Jack's love for birds started when he made his first birdfeeder about six years ago. He filled the feeder with seeds (种子), put it in his backyard and then 1 started coming. He got really 2 in birds as more came. Then he joined a local society. As he realized that more and more birds were dying very 3, he wanted to try his best to help them.

    Besides what he has done, he has his own group called Protecting Out Birds. He does 4about birds, run a website to teach people about birds and how to help them, and 5 boxes for birds. Not long ago, he found that the bluebirds were nesting（做窝）in the dead trees which were often cut down, 6 he began to make bluebird boxes for the birds in order to save them. Now he wants to use these boxes to 7 the dead trees. He hangs these boxes up in trees and takes 8 down every week to see if the birds are nesting in them. He also writes articles, hoping that more people will 9 protecting natural ecosystems(生态系统). “Researching birds is10 to protecting birds,”jack says, “In order to protect birds, we have to learn and really know about the birds. ”

    In the early hours of 7 September 1838, one of the worst storms in history was roaring（咆哮）along the coast of England. The lighthouse keeper1at a ship. “It will be gone in a few more minutes,” he said sadly. His daughter, Grace Darling, looking from an upstairs window, found the great ship had 2 against the rocks and broken into halves.

     “Can't we save them?” Grace asked when she saw the3people on the ship. “Isn't there any way to help them?”

“No one can take a lifeboat out in that water,” her father answered. “The waves（浪）are too large.”

    Grace had great4.She simply did not know how to give up. Filled with pity, she ran to the lifeboat quickly. Her father5. With tears running down his face, he begged his daughter not to get into the boat, 6 she would not listen. Her father could not let her go alone. He climbed in too. The two of them rowed in a great hurry. Each wave seemed 7to throw them into the sea at any time.

    Suddenly there was a terrible roar. The storm had 8the ship in two. People were holding on to each half tightly（紧紧地）.They had to be saved soon.

    Grace and her father rowed faster. Soon they reached the ship and began filling the lifeboat with9. Then father and daughter brought their lifeboat safely to shore.

    As news of her brave saving action reached the public, the whole country considered her as a national hero. Grace and her father received the Silver Medal10from the British government. To this day a small statue stands above the grave（墓）of Grace Darling. People still respect the young woman who refused to give up.

    My cousin Sandy is1English girl. Her2name is White. She is 12. The girl is3. In her room, her books and tape player4in the bookcase. Her pencil box is on the5. Her ruler is on the desk, too. And a set 6 keys are in her pencil box. A baseball is under the desk,7 it's not Sandy's. It's her brother8. Sandy has a computer. 9 on the table. There is a photo on the wall. Two girls are in the photo. Do you know10the two girls are? Well, they are Sandy's good friends, Mary and Anna.

    It's very common to meet different people in public places.

    When I was  12 years old, I got a small job in a 1,On my first day at work, I didn't come home for lunch. When I came home at night, Mum asked, “How did you 2 your lunch, dear?" I answered, "I made some new friends in the supermarket, twin brothers, their mom and dad. They were my customers. They invited me 3 lunch."

    Mum was happy that I had made new friends but she wanted to know what kinds of 4they might be.

    Several days later, I asked my friends to come to the supermarket where l worked5let Mum meet them. Mum was very 6 to find out that the twin brothers were joined at the chest（胸部）.She felt very strange because I didn't tell her about that before.

    When Mum asked me about this, I said, "I know that too. But do you know that their mom has to make all clothes because it's 7 difficult to find anything to fit them? They're also good 8  .That day, Joe, the one on the right, made me noodles for lunch."

    When Mum saw the twins, she must have thought how strange they9But to me, what I cared about was that they had difficulty10clothes and they were good cooks.

    Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun1—to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.

Most of the class considered turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the2of most of her students' art. And they were. But in her class there was a different kind of boy, Douglas. He was always unhappy. When other children played together, he was likely to stand close by the teacher's side. The boy drew a hand in his picture.3else. Just an empty-hand.

    Whose hand4it be? His abstract(抽象的) picture made classmates really5. One child guessed it was the hand of the6, because they raise turkeys. Another suggested police officers, because the police7and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went8the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.

    When the children went on to other projects, she9at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him10hand it was. The little boy looked away and said in a low voice, "It's11, teacher."

    The teacher recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there as she had the other students. How often had she said, "12my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside," Or, "Let me13you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.

    Hearing the boy's words, tears ran down the teacher's face. She brushed aside a tear and went on with her work.

    The story speaks of14than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship. They might not always say15, but they'll remember the hand that reaches out.

    Mr. Black was a wealthy businessman, but he was not 1 with his life. He always tried his best to make more money for his company. He did not sleep well and his food did not agree with him. The situation lasted for some time. Finally, after a number of sleepless nights, he 2to see his doctor.

    The doctor advised a change of surrounding (环境). "Go abroad," he said.

    "But I'm not good at foreign languages," said Mr. Black.

    "It doesn't matter," said the doctor. "It won't hurt you if you talk 3. Go on a trip. Take plenty of exercise. Try to 4your weight. Avoid eating rich food. "

    Mr. Black went to Switzerland. He did not know French or German, and had to 5 himself through gestures(手势). He took part in a physical training course. The instructor (指导者) 6 him shake his head, swing his arms, stretch his neck and bend his knees. He had to lie on the ground and raise his right and left legs in turn. 7 some time his muscles (肌肉) grew hard and firm. He almost put aside his financial (金融) worries and 8 forgot the importance of making more money. He even began to 9 trees and birds. He ate and slept well. Finally he returned home. But unfortunately (不幸地) his 10 did not last long. Soon he was a normal businessman again, worried about his wealth, his savings, his success in a competitive society, and things in general.