①Last year I spent my whole winter vacation in the US with my host family. The most unforgettable experience I had there was joining the Boy Scouts (童子军) of America. It was there that I got to face a great challenge: camping in the rain.

    ②One Saturday, we went hiking in the rain for more than six hours. When we finally reached the camping site, my shoes, my clothes, my bag and all the things inside it were totally soaked.

    ③Then, an even worse thing happened. Our guide teacher stepped out and said: “Today's hiking is a test. We're not going back home tonight! We have to live here tonight!” Soon we began to accept the truth and went to work. We just covered ourselves with a kind of plastic sheet and lay down by the campfire. While sleeping, I woke up several times. But to my surprise, I adapted (适应) to the environment quickly. Many others didn't even fall asleep.

    ④The sun finally rose and our hope returned. The bus came at 6 am and sent us back to our lovely home.

    ⑤Many in China say that children in the US were born with an adventurous spirit. But I think they were born with nothing different. Instead, they make differences by facing troubles positively. The camping adventure was a gift they gave themselves. Many Chinese children are over-protected when they are growing up. Therefore, when facing troubles, how can it be possible for us to react positively?

    Asher Angel, an American child actor, was born on 6 September, 2002. He has performed in more than 10 theatre productions. Most of the time, he is occupied. His workday is from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. during the week. "I go to sleep when I get home, with weekends off," Asher said. However, he loves animals and always finds time to help them.

    Asher and his family became interested in animal rescue after their beloved dog. Avery, died of illness. They volunteer at a local animal rescue centre called Home Fur Good. Asher walks, feeds and plays with the dogs at the rescue centre.

    In his home, Asher has three dogs, one cat and two hamsters, and they are mostly rescued pets. He loves all his pets and could not imagine his life without them. His acting work keeps him away a lot, but he loves to play with his dogs (Monet Belle, Harper Belle and Cleo Belle) as soon as he gets home. They are super excited to see him every time. Asher has a special relationship with Monet Belle. He says, "Her eyes look like a human's, and I can talk to her. She comforts (安慰) me when I need her."

    Asher is really excited about his new role in Andi Mack, because the character of Jonah Beck is a lot like him: thoughtful and sensitive (敏感的). He also got the chance to learn to play Frisbee (飞碟), which was really fun, especially since Asher also loves sports.

    Asher showed an interest in acting at an early age and he has a dream of becoming a professional full-time actor in the future.

    In 1909 an English newspaper offered £ 1,000 to the first man to fly across the English Channel in an aeroplane. Today, modern jets cross it in minutes. But at that time it still seemed a good distance. The race to win the money soon became a race between two men. Both were very colourful.

    One was Louis Bleriot. He owned a factory in France that made motor car lamps. He was already well known as a pilot because he had had accidents several times. Some people laughed at him. One man said, "He may not be the first to fly across the Channel but he will certainly be the first to die in an accident!" But Bleriot was really a good and brave pilot. He also had many good ideas about aeroplane design.

    The other man was Hubert Latham. He was half French and half English. He took up flying when his doctors told him he had only a year to live. "Oh, well," he said, "if I'm going to die soon, I think I shall have a dangerous and interesting life now." Latham was the first to try the flight across the Channel. Ten kilometres from the French coast, his plane had some trouble. It fell down into the water and began to sink under the water. A boat reached Latham just in time. He was sitting calmly on the wing and was coolly lighting a cigarette. Bleriot took off six days later. He flew into some very bad weather and very low cloud. He somehow got to the English side and landed in a farmer's field. When he did so, a customs (海关) officer rushed up to his plane. Planes have changed since then, but customs officers have not. "Have you anything to say?" The officer asked.

    A poor man worked for a rich man. The rich man made the poor man work all day, but didn't give him enough food. So the poor man often felt hungry.

    One day, when the poor man was having breakfast, the rich man came in and said to the poor man, "It's very troublesome to come back for the other meals. So I want you to have your breakfast, lunch and dinner together now before you go to the fields. ""How can I eat three meals at breakfast time?" the poor man thought but he said, "All right. He finished his meals and went out. Two hours later, the rich man went out for a walk, he saw the poor man sleeping under a tree. He was very angry and said, "Why don't you work in the fields?" The poor man sat up and said with a smile," I've already had my dinner and you know very well that after dinner it is time to go to sleep."

    Vera is thirteen years old. She was born on July 27th. Mrs. Smith is her mother. Today is Vera's birthday. There is a party for her, Lots of her friends come to her birthday party. A birthday cake is on the table. There are some bananas, oranges, strawberries and apples on the table, too. But Vera doesn't like them. What does she want? Can you guess?

    Just then Vera sees a red card in her mother's hand. It says, "Happy birthday to you, dear(亲爱的) Vera. There is a nice present for you. Open the box on your dresser, you can find it."

    Vera runs to her dresser and opens the box. Ah, a nice T shirt! How glad she is!

    "My dear lady," says Holmes. "You're shivering. Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea?"

    "I'm not cold," the woman replies. "I fear for my life!"

    "We are here to help you. Don't worry about anything. I don't know you. But I know many things about you. For example, I know how you travel. You came to London by train. You also rode to the train station on a horse­drawn wagon(马拉车). "

    "Why, yes. You're right. But how do you know these things？"

    "I see a return ticket in your glove. I see fresh mud on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem. "

    "My name is Helen Stoner," she states. "My mother and father are dead. I am living with my stepfather, Dr Grimesby Roylott. He comes from a rich family. But they are no longer rich. They have nothing except a small piece of land and a huge old house. We are living in the house. Dr Roylott is using my mother's money for expenses(开支). Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages."

Holmes is sitting in his chair. His eyes are closed. He is listening carefully to Helen's story. He hears every detail.

    Helen continues. "My stepfather has no friends. He fights with everyone. He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him. "

    "He has no friends at all?" asks Holmes.

    "No. He talks to no one except the gypsies. They are poor people who travel from place to place. A band of gypsies is staying on our land right now."

    "Are you and your sister afraid of the gypsies?"

    "My dear Mr. Holmes. You are making me so sad. My sister is dead. That is why I am standing here in this room."