Every time we go into a museum, we are often told, "Don't touch that!" The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is1the opposite. Here we are encouraged to2everything.
My first visit to the museum was one year ago. I was3to visit the museum as soon as Mum told me its name.4told me that I could climb and jump, and touch everything in the museum.
This place is more like a5than a museum. It gives kids the chance to learn6play. I loved this place a lot and had to be pulled away by the arm when we were ready to7.
Each exhibit is a hands-on(亲自实践的) experience. I8enjoyed the very large water table and grocery store(食品杂货店). I had so much fun that 1 didn't even9I was learning.
The only problem is that this place gets crowded very quickly on weekends,10you need to get 'there early if you don't want to be immersed in(浸没于) the sea of people.
Do you know "One Belt, One Road"? We also call it the Modern Silk Road. And Zhang Qian was an early traveller of the Ancient Silk Road. He was probably the first1to bring back good information about the central Asian lands to China.
In 139 BC, Han Wudi sent Zhang Qian to the Yue-zhi people to ask for their2against the Xiongnu people who often infringed(侵犯) them.3, on the way to the Western Regions, he was caught by the Xiongnu people. Zhang had to stay with them4about 10 years before he got away. When Zhang finally5the Yue -zhi people in the North India, he was6to find that they didn't want to fight against the Xiongnu people.
On7return journey, Zhang Qian and his men were8again. It was not until 125 BC that they returned to China.9Zhang didn't finish his job, he learned a lot about the places, people, customs and cultures of the 36 kingdoms(王国) in the Western Regions.
Later Han Wudi sent Zhang to West again. Zhang's journey to the West helped10international trade, especially in silk, between China and the West, That's the Ancient Silk Road.
My father was a self-taught mandolin(曼陀林琴) player. He was one of the best players in our town. He could not1music, but if he heard a tune(曲子) a few times, he could play it. When he was young, he was a2of a small country music band. They played at local dances and played for the local radio station on a few occasions.
At home Dad often took out his mandolin and played for the family. We three children sang along.3played the mandolin like my father. He could4your heart with the music that came out of that old mandolin. He seemed to shine when he was playing. You could see his5in his ability to play so well for his family.
But Dad had to find another6in a factory later because the money he made at the band wasn't enough to7the family. Unluckily he had an8one day and lost one finger. He couldn't play as9as before. From then on, every time we asked him to play, he would make up excuses to 10 down our request. However, we missed his performances so much.11, he agreed and said, "Okay, but remember, I can't hold down the strings (琴弦) the way I12 to."
When he played the old mandolin, it carried us back to a13, happy time in our lives. Dad was that kind of man,14 was what he was doing all his life. If he could give 15 to others, he would, especially his family. He was always there, sacrificing(牺牲) his time to see that his family had enough in their life.
Catherine Banner is becoming the next J. K. Rowling. She started1her book sitting at the back of the2at the age of 14.
Miss Banner published her first work, The Eyes of a King, which was a best seller.
"Growing up, I always3stories and writing," she said. "When I was4, one of my favourite games was to staple(用订书钉装订) together pieces of paper and make5into a book with stories and pictures. And later I spent hours after school writing6."
"I wrote whenever I had any7time. Sometimes I even wrote down a few sentences at the end of the class or between lessons so as not to8them. It was just a bit of fun."
"I am really excited. It means so9to me. Now I'm looking forward to10what people think of the book."
Miss Banner began her study in English literature(文学) at Cambridge University in October 2008. The sequel(续集) to The Eyes of a King, Voices in the Dark, was published on September 22, 2009. Then she wrote a third part of her series, The Heart at War. The series were completed in 2012.
Travelling has been1with people for a long time. Many of today's travellers are trying to find2unusual experience or adventure.3may be a good choice.
Instead of4your vacation on a bus, in a hotel or sitting on the beach, you may want to try hiking. Hiking is a great way to travel. You will get close to5and take exercise. You can see lots of flowers and grass at the same time. Hiking is easy to do and doesn't have to be very expensive. You can hike close to your home or travel to6places. The basic7you need for hiking is simple: good shoes, clothes and a backpack. You can hike in mountains, in a forest or along a river. If you go with your friends, you can have a chance to talk with them.
Hiking is fun and8, but you shouldn't forget safety. Safety is the first. Here are some basic tips for successful hiking:
Don't hike9. Bring water, a good map and a cellphone. Wear a hat to protect yourself10the sun.
The story of how the teddy bear was invented is an interesting one. In 1902, American president(总统), Theodore(Teddy) Roosevelt was hunting (打猎) in the forest 1 several of his friends. Almost everyone had successfully shot an animal, but the president2not. Nobody wanted to make the president look 3, so they tied an American black bear to a 4They wanted the president to shoot 5.
The president was very surprised to see the bear tied to a tree. He felt it was 6to shoot the bear, because it couldn't run away. He 7to shoot it, and the story of his decision went all over the country. 8 was moved by the president's beliefs(信念). There was9 a cartoon showing the president refusing to shoot a cute bear.
It was this cartoon and the story behind the president's hunting trip that gave Morris an idea to make a new 10. He made a small, soft bear and11 it in his shop window. Next to the bear he made a sign that read, "Teddy's Bear". The new toy was a big success and it 12 Morris with the money to create a toy company.
