One day, I was cooking with my friend Sandy in the kitchen. Suddenly, Sandy cut her finger. I went to her quickly. But to my surprise, I saw computer chips in her finger.

   “Now you know my secret, you have to die!” Sandy said and picked up the knife. “No, please, Sandy. Aren't we good friends?” I shouted. But before Sandy could say anything, she fainted.

    “Oh, Sandy!” I took her to hospital in a hurry. After a doctor checked her, he said, “I'm afraid we can't help her. Why don't you take her to a robot centre?”

      I hurried to a robot centre. A few days later, Sandy was well. She asked, ”Mary, why did you save me even after I tried to kill you? ”

“Because I'm sure you are my friend. Can you tell me where you are from?” “I'm from another planet. It's far from here. Thank you, my friend Now I see how friendly people are on the earth.”

      Two days later, a UFO came and picked her up. Since then I've never seen her.

       Doctor Seuss was born in 1904. By the middle 1950s, he had become one of the best-loved and most successful children's book writers in the world. His books are very popular with young readers. They enjoy the invented words and the pictures of unusual funny animals and plants.

In l954, Life Magazine published(刊登) a report about school children who could not read. The report said many children's books were not interesting. Doctor Seuss strongly hoped to help children and decided to write books that were interesting and easy to read. He used words with the same ending sound, like fish and wish. He did not receive training in art. Yet, he drew the pictures for most of his books.

    In l957, Doctor Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat. He used less than 230 words to write the book and even a six-year-old should be able to read it. It was a fun stow and easy to read. Children loved it. Their parents loved it, too. Today it is still one of his stories they like best. In l 960, he wrote a book using less than fifty words. The book is called Green Eggs and Ham.

    In l984, Doctor Seuss won a Pulitzer Prize(普利策奖). He was honored for the education and enjoyment his books provided American children and their parents.

    He died at the age of 87, but his influence remains. Millions of his books have been sold worldwide. People say his books helped change the way American children learned to read. Yet, his books are loved by people of all ages.

      Carol studies at Roosevelt High School. She is having a hard time passing exams. She has no interest in her homework, so she seldom finishes it on time.

     But there is one lesson she is doing well in. It is history. Carol always hands in her history homework on time. She respects the history teacher Mr Aragon. Carol feels that Mr Aragon treats her more than just a student. She feels other teachers look down on her.

      Carol's mother Maria told Mr Aragon that Carol wasn't doing well in her other lessons. Mr Aragon was surprised to learn that. "She is such a smart girl," he told Maria. Mr Aragon told Maria that he would talk to her daughter.

Carol felt embarrassed when Mr Aragon talked to her about the problems she was having in other lessons. But later Carol understood that Mr Aragon just wanted to help her. Mr Aragon and Carol had a discussion about what she could do to improve her marks in other lessons. They made a list of ways to help her to complete her homework on time, including setting a timetable for homework, cutting down some boring after-school activities, and having a friend help her with the homework. Carol decided to try these ways out to see which one would work best for her.

    Little Bob was born in a poor family. What's worse is that his father has been ill for a long time and can not do any housework at all. Bob's mother is very busy with the housework besides working in her factory. Bob can understand her mother's hard work and he always does some housework for his mother, though he is only eight years old. Here is what he usually does every day.

    Keep his bedroom clean. Take good care of his things and put them away every day. If he makes them dirty, he will clean them up quickly.

    Ask his mom what he could do. His mother will probably have suggestions for things he could do for her.

    Feed the pets every day. There is a parrot, a cat and a dog in his house. He feeds them and gives them water every day. And after school, he often plays with his dog.

    Wash his own clothes. When his clothes are dirty, he will wash them by himself, he says it's a good thing to make his mother happy.

    As the fifth of seven children, I went to the same public school as my three elder sisters and brother. Every year, each child from the third grade took part in an old school tradition—the plant sale held in early May, just before Mother's Day.

    That year I was old enough to take part in it. I wanted to surprise my mother, but I didn't have any money. I told my elder sister about it and she gave me some money. When I arrived at the plant sale, I carefully chose my favorite. I watched each plant seriously to make sure that I could find the best geranium(天竺葵). After school, with the help of my sister I bid it on the neighbor's porch(门廊). On Mother's Day, I remember how bright my mother's eyes were and how elated she was at my gift.

    The year I was fifteen, my younger sister reached the third, grade. She told me that, she wanted to surprise our mother. Like my elder sister did for me, I gave her some money. And she bought the same gift and we hid it in the same place. When she gave the gift to my mother, I watched them full of pride and happiness. My mother noticed me watching and gave me a soft and secret smile. With a shock at my heart, I smiled back.

    I wonder how my mother could pretend (假装) to be surprised at the same sixth child, but as I watched her eyes, I knew she was not pretending.