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    Many years ago, a French naturalist, Comte de Buffon, wrote some books about natural history. The books were a great success even though some critics（批评家）did not like them.

    Thomas Jefferson did not like what Comte de Buffon had said about the natural wonders（奇观）of the New World. It seemed to Jefferson that Comte de Buffon had spoken of natural wonders in America as if（好像）they were unimportant.

    This troubled Thomas Jefferson. He was also a naturalist, as well as a farmer, an inventor, a historian, a writer and a politician（政治家）. He had seen the natural wonders of Europe. To him, they were no more important than those of the New World.

    In 1788, Thomas Jefferson wrote about his home state, Virginia. While writing, he thought of its natural beauty and then of the words of Comte de Buffon. At that moment, Jefferson created a new word—belittle. He said, “Comte de Buffon believes that nature belittles her productions on this side of the Atlantic（大西洋）.”

    Noah Webster, the American word expert, liked this word. He put it in the English language dictionary in 1806, “Belittle—to make small, unimportant.”

    Americans had already accepted Jefferson's word and started to use it. In 1797, the Independent Chronicle（独立纪事报）used the word to describe a politician the paper supported. “It is an honorable man,” the paper wrote, “so let the opposition try to belittle him as much as they please.”

    In 1872, a famous American word expert decided that the time had come to kill this word. He said, “Belittle shouldn't become English. And more critical writers of America, like those of Britain, feel no need of it.”

    This expert failed to kill the word. Today, belittle is used where the English language is spoken.

    Miss Huang and Mr Huang are teachers in No.16 Middle School. Their school isn't big, but it's beautiful. There are 35students in Miss Huang's class, twenty-one boys and fourteen girls. They are all Chinese. In Mr Huang's class, there are two Americans, one boy, Robert and one girl, Kate. They are good students. Miss Huang and Mr Huang like their students very much.

    Indonesia is my mother's homeland and one of my favorite countries. Since I was young, I had learned a lot about the country and become interested in it. For a long time I had wanted to do something for the country and people there, and I thought volunteering（做志愿者） would be a good and fun way to do so.

    I received the greatest pleasure from being with the children.

    Teaching my first English class in Aceh was exciting, but I was rather nervous. As time went by, I learned how to be a better teacher. Teaching was actually the most enjoyable of my many responsibilities(责任).

    Many children were shy at first. But when they relaxed, they would start talking and telling you a lot of funny things. I believed we were helping them build up their confidence.

    For the children who are more in need. The Education Program（TEP） will collect donations(募捐) to help them.

    As a volunteer, I had to visit the TEP children at home once a month and help them write a thank-you letter to their sponsors. This was a way for the children to communicate with their sponsors. Sometimes the sponsors would write back to the children. Seeing the children's happy faces, I had a great sense of pleasure.

    In the Chinese﹣speaking world, almost everyone knows about Jin Yong and his books. Jin Yong is the pen name of Louis Cha Leung﹣yung. He was the most important Chinese martial arts novelist. On Oct 30, he passed away at 94 years old in Hong Kong.

    During his lifetime, Jin Yong wrote 15 martial arts novels. Over 300 million copies of his books have been sold (卖) around the world. It's just as the well﹣known saying goes, "Wherever there are Chinese, you will find Jin Yong's novels".

    With his books, Jin Yong created an imaginary world called jianghu. In jianghu, there are many fighting heroes(侠) practicing martial arts. But Jin Yong also used some stories from history and traditional Chinese culture to make this world. His stories took place in different dynasties. He used Chinese poems in his books. This makes his books rich and colorful.

    However, more importantly, Jin Yong has shaped the values (价值观) of many Chinese people. The characters in Jin Yong's books fight for justice and righteousness. And his readers will always thank him for teaching them these values.

    Jin Yong touched people's hearts through more than just his books. All of his novels have been made into films, TV shows, comics or video games. Almost all of the adaptations (改编作品) have been big hits. Lots of actors and actresses became famous because of his works. His works are also popular overseas.