Have you ever heard of a rattlesnake? It is a poisonous (有毒的) American snake.When it is angry or afraid, it makes a noise like a rattle with its tail. It's very scary. But Heather Ramirez and her husband, from California, in the UnitedStates, make a living in an unusual way. They are self-employed (自雇的) snake catchers!They catch snakes, especially rattlesnakes which have gone indoors, and returnthem to the wild.

    Heather describes her work as “protecting people from rattlesnakes — andprotecting rattlesnakes from people!” In the area where they live, rattlesnakesoften come face to face with people. They are found in stores, offices, housesand gardens. Heather explains that it's not the snakes that are moving into places where people live, but it's the other way round. The snakes lived in these places first and then the people built houses.

Most people who see a rattlesnake are feared. If you keep your distance,however, the snake won't bite (咬) you. In twelve years as a snake catcher, Heather has nevertouched a snake. She doesn't take the risk. She picks up the snakes with aspecial tool. This doesn't hurt them,but it keeps them at a safe distance so that they can't bite her.

    Heather and her husband are very busy because they are never off duty.Catching snakes is a full-time job and they don't often have a day off. Peoplecan get to them at any time of the day or night. Not everyone can do this job,but Heather doesn't want to do anything else. “I just love my job,” she says.

    An eight-year-oldgirl heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was thathe was very sick and they had no money. Only a very expensive operation (手术)could  1 him now and there was no one to lend themthe money.

    When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother, “Only a miracle (奇迹)can save him now,” the little girl went to her 2 and pulled all her money from itshiding place and counted it 3.

    She hurried to a drugstore（药店）withthe money 4 her hand. 

  “And what doyou want? asked the salesman. “It's for my little brother,” the girlanswered. “He's really, really 5 and I want to buy a miracle.”

  “Pardon?” said the salesman.

  “My brother Andrewhas  6  badgrowing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So howmuch does a miracle 7?”

  “8we don't sell a miracle here, child. I'm sorry,” the salesman said with a smile.

  “Listen, 9 it isn't enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me 10 it costs.”

    A well-dressedman heard it and asked, “What kind of miracles does your brother need?”

  “I don't know,” she answered with her eyes full of  11. “He's really sick and mum says he needs an operation. But my daddy can't pay for it, so I have brought all my money.”

  “Howmuch do you have?” asked the man. “$ 1.11, butI can try and get some 12 money,” she answered.

  “Well, what a luck” smiled the man.“$ 1.11, the price of a miracle for little brothers.” He took up the girl's hand and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your  13 and meet your parents. Let's see if I havethe kind of miracle you need.”

    That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, afamous 14. The operation was 15 and it wasn't long before Andrew was homeagain.

    On Thanksgiving Day, about 88 percent Americans will eat turkey. But one lucky turkey not only will not be eaten but also will become famous! Every year, turkey farmers present a turkey to the US president. But instead of eating this turkey, the president gives it a "pardon". The turkey is flown to Florida for a Thanksgiving Parade(游行). Then it lives on a farm for the rest of its life.

    Turkeys come from America and have been part of American culture for centuries. Benjamin Franklin even wanted the turkey to be America's national bird.

    Turkeys that are kept on farms are large, awkward birds that can not fly. But wild turkeys are quite fast. They can fly at speeds up to 88 kilometers per hour. They can also run at 40 kilometers per hour.

    Turkeys don't have ears. They hear by using a growth above their beaks(尖喙). But their hearing is five times better than human hearing.

    Turkeys are such interesting birds—no wonder Benjamin Franklin wanted them to be America's national birds!

    Her name is Mary. She comes from America. She is in China with her father and mother. She can speak a little Chinese. She studies in No. 80 Middle School in Tianjin. She is in the same school as her parents (father and mother). She is a good student. She goes to school six days a week. She likes getting up early. She doesn't like to be late. She often goes to school very early. But today she gets up late. So she gets to the classroom at 7 :30. But there aren't any students in it. She is not late（迟到）. She is still early. It's Sunday today. The students are all at home.

    Li Shizhen (李时珍) was one of the most famous doctors in Chinese history.  He was born in Qichun, Hubei in 1518.

    Both of Li Shizhen's father and grandfather were doctors. Li Shizhen's grandfather was a country doctor who traveled in the countryside with a bag of herbs (药草) and medications and cured (治愈) people. His father was doctor who wrote several books.

    Li Shizhen used to help his father in his medical practice when he was young. Li Shizhen's father wanted him to enter politics (从政). Li Shizhen studied for the exams and passed the country-level examination, but he was never able to pass the imperial (帝国的) examination.

    When he was 38, he cured the son of the Prince of Chu and was invited to be an official in that court (宫廷) A few years later, he became an official at the Imperial Medical Institute.

    Even though he fulfilled his father's dream, he didn't want to continue working for the court.

    One year later, he left the court and returned to be a doctor again.

    Li Shizhen. was famous for his book, Compendium of Materia Medica 《本草纲日》He spent 27 years writing the book. Unluckily, Li Shizhen died before the book was officially published. It is such a successful book. Now it is still one of the most important medical books in China.

    To share is simply to let someone else have or use a part of something that belongs to you. It doesn't mean we're losing anything—because what's actually happening is that we're giving ourselves more of a chance to be sincere(真诚的), which in turn makes us feel better. Sharing also means that you are not alone because others have the similar experience with you. Here is a story about learning to share.

    Once upon a time, there was a beautiful flower with beautiful colors: red, orange and yellow. The flower was very happy because everyone who saw it said it was beautiful. As time went by, she thought she was the most beautiful among all flowers. And she was very proud of her colors, but she didn't want others to enjoy them. She was worried that others would imitate her. In that case, she would not be the most beautiful in this area. So she only came out at night.

    One day, it began to rain during sunrise and didn't stop until nightfall(黄昏). When the flower woke up in the evening, she opened her petals(花瓣) and realized that she had lost all colors. Now she was all white like the snow. What had happened? The flower was so sad that she couldn't stop crying.

    Suddenly, a fairy(仙子)wearing a dress with a colorful magic stick appeared in front of her. "What's wrong with you? Why are you so sad?" she asked.

    "I've lost my lovely colors. The rain in the day has washed them away completely," the flower cried.

    "Don't worry. I can give them back to you, but under one condition…"

    "Which one?" the flower asked.

    "I want you to     ▲   . I don't want to see that you just come out at night. You should share it with others."

    Now everyone who passed by the flower would stop." This is the most beautiful flower I've seen!" many of them said. The flower was really happy because she understood that sharing good things with others was so wonderful.