English book Animal Farm (1945) tells a story about farm animals. They are fed up with ( 受够了) Mr Jones, the farmer. He treats them badly, so they decide to kick him off the farm and run the farm themselves.

    One day an old pig called Old Major gathers the animals around him. He tells them that all animals should stand together. He says they should take over the farm. They say that all animals are equal.

    After they get rid of ( 摆 脱 ) Mr Jones, two pigs become the leaders of Animal Farm. One pig called Snowball is a great speaker. He has big ideas for Animal Farm. The other leader is a pig called Napoleon. Napoleon is a crafty (狡猾的) animal. He brings together supporters by offering them advantages.

    Napoleon makes a war against Snowball and kicks him away from the farm. He turns Snowball into a big enemy. He says that Snowball is working with Farmer Jones and other farmers to destroy Animal Farm.

    But as it turns out it is Napoleon who is working with the enemies of the animals. He joins up with the old human enemies of the animals. But he tells the animals that he is working for them. Meanwhile the animals work hard. It seems that it is as bad to live under Napoleon as it was under Farmer Jones!

    Why is the story so important?

    Animal Farm is an excellent choice for learners of English because it's very short. The language is also simple.

    Like many famous stories Animal Farm is not just a book. It was played on the BBC radio in 1947. The big modern way of telling stories is in movies of course. Orwell's book has become a film twice. Perhaps it won't surprise you that the first one (1954) was a cartoon. In 1984 another film was made.

    This was a live-action (真人版的) film. The famous book has also been put on in the theater. In 1984 aversion was made and it toured a number of British cities.

    Lily is unhappy but her friend Susan makes her smile.

Susan: Hi, Lily, you look sad.

Lily: Oh, Susan, I am so unhappy.

Susan: What is wrong? Please tell me.

Lily: My sister is so clever. Mum and Dad want me to be like her but I am not clever.

Susan: Oh, Lily, don't cry. Everyone loves you. You are clever and funny. I know your mum and dad are proud of you.

Lily: You are a good friend. You always say the right things.

Susan: There is a new film at the cinema. I love a good film and popcorn.

Lily: Susan, you are a genius. You are my best friend.

In a big country, a man was living along with his family. The man had a large amount of money. One day he took his son on a trip to the countryside. The dad's only 1 was to show his son how poor people live, so the son could 2 his good fortune（命运）.

During their journey, they reached a small village. There, they spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be 3 a very poor family.

On their 4 from their trip, Dad asked his son, "How was the trip, my son?"

The son replied with excitement, "It was a 5 trip, Dad." The rich dad asked, "Did you see how the poor people live? The purpose of the journey was to make you 6 how lucky you are having born in such a rich family."

"Oh yeah," said the son and smiled towards his father.

The father asked, "So, my dear son, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?"

The wise son answered, "Dad, I 7 a lot of things on poor people living. I saw that we have one dog and they had three. We have a swimming pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a river that has no 8 . We have imported designer lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio（露台） reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon（地平线）."

The father got a bit confused（困惑） with his son's answers.

The son 9 , "We have a small piece of land to live on and they have field s which go 10 our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others." The wise son's learning did not end yet. The son went on 11 his trip experience, "We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have 12 around our house to protect us, but they have friends to protect them. We spend our free time with television s and mobiles, but they spend their free time with family and relatives."

The son summed up（总结） his experience on the trip to the village, "Thank Dad for showing me how 13 we are...!!"

The wise son's words left the rich dad 14 .

Money can buy clothes, or cars, or big houses or many other things which make your life 15 . But there are a few things that money cannot buy. What makes your life rich is love, kindness, compassion, friendships...