A well-known old man was being interviewed and was asked if it was correct that he had just celebrated his ninety-ninth birthday.

     “That's right.” said the old man. “Ninety-nine years old, and I haven't an enemy in the world. They're all dead.”

  “Well, sir,” said the interviewer, “I hope very much to have the honour of interviewing you on your hundredth birthday.”

     The old man looked at the young man closely, and said, “I can't see why you shouldn't look fit and healthy to me!”

B

    Nancy lives in Washington D.C. Her father has a store there and her mother is a reporter. She's six years old now and begins to go to school this year. It's a little far from their shop and her father drives a car to take her to school every day. So she's not late for class and her teachers like her.

    It's Tuesday today. Miss White is teaching them to count(数数) from one to ten. Nancy is studying hard. Soon she can count them. Miss White is happy and asks, “How many people are there in your family, Nancy?”

    Nancy stands up and begins to count with her fingers(手指), and then she says, “Two, Miss White.”

  “Who are they?”

  “My father and mother.”

  “Oh?” Miss White is surprised, “Two people in your family?”

  “Because now I'm not at home.”

      More and more people think it necessary to study in an English-speaking country and it didn't take long at all for me to decide to come and study in UK.

      I have been used to school life since I came here two months ago, and I am starting to enjoy most of my time in here. School starts at 9 o'clock every morning, and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we have long days, in which we have 9 lessons and school finishes at 4 o'clock. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we have short days, in which we have only 6 lessons and finish at 1 o'clock. After lessons, we have  hours of activity time, when you can choose from a number of activities, including many sports, such as rugby(英式橄榄球) , football, basketball and tennis.

As a boarder(寄宿者), the quality of food is something I consider very important, and Merchiston has not let me down. The school kitchens are run by a professional company, and the quality of food is excellent, and they are always trying to make the diet healthy. One of the obvious advantages of being a boarder is that we can have breakfast in the school, which means we don't have to pull ourselves out of bed as early as the day pupils!

    Steven is six years old. He gets some money from his mother every week. He buys a lot of things from the shops, but he doesn't really need them, and he puts them everywhere. One day his mother gives him a notebook and says, “Now, Steven, when you buy things, write their names down in the notebook, and also write down how much they are. Then you can look at it again when your money is all gone (花光了), and you don't waste (浪费) so much money next time.”

    After a week, Steven says to his mother, “Do you know, Mum, before I spend any money now, I really stop and think!” His mother is very happy and thinks, “Well, my son knows the value (价值) of money now.” But then she hears him say, “Mum, before I buy something, I always ask myself, 'Can I spell (拼写) that word and put it down in my notebook?' ”

    Mrs. Brown had a small garden behind her house, and in March she grew some vegetables in it. She looked after them very carefully（仔细地）, and when summer came, they looked very nice.

    One evening Mrs. Brown looked at her vegetables and said, “Tomorrow I'm going to pick them, and then we can eat them.”

    But early the next morning, her son ran into the house and shouted（喊叫）, "Mum, Mum! Come quickly! Some ducks from next door are in the garden and they are eating our vegetables! ”

    Mrs. Brown ran out, but it was too late! All the vegetables were finished! Mrs. Brown cried, and the owner（主人）of the ducks was very sorry, but it was too late.

    Then a few days before Christmas（圣诞节）, the owner of the ducks brought a small bag. In it was a beautiful fat duck, and on it was a piece of paper with the words“Please enjoy your vegetables! ”

    What could a poem writer and a film director share? More than you think！Langston Hughes began writing poems in high school and soon became one of America's greatest writers. Most of his writing is about his experiences as an African American. He wrote poems about people who worked hard through life but still found things to be happy about. He wrote plays and books about justice(正义)for all people, and he wrote kids' books, too. The Sweet and Sour Animal Book is a book of his animal poems. Pictures and photos were used in the book." Hold fast to dreams" is a line in a famous Hughes poem. That's exactly what he did throughout his life.

    When Steven Spielberg was in middle school, he wanted to make a film. He had an idea for a film, but no money. He started a tree-planting business and made his film with the money he earned. Spielberg never stopped making films, even after many film schools refused him. Today he is one of the most popular and important filmmakers in the world. His films are about people who are adventurous(爱冒险的), brave, kind. His characters often fight for what is good. Some of his films are about his Jewish background, such as Schindler's List. Spielberg once said, "I don't dream that much at night because I dream for a living." In different ways, both Hughes and Spielberg have encouraged people of all ages to reach for their dreams.