The village of Hengly was going to have the Bean Olympics.It was a competition to see which kind of bean would grow the fastest and tallest.Everybody was excited.They couldn't waited to show their best plants.

   Cassie knew clearly which bean she would choose for the competition,for her family had planted a special “family bean.”It was a flat bean that her greatgrandparents had brought from Sicily.Her grandmother planted the beans every year and served them at many meals.Cassie was sure they would be unbeatable beans.

However,the plan did not work out that way.Although Cassie's bean plants looked healthy with beautiful purple flowers,they did not grow as fast or climb as high as any of her neighbors'.These people chose beans from seed(种子)stores.Their beans had wonderful names like “Rocket” or “Top Crop.”One type was even named “King's Bean.”That was the bean Ivan planted,and his plants climbed almost to the top of the fence.Cassie's plants were just near the middle of the fence.

   On the day of the competition,Cassie was disappointed that her beans were in last place.Ivan laughed at hr beans and said she could win a prize for the slowest,shortest beans.

   The organizer,Mr.Williams,handed out medals for the fastest-growing and the tallest beans plants.“Now there remains only one final test,and it is just as important:the taste test.”

   Mr.Williams cooked the beans from each competitor and chose five experienced villagers as judges(裁判).

   Cassie was nervous.Would her family beans lose another time?

After the judges tasted the beans,Mr.Williams counted the results.“We have a winner,” Mr.Williams announced.“The judges all agree that Cassie's beans are the winner.”

Cassie grinned at this unexpected result.Many of her neighbors,even Ivan asked for her seeds.They were all in favor of the good-tasting beans even though they didn't grow fast or very tall.

    An old man walked slowly into a restaurant with his cane(拐杖).His old jacket and shoes made him unusual that day.

    A young waitress named Mary watched him move towards a table by the window.She ran over to him,and said with smile,“Here,sir.Let me give you a hand."

    Without saying a word,he gave her a smile. She pulled the chair out from the table and helped him sit down. Then she put his cane against the table where he could reach ithimself. In a soft, clear voice he said,"Thank you." "You're welome, sir," she replied. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything, just wave(挥手) at me!"

    After he had finished a good meal,Mary brought him the change. She handed him his cane, and walked to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said,“Come back and see us, sir! ”The old man turned around and smiled.

    When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under the plate, she found a business card, a 100—dollar and a note.The note said.

    “Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness."

    In fact,the old man was the owner of the restaurant. That was the first time that she, or any of his waitresses, had seen him.

    It was the best plan ever. First, we would make sure she was out of the house. Then we would get all the work done. By the time she got back, it would be wonderful. So we got to work. How to get her out of the house? Well, we came up with a good idea. We told her that we needed some school things. She went out to get them.

    The first part of the plan was done. Next, we called aunts, uncles and Mum's friends to come to our house quickly and made sure there were no signs that they were there. We put all their shoes away. Then we cleaned the house and hung(悬挂)the balloons. The house really looked nice. Then we waited.

    When we heard her car driving up the porch(门廊), we became quiet. The moment the door opened, we shouted, "Surprise!" The look on her face was worth ten thousand dollars. Smiling and crying at the same time, she hugged all who were there. Lastly, she came to us. She said, "My best present of all is my two lovely daughters." And she hugged us happily.

    Mr. Smith works in an office. He's very busy and has no time to have a good rest. Every evening, when he comes back from his office, he's always tired and wants to go to bed early. But his wife always has a lot of interesting things to tell him after supper. She doesn't stop talking until she goes to sleep.

    One day Mr. Smith feels terrible and can't go to work. He goes to see a doctor. And Mrs. Smith goes to the hospital with him. Before her husband says what is the matter with him, the woman tells the doctor all about her husband and the doctor understands why. He writes out a prescription(处方). And when Mrs. Smith takes the medicine to the doctor's room, the doctor says to her, "This kind of medicine is for your husband and the pills are for you."

    "For me?" the woman says in surprise. "I'm fine. I don't need any medicine!"

    "I don't think so, madam," says the doctor. "They are sleeping pills. Your husband will be all right if you take them. "