An old man has four sons.They often quarrel with （争吵） each other about 1 things.The old man is always 2 them how easy life will be if they work together，but they never 3 him.One day he decides to 4 them what he really means （意思）.
He 5 all the sons together and puts a bundle （捆） of pencils on the 6 in front of them.
"Can you break them？" he asks the youngest son.The boy tries his best to 7 these pencils with his hands. 8 he can't even bend （使……弯曲） them.The father asks each son to try to break the pencils，but none of 9 can make it.
Then the old man takes one 10 on the table and gives it to his second son. "Now have a 11 ，" he says.The boy breaks the pencil 12 .
"Do you know 13 I mean？" asks the father. "If all of you 14 together，no one can defeat （战胜） you.But if you always quarrel with 15 and do your own things，you will be defeated when you meet a stronger man or difficulties.That's called "United we stand；divided we fall （合则存，分则败）".
An old man lived in a nice house with a large garden. He took care of his 1 all the time, and fertilizing them. One day, a young man went by the 2 . He looked at the beautiful flowers, imagining how happy he could be3 he lived in such a beautiful place. Then, suddenly he found the old gardener was 4 . He was very surprised about this and asked, "You can't see these flowers. 5 are you taking care of them every day?" The old man smiled and said, "I can tell you four6 . First, I was a gardener when I was young and I really like this job. Second, I can't see these flowers, 7 I can touch them. 8 , I can smell the sweetness of them. As to the last one, that's 9 . " "Me? But you don't know me, " said the young man. "Yeah, it's10 that I don't know you. But I know that flowers are angels that everybody can enjoy the happiness these flowers 11 us. "The blind man's words opened our eyes and12 our hearts, which also made his life13 just like Beethoven, who became deaf in his later life and wrote many great musical works. Beethoven couldn't 14 his wonderful music, but his music has15 millions of people to face their difficulties bravely. Isn't it one kind of happiness?
A father and his son went to a kite-flying festival. When they1 ,there were many parents and their children playing in the park. The son was happy when he saw the sky filled with 2 kites. He wanted to fly a kite, too.So they went to a kite shop and3 a beautiful one.
The father is good4 flying kites. Soon the kite was high up in the sky. After a while, the son said. "Dad, it 5 that the string (线) is stopping (阻止) the kite from flying higher. 6 we cut it, it will be free and fly even higher. Can we cut it?" The father said 7 but just cut the string off. The kite really went higher. This made the little boy8 .
But then, after a few minutes, the kite started to 9 slowly. It soon fell onto the ground in the end. The son was 10 to see this. He asked his father, "I thought that 11 cutting the string, the kite would fly higher. Why did it fall down?"
The father smiled and said, "The role (作用) of the string was not stopping the kite from going higher, but was helping it stay in the sky, because the kite 12 can't fly up. You helped the kite go up in the right direction (方向) using the string. But when you cut the string, it could no longer support the kite."
In our life, we may sometimes13 like there are certain things that are holding us back and stopping us from growing. 14 in fact, these may be the things that support us the most. We can really15 and become better by knowing the importance of these things.
We have a lot of trouble in our life, but we have to face them. When you are feeling unhappy or forget how great you are, these are six ways to make you1 good about yourself.
① Look in the mirror and say2 , "I am a special person and there's no one in the world3 me. I can do anything! " It may not4 so good, but it really works.
② Do5 for someone. 6 others always makes you feel good.
③ Smile! 7 people you meet. Look for the good things in your friends and family.
④ Learn something new! Have you always wanted to decorate your own room or learn8 ? Go for it! New challenges (挑战) are fun and give you sense of accomplishment when you have finished.
⑤ Read and start a diary. Turn off the TV and let your imagination (想象) fly! If you have any thoughts, dreams or anything you want, 9 ! Writing always helps to express your feelings.
⑥ Stay with your family. We all10 our family time. Talk with your Mom or Dad or maybe even your cousin.
