Keesh lived at the North Pole a long time ago. He was a bright thirteen-year-old boy with a strong, healthy body. His father was a brave man who had died during a food shortage. His father tried to save the lives of his people by fighting a giant polar bear. The meat from the bear kept the people from hunger.

    Keesh was his only son, and he lived alone with his mother. But people soon forgot how Keesh's father had saved their lives. They were forced to live in the poorest house in the village.

    One night there was a meeting in the chief's large house. At that meeting, Keesh showed how much courage he had. He rose to his feet and went on steadily, “Because my father, Bok, brought home more meat than any other hunter, everyone received a fair share, but now my mother and I were given meat filled with bones.” The hunters were shocked to hear a child speak to them that way.

    Keesh waited calmly until the shouting died down. “My mother has no one except me, and therefore I must speak. My father put his life in danger and died, to offer food to this village. It is only right that I, his son and his wife should have enough good meat as long as there is plenty of good meat in this village. I, Keesh, the son of Bok, have spoken.” He sat down. They threatened to punish him by not giving him any food at all. Keesh's eyes flashed(闪烁) and the blood pounded(冲击) under his skin, he jumped to his feet.

    “Listen to me, you men!” he shouted. “I shall never speak in this meeting again—not until you come to invite me to speak. My father was a great hunter, and so will I be.”

    They laughed and shouted at Keesh. But Keesh said nothing more. He walked away with his head raised, looking neither to the left nor the right……

— be based on a story by Jack London

    "Why do I live? Why do I wish for anything, or do anything? Is there anything in my life that will not be destroyed by my death?" Like Leo Tolstoy, the famous Russian writer, many people ask these difficult questions. Tolstoy spent his whole life trying to answer these difficult questions.

    As a young man, he thought people could achieve perfection if they tried hard enough. So he worked very hard to be the best in everything. He thought that he would find meaning and truth in success.

    In 1850s. Tolstoy wrote his first stories. He wrote about his life in the army. He also told stories about his childhood. These works were published and Tolstoy became a well-known writer.

    He earned the respect he always wanted. Many rich and smart men met and talked with Tolstoy. Some of them were writers like him. They talked a lot about faith (信仰) and the meaning of life. But soon Tolstoy recognized that these men were not perfect. Now he knew they could not answer his questions about faith.

    So in the 1860s, Tolstoy tried a different way to find the meaning of life. He opened a school for the children of his serfs-the people who worked on his land. These workers were very poor. He wanted to help them because he thought they were more honest than the rich people he knew.

    Tolstoy learned a lot from his workers. He understood how they worked hard to support their families. He began to believe that marriage and family would give his life meaning. So in 1862, Leo Tolstoy married a young woman named Sonya Behrs.

    The next 15 years were the best years of Tolstoy's life. It was during this time that he wrote his most famous books-War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Many experts say that War and Peace is one of the greatest books ever written. In these books, Tolstoy believed humans should live a simple life and take care of their families. Tolstoy thought this would satisfy him and bring him happiness.

    Leo Tolstoy is still a very respected writer today. His faith and writings have influenced many people all over the world.

    David and Jack are friends. They are Canadians, but they don't live in Canada. They live in China now. They are in No. 2 Middle School. They are in the library now. There are many books in the library. They borrow books from it. David borrows three books and Jack borrows two books. It's five in the afternoon. Jack closes the windows and David closes the door. "Thank you, David. Thank you, Jack." says the teacher. David and Jack say, “You are welcome.”

    The Sixth Time I Went to the Principal's Office When I was in the seventh grade, I had problems behaving. My heart was in the right place, but I couldn't always follow the rules. I played many tricks on my schoolmates. Once, I even pulled a girl's hair on the school bus to get her attention. As a result, I was repeatedly sent to the office of the principal(校长).

    Although I hated going there, I did not hate the principal, Mr. Ratcliff. Mr. Ratcliff was a kind, elderly man. When he spanked(打屁股)me for putting some ants into a classmate's pencil box, it didn't hurt at all, but it did hurt my feelings. I thought so much of him and moments like that seemed to prove I was hopelessly bad.

    When I got called to Mr. Ratcliff's office for the sixth time, I had no idea what I had done. I felt disappointed as I walked down there. I went into his office, sat down, and looked at the floor. Then he said the last thing I expected to hear:"

    Kevin, I've heard you've been behaving really well lately. I want you to know how proud I am of you, and I just called you down to my office to give you a peppermint."

    "Really?" I was surprised.

    "Yes. Now you can take that peppermint and go back to class."

    I carried the peppermint with me as if it was a gold coin. When I got into my classroom, I bragged(吹嘘)to my classmates about my turnaround, excitedly. I wasn't so bad after all.

    Mr. Ratcliff was really kind. He made me realize that I was just a kid who had problems with behavior. He bought some peppermints and took the time to notice me when I got something-anything-right. Mr. Ratcliff gave me some hope by giving me some love. I will just remember him for the rest of my life.

My favorite thing from childhood is a doll. I 1 it from my aunt on my 5^th birthday. 2 then it has been always on my bed and I can't go to sleep 3 kissing it at night. When I went to a boarding school, I took it with me. My roommates (室友) used to 4 at me about it, but I still kept it beside my pillow (枕头). 

I love it so5 because it gives me comfort (安慰) whenever I feel bad.