These days, few 11-year-olds are allowed to walk to school by themselves. However, 11-year-old Rosalie Atkins is traveling the world alone.

    Rosalie Atkins lives in England. Her parents decided to let her travel alone. This summer Rosalie's mother put her on a plane to Paris with a host family.

Rosalie spent a week visiting Paris. She visited the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame, as well as several museums, markets, and parks. "If I had visited with my parents, we would have seen only the touristy parts of Paris," said Rosalie. "But because I was staying with a French family I saw more." Traveling to different countries, Rosalie also expressed the confidence. "I am quite confident when I have to talk to new people, which is a useful social skill, " Rosalie said.

Rosalie is glad that her parents allow her to go on adventure() that other kids could only dream of. Rosalie said, "Your parents aren't going to travel with you forever. You have to learn to be independent some day, and in my opinion the sooner the better."

    It's 8: 00 in the morning. Mr. White goes into the classroom and finds Tom isn't in. Then he begins his lesson. He asks the students to read their English books.

    "May I come in, sir?" a boy asks at the door.

    "Come in, please," says Mr. White. "You're twenty minutes (分钟) late, Tom."

    The boy is often late and every time he makes an excuse. "I am sorry, sir," says Tom. "I'm late because the traffic is bad, and I have to wait for (等待) the lights to turn green."

    "But why don't you catch an earlier (更早的) bus?" asks Mr. White.

    "I just take the earlier bus. But the later (晚点的) bus often overtakes (超过) the earlier one!" answers Tom.

    One day Bob took two of his friends into the mountains. They put up their tents (帐篷) and then rode off to a forest to see how the trees were growing.

    In the afternoon when they were about ten kilometers from their camp(营地), it started to snow. More and more snow fell. Soon Bob could not see his hands before his face. He could not find the road. Bob knew there were two roads. One road went to the camp, and the other went to his house. But all was white snow. Everything was the same. How could he take his friends back to the camp?

    Bob had an idea. The horses! Let the horses take them back! But what would happen if the horses took the road to his house? That would be a trip of thirty-five kilometers in such cold weather!

    It was getting late. They rode on and on. At last the horses stopped. Where were they? John looked around. What was that under the tree? It was one of their tents!

    Jack is 10 years old, and I am his pencil. I'm Jack's helper(助手).

    Jack's pencil box is my home. I have some friends here. They are seven crayons, a ruler, a pencil sharpener and an eraser. Because Jack loves me, I'm the king(国王)in the pencil box. My friends and I are happy every day.

    Today, I am not happy because a pen comes in. It's new and beau­tiful. It's a music pen. It can not only(不仅) write but also(而且) sing. But I'm old and I can only help Jack to write. Jack likes it so much! The new pen is his helper now. It's the new king. What can I do now? Shall I go to a new home?