Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881. His father was a painter and art teacher who gave his son the first lesson in drawing. He won a prize — “Science and Charity” for his first important painting when he was only fifteen. He studied in several cities in Spain. But there was no one to teach him all that he wanted to know. When he was nineteen, he visited Paris.

Paris was then the center of the world for artists. Everything that was new and exciting in the world of paintings seemed to happen there. When he was twenty-three, Picasso moved there to live and lived in France for the rest of his life.

    When he was over ninety, this great painter still lived his life like a young man. He was still looking for new ideas and new ways to use his artistic materials.

    When he died in 1973, he was ninety-one years old.

    Once upon a time, there was a millionaire who loved money more than the other things in the world. He didn't know exactly how much he had, so he took on a little girl to count all his money for him.

    It took the little girl six days to count all the money. When she told the millionaire that he had forty-two million dollars, he was wild with joy and asked, “How much money do you want?” He thought she was only a child and he could give her less money.

    The girl said, “Well, I worked for six days, so I think you should pay me for six days. Give me two pennies for the first day. Each day after that, just give me the amount you give me the day before, multiplied(乘) by itself.”

    The millionaire thought that in this way he would only have to give her a few dollars. What a foolish girl!

    On the first day the millionaire paid her two pennies, and on the second day, two pennies times two pennies, or four pennies.

    Each day after that, he gave her the number of pennies he had given her the day before, multiplied by itself. And by the sixth day the foolish millionaire had to give the clever girl all his money.

    Long long ago, a millionaire loved money than anything {#blank#}1{#/blank#} in the world. One day he took on a girl to count his money. The girl spent six days in {#blank#}2{#/blank#} his money. The millionaire asked the girl how much money he should {#blank#}3{#/blank#} for what she did. The girl answered he should give her the amount he gave her the day before, multiplied by itself.

    The millionaire {#blank#}4{#/blank#} with the girl. He thought the girl was a {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. In fact, the girl was so clever. The millionaire had to give the clever girl all his money.

    A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple trees he grew.

    One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to plant it.  The farmer was pleased with the gift, but he did not know where to plant it.

    He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit.  If he planted the tree in one of his fields, his neighbors would come at night and steal some of the apples.  If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit.  Finally he planted the tree in his wood.  But without sunlight and good soil(土壤), the tree soon died.

    Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place.  “What's the difference?” the farmer said angrily and then told what he had thought.

     “Yes,” said the friend, “but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit.  Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed (毁掉) a good apple tree! ”

    "I can't believe this is happening," I thought as I saw Jane walk into the restaurant. She hadn't changed at all. She was still tall and beautiful with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. I smiled and thought of how my life had changed since we had last met.

    It all started when I noticed her at a party in a friend's house many years ago. I followed her to the dining room and started talking to her about the food. "You seem very interested in food," she laughed. "Well, I'm a great cook," I told her. It was a lie, but I had to find an excuse to see her again. "May I cook for you sometime?"

    Two days later, Jane came to my house for dinner. However, it was very embarrassing(窘迫的). I ordered the food from a nearby restaurant, but I told her that I had cooked it. After dinner, she warmly offered to wash up and in the kitchen she found the delivery boxes(外卖盒). She laughed at me and I felt terrible. Angry with myself, I decided to learn how to cook.

    I never saw Jane after our terrible dinner date. I started a cookery course and found that I was good at it after all. I went on to train to be a great cook. I worked hard and later I was able to open my own restaurant.

    Now, she walked into my restaurant. Feeling very happy, I pretended(假装) I was a waiter and walked to her table. "Ready to order, madam?" I asked.