Nick and his friends were talking about things that can bring them luck. “I have a lucky red pen,” said Andy. “I have a lucky coin,” said Peter. “Every time I take a test, I carry my lucky coin.” Nick thought for a moment, and said, “My blue socks.” “Blue socks?” the boys were surprised and asked together. Nick said that every time he wore his blue socks to school before a test, he got a good mark.

    The next day Nick had a Chinese test. He was sad because he couldn't find his blue socks. “Mom!” shouted Nick. “Where are my blue socks? I have a Chinese test today, and I need to wear them.”

  “Don't be silly,” Nick's mom said.“They need to be washed.” “When I wear them, I get a good grade.” Nick said.

  “Did you prepare for your test?” asked Mom.

  “Yes.”

  “Then don't worry about it. Just do your best.” Mom encouraged.

    A few days later, Nick's teacher told him that he got 95 in his test. Nick was so excited that he couldn't wait to tell Mom he did well in his test. Mom said, “It wasn't the blue sock s that made you success. In fact, it was made by yourself.”

    What will you do if you get 5 million (百万)? Some people give some different answers.

Sally:

    I want to do business. If I am rich, I will do a lot of things for my family. For me nothing is more important than my family. I will buy a new house for them and travel around the world.

Joe:

    If I have 5 million, I will use this money to do everything I like. At first, I will use 2 million to open my own shop. And I will use another 2 million of this money to buy some new houses. In the future, the houses will become more expensive, and I will sell them to other people. Finally, I will use 1 million to buy some presents for my family and my best friend.

Anna:

    If I have 5 million, I will put 3 million in the bank and spend 2 million. I will visit Paris, London and New York. I will eat delicious food, play games, and build a building with a swimming pool.

Jack:

    I will buy an island if I have 5 million. Then I will be the king of the island and I will invite my friends to my island.

    Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and their children were going to begin their holiday one day, and they had to be at the airport at eleven forty in the morning. "It'll take us half an hour to get there in the car," Mr. Wilson said, "so we must leave before eleven o'clock. Don't be late."

    At ten minutes to eleven, they were busy doing things, except Mrs. Wilson didn't, she was sitting quietly on a chair in the garden and enjoying the sun.

    Her husband and children were very surprised. Why wasn't she busy, too. Mrs. Wilson answered, "Well, before I went to bed last night, I moved all our clocks and watches ahead twenty minutes. So now we can go to the airport quietly, Don't worry, then."

    Jane Austen(1775--1817), an English' novelist, started writing young and completed six novels in her life. Today Austen's books are more popular than ever. In the last 10 years, five of her six novels have been made into Hollywood films, while her books continue to be best-sellers.

    Richard Jenkyns, a professor of English at Oxford University, says that her novels are about marriage, friendships and the family, which are still with us today. "The stories are timeless," Jenkyns said.

    Pride and Prejudice(《傲慢与偏见》) (1813) is Austen's most famous work. It is a love story about Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. At first, these two dislike each other. Elizabeth is pretty, smart and lively. She is proud because Darcy doesn't know about her family. Mr. Darcy is handsome, rich and has a better family background. So, he is proud as well. At the same time, Darcy holds a prejudice against the Bennet family. He has no understanding of why the family, especially its mother and daughters should try so hard to find wealthy and powerful husbands. He thinks they are vulgar. Anyway, Elizabeth and Darcy finally fall in love and become a romantic couple(夫妻) but their families' "don t want them to.

    In Pride and Prejudice, some of the main things that Jane Austen wants to teach people are as follows. Opposites can attract (吸引 ) each other. Lovers should not only make each other feel relaxed or comfortable, but also educate and improve each other.

    Austen is often called the greatest romantic writer, so it is surprising she remained unmarried. "Maybe she was too romantic, waiting for the perfect man," Jenkyns says.

    One day, Akbar decided to test how wise Birbal was. He took his ring off his finger and handed it to one of his courtiers (侍臣). Akbar said to him, "You must hide this ring safely with you. Make sure that no one can find it."

    As soon as Birbal came to the palace, Akbar said. "Birbal, I lost my ring this morning. It was given to me by my father. Do whatever you want, but you have to find my ring soon."

    Birbal asked Akbar to give him more information, but Akbar didn't say much. He kepp on repeating, "I don't remember anything at all. You must find my ring." Finally, Birbal said, "All right, Your Majesty (陛下)! I will find your ring soon."

    Birbal closed his eyes and pretended (假装) to think for a while. And then he said, "Your Majesty, your ring is somewhere here in this palace. It is with one of the courtiers. The courtier has a grain of rice in his beard."

    The courtier was worried. Hearing Birbal's words, he quickly moved his hand over his beard. Birbal's eyes fixed on the behaviour of the courtier. Pointing towards him, Birbal said, "Your Majesty, this courtier stole your ring."

    Akbar was surprised. He didn't understand how Birbal had succeeded in finding his ring. But once again, Akbar accepted the fact that Birbal was very wise.