In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(usual) way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.

    In June that year, a baby girl became {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(serious) ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(confident), so she was sent to big hospital in London {#blank#}4{#/blank#}specialist help was available. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(discover) that they, too, were confused by the very unusual disease. Just then, a nurse asked to speak to them.

     "Excuse me," said the nurse, "{#blank#}6{#/blank#} I think the baby is suffering from thallium(铊) poisoning. "

    "What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."

"I read a detective novel {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Agatha Christie a few days ago,” the nurse explained, "and in the book, somebody suffers from thallium poisoning, and all the symptoms {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(describe). They're exactly {#blank#}9{#/blank#} same as the baby's."

    The tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (use) in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back home.

    First, reading books {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) fun. You can always keep yourself {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(interest) and it can help you have an enjoyable time if you like reading. This is especially useful when the weather is bad. It is a {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(relax) hobby too.

    Next，you can read a book anywhere：in a car，in a waiting room, on a plane, in bed—even in the bath.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} you need is a book! Reading is a convenient hobby as it is easy to stop and then start again.

    Another good reason for reading books is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} it is useful. If you read as a hobby，you {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(get) better and better at it. This means that you will read faster and will become {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(good) at understanding what you read. As your reading improves, you will probably find your school work becomes much easier. Many school subjects depend {#blank#}8{#/blank#} good reading and, as you read you learn more and more.

    Good readers are most likely to be good {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(write), too. They are usually good at{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(spell) as well, and have more things to write about. Reading books is really a wonderful hobby.

    Have you ever asked yourself why children go to school? You will {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (probable) say that they go to school to learn languages, mathematics, history, science and some other knowledge. That is quite true,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}why do they learn these things?

    We send our children to school in order {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (prepare) them for the time when they really grow up and will have to work for {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (they)．Nearly everything they study at school has some practical use in their life. But is that {#blank#}5{#/blank#} only reason why they go to school? There is more in education {#blank#}6{#/blank#} just learning facts. We go to school to learn how to learn, so that when we have left school we can continue to learn.

    A man {#blank#}7{#/blank#} really knows how to learn will always be {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (succeed), because when he has to do something new, he will not only be able to do it well himself, but he will also be able to teach others how to do it in the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (good) way. The person with poor education, on the other hand, either finds himself unable to do something new, or just {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (do) it badly. The main purpose of schools is not to teach those subjects, but to teach pupils the way to learn.

    Mr.Brown was tired of living in the big city {#blank#}1{#/blank#} he worked. He wanted to move to the country and live in a house from which he could get to his office in the city early every day. He {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (look) for a house when he saw an advertisement in a newspaper one day. The advertisement said that a suitable house in a quiet area was up for sale {#blank#}3{#/blank#} a reasonable price, and the house was within a stone's throw of a railway station from which there were frequent {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (train) to the big city.

    "That's exactly {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I need," Mr. Brown said to {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (him). So he called the housing agency and arranged to go by train the next day {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (have) a look at the house.

    The housing agent met him at the station and they started walking. It took them at least 15 minutes to get to the house. When they finally arrived, Mr. Brown said {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (angry), "I should be very {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (interest) to meet the man who threw the stone you mentioned in {#blank#}10{#/blank#} newspaper."

    A Florida boy who called 911 because he was lonely has now made friends with a kind-hearted police officer.

    Tallahassee police officer Joe White responded {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a call made by a six-year-old boy. While there {#blank#}2{#/blank#} no emergency at the house, White said the child was upset and told him he was lonely.

    "It took Officer White some time {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(explain) how 911 is used and how it's for emergencies," read a post on the Tallahassee Police Department's Facebook page. "Then Officer White said he'd always to be a friend!"

    In addition to {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(give) the child a lesson on the proper use of 911, White gave the child a stuffed animal and let him sit in his car.

    Since the heart-warming story was shared on Facebook, it {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(attract) hundreds of comments from people {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(touch) by the tale.

    "It's such {#blank#}7{#/blank#} extraordinary story! I really admire Officer White for being just what this young man needed—a friend. And it's also a great opportunity for a learning experience—the {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(important) of using 911 properly. What White has done {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(positive) influences those {#blank#}10{#/blank#} have been inspired by this story. I hope they will keep up the friendship," wrote Jean Smith