My mother told me that when I was born, I was the most beautiful baby in the world. Time passed, and I started to be a 1 and happy girl.

    Then, one day when I was five years old, my life 2 a lot. I had a high fever. The doctor gave me the wrong medicine 3 it brought me a lot of problems with my speech. So I couldn't speak. And the doctor told us I would 4 be able to speak well again or learn another language.

However, my mom couldn't believe I lost my speech. She sent me to a lot of teachers. 5, she found the right teacher, Nina, to help me make my dream come true. She was a very    6 person. She encouraged me and told me that I would speak again. The most amazing thing was that she taught me to read my 7. I remember that I spent hours in front of the mirror and tried to repeat every word that I said. Imagine losing your speech and having to learn 8 again. For me, it was like being hurt again. Yes, I was! I learned to talk and speak my mother language—Spanish.

    Now, I am studying English. I can't believe that I am learning another 9. But, I am! I am crying because 10 here makes me feel happy, and it makes me 11 when I remember what the doctor said to my mom,"12 will never be able to speak or learn another language."

I'll always remember the beautiful words my mom said to me 13 I was a child and began to learn to speak again." You are fighting in a war. Trust yourself and try your 14, and then you will get a beautiful medal for your success. You will achieve an impossible dream that people say you will never do. I believe 15 you, and you are my hero."

    Now when I am going to take every step in my studies and in my life, I try to think about my experience and be a thankful person.

    One day, some animals got together in the forest. They were talking about which animal was the1. The pig said, "Pigs are the greatest

because we have many 2 I have twelve healthy little pigs," He asked the rabbit(免子)," 3 babies do you have?"

    The rabbit felt sad. He only had seven. Then he pointed at the sheep and said, "He only has two!" Everyone 4.

    A snake went by and said, "Snakes are truly the greatest. I have fifty!"

    "So what?" said another animal. Everyone turned around and saw a 5.

    The snake lifted up his head and looked at the lion." Why do you say so? I have fifty babies. You only have 6. That's nothing, "The other animals said that the snake was right.

    The lion laughed and said, "I only have one, 7 it is a lion. Only a lion can be the king of the forest. So lions are the best!"

    The other animals couldn't think of 8 to say. They had many babies, but 9 of them could ever be as strong as a lion." One valuable(有价值的) thing, said the lion, "is much 10than a hundred common ones."

    John Hunt is a 1 writer. Lots of people like him and his works. John Hunt is different 2 many other writers. Although he needs to work at home and likes reading and watching different 3 of TV shows, he doesn't always stay at home. He likes going outside and exercising. 4, he often runs, swims and goes skateboarding. 5 he also goes camping with his friends. He has many good habits so he is very happy. And he is always in good 6. How can he keep healthy? He 7 us some advice. Let's have a look together.

    First, keep 8 every day. He gets up at 6:00 a.m. and 9 for one hour every morning. And he walks to mountains three times a week. So don't be lazy. Second, remember to have 10. It's very important. He always has a lot of porridge, bread or milk 11 doing morning exercises. Then 12 after working. Don't 13 too much about your work. It isn't 14 for your health. You can try listening to music or walking with friends if you have time. He's sure it must 15 you have a healthy body.

    Everybody hates rats. But rats may soon be man's new best friends.

    What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue (援救) dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can't get into small space. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.

    How does it work? First, the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat's brain gives a signal. This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat's brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.

    Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. "Robots' noses don't work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that," says a scientist. Rats can also see in the dark. They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don't need electricity.

    The "rat project" is not finished, but a scientist says, "It would be fantastic. A rat could get into space we couldn't get to and a rat would get out if it wasn't safe." Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building (but only after an earthquake, of course).