The Shirt of a Happy Man

    Once upon a time, in a rich and beautiful country, there lived an unhappy king. He slept 1and didn't feel like eating. The queen and his people worried about him very much. One day, a doctor was called in to examine the king. But he couldn't find 2 with his body. It was all in his mind. He said the king needed the shirt of a happy person to wear. Then the prime minister, the king's banker and the palace singer were called to the palace. But they all had3worries. They weren't happy, either. The prime minister thought many people were trying to 4, then he would lose his power. The banker was afraid 5 his money. The singer said he couldn't get freedom because he always worried about being followed by 6.

    7, the king's top general was told to go out and find a happy man in three days' time.

    Two days passed, the general still couldn't find a happy man. Everyone had their own problems, Just as he was about to give up, he saw a poor man8happily on the street. The general didn't understand why the poor man was so happy, though he seemed to have 9 power, money or fame. So he went up to the poor man and asked him about the reason. The poor man said he was happy because he had everything he wanted, and he didn't want to have what he couldn't have. Hearing this, the general was excited. The poor man was the Happy Man. So he asked the poor man to give his shirt10the king. "Shirt?" said the poor man in surprise, “I don't own any shirts!”

    Once upon a time, there was a lazy poor man living in a small house with spider(蜘蛛) webs on the walls and mice running around. People1coming into such a dirty place and the poor man was lonely and2every day. He thought it was poverty(贫穷) that led3his unhappy life.

    One day, the poor man dropped in on a wise old man and asked him for 4about changing his life. The old man gave him a 5vase(花瓶) and said, "This is a magic vase that will bring you 6."

    The poor man looked at the vase7. He wondered 8he need a vase in his poor house. However, he didn't want to 9away such a beautiful vase, so he brought it home and put it on the table.

    "It's not right for something so beautiful to be 10," the poor man looked at the vase and thought. Then he picked some wild flowers and put them into it, making it even more beautiful.

    11he was still not satisfied(满意的). "It is not good for such a beautiful thing to stand next to a spider web." At this, he started to do some12in the house and paint the walls.

    His house turned into a13place immediately. The poor man cheered up. He suddenly 14that in the past it was his 15that made him poor and unhappy. From then on, he worked hard and his life got better and better.

    Last year I went to Australia to study and travel. I stayed in Sydney for three months. I visited places of1in the morning and took English lessons in the afternoon. A friend and I stayed in a host family in Sydney. The family were very2to us. We talked about a lot of things with each other in English.

    My spoken English improved 3in Australia. I used to speak little English in China, 4 in Australia I had to use it very often. I was soon able to5with my teachers and host family in English freely. To me, the best place in Australia is the Sydney Opera House（歌剧院）. You can look at it from different sides. It is beautiful to look at. I cannot sing very well, but6I was inside, I really wanted to sing.

    Time7 while I was in Sydney. Soon Christmas came, then the New Year. I had to spend the New Year8my parents. I felt a little lonely. I missed them so much. In the evening, I9my family. When I heard 10voices, I began to cry. My host mother held me in her arms and comforted（安慰）me.

    Tongtong is three years old. She likes1English very much. Her mother2 English in a high school.

    Tongtong likes to3English cartoon videos. She plays games with her dolls and4with them in English. She learns a lot by watching the videos. Sometimes she can5but doesn't know the6. When her mother comes back home，she will tell Tongtong what the words and sentences mean.

    Tongtong's mother thinks that interest is important，and7is more important. Tongtong has great interest in English speaking. She can learn to speak by8and listening. But she should have chances(机会)to use it. So her mother tries to talk with her in English at home and takes her to the 9at school. Though Tongtong makes many mistakes，her English improves10.

    Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a pianist's concert on a summer holiday evening. After they found their 1, the mother saw two friends in the hall and walked to 2 them.

    It was the boy's first time to come to the hall. He thought it was a good 3 for him to explore the wonders of the concert hall. He 4 and walked around. He walked 5 a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE" (禁止入内).

    When the hall lights turned dark, the 6 would begin. The mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was 7. The mother was 8 worried at that moment that tears were in her eyes.

    The concert began, and the lights focused on the wonderful piano on stage. The mother was 9 to see her little boy sitting at the keyboard, playing the song Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star 10 he did at home.

    At that moment, the great pianist came, quickly moved to the piano and 11 in the boy's ear, "Don't stop. Keep playing." He leaned over(俯身) and began filling in a bass part(低音) with his left 12, then added a running obbligato(伴奏) with his right hand. They played the piano together 13. The old pianist and the young novice(初学者) changed a frightening situation into a wonderful creative experience. The audience stood up and 14 them.

    An artist's achievements and charm depend on not only his perfect skills 15 his good qualities.