Donnie Darko is a fantastic film. It's a dark comedy, which is sometimes funny and sometimes frightening.
The film (set) in an American town. One night, Donnie Darko, who is a teenager, meets a frightening man (dress) as a rabbit. When a plane crashes into Donnie's house, the man saves his life and then tells him that his enemies plan (end) the world in 26 days. The film is about the next 26 days. It's a teenage love story, a thriller, a science fiction film, and a comedy, all in one film.
Donnie Darko was written and directed by Richard Kelly, who (be) only 25 when he made it. It (win) plenty of film awards so far, but no Oscars. The music is really good, and it (include) 1980s pop songs. Watch this film now and see what you think of it.
The Bird's Christmas Tree
It's a sun shining winter afternoon. In a small yard in Luss, Scotland, Kate and Effie (tie) the baskets to the branches（树枝）of the Christmas tree and filling them with corns. The children (work) busily but happily for many hours, making the little baskets for the birds.
Many birds come in. Some are eating, and others are dancing.
Even the pretty blue jay(蓝松鸦) (forget) to be pretty. When he has eaten his fill, he is flying away, crying "Thanks, thanks!"
What a happy life the tree brings to the birds and the children! But two weeks ago, the tree nearly (cut) into firewood.
Two weeks ago， the Christmas tree was once in the living room. Kate and Effie, and Sue and Tom, had a happy Christmas Day, for the tree was hung with gifts for them all.
One day, when the children(play) games around the tree, John came and told them that he was going to carry it into the woodshed.
"What you (do) with it, John?" the children asked.
"I want to cut it into firewood," answered John.
"Oh, don't!" cried the children. "Our beautiful tree! Let us (have) it a little longer!"
"What will you do with it?" asked John.
"We (put) it in the yard and make a Christmas tree for the birds," replied the children.
So John carried the fir tree into the yard. There it (stand) in the white snow, spreading out its beautiful green branches.
"Now" cried Effie, "let us make some baskets (fill) corns. Then we will tie them to the tree for the birds. "
What happened next? As you can see at the beginning of the story, the birds are living happily. With the birds and the tree, the children are also very happy. It is hard to tell which are happier, the birds or the children. I believe the tree is the happiest of all.
Next time you hold a book in your hands, stop and think. Like most other things in the modern world, it is the result of thousands of years of human invention.
First, came the invention of writing,(probable) about 5500 year ago. With writing, people did not have to remember everything in their heads. They could communicate with people that they never (see) and share their knowledge with future generations.
Later, the Greeks were well-done for their literature( 文学 ) and science, but their “books” looked very different the books of today. They were called scrolls(卷轴).
They were different to use and took a lot of space in a library. About 2,000 years ago, books with lots of pages (invent).
For more than a thousand years, the pages of books were made from animal skin. That changed in thirteenth century, when Europeans learned about a very (use) Chinese invention: paper.
But the biggest change for books in Europe came in 1439, when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Before that, books in Europe were copied by hand, so they were very expensive. Many more people could afford the books were produced on a printing press.
These days it is difficult (imagine) a world without books. But human invention does not stop. Every year, more (story) are bought as e-books and read on a screen.
Will anyone turn the pages of a traditional book in the future,will books, like scrolls soon disappear?
Once upon a time, an eagle(老鹰)was flying in the sky when he suddenly saw a beautiful hen. The eagle came near the hen and said, "My pretty hen, I Love you. Will you be (I) wife?"
The hen was scared for the eagle was so strong. Her husband, the cock had gone out to look for food and her kids had gone away somewhere lo play with other (child). The hen quickly answered, "I'm willing to be, but let me first grow wings like yours, so I can fly high as you." The eagle replied, "OK! This ring is for you as a sign of our betrothal(订婚）. Tie it around your neck till I return."
The hen agreed (do) so, and the eagle flew away.
When the cock met the hen the next day, he was very (surprise) to see the ring around her neck. He said, "Where did you get that ring? Throw it away immediately. "
The hen did this and the cock was cheerful I again. But at the weekend, the eagle came .
The frightened hen hid herself behind her door but the eagle soon found her out. Suddenly he cried, "Where (be) the ring that I gave you? Why are you not wearing it?"
The hen was very scared and said, "Forgive me l I lost it yesterday. I was walking in the garden when I met a large snake. I was frightened that I ran fast. When I got home, I couldn't find it."
The eagle looked at the hen (angry) and said, "I don't believe you. You have hurt me. I will punish you. you don't marry me, I will snatch( 抓）away all your chickens from you. But I will promise to forgive you only if you find my ring. Good-bye! "
Ever since, all the hens in the world have been scratching( 轻抓) the ground to find the eagle's ring.
We all know that a good night's rest helps us stay healthy. After we sleep for 7 or 8 hours in bed and up next morning, our mind is better prepared to memorize and learn something.
But what about getting a rest during the middle of the day?
Scientists say, “Short periods of sleep, napping (小睡), may help learning and memory. Napping can help young children learn better. It can help older people remember longer.”
Take China as an example. Chinese people are used to napping after lunch.
Recently researchers made a survey among nearly 3,000 Chinese people over 65 years old. The researchers asked them they napped and for how long. They found that about 60 percent of them took a nap and they napped for 60 to 90 minutes. The research shows that napping for about an hour is the best.
However, these are the findings for those the age of 65. Doctors say that napping for about an hour may be too for young and healthy people. And they believe that half an hour is enough to young and healthy people from feeling tired. By doing so, will help them stay awake.
Doctors also say, “If you have trouble falling asleep at , take a daytime nap for less than 45 minutes and don't nap after 3 p.m. in the afternoon.
