Lisa has always been overweight. She wanted to lose weight, not just because she wanted to 1 more beautiful and healthier, but also because it would make life easier. For example, it was 2 for Lisa to find ready-made clothes that would fit. She had to ask a tailor(裁缝) to make clothes that were large enough. At school, she needed a special chair which was bigger and 3 than the other chairs. If she went for a walk, she got tired very quickly. She was also unhappy about the way people 4 her sometimes. "People look at me and even make fun of me. That's5 ! It's true that I'm overweight, but I don't think people should treat me differently because I'm big. I can't enjoy having dinner with my friends because I'm afraid of getting fatter. " Her friends and family 6 made fun of her. They tried to help her 7 . They wanted her to be happy and healthy. Sometimes when Lisa was feeling sad, she didn't want to speak to anyone.

But now things are quite different. Last month her classmates were preparing for the School 8  Week. Someone advised Lisa to play the lead role of the proud Queen(女王) who was tall and fat. Lisa 9  it and practiced a lot. 

Soon after the play, Lisa became the 10 ! She did so well that everybody remembered the proud Queen. They stood around her and said"Congratulations!"to her. She even won the School Best Actress Award for her wonderful performance.

Now Lisa doesn't worry about being fat any more. She believes in the English saying"Every dog has its day. "

My friend, David Smith, kept birds. One day he phoned and1 me he would be away for a week. He asked me to feed the birds2 him and said he would leave his key in his mailbox.

Unfortunately, I did not remember to feed the birds3 the night before David was going to return. I rushed out of my house and it had already been dark when I arrived at4 house. I found the key he gave me, but it could unlock neither the front door 5 the back door! I kept6 of what David would say when he came back.

Then I noticed that one bedroom window was open. I7 a big stone and pushed it under the window.8 the stone was very heavy, I made a lot of noise. But in the end, I managed to climb up.

I had one leg inside the bedroom when I suddenly realized that someone 9 a torch (手电筒) up at me. I looked down and saw10 policeman and an old lady-one of David's neighbours. "What are you doing up there?" asked the policeman. Feeling like a fool, I replied, "I am just going to feed Mr Smith's birds."

Most people have never seen white strawberries, but they have been popular in Japanese food market for years. The {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (Asia) country actually has several kinds of white strawberries. Among them, the White Jewel is the most expensive. White Jewel strawberries {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (create) by Yasuhito Teshima a few years ago. His farm is the only one in the world that produces this special fruit. Teshima says be spent years doing experiments in order to grow{#blank#}3{#/blank#} large strawberry that is white both on the inside and the outside. One of the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (secret) is to cut down on exposure(暴露) to sunlight. But Teshima says his technique (技术) is far{#blank#}5{#/blank#} perfect. Only 10% of his strawberries turn out white. However, the White Jewel is{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (large) of all kinds of white strawberries in Japan. White Jewel strawberries are sold at a high price. John Daub got a chance {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (try) the White Jewel while visiting {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (he) farm. He says, "The White Jewel smells very sweet and the skin is very soft. It tastes sweet like candy, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} unlike candy. The natural sugars don't stay in your mouth and leave a fresh aftertaste (回味). In Japanese culture, expensive fruit like the White Jewel {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) often bought as a special gift rather than just as a sweet snack. 

Today is Grandma's 85th birthday.

"I'm giving her a photo," says Brian."I took it with my new camera (照相机). {#blank#}1{#/blank#}" he asks his brother Joey.

"I don't know." says Joey."I don't have a camera. So I can't take a picture."

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}His mom is busy making something." Mom, what are you going to give Grandma?"

"{#blank#}3{#/blank#}" says Joey's mom.

"I can't make cakes. I don't know how." says Joey.

Joey goes to the living room. His dad is sewing (缝) a blanket(毯子)."{#blank#}4{#/blank#}" Dad said.

Joey then goes and sits next to Grandma on the sofa." Everyone has a gift for you, but not me. I can't take a photo, make a cake or sew. I don't have anything to give you." says Joey.

Grandma put her arm around Joey." {#blank#}5{#/blank#} That's what you can give me," says Grandma.

Joey smiles." Happy Birthday," he says.

These delicious dim sum are made by Wu Yang,a pastry chef(糕点师)from Liaoning province. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(traditional),Chinese puff pastries are made in simple forms;Wu,however,turns these pastries{#blank#}2{#/blank#}three-dimensional sculptures(三 维雕塑) .

"It took several tries to finally create the lion's head.At first,the two layers of eyelashes(睫毛)were {#blank#}3{#/blank#}same size,but I later made the second layer smaller and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (thin)to make it stand out."

Wu's passion for dough sculptures started more than a decade ago.At  first,he found it {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(difficulty)to make dough sculptures because of no basic training in art.To solve this,Wu observed people carefully and also looked for many art books. By improving {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(he)own art education,the pastry Wu made slowly became more lifelike.

Pastry lovers nationwide have learned to make such pieces from Wu,who {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(teach)more than h000 students.He likes to share his techniques and {#blank#}8{#/blank#}n ought)about puff pastries,and he is happy to see students introducing his creations at competitions.

"I used to focus on the techniques, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} now I think more about ways to combine traditional Chinese culture with  puff pastries,"Wu told China Daily,adding that it is good to see more young people becoming {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(interest)in Chinese pastries.

Errol's Love for Reading