Dave: You look sad, Kim. What's wrong?
Kim: Well, I found my sister looking through my things yesterday. She took some of my new magazines and CDs.
Dave: Hmm... that's not very nice. Did she give them back to you?
Kim: Yes, but I'm still angry with her. What should I do?
Dave: Well, I guess you could tell her to say sorry. But why don't you forget about it so that you can be friends again? Although she's wrong, it's not a big deal.
Kim: You're right. Thanks for your advice.
Dave: No problem. Hope things work out.
Dear Mr. Hunt,
My problem is that I can't get on with my family. Relations between my parents have become difficult. They fight a lot, and I really don't like it. It's the only communication they have. I don't know if I should say anything to them about this. When they argue, it's like a big, black cloud hanging over our home. Also, my elder brother is not very nice to me. He always refuses to let me watch my favorite TV show. Instead he watches whatever he wants until late at night. I don't think this is fair. At home I always feel lonely and nervous. Is that normal? What can I do?
Sad and Thirteen
relationcommunicationarguecloudelderinsteadwhatevernervousget on with
It's like... 比喻句型
it's like a big, black cloud hanging over our home（就像一大片乌云笼罩着我们的家）It's like + n./doing 表示比喻/类比，形象描述感受。
hang over 短语
a cloud hanging over our home（一片笼罩着我们家的乌云）hang over = 悬浮在……之上/笼罩，常比喻不好的氛围。
Dear Sad and Thirteen,
It's not easy being your age, and it's normal to have these feelings. Why don't you talk about these feelings with your family? If your parents are having problems, you should offer to help. Maybe you could do more jobs around the house so that they have more time for proper communication. Secondly, why don't you sit down and communicate with your brother? You should explain that you don't mind him watching TV all the time. However, he should let you watch your favorite show. I hope things will be better for you soon.
Robert Hunt
亲爱的伤心十三：
在你这个年纪不容易，有这些感觉是正常的。你为什么不把这些感受和家人谈谈呢？如果你的父母有问题，你应该主动提出帮忙。也许你可以多做一些家务，这样他们才有更多时间进行恰当的交流。其次，你为什么不坐下来和你哥哥沟通一下呢？你应该解释你并不介意他一直看电视，但他应该让你看你最喜欢的节目。我希望你的事情很快会好起来。
Robert Hunt
offerpropersecondlycommunicateexplainall the time
offer to do 句型
you should offer to help（你应该主动提出帮忙）offer to do = 主动提出做某事。
so that 目的状语从句
do more jobs around the house so that they have more time for communication（多做一些家务，以便他们有更多时间交流）so that 引导目的状语从句。
Why don't you...? 建议句型
Why don't you talk about these feelings with your family?（你为什么不把这些感受和家人谈谈呢？）Why don't you + 动词原形? = 提建议最常用句型之一。
要点摘要
第一封信：Sad and Thirteen倾诉家庭问题——父母争吵、哥哥霸道、感到孤独焦虑。
第二封信：Robert Hunt建议——与家人沟通、主动帮忙做家务、与哥哥协商看电视时间。
Section B 2b (Reading)
Maybe You Should Learn to Relax!
也许你应该学会放松！
These days, Chinese children are sometimes busier on weekends than weekdays because they have to take so many after-school classes. Many of them are learning exam skills so that they can get into a good high school and later a good university. Others are practicing sports so that they can compete and win. However, this doesn't only happen in China. The Taylors are a typical American family.
Many are learning exam skills so that they can get into a good high school.（很多人在学考试技巧，以便能进入好的高中。）so that + can/could 引导目的状语从句。
Life for Cathy Taylor's three children is very busy. "On most days after school," Cathy says, "I take one of my two boys to basketball practice and my daughter to football training. Then I have to take my other son to piano lessons. Maybe I could cut out a few of their activities, but I believe these activities are important for my children's future. I really want them to be successful." However, the tired children don't get home until after 7:00 p.m. They have a quick dinner, and then it's time for homework.
The tired children don't get home until after 7:00 p.m.（疲惫的孩子们直到晚上七点后才到家。）not...until = 直到……才。
Linda Miller, a mother of three, knows all about such stress. "In some families, competition starts very young and continues until the kids get older," she says. "Mothers send their small kids to all kinds of classes. And they are always comparing them with other children. It's crazy. I don't think that's fair. Why don't they just let their kids be kids? People shouldn't push their kids so hard."
Linda Miller，一位三个孩子的母亲，对这种压力了如指掌。「在一些家庭，竞争从很小就开始了，一直持续到孩子长大，」她说。「母亲们把小孩子送去各种培训班。她们还总是把他们和别的孩子比较。这太疯狂了。我认为这不公平。她们为什么不让孩子就做孩子呢？人们不应该那么狠地逼迫他们的孩子。」
crazypushopinioncomparecausecompare...with
compare with 句型
They are always comparing them with other children.（她们总是把他们和别的孩子比较。）compare A with B = 把A和B比较。
push sb. hard 短语
People shouldn't push their kids so hard.（人们不应该那么狠地逼迫孩子。）push sb. hard = 给某人施加很大压力。
Doctors say too much pressure is not good for a child's development. Dr. Alice Green says all these activities can cause a lot of stress for children. "Kids should have time to relax and think for themselves, too. Although it's normal to want successful children, it's even more important to have happy children."