It was a dark and cold night.The taxi driver didn't have even one passenger all day.When he went by the railway station,he saw a young man coming out with two bags in his hands.So he quickly opened the door of the car and asked,“Where do you want to go,sir?” “To Star Hotel,”the young man answered.When the taxi driver heard this,he didn't feel happy any more.He knew the young man could give him only three dollars because the hotel was not far from the railway station.But suddenly,he had an idea.He took the passenger through many streets of the big city.

    After a long time,the car arrived at the hotel at last.“You should pay me fifteen dollars,”the driver said to the young man.“What? Fifteen dollars! Do you think I'm a fool? Only last week,I took a taxi from the railway station to this same hotel and I only gave the driver thirteen dollars.I know how much I have to pay for the trip.I won't pay you one dollar more than I paid to the other taxi driver last week.”

    Casey was painting the sets (粉刷布景) for the school play (戏剧). When she worked, the actors practiced on stage (舞台). A girl named Amelia played an important role in it. Now she was singing.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}She saw the actors practice again and again. She remembered the words to all the songs by heart.

    Casey's friend Kareem helped her paint. "You should try out for the next play," he said. "You're good."

    Casey said, " {#blank#}2{#/blank#}"

    The next day, Casey and Kareem finished painting the last part of the sets. They were cleaning up their brushes and paints.

    "It's too bad!" Ms. Brown came in and said. " {#blank#}3{#/blank#}She can't be in the play. What will we do?"

    Kareem and Casey heard this. "You know all the words to the songs. You can take over Amelia's part!" said Kareem

    "No, I can't," said Casey.

    "Sure you can. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You must do it!" said Kareem.

    Casey really wanted to act on stage. She thought, " {#blank#}5{#/blank#}" Then she took a deep breath (深呼吸) and walked to Ms. Brown, "I know what we can do!"

    There is a National Health Service in Britain. People usually call it "the NHS". When people are ill, they can get free treatment（治疗）. ① The government pays for the treatment. In Britain everyone has a local doctor. The local doctor is a general practitioner (全科医生)(GP). A GP is a doctor who treats patients with all kinds of illness. He may not have specialists (专家) usually work in hospitals.

    If a man is ill and wants to see his doctor, he calls to make an appointment first. If he is too ill and he can't go out, his doctor will come to his house. If the patient has to take medicine, the doctor gives him a prescription(处方). ② The patient has to pay some money for the prescription. He goes to the chemist's shop and buys the medicine there. The price is the same as any kind of medicine. ③But children, students, old people or people without work don't have to pay for their medicine

    An English gent leman always takes an umbrella and wears a hat. Why? In England, it rains often. The rain comes at any time, so an umbrella is necessary (必要的) in people's life. English gentlemen love to take a long black umbrella. It is useful when the rain comes. And it is also a style. The hat plays an important part in their life too. If two men meet in the street,  they take off (脱掉)  their hats to show their respect (尊重) to each other. If a man visits his friend, he takes off his hat frst when he gets into the room. If he goes to a party, he can only put the hat on his chair, but not on the table. You don't have the two things, but you can still (仍然) be a gentleman. Always be nice to others and be ready to help others. Show your respect and love to old people, women and children. Never shout. Never lose your temper (发脾气).

    Have you heard of the story of The Legend of White Snake (《白蛇传》)? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's a love story between White Snake and Xu Xian. It has a connection (联系) with the Dragon Boat Festival in China.

    Once upon a time, there were two snakes, White Snake and Green Snake. They had magical powers and turned into two beautiful young ladies. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} White Snake quickly fell in love with him. They got married soon and lived happily.

    The Dragon Boat Festival came. On that day, people drank realgar wine (雄黄酒). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If she drank the wine, she would turn into the snake again. However, Xu Xian didn't know anything about it, so he asked his wife to drink realgar wine. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} When Xu Xian entered the room, he couldn't find his wife. He only saw a huge white snake on the bed. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Later, White Snake recovered (恢复). In order to save her husband, she went to steal the magical herb (药草). In the end, the god was so moved by her true love that he saved Xu Xian. What a moving love story!