Ben Jones was walking home from school one day when he saw a black cat. It was walking across the srteet in front of him. Ben stopped, turned around, and walked down a different srteet to go home. Why did he do that?
    "It's unlucky when a black cat crosses the street in front of you,”says Ben,“I did not want to walk down that street!”
     Many people think that some things bring bad luck. For example, some people think that 13 is an unlucky number. They never invite 13 people to a party.
    "I never walk under a ladder(梯子),”says Ben.“And I never open an umbrella inside the house. They both bring bad luck.”And what brings good luck?“We have a horseshoe over the front door of our house for good luck,”says Ben.
 “And when I find a peney on the ground, I always pick it up. That brings me good luck all day!”

Some people just cannot decide what to do all by themselves. They often ask for the advice of their friends. But they never do as their friends have said. My friend Jack is such a person, and he is always asking me for help. I try to help him as well as I can. But he never listens to me. Yesterday I tried a new way to make him take my advice. It worked. “Look,” he said, showing me a letter. “What do you think I should do?” The letter told him that there was a good job for him. It seemed to be a good chance for a young artist. His teacher would send him to Australia to work. The job would pay very well, and he would be able to travel and visit many interesting places. “What do you think of this, Rose?” he asked. “If I take the job, I will have to stay in Australia for two years. I may stay a bit longer. But it would be a wonderful time for me. Should I go. Rose?”

    “Don't go,” I told him, “You'll suffer a lot there.” “Don't go?” he looked surprised at my answer. As you have probably known, Jack went. I wonder whether he found that I really wanted him to take the job.

    Hannay was nervous. His enemies were searching for him. All around him were grassy hills without trees. He had nowhere to hide. How could he escape?

    Hannay walked along the country for a long time. Then he saw a road worker, who was working alone, fixing the road. Hannay could see the road worker was not feeling well. Hannay came up to him and said “How are you?”

    “My head hurts,” the worker said, “I can't do it. I want to go home to bed. My daughter got married yesterday, and I drank a lot of wine with my friends. That's the problem!”

    Hannay agreed that he should be home in bed.

    “Yes, and I would be,” he replied,”but yesterday I received a message saying that the new surveyor was coming to look at my work. If he comes and finds me away, I'll be in trouble.”

    Suddenly Hannay had bright idea--he could act as the road worker and get away from his enemies.

    “You go off to bed,” Hannay said,”I'll do your job until the new surveyor comes.”

    The road worker was pleased with this idea. He gave Hannay his hat and his old coat. Then he went home to sleep and perhaps to drink a bit more. Hannay put on the worker's hat and coat and began to fix the road. About an hour later he heard a voice.

    “Are you the road worker?” it asked.

    It was the new surveyor. He was a young man with a clean face. He sat in a small car.

    Hannay said yes. The surveyor told him about some work he wanted him to do before he came by again and drove off. Hannay continued with his work.

    Then a village boy came by.”What has happened to the road worker?” he asked.

    “He stayed at home today,” Hannay replied.”He's sick.”

    At about midday, a large car came down the hill and stopped near Hannay. Three man got out of the car. Hannay's heart beat fast. He knew his enemies were coming...

    Sixteen years ago a boy gave me an important gift. It was a smile.

    It was the early autumn of my first year at a middle school, and my old school was far away. As a result, no one knew who I was. I was very lonely, and afraid to speak to anyone.

    Every time I heard the other students talking and laughing, I felt my heart break. I couldn't talk with anyone about my problems.

    Then one day, when my classmates were talking happily with their friends, I was sitting at my desk unhappily as usual. At that moment, a boy entered the classroom. I didn't know who he was. He passed by me and then turned back. He looked at me, with a smile.

    Suddenly, I felt the touch of something bright and friendly. It made me feel happy and warm. That smile changed my life. I started to talk with other students and made friends. Day by day, I became closer to everyone in my class. The boy with the lucky smile has become my best friend now.

    One day I asked him why he had smiled, but he couldn't remember doing so!

    It doesn't matter because all the dark days have gone. I believe that the world is what you think it is. If you think it is lonely, you might always be alone. So smile at the world and it will smile back.