In the deserts(沙漠)of North Africa and Saudi Arabia lives the smallest fox with the largest ears. This animal is the fennec fox.

Fennec foxes have ears that are 5 to 6 inches long. That's big for an animal that weighs less than four pounds. Their ears help shed (去除) body heat. And, as you may have guessed, they also provide great hearing.

    It's also interesting to think about the hair of fennec foxes. Why would a fox that lives in the desert need a thick, fur coat? Actually, the desert isn't always warm. During the nighttime, a desert can be terribly cold! A fennec fox's fur keeps them warm during those desert nights. They also have long bushy tails that they use as a blanket. And the hair on their feet protects them from the hot sand in the daytime.

    Fennec foxes live in small communities of dens (兽穴).They spend most of the day sleeping in their dens, out of the hot sun. Then, when night comes, they come out in search of food. In addition to(除……之外) their great hearing, fennecs also use their great sense of smell and big eyes to track down dinner.

    Fennecs eat both meat and plants. They like eating birds, eggs, insects, snails, fruit and leaves best. Fennec fox mothers have one to five babies at a time. Sometimes they are in danger. They have to be careful with predators (捕食性动物), such as caracals (a type of wild cat) , jackals, eagle owls, hyenas and humans. Humans catch them for their fur and to sell as pets.

A：Hi, Jane! You look unhappy. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

B：My father doesn't allow me to go out on Sundays.

A：I don't think that's a good idea. We are supposed to(应当)spend the weekends outside with friends.

B：That's right.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

A：Really? My father encourages mc to make friends with all of my classmates, but my mother doesn't agree witll him.

B：{#blank#}3{#/blank#}He is really open-minded(思想开明的). My father asks me to grow my hair long.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

A：That sounds fun. It seems that our parents don't understand us sometimes.

B：That's true.

A：{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

B：I agree.

Son: I'm going to start my own business, dad.

Dad: You'd better not, son. It is not as easy as it seems.

Son: {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In fact, I have already made a business plan. I will start from a one-person studio(工作室).

Dad: Don't you like the job you're doing? I thought you enjoyed computer programming.

Son: I love what I am doing. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If I work in someone else's company, I have to do what they ask me to do, not what I want to do.

Dad: {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It will be much more stressful than working for someone else.

Son: I know. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Dad: What if it doesn't work out? {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Son: Many people succeeded because they failed. If I fail, I'll just try again!

Dad: Well then, go for it! Follow your dream and get what you want.

    Once there lived a farmer. He was the happiest man in England. He was busy all day, but he was always happy. He also liked to make everybody else happy, and people like him.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} "I will go and talk with this wonderful farmer." He said, "Maybe he can tell me how to be happy."

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The king wanted to be happy like the farmer, so he asked the farmer to change the place with him and he lived on the farm. The farmer smiled and said, "I'm sure I don't want to do that, sir." "Now tell me what makes you so happy here on your dirty farm, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}" said the King. The farmer smiled again and said, "{#blank#}4{#/blank#} I live an easy life and I enjoy it. I make my own bread. I love my wife, children and friends, and they love me, too. That's all." The King said, "{#blank#}5{#/blank#}."