Three small fish lived in the sea. When they were very young, their parents died. They had to look after each other day after day. Finally, they grew up and could swim in deep water.

    One morning, a big wave(浪) pushed the three fish to a shallow water. It also pushed a small boat there. It was hard for them to go back to the sea because the boat was right in front of them. The largest fish realized(意识到) that they were in danger, and said they had to find a way to leave there as fast as possible. The second largest fish agreed with his elder brother, but the youngest one did not. He said that there was much time for their activities, so he would not worry at all and still swam happily.

    At last, the largest fish returned to the sea by jumping over the lowest part of the boat. The second largest fish were also successful in joining his elder brother in the other side of water. But the youngest one still swam there happily.

    Two hours later, when the sun came up, the water in the small shallow part dried up(干). The youngest fish died finally.

    A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms( 习语 ), though my teacher emphasized(强调) the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

    One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don't say!” “You don't say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate(合适的) topic. “Well, I'd better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent(宏伟的).” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his words “You don't say!” I couldn't help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn't request you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn't you say ‘you don't say?'” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “‘You don't say' actually means ‘really!'. It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions(习语表达). Remember -- what the English teachers said is always right to us students.

    Mrs. Brown lives in London.She has two sons.One is James and the other is Bill. They were born on the same day and they look the same. Mrs.Brown likes them very much and always dresses them in the same clothes，hats，shoes and even socks.

    One day James lost(丢失)his hat when he played football on the playground after school.His mother didn't blame(责备)him because she loved him so much.The next day after lunch she went to a shop with Bill's hat.She hoped to buy the same hat for James as Bill's.She wanted them to have the same kind.She asked the shopkeeper to bring out most of the hats.It took her more than an hour to find the same one.At last she chose(选择)one and said happily，"Excuse me，sir.Could you take it to my car，please？”

    "I'm afraid I can't，madam，" said the shopkeeper in a polite(有礼貌的)voice.

    "Why？"the woman asked in surprise.

    "It's your hat，madam，"the man said with a smile."You don't have a new one here."

    Jim is a young farmer. He was once put into prison(监狱).

    One day, he got a letter from his mother. "I'm so worried about our farm, "she wrote." It's time to plant potatoes. I can't dig(挖)all the fields(田地)by myself."

    Jim read the letter and became sad. "What can I do?" he thought. Then he had a good idea. He wrote to his mother, "Don't dig the fields. There is much money in the earth. Don't plant potatoes until I come home."

    Some days later, Jim got another letter from his mother. It said, "Two days ago, about ten men came to our farm and dug all the fields. I can't understand it. It seemed that they were looking for something. What should I do?"

    Jim smiled when he read his mother's letter. He wrote a letter to his mother at once. It was very short. Guess what it would say.

    There was a boy and his family was very rich. One day his father took him on a trip to a place. He wanted to show his son how poor people were there. They spent several days on a farm. There were many poor families living on the farm.

    On their way home, the father asked the son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad," the son answered. "Did you notice how poor people were there?" asked his father. "Oh, yes," said the son. "So, tell me," said his father. The son said, "Well, we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool in our garden, while they have a river that has no end. We have expensive lanterns(灯), but they have stars above their heads at night. We have only a small place of land to live on, while they have the endless fields。We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have high walls around our houses to protect us, but they don't need walls, because their friends will protect them."

    The father had nothing to say. Then the boy added, "Thank you, Dad, for letting me see how poor we are."