Justin was so good at basketball that he could beat any of the older guys at the court, and the younger guys didn't have any chances. But one day everything changed. When Justin was shooting around at the local court, some guys from another neighborhood appeared before him. The biggest one said that he had heard that Justin was the best and he wanted to see if it was true. Justin didn't want to play. But his cousin begged," Come on, Justin, beat this guy!" Justin decided to do what his cousin wanted.

Just as Justin was going to win, the big guy knocked him down hard. Justin broke his right leg. The doctor said he might never play basketball again.

During the first six weeks, Justin just lay in bed with his leg in a long cast. He watched TV all day and ate one bag of potato chips after another. Justinblew up like a balloon as he watched his future fade away as a basketball player.

Then Justin's sister Kiki came home from the university, bringing exciting stories of a far away land called college During those days, they talked and studied together, and Justin felt much better. Because of that, he realized he shouldn't give himself up. Basketball used to be his favorite thing, and he was good at it. But now there was only school, so he had to get good at that.

Justin worked so hard. By the time he got to senior year in high school, his GPA was high. The last thing that Justin had to do to get into college was score well on the ACT. Well wouldn't you know it?

Using the study skills he had learned from his sister, Justin made a score of 24 on the ACT.

Every university that Justin applied to accepted him. When the fall came, Justin had his choice in colleges.

Mother Tongue (语言)

    My name is Jiniku but everyone calls me Joey, including my parents. My father is American but my mother is not. My mother grew up in a country whose name I cannot pronounce correctly. She was educated in French and Latin, Spanish and German.

    My mother wrote all day, but never showed anyone what she wrote. She had notebooks she would write in, and a typewriter to straighten out (整理) the final copy.

    When she had typed (打字) pages, she put them in a box. This box was deep under the bed that she and my father shared.

    There were only two words that she ever said in the real voice, with her real accent (口音), real tongue. I heard her say them only three times in her life. She taught them to me one night as I lay on her legs, sweating (出汗) with fever.

    "Jiniku," she said in a low voice. "Jiniku." I focused (集 中) on her voice through my fever, realizing that something had changed. She was speaking from a part of her that she had not opened for a long time. She took my hand, and placed my palm (掌心) over her heart. "Juriszu." She stared out the window. There was a long silence. I could feel her heartbeat, which was calmer and slower than my own. "My name," she said at last, speaking once more in English, "means „dark ocean (海洋).‟ And you, Jiniku, my baby, yours means „life.‟" She looked out the window again. "„Ji‟ is the word for a happy birth. One where everyone lives and there is little pain. „Ni‟ is a tree that had its roots (根) spread far and whose branches (树枝) shelter (庇护) all. „Ku‟ is spirit. You have this all-encompassing (包罗万象的) life." She placed her hand on my heart. "The first and last letters of our names are the same," she said. "Don‟t forget that, Jiniku."

Julie grew {#blank#}1{#/blank#}in Guangzhou. Last year, she moved to Harbin. She also experienced the heavy snow there. 

It was Sunday yesterday. In the afternoon,there was a strong wind and  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} were getting together in the sky. It seemed there would be a heavy snow.

At around seven o'clock,it {#blank#}3{#/blank#}to snow. At first, it snowed lightly. Then it snowed heavily. At ten o'clock,Julie went to bed. She couldn't sleep for about two hours. She was thinking about the snow."A snowstorm is coming,"she said to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} .Suddenly, a strong wind blew and the windows were broken. The floor was full of glass. Julie lived {#blank#}5{#/blank#}so there was no one to help. What great trouble she was in!

Julie had to call the police. When the police arrived,they helped Julie to repair the windows. And luckily,the snow wasn't so heavy as Julie expected. It soon stopped completely.

Daisy forgot to set the alarm clock (闹钟) so she had to run to catch the bus. This made her feel tired and rushed when she started her science test. After she handed in her test paper, she was certain that the test had not gone well. With a heavy heart, she left the classroom.

That afternoon, Daisy left school to work part-time at Beckman's. After she finished her work, Mrs. Beckman called her into the office. "Daisy," she said, "you have been a great worker. But business has been slow; we have to let you go."

Feeling down, Daisy left the office. As she walked slowly towards her aunt's house, she tried to think about the new hairstyle her aunt had promised her. When she arrived, Daisy showed her aunt a picture of the style she wanted.

"Well, you're done. What do you think?" Her aunt asked about an hour later.

What Daisy saw in the mirror left her speechless. It was nothing like the picture! How could she possibly go to school again?

The next morning, putting her things in her locker, she ran into Ms. Wilson, her science teacher.

"I know, Ms. Wilson, I did very poorly on the test. It's just that I forgot…"

"What are you talking about? Daisy, you did a great job!" Ms. Wilson said. "What I wanted to ask you is if you would be interested in working a few days a week after school as a lab assistant (助手). I need some help organizing all the materials." Daisy happily accepted.

"Daisy!" she heard as the rest of the students began to enter the building. "Where did you get your hair done?" She was so excited about her test and new job that she had completely forgotten about her hair.

"Wow! That is so cool!" she was told. She couldn't believe her ears. Everyone loved her hair.

What a couple of days it had been! Walking home, she smiled as the radio of a passing car played the song "What a Difference a Day Makes".

Last summer, Sam went to a river to catch fish with his friends near his home. They had great fun walking in cool running water to catch the small silver fish.

Before going to the river, Sam found a bag first. As soon as he reached the river with his friends, they took off their shoes and socks and put their feet into the running water. It was so cool. Walking carefully, Sam looked for the right place where the fish shone. Often Sam fished with his friend and it was easier. But this time Sam fished by himself because he wanted to have a try. Taking two corners(角) of the bag, he stood in the water and slowly put the bag down to the river. Little by little, he put it down to the bottom(河底) . Then he waited, not making any sound, or moving a bit. When the fish went above the bag, Sam moved the bag up quickly and carefully. He got it. The bag was full of little silver fish.

But the greatest fun was not just in catching the fish, but also in letting them go back into the river to go on their natural lives. Sam put down the bag into the river, and the small fish swam off. Other children would also do the same and let the fish go away.

Nearly everybody enjoys chicken, and the most famous name in chicken is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mr Sanders, the man who started this1 was not always very rich. At one time, he2 a small gas station next to a highway(公路). Many truck drivers3 there to get gas and take a rest. Mr Sanders realized they were often4 , so he began serving sandwiches and coffee.5 the sandwiches tasted good, and didn't6 too much money, more and more7 came to eat at his place.8 Mr Sanders began to serve fried chicken. People9 it very much, and his new business grew quickly. Not long after, however, another highway was open, and many drivers didn't go to Mr Sanders' restaurant. So he had to10 it. Then he traveled around the country trying to sell his idea of opening fried chicken restaurants. He finally made it. By 1967, there were almost 5000 Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. And now, when you go to any place in the United States, you will see one. If you like chicken, I'm sure, you' ll enjoy eating Kentucky Fried Chicken.