Gao Xinyi, 14, No 1 Middle School Affliated in CCNU Chao Yang School, Beijing

I was once asked to give a speech in English in front of several native speakers at an organization last summer. I was asked to talk about my experience. At the beginning, I explained to the organizers that I was afraid to speak without preparation. But they told me that I had better get over it. When I first stood up in front of the crowd, my mind went completely blank. But then I began to talk about my story and used some gestures and facial expressions. Although I didn't speak very well, I still did it.

Ye Tong, 14, Hangzhou Entel Foreign Language School, Zhejiang

    To be honest, I wasn't a brave girl. I still slept with my mother until I was a sixth-grader, because I didn't dare to sleep alone. Last year, one evening after I came back from school, my mom asked me to sleep in my own room. I thought I had grown up, so I should learn to be independent. Though I was frightened at first, I slept in my own room for the first time. I did it. I'm really proud of myself! This is the bravest thing I have ever done.

Zhang Yiyi, 14, Taiyuan Foreign Language School, Shanxi

I didn't dare to ride the roller coaster all the time. I thought it was a terrible thing. However, my friend asked me to try it when we were in Disneyland, in Hong Kong last year. I decided to take a try. It took off so fast. It was a cool feeling, like you were flying! That was extremely good fun. Someone once said, "Life is a roller coaster ride, tighten your seat belts, enjoy the journey, remember the up always has a down." That is right. I have fallen in love with the roller coaster.

    Mrs Brown is very fat. She has a lot of health problems. Her husband (丈夫) and she go to see the doctor. Her doctor says to her, "Don't eat meat and cakes.” Her husband says, "'I am going to make her stop eating them, doctor.” The next morning Mrs Brown buys a can of meat and her husband eats half (一半) of it. Then he leaves home to work. Mrs Brown cuts (切) a very small piece of it and eats it. It is very good. She cuts a big piece of cake and eats it. Ten minutes later she eats it all.

    "My husband will be angry. What shall I do?” she thinks. She buys another (另一个) can of meat very quickly.

    She eats half of that and leaves half on the table. Her husband comes back later and he sees the half meat on the table. He is very happy.

    Little Mike's grandma died weeks ago. He missed her very much. One afternoon Mike went to the city park where his grandma used to go. There he saw an old lady. She looked very kind. She was sitting there, watching pigeons(鸽子). Little Mike went up and sat next to her. He took out his food and drinks and gave some to her. She smiled at him. Her smile was so sweet that Mike wanted to see it again. She seemed to understand him, so once again she smiled. Mike was very glad.

    They sat there all the afternoon, eating and talking. As it grew dark, Mike got up to leave. Before he left, he hugged(拥抱) the old lady and she gave him her sweetest smile.

    When Mike got home, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. "I met a granny in the park. Her smile was like the kind of smile I had seen on Grandma's face."

    The old lady also returned to her home happily. She told her son that she had food and drinks with a little boy. "He was as lovely as Brittany." she said. Her son was surprised, because he had never seen her so happy since Brittany, her grandson, died weeks ago.