Do you like music? Probably. But do you like all kinds of music? Want to say no? Well, before answering this q{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, you'd better have a good understanding of what music is. A music teacher wanted to tell his students the difference b{#blank#}2{#/blank#} music and noise (噪音). He brought many wooden blocks (大 块) of different sizes to class. The students were very s{#blank#}3{#/blank#} to see him throw the blocks at the wall. Everyone thought it was noise. He then took the same blocks and threw them at the wall a{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. This time, however, he threw them in a special order (次序). The students quickly found it was a tune (曲 子). "So," asked the teacher, "what is music?" The answer is that it's organized noise.

    A young queen was given a magic box by a wizard(男巫). The box would bring happiness to the whole country whenever it was opened in a place full of the spirit of generosity(慷慨).

    The queen travelled all over the country, looking for the most generous people. If she collected them all, she could open the magic box.

    One day, when the queen returned to her palace，she saw a poor little boy begging. She would like to give the boy some money, but she didn't have any with her. So the boy asked her if she could give him the old box. Then he could sell it for a little money. At first the queen hesitated(犹豫)，because she had been told the box had magical powers. But seeing how poor the boy was, she gave it to him. The boy took the box and opened it.

    Immediately, all the most wonderful things one could imagine started flying out of the box and a voice said, “Why look for it in others? Goodness always starts in yourself. ”

    While enjoying all the wonders of the magic box, the queen learned to set an example for others, and she became the best queen ever in history.

Give water, save lives

A bottle of water may not seem like much to you, but thousands of bottles will be of great help for people who live in drought-hit(遭受旱灾) areas in China.

Since last autumn, there has been very little rain in Southwest China. Some places, especially in Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, have experienced a serious drought. Crops (庄稼) died, the land cracked(裂开), and wells (井) and rivers dried up. More than 20 million people are having difficulty in finding safe drinking water.

After learning about the drought, many people around the country helped by giving water, money and other things.

Last week, every member of the Communist Youth League (共青团员) and Young Pioneers(少先队员) were encouraged to give one bottle of water to the drought-hit areas. Students in primary schools and middle schools quickly joined the activity. In Yuhua Primary School in Xi' an, 900 students bought over 1,000 bottles of water with their pocket money. They also wrote their wishes on the bottles.

The serious drought has also made students realize the importance of saving water. Students from Nanshan Middle School in Huizhou, Guangdong went on the street to tell people to take part in water-saving activities.

"I've heard that some children in drought-hit areas don't have enough drinking water. They have to drink muddy ( 含有泥土的 ) water. I feel really sad about that," said one student. "I decide to take a shower twice a week instead of every day to save water," he said.

My name is David Smith. I am a student in No. 2 Middle School. I have some interesting and {#blank#}1{#/blank#} things this month. On the . {#blank#}2{#/blank#} day of October, I have a school trip. I need to buy . {#blank#}3{#/blank#} food for the trip. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} October 9th, I have an English test. October 14th is my 12th birthday. I. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} my friends to come to my party. I want to buy some things for my party in the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} . Jack is my good friend. October 20th is his birthday. I know he . {#blank#}7{#/blank#} soccer. I want to buy a soccer ball for {#blank#}8{#/blank#} . On the last day of October, my school has a book sale. I can buy some books at good . {#blank#}9{#/blank#} . This is a {#blank#}10{#/blank#} busy month. I hope I can have a good time this month. 

Ken is a worker in a newspaper. He works hard and is self-confident (自信) when he works as an advertisement salesman (销售员). Every time Ken begins his work, he will do some preparation (准备). He closes the door, stands before the mirror and reads the bosses' names ten times. But this time, his workmates think the task is very hard and it is impossible to finish. 

With his great effort (努力), three bosses change their mind and make a deal with him the first day. Three days later he finishes another three tasks. One month passes, only a boss still refused to cooperate (合作) with him. 

Ken works harder. He tries to learn something about his company and his family, and visits the boss every day. Every morning, when the boss opens his door, he sees Ken outside his company smiling to him and waiting for his answer.  ★  He keeps on visiting him every day. The boss asks him why. 

"It is like having a class. You're really a good teacher. You're teaching me how to keep it up when I want to do something important,"Ken answers. 

The boss nods, "In fact, you're my teacher. You're teaching me what is the power of perseverance."

A man went to the city to sell apples. He met an old man and asked, "How long will it take me {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the city?" The old man replied, "It will {#blank#}2{#/blank#} you. If you go slowly, you' ll get there faster. But if you go fast, it' ll take {#blank#}3{#/blank#} ." The man did not understand but made his horse go faster. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} , every time he did, some apples fell out of the basket, so he had to stop and pick them up. After many stops, the tired man {#blank#}5{#/blank#} understood the old man's meaning.