Dragons are not real animals, but look like a combination (组合体) of many animals such as snakes, fish and deer. They have two horns (角) and a long moustache (胡子). With fantastic powers, they fly in the sky or swim in the sea. They can make rain, too. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of strength and goodluck. The emperors of ancient China loved dragons. Their clothes were covered with pictures of dragons.

    We are proud to call ourselves the “descendants (传人) of the dragon”. In Chinese, “excellent”people are often called “dragons”. A number of Chinese sayings and idioms talk about dragons, for example, “Hoping one's child will become a dragon,” which means hoping he or she will be successful.

    It is said that people born in the Year of the Dragon have certain characteristics. They are creative, confident, brave and quick-tempered. There are some famous “dragons”who have done excellent things, for example, Deng Xiaoping, the famous businessman Li Jiacheng and the movie star Zhao Wei. They are all very successful.

    There are also some traditional festivals about dragons in China, such as Dragon Head – Raising Day and Dragon Boat Festival. We have different kinds of activities to celebrate them. These two festivals come every year, but the Year of the Dragon comes every twelve years. It was the year of the Dragon in 1976.

    The dragon is very important in Chinese culture. As the“descendants of the dragon”, it is necessary for us to know the views on dragons in our culture. It can help us understand why our parents always want us to be“dragons”.

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    Mrs.White had a lovely young cat，and it was the cats first winter.One evening，it was1 outside when it began to snow.Mrs.White2 everywhere and shouted its.But she couldn't find it.So she3 the police，and said，"I4 a cat.Did anyone find one？""No，Madam" answered the policeman at the other end."I will ring you up if someone finds it.What5 is your cat？""white.""I think it may be in the snow.But don't worry.I know cats are really very6 animals."They sometimes live for a few days in the snow, and they're quite all right" Mrs.White felt7 when she heard this."Yes，yes.I think you are8"She said，"and my cat is very clever.She can almost talk." The policeman was getting tired.He said，"9 don't you put down your telephone？Perhaps she is trying to 10you now.

    Mr. Jenkins liked all kinds of delicious food. As an important officer, he was often asked to dinner. The shopkeepers tried their best to fawn on(巴结) him. They knew it was good for their business. Now the officer got fatter and fatter. He could hardly go upstairs（楼上） at home and had to sleep downstairs. He often felt tired if he walked or did some housework. He was worried about it and had to go to a doctor. "Stop eating much fat(脂肪) and sugar, Mr. Jenkins," said the doctor, "or it will be worse for your health!" It was difficult for the officer to do it. He didn't do as the doctor said. He found something was wrong with his heart a few months later. Now he thought the doctor was right. And he had to be in hospital. "You must lose weight(减肥), sir," said the doctor, " unless you want to die soon!" "Could you tell me a way to lose weight, please?" "You must do some exercise first." "Which exercise?" "To move your head from side to side when you are invited to dinner!"

    Do you know the little boy in the picture? Oh, his family name is Zou. His first name is Mingxuan. You can call him "Xuanxuan". He is in Hong Kong with his family now.

    His father's name is Zou Shiming. He is a boxer(拳击手). Xuanxuan's mother is Ran Yingying. She is a host(主持人). Xuanxuan has a brother, and his name is Zou Minghao. Xuanxuan was born (出生)in 2011. Minghao was born in 2013.

    In July, 2015, Xuanxuan and his father took part in(参加) Where Are We going, Dad? In Hunan TV. Many people in China like Xuanxuan very much.

    Night after night, a wolf walks around a group of sheep, looking for one of them to eat, but the shepherd (牧羊人) and his dogs always make him go away.

    But one day, the wolf finds the skin (皮)of a sheep. He puts the skin carefully over him. Then he walks into the group of sheep.

    The shepherd thinks that the wolf is one of his sheep, and makes the wolf eat the grass with the sheep, and even lets him sleep with the sheep.

    For many days and nights, the wolf eats and sleeps very well. The wolf enjoys himself very much. But one day, the shepherd wants to sell one of his sheep at the market. He finds the biggest and fattest sheep and brings him into town. Can you guess who it is? It is the wolf!

    In the 1950s, a female swimming athlete set a goal for herself. She decided to swim across the English Channel before she retired. If she could make it, she would be the first person in the world who did it.

    On that day, she jumped into the sea without any hesitation and swam towards the opposite bank.

    In the journey, she faced heavy fog, heavy rain and heavy waves. Though she was very tired, she carried on swimming.

    But in the end, she gave up. And what she didn't know at the moment she gave up was that the opposite bank was only 1 mile away.

    Later people asked her about the reason. And she said," The reason why I gave up is that I could not see the destination which I was so close to. "

    Too many stories about success have been lecturing us about courage and persistence(坚持). But they never told us where to find courage and persistence.

    You can have courage only when you know where your goal is. You can manage to persist only when you know where your goal is, and prepare yourself well mentally(心理上).

    Courage and persistence never fall from the sky. They come from weighing between input and output.

    A life without goals is like a ship without a compass. It goes nowhere. There is no courage or persistence in a life without goals.