On a farm lived a father and a son. The father always got up early and read by the window. One morning, the son came up to him and said, Dad, I read books at night but forget most of them the next morning. What's the good of reading?

    The father didn't reply to his question at once. He passed him a basket that was used to carry coal (煤). He said, "Get some water from the river with the basket and then I'll tell you the answer."

    The son felt surprised but he did as his father said. He tried many times but every time the water leaked(漏掉) from the basket.

    An hour later, the son came back with the empty basket and told his father it was impossible to hold water with the basket. The father said with a smile, "Yes, you are right, my son. The basket can't hold water. But did you notice the basket was different?" The son found the dirty basket had become clean. The father continued, "Reading is like holding water with the basket. Although we can't remember all we read, we have changed while reading."

    A young couple decided to go camping in the mountains to celebrate their first year of marriage. They took with them all the things they would need to go camping—warm clothes, food and a tent.

    They went up to the mountains and found the perfect place to set up their tent. After that, they decided to go for a hike(远足)to see more of the mountains.

    After a long hike, they went back to their camp, built a fire and cooked dinner. Finally, it was time to go to sleep,

    Sometime in the middle of the night, the wife woke her husband up and said, "Look up at the sky. What do you see?"

    Her husband answered, "I see millions of stars."

    His wife said, "That's right. What does that mean to you?"

    The husband said, "Well, if there are so many stars out there, that means there might also be a planet just like the planet we live on: And if that's true, then there could be life on one of those planets, That's kind of exciting!"

    His wife said, "You are wrong. It means that someone has stolen our tent!"

My father was busy fixing Belinda's spaceship all afternoon. In the evening, I went to the landing place. "Dear Father," I said politely. "Have you found Belinda's parents yet?"

"Not yet, my dear." He shook his head.

I felt relaxed. I didn't want to meet Belinda's parents—they might be ten times as loud and bossy as she was.

But Belinda had followed me.

"Not yet?" she shouted. "Why not? I'll send them a message! They'll listen to me!"

Belinda ran to the radio. She shouted into it so loudly that I had to cover all my four ears. "Mummy! Daddy! I'm on an awful spaceship full of purple people! Come and find me now!"

"Poor Belinda!" my sister came and said. "Her parents must be missing her."

"Huh!" I snorted (发出哼声). "Missing her? You're joking! Who would want such a bossy kid back? They probably lost her on purpose."

Belinda's face clouded. I thought she was going to shout again, but she didn't. Instead, something very strange happened — her eyes began to water!

"Oh, help!" said Roa. "Is she dying?"

I felt terrible. "Don't die, Belinda! I didn't mean it."

Then Belinda opened her mouth wide and shouted, "What if it's true? What if they've gone away and left me here forever?"

We were all so busy comforting Belinda that we didn't notice the soft knock of a ship landing outside. We didn't see two tall people come out of it until Belinda ran out in excitement.

"Mummy! Daddy!"

Belinda's parents were even uglier than she was, but they looked polite. "Hello, dear," the female said. "We're sorry we kept you waiting."

We smiled as the three of them boarded their spaceship. "Goodbye!" shouted Belinda. "Goodbye! Thanks for taking care of our baby girl!" said her father.

None of us answered. We waved (挥手) cheerfully as the ship took off and went far away into the stars.

Mr. Smith made a robot, but he could only say one sentence. That is "You are quite right." The robot always said the same words when someone spoke to him.

One day, Mr. Smith needed lots of money, so he took the robot to the market to sell him. There were many people in the market. "Who will buy my robot? He is very smart," he shouted (叫喊). "Nine hundred dollars for my robot!"

A man was surprised that he was asking for so much money. "Is it different?" he thought. Then he spoke to the robot, "Are you worth (值得) nine hundred dollars?" "You are quite right," answered the robot.

The man liked the robot's answer so much, and he bought him and took him home. But soon he found that the robot couldn't say anything. He was sorry he bought the robot. He stood in front of the robot and said, "How foolish (愚蠢的) I was to spend so much money on you!" "You are quite right," said the robot.

Alice: Hi, Tony! What did you do this morning?

Tony: I listened to a radio program on BBC Radio 1.

Alice: Really? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Tony: Breakfast Show.

Alice: {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Tony: I think it's very interesting. It's one of the most popular radio programs in the UK.

Alice: {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Tony: At half past six in the morning. And it finishes at 10 o'clock.

Alice: I see. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Tony: I listen to it twice a week — every Monday and Thursday.

Alice: {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Tony: I started listening to it in 2013.

River Raft Adventure!

Everyone loves rafting! Just ask any of the rafting guides at River Raft Adventures (RRA). RRA has been guiding trips since 1993. We are the best rafting company in the West. All of our guides are highly trained and ready to share the excitement of river rafting with you.

If you have been rafting before and are looking for a challenge, we have just the right trip for you. If you are ready to "test the waters" with your first-white water run, take a trip with us.

●A guide rides on each raft. Our guides are the friendliest in the business.

●Every passenger is part of the team and helps to paddle under the guide's direction.

●We have trips lasting from 1 to 5 days.

●We provide all meals and they are delicious.

●There are comfortable rooms for overnight trips.

●All trips have beautiful views.

"I have been a rafting guide for 20 years. Rafting is relaxing and also exciting. Choose the trip that you like best. You will have a wonderful time!"

Mac Summers, guide 

"I loved my rafting trip. It was challenging and fun. The team was great. They worked with the help of our guide. It was peaceful and beautiful along the river. I have recommended the trip to many of my friends."

Karen Cho, customer

Call or e-mail RRA today. RRA will answer your questions by phone or e-mail. Let us help you plan your next adventure. telephone: 296-8496★★★ e-mail: tomasin@riverraftadventure.net