Yesterday evening, when I went to town with my 1, we met a strange old man. It was raining 2and we had no umbrella. We were trying to get into a taxi when he came up to us. He was carrying a nice 3 and he said he would give it to 4 for only one pound.  He said he had 5 his wallet and he needed taxi fare(费用) to go back home. My mother didn't believe 6 he said at first, and asked him a lot questions. but she finally believed the man and gave him a pound. She was 7 to buy a good umbrella for so little. but the old man didn't get into a taxi. We followed him and found he went into a pub(酒吧) and bought 8a glass of whiskey(威士忌) with a pound. 9he drank it, he put on his hat and took one of the many wet umbrellas there and went off with the new one. Soon after that, he 10 it again.

    Something frightening happened to me the other day. I was on my way home 1 school. I got off the bus and started to walk towards my 2 . Then I thought: “Funny! There's a car outside.”

    It was one of those big American cars. I looked inside 3 I wanted to see what it was like. At first I thought there was nobody in it. Then I saw an old man 4 on the floor of the car. He had blood（鲜血）all over his face and his eyes were closed. I was too frightened, so I went indoors to 5 the police.

    Mum wasn't at home and I was 6 . I dialed（拨打）999 and asked for the police. A policeman wrote down my name and address. But I don't think he believed my words. Then I 7 a car start. I looked out of the window and the American car wasn't there 8 more.

    The police never came and I still don't know what happened to the man. But it gave me a terrible fright（吓了一跳）. My dad said it was a good 9 and he enjoyed it very much! But I am sure that it was all 10 .

    People already know a lot about animals. However, there are still some things about animals that may surprise you. Here are {#blank#}1{#/blank#}about animals you probably didn't know.

    Cows do have best friends and feel stressed when they are separated. Scientists have found that cows are very social animals and that a cow always {#blank#}2{#/blank#}other cows. When a cow is with its friends, it feels relaxed, compared with when it is alone.

    During a breeding season, a male penguin will offer a small stone to a female penguin as a gift. If she takes it, they will become partners. When the female penguin lays an egg, she and her partner may carry it {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, because some penguins don't build nests.

    Crocodiles (鳄鱼) swallow (吞) stones. Crocodiles always swallow their food instead of eating it like other animals. They swallow stones which break the food into very small pieces in their stomachs. These stones may stay in their stomachs {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Elephants use plants to treat pain or other illnesses. Scientists once found a pregnant (怀孕的) elephant in Africa who ate a kind of plant which was not part of her normal food. Four days later, she {#blank#}5{#/blank#}a baby elephant. The same plant was used by the local pregnant women.

Mom and dad are two of the most important people in your life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. If your mom loves to read，you may like to take a book wherever you go，just like she does.

But many kids can't get on well with their parents. The kids don't think that their parents can understand them. Some kids always say their parents are too strict with them. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}? Here are some tips.

Spend more time together. Don't spend so much time playing computer games or watching TV. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Go out to do something，try some new games，or just read a book together.

Share your feelings and ask for help. Many kids want their parents to help them when they feel upset，but your mom and dad may not know that you are having a problem. Tell them what's the matter with you and they will be glad to help you.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. You don't have to be perfect(完美的)，but if you do your best，you'll make your parents happy.

A horse fair was an interesting place. There were young horses and many beautiful horses from the country. But there were also a lot of poor and thin horses.

At the horse fair there was a man with a gentle voice and kind grey eyes. He offered 23 pounds for me, but the salesman refused. Then a man with a very loud voice came. I was afraid he was going to buy me, but he walked away. Then the grey-eyed man came back again and said, "I'll give you 24 pounds to buy him."

"Done," said the salesman. "He's an excellent horse and if you want him for cab (出租马车) work, he can help you earn more than you pay for him. The horse is well worth the price."

Half an hour later we set off for London, along country roads, until we came to that great city. There were streets to the right, and streets to the left. We went into one of the small streets, and then into a very narrow street, with small and old houses.

My owner stopped at a house. The door opened, and a woman, a little girl and a boy came out.

"Is he gentle, Dad?"

"Yes, Dolly, as gentle as a little cat. And you can pat him."

Dolly, the little girl, patted my shoulder without fear. It felt so good! They led me into a comfortable, clean room, and after a delicious meal I lay down to sleep, thinking "I'm going to be very happy here".

My new owner's name was Jerry. His wife was called Polly and they had two children, Harry and Dolly. The next morning they came to see me. I loved it when they patted me and spoke in gentle voices.

"Let's call him ‘Jack', after the old horse, shall we, Harry?" said Dolly.

"Yes, sounds great!" said Harry.

The first week of my life as Jack, the London cab horse, was very hard. The noise, the people and the traffic on the streets scared me. But Jerry was a very good driver, and that helped me a lot. Jerry soon found that I was ready to work hard and do my best, and he didn't whip (鞭打) me.

He kept me very clean, and gave me as much food as I wanted. But the best thing was that I had Sundays off.

When my children were young, I used to read to them every evening before bed. One of their favorite stories was called Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. Mr. Hatch lived a 1 life. He walked alone to work every day and ate his lunch alone in a corner. He never 2 . He never talked to anyone on his way home. In the evening, he never visited friends and he would read a newspaper and go to bed3 .

His life changed, however, on Valentine's Day when he got a heart- shaped box full of 4 in the mail, along with a note that said, " Somebody loves you. Hope you like the chocolate. " At  first, he couldn't believe it, but when he let the message understood, he began to laugh and dance  around. That message opened his heart to the power of love. Soon he found himself being cheerful. He became a joy at work and began to 5  people in the neighborhood. As the days and weeks went by, his laughter, smiles, kindness, happiness and love6 everyone in his community. 

 Later, Mr. Hatch found out that the heart- shaped box had been delivered to him by7 . He felt8 and went back to his old ways. When his neighbors found out, however, they decided not to lose the light he shared. They 9 him with a party and a huge banner(条幅) that read: " Everybody Loves Mr. Hatch. " Mr. Hatch cried when he realized that somebody loved him after all. Then he laughed, smiled and hugged with his friends. 

Sometimes we all feel unloved and unlovable. However, somebody does love us. May the pages of your life story be full of 10 .