At midnight Mr. King coughed again. He got up and took some medicine. Before he lay down again, he smoked. And he couldn't go to sleep any longer. He found the medicine book and began to read it. He was afraid he had lung(肺) cancer (癌). He seemed to see death was waiting for him. Tears(眼泪) ran down his face. He didn't see his wife was standing by him.

    “What's wrong with you, dear?” asked the woman.

    “Nothing,” the old man answered and covered his face with his hands.

    The old woman opened the book and understood at once. She said, “You must stop smoking right now.”

    “I began to smoke when I was nine, you know. How can't I do that?”

    “But I think health is more important.”

    Mr. King coughed again and his wife said, “Go to see a doctor tomorrow. He will be able to help you, I think.”

    The doctor told Mr. King to have an Xray examination(检查) of his lungs. And then he looked at the Xray carefully for a long time.

    “Tell me the truth, doctor.” said Mr.King, “Do you see any shadows(阴影)in my lungs?”

    “No, I don't see anything.”

    “Yes?” the old man said happily. “Really?”

    “Yes. Your lungs are turning black. How can I see any shadows?”

    Calabash brothers（葫芦兄弟） are seven brave brothers. They live in Calabash mountain. They wear different clothes. The red calabash is strong, but he does not have his own ideas. The orange calabash has two bright eyes and ears. He can see far and hear clearly. The yellow calabash has a hard head. The green calabash can swim. The cyanine（青色的） calabash is good at fire and the blue calabash hides himself very well. The purple calabash has a magic gourd（葫芦）.

    One day a pangolin（穿山甲） breaks the cave and two monsters come out. They are Monster Scorpion（蝎子精） and Monster Snake（蛇精）. The seven brothers must fight with them and save the world.

    My grandfather Jack is 96 years old, and he has had an interesting life. He has traveled a lot in his life in the Far East He visited the Taj Mahal in India and the Pyramids in Egypt. He hunted (狩猎）lions in Africa, and rode a camel in the Sahara Desert. He says the most beautiful place he has travelled to is Kathmandu in Nepal.

    Jack has married twice. His first wife died when she was 32. He met his second wife Maria while he was cycling round France. They have been married for 50 years, and they have lived happily in a small village since they got married.

    Jack says that he has never been ill in his life. The secret of good health, according to my grandfather, is exercise. He goes swimming every morning. He has done this since he was a boy. He also has a glass of wine every night Perhaps that is his secret!

An interview with Andy Griffiths

Andy Griffiths is well known as a writer of children's books. Here are some interesting things you might not know about him !

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I go for long runs and bike rides beside the beach. An hour of exercise after a long day of writing gives me energy. Then I'm ready to write some more. 

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At first I write the stories by hand, and then I transfer (转录）them onto a computer. I like to write by hand when I travel. I find it very easy to lose myself in my diary when I am away from my usual activities. 

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I'm never happier than I'm thinking banana milk shakes. And I love fish. But I don't like drinking fish milk shakes. They are just terrible !

What is your favorite book ?

Alice in Wonderland. It has so many surprises and such silliness in it.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Only if I really have to. I much prefer the freedom and fun of writing for children.

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As Dr. Seuss says, "The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."

Sarah is 7 years old and she is new at school. After the first class bell rings，she walks out of the classroom. She sees some children talking and laughing in the school {#blank#}1{#/blank#} . 

Emily introduces（介绍） Sarah to the other children. There is a boy named Jack，{#blank#}2{#/blank#}girl named Lily and a boy named Tom. They have {#blank#}3{#/blank#} talking about themselves. Sarah knows much about her new friends. Emily loves to grow vegetables like {#blank#}4{#/blank#} . Tom likes to read books about {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Sarah is happy to make new friends.