Patricia is a pianist and music teacher in California.She wanted to1money for music scholarships at her local community college.One day she had an idea.She thought，"I'm going to ride my2across the United State this summer.I'm going to ask people to give money3 every mile I ride."She talked to the people in the community about4idea. They all liked the idea and strongly supported her.So she felt very5for it.

    Patricia joined about forty other6who were all from California.They began the long 7 across the US in Astoria，Oregon.Patricia went up and down huge hills.She saw beautiful countryside and8friendly people.9there were problems，too.The 10was sometimes very hot，windy or cold.Patricia was tired and sore every night.

    One day she11an accident.She12her bike and her toes were badly hurt.But she continued to ride.She overcame many difficulties and spent two13on the whole ride.She raised more than $10，000 for music scholarship.Patricia was happy and14of it. She did it!

    People don't 15her when she tells them her age.Patricia looks very young and  acts very young.Can you imagine that she is 67 years old? The 67-year-old woman rode across the US in sixty days !

    China covers large areas and has a great population. Different living habits have always been an interesting topic in the country. Recently, another difference between southern Chinese and northern Chinese became a hot one: the way people shop at markets.

    People from southern China say that they always buy what they need for just one or two meals. It is normal for them to buy half of a Chinese cabbage, two potatoes and 0.25 kilogram of beef at a time.

    However, one may be laughed at if he does this in the north. Instead, buying vegetables and meat enough for a week is usual. Also, you can buy a small amount (数量) of fruit, such as a single apple or pear, each time in the south. Shop owners even help you peel and cut them. But shop owners in the north hardly offer such service. And many fruits are sold in baskets and boxes.

    The difference could be due to the different weather.

    Food can be kept for a long time in the north, as it is usually cold and dry there. Many northern Chinese have the habit of storing food, especially for the long winter. But the hot and wet weather in the south makes southern Chinese buy just enough food for one meal or one day, or else the food may go bad.

Have you ever read the book，Dopey and Grumpy（《没头脑和不高兴》）？It tells the story of two kids. One often{#blank#}1{#/blank#}this and that，and the other often gets unhappy. They make many{#blank#}2{#/blank#}，and finally learn a lesson from them Ren Rongrong wrote the story in 1956. Later people made it into a cartoon film and it became{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Children liked talking about it in their free time. 

The idea of Dopey and Grumpy came from Ren Rongrong's{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. "I myself was 'Dopey'，often feeling muddle﹣headed（糊里糊涂的），and my kid is 'Grumpy' when I ask him to do something，"said Ren. Then he thought，why not let children show{#blank#}5{#/blank#}real life？They might learn a lot. So Ren began to write the story. He wrote it{#blank#}6{#/blank#}，more than 5，000 words in half an hour!

Ren was"Dopey"in life，{#blank#}7{#/blank#}he was not"Grumpy"for work. He not only wrote stories，but also translated（翻译）children's books. He{#blank#}8{#/blank#}to work on children's literature（文学）. "This job is so fun. I am{#blank#}9{#/blank#}stories with children to make them interested in reading. If I have the chance to live again，I{#blank#}10{#/blank#}want to do it，" Ren said. "I hope Chinese children can read great works，just like other children around the world. "

Not long ago，I made a d{#blank#}1{#/blank#} to read a lot of books to get more knowledge. So I went to the library and returned happily with several books. But after a few days，I felt impatient. The idea of finishing all of them s{#blank#}2{#/blank#} impossible，because I always found it hard to calm down to read a whole book. I doubted that it was a r{#blank#}3{#/blank#} good idea. 

Then suddenly one day I thought ，"Why not make reading interesting？"It gave me hope again. 

Reading is a journey of spirit. Every time we read a book，we are actually talking with the writer. I tried to pay all my attention to his or her books，so I could feel all of his or her happiness and sufferings. Now books have become a part of my life. I am proud that I could {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the problem successfully. 

Someone once said，"A{#blank#}5{#/blank#} the situation is bad，people still have a chance to choose their attitude （态度），"So Try to see things from a different way. This will change the situation and help you a lot. 

"I am Peppa Pig. This is my little brother George! This is Mommy Pig and this is Daddy Pig! " Do you know this family? I like them very much. Peppa Pig is from England, and she is four years old. Her favorite thing is to play with her best(最好的) friend Suzy and her brother George. Who's George's best friend? Peppa? No! His best friend is his dinosaur(恐龙). He takes(带着) his dinosaur everywhere. Mommy Pig is beautiful. She cooks for the family. Daddy Pig sometimes cooks for them, too. They often jump in muddy puddles(泥坑) with Peppa and George. They are very happy.