M: I agree. Hey, maybe we can invent a new fuel! Let's drive to the library and do some research. W: OK, but don't you think we should walk?

W: Allen. What are you talking about?

M: Oh, Sue. We were saying that you'd like to go to the United States, like your elder brother

Raymond. Have you heard from him? Is he enjoying being at an American University?

W: We got a letter from him two days ago. He says he finds something difficult, but mostly he

likes it.

M: You have other brothers and sisters, don't you, Sue?

W: Oh, yes. Three other brothers and three sisters.

M: Which one are you? I mean, how many are older or younger?

W: I'm the sixth oldest. How many brothers and sisters do you have?

M: None. I'm the only child.

W: Oh, that's too bad.

W: Can you help me?

M: Well, you could use e-mail to keep in touch with your family.

W: I know but to tell you the truth, I'd rather talk to them by phone. It's more personal that way. M: But seriously, there are lots of other things you can do with a computer besides word

processing and e-mail.

W: Yes, like what?

M: Well, first of all, there's the Internet, of course.

W: Yes, I know, you seem to be online all the time. What do you do, surf the net?

M: Sometimes. But mostly I use the Internet to get information about things I'm interested in and

talk with people all over the world about music. Do you know what a discussion group is? W: No. What is it?

M: Well, it's a kind of club, except that it meets online, and uh, anyone who's interested can join

the group. If you're a member, you can go online anytime you want and read messages sent in by other members, and of course you could also reply to any message you want. Um, here, look, there are twenty-five different discussion groups and live chats. You can communicate with people from all over the world in real time.

W: That sounds great! And if I had a computer, I could do research at home. I wouldn't have to do

all my work in the computer lab at school. Do you have time to go shopping?

W: Hello, everyone. I am glad to introduce my family members to you. We have a big family. The

first one I want to introduce is my grandmother. In fact few senior people live together with their children. Grandmother has heart disease. She lived in Washington before. It's impossible for my parents to leave New York. We asked her to live with us in New York so that we could look after her. During her spare time, she looks after our whole family in fact. She is humorous and happy. We all love her. My father is a policeman and he is always so busy. My mother is a nurse. They both work hard. They set good examples for us. My elder brother