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 girl complained to her father about her hard life．She didn't know what she had to do and wanted to give up．She felt tired of fighting and fighting．One problem had been finished but another came over．

    Her father，a cook，took her into the kitchen．He poured water into three pans and boiled(煮沸) them．After boiling，in the first pan was put some carrots，the second was put some eggs and the last was put with coffee．

    The girl waited impatiently (不耐烦的)，confused by what her father did．About 20 minutes later，her father took out the carrots and put them in a bowl．He took the eggs and put them in a bowl．After that the coffee was poured into a cup．“My sweet heart，what do you see？” he asked．

    “Carrots，eggs and coffee，” she replied．

    Her father told her to close her eyes and asked her to touch the carrots．She did so and felt that the carrots were soft．After that he asked her to take the eggs and break them．After peeling (剥开) them，she got the eggs，cooked and hard．The last，the father let her smell the coffee． She asked，“What did you do this for，Father？” He explained that each had the same unlucky experience—the boiling water，but each had a different result． The strong and hard carrots had become soft and weak．Thefragileeggs became hard after being cooked． The coffee was very special，they could change water．“Who are you？” asked her father．“When bad luck knocks at your door，what is your decision? Are you carrots，eggs or coffee？”

    Long long ago, the world was a happy place. Nobody was ever sick or sad.

    At that time there lived a little girl named Pandora. One day a fairy gave her a wonderful box. The fairy asked Pandora to promise not to open it. Pandora and her friend often looked at the box and wanted to know what was in it.

    For a long time Pandora kept her promise, but at last she couldn't help herself. She opened the box a little. Hundreds of bad fairies flew out. They stung (蜇) Pandora and her friend. They cried.

    The bad fairies flew out of doors and stung all the children in the land. Then Pandora heard a voice crying, “Let me out, and I will help you.”

    She opened the box, and a beautiful fairy flew out. She told Pandora that her name was Hope. She kissed Pandora and her friend, and they felt well at once. Then she flew away to help the other children.

    Until now, when people are sick or unhappy, the little good fairy, Hope，comes to make them comfortable.

    Hello, everyone. I' m Nancy and I like reading. On road trips, I always take some books to keep myself busy. These are four of my favorite books.
    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

    This children's book is interesting, exciting, sad and happy all at the same time and makes you think seriously. It tells the story of a 15-year-old boy with autism (自闭症).The book opens a window into his world, his thoughts, his hopes and his dreams.

   Matilda

    It's now a film and show at the theater, but we can't forget the book. Matilda is about a cute little girl who is very clever and loves to read. She goes to school and meets the very scary Miss Trunchbull but thankfully makes friends with a kind teacher. The book will make you cry one moment and laugh the next.
    Charlotte's Web

    Charlotte's Web tells the story of friendship (友谊) between a pig and a spider (蜘蛛). It' s a simple story but it teaches us about love, fife and death (死亡). If you haven't read it, give it a try.
   The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    I read the book, watched the film and listened to the tape. The exciting story happens in a place called Namia As you read it, you' ll feel like you're really there. You'll lose yourself in the adventures (冒险经历) of the four children and the characters they meet.

根据材料内容选择最佳答案。

    Horatio Spafford, who was born in 1828, was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a promising career, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son.

    At the very height of his financial and professional success Horatio and his wife, Anna, suffered the loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter, on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of his real estate(地产) Investment.

    In 1873, Spafford planned a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much-needed vacation and time to recover from the loss of their young son. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some small business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had had a collision (碰撞). All four of his daughters had drowned, only his wife had survived.

    With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his broken-hearted Anna in England. It was on this trip that he wrote those now famous words: When sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well, it is well with my soul.

    Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs, including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Buming, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn (赞美) that be composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the poem. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey in 1876.

    For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless people.