Hi Sam! Sorry I haven't emailed recently— I've been revising for my exams. I have finished them now and I have got some time to relax and some money to spend on going out. Last weekend, I went to see a great film called Yes Man. If you haven't seen it, you must go! Jim Carrey plays the main character and it's very funny--and also quite encouraging. It's based on a book by Danny Wallace which is also called Yes Man. I read the book a few months ago and that's hilarious, too – I really laughed out loud!

      The book is a ture story about what happens to the writer, Danny. Basically, he found that he was doing nothing all the time, just worrying about things and complaining about his life. He wasn't seeing his friends much, so he was lonely and bored. Then one day, he was on a bus in London when he sat down next to a man. The man was a stranger, but they started talking. Danny told him about his boring life and the man just gave him three words: 'Say "yes" more.' And for Danny this was a turning point in his life. Those three words influenced everything he did. At that moment, he made a decision: 'I will say "yes" to everything!'  And he wrote a book about what happened to him in the next year or so. Three years later, the book was made into a hit film.

      The film is based on the book although there are some differences. First, it's set in the US instead of England. Secondly, the main character is based on Danny, but he called Carl in the film. And what's more, he doesn't meet a man on a bus. His turning point comes when he goes to a self-help class and they advise him to say "yes" more.

      In the film Carl succeeds in changing his life and doing lots of crazy things: he has flying lessons, he learns to speak Korean and he rides a motorbike with no clothes on! The storyline isn't very strong. It's quite weak, I suppose, but all Carl's stories are very interesting— especially because Jim Carrey is a very funny actor.

      I'm really interested in the film because there's a serious message, too. I believe in making the most of life and I've decided I'm going to be more positive. I've decided I'm not going to stay at home so much. I'm going to do more things, see my friends more and everything. Actually, that's why I'm emailing you! It would be great if we could meet up soon. Let me know when you are free.

      All the best, Adam

    Characters—Editor, Doctor, Scientist, Journalist, Traveller Scene 9    The men sit down with drinks ,and the time traveller tells his amazing story，Traveller: The time machine took me 150 years into the future.

    The word was… is … a very different place. There was two races（种类）of creatures: the Eloi and Morlocks. The Eloi are small, gentle creatures—people who lead peaceful lives. They do not work but play games, eat food, and sleep. They are afraid of dark. Scientist: And the Morlocks? Traveller: These are ape—like（似猿的）creatures who live underground. They are afraid of the light. They have machines. They provide the Eloi with everything they need. Doctor: So the Morlocks are the Eloi's slaves（奴隶）? Traveller: Sadly, that is not so. The Eloi are the Morlock's cattle（牲畜）.

    The Morlocks feed them and raise took them for food. Editor: That is awful. How did the Eloi allow this to happen. Traveller: They became lazy. At first, they allowed the Morlocks to provide them with everything they needed.

    Journalist: Then, they slowly lost all their skills. Traveller: Exactly. As the years passed, they became more and more dependent（依赖的） on the Morlocks. Finally, they could not take care of themselves. Then ,the Morlocks took control them.

    Editor: There is a lesson for us in this.

    Scientist: Only if his strange story is true.

    It was a very hot day in the middle of summer, and there were no trees along the street. Mr. Read closed his shop at half past four. His bike didn't work. So he went out into the street and began walking to the bus stop. He was very fat. The sun was high up in the sky, and soon Mr. Read felt very hot.

    A boy came out of another shop in the street and followed Mr. Read. He stayed very near him all the time, and he kicked Mr. Read's shoes some times. Mr. Read looked at him angrily each time.

    After the fourth time, Mr. Read stopped, turned around and said to the small boy, “What are you doing? Stop following me like that! You're going to hurt my feet.”

    “I'm sorry, but don't stop me, please!” the boy said. “It's very hot today and there aren't any trees in the street!”

Wanting: I want nothing but music

    Wanting Qu, born and raised in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, has become one of the most popular singers in China this year. During the past few months, her name and songs have spread quickly on the Internet, over the radio, and in almost every corner of China. You would be considered totally “out” if you have never heard of her song “Stay in My Song”.

    She is a girl full of courage. At only 16, Wanting left home and entered a Canadian school to study business, starting her life in a foreign country alone. Soon，she found that her true passion was music. She went on to get her degree(学位), but also tried her hand at songwriting. She did part-time jobs to keep on her study like many Chinese students who study in foreign countries, but never gave up her dream of being a musician. When the chance came, she bravely introduced herself to the CEO of Nettwerk and became the first Chinese singer-songwriter the company signed in 26 years.

    Wanting's music career started to take off in 2009 when she worked in Nettwerk. In 2011, after hearing the songs she wrote and recorded, the famous Chinese composer Zhang Yadong called her and would like to work with her.

    With all the successes she has achieved in China, Wanting is recording her first English album. She is ready to conquer(征服) the world.

    Albert was an ordinary worker in an oil company in America. His workmates gave a nickname(绰号) "Four dollars a bucket(桶) of oil" below his name whenever and wherever he wrote down his name.

    As time went by, people forgot his real name. Later, when Roller, the board chairman(董事长) of the oil company, heard of it. He was very surprised, so he invited Albert to come to his office. "Some people give you a nickname for 'Four dollars a bucket. Why aren't you angry?" asked Roller in surprise.

    "Oh! Mr. Roller! I like this nickname very much, because 'Four dollars a bucket is our company's advertisement. If someone calls me 'Four dollars a

    Bucket once, I think it's a free advertisement for our company. It's not necessary for me to get angry. Don't you think so, Mr. Roller?"

    "Oh! What a wonderful man!" Roller said excitedly, "Young man! Work hard, you must be successful in the future! I believe in you!"

    Five years later, Albert became the second board chairman.

    Later Albert said in one of his reports, "We should treat everything actively because maybe our future success will begin from a small thing!"