Tony had an expensive car. One day, he did not stop his car at some traffic lights when they were red, and he hit1 car. Tony jumped out at once and went to it. There was2 in the car. He was very frightened. When he saw Tony, he said to Tony, " 3 are you doing? You nearly killed me! "
"Yes, " Tony answered, "I'm very sorry. " He took a bottle (瓶) out of his4 and said, "Drink some of this. Then you'll feel5 . " He gave the man some whisky (威士忌), and the man6 it, but then he shouted again, "You nearly killed me! "
Tony gave him the bottle7 , and the old man drank a lot of whisky. Then he8 and said to Tony, "Thank you. I feel much better now. But why aren't you drinking? "
"Oh, well, " Tony answered, "I don't want9 whisky now. I'm going to sit here and10 the police. "
Joe and Fred went for a walk last Sunday. They1 some sandwiches with them, but they2 to take something to drink. It was very hot. At 12:00, they were very3 and thirsty. They found the nearest cafe, went in and sat down4 the table with their sandwiches.
"Good afternoon. Can I help you? " the man behind the bar asked.
Joe looked at Fred and said, "Apple juice, I think. Yes, two glasses of apple juice. Is that5 for you, Fred? "
"Yes, that's all right, " said Fred. Then he turned6 the man behind the bar and said, "And I want it in a 7 glass! Don't forget that. "
The man behind the bar poured the8 into the glasses and9 them to Joe and Fred. Then he10 , "Who wanted the clean glass? "
Jason is thirteen years old. He is a middle school student. Last month, he1 a new friend. His name is Daniel. Daniel is the same age2 him. He is friendly and smart and he always has new ideas. But there is one3 . Daniel only has one 4 . He lost the other one in a car accident (意外事故) as a child. Jason5 enjoys being with Daniel. They sometimes go to the6 to see films together. Sometimes they go to the zoo to see7 . They spend much time8 with each other. Jason likes making new friends. One day, Jason invited Daniel to eat out with some other friends. Jason was9 the other boys would like Daniel, too. "Meet us at the10 , " said Jason.
Daniel walked into the restaurant. All the other boys11 him. Daniel got very nervous (紧张的). "I hope they won't12 at my arm, " he thought. He really wanted to13 friends with Jason's friends. "Wow," said one of the boys. "That's really a nice shirt! " Daniel was14 . After that Jason's friends15 him out every weekend.
Most American school buildings look the same. There is always a gym, a big room for basketball and other1 . There is a dining room, a school library, and an auditorium (礼堂). They2 rooms for the school band and computers, workshops to work with paint, wood, metal...
In many schools, students3 running, tennis, swimming and some other sports. And the games4 schools are often very exciting.
For many students in US high schools, the most important5 in their lives are making friends, being popular and having a good social (社会的) life. Many students go out6 after school to fast food restaurants, movies or dances.
In the USA, students take many7 each year. But these tests also show if teachers are doing8 jobs. 71 percent of American students graduate from high school and 40 percent of high school students go to college.
In the USA, school buses are safest way for9 to go to school. 24 million children take school buses every day. Students10 an hour and a half each weekday in the school buses.
Bob and Mike are in the same school,1 they are in different classes. Their favorite 2 is Chinese. They3 Chinese is very interesting. They go to school on weekdays. They go to school4 7:00 in the morning. Today is Tuesday. Bob and Mike are in their own(自己的) classrooms.
Bob5 an English class. Look! He is talking6 his English teacher in English. Mike is having a Chinese class. His teacher is talking7 Beijing Opera with them. The students are looking at their teachers. They8 carefully(认真地). But one of Bob's classmates9 a storybook, because he isn't good at English and he10 English.
Beijing, China
20 May, 2010
Dear David,
Thank you for your letter. I am glad to know that1 is going well with you. Thanks also for the photos. Linda looks healthier and2 than before.
It is very hot here now, but it sometimes3 . We love the rains very much. We are enjoying our4 here. I am now studying in a bigger school. There are more teachers and students in this school than5 in my school in England. My teachers and classmates are all very friendly to me!
Time goes so quickly. I am having new6 all the time. 7 is difficult to learn Chinese, but I am making progress with the help of my teachers and classmates.
The summer holiday is coming. Here in Jinan the summer holiday usually lasts about two8 , so I'll be free for over sixty days. I hope you and Linda could come to Jinan for9 . Then I can10 you around the famous "Spring City" in China.
Love to you and Linda.
Yours,
Mike
