There was once a wise old lady who lived on a hill. All the children used to go and ask her questions. She always gave them1answers.

    There was a little boy among the children. One day he caught a little bird and held it in his hands without anybody seeing it. Suddenly he had an idea and asked his friends to2.

    "Let's3the old lady," he said. "I'll ask her what I'm holding in my hands. Of course, she'll answer that I have a bird. Then I'll ask her if the bird is alive or dead. If she says the bird is dead, then I'll4my hands and let the bird fly away. If she says the bird is alive, I'll quickly5it and show her the dead bird. Either way, she'll be6."

    The children agreed this was a clever plan. So7the hill they all went to the old lady's house.

    "Granny, we have a8for you," they all shouted.

    "What's in my hands?" the little boy asked.

    "Why, of course it must be a bird," the old lady replied.

    "But is it alive or dead?" the boy asked9.

    All the boys10 her answer and got ready to laugh at her.

    The old lady thought for a moment and then replied, "It's up to you, my child. If you're kind enough, it'll be alive."

    In 1985 two climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, left their base camp and started climbing a mountain called Siula Grande.

    1 they arrived at the top, they went down the mountain. Unfortunately, Simpson fell and 2 his leg. Quickly, Yates tied a rope to himself and then to his 3. Then Simpson slipped（滑倒）. He was hanging in mid-air. Yates didn't know 4 was happening below. The rope was pulling Yates down the mountain. He had two choices: hold the rope but then 5 of them might die, or cut the rope and survive（幸存）himself. It was a(n) 6 decision for Yates but, at the last moment, Yates 7 the rope and saved himself. As a result, Simpson fell into a deep crevasse（裂隙）.

    The next day, Yates 8 Simpson everywhere. He called Simpson's name but he heard 9. So he thought Simpson was 10. Yates didn't know that Simpson was still alive inside the crevasse. After Simpson realized Yates wasn't coming, he decided to find a way out 11 the rope.

    On a dark night several days later, Yates was sleeping at base camp when he 12 someone shouting his name. Finally, after searching and searching he  13 Simpson. He was lying on the ground, not moving, but he was still alive.

    After a few days, the two men 14home and their story became famous. Yates was 15 blamed（指责）for cutting the rope. In 1988, Simpson wrote a book about the accident and defended（为……辩解）Yates. Simpson believed Yates made the right decision.

    I wrote my first note to my mother and it said, "Hi, Mom! Have a nice day! 1, Marie!" I was twelve when I wrote it, and I 2 the note into her change purse (零钱包). My mother worked 3 a cleaner in a clothing factory. I knew that when she bought meals in the dining hall, she had to 4 changes in her purse. I didn't know that she always kept that note, and carried 5 with her.

    After that, I 6 folded the small piece of paper into my mother's change purse, she and I left each other secret notes. My mother usually hid her notes in the fridge, under a lamp 7 beside the TV set. I even found one hidden in my shoe. Gradually, I understood 8 notes became the records of our days, ideas and wishes. But to my mother and me, they were a life-long communication with each other that 9 else shared.

    On October 20, 2018, my mother 10 after an illness. I stood near her bed, holding her hand. I didn't cry on that day when my mom passed away (去世). A week 11, I even didn't cry. I was so thankful 12 she no longer had aches and pains.

    Recently, I13a note that my mom left me. It was hidden in the pages of my favorite childhood book for years. It14"Dear Marie, I love you always. Miss you a lot. Don't forget me. Be15! Love, Mom" That day, I cried.

    As we all know, Charles Dickens is considered to be a great English writer. He's very famous not only in Britain, but also in many other 1 in the world. He was born in 1812 and he lived in London. He wrote lots of books, and he also liked 2 He was an actor. Maybe it's interesting to hear that and that's 3 18 his books were so good. He gave the public readings of his stories that were very popular. His stories first appeared in a magazine in parts. People always wanted. 4 part. He wrote a lot, and most of them were popular. There were films and plays of them 5, Oliver Twist became a famous musical play, and Great Expectations became a wonderful 6 Dickens' early life was very hard. His family was poor, and his mother sent him to work in a factory when he was 12. He 7 it, but he used his experiences in his writing. He married Catherine Hogarth and they had a big family. He continued to write 8 he died. When he died in 1870, he was 9 a story. But what a pity! We'll never know 10 it ended.

    It's 12:00. Mom is not at home. No one makes lunch for Jenny and Frank. Frank wants to have some bread, but Jenny doesn't1it.

    "How about making fruit salad? We have2, oranges and bananas at home," Jenny says.

    "Sounds nice.3I also like some hot food," Frank says.

    Jenny4some rice, some eggs and two tomatoes. She has a5idea( 想法),"I can make tomato and egg rice for you. It's very6

    They have lunch at 1:00 p. m. Frank7the tomato and egg rice is great. And the fruit salad is nice,8. Jenny is happy he likes them.

    9the evening, Mom comes home. She is happy that Jenny and Frank have a good10. She says, "I'm proud(自豪的) of you. You can look after yourselves when I'm out. Great!"