The hippo(河马) is the most dangerous animal in Africa, but that hasn't stopped a South African animal lover from making friends with one.

    Marius Els is 40 years old. He 1 around 20 different kinds of animals on his ranch(饲养场), in South Africa. He has a real soft spot for Humphrey, a 6-year-old hippo that's like a son to him. While all of his friends are too 2 to go near the animal, and his wife told him not to get too close, Marius climbs on Humphrey's back as he swims 3 the lake.

    Marius has kept the hippo 4 he was just five months old. And over the years, the two have 5 a special relationship that people just don't understand. Marius looks on Humphrey as a son, although the 1, 200 ton animal could 6 a person with ease. Only sometimes the hippo can throw Marius off his 7 in the water. Humphrey is very friendly to his owner, especially after Marius offers him a dinner of his favorite 8, apples.

    Humphrey feels very 9 in his life. He had another good friend, a goat, but she got eaten by a jackal, so now he's all by 10. Marius says he's been trying to get a female friend for Humphrey, but there's no such thing in Africa right now.

    When I was a small boy, something happened to me that made me never put any wild creature in a cage.

    We lived near a forest, and every evening the mockingbird would come and1 I decided to catch a young 2and keep it in a cage, and in this way, I would have my own private musician. Then I succeeded in catching one and put it in a cage. At first, the bird was3so it fluttered (扑腾) in the cage. But finally it was used to living in its new home. I felt very excited with myself and4 some beautiful singing.

    On the second day, the little bird's mother flew to the cage with5 in her mouth. The baby bird ate everything. I was6to see this. Certainly the mother bird knew how to feed her baby better than I did.

    The following morning when I went to see my bird, I found it 7on the floor of the cage. I was terribly surprised and sad! What had happened?

    Arthur Wayne, a famous biologist, happened to8 my father at that time. After she knew my story, she explained to me, “A mother mockingbird, finding her young in a cage, will9 bring it poison berries. She thinks it better for her baby to die than to lose10”.

    Since then I have never caught any living creature and put it in a cage. All living things have a right to live free.

    Travelling not only opens my eyes to the world but also makes me strong. I love travelling. I love hiking (徒步旅行) best. Last week, I 1 with my friends. It was a very famous place for its beautiful sightseeing, and all of us were very 2. It was a good trip at the beginning, 3 something unexpected (意想不到的) happened on the half way. 4 of my friends suddenly felt a terrible pain in his stomach and he couldn't 5 any further. We were worried, but nobody knew 6 to do. One girl tried to call her mum with her mobile phone, but there was no signal (信号) in the mountain area. Luckily, we brought a 7 with us. We put it up quickly and let him 8 in it. He took some medicine. Then he drank some water and ate some food. After a while, he felt much 9 and then we walked on. When we got a bird's—eye view of the beauty, we all enjoyed ourselves 10 the mountain.

    Can you imagine trying to write music if you are deaf? Most of us can't imagine it. But for the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven, there was no1at all.

    Beethoven wasn't born deaf. He was2on December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He lived a3life, and faced much sadness. One of his piano pieces, Fir Elise(《致爱丽丝》)，was written for a failed love interest—a woman4Therese Malfatti.

    At the5of about 28, Beethoven began to lose his6. Yet he was7to go on writing music through hearing vibrations(振动). After the performance of his famous Symphony NO. 9(《第九交响曲》)，people cheered and clapped(鼓掌). Beethoven could not hear them clapping, and when he turned8and realized, he began to9.

    Before Beethoven, most music was very controlled(克制的). He10this and created a powerful, violent sound. At first, many people hated his music, saying it was too emotional(情绪化的). But today, his name is a symbol for passion(热情)and genius(天才).

    It was Sunday yesterday. Michael sat on the sofa and watched TV. He was very relaxed. His mother was doing the dishes. Suddenly, she felt terrible. She had to stop. Michael came to his mother and asked, "Are you all right, Mom?" "Yes. I'm OK, but I need to take a rest," said his mother.

    Michael felt sorry for his mother. He thought he should help his mother do the dishes. She felt terrible because she was too tired. So he did the dishes and cleaned the room when his mother was lying in bed. Michael felt happy because the room looked clean.

    When Michael's mother felt better, she went to do the dishes. But she was surprised to see the clean room. "You are really a great boy," she said happily. Michael was happy, too.

Face the Stress

    Have you had a headache during a test? Have you ever been so worried about something that you have a headache or even can't sleep at night? If so, then you know what stress is. Stress is what you feel when you are worried about something. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}You may feel angry, sad, scared, or afraid—all of which give you a stomachache or a headache.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Some kinds of stress are beneficial and others are not. Good stress might happen when you're called to answer questions in class or when you have to give a speech. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} For example, you may do a better job in your test if the stress pushes you to prepare better before the test.

    On the other hand, bad stress can happen if the stress lasts too long. You may not feel well if your parents are fighting, if a family member is sick, if you're having problems at school, or if anything else makes you unhappy every day. That kind of stress isn't going to help you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Make sure you keep yourself in mind: Sleep, exercise, leisure, and food. If you get enough sleep and eat healthily, and if you exercise and leave and leave time for fun, you'll probably feel less stressed.