B

    Mike works very long hours every day. He usually gets up at 17:00. He has a shower and makes his breakfast. What a funny time to make breakfast! After breakfast, he practices (练习) his guitar for ten minutes, then he puts on his jacket and goes to work. To get to work, he takes the No.17 bus to the Star Hotel. The bus usually leaves at 19:15. He works all night. People love to listen to him! He gets home at 7:00, and he watches the early morning news on TV. He goes to bed at 8:30, a tired but happy man. Can you think what his job is?

    I'm a Chinese student studying in Canada. I have been a boarder(寄宿生) with the Carsons for more than a year and a half.

    The Carsons live in their own house, which has four bedrooms including the one in the basement(底层) which I live in. Judy does all the work in the house and Andrew is responsible for the work in the garden. When they go out in the evening, they often ask me to look after their children.

    Judy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morris, lived in another city. Judy was their only child and naturally they doted on(溺爱) Judy's children. They often sent the children presents.

    Last April Mr. Morris died. Now that Mrs. Morris was quite alone, I expected that Judy would want her to come and live with them. One day, Margaret told me grandma was coming to live with them and her daddy and mummy would want my room back. The news didn't surprise me and the next day I went to Judy and asked her about it. I said I couldn't think of living in their basement room any longer if it was needed for Mrs. Morris. Judy seemed surprised at first. Then she told me there was no deed for me to move, for they hadn't yet come to any decision about her mother coming to live with them. "Naturally I'm worried about my mother. She has been in poor health." She smiled sadly and added. "To be honest, Andrew and my mother have never got on well. We'll wait a bit and see what happens. Perhaps Moter will be all right living herself, of perhaps they will both change their minds."

    That was six months ago. During this time I've heard that Mrs. Morris has had two illnesses and that her health has got worse. A nursing home was mentioned once but Mrs. Morris refused to go there. So up to now she's still living alone and I'm still living in the basement room.

    Colin Boyle was born in 1973 near Dublin, Ireland. While he was ill in hospital at age 10, his uncle gave him an old violin. He loved it right away. After he left the hospital, he practiced at his school every day after class.

    One day in 1987, John Leaf, the manager (经纪人) of several successful musicians, came to Colin's school. He was having a meeting with the headmaster when he heard Colin practicing. After the meeting, he found Colin and invited him to appear in one of the concerts he was organizing that year. Colin, however, refused Leaf's invitation because just then he was preparing for some important school exams. Years later, Colin made it to college to study engineering. At college he met Kim O'Malley, who was studying chemistry (化学). Kim was also good at music. Being students, they didn't have much money and they usually worked in a restaurant on weekends.

    One evening in April 1992, while Colin and Kim were at work, they heard that there would be no live (现场演出的) music in the restaurant that night because the singer could not come. Colin and Kim persuadedthe owner of the restaurant to let them play. Everyone was shocked to hear how good they were. After that, they worked hard together and improved greatly in music.

    My daughter Eyen is ten years old. She is in Grade Three in a primary school. She is a cute girl though she has some strange ideas sometimes.

    One day she asks me, "Mum, what is your favorite subject?" I think for a while and answer," It is difficult to tell. I love singing, so music is my favorite. And I am good at English. My history teacher also says I am excellent. Well, I can say I don't like Science. But Science is important for us, you know. So you must do well in it. What is your favorite subject, Eyen? Tell me something about your subjects, dear."

    I like Chinese. It is easy. I like English because my English teacher likes me very much. I can't stand Maths. It is serious and sad."

    "Do you mean your Maths teacher is serious and sad?"

    "No, it is Maths, not the Maths teacher."

    "Why do you think so?"

    "Because Maths has so many problems! Isn't it sad all day?"

    John and Tina come from different countries. They are interested in Chinese food. They usually eat Chinese food in restaurants and often talk about it.

    It's Saturday today and it's sunny. John asks Tina to have dinner at Ms. Brown's House. It's the first time that Tina goes there for dinner.

    "Hi, John. Are there different kinds of food at Ms. Brown's House?" Tina asks.

    "Of course. There're all kinds of noodles, such as chicken and cabbage noodles, mutton and potato noodles, tomato and egg noodles and beef and carrot noodles," John says.

    "Sounds great! I like tomato and egg noodles very much," said Tina.

    "Me, too. There are also delicious dumplings and specials. After dinner, we can have ice- cream and fruit. They are on sale."

    "Ice-cream? I know a new kind of ice-cream. It is delicious. And you can keep it for an hour."

    "Great! But there isn't any at Ms. Brown's House."

    "I know where to buy it. Let's go after dinner."

    "OK."