People normally think of dogs as man's best friend, but to Brian Wilson, his two pet parrots are his best friends.

    It all began in 1995, when Brian was still a firefighter. A car accident caused serious damage to his brain. After several months of treatment, Brian's doctors said that he would never talk again and that he would have to spend the rest of his life in a nursing home.

    However, according to Brian, his two pet parrots didn't give up easily. They kept talking to him day and night, until one day, he said one word, then another, and all of a sudden was talking like a normal person again!

    Brian was so thankful that he decided to set up a home for birds which are not wanted by their owners. Now, his house is home to about 80 birds, including a great variety of birds like several macaws, cockatoos and African gray parrots. The birds fly around from room to room, some cackling (咯咯叫), others talking like humans. Though they all have big cages, Brian lets them fly freely inside the house.

    Over the years, Brian has developed a special relationship with birds. The birds that bite other humans, seem to like him and can get along with him well. He is now called a bird whisperer (鸟语者). Brian pays for most of the costs of looking after the birds with his own money, but has recently established a foundation (基金会) to accept donations. He and his birds also earn money by performing at birthday parties, weddings and other social events.

    For people who want to adopt (领养) Brian's birds, they have to volunteer at the foundation for three months before they can take the pet home.

    Papercutting is a kind of the traditional folk art in China. Papercutting has a long history of about 1,500 years. Let's learn something about papercutting.

    Wonderful meanings

    Papercutting has some wonderful meanings. Some papercutting means happiness and good luck. In the Spring Festival, people paste(粘贴) "Fu" on doors or windows. At a wedding, people paste "Xi".

    The largest Chinese papercutting

    The largest papercutting was made by Gao Xiaodong. It has an area of about 456 square meters. It is as large as a basketball court.

    Why is it red?

    In the old times of China, people think highly of the sun. Red was the color of the sun. They always regarded red as the symbol of hope and life. Now, we can also see red everywhere in China. The walls of old palaces are red. Lanterns are red. Weddings are always full of red things, too.

    Black papercutting in Shanzhou

    Much of the papercutting is red. But papercutting in Shanzhou, Henan Province is black. Black is the best color there. Shanzhou is a dry place. People make black papercutting and wish for rain.

There is a very important place in my life. That is my grandpa's 1 . My grandpa lives in a small village (村庄). The village is far 2 the city. It is at the foot of a hill (小山)with all kinds of flowers, 3 it's very beautiful. There are many trees on the hill, too. The air in the village is very fresh.  There are many 4 , at my age in the village. When I go to my grandpa's home in the summer holiday. I always play with 5 . We often play football, sing and dance. The children are very 6 to me and I'm happy to be with them. Sometimes they come to my grandpa's home to visit me. We sit under a big tree in front of my grandpa's house to 7 my grandpa's interesting stories. Sometimes I take my computer with me to my grandpa's home. I teach them how to use the computer. They all like to watch soccer games on the 8 with me. We become very good friends soon. Now many workers are building(修建) a wide road through the 9 . The traffic will be very easy. I'm going to spend (花费) my summer holidays in my grandpa's home every year because I 10 my grandpa and my good friends. I also miss my grandpa's house very much. 

One day，only my mother and I were at home. She asked me a question，"1 is the most important part of the body? "2 I was young，I thought sound was very important to us， 3 I said，"My ears，Mom. "

"No. Many people 4 deaf（聋的）， "she said. "But keep 5 about it and I will ask you again soon. "

Last year，my grandpa died.6 w as crying. When it was our turn 7 our final goodbye to him，my mother asked me for the 8 time，"Do you know the most important part of your body now，my dear? "

I didn't know how to answer when she 9 me this. I always thought this was just 10 game between her and me. She saw the confusion（疑惑）11 my face and told me，"My dear，the most important body part is your shoulder （肩膀）

"Is it because it holds up 12 head? "I asked. 

"No，it is because it 13 hold the head of a friend or a 14 one when he or she cries，"she answered. "Everybody 15 to have a shoulder to cry on sometimes in life. My dear，I only hope that you have enough love and friends. And then when you feel sad，you will have a shoulder to cry on. "

This story took place during the Warring States (战国) period. At that time, kings would often 1 each other's sons as hostages (人质) to protect their kingdoms (王国).

Now it was the prince of Wei's turn. He was going to Handan, the capital of Zhao, as a hostage. Pang Cong, an official, was going with him. Before they 2 , Pang Cong said to the king of Wei, "If someone comes to report that he has 3 a tiger in the market will Your Majesty (陛下) believe it?"

"Of course not," the king answered.

"If another man comes to say the same thing, will Your Majesty believe it?"

"I'll start to 4 about it."

"Then, what if a third man comes with the same report, Your Majesty?"

"Maybe I will think it is 5 ."

"Well, we all know that no tiger dares to go to the market. But since three men have said the same thing, everyone now 6 that there is a tiger there. Handan is much 7 from our capital than the market is from the court (王宫), and more than three people will talk against me behind my 8 . When I'm away, Your Majesty will not fail to judge (判断) what you hear, will you?"

"I know 9 to judge," the king said impatiently.

Then Pang Cong said 10 to the king and left Daliang, the capital of Wei, with the prince. But as soon as he had left, the king's ears were 11 with words against him.

After a few years, when Pang Cong 12 to Wei with the prince, the king would not see him again. He was no longer 13 .

So, "three liars (说谎的人) make a 14 " is used to say that if a lie is 15 often enough, people may start to believe it, even though it is not a fact.

Once there was a rich man. But his son had no goals in life and wasn't happy. One day, he handed his son {#blank#}1{#/blank#} map and said, "I want you to go to the marked place and find a treasure."

The son set out and travelled really far, across {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(forest) and mountains. At last, he reached the place and began to dig. He dug {#blank#}3{#/blank#}a long time but nothing was found. Tired and sad, he decided {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(go)back home. On {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(he) way back, he noticed dancing birds and beautiful flowers. He met the farmers who were {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(work)happily in the fields. He found everything nice l {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(final), he got home and his father asked, "How was your journey there? Did you enjoy it?"

"Of course not! {#blank#}8{#/blank#} I really enjoyed the journey back home and almost {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(forget) the pain of not finding the treasure." "Nice things are always there" the father smiled. "My son, I want you to have a goal. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}you don't have a goal, you won't set out. But if the goal is the only thing in your mind, you'll miss something nice and won't be happy. So remember: It's important to have a goal in life and enjoy the journey well."