they bumped into their neighbors, Robert and Natalie, and their twins, Anson and Anne and their dog Emile. Robert explained that it was the twins' birthday and they were celebrating by going out for a walk. They said goodbye and kept looking for a picnic spot. He chose a nice spot under a tree that would keep the family cool. While setting up the picnic, the mother, Barbara, told the son, Ralph to go play with their dog, Scout, to pass some time until it was time for dinner. Ralph found a stick and began to play fetch with Scout down the hill. Some time passed and Ralph began to return to the picnic with Scout. Along the way back he picked a flower to give to his mom because it was Mother's day. When he arrived he gave the flower to his mom and she said, "Thank you so much, Ralph!" His mother poured him a cool and tasty glass of lemonade. It tasted extra good because it was so hot outside! Ralph sat down and enjoyed the picnic with his family under the large tree.

1. A flower.
2. Because it was Mother's day
3. A glass of lemonade.
4. It was hot.
5. A stick.
6. Fetch
7. Scout.
8. Emile.
9. George.
10. Barbara

Numbered questions:
1. what did he give his mom?
2. Why?
3. What tasted good?
4. What was the temperature?
5. What did Ralph find?
6. What did he play with it?
7. Who with?
8. Who is the other dog?
9. Who is Ralph's dad?
10. And his mom?

Q: James is going to the baseball field with his friend Tommy.

James has to practice because baseball season starts in a week.

He wants to be a good player when the season starts.

James has been lazy in practicing so he is not very good at baseball right now.

He has to make up for it by playing baseball for 5 hours every day for a week.

James thinks this is enough practice for him to catch up and be a good player when the season starts.

So James and Tommy practice every day. They throw the ball around. They practice batting and they practice fielding.

Tommy begins to see that James is getting better every day. He says "I do not believe it, James, but I think you are going to be pretty good when the season starts!"

Usually a week is not enough time to get pretty good at baseball but James is practicing so much he is fitting a month of practice into one week.

Then James has a setback. His glove rips during practice. He can't keep playing with a broken glove!

So Tommy and James go around town collecting bottles to trade in for five cents for each bottle.

James misses a day of practicing but they find enough bottles to turn in for thirty dollars.

This is enough money for James to buy a new glove!

So James buys a new glove and he and Tommy go back to the field and practice some more.

By the time the season comes James is one of the best players on his team.

1. the baseball field
2. his friend Tommy.
3. to practice baseball
4. in a week
5. No
6. Yes
7. practicing 5 hours a day for a week
8. They throw the ball around. They practice batting and they practice fielding
9. Yes
10. Yes
11. Yes
12. Yes
13. a broken glove
14. Yes
15. To collect bottle caps?
16. thirty dollars
17. Yes
18. Practiced more

Numbered questions:
1. Where was James going?
2. Who with?
3. Why were they going their?
4. When did their season start?
5. Is james a good player?
6. Does he want to be?
7. What is he going to do to improve?
8. What do they do to practice?
9. Does this help james get better?
10. Does Tommy notice?
11. Does he tell him so?
12. Did he have any set backs?
13. What was it?
14. Did they do anything to fix this?
15. What was it?
16. How much did they make collecting them?
17. Was it enough money for a new glove?
18. What did they do after they bought the new glove?