I used to think that life in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, was filled with never-changing styles. I hated that everyone seemed to know everything about everyone else. Everyone seemed to enjoy talking about other people and their lives. I also didn't like the fact that people seemed very close-minded. I felt trapped. I felt like I was missing . It seemed to me that city life would be the opposite.

    Then I took my first trip to New York City. I couldn't wait to experience the city. However, when I arrived in the Big Apple, it wasn't at all what I had imagined. I knew it was home to thousands of people, but I hadn't had the least expectation to see so many people on the street at one time. All the streets were filled with people. I also felt a little surprised to see that everyone was in a hurry and everything moved at such a fast pace(步伐). When I took the subway for the first time, I said hello to the middle-aged woman next to me. She looked at me with dislike and didn't say a word.

    After just one day, I realized how important my small town is to me. Now I miss the familiar faces I see every day. I like the feeling of safety and belonging my town offers. Jim Thorpe gives me a sense of community and togetherness that the city doesn't provide. I realize just how much a simple hello does for a stranger — it really can make your day a little better.

    My big trip showed me that my small town really has its own values in me that I didn't even know I had. I never would have known what a big place my town holds in my heart if I had not taken that trip to New York City.

A

    Bill always does everything very carefully．Everyday he drives his car to go to work and go home．He drives his car slowly and never has an accident．He often says that travelling by car is much safer than travelling by plane．

    Today，he has to go to another city to have a meeting．The meeting will begin at nine o'clock．And it is eight now．If Bill goes there by train or by car, he will be late for the meeting．Bill has no idea．One of his friends，John，says to him，"Don't worry, Bill．I can take you there in my own small plane．And we can get there at half past eight．"Bill is afraid of going there by plane．John tells him that it is very safe．Bill gets on the plane at last．

    John starts the plane and begins taking off．Bill is too afraid，so he closes his eyes．After a minute or two，he opens them again，looking out of the window of the plane，and says to John，"Look at those people down there，they look as small as ants." "But they are ants." says John．"Don't you know we are still on the ground?"

    Mike lives in the country, and he loves playing in the river near his house. But his father gets a job in a hospital in a big city, and he moves there with his family.

    Their new house has a garden, but the garden is very small. Mike isn't very happy. "Is there a river near here?" he asks his mother on the first morning.

    "No, there isn't. But there is a beautiful park near here, Mike, and there is a pool in it. We are going there this afternoon."

    Mike becomes happier now.

    After lunch, Mike and his mother go to the park. Mike wants to walk near the pool, but there is a sign in front of it. His mother reads it to him. Warning: This pool is dangerous. 46 people have fallen into it. Mike looks into the pool carefully, and says, "But I can't see them."

    Most kids in Britain have pet bears. This animal is both furry (毛茸茸的) and friendly. But it cannot move or make any noise. That's because it is a teddy bear. Most teddies are in the shape of a small bear. They are usually brown and stuffed (填充) with cotton. Kids love them very much.

    Paddington bear is one of the most famous teddy bears in the world. Yet there are many types. Do you know Winnie the Pooh? He's another popular bear!

Cute, soft teddy bears were born in the 20th century. However, they don't have just one place of birth. Both American and German toymakers made the teddy bear at the same time!

    Teddy bears have long been a popular kids' toy. They are in songs, stories and films. There are even teddy bear museums around the world. And it's not even just kids who hold teddy bears. It's a popular present for lovers, usually on Valentine's Day.

    In the UK it is popular for a newborn baby to get a teddy bear as their first gift. The day I was born, my grandmother handed me a teddy bear. She made it herself. That makes him the same age as me! I took him everywhere I went, holding his arm at nighttime and falling asleep with him. And I still have that bear with me today. It is the best gift I have ever gotten.

By Anna Matteo

28 January, 2019

    A 3-year-old boy who was lost in the woods for two days is now safe at home with his family. But Casey Hathaway told his rescuers (救援者) that he was not alone in the rainy, freezing cold woods. He said he was with a friend — a bear.

    The child went missing on January 22 while playing with friends near his grandmother's house in North Carolina. When the other children returned but Casey did not, the family searched the area for almost an hour before calling the police.

    Police formed a search team to look for the young boy in the nearby woods. But two days went by and—no Casey.

    Then on January 24, someone called the police saying he heard a child crying in the woods. Police followed up on the information and found Casey at about 9:30 that night. He was in good health.

    Casey told the rescuers he had hung out with a black bear for two days, a bear he called his "friend".

    The police officer Chip Hughes spoke with reporters from several news agencies. He said Casey did not say how he could survive in the woods for two days in the cold, rainy weather. "However," the police officer said, "he did say he had a friend in the woods that was a bear with him."

    Hundreds of people helped in the search and rescue efforts, including some 600 volunteers, police and members of the army. Doctors at the medical center gave Casey some examination. He was then sent to his family on January 25.

    His mother talked with reporters and thanked everyone who joined the search for her son. "We just want to tell everybody that we're very thankful that you took the time out to search for Casey," said his mother. "He is up and talking He's already asked to watch cartoons."

    It was a Monday morning. When the teacher walked into the classroom, he heard a low voice. "Here's the teacher. I'm sure this boring fellow is going to talk about how to use commas." It was a boy's voice and the teacher knew who he was.

    However, the teacher didn't get angry. He said nothing about it, but really began to talk about how to use commas. And he wrote the following sentence on the blackboard, "Nick says the teacher is a boring fellow." The class laughed and Nick's face turned red. "Now," said the teacher, "I will tell you the importance of commas." He put two commas in the sentence and then said, "Nick, says the teacher, is a boring fellow." The whole class laughed again. Nick felt very surprised first, then his face turned much redder. Finally he couldn't help laughing with the other students, too.