Smith entered Mr.Watson's office.The boss was a hard man.He fired people who didn't do well without giving them a second chance.

    “Smith，” said Mr.Watson，“this past year your department hasn't earned money.We're going to drop that department.It's finished.I'm sorry，—but you'll have to go.” “But，sir—if I just had a little more time.For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School.”

    “What's that！” said the boss.“Riverside！I didn't know you had a boy there.That's an expensive school for a man with your salary.”

    “I know，sir.But he likes it there so much！He's a star athlete and the best boxer in the school.The boys call him Champ (冠军)there.”

    The boss sat perfectly still for a long time—a faraway (恍惚的) look in his eyes.Then，suddenly，he said，“We've got to close your department，Smith. But you'll take over a new job in another department.It means longer hours—maybe more pay.Now get out.You're here for life.”

    Smith got out，with surprise on his face.Then the boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk.It was Herbie's last letter from Riverside School—written a few days before he died.He had read it over and over again with sick pain.The letter read：

    I can't say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were.I guess it's the same everywhere when you're a cripple (跛脚的人)．But don't worry about me，Dad.They've got a good chemistry department here.And there's one boy here who is really great.He's a track star and boxing champ and just tops in chemistry.The boys call him Champ.He made them stop throwing my books around.And he knocked a boy down who hit me.He is the best friend I ever had.Dad，when I grow up，I want to do something for Champ.Something big—that he won't even know about.

    Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone,not in features but in footsteps.As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable.You begin to realize that your boy,in your footsteps,could probably accomplish what you hoped for.But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions.

    My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten.Science projects waited until the last moment.Book reports weren't written until the final threat.

    I've been a newspaperman all my adult life.My daughter is a university graduate working toward her master's degree in English.But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a “vo-tech” student(技校学生).They're called “motorheads” by the rest of the student body.

    When a secretary in my office first called him “motorhead”,I was shocked.“Hey,he's a good kid,” I wanted to say.“And smart,really.”

    I learned later that motorheads are,indeed,different.They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don't often make school honor rolls(光荣榜).

    But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education.We who labor in clean shirts in offices don't have the abilities that motorheads have.I began to learn this when I had my car crashed.The cost to repair it was estimated at $800.“Hey,I can fix it,” said Jody.I doubted it ,but let him go ahead,for I had nothing to lose.

    My son ,with other motorheads,fixed the car.They got parts(零件）from a junkyard,non-toasting toaster have been fixed.Neighbours and co-workers trust their car repair to him.

    Since that first repair job,a broken air-conditioner,a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed.Neighbors and co-workers trust their car repairs to him.

    These kids are happiest when doing repairs.They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world.And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes.

    I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers,engineers need mechanics,and architects need builders.Most important,I have learned that fathers don't need clones in footsteps or anywhere else.

    My son may never make the school honor roll.But he made mine.

    Sitting on the peaceful coast of Galapagos Islands. Ecuador, watching the sun move quietly into the sea, you shouldn't forget that Charles Darwin (1809-1882) arrived here in 1835. He stayed on the islands for five weeks, observing various animals. This finally inspired (启发) his famous work, On the Origin of Species. You can certainly follow Darwin's footsteps and enjoy a trip from four to seven days to the islands. The islands are certainly a paradise (天堂) for wildlife, as there are no natural killers on the islands and the number of boats and visitors is under government control. Though you cannot walk freely as Darwin did about 200 years ago, each day is as impressive as it could be. The most well-known animal of the Galapagos is the giant tortoise(巨型海龟), which can be seen moving slowly around the highlands of Sanra Cruz, the second largest island in the archipelago(群岛). Some of these creatures are so old that they might have been seen in their youth by Darwin himself. Despite strict control over activities and timing, your stay on the Galapagos will be remembered as a chain of incomparable pictures: diving with sea lions that swim and play within inches of you; feeling small sharks touch your feet as you swim; and, most magically, seeing a whale and her baby surface with a great breath of air. Travelling between the islands and observing the wildlife that so inspired Darwin, you will feel as though you are getting a special view of an untouched world. At night you will sleep on board the ship, leaving the wildlife in complete occupation of the islands, which are as undisturbed now as they have been since the beginning of time.

