Nick and his friends were talking about things that can bring them luck. “I have a lucky red pen,” said Andy. “I have a lucky coin,” said Peter. “Every time I take a test, I carry my lucky coin.” Nick thought for a moment, and said, “My blue socks.” “Blue socks?” the boys were surprised and asked together. Nick said that every time he wore his blue socks to school before a test, he got a good mark.

    The next day Nick had a Chinese test. He was sad because he couldn't find his blue socks. “Mom!” shouted Nick. “Where are my blue socks? I have a Chinese test today, and I need to wear them.”

  “Don't be silly,” Nick's mom said.“They need to be washed.” “When I wear them, I get a good grade.” Nick said.

  “Did you prepare for your test?” asked Mom.

  “Yes.”

  “Then don't worry about it. Just do your best.” Mom encouraged.

    A few days later, Nick's teacher told him that he got 95 in his test. Nick was so excited that he couldn't wait to tell Mom he did well in his test. Mom said, “It wasn't the blue sock s that made you success. In fact, it was made by yourself.”

    It was only with her death that Nurse Edith Cavell became known, but her story became one of the great epics (ASF) of the First World War. Edith Cavell, born on December 4, 1865 at Northfolk, England, studied nursing, and became First Matron(护士长) at a hospital in Brussels, Belgium. During the war she became an important link in a chain of people helping the wounded and stray Allied soldiers (离散的盟军士兵) back to their own lines. The Germans caught her and she was sentenced to be shot. This brave woman, who had helped over two hundred soldiers to safety, acted with great pride during the short trial(审判). She said at the end her only regret was that she could not have done more than she did.

    Edith Cavell was killed by several German soldiers on October 12, 1915 after an American's request to spare her life had been rejected. There is a statue(雕塑) of her in London, arid Mount Edith Cavell in Canada is named for this heroic nurse.

    Children across the world are taking pictures of their school meals. They are sending these pictures over the Internet to a young girl in Scotland. Then she shares the pictures and stories with people around the world.

    The girl's name is Martha. She likes to write. So Martha decided to start her own blog. Every day, Martha writes on the Internet about the meals she eats at school. She also takes pictures of the food.

    Martha is very honest about the food. She does not just describe the food. She judges (评价) the taste of the food. She also judges how healthy the food is. Sometimes she likes the food, and sometimes she does not. Now, other people send pictures to Martha. Students around the world share their pictures of their school food!

    Martha also started her blog for another important reason. She began to raise money for the organization (组织) Mary's Meals. Mary's Meals works in the East African country of Malawi . It provides food for children in schools. Martha encourages her readers to send money to Mary's Meals to help build a kitchen.

    Martha hoped to raise about 10,000 dollars. But the total reached 100,000 dollars and still keeps on growing!

    Martha's blog has also helped to improve meals at her school. Martha and her school friends found their meals improved since she started writing her blog.

    No one knows what will happen to Martha's blog in future. But already this girl has helped to change the eating experience of many children just by sharing pictures of her school meals.

    Simon lived in a big house with his family in the southeast of Australia. Their house was 20 kilometers from the town, at a beautiful beach. There were five people in his family. They're his parents, his two younger sisters and him. The house had four bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and two bathrooms. In front of the house, there were many trees and flowers. They had a very big farm around the house, and thousands of sheep were there. In the morning, Simon took a school bus to his school in the town. And after school, he helped his parents do some farm work. At weekends his school friends often came to visit. They usually travelled there by bus. On the farm they played games, went swimming and had a picnic together. They thought it was a nice place to live in. It was so relaxing, and never dull.

    My interest in cooking started when I was 11, partly thanks to my mother. She didn't really like cooking and when she did cook. I didn't like her food. Once I was watching something about cooking on TV and I thought I could do this, so I went to the bookstore and looked for the biggest cookbook I could find.

    During a year, I had made most of its recipes (食谱) and was ready for a bigger challenger (挑战). I wanted to create my own dishes and I started cooking for more people than just my family. To my happiness, my parents allowed me to build a test kitchen. I did much cooking test my dishes in it and my skill became better and better. Now as a teen chef (主厨). I have cooked in top-class restaurants around the country. I am not doing it for money, but because I love cooking.

    Now I know that when you stop caring whether you will be famous or do well, your happiness will come to you.