Four women lived in the same building and all of them were going to a party. They were 1about what dresses they would wear. They final decided to choose a dress that matched the hair colour of their own 2.
The first woman said, "I will go in red 3 my husband coloured his hair red."
4 this, the second woman said, "Well, I will5 black because the colour of my husband's hair is black."
The third woman also had a(n) 6, "Yes, then I would love to go in a 7 dress because my husband has yellow and blonde(金色的)hair!"
They all turned to the 8 woman, but she stayed quiet. So they asked her 9 she would wear." I am thinking very hard, but I can't 10 a right dress. It seems that I can't wear any dress. I use my husband is bald(秃头的)!" said the woman.
Reading is becoming more and more important language learning and is still the most effective activity to get information.
There are three possible ways to improve reading. The fastest is probably a speed reading class with good books and teachers. It is quite usual for a slow reader to increase two or three times his reading efficiency during a two-day class with a positive atmosphere, carefully picked texts and reading tests. However, this encouraging improvement often fades with time.
A book about speed reading is the second method. Such a book usually gives speed and comprehension tests as well as ways to improve reading. It often has all kinds of methods to make you pay attention to or be interested in the text. All the methods need a lot of time as well as hard work from the reader.
Finally, a speed reading computer program is probably the most effective way to achieve top reading levels. Computers give special exercises to improve reading efficiency. Higher reading skills got with a computer screen can change to reading from paper. Unfortunately the inverse way does not work so well. Speed reading software gives enjoyable and fast reading training, thus giving the practice necessary to break long-time slow reading habits. This is the task that reading classes and speed reading books usually can't give to the reader.
The story of the fall of Troy is one of the oldest stories in history. It dates back to around 800 BC, to a poem written by a man called Homer. The poem is called The Iliad(《伊利亚待》). Ilium is the Greek name for Troy.
The story is a myth(神话), but many believe the city of Troy actually existed. Some people have thought it was in modern Turkey. Others have suggested it may have been in central Europe, northern Europe or even England.
You could write a long book on all the paintings, music and stories about Achilles. His name is used for many things. Since 1744, about nine Royal Navy warships have been named after him, for example.
A Trojan horse is a saying that now means something that seems friendly, but is actually a trick to hurt you. Some kinds of computer virus (病毒) are now called Trojans. An Achilles heel means a person's main weakness. The Achilles tendon(腱) is a medical name for part of your heel at the back
A primary school bus driver stopped the bus in a gas station in Ohio because he had to use the bathroom. Instead of turning off the engine(引擎）and taking the key with him, the driver left the bus running. And he forgot to set the parking brake(刹车)because he was in a hurry. "It was cold outside, and I didn't want the kids to get cold while I was using the bathroom, "he told the police officer.
The bus slowly started moving away from the gas station. As the bus picked up speed, the kids began shouting and crying. Ten-year-old Jake ran forward to the driver's seat and held the steering wheel(方向盘). He pressed hard on the brake pedal(踏板)and managed to stop the bus as it came nearer to a river bed. Jake turned off the engine at last. After the police arrived at the scene, they praised Jake for his great effort.
"That is a cool kid, "said the police officer." I told him he would become a great police officer when he grew up."
Jake wasn't impressed with what he did. "Stopping the bus, "he said, "was easy compared to playing Grand Theft Auto Ⅲ, my favourite action video game. "The police took the bus driver to the police station. He was at first charged(指控)with" leaving a child alone while the motor is running". The lawyer said he hoped to upgrade the charge because of the number of children (twenty）on the bus.
"Whatever he is charged with, "the police officer said, "I believe that he never drives a bus again."
a. The bus started moving.
b. Jake turned off the engine.
c. Jake held the steering wheel.
d. The kids began shouting and crying.
e. Take ran forward to the driver's seat.
f. Jake pressed hard on the brake pedal.
Long ago, people lived on wild animals，fruits and other plants and they didn't need to use money.
As time passed, families had more products than they needed, such as animals and crops. So they needed to trade (交易）with others. They began to use money to make it easier. However, it was not like the money we use today. They used shells, rice, salt or large stones.
During the 600s BC, people began using coins as money. Because they were easier to carry than goods (货物)，countries began to make coins as their money.
The Chinese were the first to use paper money, probably in the 11th century. An Italian traveler, Marco Polo, saw the Chinese use paper money when he visited China in the 1200s. After his travel, he told the western people what he saw. But European countries didn't start using paper money till the 1600s.
Today we have many ways to pay for things, such as coins, paper money and cards. Some prefer to pay by card. That's because paying with a card is easier and safer than carrying around a lot of “real” money.
B
Today there are policemen everywhere, but in 1700, London had no policemen at all. A few old men used to protect the city streets at night and they were not paid.
About 300 years ago, London was starting to get bigger and more and more people began to live there. The city was very dirty and many people were poor. There were so many thieves who stole money in the streets that people stayed in their homes as much as possible.
In 1750, Henry Fielding started to pay a group of people to stop thieves. They were like policemen and were called “Bow Street Runners” because they worked near Bow Street.
Fifty years later, there were 120 “Bow Street Runners”, but London had become very big and needed more policemen. So in 1829, the first Metropolitan (or London) Police Force was started with 3,000 officers. Most of the men worked on foot, but a few rode horses. Until 1920 all the police in London were men.
Today, London police are quite well paid and for the few police officers who still ride horses, the pay is even better than for the others.
Long long ago, there was a small village in the Middle East. In the village there was an old man (call) Sthira. He lived by himself. His only son had gone far away to study. Sthira friends (wonder) whether his son would return, Sthira always said," Whatever happens, happens for good."
One day the old man's son returned and the villagers were very happy for Sthira. He thanked the villagers and said (polite), "Whatever happens, happens for good." However, later Sthira, s son broke his Once again the villagers came to visit him and once again the old man thanked (they) and said," Whatever happens, happens for good." Some of the villagers were surprised (hear) this. Why? What was good? His son's leg got badly hurt!
After a few days, the army came to the village and forced all the young men (join) the army. When they found his son had a (break) leg, they left him behind. Once again, all the villagers came to congratulate him on his luck. Like always, the old man was still thankful to them and said, "Whatever happens, happens for good."
Sima Guang hit the tank(缸)
Dear Tom
I'm very happy that you are interested in traditional Chinese stories
I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Li Mei
