It takes a lot of skills and hard work to set a world record in pumpkin-carving(雕刻南瓜). Steve Clarke, a sixth-grade teacher from Pennsylvania, is a famous carver(雕刻师). Clarke has set many world records for carving pumpkins quickly. When he competes, he must cut our two eyes, two eyebrows, a nose, a mouth, and two ears as fast as possible. But Clarke knows something else about pumpkin-carving. It's easier to get a record than to keep it.

    He took the title in 2000 when he carved a pumpkin face in 74.8 seconds. That time was 19 seconds faster than what Jerry had set. From then on, Clarke broke his own records five times. In 2006, he set his best time in Florida. His winning time was 24.03 seconds!

    The only problem is that someone finally beat that mark. On October 7, 2010, David set the new record with 20.1 seconds. Clarke was not able to break that record this year, but he has planned to break the record. After Halloween, he will go to local pumpkin farms to practise designs and new skills.

    Clarke is popular because of his super pumpkin-carving skills. In 1999, he carved more than 30 pumpkins at the Halloween party for then vice-president Al Gore.

A Play: Four Butterflies

Characters: Red Butterfly (RB), Green Butterfly (GB), Green Tree (GT), Rose (R), Grandpa Sun (GS)

    Look! There are four butterflies in the garden. One is red, one is yellow, one is green, and the other one is white. They play games and dance together every day, and they are very happy. One day, it's fine. Four butterflies are playing a game in the garden. Suddenly it is full of dark clouds and it begins to rain hard.

1) GB: Oh, it's raining hard. Green Tree is over there. She can

help us.

GB: Green Tree, our wings are wet. Please let us stay under your leaves.

GT: Green Butterfly, I like you. We have the same color. You can come in, but the other three butterflies must go away.

GB: No, thank you. We are good friends. We love each other and must stay together.

RB: Rose is over there. She can help us.

2) RB: Rose, our wings are wet. Please let us stay under your leaves.

R: Red Butterfly, I like you. We have the same color. You can come in, but the other three butterflies must go away.

RB: No, thank you. We are good friends. We love each other and must stay together.

3) GS: What good friends they are! This is a real friendship. I must help them.

    The sun drives the clouds away and asks the rain to stop. Soon the sun gives off bright light and dries up their wings.

4) Four butterflies: Oh, the sun comes out. Our wings are dry. Let's play and dance again.

    Mr. King was the owner of a large company. One day, he went into his office early in themorning to get ready to go to the airport and set out for a city.

    He was leaving his office when Bill, a night watchman, came in Bill just came off work(下班).

    After saying “Good morning” to Mr. King, Bill told the owner about his bad dream. Last night he dreamed Mr. King's plane crashed after it took off. Mr. King was surprised to hear this. He decided to go by land.

    Bill's dream came true. That morning the plane really crashed just after it had taken off. Later Mr. King returned to his office and heard the accident. To express his thanks, Mr. King gave Bill 5,000 dollars with a letter. Mr. King told Bill that a man like him should be sent away. Bill was surprised and asked, ”Why?” Mr. King said,” Go home and read the letter, and you will know why.”

    Bill went home and opened the letter in a hurry. After he read it, he became sad. In the letter there is only one sentence. But it was enough to tell the reason.

根据短文回答问题

    John was born without arms. As a child, he learned to do many things with his legs. But there were a lot of things he couldn't do. His parents even had to feed him. His seven brothers had to help him to get dressed.

    One day his mom decided not to help John anymore. She told John's brothers not to help him either. "Let John do everything on his own," she said. "If John needs to eat, let him eat by himself. Let him get the dish himself. If he breaks up a few dishes, it's fine. No one will help him to get dressed either. Let him wear his clothes himself. If he can't get dressed himself, then let him run without clothes. But no one is allowed to help him. He has to learn to do everything himself."

    John's mother loved him. She wanted to help him. But if she always helped him, he wouldn't learn anything. She wanted him to be independent.

    Soon John learned to do everything by himself. When he was sixteen, he could even drive a car with his feet. John felt very proud. He thanked his mother for making him independent.

    Today John is a grown-up man. He has a business of his own and he is very successful. He also travels around the world.

    John likes children very much. He likes to talk and play with them. He tells them that they can learn to do anything. He teaches them how to be independent.

    What can a poem writer and a film director share? More than you think! Langston Hughes began writing poems in high school and soon became one of America's greatest writers. Most of his writing is about his experiences as an African American. He wrote poems about people who worked hard through life but still found things to be happy about. He wrote plays and books about justice(正义)for all people, and he wrote kids' books too. The Sweet and Sour Animal Book is a book of his animal poems. Pictures and photos were used in the book. "Hold fast to dreams" is a line in Hughes' famous poem. That's exactly what he did throughout his life.

    When Steven Spielberg was in middle school, he wanted to make a film. He had an idea for a film, but no money. He started a tree-planting business and made his film with the money he earned. Spielberg never stopped making films, even after many film schools refused him. Now he is one of the most popular and important filmmakers in the world. His films are about people who are adventurous(爱冒险的), brave and kind. His characters often fight for what is good. Some of his films are about his Jewish background, such as Schindler's List. Spielberg once said, "I don't dream much at night because I dream for a living." In different ways, both Hughes and Spielberg have encouraged people of all ages to achieve their dreams.