The umbrella is a very common object. It keeps the 1and the sun off the people. Most umbrellas can be folded up(折叠) so it is 2 to carry them.

    However, the umbrella was not always as 3 as it is now. In the past, it was a symbol of importance. Some African countries still use umbrellas in this 4. Someone carries an umbrella and walks behind the king or important person.

    Umbrellas have a long history. People in different parts of the world began to 5 umbrellas at different times. The Chinese had them more than 3,000 years ago. From there, umbrellas 6 to India and Egypt. In Greece and Rome, 7, wouldn't use them. They believed umbrellas were only for women.

    England was 8 the first country in Europe where common people used umbrellas against rain. The weather there is very 9 and umbrellas are very useful.

     Everybody uses umbrellas today. The next time you 10 one, thinking that for centuries only great men and women used them, you'll feel you are the important person, too.

    Mr. Black works in a hospital in a community. As a doctor, he's always very 1 to sick(患病的) people. The people in the community all like him, and they often go to ask him for 2. So he's 3 very busy. He has little time to have a 4. He's tired, but he says he 5 happy.

    One morning Mr. Black 6 the hospital and saw a heavy woman 7 the waiting room. He called her into his 8 and asked, “What's the matter with you, madam?” “My father gave me a 9 for my birthday yesterday, sir,” said the woman. “But I 10 put myself in it.” “It doesn't matter(没关系), madam,” said Mr. Black. “You can get less fat(脂肪) if you don't eat 11 sweet food. And you'll be able to 12 your coat.” “You're 13, sir,” said the woman. “He bought me a 14, not a coat. He 15 that I like to drive it to go out.”   

    When my brother and I got adopted (收养), I was four and he was two. I was 1 at first. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't smile at all. But then I found a lovely new nightgown (睡衣) on my bed. I started to smile. I had 2 had my own nightgown before. When my dad saw me 3 , he hugged me. He started to cry a little. I felt happy because my brother and I finally had a forever 4.

    I remember once when I was in the third grade, a boy asked me if I was adopted. I said I couldn't remember, because I was too shy to tell him. But it doesn't feel 5 to talk about it now. At home, we talk about it a lot.

    I'm in the sixth grade now, and a lot of people 6 my story. It feels great. I always feel good about myself when my friends are around—one friend especially. When my friend was little, her mother couldn't 7 her, so she was adopted. When I heard her story, it sounded a lot like my story. It started out hard, but that part is over.

    Life is good for me. I 8 my parents and do whatever I can to help. I'm interested in 9 and I sometimes prepare breakfast. I collect eggs from the henhouse and cook them for breakfast. When I feed my dog or close the chickens up for the night, I give them love, just like my 10 give me.

    "You're doing it all wrong," said Ryan.

    "You're nuts!" shouted Tom. "I'm the best jumper there ever was!"

    "Then why can't you touch the doorframe (门框)?"

    "It's 1, okay?"

    Tom looked straight up. The doorframe was ten feet high. 2 could jump high enough to touch it, even older kids. But Ryan had dared (激某人做某事) Tom that he couldn't do it, and so Tom had to 3.

    He muttered, "I'm the best jumper there ever was."

    It all started one day last year, a Frisbee (飞盘) was stuck in a tree. It was so 4 that nobody could get it. And Tom stood way back from the tree and got a running start. When he was going as 5 as he could run, he leapt. It was like he was in the air forever, and then he felt the Frisbee in his hand. From then on, when there was a problem that could be solved by 6, they called Tom.

    Everybody 7 Ryan loved their jumping champion(冠军). 8 Tom came along, he had been the best jumper in the class. Ever since then, Ryan had been 9 the chance to take revenge(报复).

    "Come on," he 10 Tom, "You can't jump just a little bit higher? I thought you were the best jumper!"

    Tom gritted his teeth, tensed his legs and threw his body up into the air. And he 11 fell short by at least two feet.

    "It's impossible," he said.

    "Ha! I knew it."

    "12 we work together."

    "Excuse me?"

    "Neither of us can jump high enough to touch it alone, but if we work together…" Tom 13.

    A few minutes later, Tom went down on his knee and held Ryan's foot in his hands.

    "One…two…three!" shouted Tom. On three, Ryan put all his 14 on Tom's hands, and Tom threw him up into the air. Ryan's hand hit the doorframe and fell down laughing.

    "15 did it!" he said.

    "Now it's my turn!" said Tom.

    Together, they were the best jumpers there ever were.

Students should like vacations. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} last week, I asked some students what they did last summer vacation. Their answers surprised me a lot. Some said they just {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (stay) at home and played computer games all day. Some said they had many classes in summer school. And many students even said their vacation was {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(real) boring. The summer vacation this year is coming soon. Do you want to have a better one? Here {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (be) some tips(小建议) for you.

First, find out what you are interested in and join some clubs. Next, it's just right {#blank#}5{#/blank#} spending some time and money on some trips. Learn to be {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (friend)when you meet new friends.

If your parents take you to another country, try to learn a {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (two) language.Take some photos of the beautiful places along the way. Finally, remember to finish your homework on time{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(know) more about your new lessons in Grade Eight.

I am sure if you can use {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (you) time well and have a good plan, you will have{#blank#}10{#/blank#}wonderful summer vacation.