Michael had taught us English for two years before he moved to New York. He worked very hard and was patient with his students, so we all 1 him very much since he left. It was not long before Michael came back to Los Angeles 2 a short visit. The teachers and students held a small party for 3.

    At the party, people walked 4 and talked with each other. I certainly would not give up the good 5 to learn English. I tried to think of all kinds of topics 6 with another English teacher, Mrs. Green.

    Just before I was going to run out of my 7, suddenly I heard Michael say to others loudly, “I dig New York!” I asked Mrs. Green at once, “Is it really 8 to find a job in New York? Why does Michael have to do 9 work since he is such a good teacher?”

    Mrs. Green didn't seem to understand 10 I said. “Why do you think of that?” she asked.

    “Haven't you heard him say that he is digging New York? Is he 11 an underground passage(地下通道)?” I asked.

    When Mrs. Green finally 12 what I meant, she laughed to tears. Then she asked us whether we knew the 13 of “I dig New York”. All of us shook heads and said “14“. Michael told us that “I dig New York” means “I love New York” in American slang(俚语). 15 few people say that now, we still hear it sometimes.

    Jack is a 16-year-old boy. Last summer, he wanted to have a nice1.He asked his parents for the money.But his parents said he must get it by himself.But 2could he get one?

    One day，on his way home，he was thinking about this.Not many people wanted to ask children to work3them.Maybe he could sweep away the snow for the neighbours.However，it was not4.He had to wait a long time for that. Just at the moment，he saw Tom，one of his classmates，working in a5shop.

    "I could do that，"he thought.He asked Tom some questions.He learned that it took Tom about three hours a day to do the job6he could get twenty dollars each week.Then Tom gave him the telephone number of the book shop manager.Jack almost 7 home."Mum，I have good news to tell you，"Jack said.After he told his mother that，she said,"I think it's a8idea."

    "I will9the manager tomorrow,"said Jack，"After all，I'm going to be a businessman.''Jack's mother looked 10at him and smiled.

    After the summer holiday，Jack got the bike which he dreamt of.

    There was once a wise old lady who lived on a hill. All the children used to go and ask her questions. She always gave them1answers.

    There was a little boy among the children. One day he caught a little bird and held it in his hands without anybody seeing it. Suddenly he had an idea and asked his friends to2.

    "Let's3the old lady," he said. "I'll ask her what I'm holding in my hands. Of course, she'll answer that I have a bird. Then I'll ask her if the bird is alive or dead. If she says the bird is dead, then I'll4my hands and let the bird fly away. If she says the bird is alive, I'll quickly5it and show her the dead bird. Either way, she'll be6."

    The children agreed this was a clever plan. So7the hill they all went to the old lady's house.

    "Granny, we have a8for you," they all shouted.

    "What's in my hands?" the little boy asked.

    "Why, of course it must be a bird," the old lady replied.

    "But is it alive or dead?" the boy asked9.

    All the boys10 her answer and got ready to laugh at her.

    The old lady thought for a moment and then replied, "It's up to you, my child. If you're kind enough, it'll be alive."

    One day in class, the teacher held up an apple. She stood on the platform (讲台) and said, "Please 1 it in the air, and…"

    One student 2 his hand and said, "I can smell it. It is the smell of an apple."

    The teacher stepped 3 the platform, passed by each of the students and said, "Smell 4 to see if the smell of the apple is still in the air."

    Half of the students put up their hands to show that they could smell it. The teacher returned to the 5 of the classroom and asked again who else could smell the apple. The rest raised their hands except one boy. The teacher came to the boy and asked, "You really can't smell the apple?"

    The boy answered, "No, I can't smell it. I don't think it's a 6 apple."

The teacher 7 at the boy and said to the class, "He's right! It's not 8 to get the apple smell from this apple."

    All of the other students had been tricked. Some may have thought that perhaps the apple didn't have the apple smell, 9 they didn't dare to speak up. They just 10 the first student blindly and went along with him.

    When I was a little child, I felt unhappy. I was really 1 other kids. I couldn't change no matter what I did.

    There is something wrong with my 2. I can't see things around me clearly. When my classmates play games happily outside, I have to stay at home and look out of the window alone.

    For a long tune, I felt hopeless. 3 my mother always said, "You are the precious (珍贵的) baby in our family," it didn't work.

    I asked God, " 4 did you give me a pair of useless eyes when you gave me life?" Of course, there was no 5.

    I turned to books for help. Books are my only friends. When I am sad and upset, they6 ; when I feel happy and excited, they 7 my feelings. They can take me to another world, there I can see everything clearly and tree my heart through joy.

    I began to write down my thoughts and keep them as a 8. And nobody knew it. When I studied at a middle school, I had a good teacher. He read all of my poems and said, "Well done!" He always 9 me in class. He kept helping me. Now I am full of energy and confidence (自信). I can do things like other kids. So please believe in 10. Everyone is unique (独—无二的).