    It was only after her death from Bright's disease on May 15, 1886 that Emily Dickinson enjoyed recognition for her poetic accomplishment. A limited volume of her works appeared in1890, but it was Thomas H. Johnson's release of her complete body of poetry that made her works receive real acclaim. He published 1,775 of her poems in 1955 in a volume entitled The Poems of Emily Dickinson.

    Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, MA in 1830. The Dickinson family was well known in the community for their contribution to politics and education. Dickinson lived most of her life with her grandfather who was famous for having founded the Amherst Academy in1814 and later Amherst College in 1821.

    Emily Dickinson led a reclusive life, but her childhood was a happy one. She had the privilege of being educated at some of the most outstanding women schools in her time and devoted herself to reading all kinds of books.

    It was during her college years that Emily started writing. Some of her poems were published with the help of her female friends. However, the first serious attempt at having her poems published failed for her being rejected by The Atlantic magazine. This led the selfconscious poetess to believe that the public would never care for her works, and thus she never attempted to have any of her works published again. After the Civil War, Dickinson withdrew from society and had little contact outside of Amherst.

    Dickinson was very concerned with the subject of nature. Her writings are complex, and for many years scholars have searched for romantic inspiration, but have not yet understood her works. What is clear, however, is that her works can't just simply describe something in terms of a narrative style.

    Without doubt, Dickinson's works have greatly influenced and continue to influence modern poetry. In her time, her writing style was unique given that it included the use of dashes and capitalized nouns. None of her works rhymed, and she used unusual comparisons when referring to events and situations. This unconventional method of writing has made her one of the most innovative poets of the 19th century.

    A painter has just completed his course. He took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery. He wanted to know people's opinion about his talent and painting skills.

    He put his creation at a busy street and just down below a board which read—"I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes. Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

    While he came back in the evening to collect his painting he was completely shattered to see that whole canvass(画板)was filled with crosses, they criticized the painter ruthlessly.

    Disheartened and broken completely he ran to his master's and burst into tears.

    This young artist complained, "I'm useless and if this is what I have learnt to paint I'm not worth becoming a painter. People have rejected me completely."

    Master smiled and suggested, "My son, I will prove that you are a great artist and have learnt flawless painting. Do as I say without questioning it. It will work."

    Young artist agreed and two days later early morning he presented a replica(复制品) of his earlier painting to his master. Master took that gracefully and smiled.

    "Come with me." master said.

    They reached the same street early morning and displayed the same painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out another board which read—"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I 'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. I have put a box with colors and brushes just below. Please do a favor. If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."

    Then they walked back home.

    They both visited the place the same evening. The young painter was surprised to see that actually there was not a single correction done so far. Next day again they visited and found painting remained untouched. They say the painting was kept there for a month for no correction came in!

What's your favorite book? Think of all the books you have ever read. Now imagine if you had not read any of them, how would your life be different?

Out of 7.8 billion people in the world today, 12% are illiterate(文盲的). This means that 1 in 5 adults are incapable of writing their own name, let alone reading a line out of a book. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights expressly states under its 26th article the right to a free education"at least in the elementary and fundamental stages",marginalized(边缘化的) populations are often denied this basic right.

September 8 is International Literacy Day, established by UNESCO in 1966 to raise awareness on the issue by giving rise to support worldwide. In 1965, the World Conference ofMinisters of Education(WCME) met in Tehran, Iran to discuss future plans which would involve the eradication(消除) of illiteracy. As a way to honor the opening of this meeting,the conference decided that September 8 would be announced as International Literacy Day.

This year's theme for the day is"Literacy And Sustainable Societies". But what exactly does that mean? Literacy has been associated with the reduction of poverty as it offers skills for gaining knowledge, values, and attitudes for expanding societies in a sustainable way. At the same time, the promotion of literacy boosts agriculture, health, and vocational skills,leading societies to become more efficient and environmentally literate.

So how can you raise awareness and promote literacy on this day? Host a reading competition at your school or simply exchange books with friends. You could create a book club or even start a writing competition. Be an active global citizen by commitment to raising awareness so that we can eradicate illiteracy.