Amy had three sons, Dave, Bill and Bob. Every year her sons sent her expensive gifts on her birthday.

The eldest son Dave, had a lot of money and he wanted his mother to have the most expensive gifts, but he didn't know what to buy. So he put an ad in the newspaper. "Wanted—the greatest gift for my mother.”

About a week before his mother's birthday, a man came to his office. He brought a big bird.

“This bird can speak six languages and sing eight songs.”the man said.

“Really?  I'd like to listen to it," Dave said.

The man made the bird talk in French and tell a joke in Japanese. Then the bird sang a beautiful song. Dave was very happy and paid eight thousand dollars for the bird. The next day Dave sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card.

The day after his mother's birthday he called his mother. “Well, mother”he asked, "What do you think of the bird?”

“Oh, it's very delicious, dear.”said his mother.

    A lesson in “heart” is my little 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, who was born with a muscle(肌肉)missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home on a beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in “field day” 一 that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events.

    Because of her leg support, my mind raced as I tried to think of words of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down-things I have heard many famous coaches tell the players when they were faced with defeat(失败)—but before I could get a word out, she looked up and said, “Daddy, I won two of the races.”

    I couldn't believe it! Then Sarah said. “I had an advantage.”

    Ah. I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start……some kind of physical advantage. But again, before I could say anything, she said, “Daddy, I didn't get a head start…My advantage was I had to try harder!”

When my father was getting ready for work, our house was ruled by knocks and words. He used to come downstairs to breakfast. The morning paper lay beside his plate. He always read the' Deaths' first; and then he knocked once on the table. One of my sisters brought hi toast, already buttered for him.1 he said nothing, but once I heard him say, "I love you very much, Edith. I would love you more if you buttered my toast on2 . "He read the paper all through breakfast. 

Two knocks on the table meant 'I am ready for my tea', If a single knock followed, that meant 'More toast, please. ' After breakfast he said, "Boots. " The paper was3 for him over the back of an armchair. Yesterday's paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought to him, freshly cleaned. He read standing,4 putting on his boots and tying the laces. 

With one boot finished, he said, "Bus. " At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there. Her job was to stop the bus when it came. It came early sometimes, and it had to wait for my father. "Overcoat, hat. " One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat. Now she held it open for him and guided his arms into it. Then she pulled his jacket down under the coat.5 girl came with his hat, nicely brushed. "Handkerchief, pipe. " They were brought and put, with his tobacco, into his pockets. He looked out of the window and said either 'Walking stick' or＇Umbrella'. It was handed to him. 

Ready now, he was still reading the paper. He did not put it down until he heard the shout "Bus coming! " Then he kissed my mother and went out. The girls breathed freely. How lucky a man is to have a wife and five daughters at home!

A businessman found he couldn't sleep at night, because he often slept a lot during the day. He became so worried, so he went to see a doctor.

"Can you help me, Doctor?" he asked the doctor worriedly "I sleep little I can only sleep less than two hours at night."

The doctor looked over the businessman, asked him some questions and gave him some medicine. Then he asked him to work less hard. The doctor said he was sure that he was not seriously ill and he would be better soon. The businessman went back home with the medicine,

Instead of feeling better, the businessman felt worse. He slept even less than before. After a long talk with the businessman, the doctor found out the reason: the businessman's wife gave him the sleeping medicine in the morning, and that kept him awake at night!

Mandy's family lived in a small village. They had a hard but happy life. Mandy was never lonely,1 many children played on the hill behind their house.

But one winter, Mandy fell ill. Her parents were too 2 to pay for the medicine. Mandy had to sit by the window, watching her friends outside.

One day, a spider(蜘蛛) came and began to spin(结网) down next to her. When Mom came in, she noticed the3 too." Please get out!"

" No, she is my friend. Please let her stay. Look! She's spinning 4 me."

How thankful the spider was!5 came. The family started to decorate(装饰) the tree. Mom prepared some eggs and Mandy started to paint on them. But after a while, she was tired. Mom helped her finish the 6 and hung them on the tree. Dad found some pieces of wood and cut a few stars, but without Mandy, it didn't feel the same 7 .

When the family were asleep, the spider began to 8 . She spun down to the floor, then carefully climbed every branch(树枝), leaving her web s behind.9 , she reached the top of the tree.

Before long, the 10 air blew under the door and turned the gray webs to silver—— real silver.

" Look! It's real silver!" Mandy was very 11 ." The best Christmas gift for me!"

" How is this possible?" Mom and Dad were also amazed at the 12 .

Mandy looked up at the web," It must be 13 spider friend. Thank you!"

The next day, Dad took the silver to exchange for coins. They were enough to pay for Mandy's14 . Two weeks later, Mandy was on the hill,15 with her friends again.

Mary is a quiet little girl. She likes {#blank#}1{#/blank#} soccer very much. If you give her a soccer ball, she can play with {#blank#}2{#/blank#} for a day. Mary's classmates all make fun of her for her love of{#blank#}3{#/blank#} . They think it is a game for boys. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} she doesn't care what they say. Every day after school, Mary {#blank#}5{#/blank#} her homework first. And then she goes to play soccer. Her mom stands by her because she knows Mary's {#blank#}6{#/blank#} for the sport.

When Mary tries out {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the soccer team(队) at school, her classmate s make fun of her again. But Mary does {#blank#}8{#/blank#} and the teachers make her the head of the team. From then on, Mary never hears a {#blank#}9{#/blank#} word about her from a classmate.

Soccer is not only for boys, but also for {#blank#}10{#/blank#} . When you give a girl a soccer ball, you give her a wonderful world.