"Mom, I'm bored," said Jason. "There is nothing to do." "You can clean your room," said Mom. "That's not fun." It was only the second week of summer vacation. It was still too chilly to go to the pool, and Jason was tired of watching TV. His friends went on a trip, and even his dog, Riley, was being lazy.

    Mom was getting ready to go downtown to the food kitchen to help out. She volunteered three times a week serving lunch to people that weren't as lucky as Jason. "Why don't you come with me to the food kitchen and help out?" Mom asked. "I don't know anything about working at a food kitchen," said Jason. "You just watch me, and then you will see how to serve the food," said Mom.

    It was time to go, and Jason was excited to try working in the food kitchen. He watched his mom put some chicken on a plate and some mashed potatoes. She then passed the plate to the next lady, and she put some green beans and bread on the plate. "I can do that," thought Jason. One of the volunteers left early, so Jason took his place in the serving line. He was in charge of putting salad on the plates. He served twenty-five people that day. After the kitchen closed, Jason and his mom stayed to clean up. "That was great!" said Jason.

    Jason was so excited and really enjoyed his day at the food kitchen. He couldn't wait to get home and tell his dad about how much fun he had. "Not only did it give me something to do, but I felt so good doing it," Jason told his dad. "Jason, that was nice thing you did today," said Dad. "You helped many people who aren't as lucky as you to have a hot meal," Mom said. "I am so proud of you, Jason! You worked very hard.

    Jason went to bed that night thinking about the food kitchen. "I am going to help out again," he thought. Jason made some new friends, and he didn't even know they lived so close to him in town! The best part was how good Jason felt inside.

    It was already the middle of April but there was not a raindrop in sight. Danny stood in his backyard alone looking at the 1 landscape(园林) in front of him. He could see nothing but sand and clear blue sky. "Even the cactus(仙人掌) is starting to 2," said Danny to himself as he bent down to take a good 3.

    All of a sudden, when he was walking back to his house, he heard the sound of thunder(打雷). He stopped and looked up 4. He was wild with joy to see that the 5 rain had finally come. Danny quickly ran towards the cabin next to his house, where he stored his rain barrels(桶). He was going to capture every single drop of rain to 6 the vegetable garden in his backyard. In the desert, rain is as 7 as gold. It had rained for almost seven days. The cactus looked much 8 than before. Snakes popped their heads from out of their holes and birds sang happily in the 9.

    Living in deserts can be very 10, especially when there is no source of water. However, life went on for Danny and all the desert creatures for another season, thanks to the spring rains.

    Little Mary is a good girl. She's in Grade 2 now. Her home is not far from school, but she is often late for class because she likes watching TV, listening to music in the evening and she goes to bed very late. So she can't get up on time in the morning.

    This term Mr.  White, Mary's uncle, works in her school. He teaches Grade 2 history. He often tells Mary to follow the school rules and come to school on time.

    Today Mary get up late again. When she comes to school, it is 8:15. Her uncle is waiting for her at the school gate. "You are ten minutes late for the first class. " Mr. White says angrily (生气地). "Why are you often late for class?" "Every time when I get to the street corner（街角）, I always see a sign(标志). It says 'SCHOOL-GO SLOW!(慢行)'" says Mary.