One day, while I was walking on the street, I heard the piano music and singing rising above the noise of the people. I stopped and saw a young lady sitting at a piano.

    She was singing songs about love. The way she was singing made me a little comfortable. I stood there watching her playing on such a crowded New York square. I thought that she must be brave enough to perform in front of so many people.

    She noticed me. I walked over and told her how good her music sounded. “Thank you.” she said.

    “I have been going through a hard time recently, but you've made me hopeful again.” I said to her.

    “I'm glad that I could help,” she replied, “Why are you so sad?”

    “Well, my mom has lost her job, and I'm not sure what to do …”

    “Did you notice the way you were walking? Your head was down.” she said. “Don't be upset, because opportunity (机遇) comes in different ways and if your head is down, you might not see it. You should smile more… lift your head up.”

    I looked at her, surprised at how she was encouraging (鼓励) me. “Why are you playing the piano here?” I asked her with a smile.

    She explained that she saw a lot of unhappy people in the world and she tried to cheer them up by playing music.

    I smiled a little wilder, realizing that no difficulties could stop me from going on.

    According to a new survey, student safety has become a big problem.Now in many big cities of China, many schools start a new lesson: self­protection. Students like this lesson because there are no exams or boring classes. And they can learn how to save lives and know how to stop danger before it really happens.

    Lin Li, a teacher from Yantai, gives young students advice on how to deal with danger.

    If you are in a traffic accident

    If a car hurts you, you should remember the car number.If it is a bicycle, try to call your parents before you let the rider go.This is because you don't know how seriously you are hurt.

    If it is raining hard and there is lightning

    Don't stay in high places and stay away from trees.

    When there is a fire

    Get away as fast as you can.Put wet things on your body and try to find an exit.Do not take the lift.

    If someone is drowning

    If you can't swim, don't get into the water.Cry out for help.

Remember that danger is never as far away as you think.Take care of yourself at all times!

    If you are robbed (抢劫)

    Keep calm.If you cannot cry for help or run away, give the robber your money.Try to remember what the robber looks like and tell the police later.

Information Card

    Horatio Spafford, who was born in 1828, was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a promising career, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son.

    At the very height of his financial and professional success Horatio and his wife, Anna, suffered the loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter, on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of his real estate(地产) Investment.

    In 1873, Spafford planned a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much-needed vacation and time to recover from the loss of their young son. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some small business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had had a collision (碰撞). All four of his daughters had drowned, only his wife had survived.

    With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his broken-hearted Anna in England. It was on this trip that he wrote those now famous words: When sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well, it is well with my soul.

    Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs, including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Buming, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn (赞美) that be composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the poem. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey in 1876.

    For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless people.

    Mr. Smith is a teacher. He is near-sighted（近视的）. But he doesn't wear glasses. One day, he is walking in a street. He is thinking something. Suddenly a strong wind blows his cap off his head. Mr. Smith runs after it.

    He wants to catch it but he can't. At this time, an old woman from a door of the house says to him,

    "Hi! What are you doing, sir?"

    "Running after my cap."

    "Your cap? Aha… that's my black cat," she says.

    "Your cat? Sorry, but where is my cap?"

    Little Tommy was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything-tutors, cards, special learning centers in short, everything they could think of. Finally they took Tommy to a catholic(天主教的) school.

    After the first day, little Tommy came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn't kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying. Books and papers were spread(铺开) out all over the room and little Tommy was hard at work. His mother was surprised. She called him down to dinner and as soon as he finished eating, he went back to his room, without a word. In no time he was back hitting the books as hard as before.  This went on for some time, day after day while the mother tried to understand what was happening.

    Finally, little Tommy brought home his report card. He quietly put it on the table and went up to his room and hit the books. His morn looked at it and to her surprise, little Tommy got an A in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity(好奇心). She went to his room and asked, "Son, what was it? Was it the nuns(修女)?" Little Tommy looked at her and shook his head, "No." "Well then," she asked again. "WHAT was it?"

    Little Tommy looked at her and said, "Well, on the first day of school, when I saw that man nailed(钉) to the plus sign(加号), I knew they weren't joking."

    Hello, everyone. I'd like to have a brief introduction to the overseas study group. There will be {#blank#}1{#/blank#} group members visiting the USA. We will start our journey at 19:00 on August 15 from Shanghai and will arrive in {#blank#}2{#/blank#} at 22:15. From August 16 through 23 we'll {#blank#}3{#/blank#} in Harrison Middle School. As for the nights, we'll stay at the local students' homes so that we'll have more time to practice our {#blank#}4{#/blank#} English. After that, we'll tour some large {#blank#}5{#/blank#} and the last stop is San Francisco. On August 27, we'll fly back to our homeland, and we will enjoy parents' warm hugs the next day.