December 21^st is Becky's fourteenth birthday. When she gets home after school, she sees her parents in the living room. They both say to her, “Happy birthday, dear! We have a present for you. Go and look for it in your bedroom. ”

Becky runs to her bedroom. There is a red box on her desk. There is a card in it. The girl takes it out and reads，“Dear Becky, I'm your present. My first three letters are in the word（单词）‘come'. My last two letters are in the word ‘water'. My middle（中间的） three letters are in the word ‘put'. What am I?”

      Becky thinks hard and then says,“Thank Dad and Mom. I know what it is, but where is it?”

      Her father and mother tell her to go to her study. There, on the desk she finds her new present.

    O. Henry was an American writer. He wrote lots of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy, he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for a long time, but he learned everything he wanted to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas. There he did different jobs. He first worked in a newspaper, and then he has a job in a bank. When some money went missing from the bank, O. Henry was suspected (被怀疑）. Because of that he was sent into prison（监狱）. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the poor life there. People liked his stories, because although simple(简单), to the reader's surprise, the stories would finish with a sudden change at the end.

    For his eleventh birthday, Lin was given a gift that would shape his life. On that day his father took him to the Children's Activity Centre and said he could choose any course that interested him. There was just one

Requirement: Lin would have to promise to study it for at least one year.

    To that point Lin had had many hobbies, but none kept his interest for more than a week or two. His mum once gave him a bag of stamps to encourage stamp collecting. That hobby lasted a week. Then his father got him some paints hoping that Lin's artistic side would shine through. Those paints were now under his bed, still unopened. This time Lin's parents would let him decide.

    Lin's eyes moved down the noticeboard that listed all the courses on offer. He stopped at "Photography". He liked the idea of taking beautiful pictures but the notice said that each student needed their own camera. Although Lin's family weren't poor, they weren't rich either, and a camera cost a lot of money. He continued looking.

    The next course to catch his eye was "Language Art". He didn't even know what that meant. His father explained that it taught people how to make public speeches. Lin, a shy boy, could think of nothing worse.

    Then he saw it. "Cooking" sounded like something he'd like to do. It was inexpensive and convenient. It could be done alone and it was also creative.

    Based on Lin's hobby history, his dad had doubts, but he agreed. Much to his parents' surprise, Lin kept his promise. He studied cooking at the Centre every Saturday, and practised at home, making delicious meals for his family. Everyone looked forward to birthdays, when they could eat his cakes. Lin got great satisfaction from the pleasure his food brought to others.

    The months turned to years but his hobby never changed again.

    Now Lin is an adult and runs a successful restaurant. When customers say they enjoy his meal, he still gets the same pleasure he did as a child, and remembers the special gift he received "all those years ago.

By Anna Matteo

28 January, 2019

    A 3-year-old boy who was lost in the woods for two days is now safe at home with his family. But Casey Hathaway told his rescuers (救援者) that he was not alone in the rainy, freezing cold woods. He said he was with a friend — a bear.

    The child went missing on January 22 while playing with friends near his grandmother's house in North Carolina. When the other children returned but Casey did not, the family searched the area for almost an hour before calling the police.

    Police formed a search team to look for the young boy in the nearby woods. But two days went by and—no Casey.

    Then on January 24, someone called the police saying he heard a child crying in the woods. Police followed up on the information and found Casey at about 9:30 that night. He was in good health.

    Casey told the rescuers he had hung out with a black bear for two days, a bear he called his "friend".

    The police officer Chip Hughes spoke with reporters from several news agencies. He said Casey did not say how he could survive in the woods for two days in the cold, rainy weather. "However," the police officer said, "he did say he had a friend in the woods that was a bear with him."

    Hundreds of people helped in the search and rescue efforts, including some 600 volunteers, police and members of the army. Doctors at the medical center gave Casey some examination. He was then sent to his family on January 25.

    His mother talked with reporters and thanked everyone who joined the search for her son. "We just want to tell everybody that we're very thankful that you took the time out to search for Casey," said his mother. "He is up and talking He's already asked to watch cartoons."

My favorite animals are monkeys (猴子). I like them{#blank#}1{#/blank#} they are smart. Here are some new {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (photo) of monkeys in my phone. They make me happy when I see them. 

There is a monkey festival in my hometown. "Where are you {#blank#}3{#/blank#}?" you may ask. I'm from Lopburi. The festival is important to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (we). It is usually on {#blank#}5{#/blank#} last Sunday of November. You can see all {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (kind) of foods on the big tables. The food tastes {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (good). It's all for monkeys. The monkeys sometimes fight for food. That {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(sound) funny, right? The monkey festival attracts (吸引) many people every year. People can watch some {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(interest)shows, too. The performers (表演者) wear beautiful clothes. I always have much {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (fun) at the festival.