Samantha (her husband， John， called her Sam) left the doctor's house looking perfect， satisfied with her appearance.

    The year was 1862. It seemed that the war with the North would never come to an end. Sam's father had left as soon as possible， fighting for their land， for their new government， for the South.

    At last， Samantha reached the house that she and John owned. It was a cold， rainy night， and she was glad to be home. She stepped into the sitting room. John sat in an armchair， reading a book. When he saw her， he put the book down， and stood， reaching his arms out for her. They kissed briefly. He put a hand to her now slightly round belly(肚子) and asked， “What did the doctor say?”

    “He said the baby was fine and that I seemed healthy. Do you have any news?”

    “Surprisingly， yes.” John hesitated for a moment， as if deciding how he would stop what he was about to say， and then unwillingly continued， “I've been required to join the army.”

    Sam screamed， “What?” She was near tears. “But-but we're just starting out.” Her voice shook. “I thought that after two years of begging my mother to let the two of us get married that our life would finally be happy. Isn't there any way you can get out of this?”

    John answered， “I'm afraid not.”

        “Please. Please， John， if you love me， please get out of this. Break a leg or do something.” She began to cry. John comforted her， resting her head on his shoulder.

    “Sam.”

    “What?”

    “Name the child after me； name it John or Joanna. I'll come back as soon as I can. I promise.”

    Sam smiled， knowing that John never broke a promise. She put her hand to her belly， and， unknown to her， the baby was a girl.

    And unknown to both of them， the promise that John had just made would be the only promise he would ever break.

    This is Cara and Ben. They are twins(双胞胎). They are twelve. This is their bedroom. It's a nice room. There are two beds in the room. The yellow bed is Cara's and that green one is Ben's. The twins have one desk and two chairs. The chairs look the same. Cara's sweater is on his bed. Ben's coat is on his chair. Their clock, books and pencil-cases are on the desk. Their school bags are behind the chairs.

    Children often ask for money from their parents. But in the US, some students work as babysitters(临时保姆) to get money. Noa Mintz, a 15-year-old girl in the US, has her babysitting shop.

    About three years ago, Mintz, worked for some time as a babysitter. She found that there was no good way for families to find babysitters. So she wanted to do something about it. Mintz started Nannies by Noa in her summer vacation. It helps families and babysitters to find each other quickly.

    At first, Mintz helped write down the names of her friends and classmates who wanted to babysit(当保姆). Later, Nannies by Noa became a big shop. It now has 25 full-time nannies(全职保姆) and 50 babysitters.

    When talking about her work, she feels proud(自豪的). She knows it's just a start. “It's good to see that I give people jobs. It's great to see what I can do.” said Mintz.

A student walks into the teacher's office with his heavy schoolbag slowly and looks worried. "What's happening?" the teacher asks. He tells a lot of small things that make him really unhappy. Then the teacher stops working and decides to do something to help the little boy.

He asks the student to get a glass of water and some salt* from a box. The teacher asks the student to put the salt into the glass of water and drink it.

"How does it taste*?"the teacher asks.

"It doesn't taste good."the student answers.

The teacher doesn't say anything else, but asks the student to get the same amount* of salt and go with the teacher to a nearby lake.

"Put the salt into the lake,"the teacher says. The student does what the teacher says.

"Now, taste the water from the lake,"the teacher says.

The student gets some water from the lake with his hands and tastes, the teacher asks,"How does it taste?"

"Fresh and a bit sweet,"the student answers quickly.

"Do you taste the salt?"the teacher asks.

"No,"the student shakes his head.

The teacher sits beside the student,"The pain* of life is just like salt—no more, no less.

However, how salty it tastes depends* on the container* you put the pain in."

"How do you feel now?"asks the teacher.

The student looks at the teacher with a big smile. He feels much better now.

"Thank you for giving me such a lesson. I think I will never forget the taste of them and learn to be a lake."

It was reported in May 2024 that the China Wildlife Conservation Association(CWCA. 中国野生动物保护协 会 )will sound giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo in the United States. which is a symbol of a new 10-vear period of international conservation partnership. The CWCA has organized experienced caretakers and doctors to go with the pandas to the US. The zoo is getting ready to provide the pandas with a largerandunore comfortable living environment. It has also formed a team with special skills related with panda. Ming and scientific research

The cooperation（合作）between the CWCA and the San Diego Zoo dates back to 1996 when Bai Yun and Shi Shi became the first pair of pandas to live in the zoo. Giant pandas Hua Mei, born in 1999, and Mei Sheng,born in 2003,who used to live there,are the result of China-US giant panda research cooperation. Over the past twenty years the two sides have cooperated and solved many technical problems,including important discoveries in key areas like panda raising. 

Since the 1990s, China has cooperated on giant panda conservation with 20 countries. "International cooperation in fields such as disease prevention and control,treatment,and wild training and reintroduction to the wild,has achieved good results. Giant pandas will facilitate communication between peoples and let people around the world know China better,"said Li,the leader of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda

"Scientific and educational outreach（延伸服务）also serves as a key role in international giant panda exchanges,allowing more people to understand giant pandas,which provides very good support for our efforts in protecting wild giant pandas,"Li said.

Last month, I spent one week traveling in Australia by car. At the end of 1 trip, I had to return the car to the car rental company(汽车租赁公司).

I could see the company's sign,2 I couldn't find the way to the parking lot. I drove around the company for about half an 3 . Finally, I decided to ask someone for help.

" Could you please tell me 4 to get to the parking lot?"I asked 5 when a man came up to me.

" Of course!" he smiled.

 Instead of simply telling 6 the direction, he got in my car to show the way.

 After guiding me to the right place, the friendly man also helped me give the car back. To show my thanks, I invited him7 a meal together. He agreed.

 Then we8 some delicious food in a restaurant nearby. We talked happily as we enjoyed our meal. Though he seemed busy, he spent several hours 9 me.

I met many friendly people in Australia, but I will never forget the warm- hearted man, who made me feel much10 during that trip. And his kindness also made me decide to try my best to help people in need just like him.