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 afraid when you’re around other people. Experts have found that more than 80% 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(经历).
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.
【小题1】The underlined phrase “to feel yourself again” in the third paragraph means “________”.

How to talk to a foreigner? Students often want to practice their English outside class．One of the best ways to practice your English is to speak to a foreigner．This week's question comes from a student who is eager to start a conversation with the foreigners he sees every day．He asks, “Is it okay to talk to foreigners I see in the street? The answer is yes and no, but probably no．If you see a foreigner who looks lost，it is polite to ask him。”May I help you? But，otherwise（除此之外），you should probably let him get on with his business．Situations，however, do exist where it is quite all right to talk to foreigners．If a foreigner enters year school，classroom，office，shop or restaurant，for instance，feel free to ask them  （for example）：

--May I know your name，please?

--Where do you come from?

--What do you think of Beijing?

--How long will you stay in Beijing?

There are also situations where it's okay to talk to foreigners in public places．If you see a foreigner alone in a restaurant，bar or care, it may be appropriate（恰当的）to ask him or her：

--Is this seat free?

--Do you mind if I talk to you in English?

--You pan probably help them if they are new to China and if they are alone，you may be able to make them feel more welcome．After a few such questions, you should know whether this person wants to talk to you or not．If they ask you similar questions, or if they give long, informative（提供有用信息的）answers, you're in luck．If not，then give them their privacy（独处）．Talking to strangers is fun if you choose the right time and place．

1、One way to practice your spoken English is to try to talk with         ．

A、your friends           B、foreigners              C、your classmates      D、your teacher

2、When you first meet a foreigner，you should probably say         ．

A、Where are you going?                              B、Have you eaten your dinner?

C、Can you help me with my English?               D、How do you do?

3、The writer suggests that we should         ．

A、follow foreigners when we meet them in the street

B、talk with a foreigner at a good time

C、have a meal with foreigners in a restaurant

D、move to a place where a foreigner lives