Jack is a twenty-year-old young man. Two years ago, when he finished middle school, he found work in a shop. Usually he works until ten o'clock in the evening. He is very tired when he gets home. After a quick supper he goes to bed and soon falls asleep. His grandma who lives downstairs is pleased with him.

    One day, on his way home, he met his friend Mary. They were both happy. He asked the girl to his house, and she agreed happily. He bought some fruit and drinks for her. And they talked about their school, teachers, classmates and their future. They talked for a long time.

    “Have a look at your watch, please,” said the girl. “What time is it now?”

    “Sorry, something is wrong with my watch,” said Jack. .” Where's yours?”

    “I left it at home.”

     Jack thought for a moment and found a way. He began to stamp his foot on the floor, “Bang! Bang! Bang!”

    The sound woke his grandma up. The old woman shouted downstairs, “It's twelve o'clock in the night, Jack. Why are you still jumping upstairs?”

B

    Chris and Jessica live in Miami，Florida.They are packing(收拾行李)now.They're going away for a three-­week vacation tomorrow.They're going to rent(租)a house near a small lake about 100 miles north of the city.

    Chris is a carpenter(木匠)and he works hard.He often works ten hours a day，and he makes good money.He helps to build and repair houses.He likes his job and Miami.

    Jessica spends a lot of time working in her office and taking people to see houses.Her job and her family keep her busy.She gets little time to read and relax during the year.

    Chris and Jessica enjoy the quiet of the country.Chris loves fishing.He is going to rent a boat and he will go fishing on the lake for four or five hours every day during the vacation.

    Jessica doesn't like fishing，but she's an excellent swimmer.She is going swimming every afternoon during the vacation.After that，she will sit in the yard and read for a few hours.She especially likes to read novels.

Both Chris and Jessica believe that they will have a great time there!

    Mr. Evens works in Sydney. Last week he had a two--week holiday, but he didn't know where to go. He said to his friend Robert, "I hate the hot weather here, but I can't find a cool place in Australia. How will I spend my holiday?"

    "That's easy," said Robert. "You'd better go to Moscow. Snow and ice are covering the ground now."

Mr. Evens agreed with his friend. He bought an air ticket and soon arrived in Moscow. He made a happy journey there. But one day, he got into trouble. After lunch he w ent to a park outside the city. He saw a dog following him while he was walking past a house. It was hungry and wished him to give it some food to eat. Bad luck! He had no piece of bread or cake in his pockets. He tried to send it away, but it began to bark at him. He wanted to look for a stick but couldn't find anything except snow and ice. Suddenly he saw a stone in the ground. He tried to pick it up but he failed.

    "How strange Russians are!" Mr. Evens said to himself. "They do not tie their dogs, but firmly (牢牢地) tie the ground!"

    A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin (顽童) was walking around the shining car. "Is this your car, sir?" he asked. Paul answered, "Yes, my brother gave it to me for Christmas."

    The boy was surprised. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it did cost you nothing? Sir, I wish…" He hesitated (犹豫). Paul thought of course he knew what the boy wanted, but what the boy said surprised him greatly. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."

    Paul looked at the boy in surprise, and then he said. "Would you like to take a ride in my car?" "Oh yes, I'd love to," the boy answered.

    After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes shining, said, "Sir, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the boy wanted. He wanted to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a big car.

    But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled (残疾的) brother. He sat down on the step and pointed to the car.

    "There he is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it. Then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

    Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed elder brother climbed in beside him and the three began an unforgettable holiday ride.

    Tony is a seven-year-old boy. He has big eyes, a small nose and a small mouth. Tony is not a quiet boy and he likes climbing.

    He tries to climb up the fridge, but falls down(跌落). His mother sees him and says, "Be careful(小心)!Don't climb!" He tries to climb up the bookshelf, but falls down again. His father sees him and says, "Be careful! Don't climb!"

    But Tony doesn't listen. This day, he decides to climb the big tree in front of his house. This time, he is very careful. At last, he gets to the top of the tree.

    Tony's mother comes out and sees him. She asks Tony to get down from the tree, but Tony refuses. So his mother tries to climb the tree to get Tony down. But she can't climb the tree. Tony's father comes out and tries to climb the tree. But he falls down and lands on his head.

    Then Tony climbs down. He looks at his parents and says, "Be careful! Don't climb!"