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    One night, when I was eight, my mother gently asked me a question I would never forget. "Cindy, my company wants to promote (升职) me but needs me to work in Brazil. This is like your teacher telling you that you've done well and allowing you to skip (跳) a grade, but you'll have to leave your friends. Would you say yes to your teacher?" She gave me a hug and asked me to think about it. I was lost in thought. The question kept me wondering for the rest of the night. I had said "yes" but for the first time, I realized the difficult decisions adults had to make.

    For almost four years, my mother would call us from Brazil every day. Every evening I'd eagerly wait for the phone to ring and then tell her everything happened during the day. A phone call, however, could never take her place and it was difficult not to feel lonely at times.

    During my fourth-grade Christmas break, we flew to Rio to visit her. Looking at her large empty apartment,   ▲    It was then I started to understand the difficult choices she had to make. She needed to think about both family and work. Faced with difficult decisions, she used to tell me, you wouldn't know whether you make the right choice, but you could always make the best out of the situation, with a positive attitude.

    Back home, I reminded myself that what my mother could do, I could, too. If she managed to live in Rio all by herself, I, too, could learn to be independent. I learn how to take care of myself and set high but achievable goals.

    My mother is now back with us. But I will never forget what the experience has really taught me. I've learned a lot because of this separation. There are lots of difficult decisions that we have to face in our life. We need to have a positive attitude no matter what happens.

The twins were filled with excitement as they were planning a surprise for Mother's Day. They planned to make French toast (吐司) and chicken porridge. They had watched their mother in the kitchen. When the big1 came, the pair went to the kitchen quietly early in the morning. They put some rice into a pot (锅) and left it to boil while they made the French toast. Jeff broke two eggs into a plate and added in some milk. Jenny put two pieces of bread into the egg mixture. Everything was going smoothly2 Jeff started frying (煎) the bread. The pan was too3 and the bread turned black within seconds. Jenny threw the burnt piece, put in the other piece and4 the fire so it cooked slowly. Then Jeff noticed the porridge boiled over. Jenny felt scared.5 , Jeff stayed calm and turned off the gas quickly. Just then, they caught the smell of burning. The other piece of bread in the pan had turned6 as well. As the twins looked around them in disappointment, their father7 . "Don't be worried!" He helped them clean the mess quickly. After that, Jeff told their father their plan. "Sounds great! I can8 you to cook," their father said. Hearing this, Jenny and Jeff9 with joy in eyes. With their father's help, it didn't take long10 the French toast and chicken porridge were ready. When11 was ready, their father left the kitchen, promising to keep their12 . The twins carried the breakfast upstairs and woke their mother up. "Happy Mother's Day!" "It is unbelievable! You can cook! It's the biggest13 I have received," seeing the breakfast, their mother said excitedly. Her face shone with14 . Their father winked (眨眼) at Jenny and Jeff and said, "They have known how to15 others." It was a secret only shared between them.

Three students are sharing stories about their favorite teachers.

Zeus and the Bears（大熊座、小熊座背后的神话故事）

URSA MAJOR, or the Great Bear, is one of the most recognizable constellations(星座). Have

you ever seen it in the night sky? And did you know that it has a connection to Greek mythology? Ursa Major used to be a beautiful woman. She once won the heart of Zeus, the god of the sky.

According to Greek mythology, Zeus had many human girlfriends. One of them was Callisto. Zeus used to visit her regularly, and this angered his wife Hera.

One day, Zeus was walking through the woods with Callisto. Suddenly, he saw Hera coming. Not knowing how to hide Callisto, he turned her into a giant bear.

When Hera arrived, she saw Zeus walking by himself in the forest. But Hera knew her husband well. She didn't believe he was there alone. She ordered that they return together to their home on Mt. Olympus. Zeus didn't want to go because he knew he had to bring Callisto back to human form before returning to Mt. Olympus. But since Hera insisted, he had to leave immediately.

Zeus left Callisto living on as a bear. That same day, Arcas, the son of Zeus and Callisto, was hunting in the woods. He saw the big bear and shot at it. It was a successful attack. But before Arcas ' surprised eyes, the dying animal started changing back into Callisto. Arcas saw his mother with an arrow (箭) in her heart and started crying loudly for what he had done.

Arcas realized that it was a trick played by Zeus. He became even angrier and started crying louder. Zeus heard him and understood that Hera could hear the man as well. He quietly returned to Earth and asked Arcas to hide the secret. Zeus changed Callisto back into a bear and made her one of the largest constellations in the sky. It's known as the Great Bear. Zeus also turned Arcas into a smaller constellation. It's known as the Little Bear, or Ursa Minor.

As you look up at the night sky, you can see Ursa Minor turning toward Ursa Major. According to Greek mythology, it's Arcas looking at his mother.

 Hi, I'm Tom. I have a pencil box. It's my good friend. It's from my mom. What's in the pencil box? My ruler is in it. It's blue and red. That is a pencil. It is black and white. It's not my pencil. It's Cindy's. She likes black and white. You can see a green pen and an eraser in it, too. The pen isn't mine. I found it in the classroom this morning. It's Tim's. His name is on it. He isn't at school now. The nice eraser is my sister Linda's.

It's Friday morning. The weather is cool. Lucy sees her friend Alice." Alice, I'm sorry. I can't go to play table tennis with you tomorrow. I know it's your favourite sport," Lucy says." But can you see that brown dog? It is Mrs Green's dog. Mrs Green wants me to look after(照顾) it tomorrow."

" Oh, what a cute(可爱的) dog! What's her name?" asks Alice.

" Her name is Mona. She is 2 years old."

" Let's play with her tomorrow. I like dogs, too," says Alice.

"OK. That's good!" Lucy says." It's time for school. Let's go now."