The USA is the fourth largest country in the world in size after Russia, Canada and China. The population(人口) of the USA is the third largest in the world.

   The Mississippi River is the longest river in America. It's over 6,000 kilometers long. The Mississippi River has been called the "Father of Waters" or "Old Man River". The most important lakes in the United States are the Great Lakes. They are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. All of them are between Canada and the United States except(除了) Lake Michigan.

   Let us talk about American education(教育). There are two kinds of schools in the United States: public schools and private schools. Most children go to public schools. Their parents do not have to pay for their education. If a child goes to a private school, his parents have to pay for their schooling. Children start school when they are five years old. Most students are eighteen years old when they leave secondary(中级) schools.

    What can you make with pieces of paper？Look at Chen Yiyan's works!The 14﹣year﹣old has Origami（折纸） talent at Hangzhou Entel Foreign Language School．Zhejiang．   ①   But he wasn't born with this talent．

    When Chen was a fourth﹣grader，he found his brother's paper﹣folding book．   ②    Following the 50steps shown in the book，he made his first work，a paper peacock，within two hours．Since then，he has read many books about Origami and practices in his spare time．So far，his“fantasy world“has man members，such as monsters and robots．And he made his favorite work last year．   ③  

    Chen used to fold （折叠）paper himself until he met Chen Changnan，an eighth﹣grader at his school，who also loves Origami．They set up a paper﹣folding club last year．With support from school，they host a paper﹣folding class every Wednesday afternoon．The club soon attracted people．Now it has more tan 20 members．   ④   On February 14^th ． The club also held a speech for the kids in wenzhou Children's Library．

    “It's really exciting to develop my hobby and share it with others at the same time．”said Chen，“I hope more and more people get to know Origami and love this art．”

    Ryan's life was nearly perfect. He had lots of friends on his block. They walked to school together every day, and after school they always had time to play.

    Ryan did have one problem. It was his two-year-old sister, Allie. She was too small to play ball games. She couldn't climb trees yet.  Ryan and his friends didn't want her around.

    Ryan tried asking his mum to keep Allie at home. "Why does my sister have to come along?" he asked. "Troy's sister doesn't. Jimmy's sister doesn't. Why me?"

    Ryan's mother just laughed, "Troy's sister is only six months old, and Jimmy doesn't have a sister. Allie is nice, isn't she?"

    Today, Ryan was going to play baseball with his friends after school. Allie followed him as usual. The boys used to play football, but one of them broke a window at Mr Mcwhirter's house. Mr Mcwhirter wouldn't give them their ball back.

    The game got started. Allie sat on a stone nearby. Minutes later it was Jimmy's turn to hit the ball. Unluckily, it fell right into Mr Mcwhirter's yard.

    The boys ran over to Mr Mcwhirter's fence (栅栏). The ball was just out of reach.

    "None of us can fit through the fence." Jimmy said.

    The boys looked glum.

    Suddenly, Jimmy got an idea. "Allie, come over!" he called. "Would you like to get that ball for us?"

    Allie looked at the boys. Then she slipped through the fence, picked up the ball and came back out of the yard.

    "Wow," said Troy. "So quick! Thanks, Allie."

    "Nice job," said Jimmy.

    "Come on," said Ryan, suddenly proud of his kid sister. "I'll teach you how to swing the bat."

    In 1961, a man found a strange cat on his farm in Scotland. The cat's ears were bent forward on its head. In fact, this was a new kind of cat. People named it the "Scottish Fold".

    The Scottish Fold has a round head and big eyes. Its neck and legs are short. Its body is generally round, which makes it look very cute. Interestingly, all the Scottish Folds are born with straight ears. And when they are growing up day by day, some cats' ears will begin to fold. So, the Scottish Fold comes in two types: folded ears and straight ears.

    Besides, there is a nickname for the Scottish Fold. It is the "Messenger of Peace". Why? Because the Folds are sweet and friendly animals. They can get along well with other cats. And unlike some other cats, they can even get along well with dogs. In many different environments, such as in a noisy house, or in a cat show, you can see them playing with other animals happily.

    Well, when you come to a new school, do you think it's difficult to adapt (适应) to the new environment? Perhaps you can learn from the Scottish Fold. That is: always be sweet and friendly to others.

    Once upon a time, there lived a teacher in a small town. He often taught his students in special ways. Once he sent four of his students to go to a small farm to see apple trees in different seasons. The first student went in winter, the second in spring. The third in summer. And the last in autumn.

    After the four students came back, the teacher called them together. They pictured (描述) their feeling to the teacher. The first student said that there were no leaves on the trees. It made him very disappointed. The second student said his eyes were full of light green. It made him feel hopeful. The third one disagreed. "What are you talking about? How pretty the trees were! The sweet smell of the beautiful flowers spread(传播) here and there." The last one shook his head. He only saw a lot of apples on the beautiful trees.

    The teacher smiled and told his students none of them were wrong. They each just saw one season. He continued, "The trees are not the same in different seasons. You can't judge (判断) a tree by only one season. Don't let the regret of one season destroy the beauty of the rest.

    Everything has different sides in our life. Don't hurry to make a conclusion(结论) before seeing the whole of it.

    Before Monica goes to bed, she looks out of her window and sees the Moon. The Moon looks so beautiful. "I wish I could get the Moon," thinks Monica. But no matter (无论) how hard she tries, she cannot get the Moon. "Papa," Monica says to her father, "please get the Moon for me."

    Papa gets a very long ladder (梯子). He carries the very long ladder to a very high mountain. Then Papa puts the very long ladder on top (顶部) of it. Up and up he climbs. At last, Papa gets to the Moon.

    "My daughter Monica would like to play with you, but you are much too big," says Papa.

    "Every night I get a little smaller," says the Moon. "When I am just the right size, you can take me with you." After a few days, Papa takes it. Down and down he climbs.

    "Here," Papa says to Monica, "I have the Moon for you." Monica jumps and dances with the Moon. But the Moon keeps getting smaller and smaller. And at last, it disappears. Then, one night, Monica sees a small Moon come out. Each night the Moon grows, grows and grows.