Most of the taxi drivers in Beijing can speak some simple English, so western tourists can communicate (交流) with them. If a foreigner is in a street in Beijing, and he wants to take a taxi, the friendly taxi driver will stop near him and ask him in a friendly way. Here is the usual dialogue in English between them.

The taxi driver:” Can I help you?”

The foreigner: “Yes, please.”

The taxi driver:” Please get on the taxi.”

The foreigner: “Thank you.”

The taxi driver: “Can you tell me where you would like to go?”

The foreigner: “I'd like to go to Tian Qiao Street.”

The taxi driver: “OK, I see.”

    During the ride, the driver will play the western music for the foreigner, and the driver will also begin the conversation with a small talk like the weather or the fashion.

    After getting off the taxi, the foreigner will give the driver some tips (小费) like the way in his country, however, the driver will say politely, “Thank you, but I only take what the ride costs.”

    Animals are our good friends. Some are active and others are quiet. But do you know anything about the clever animals in the world? Just have a look!

    One day a poor farmer was taking a bag of rice to the town. Suddenly the bag fell down from his horse on the road. He didn't know what to do about it because it was too heavy for him to lift (举起) it by himself. He only hoped that somebody would soon pass (经过) by and help him.

    Just at this moment a man riding a horse came up to him. But the farmer was very disappointed(失望的)when he saw who he was. It was the great man living nearby. The farmer had hoped to ask another farmer or a poor man like him for help.

    But to his surprise, the great man got off his horse as soon as he came near. He said to the farmer, "I see you need help, my friend. How good it is that I'm here just at the right time！" Then he took one end of the bag, the farmer took the other. They together lifted it and put it on the horse.

    "Sir, " asked the farmer, "how can I pay you？"

    "It's quite easy, " the great man answered with a smile, "Wherever (无论在哪里) you see anyone in trouble, do the same for him. "

    Do you know He Jiong? Lots of young people in our country know him and the programme Happy Camp.

    He Jiong was born in 1974. When He Jiong was in the high school, he was famous as a radio host(主持人). In 1990, he worked for Hunan Economy(经济) Radio. He began to study in Beijing Foreign Language University in 1992. After graduation in 1997, he worked in the university as a teacher. In 1998, he began to host a programme on Hunan TV. It's called Happy Camp. Stars from all over the country come to this programme. They tell their stories or play games with the viewers(观众). The programme is so popular that it wins many prizes.

    A long time ago, there was a king who liked music so much that he ordered his men to get him the best instrument in the world.

    One day, a young man offered the king a harp (竖琴). The king took it to the palace, but when he started playing it, the harp was out of tune.

    Many other musicians tried it, and they agreed that the harp was useless(没用的) and the king had been cheated. The harp was thrown out as rubbish.

    A poor little girl later found the harp. And even though she did not know how to play, she decided to have a try. She played and played, for months and years, always with the harp out of tune, but she played better and better.

    Then one day, suddenly, the harp began to play the most beautiful music. It was a magic harp, and could only be played well by someone willing to spend much time practicing.

    One day, the king heard the music from his window, and the girl was invited to the palace. When the king saw the girl playing the harp, he was full of joy. At that moment he made the girl his private musician, giving her and her family lots of money.

    It was a Monday morning. When the teacher walked into the classroom, he heard a low voice. "Here's the teacher. I'm sure this boring fellow is going to talk about how to use commas." It was a boy's voice and the teacher knew who he was.

    However, the teacher didn't get angry. He said nothing about it, but really began to talk about how to use commas. And he wrote the following sentence on the blackboard, "Nick says the teacher is a boring fellow." The class laughed and Nick's face turned red. "Now," said the teacher, "I will tell you the importance of commas." He put two commas in the sentence and then said, "Nick, says the teacher, is a boring fellow." The whole class laughed again. Nick felt very surprised first, then his face turned much redder. Finally he couldn't help laughing with the other students, too.