It was a beautiful spring morning. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the sun was warm but not too hot, so Mr Hunt was surprised(惊讶) when he saw an old man at the bus stop with a big, strong black umbrella ( 雨伞) in his hand.

    Mr Hunt said to him, "Do you think it is going to rain today？""No，" said the old man, "I don't think so."

    "Then are you carrying the umbrella to keep the sun off you？"

    "No, the sun is not very hot in spring."

    Mr Hunt looked at the big umbrella again, and the man said, "I am an old man, and my legs are not very strong, so I really need a walking stick. But when I carry a walking stick, people will say 'Look at that poor old man. 'and I don't like that. When I carry an umbrella in fine weather, people only say，'Look at that stupid(愚蠢的) man."

    Paul can play basketball and volleyball very well. One Friday afternoon, when Paul came out of his classroom, one of his classmates said to him, "Paul, your father is waiting for you at the school gate."

    On their way home, Paul saw some boys skating in the park. He wanted to skate with them, but his father said, "You have much homework to do today. You must go back home and do your homework. Then I'll buy you an ice cream." Paul finished his homework and got his ice cream. He started to eat it, but a fly (苍蝇) came along. It landed on the ice cream. Paul's father told him to drive (驱赶) the fly away. Paul said, "You won't let me skate, but the fly doesn't have homework. Can't you let it skate for a while?"

    Joseph has written a letter to his cousins, James and Susan. Here is the letter.

    Dear James and Susan,

    I am writing to you again because I am at home in bed. I have a cold recently and I am unable to go to school. I've got a fever and a bad headache as well. In addition, I'm always thirsty, probably as a result of the fever. But, with a lot of effort, I'm writing a letter to you.

    The weather here in Toronto is horrible. I am sure the weather is much better in Hong Kong. Do you agree? The snow came a bit early this year and it was freezing cold. It's surprising to see kids playing in the snow happily and building "castles" and snowmen this morning. A few of them made snowballs by pressing snow together and threw them at each other.

    I am going to have my examination soon, I'm worried about it because I'm too sick to get out of bed to hold my text-books. What's more, I haven't attended school for nearly one week. I have to work hard to catch up with my classmates.

    I have got a new mate recently. That is Bobby, our cat. Uncle Tom gave him to me as my birthday present. He is rather disobedient and he runs here and there from time to time. However, I'm glad to have him as my friend at the moment.

    Please write to me if you have time.

Yours,

Joseph