2019 is the Year of the Pig according to Chinese tradition. Do you know what pigs are really like? People sometimes say, "You are as stupid as a pig." But pigs are not stupid. They are {#blank#}1{#/blank#}one of the 10 smartest animals. They have a good memory and can tell different shapes apart. Many experts think pigs are{#blank#}2{#/blank#} to train than dogs or cats. In France, people teach pigs to find truffles(松露). With their good sense of smell, they can find truffles even faster than dogs. People in ancient China really liked pigs. People thought the pigs big head and ears were a symbol of {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. If someone had a round and chubby face, he or she was thought to be blessed(有福气的). People also believed the animal {#blank#}4{#/blank#}wealth. Piggy banks are a symbol of this. Most children have piggy banks that they can use to save money.

    People born in the Year of the Pig are said to be fun, patient and understanding. But some say they care for others too much and are willing to sacrifice their own {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. They also forget things quickly. Many famous people were born in the Year of the Pig, such as US writer Earnest Hemingway and Chinese athlete Liu Xiang. Pigs often {#blank#}6{#/blank#}in fairy tales, cartoons and movies. In the story the Three Little Pigs, a mother pig sends her three children to live on their own. Each of them builds a house with different {#blank#}7{#/blank#}. When the big bad wolf comes, each pig hides in his own house. Whose house will survive? Another popular pig is Mc Dull. He is a little pink pig who lives in Hong Kong. He is not bright, but he works hard. One of his simple wishes is to make his mother {#blank#}8{#/blank#}him. He also wants to go to the Maldives and have a turkey dinner for Christmas.

    A man was walking through a forest. He was{#blank#}1{#/blank#}an axe(斧) in his hand. A little tree stopped him and said, "Please use your axe to cut down those{#blank#}2{#/blank#}trees, my friend. Because of them, the sunlight cannot fall on me and I have no room at all to{#blank#}3{#/blank#}myself. Without them, I'll be the pride of this part of the forest these years.

    The man decided to help the little tree. He used his axe to cut down the tall trees. Then the little tree had enough room. The little tree felt happy and said thanks to the man. When the Sun came out, the little tree{#blank#}4{#/blank#}water and it became very thirsty. Later when a storm came, the little tree lost all its leaves and branches.

    Many years ago, there was a family named Franklin. They lived in Boston. There were five girls and six boys in the family. On a January day in 1706 another baby was born. The boy's mother and her husband gave the boy a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} —Benjamin. Benjamin was the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} of all the children. He could read when he was five and he could write when he was seven. The next year his parents sent him to {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. At school Benjamin was good at reading and writing, but not good at math. He read all of his father's {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. And when he had money, he {#blank#}5{#/blank#} went to buy books. He liked books. They told him {#blank#}6{#/blank#} to do something. The boy liked to use his head and tried to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} ways to help people enjoy life more. For example, he tried to know if there was some way to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} farther, maybe with something on his hands or feet. Slowly a picture of swimming shoes, or paddles, grew in his {#blank#}9{#/blank#}. The paddles must be neither too{#blank#}10{#/blank#} nor too small. And they must be neither too heavy nor too light. At last he invented the paddle for swimming.

    It seems that everybody tells lies-well, not big lies, but what we call "white lies". Telling white lies isn't that bad. Most of the time, people do it because they want to protect a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Here are some ways they do it.

Giving false excuses:

    Sometimes people lie because they don't want to do something. For example, someone invites you to a party. You think it will be{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, so you say you're busy.

    Lying to make someone feel good:

    Often we say something different from the facts to{#blank#}3{#/blank#}someone feel good. For example, your friend cooks dinner for you, but it tastes terrible. Do you say so? No! You{#blank#}4{#/blank#}say, "Umm, this is delicious!"