A groundhog (土拨鼠) is a small animal that digs and lives under the ground. It is also called the woodchuck. Groundhogs live in many parts of the US.

    They go to 1 for most of the winter like bears and some other 2. Do you know that the US has a 3 named Groundhog Day? It is celebrated on 2 February.

    A legend (传说) says a few hundred years ago Europeans introduced Groundhog Day to America. 4 the legend, the groundhog 5 from his long deep sleep on 2 February, halfway between winter and spring. If he comes up from the 6 and it is sunny, he will see his shadow (影子) and he'll be afraid. If he sees his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of 7 weather. But if he comes up and the sky is 8, he will not see his shadow and will not be afraid. Then spring weather will come very soon.

    Some people believe this legend and they 9 the sky on 2 February. Many people are happy if it is cloudy on that day. They think spring will come soon. But most people think it is just a 10 legend. What do you think?

    I have invented robots which improve the work of cars. My love of making things began1I was a kid. I really became excited about inventing after I learned about Thomas Edison.

    One day in fourth grade, our2gave us a project in class. We had to write to a company and learn about the products. I thought and thought. 3I chose the Thomas A. Edison Company. Soon after, the company sent me a book about the life of Thomas Edison. How I enjoyed reading and re-reading about his 4! I like the recorded sound and the electric light most. The inventions were clearly printed on my brain.

    My dad noticed my interest in inventing and5me. He showed me how to turn my ideas into plans and then into new things. Once, I surprised my dad6a model plane I made. Later, we found a7model plane in a store. I learned that different inventors often invent similar things. It is not unusual for this to happen. I also learned that not all great ideas8. Failure is a common part of the inventing.

    As my father and I worked together, I began to realize that my dad was quite an inventor himself. He was always9a better way to do a simple job. His guiding hands, together with my10 in inventing, led me to become an engineer and an inventor. Of course, I also thank Thomas Edison. He is my hero.

    While at the beach this afternoon. I met a 1 called Bob We talked a lot. He said that it was fun playing on the cliffs (悬崖). I told him 2 I was not allowed to go near that place (Mum and Dad had always told me it was dangerous to play there). He called me a coward (胆小鬼). I wanted to prove to him that I was just as 3 as he was, so I agreed to go with him.

    We wanted to make our way down to explore (探索) the area. so Bob started to climb down 4 I followed him. 5, some rocks came down after us. One of them nearly hit my head. We could not get back up. We shouted and shouted for help, but for a long time 6 help came. I was really scared (害怕的). I wanted to cry. Then, we heard some 7. Someone had heard us. A woman tied a rope around 8 while a man at the cliff top held the rope. She 9 her way down to save us.

    My parents were relieved (宽慰的) that I was unhurt, but they were angry that I had done 10 a risky thing. I apologized and promised that I would not do anything like that again.

    Mrs. King is a 26-year old woman. She comes from Australia. She has long blonde 1, a straight nose and blue eyes. She is thin and of medium 2. Mrs. King looks much 3 than other women of the same age. Some people think she is only about 20 years old.

    Mrs. King is our English teacher. 4 she only teaches us twice a week, she is a very responsible(负责的) teacher. She is very 5 with us in class. But after class she is friendly and kind 6 us. She always works very hard. I remember one winter morning, she didn't feel 7, but she went on giving us a lesson. We were moved(感动的) and all listened to her 8more carefully than before.

    Mrs. King teaches us very well. Her classes are 9 funny and interesting. She often tells us to be10. So we can learn English well. All of us love her.

    No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own 1.

    I learned this lesson from an experience many years ago. I took the head 2 job at a school in Baxley, Georgia. It was a small school with a weak football program.

    It was a tradition for the school's old team to play against the 3 team at the end of the spring practice. The old team had no coach, and they didn't even practice to 4 the game. Being the coach of the new team, I was excited because I knew we were going to win.5 to my disappointment, we were beaten. I couldn't believe I had got into such a situation. Thinking hard about it, I came to know that my team 6 not be the number one team in Georgia, but they were depending on me. I knew I had to change my 7 about the ability and potential(潜力).

    I started doing anything I could to help them build a little pride. Most important, I began to treat them as winners. Instead of feeling discouraged, the members were in high spirits. That summer, when the other teams enjoyed their 8, we met every day and practiced passing and kicking the football on the school football field.

    Six months 9 suffering our defeat on the spring practice field, we won our first game and our second, and continued to improve. Finally, we faced the number 10 team in the state. I felt that it would be a victory for us 11 we lost the game. But that wasn't what happened. My boys 12 the best team in Georgia, giving me one of the most exciting events of my life. All of us jumped up and down with excitement, most of them even cried.

    From the experience I learn a lot about 13 the attitude of the leader can affect the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers, I pushed and encouraged them. I helped them to see themselves 14, and they built themselves into winners.

    Winners are made, not 15.