One year, a college in the United States announced that it would offer a lot of money for the pure white marigold(金盏花). The high reward attracted so many people, but in the nature, besides golden, the marigold is brown, and it is not easy to get the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people had forgotten the announcement.

    One normal day after 20 years, the college received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. It was an old woman of over 70 years old. Some experts in the college doubted it, but in order not to let her down, those seeds finally took root (根）in the earth. The miracle appeared after one year; the field was covered by pure white marigold.

     Therefore, the old woman who was always unknown to the public became a new focus.

The old woman was a flower-lover. When she read the announcement 20 years ago, she got very excited like others. But her eight children were totally against her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics(遗传学) couldn't complete what the experts could never do, so her thought was only a day dream.

     Still, the old woman didn't change her mind and went on working. She planted some of the most common seeds and took good care of them. A year later, when the marigold came out, she chose one faintest(最暗淡的) from those golden and brown flowers and got the best seed. The next year, she again grew them and chose ...Day after day, year after year, through many seasons, the old woman's husband died, her children flew far, a lot of things happened in her life, but only the wish to grow the pure white marigold took root in her heart.

     Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden she saw a marigold, which was nearly white, but as white as silver or snow.

     A problem even experts couldn't deal with was solved by an old woman who didn't understand genetics. Was it a miracle (奇迹）?

     To take root in the heart, even the most common seed, can grow into a miracle!

    Esperanza lives in a poor Latino(拉丁美洲的) neighbourhood in Chicago, America. She dreams of having her own house one day. Her parents told her that when they moved from their last house, they would have a new and shiny(亮闪闪的) house. But the house is small and old.

    Many people live in Mango Street, in a big old house, Esperanza lives behind it with her family. A lot of the people who have come from Mexico don't speak English. Many miss their home country. Esperanza understands their sadness, but she also feels at home in America. She is an American, but her roots(根) will always be Latino.

    Esperanza is young. Like her friends, she has to grow up fast. She is stuck between being a girl and being a woman. In the poor and dangerous area where she lives, this is difficult for her. Mexican people usually live in a close neighbourhood. This means that people live packed(挤塞的) in together. Everyone knows everyone else. So Esperanza knows other older girls that do things she is not comfortable doing. It is just a fact of her life.

    But Esperanza has good friends too. She becomes friends with two sisters named Lucy and Rachel. They ride bikes and have adventures(冒险) together. Esperanza is also friends with a girl named Alicia. Alicia is afraid of the rats in her apartment. She shares her poems with Esperanza.

Years ago， I used to smoke after lunch or dinner. When I visited my brother，I would smoke1 and make sure that my niece(侄女) wouldn't see me2 I knew that she always did everything I did. I didn't want her to think smoking was right. However, when I went to the study room to smoke, she would3 me and watch me smoke from behind the door. 

Most of my family didn't know I was a 4 . A few months later, when we were at a family party, my niece looked at me and said, "I love you, aunt. I just want you to know that smoking will make you5 and die quickly. And you keep6 in the study room, thinking I wouldn't see you. So7 you know it is wrong since you are hiding it. ''

I didn't say a word. My face turned red. "What?" they shouted. Everyone was 8 when they heard that. Her mother looked at her and said, "No, your aunt doesn't smoke. You must have made a9 " . The girl answered, " Why are you trying to make me lie? That's worse than smoking. " 10 fell into silence. Soon after that , I gave up smoking and I hoped my niece wouldn't remember. I didn't want to leave a bad impression(印象) on her. 

I should say "Thank you" to my niece. When one of our family members offers an advice out of love and support (支持)is usually good idea to pay attention. 

Long time ago, there was a king(国王) in England. He was kind but too lazy(懒惰) . He would do1 except(除了) eating and sleeping. Soon he became 2 and heavy. Later, he couldn't even move his body. He thought he was ill.3 no doctors in his country could help him. 

One day, an4 man heard about the king's story. He wanted to give him a 5 . The king decided to let him try. 

The old man lived far away. He said to the king, "I'll try6 best to help you. You need to come to me for treatment(治疗) tomorrow. But you have to walk here." " Certainly, kind man. I'll do so, " the king answered(答复，回答). 

The next day the king went to the man's house early. After he arrived, the king found only the man's7 was at home. The son told the 8 to come the next day. He came every day for two weeks, but he 9 saw the old man.10 the king became angry, he found he became light. He realized(明白) why the old man asked him to walk far. 

Walking can exercise people's body. It's easy and doesn't cost money.