The ostrich is the largest bird in the world. The ostrich is found in nature in Africa, but it is raised all over the world for its meat.

    The ostrich is a unique（独特的）looking animal. It has long skinny legs, a big body with small wings, a long neck, and a dangerous long beak（喙）.Even though it has wings, it can't fly. But they aren't completely useless either. They help a lot with balance when the ostrich is running at full speed and needs to change directions. The ostrich usually weighs between 200 and 300 pounds and can grow to 9 feet tall. Its large body is covered with feathers.

    The ostrich is famous for its speed on the ground. Its powerful legs allow it to reach speeds of 40 miles per hour! Ostriches can also use their strong legs to kick any enemy or even kill a human or a lion. However, in most cases the ostrich just use its speed to run away from any danger.

    Ostriches eat whatever they can find. This includes plants ,insects, and small animals like lizards. They often live in groups. A group will have around ten birds, but some groups even have 100 birds. This way the whole group can help to protect the eggs. Ostrich eggs are the biggest eggs of any animal at an average of 3 pounds.

    Ostriches don't actually put their head in the ground as many cartoons like to show. What they really do is to lie down and put their head and neck flat on the ground to hide. From a distance all you can see is their body, so it appears as if they have put their head in a hole in the ground. Ostriches can not only kick with powerful feet, they are also armed with 4 inch long claws（爪）on their feet.

    Jack is a schoolboy. He likes sleeping(睡觉) very much. So he is often late for school. His mother often asks him to get up early in the morning. But Jack just says, "Wait a moment (等一会), Mom." And he sleeps for half an hour. ①他总是没有时间吃早饭. His mother worries about (担心) it.

    It's six o'clock in the morning. Jack doesn't get up. "Jack, it's time to get up," his mother says.

    "Wait a moment, Mom. I don't want to get up now. Let me sleep for a moment."

    Half an hour later, his mother says again, "Get up, Jack! It's time to have breakfast."

    "I don't want to have breakfast. l only want to sleep."

    "But your father gets up now." Jack gets up quickly, "Oh,no! I have English at eight o'clock. ②I don't want to be late for his class."

    Once a king got two nice falcons(猎鹰) from his son. He had never seen such beautiful falcons before. He loved them so much and he ordered the best falconer to train them to fly.

    After several months, the king came to see how the training was going on. He found that one falcon had already been able to fly high in the sky, while the other one was staying on the branch(树枝) of a tree quietly without moving.

    The king called all his falconers together and ordered them to try every way they could to make it fly. But none of them succeeded. One day, while the king was taking a walk in the forest, an idea came to his mind. He decided to find someone who knew the natural environment well to solve the problem. Then he sent for a farmer who lived in the forest into his palace to train it at once.

    The next morning, the king saw the other falcon flying above in the sky freely. "It is unbelievable!" shouted the king. "How could you make it happen?"

    The farmer replied, “It's very easy. I just cut off the branch where the falcon rested.”

    It is always the same to humans. We all have "two flying wings in our hearts as well, but we often seem not to notice them and stay where we feel safe and comfortable. We won't realize we can fly so high and freely until the "branch" we are resting on breaks.

Where you sit and how you fit

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For more than seventy years, researchers and teachers have studied the link between the place where students choose to sit in class and what they are like as people and learners. Where do you usually decide to sit? Have you ever really thought about the reasons for your decision?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But is this really true? Well, some researchers say it is not. In fact, shy students often choose the back row because it is far away from the teacher and they don't want to answer questions. At the back, students probably won't speak much, but in big classrooms, it can be hard to see the board and hear what the teacher is saying. This could be the reason why students who sit here often get lower grades on tests and exams. For students with poor eyesight or hearing, a seat at the back of the classroom is not a good choice.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, they like watching and listening rather than joining in. These students are usually also very good at taking notes. Next time you miss a class, borrow notes from someone who sits here. On the sides of the classroom you will generally find modest and thoughtful people. These people usually get good grades in school and are interested in learning.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Then the statistics (统计数据) say you probably like your teacher. You probably also have a good relationship with your classmates. Caring, outgoing, and cheerful people usually sit in the middle. They are normally serious about learning and feel disappointed with low grades on tests and exams.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Students who sit here usually want to discuss things with the teacher and are often very interested in the subject. They want to be in the best place to see and hear everything the teacher does and says. The only problem with sitting here is that it can be difficult to see and hear what other students do and say in class. So, if you really want to hear what everyone says in class, choose a different place to sit.

Future and Today

    It is well known that everyone has his own dream as well as his own future. But do you know what future really is? I have to say that future is now. That is to say we must treasure(珍惜)every minute now. If we want to have a bright future, we should know how important time is and use it well.

    There is an old English saying: "Gain time, gain life." Then what's time？ Time is something that we can't see or touch, but we can feel it passing by. Time is always with us. When we are at table, time passes; when we play, time goes by unnoticeable. We always say "Time is money", but time is even more precious(珍贵的)than money, because when money is spent , we can earn it back. But if time is gone away, it will never return. So, some of us even say time is priceless(无价的).

    We should always remember: future is now. For us students, we should try our best to work hard in order to create a great future of our own. We should make the best use of every hour and be the master of today. We should do everything before us as well as possible. And never put off what can be done today till tomorrow.

    As we all know, "Time and tide wait for no man." If you waste today, you will regret(后悔)tomorrow. So from now on, work hard. Tomorrow will be better, and your future will be brighter. Remember:" No pains, no gains." Today's hard work is the cause of tomorrow's harvest(收获).

Title: Future and Today