Dear Tony,

    I'm glad to1you．Now let me tell you something about my2life．I was born in3village．It was not big but4was beautiful and clean．There5a big garden．Near the garden was my first school，6I walked to school.My first teacher was7 and nice,but she was also8us.My best friends are Wang Mai and Li Dong.Wang Mai was good at all9and he was the top pupil(尖子学生)．Li Dong was good at football and he was a member of our school football team．

    I am looking forward to going back to my school and 10 my teachers and friends．

Yours，

Du Ming

    She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal Mart. She must have been 6 years old. It was 1outside. We all just stood 2the door of the Wal Mart. "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said with a 3 voice." What? "Mom asked." Let's run through the rain! "She repeated." No, honey. We'll wait until it 4 down a bit." Mom replied.

    This young child waited about 5 minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run through the rain."

    "We'll get wet if we do," Mom said. "No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said." This morning? 6 did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?" "Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us 7this, he can get us through anything! "

    The entire crowd became dead silent. I dare say you couldn't hear anything but the 8. We all stood silently. Mom stopped to for a moment about what she would say. "Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If we get wet, maybe we just need  9," Mom said. Then off they ran.

    We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they  10 past the cars. They held their shopping bags over their 11 just in case. They got wet. But they were12by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the 13 to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions (财产), they can take away your money, and they can take away your  14. But no one can ever take away your precious 15. So, don't forget to take time and take the opportunities to make memories.

难度系数：★★★

"Cindy…Soloist (独唱者)." I couldn't believe it—on the cover of the program was my name rather than Renee's! 

Renee and I had been classmates since kindergarten. She was always 1 I was and she was always ahead of me. The school plays? Renee would have the 2 . Softball? She played first base (垒) while I watched her from my 3 in the outfield. 

Trying out for the choir (合唱团) concert was a 4 process for me. As we were waiting for Ms. Jenkins's call into the choir room. my heart 5 . My whole body began shaking when my name was called. Then I saw Renee's smile and her 6 relaxed me. 

A week later, Ms. Jenkins announced the result. I was certain that Renee's name would be on the 7 while mine wouldn't. But finally, Ms. Jenkins looked at me and said, "Cindy, you will have to start practicing with me. The solos need more8 ."

"Solo? I got the solo?" I 9 this. But Renee just gave me the thumbs up sign. 

The big day came. The choir walked onto the stage (舞台) and I was front and center. The spotlight 10 me in its bright light, but I froze right there. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I couldn't sing. The note started up and then 11 in my throat. 

"You can do it, Cindy!" Renee whispered behind. I took a deep breath and sang out. All that came out was an unpleasant 12 But in that same moment, came the pure tone of the right note. My voice 13 and matched Renee's. When the next note came, it was all me. 

The rest of the solo went 14 . And when the concert was over, there came a burst of loud applause (掌声). Renee was the first to 15 me. 

"Thanks, Renee!"

Renee smiled, "That's what friends are for!"

"Friends?" I smiled, beginning to love the feeling of being her friend. 

参考词汇： play basketball 打篮球： interesting 有趣； 

on the weekend 在周末； have milk喝牛奶

Myself

……

36-­year­-old California Dad Sholom Solomon is a funny photo lover. And he just might be taking the lead as this year's most awesome dad. Recently Solomon and his daughter have spent their time taking lots of funny and amazing photos while wearing creative clothes. 

Solomon said，"I have always taken funny pictures even before Zoe was born. When she came along I wanted to include her so that one day she can look back at funny memories with her dad. "

In fact，Solomon's wife Carli took all these new photos. One photo shows Zoe was dressed up as a flower while her dad was watering flowers beside her. Another photo shows Solomon dressed in firefighter gear (装备)．

"We are always trying to find some creative clothes to take funny photos. It has become a family's favorite experience now，" Solomon smiled and said. 

So many fans love these cute photos. Solomon has nearly 20，000 followers on the Internet，and that number is quickly climbing. "Everyone seems to be connected with the love of the father and the daughter. The response (反应) has been extremely positive，" Solomon said with pride. 

What kind of places will you choose to live in? Many people like to live in big cities better, because there are many interesting things {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(see) and do there. People can visit all kinds of museums, watch the latest plays and movies. They can also do the {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(shop) in big malls and buy things from all over the world. 

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} there are serious (严重的) problems in big cities too. The cost of living is high, and some places in these big cities are very crowded and the traffic there is even{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(bad). Every year many people move to the cities because they think they can easily find {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(job), study at good schools and make a good living there. But{#blank#}6{#/blank#} fact, things are different in some way. It's difficult for many people to know what they want. It's not even easy to find{#blank#}7{#/blank#} nice and cheap place to live. The large population in the city makes it hard to stop heavy traffic. Also, the air {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(pollute) is more serious there than that in the countryside. 

Now {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(hundred) of thousands of people enjoy living in big cities, especially young people. They find it exciting {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(live) in the big cities. However, before moving to a big city, we'd better think about the problems of living there.