Teddy bears have been13since they were first made. A teddy bear would be the first choice14 people think about children's toys. Theodore Roosevelt's famous 15 on a hunting trip in 1902 brought millions of soft, stuffed bears. They are being loved by people across the world.
Ever since I was a child, my mouth has caused me trouble. I'm not a bad person, but I have a hard time learning when to stop saying things to others.
My mum has told 1 again and again, "Robert, you bad words are hurting me. 2 you continue to be this rude, you will get into big trouble."
It has been a problem at school several times too. One day, in English class, I was working on my homework when I heard a classmate 3behind me. It was Nathaniel, who liked doing that as usual.
I thought of what my mother had said to me and 4 nicely, "Nathaniel, would you be quiet?"
However, Nathaniel kept saying something to the boy next to him loud. I5shouted, "Nathaniel, shut up!"
6the next five minutes, we threw hurtful words at each other.
"At least I don't have an ugly lazy eye like you!" I cried out.
I knew this would make him 7 and it would hurt his feelings and shut him up.
What I said filled him anger. He ran to my 8 and tried to catch me as he shouted, "That's it! That's it!"
Surprised at his reaction, I sat back in my seat. I had9seen Nathaniel act like this before. Later on, we were taken to the teachers' office. There, Mr. Black. Our English teacher, told us to 10the problem between us. Only then I finally found that 11I hurt someone physically(身上), he can finally get healthy again. But when I hurt someone with my 12, sometimes the pain never goes away.
At the end of the discussion, I said 13to Nathaniel.
When I went back to my room, I began to14 how often what I said hurt others. I'll remember what my mom said to me and learn when to keep my 15closed.
"You don't understand me!" I shouted. Then I ran out of the house and got on a bus. I didn't know1it was going. I just wanted to get away from home as2as 1 could.
I couldn't3what had just happened to me. My mother, the person I believe in, had just read all of my 4 from my close friends! It shouldn't have happened to me. She read my letters and told me not to write to5any more! I couldn't6the tears from falling when I thought about this.
Later that day, I went to my close7house.8my friend gave me a cup of water, the phone rang.
"It's your mother," she spoke to me in a low9.
"Tell her that I'm not here!" I replied. However, my mother heard it. "Tell her not to leave! I'll be right there!" Then she hung up the phone10a "goodbye". In fact, I should say that I was a little11. I couldn't imagine what would happen.
But to my12, when my mother arrived, "sorry" was the first word she13to me. Her14 told me that she had been crying and her voice told me that she was really tired. "Will you forgive me?" at last she asked. I didn't know what to say. I just15her, and gave her a big hug.
She held me so tightly. You know, at that time, I felt so warm. I really love you, Mum!
Each one of us shares this planet with about seven billion others. And we all need1. People and products need to move from city to city and country to country. However, we all know2most cars, motorcycles, boats and planes cause air pollution. They are also noisy. This is a serious problem in many cities.3inventors are coming up with creative ideas to try to reduce the air pollution and noise.
In many cities around the world, motorcycles are very4. Now Vietnam has around 33 million motorcycles and China has almost 120 million, Motorcycles are a faster and cheaper way to get around a city than5. Yet air pollution is a growing problem. In large cities, people complain it is difficult to breathe. To solve these problems, a US company designed an environmentally friendly motorcycle. It uses electricity as fuel (燃料). As a result, there is6pollution. It's also quiet and fast. This makes it a good choice for getting around a city.
The Italian city of Venice is a city with only a few roads. There are no cars in the city centre.7cars, water taxis and buses carry people along the city's canals. However, they cause pollution,8to the water. English engineers Dick and Jem designed a solar powered(太阳能的) water taxi. The water taxi can run for a day after being charged.
Planes also cause air and noise pollution. Designing an environmentally-friendly airplane is a real9. Some airplane companies have10to solve the problems. Swiss engineers have gone one step further. They developed a solar airplane. This plane holds the world record for the longest solar powered flight—1, 541 kilometres from Arizona to Texas in America.
It snowed again. My seventh Christmas was round the corner. I dreamed of getting the present from Father Christmas until my elder sister dropped the bomb(炸弹). "There is no Father Christmas."
I ran to my grandmother's house, for she always told the truth.
Grandmother was at home. I told1everything. "No Father Christmas?" she was a little 2 "Don't believe it. Put on your coat, and let's go. "
"Go? Where, Grandma?" I asked.
"Kerby's Store."
As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me the dollars and said, "Take the 3and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of the Kerby's.
For a few seconds I just stood there, holding the money, wondering 4to buy, and who to buy it for.
I thought of 5I knew, my family, my friends, my neighbours... I suddenly thought of Bobbie Decbar, a 6with bad breath and messy hair. He sat right behind me7 Mrs. Polack's class.
Bobbie 8 went to any party during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, 9 we all knew that he didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I decided to buy Bobble a red warm coat10 he would like.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and 11"To Bobbie, from Father Christmas" on it. Grandma told me Father Christmas never let people know that he 12them. Then she drove me over to Bobbie's home, telling that I was helping Father Christmas 13 the presents.
Grandma parked the car along the street, and we hid behind the trees near Bobbie's home. Then Grandma said to me, "All right, Father Christmas get going."
I took a deep breath, rushed to his front door, put the present down14 the door, rang the doorbell and flew back to the safety of the 15 and Grandma. We waited breathlessly in the dark for the front door to open. Finally it did and there stood Bobbie.
That night, I realized that Father Christmas was alive and well, and we were on his team.
