A group of boys stood around a tree. “What a tall tree!” they said to each other. “It would be __________ to climb to the top.”

The group of boys then decided to play a game to see who could climb to the top of the tree __________. Their mothers were sitting not far away, looking at their children __________ they played.

One of the climbers was an 8-year-old boy named David. He was the __________ child in the group. Nobody thought that he would win the competition.

Then the game started. All of the boys tried __________ best to climb as high as they could. Although they all made it halfway up the tree before David did, he reached the top of the tree fastest __________.

His mother was glad to see this. She asked him, “David, how did you get to the top of the tree so __________?”

“It was easy,” David said. “The other children kept looking down as they climbed. When they realized how high they were, they got scared and were afraid of __________ down. I, however, looked only __________. When I saw how close I was, I kept going higher and higher until I reached the top.”

It is true in life that if we just keep going forward __________ looking back, we are more likely to reach our goals and achieve success.

As prices and building costs keep going up, a lot of Americans like DIY.

“We needed furniture (家具) for our living room.” says John Ross, “And we just didn’t have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs.” John got married (结婚的) six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are trying to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a two-week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.

Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He works hard in a shoe making factory and has to look after his children at home. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. “ I was deeply upset about it. Now I’ve finished a car repair course, and I should be able to fix the car by myself.”

John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money, so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a “do-it-yourselfer”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don’t have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.

Four types of friends you need in your life

Do you know that people will die early if they have no friends during their lifetime? The survey shows if people want to live longer and more happily, you need to have some friends who can share your sadness and happiness or can be helpful when you are in trouble.

The following friends are just what you need to keep the doctor away.

A Loyal Best Friend

Everyone needs a friend who will support you in different situations. This kind of friend knows all of your deepest and darkest secrets, but still loves you all the same.

A Friendly Neighbor

These days, a lot of people don’t know their own neighbors. It’s a shame, because some neighbors can be the most helpful people. If you forget to lock the front door when you are on holiday, you can call your neighbors to lock it for you. So it’s wonderful to have nice and helpful neighbors.

A Workmate

You’ll find it much easier to chat with someone than eating lunch alone every day. Your workmate doesn’t have to be your best friend. If you two get along with each other, you can always start going out with them outside of the office.

A Friend from a Different Culture

If everyone has a friend from a different culture, the world would be much better. Remember that don’t be friends with someone just because they are from a different culture. Instead, keep your mind open, and if you meet someone from other countries, try to learn about their customs, values, and traditions.

If you have such kinds of friends, you will surely live longer and more happily.

There is a little boy named Mark. He hopes he could fly like a bird. His parents tell him, “Dear, you can’t fly.” “Why can’t I? Some birds in the zoo are very big, but they can fly.” The boy can’t understand.

There is another little boy named Barry. He is crippled (跛脚的). He wishes he could walk and run like other children.

“Why can’t I walk or run like other children?” Barry asks his father. His father doesn’t know what to say.

One day, the two boys meet in a park.

“Do you want to fly like a bird?” Mark asks Barry.

“No,” Barry says. “I just wish I could walk and run like you.”

Mark thinks for a minute, walks to Barry’s father and says something into his ear.

“That’s OK,” says the father.

Mark goes to Barry and says, “Get onto my back. Let’s run together.” Then Mark carries Barry and begins to run. He runs faster and faster. He runs across the park with Barry on his back. The crippled boy flaps (拍打) his arms up and down in the wind. He shouts at the top of his voice, “We’re flying, Mark! We’re flying!”

Peter Pan is one of the best-loved children’s book of all the time. It t    81     the story of three children, Wendy, John and Michael Darling, who live in London with their p    82     and their nurse, a dog called Nana. One night when Mr and Mrs Darling go out, Wendy meets Peter Pan, a little boy who never grows u    83    .

Peter teaches the Darling children to f    84     and takes them away to an island called Neverland. On Neverland, they meet pirates, Indians and mermaids and have l    85     of adventures (冒险). Wendy becomes a mother for some children called the Lost Boys. They live with Peter Pan in a house under the g    86    . But Captain Hook, an evil pirate, captures Wendy and the boys. Peter goes to the pirate ship to rescue them and there is a dramatic sword fight between him and the captain. A    87     that, the children fly back to their home in London. Mrs Darling agrees to adopt all the Lost Boys. She offers to adopt Peter, too, b    88     he doesn’t want to grow up and returns to Neverland. Many years pass. When Peter visits Wendy a    89    , she is married and has a daughter of her own. Peter takes her daughter to Neverland for a visit, and then years later he takes her daughter’s d    90    .