Once, in a small village, lived a family with two children, James and Jack. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} of them loved painting very much, but the family was so {#blank#}2{#/blank#} that it was impossible to send both of them to study at the art college at the same time. After many discussions, the two boys finally worked {#blank#}3{#/blank#} a plan. They would throw a coin. The loser would go to work in the mines（矿井） to support his brother's studies at the college. Then, when the brother at college {#blank#}4{#/blank#} his studies after four years, he would support the other brother's college studies.

    James {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, and so Jack went down into the mines. James worked with all his heart, and his paintings were soon much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} than those of most of his teachers. By the time he graduated, he was beginning to make a lot of money from his paintings.

    When James returned, the family held a big dinner to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} his great success. Soon after {#blank#}8{#/blank#} dinner began, James stood up from his seat to drink a toast to his dear brother. He said, "Jack, now you can go to the art college and your dream will come true. I will take care of you."

{#blank#}9{#/blank#} Jack said softly, "Brother, the four years in the mines has done too much to my hands, so it's too late. Now I can't even hold a glass."

James was heart-broken. One hour {#blank#}10{#/blank#}, he drew a simple picture of his brother's hands. This drawing is today known as the famous picture named The Praying Hands.

    A British man learned the skills to perform Beijing Opera, making people enjoy his lively performance of the Monkey King.

Ghaffar Pourazar, born in Iran, is full of interest about China. In 1993, he happened to watch Beijing Opera which professionals from Beijing performed in London. Ghaffar fell in love with the beautiful voices, colorful costumes, excellent shows and so on. So after one year, he arrived in China alone and became a student of Beijing Opera at a Beijing school.

At the age of 32, he had to learn with children every day. For him, it was difficult to learn the dialogue in Beijing Opera and it was even his biggest obstacle. But he never gave up.

Four years later, he began to learn to perform the Monkey King, a traditional character(人物) from the Chinese classic story Journey to the West. He arrived in the workroom an hour earlier than other performers and also bought books and CDs to better understand the character. He once got a top international prize(奖品) for performing the Monkey King.

To help more people enjoy Beijing Opera, Ghaffar often teaches the traditional art form in schools in the US, Britain and other countries. Ghaffar led(带领) a group of actors to perform 66 times in a month and a half in the United States. He also led a 48-member team to perform in Malaysia. In the past 10 years, he has performed(已经表演了) more than 400 shows.

During the summer holidays, many parents like to send their children to summer camps. In recent years, more and more foreign students take part in summer camps in China to learn about its culture and history. 

In Baoding, a city in Hebei province, a group of high school students and teachers from America joined Chinese students for a 12-day summer camp. During their time in Baoding, the American students visited many local places of interest, including the Ancient Lotus Pond (莲花池), wbere they could admire the beautiful flowers. They also visited famous places of interest near the city, like the Great Wall. 

The camp also offered different kinds of cuitural activities for the foreign students. Theytried traditional calligraphy (书法), played ping-pong, and watched an exciting Peking Opera. Although they found the activities challenging, they enjoyed learning about the rich traditions of Chinese culture. 

During the camp, the students stayed with local host families, it gave them a chance to experience daily life in China and build strong friendships with the Chinese students. "I have made many friends here. We share common interests and hobbies, " said Daniel, one of the American students. 

The summer camp left unforgettable memories for the American students. Their time in China helped to build friendships and a deeper understanding for a culture that was new to them "I will keep in fouch with them in the future. " said Daniel. 

Ana was excited. Her family was going to an African restaurant. The owner was a naturalist who collected animal shells and bones. Ana found beautiful shells and feathers on the walls. But then she saw a lion head 1 in the middle of the wall. The owner, Mr. Ted, came over.

"Did you kill that lion?" Ana asked. "I thought you were 2 naturalist."

"I am," he laughed. "I love studying animals. I didn't kill it. 3 I did buy it. A lot of people buy lion objects here. Do you like it?"

Ana didn't say 4 .

"I'm sorry that you're sad," he said. "Please eat in one of 5 rooms."

That night, Ana went to her computer and read a lot 6 lions for a long time. Then she made a poster by 7 .

The poster 8 to Mr. Ted. She went back to the restaurant with her family 9 days later.

"Ana," said Mr. Ted 10 . "I got your poster. I'm sorry, but I don't want to take down the lion because my customers love it!"

Ana stared at him. "But lions might be endangered. May I put up the poster 11 I sent you?"

"OK." He smiled. "You 12 put up your poster here."

The next week, Ana went back to the restaurant and saw Mr. Ted.

"Hello, Ana! I'm glad to see you again. My customers 13 since they read your poster, and they are talking about it. Now they don't want my African lion on the wall. I've decided 14 it down. Do you know 15 I want to do? I want to get my money back and give it to that conservation organization (保护组织) on your poster!"

 It just hadn't been a very good week. On Tuesday, Sam's father lost his job. Then on Wednesday, Sam mother got to know the cost of their apartment(公寓) was going up. Now it was Friday, and Sam receive( an invitation from Rosa to her birthday party.

 Sam knew Rosa from Adventure Club. He knew he would enjoy Rosa's party, but he didn't want to g without a gift. What could he possibly buy her with the little bit of money he had? Sam knew he couldn ask Mom or Dad for any money— not this week!

 Later that afternoon, Sam noticed a second-hand book sale going on. He went there and had a quic look. Two books caught his eye, The first was a cookbook of Puerto Rican foods, and the second was book about women explorers(探险者)"Rosa would like these," Sam thought, "but would it be ashamed to give her second-hand books for her birthday?"

 Sam decided that a second-hand gift was better than no gift at all. Besides, Rosa supported recycling in a big way. So, she would probably like it. With his last dollar, Sam bought the books and went home. He felt a little better.

 The party was on Saturday. Rosa opened all her gifts and thanked everyone for the nice things they had given her. She paused when she opened Sam's gift, which made him wonder if she liked the books, but nothing was said.

 When Sam got home, he opened his e-mail and found this note from Rosa.

Dear Sam,

Of all the gifts I received today, yours was the nicest. How did you know I would love a book about women explorers and a cookbook of Puerto Rican foods? Now I have something to read that will inspire me to follow my dream of becoming an adventurer, and I have a book that I can share with my grandmother. She is getting older and wants to be sure her granddaughter knows how to make the - wonderful foods of Puerto Rico. Thank you so much.

Love, Rosa..

 The week turned out to be a good one after all.