Tony is from New York. His father has a store there. And his mother is a reporter. He's six years old now and begins to go to school this year. It's very near their shop and his father doesn't drive a car to take him to school. He walks to school early every day. So he's not late for class and his teachers like him.

    It's Tuesday today. Miss White is teaching them to count from one to ten. Tony is studying hard. Soon he can count them. Miss White is happy and asks, "How many people are there in your family, Tony?"

    Tony stands up and begin to count with his fingers, and then says, "Two, Miss White."

    "Who are they?"

    "My father and my mother."

    "Oh?" Miss White is surprised, "Two people in your family?"

    "Because now I'm not at home."

    John was born without arms. As a child, he learned to do many things with his legs. But there were a lot of things he couldn't do. His parents even had to feed him. His seven brothers had to help him to get dressed.

    One day his mom decided not to help John anymore. She told John's brothers not to help him either. "Let John do everything on his own," she said. "If John needs to eat, let him eat by himself. Let him get the dish himself. If he breaks up a few dishes, it's fine. No one will help him to get dressed either. Let him wear his clothes himself. If he can't get dressed himself, then let him run without clothes. But no one is allowed to help him. He has to learn to do everything himself."

    John's mother loved him. She wanted to help him. But if she always helped him, he wouldn't learn anything. She wanted him to be independent.

    Soon John learned to do everything by himself. When he was sixteen, he could even drive a car with his feet. John felt very proud. He thanked his mother for making him independent.

    Today John is a grown-up man. He has a business of his own and he is very successful. He also travels around the world.

    John likes children very much. He likes to talk and play with them. He tells them that they can learn to do anything. He teaches them how to be independent.

    An elephant and a crocodile were once standing beside river. They were disputing which was the better animal。

    "Look at my strength," said the elephant. "I can pull up a tree, roots and all, with my trunk"

    "Ah! But your skin is not nearly so thick as mine," replied the crocodile." No knife or tooth can cut through it."

    Just as they were coming to blows, a lion happened to pass.

    "My dear friends!" said the King of all animals, going up to them. "Let me know the cause of your disagreement."

    "Will you kindly tell us which is the better animal?" cried both at once.

    Certainly, "said the lion, pointing across the river." Do you see the soldiers metal hat on that wall?"

    "Yes!" replied the beasts.

    "Well, then," continued the lion, "go and get it, and bring it to me, and I shall be able then to decide between you."

    Upon hearing this, off they started. The crocodile, being used to the water, reached the opposite side of the river first, and was soon standing beside the wall.

    Here he waited till the elephant came up. The elephant, seeing that the crocodile had no way of reaching their goal, raised his long trunk, and took down the hat quite easily.

    They then made their way together back again across the river. The elephant was trying to keep up with the fast-moving crocodile in the water and became careless. When he was forced to turn sharply to avoid a floating tree branch, the elephant dropped the hat and it fell to the river bottom. The crocodile noticed the accident, so down he dived, and brought it up in his huge mouth. They then returned, and the crocodile laid the metal hat at the lion's feet. The King took it up, and turning to the elephant, said:

    "You, because of your size and trunk, were able to reach the hat on the wall but, having lost it, you were unable to get it back. And you, said the lion to the crocodile, "although unable to reach the hat, were able to dive for it and save it. You are both wise and able in your own ways. One is no better than the other."

There are seven days in a week. Cindy's favorite day is Friday. Because there is her favorite class on Friday and she doesn't need to go to school the next day. At 7:30 on Friday morning, she has her first class. It is an English lesson. She likes English. It's very easy for her. At 8:25 a. m, she has a Chinese lesson. She isn't good at it. Then she has math at 9:50 a. m. She thinks math is difficult. Next she has history at 10:35 a. m. This is her favorite class. She can learn about the past. 

In the afternoon, she has P. E. at 2:00 p. m. Her P. E. teacher is strong and tall. He is friendly. Students often play football in P. E. class. Then she has music at 3:50 p. m. Music is interesting. She and her classmates all like it. After music class, she has a class meeting. She and her classmates talk about many things in the meeting. School is over at 4:30 p. m. What a happy Friday!