Have you ever heard of a rattlesnake? It is a poisonous (有毒的) American snake.When it is angry or afraid, it makes a noise like a rattle with its tail. It's very scary. But Heather Ramirez and her husband, from California, in the UnitedStates, make a living in an unusual way. They are self-employed (自雇的) snake catchers!They catch snakes, especially rattlesnakes which have gone indoors, and returnthem to the wild.

    Heather describes her work as “protecting people from rattlesnakes — andprotecting rattlesnakes from people!” In the area where they live, rattlesnakesoften come face to face with people. They are found in stores, offices, housesand gardens. Heather explains that it's not the snakes that are moving into places where people live, but it's the other way round. The snakes lived in these places first and then the people built houses.

Most people who see a rattlesnake are feared. If you keep your distance,however, the snake won't bite (咬) you. In twelve years as a snake catcher, Heather has nevertouched a snake. She doesn't take the risk. She picks up the snakes with aspecial tool. This doesn't hurt them,but it keeps them at a safe distance so that they can't bite her.

    Heather and her husband are very busy because they are never off duty.Catching snakes is a full-time job and they don't often have a day off. Peoplecan get to them at any time of the day or night. Not everyone can do this job,but Heather doesn't want to do anything else. “I just love my job,” she says.

    Mr. Hunt came from a poor family. He had three brothers and two sisters. His father worked hard but wasn't paid much. And his mother did all the housework at home. They were both able but they couldn't get enough money for their family.

    Mr. Hunt was in school for only three years and he had to stop to help his parents though he was good at his lessons. When he was sixteen, he came to the city and began to work in a small factory. He learned from an old worker and became a skilled worker. The old worker liked him and married his daughter to him. The young man did not have his own house and had to live with his parents-in-law(岳父母). His mother-in-law always thought he was poor and often chattered(唠叨). So the young man tried to save everything and hoped to have his own house.

    It was one fine Sunday. The old woman wanted to have a picnic on the top of the hill. She told Mr. Hunt to drive her car. But sometimes she told him to turn left and sometimes to turn right. The young man had to listen to her. At a crossing the lights were red but she made him turn left. The policeman stopped them and told the young man to give his license to him.

    “If I did wrong, sir,” said Mr. Hunt, “It was my mother-in-law's fault(过错). She was driving the car though she sat behind me!”

    Once a little boy named Tom always felt lonely and unhappy. One day he decided to meet love. He started off with some food and drinks in the early morning. When he passed through a small park, he saw an old woman watching some flowers. She looked a little hungry. He gave her a sandwich. She gave him a smile and ate it. The smile was very beautiful. He wanted to see it again. So he gave her another sandwich. She smiled at him once again. Tom was very happy and sat down beside her.

    They sat there for a long time, eating and smiling, but said nothing. When it grew dark.Tom decided to go home. After he had gone a few steps, he turned around, ran back and gave the old woman a hug(拥抱). And she gave him the biggest smile ever.

    When Tom came back home his mother was amazed at the joy(快乐)on his face. "Tom, why are you so happy?" asked the mother. "I had lunch with love, and she has the most beautiful smile in the world. ”

    Also the old woman's daughter was amazed at her mother's pleasure. “Mum, what has made you so happy?"asked the daughter. "I ate some sandwiches with love and he is much younger than I expected,"the old woman answered.

    Beakley gets a letter from his grandma. It says, "Please come and visit me soon."

    Beakley puts his green toothbrush and socks into his bag. He takes his favourite toy Bunny too. His friend Weber goes with him.

    They take a yellow taxi to the airport. "This airport is very big," says Beakley, "I am scared(惊恐的) of flying. Maybe we should drive a car there." "No," says Weber, "it's too far. The pilot can fly over buildings and trees just like a bird."

    Flying is fantastic and soon they land(着陆). And then Beakley takes a big purple boat with Weber. It crosses the sea to a big island(岛). On the island, Beakley and Weber take a train. After getting off the train, they rent(租) a bike. "This goes very fast and this is fun." says Beakley.

    Finally they get to a pink house and Grandma waits for them.

    Mr. Brown was going away for a week. Before he left, he said to his son, "if anyone asks for me, you can tell him that your father has been out for doing something, and will be back in a week, then be sure to ask him to sit down for a cup of tea."

    "OK, Dad," said his son. But he was afraid his son couldn't remember this, he wrote these words down on a piece of paper and gave it to him. His son put it into his small pocket, took it out and looked at it every now and then.

    Four days passed, but no one came to see his father. The boy thought that there was no man to come and that the piece of paper was of no more use for him, so he burnt it that evening.

    The next afternoon, someone knocked at the door. The boy opened it. A man was standing at the door and said, "Where is your father?" The boy put his hand into his pocket at once and looked for the piece of paper. He could not find it. He suddenly remembered he had burnt it, so he shouted, "No more."

    The man was very surprised. He asked, "No more? I met your father last week. When did it happen?"

    "Burnt yesterday evening."

    Peter lived in a village. He was sad recently because he thought that he had nothing left. One day, Peter went to ask a wise man for help. He said to the wise man, "I have nothing left, so I don't want to live." The wise man smiled sympathetically(同情地).

    The wise man took out a piece of paper and drew a straight line down the middle. He explained that he would write down the things Peter had lost on the left side and the things Peter still had on the right side.

    The wise man asked, "When did your family leave you?"

    "What do you mean? They haven't left me. They love me!"

    "That's great!" said the wise man. "Then that will be the first thing on the right side -Family haven't left. Now, do you have freedom(自由)?"

    "That's a silly question. Of course I do!"

    "Good! That's the second one on the right side-You have freedom!" said the wise man, writing it down.

    After Peter was asked some more questions in the same way, he finally understood and smiled. "Things will change when you think of them in a different way!" he said.

    As a matter of fact, change your attitude and you will change your world. It's necessary to have a positive(积极的)attitude to life.