One year, a college in the United States announced that it would offer a lot of money for the pure white marigold(金盏花). The high reward attracted so many people, but in the nature, besides golden, the marigold is brown, and it is not easy to get the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people had forgotten the announcement.

    One normal day after 20 years, the college received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. It was an old woman of over 70 years old. Some experts in the college doubted it, but in order not to let her down, those seeds finally took root (根）in the earth. The miracle appeared after one year; the field was covered by pure white marigold.

    Therefore, the old woman who was always unknown to the public became a new focus.

    The old woman was a flower-lover. When she read the announcement 20 years ago, she got very excited like others. But her eight children were totally against her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics(遗传学) couldn't complete what the experts could never do, so her thought was only a day dream.

    Still, the old woman didn't change her mind and went on working. She planted some of the most common seeds and took good care of them. A year later, when the marigold came out, she chose one faintest(最暗淡的) from those golden and brown flowers and got the best seed. The next year, she again grew them and chose...Day after day, year after year, through many seasons, the old woman's husband died, her children flew far, a lot of things happened in her life, but only the wish to grow the pure white marigold took root in her heart.

    Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden she saw a marigold, which was nearly white, but as white as silver or snow.

    A problem even experts couldn't deal with was solved by an old woman who didn't understand genetics. Was it a miracle  (奇迹）?

To take root in the heart, even the most common seed, can grow into a miracle!

    In 1978, I was working as a nurse in a small town about 270km away from Sydney, Australia. I was looking forward to having five days off from duty. Unluckily, the one train a day to my home in Sydney had already left. So I thought I'd get a ride.

    I waited by the side of the highway for three hours, but no one stopped for me. Finally, a man walked over and introduced himself as Gordon. He said that although he couldn't give me a lift, I should come back to his house for lunch. He noticed me standing for hours in the November heat and thought I must be hungry. I was doubtful as a young girl but he promised me I was safe, and he also offered to help me find a lift afterwards. When we arrived at his house, he made me sandwiches. After lunch, he helped me find a lift home.

    Twenty-five years later, while I was driving to a nearby town one day, I saw an elderly man standing in the glaring heat, trying to get a ride. I thought it was another chance to repay(回报) someone for the kindness I'd been given many years earlier. I pulled over and picked him up. I made him comfortable on the back seat and offered him some water.

    After a few moments of small talk, the man said to me, "You haven't changed a bit, even your red hair is still the same."

    I couldn't remember where I'd met him. He then told me he was the man who had given me lunch and helped me find a lift all those years ago. It was Gordon.

Mr Smith works at the Lost and Found Office in No. 1 Middle School. He works very 1 and he likes to help others. Every day when he2 a lost thing, he takes detailed notes about it. When students are in a3 , they often lose things. They4 things in the playground, in the dining hall or in the library. That's5 Mr Smith usually gets lots of things in a school year. Students often come to the Lost and Found Office to6 their things, such as books, crayons, erasers, wallets, watches7 many other things. If you lose your things, it's easy8 you to ask Mr Smith for help. But you must9 him what the lost thing is, its colour and the time you lost it. 

When the new school year10 , Mr Smith would like to remind(提醒）everyone like this : First of all,11 and have a look at the lost and found box. Are these things12 ? Or do you13 whose things they are? From now on, please be14 with your things. If you are busy and can't come here, please15 us at 8311 ****, We can also help you.

From this autumn, primary and middle schools have labor education(劳动教育). 

Duan Jiayang is a 12-year-old student in Yinchuan. One of the subjects in his school is welcome. It is the life skill(生活技能) class. He learns to plant fruit and vegetables in class. He says, "It's not easy. "

In China, many parents do everything for their children. Lots of students don't have life skills. Because of this, Duan's school gives the class. "We want students to really enjoy life by taking the class. We hope students can know it's not easy to get food. And we also want students to thank their parents, "a teacher says.

At the same time, in another middle school in Yinchuan, students learn how to make steamed buns(馒头) in class. A girl named Lian Yan says, "I really love our life skill class. It's my favourite class, "

"Children often just study but don't want to do housework(家务) at home, "says a mother. "The life skill class makes it interesting And the class can even make it become students'hobby or life skill, "she says.

 The summer holiday is over. It's true that time always flies fast. During the holiday, the weather was hot and I could not do much work, but I lived happily. 

 As the afternoon was hot, I did my work in the morning. I used to get up at 6:30 and take a walk in the garden for half an hour. After breakfast, I began reading English and Chinese and worked on some maths problems. These took me three hours or more. I worked quite hard and made good progress(进步). 

I spent the afternoon outside. I went to swim and it was fun. I would not go home until it was about five or six o' clock. Sometimes a friend of mine would come to see me and we would spend some hours listening to music. 

 In this way I spent my holiday happily. And I not only made up some of my lessons, but also became a good swimmer. Now I am in good health and high spirits. 

Dear Jenny, 

How are you these days?

You shared with me about your favourite subjects in your last letter. I like English too. I think it is interesting and useful. You also like Maths, but I am not good at it. I think it is too difficult. Maybe you can help me with it next time. 

Our classes are over at 4:30 p. m. and I can get home at 5:00 p. m. , but I seldom go home after class because I take part in different activities. On Monday afternoon, I have a violin lesson for an hour. On Tuesday and Friday afternoon, I go to the Reading Club with my friends. We talk about the books and the writers, and we enjoy it so much. On Thursday, I go to the Chess Club. I often play chess for about an hour. What is more, we have a school field trip every term. We often visit a farm. We can learn how to grow different kinds of crops (作物) and pick fruit. It is great fun. 

On Saturday, I don't have classes. I often practice singing in an art school. I like singing and I can sing better now. I usually go to the park with my friends or have a rest on Sunday. I am busy every day, but I enjoy my life very much. 

Yours, 

Alice