Once, in a small village, lived a family with eight children. Two of the children loved1very much, but the family was so poor that2was impossible to send them to study at the art college at the same time. After many discussions, the two boys finally3a plan. They would throw a coin. The loser would4down into the coal mines (煤矿) and used the money that he would make in the mines to support his brother5at the college. Then, when the brother who won finished his studies, after four years, he would support6brother studying at the college.

    James won and Jack went down into the mines. James studied with all his heart and his paintings were much better than7of most of his teachers, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning8a lot of money for his paintings.

    9James returned, the family held a big dinner for his great success. Soon after the meal began, James 10up from his seat to drink a toast(敬酒) to his dear11 He said, "Jack, now you can go to the art college and your dream 12true. I will take care of you."

    But Jack said13 "Brother, the four years in the mines has done too much to my hands, so it's too late. Now I can't even hold a glass. "

    To show his great love and respect, James drew his brother's hands 14fingers towards the sky.

    He called his drawing "The Praying Hands", 15 became very famous years later.

Are there any rules in your family?

A reporter, Tim {#blank#}1{#/blank#} four students about their family rules.

On school days, Jack can't play computer {#blank#}2{#/blank#} and has to go to bed before nine o'clock. He must take a shower before {#blank#}3{#/blank#} to bed. He 39. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} clean the house on the weekend.

Jim has to get up at six o'clock every morning. He must do his homework {#blank#}5{#/blank#} after school. He can't watch TV {#blank#}6{#/blank#} listen to music on weekdays, either. His mother is a teacher. She is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} with Jim very much.

Sally can't {#blank#}8{#/blank#} loudly (大声地) at home. She has to listen to English before going to bed. She has to play the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} on Sundays.

Mike must run in the morning. He can't eat junk food (垃圾食品). He has to help his mom do {#blank#}10{#/blank#} housework.

Charles Darwin

Early years

Charles Darwin was one of the six children from a big family. His grandfather and father were doctors and the young Darwin went to Edinburgh University to study medicine. However, he hated to see blood and he soon realized that he couldn't be a doctor. He then went to Cambridge University and discovered that he had a great interest in studying plants, insects and animals. Luckily, one of Darwin's university teachers helped him join the perfect trip for a biologist: a voyage around the world to study nature.

The Beagle

In 1831, Charles Darwin left Plymouth on The Beagle, a ship that took him around the world for five years. While he was travelling, he studied the plants and animals in the countries and on the islands that the ship visited. Darwin also spent his time on The Beagle writing notes about the things he had seen. When he finally arrived back in Britain, Darwin was already starting to create his famous theory that all living things had a common ancestor (祖先).

Down house

At home at Down House, a place that you can still visit today, Darwin wrote many articles and books about his travels, but he didn't want to make anything about his theory known to the public. He worked in his study, where he wrote 250,000 words about his theory of evolution (进化论), but he was frightened about what people might say about his idea that monkeys were the ancestors of humans. He thought the public would be against it and was so frightened that he became ill with worry. However, when another scientist started to write about similar ideas, Darwin decided to print his book, On the Origin of Species.

Most scientists accepted Darwin's theory and people continue to study it today. On 12th February, the day he was born, Darwin Day is celebrated around the world to encourage more people to study the natural world.

I live next to a school. There's a wall between my neighborhood and the school. 

One day, on my way home, an apple flew towards 1 . It just landed(掉落) in front of my feet. How lucky I was! I guessed a troublemaker(捣蛋鬼) on the other side threw 2 apple over the wall. Thinking it was a small accident, I didn't care 3 it. 

A week later, when I 4 the same place, an apple came flying again. This time it landed on the roof(屋顶) next to the wall. I was a bit angry, 5 again, I did nothing. 

Yesterday, while I was walking back home, I saw another apple. It was flying so fast! Seeing that, I was 6 than I was last time. If he kept doing this 7 action might hurt others. So I decided to teach him a lesson. 

I told my friends about it first. They advised me 8 the apple back next time. But I didn't want to do that. An eye for an eye ends up 9 the whole world blind. 

Finally I planned to call the school to find out who was the troublemaker. And I wanted all the 10 to learn from his mistakes. 

Jenny is my good friend. She likes sports very much. She plays tennis twice a week and she plays ping—pong three times a week. She also likes English. She reads English every morning. She goes to the movies with her mother once a month. She hardly ever watches TV at home. She does her homework every day.